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12 August 2021
Orlando Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Video over the InternetRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Franqui Soto (44, Orlando) to seven years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material. Soto was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and forfeit his smartphone.
Soto had pleaded guilty on May 28, 2021.
According to court documents, a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity on a popular social media application (app) identified Soto as a member of multiple groups on this app that are dedicated to the sharing of child sexual abuse material. On several dates in November 2020, Soto distributed and posted to those groups videos depicting the sexual abuse of a child. On January 7, 2021, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Soto’s residence in Orlando and seized his cellphone.
A forensic examination of his cellphone revealed approximately 230 images and six videos depicting children being sexually abused. Additionally, law enforcement discovered approximately 14 chats between Soto and other individuals wherein child sexual abuse material was exchanged.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.
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.
North Carolina Woman Sentenced for Running Tax Refund Scam in SyracuseRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Lathisa Smokes, age 38, formerly of Syracuse, New York, and currently residing in Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 5 years of probation, after previously pleading guilty to filing false tax returns, and assisting others in preparing false tax returns, which caused the IRS to issue refunds worth over $100,000.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, and Thomas Fattorusso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
In pleading guilty, Smokes admitted that from January 2013 to March 2014, she falsely represented herself as a licensed tax preparer, and told taxpayers in Syracuse that she could obtain refunds for them by filing their individual federal tax returns. Smokes convinced the taxpayers to supply her with their dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses, and other information for themselves and their minor dependents. Smokes then prepared and filed 21 individual federal income tax returns that she knew contained false information relating to the taxpayers’ income, withholding, and eligibility for certain tax credits. The false returns caused the IRS to deposit $102,918 in refunds to the taxpayers and Smokes. The IRS has recovered the majority of this money.
Smokes was also ordered to pay $11,135 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury as part of her sentence, which was pronounced by United States District Judge David N. Hurd.
This case was investigated by IRS-CI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon.
Mohamud Muse Receives 98 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — United States Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Chief United States District Judge Robert J. Jonker sentenced Mohamud Abdikadir Muse, age 25, of Lansing, Michigan to serve 98 months in federal prison for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Following his release from prison, Mohamud Muse was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release. The government sought a sentence of 198 months in prison consistent with the sentence recommended by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
On January 21, 2019, special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and members of its Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested Mohamud Muse at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after his brother, Muse Muse, checked in for a flight to the first of a series of destinations on his way to Mogadishu, Somalia, with the goal of joining ISIS. Their relative, Mohamed Haji, also was arrested for conspiring to provide material support to ISIS.
According to court documents, between December 2018 and January 2019, Muse Muse coordinated with an individual he believed to be a Somali ISIS fighter to wire funds to be used to purchase airline tickets for travel to Mogadishu, Somalia, where he believed he would meet an ISIS representative. All three defendants picked up money to provide Muse Muse the funds to travel to join ISIS, all three defendants pledged allegiance to ISIS in recorded videos, and all three submitted their videos to individuals they believed were associated with ISIS. Additionally, records provided to the Court at sentencing demonstrated that throughout the conspiracy, which began in January 2017, all three defendants participated in numerous conversations during which they discussed traveling overseas to join ISIS and even adopted fighter aliases by which they would be known when fighting for ISIS.
In January 2020, Mohamud Muse admitted that he: (1) agreed with one or more individuals to provide material support or resources (which includes personnel) to ISIS, a foreign terrorist organization; (2) knew that ISIS was a designated foreign terrorist organization or had engaged or engages in terrorist activity or terrorism; and (3) is a U.S. national and that part of the offense occurred in the United States. He further admitted that the individuals he conspired with were his relatives and co-defendants, Muse Muse and Mohamed Haji.
On Tuesday, Muse Muse was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison for his role in the offense. Haji also pled guilty in connection with the plot and awaits sentencing on September 22, 2021.
In sentencing Mohamud Muse to more than eight years in prison for his role in the offense, the Court found that Mohamud Muse was more culpable than co-defendant Muse Muse because the evidence demonstrated that Mohamud Muse was the first of the three defendants to embrace ISIS’s ideology and, as an older brother, helped radicalize Muse Muse’s views and encouraged him to follow and support ISIS. Due to the Court’s disagreement with the Sentencing Guidelines and because Mohamud Muse did not have a prior criminal history, the Court departed downward from the applicable Sentencing Guideline sentence.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI was assisted by the Michigan State Police, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Eaton County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State University Police Department, Lansing Police Department, Grand Rapids Police Department, Gerald R. Ford Airport Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshals, and Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant United States Attorneys Clay West and Christopher O’Connor are prosecuting the case with assistance from the National Security Division Counterterrorism Section.
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Mission Woman Indicted for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.
Carlianna Erickson age 25, was indicted on June 8, 2021. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 9, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to eight years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on May 4, 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, Erickson did assault, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with a law enforcement officer who was employed by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and that such conduct involved physical contact.
The charge is merely an accusation and Erickson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Erickson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Mission Man Charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Kerry Browning, age 35, was indicted on June 8, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 9, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on April 11, 2021, in Todd County, Browning, who had previously been convicted of crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year, and being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, knowingly possessed a firearm, which had been previously shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce.
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.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Browning was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Minneapolis Man Charged in Child Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been arrested and indicted on federal sex trafficking charges for allegedly recruiting six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, from May 2020 through December 2020, Anton Joseph Lazzaro, a/k/a “Tony Lazzaro,” 30, conspired with others to recruit and solicit six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts. Lazzaro, who was taken into custody earlier today by FBI agents, made his initial appearance in United States District Court before Magistrate Judge Becky Thorson.
The indictment charges Lazzaro with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors, one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of obstruction. Lazzaro will remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing on August 16, 2021.
Based on the evidence obtained in this investigation, authorities believe there may be additional victims of the alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI Minneapolis Division at 763-569-8000.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minneapolis Police Department, the West Hennepin Public Safety Department, and the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura M. Provinzino, Angela M. Munoz, and Emily A. Polachek are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Middletown Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Selling Cocaine and Crack While on State ProbationRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DERRICK STOKES, 29, of Middletown, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing cocaine and crack cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2019, the DEA New Haven Task Force made four controlled purchases totaling more than 100 grams of crack cocaine from Stokes. Stokes was on state probation at the time of the sales. After Stokes was incarcerated on a state felony drug conviction and probation violation in early September 2019, he instructed his associate, Rayshon Frazier, to take over his drug distribution activity. Between September and November 2019, investigators made three controlled purchases of crack, totaling approximately 40 grams, from Frazier in Waterbury.
Subsequent analysis of Stokes’ cell phone records revealed that between January 2017 and September 2019, Stokes sold a total of nearly 600 grams of cocaine to two individuals.
Stokes has been detained since September 4, 2019. On March 24, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”).
On December 22, 2020, Frazier pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base. On March 18, 2021, he was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Middletown Police Department. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda S. Oakes and Sarala V. Nagala.
Meridian Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
According to court documents, James T. Britain, 51, failed to stop at a traffic safety checkpoint on July 5, 2019. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office conducted the traffic safety checkpoint and pursued Britain after he refused to stop. Britain led the police on a chase before stopping. After Britain was arrested, he admitted to a Sheriff’s Deputy that there was a firearm in his vehicle and that he was a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Britain to possess any firearm.
The ATF and the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bert Carraway and Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Merced Man Indicted for Possessing and Manufacturing 10 Destructive DevicesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment today against Wes Parker McDaniel, 52, of Merced, charging him with four counts of possessing unregistered destructive devices, manufacturing destructive devices, impersonating a federal agent, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and malicious destruction of property by means of an explosive, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to the indictment, between Feb. 1, 2021, and June 22, 2021, McDaniel manufactured approximately 10 destructive devices, which were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and possessed those devices on four separate occasions in Merced and Kings Counties. On June 20, 2021, one of those devices is alleged to have caused damage to residential rental properties in Merced.
In addition, McDaniel unlawfully possessed a rifle and ammunition. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms, including destructive devices, and ammunition.
The indictment also charges that on June, 20, 2021, McDaniel falsely represented himself to be a Special Agent of the National Security Agency for the purpose of arresting another person.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Merced Police Department, the Lemoore Police Department, and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, McDaniel faces a mandatory minimum prison term of five years in prison and a maximum prison term of 20 years if convicted of malicious destruction of property by means of explosive materials. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of possessing unregistered destructive devices, manufacturing destructive devices, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. He faces an additional three years in prison for the impersonation charge. Each of the charges also carries a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
McKees Rocks Woman Indicted on Federal Drug Law ViolationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Amanda Herrity, age 22, of Chartiers Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA 15136, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from July 2020 to July 2021, Herrity conspired to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years, a fine not to exceed $1,000,000 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 Christopher M. Cook is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Allegheny County Police 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.Man from Loving charged with transporting and harboring illegal aliens and kidnappingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Eddie Sanchez, (43), of Loving, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court on Aug. 10 on charges of kidnapping, transporting an illegal alien, and harboring an illegal alien. Sanchez will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Aug. 13.
According to a criminal complaint, around December of 2019, Sanchez allegedly began communicating with a victim by telephone and Facebook, and the two began a long-distance relationship. After several months, Sanchez allegedly informed the victim that he had arranged for her to be smuggled into the United States illegally.
On or about Jan. 4, the victim and about 12 other aliens were smuggled illegally into the United States near Presidio, Texas. Sanchez allegedly met the group and guided them through the desert to waiting vehicles. The aliens were transported to Odessa, Texas, and later to Andrews, Texas.
Sanchez then allegedly transported the victim to his home in Loving, where the two briefly continued their relationship. When the victim attempted to end the relationship and return to Mexico, Sanchez allegedly refused to allow the victim to leave the house. Sanchez allegedly took possession of the victim’s travel documents, including her passport and Mexican electoral identification card and allowed the victim only limited, monitored use of a cell phone. Sanchez allegedly provided the victim with little food and water and bound the victim’s hands and feet when he was away at work. Sanchez allegedly threatened the victim with death if she attempted to leave him. On or about July 21, the victim was able to escape from Sanchez’s home and call for help.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Sanchez faces up to life in prison
Homeland Security Investigations, FBI Task Force officers and the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with assistance from the Hobbs (New Mexico) Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Ramirez, Rachel Feuerhammer and Luis Martinez are prosecuting the case.
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Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm After Highway Shootout with Greensboro PoliceRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. - JULIUS MONCRE WILLIAMS was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Greensboro for knowingly possessing a firearm following a shootout with Greensboro Police Department (GPD) officers announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.
WILLIAMS, age 38, was sentenced to a 118-month term of imprisonment by United States District Judge Catherine C. Eagles. In addition to his sentence, WILLIAMS was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and submit to 3 years of supervised release following his imprisonment. WILLIAMS pleaded guilty on May 4, 2021, to possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
Court records show that the GPD’s Traffic Safety Unit initially encountered WILLIAMS after an officer conducting a speed enforcement operation on Interstate 85 noticed WILLIAMS traveling 85 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour zone. After refusing to pull over for GPD officers, additional officers were called for assistance. WILLIAMS then accelerated to a speed of 100 miles per hour before crashing into a tractor trailer in the middle-lane of the highway. After his vehicle veered off the highway into an embankment, WILLIAMS shot at a GPD officer approaching to investigate who returned fire in response. A Glock 9mm semi-automatic was located in his vehicle and was later identified by GPD as stolen out of Charlotte, NC.
WILLIAMS was convicted in 2011 in Lenoir County Superior Court for kidnapping and served a prison term of more than one year, rendering him ineligible to possess a firearm.
The case was investigated by the Guilford Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey A. Freeman, Assistant United States Attorney Stephen T. Inman, and Assistant United States Attorney Nicole R. Dupre.
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Man Charged with Traveling to Have Sex with Minor and Possession and Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Aldo David Alcaraz, 27, of Long Beach, charging him with production and possession of child pornography, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between December 2020 and January 2021, Alcaraz produced nine videos of himself engaged in sex acts with a minor victim in Tulare County. Alcaraz is also charged with possessing sexual images of minors, including minors under the age of 12 and another set of videos that Alcaraz produced of himself engaged in sex acts with a different minor victim. Finally, according to court documents, in January 2021, Alcaraz traveled to Kern County in an attempt to meet a minor to engage in sex acts, and he sent obscene images to that minor.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers is prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information related to this case or who believes that they or their child may be a victim can contact HSI at its tollfree tip line: 1-866-347-2323 or fill out the online tip form at https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
If convicted, Alcaraz faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
MS-13 Member Pleads Guilty to RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the MS-13 gang who was an alleged leader of a local Massachusetts clique of MS-13 pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to racketeering conspiracy charges.
Djavier Duggins, a/k/a “Haze,” 32, of Lynn, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Dec. 15, 2021.
MS-13, or La Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational street gang operating in Massachusetts and numerous other states, as well as countries such as El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. MS-13 members follow certain core rules and principles, including that members attack and attempt to kill members of rival gangs, and members do not act as informants or cooperate with law enforcement.
MS-13 is organized in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the form of so-called “cliques” or smaller groups that operate under the larger mantle of MS-13. Duggins was the alleged leader of the Sykos Locos Salvatrucha (Sykos) clique of MS-13. Achieving promotion in MS-13 generally requires the commission of a significant act of violence.
In November 2018, Duggins and five other MS-13 Sykos clique members were indicted following an investigation into the body of a teenage boy found in a park in Lynn on Aug. 2, 2018. The injuries to the victim’s body indicated that the victim had been stabbed dozens of times. Duggins, who is the alleged leader of the group, did not participate in that murder, but his five co-defendants did participate. Duggins, however, has a prior history of violence and was previously convicted of attempted murder in state court in 2012.
Duggins is the sixth and final defendant in this case to plead guilty to RICO conspiracy charges. The five other defendants previously pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy, admitted to their participation in murder and are scheduled to be sentenced with Duggins on Dec. 15, 2021.
Duggins faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins; Acting Boston Police Commissioner Gregory Long; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher Reddy made the announcement.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
Lowell Man Indicted on Firearm and Ammunition ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in connection with illegal firearm and ammunition possession.
Barndol Suong, 35, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Suong was previously charged by criminal complaint on June 10, 2021 and has been detained since.
According to the charging documents, a search of Suong’s residence on June 10, 2021 led to the recovery of a .45 caliber Taurus pistol revolver, five .410 gauge, 2.5 inch cartridges stored in a latex glove next to the firearm and 15 additional rounds of the same ammunition. Suong is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to 2008 convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm and assault and battery with a deadly weapon.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Kelly Richardson, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the FBI’s Merrimack Valley Transnational Organized Crime Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Moran and Fred Wyshak, III of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Louisiana Compound Marketer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Pay Illegal Kickbacks and Conspiracy to Defraud the United StatesRead the Press Release
Gulfport – A Monroe, Louisiana man pleaded guilty today to engaging in a multi-million dollar conspiracy to pay illegal health care kickbacks and conspiracy to defraud the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Acting Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce of the DoD OIG, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office.
According to court documents, Thomas “Tommy” Wilburn Shoemaker, 57, admitted that he participated in a scheme to defraud TRICARE and other health care benefit programs by acting as a marketer for World Health Industries, Inc. (“WHI”), a pharmacy specializing in the production of compounded medications. Shoemaker acknowledged that he allowed WHI to use his TRICARE insurance to adjust prescription formulas to ensure the highest reimbursement without regard to efficacy, and he recruited doctors to procure prescriptions for high margin compounded medications. Furthermore, as a marketer, Shoemaker admitted to obtaining numerous fraudulent prescriptions using personal information of military acquaintances. Through his company, he received over $300,000 in commissions for the prescriptions that were reimbursed by TRICARE, and in total, he received at least $672,538.19 in proceeds that were derived directly from the fraud scheme.
Shoemaker is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30, 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Alejandra Arias of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case with assistance from Sara Porter and Dustin Davis from the DOJ Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Kentucky Man Convicted of Possessing over Five Kilograms of Methamphetamine Is Sentenced to More Than 18 YearsRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Acting U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer announced today that Mitchell Glenn Bell, 45, of Monticello, Kentucky, was sentenced to 226 months in prison and five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger presided over the hearing.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Asheville Post of Duty, and Sheriff Chip Hall of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.
According to information in filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, on November 7, 2018, a deputy with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the motorcycle Bell was riding following a traffic violation. Court records show that after Bell pulled over to the side of the road and the deputy exited his vehicle to approach the motorcycle, Bell sped away. Law enforcement located the abandoned motorcycle shortly thereafter and began to search for Bell in the nearby woods. The defendant was located and placed under arrest. At that time, deputies also recovered from the woods Bell’s backpack, which contained more than five kilograms of methamphetamine, digital scales, other drug paraphernalia, ammunition, over $11,500 in cash, and multiple fake driver’s licenses.
On January 11, 2021, Bell pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked the DEA and the Jackson County Sheriff’s office for their investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pritchard, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.
KCK Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Kansas, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than three kilograms of heroin that was intercepted by law enforcement officers when it was shipped from California to Kansas City, Missouri.
Solomon B. Hawthorne, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to participating in a conspiracy to possess heroin with the intent to distribute.
According to court documents, a Kansas City, Mo., police detective intercepted a suspicious package at a local FedEx facility. The package, which was being shipped from California to a Kansas City, Mo., address, contained a black metal safe. Inside the safe were three bundles of a total of 3.179 kilograms of heroin.
An undercover law enforcement officer conducted a controlled delivery of the package on Nov. 20, 2020. The undercover detective knocked on the front door of the residence but no one answered. He placed the package on the steps of the porch and officers initiated surveillance. In less than an hour, an individual arrived via Uber and began continuously walking the block, texting and talking on his cell phone for a couple of hours, appearing to be keeping an eye on the parcel. At one point, he walked up to the house and repositioned the parcel on the porch in order to conceal it from the street.
A couple of hours later, Hawthorne arrived, driving a 2016 Dodge Ram truck. The individual got into Hawthorne’s truck and they drove around the block before pulling into the driveway of the residence. Hawthorne and the other individual were taken into custody.
When officer’s searched Hawthorne’s truck, they found a large clear storage bag that contained approximately 134.04 grams of heroin. They also found a black bag that contained $48,680 in cash and a Glock 9mm magazine with 10 rounds of ammunition. Another Glock 9mm magazine, which contained 15 rounds of ammunition, was found in a hidden compartment underneath the dashboard.
According to court documents, Hawthorne had conducted similar transactions twice over the previous few months and had paid approximately $100,000 to purchase heroin that was shipped to Kansas City.
Under federal statutes, Hawthorne is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled on Dec. 16, 2021.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Morgan. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the MoWIN Task Force.
Justice Department Announces Expansion of Firearms Technical Assistance Project to Strengthen Community Response to Domestic Violence Incidents Involving FirearmsRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) announced the expansion of its Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) to help communities across the country reduce domestic violence homicides and injuries committed with firearms. OVW will award an estimated $6 million for up to 12 sites and $4 million for training and technical assistance on firearms and domestic violence.
“Enforcing gun laws and keeping firearms from the hands of perpetrators of domestic violence is crucial to keeping victims safe,” said OVW Acting Director Allison Randall. “The FTAP expansion is another example of the department’s commitment in its efforts to reduce violent crime. The funding will help our grantees develop and implement community-based and culturally specific strategies to enforce firearms laws and is an important part of preventing homicides.”
In 2019, OVW and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges launched FTAP, which was designed to help communities implement policies, protocols and promising practices to prevent abusers from having access to firearms in domestic violence cases. As part of the announcement, OVW released a solicitation to fund six new FTAP sites in addition to the six existing FTAP sites, which include: Birmingham, Alabama; Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Columbus, Ohio; Brooklyn, New York; the state of Vermont; and Spokane, Washington. The deadline for applications in Grants.Gov is Sept. 20, 2021, and the JustGrants deadline is Sept. 22, 2021. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a non-binding Letter of Intent by Sept. 7, 2021.
The FTAP expansion will provide direct financial support for all sites, as well as new technical assistance designed to help each site incorporate community partners, particularly partner organizations that center underserved populations, into their efforts to implement effective responses to firearms and domestic violence. Training and technical assistance projects will include $2 million to help the sites implement an effective firearms response. Of particular importance will be an additional $2 million to train and support the sites on the cultural context of domestic violence in underserved communities. Additionally, OVW will award $750,000 to continue a domestic violence and firearms national resource center.
This solicitation supports the Justice Department’s comprehensive strategy for reducing violent crime. Under federal law, individuals with domestic violence misdemeanor and felony convictions, as well as individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders, are prohibited from possessing firearms. The data shows that offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a high risk of homicide. In fact, domestic violence abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners.
About the Office on Violence Against Women
The Office on Violence Against Women provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
Justice Department Announces Expansion of Firearms Technical Assistance Project to Strengthen Community Response to Domestic Violence Incidents Involving FirearmsRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) announced the expansion of its Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) to help communities across the country reduce domestic violence homicides and injuries committed with firearms. OVW will award an estimated $6 million for up to 12 sites and $4 million for training and technical assistance on firearms and domestic violence.
“Enforcing gun laws and keeping firearms from the hands of perpetrators of domestic violence is crucial to keeping victims safe,” said OVW Acting Director Allison Randall. “The FTAP expansion is another example of the Department’s commitment in its efforts to reduce violent crime. The funding will help our grantees develop and implement community-based and culturally specific strategies to enforce firearms laws and is an important part of preventing homicides.”
In 2019, OVW and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges launched FTAP, which was designed to help communities implement policies, protocols and promising practices to prevent abusers from having access to firearms in domestic violence cases. As part of the announcement, OVW released a solicitation to fund six new FTAP sites in addition to the six existing FTAP sites, which include: Birmingham, Alabama; Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Columbus, Ohio; Brooklyn, New York; the state of Vermont; and Spokane, Washington. The deadline for applications in Grants.Gov is Sept. 20, 2021, and the JustGrants deadline is Sept. 22, 2021. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a non-binding Letter of Intent by Sept. 7, 2021.
“In homes where domestic abusers have access to firearms, women are five times more likely to be killed and there is increased risk of multiple homicides,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The Muscogee Nation has a strong reputation for working to protect and serve families endangered by domestic violence. This FTAP funding is another avenue in which they have sought to protect victims. I appreciate their work and encourage other communities to apply for these critical resources.”
“The Muscogee Nation’s resolve to address and put full commitment to eradicating family violence on our reservation has never been stronger,” Principal Chief David Hill said. “With more resources and these type of partnerships we can realize the dreams we’ve always had, for a safe and prosperous future for our people.”
The FTAP expansion will provide direct financial support for all sites, as well as new technical assistance designed to help each site incorporate community partners, particularly partner organizations that center underserved populations, into their efforts to implement effective responses to firearms and domestic violence. Training and technical assistance projects will include $2 million to help the sites implement an effective firearms response. Of particular importance will be an additional $2 million to train and support the sites on the cultural context of domestic violence in underserved communities. Additionally, OVW will award $750,000 to continue a domestic violence and firearms national resource center.
This solicitation supports the Justice Department’s comprehensive strategy for reducing violent crime. Under federal law, individuals with domestic violence misdemeanor and felony convictions, as well as individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders, are prohibited from possessing firearms. The data shows that offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a high risk of homicide. In fact, domestic violence abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners.
About the Office on Violence Against Women
The Office on Violence Against Women provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. To learn more about this grant visit: /media/1160536/dl?inline.
Jury Convicts Belleville Man of Attempting to Arrange Sex with Young GirlRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – A Belleville man is facing at least 10 years in prison after a federal jury found him guilty today of attempting to arrange sexual activity with a minor.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sean P. Van Horn, 49, responded on
April 29, 2020, to a Craigslist ad placed by FBI agents advertising incest. Van Horn then began exchanging emails with an undercover agent who portrayed himself as the father of a
10-year-old girl. Over the course of roughly one month, Van Horn sent the agent multiple messages that described in graphic terms the specific sexual acts that he wished to perform on the girl. Van
Horn also asked to meet up with the agent and the fictitious girl so that he could have sex with her.FBI agents arrested Van Horn on May 28, 2020, when he showed up at the prearranged location in
O’Fallon, Illinois.Graphic messages sent by Van Horn to the undercover agent were shown to the jury during the two- day trial held at the federal courthouse in Benton, Illinois. Jurors also heard a recorded call that Van Horn made to his girlfriend while he was in custody in which he admitted to being on
Craigslist “doing things I shouldn’t have been doing.”Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 16, 2021, in front of United States District Judge Stacie M.
Yandle. Attempted enticement of a minor is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.FBI-Springfield conducted the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karelia Rajagopal and Casey Bloodworth.
Jamaican national sentenced to prison in illegal Canada border crossingRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Jamaican national who admitted to illegally crossing into Montana from Canada and was arrested with others near Whitefish after a car chase was sentenced today to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Christopher White, 45, also known as Gregory White, Jahnyi Foster and Raymond White, pleaded guilty on April 12 to illegal reentry of a deported or removed alien.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that White, a Jamaican national, was removed from the United States in March 2020 through New York to Canada. White did not have permission from Department of Homeland Security to re-enter the United States. On Jan. 23, White returned to the United States near West Kootenai, near Eureka, and not a port of entry. White, who was a passenger along with two others in a vehicle, was arrested after a 75-mile car chase in which a defendant, Rastesfaye Neil, was the driver. Neil pleaded guilty to charges and is pending sentencing.
Border Patrol agents located a Nissan Sentra leaving the area where three subjects had illegally crossed over the international boundary. The agents attempted to stop the vehicle, and the Nissan eventually pulled to the side of the road. As agents approached the vehicle on foot, the Nissan sped away and headed southeast on Highway 93. Law enforcement ultimately deployed a vehicle immobilization device, and the Nissan came to a stop down a small embankment off the highway north of Whitefish. Law enforcement arrested the four occupants.
The Border Patrol, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Eureka Police Department, Whitefish Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case.
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Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Paul Brown, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
According to court documents, on January 24, 2020, agents with the FBI, Jackson Police Department and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics executed a search warrant at a Jackson residence, and Javarius Jones, 20, was taken into custody during the execution of the warrant. Several hundred grams of marijuana, multiple firearms, ammunition, and United States currency was seized from the residence. Jones admitted during a recorded interview that he regularly sold marijuana and that he possessed multiple firearms for protection.
Jones will be sentenced on December 2, 2021, and faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.
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.
Internet predator admits coercing children to provide sexual imagesRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A Bulloch County man faces substantial time in federal prison after admitting he persuaded children to send him sexual images and photos.
Jasiri Hutchison, 20, of Statesboro, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. The plea consolidates charges brought in both the Southern District of Georgia and the Middle District of Georgia. The plea agreement subjects Hutchison to minimum 15-year prison term, up to 30 years, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution, followed by up to a life term of supervised release and registration as a sex offender.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Jasiri Hutchison’s predatory behavior represents a nightmarish victimization of innocent children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. “Through the persistence of our law enforcement partners in Homeland Security Investigations, he now will be held accountable for his crimes.”
As described in court documents and testimony, as early as April 2019 through December 2020, Hutchison typically portrayed himself as a young girl in online interactions with children via various messaging applications, at first persuading them to send innocuous photos of themselves and later threatening to share those photos with their friends unless the victim sent increasingly sexualized images or videos of themselves and/or siblings. In his plea, Hutchison admitted possessing more than 600 sexually explicit images of children.
“The Internet provides a wealth of information and endless entertainment, but it also offers predators the anonymity they need to victimize innocent children with their perverse schemes. We all must be constantly aware of what our children do online as well as who they interact with because you never truly know who is lurking in the shadows,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue, arrest and prosecute those looking to exploit our children.”
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.
Illinois Man Ordered to Pay over $82,000 in RestitutionRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-Mohammed Shahbaz Khan, age 46, of Bourbonnais, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to making false claims related to mortgage assistance from the Hardest Hit Fund, a federal mortgage assistance initiative offered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Troubled Asset Relief Program, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Khan was sentenced to 12 months’ probation and ordered to pay $29,926.46 in restitution to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority; $25,753 to the Indiana Department of Employment Security and $26,880.18 to the United States Department of Agriculture.
According to documents in this case, the purpose of the Hardest Hit Fund was to help stabilize communities in States that were “hardest hit” by the 2008 economic and housing market downturn. In Indiana, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority administers the fund. Only Indiana homeowners with one home in which they lived could receive Hardest Hit funds.
Khan knowingly submitted false residency statements to obtain mortgage assistance on an Indiana property while living elsewhere. Khan received mortgage assistance for 17 months, to which he was not entitled.
“Today the defendant was sentenced after conviction as one of 462 defendants prosecuted for crimes that the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief (SIGTARP) investigated,” said Special Inspector General Christy Goldsmith Romero. “Mohammad Khan repeatedly lied to government agencies to defraud the Hardest Hit Fund out of federal funding intended to help unemployed homeowners stay in their home. We commend the U.S. Attorney’s office for standing united with SIGTARP to protect this program from crime.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Molly Kelley and Toi Houston.
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Houstonian sentenced for firearm smugglingRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 50-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for smuggling goods from the United States and making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Leonel Avalos-Santoyo pleaded guilty June 6.
Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered him to serve a 46-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
On April 25, 2020, Avalos-Santoyo traveled as a passenger in a commercial van from the United States into Mexico at the Lincoln Juarez Bridge in Laredo. Law enforcement stopped the vehicle and performed an inspection. During the search, they discovered five firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories inside Avalos-Santoyo’s luggage.
Upon further investigation, authorities determined that between Sept. 21, 2019, and Nov. 5, 2020, Avalos-Santoyo purchased 41 firearms at three federal firearms dealers in Harris County. During each transaction, he falsely claimed he was the actual buyer.
Previously released on bond, Avalos-Santoyo was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Bowling prosecuted the case.
Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Gulfport man pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”).
According to court documents and proceedings, on March 16, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Joshua Taylor, 23, in Gulfport. During the stop, officers found heroin, methamphetamine, other drugs, and, in the center console of the vehicle, a Glock 19, 9mm handgun, loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition. Pursuant to a search warrant, officers subsequently conducted a search of Taylor’s residence where they discovered additional controlled substances.
A drug analysis indicates that Taylor possessed heroin, fentanyl, and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Taylor pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. He also pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. He faces a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison for the methamphetamine charge. For possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, he faces a minimum of 5 years in prison and a maximum of life, which must be served consecutively to the sentence on the methamphetamine charge. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Grand Jury Indicts Arapahoe Man on Assault with a Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that RONALD BLAISE JENKINS, 25, of Arapahoe Wyoming, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 22, 2021, for assault with a firearm resulting in serious bodily injury. The Indictment alleges that on January 5, 2021, Jenkins did knowingly carry, and discharge a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence, namely, assault, resulting in serious bodily injury to the victim.
Jenkins appeared on August 10, 2021, before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin and pleaded not guilty to the indictment. A jury trial is set for September 27, 2021, in Casper before Chief United States District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. The maximum penalty upon conviction is not less than 10 years nor more than Life imprisonment; 5 years of supervised release; up to a $250,000 fine and a $300 special assessment.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department, with assistance from the Riverton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson is prosecuting the case.
The charges against Jenkins are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Fresno Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Marc Davis, 48, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on March 21, 2021, Davis engaged in an argument with another man in Fresno. Davis had a loaded, unserialized AR-15 style rifle in his hand during the argument. Police found Davis a short time later, and found an AR-15 style rifle along a path Davis had walked. Davis has multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for infliction of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant and second degree burglary.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Davis faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Fourteen Individuals Charged in Multi-State Unemployment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT - An indictment and criminal complaints unsealed by the United States Attorney’s Office today charge 14 people with wrongfully obtaining pandemic unemployment assistance benefits in multiple states, announced Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.
Mohsin was joined in the announcement by Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Timothy Waters, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Liza Estlund Olson, acting director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
Charged in the indictment are:
- Sharodney Harrison, 36, of Detroit;
- Seandrea Crawford, 27, of Detroit;
- Sharrell Harrison, 33, of Eastpointe;
- Sha-Ron Harrison, 31, of Harper Woods;
- Sharease Harrison, 35 of Detroit;
- Edward Taylor, 36, of Detroit;
- James Mayfied, 36, of Detroit;
- Frank Jennings, 43, of Dearborn Heights; and
- Sharonda Griffin, 31, of Center Line.
Criminal complaints in related cases charge:
- Brandi Randall, 35, of Detroit, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud;
- Eric Matthews, 27, of Detroit, with wire fraud;
- Lenora Calliway, 35, of Highland Park, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud;
- Steven Johnson, 32, of Detroit, with wire fraud; and
- Tyshia Coleman, 37, of Detroit, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
- Another criminal complaint charges Sharodney Harrison with being a felon in possession of firearms.
The indictment alleges that nine defendants conspired together to commit wire fraud by filing fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in the names of people who were not aware their names were being used, or who were not eligible for benefits, often in several states for the same person.
“These defendants are charged with exploiting the pandemic to steal unemployment benefits earmarked for the people of the State of Michigan for their own personal gain. These allegations are serious, and my office is committed to prosecuting any person who attempts to use the Covid-19 crisis to defraud the people of Michigan or the United States,” stated Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.
"An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of unemployment insurance fraud. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations," stated Special Agent-in-Charge Irene Lindow, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the FBI has investigated criminals from Michigan and across the country who found ways to steal from unemployment insurance programs,” said Timothy Waters, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “Unfortunately, the conduct alleged in these indictments is not unique and resulted in the loss of millions of dollars meant for Americans throughout the country. The FBI and its law enforcement partners will continue to devote significant resources to prevent unemployment insurance fraud and to hold accountable those who have already stolen taxpayer dollars meant for out-of-work Americans.”
“Many Michiganders have had to rely on unemployment benefits during these difficult economic times due to the pandemic and taking those benefits illegally hurts the workers who need them the most,” said Liza Estlund Olson, acting director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. “We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all our partners to investigate and identify suspected fraud in Michigan and hold the people who commit these acts accountable.”
The charges in this case are the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor—Office of Inspector General, and the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Meghan Sweeney Bean and Mark Chasteen.
Since June 2020, a total of 37 defendants have been charged in the Eastern District of Michigan with federal crimes relating to fraudulently seeking pandemic unemployment insurance benefits. Six defendants have entered guilty pleas; the remaining 31 cases are still pending. Collectively, these defendants are alleged to have submitted over $20 million in fraudulent pandemic unemployment insurance claims to the workforce agencies in Michigan and other states.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Similarly, a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigation is completed a determination will be made whether to seek a felony indictment.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Four Defendants Arrested in Multimillion-Dollar Counterfeit Goods Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
A 14-count indictment was unsealed yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn charging seven defendants with participating in a counterfeit goods scheme in which they imported generic goods into the United States from China, applied brand labels to those goods in workshops, some of which were controlled by the defendants, and then sold those counterfeit-branded goods to retail and wholesale purchasers. The charges against the defendants include conspiracy to traffic and trafficking in counterfeit goods and money laundering. Four defendants were arraigned yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Sanket J. Bulsara and each was released on a $200,000 bond. Three additional defendants remain at large.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), and Dermot Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrests and indictment.
“As alleged, the defendants trafficked in counterfeit merchandise that they fraudulently branded as genuine to pass off to purchasers in the United States at a purported retail value of more than $130 million,” stated Acting United States Attorney Kasulis. “This Office and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting consumers from paying retail prices for phony merchandise and to holding defendants accountable for their greed.” Ms. Kasulis extended her grateful appreciation to the HSI Intellectual Property Group, the HSI Border Enforcement Security Task Force and the NYPD. Ms. Kasulis also extended her thanks to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for its assistance.
“HSI New York’s Border Enforcement Security Taskforce stands at the forefront of the fight against criminal organizations who identify weaknesses in our supply chain and infiltrate them for their personal financial gain,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh. “In addition to their detrimental effect to our economy, counterfeiting networks such as this one poses a threat to our national security and public safety by introducing products that often contain harmful materials and substances. HSI and CBP are uniquely positioned to combat these organizations and, along with our partners at the New York City Police Department, will work tirelessly to protect New York City and the Homeland.”
As alleged in the indictment, between October 2019 and July 2021, the defendants participated in an international scheme to traffic counterfeit goods. The defendants first imported the goods in generic form from China into the Port of New York and New Jersey. The goods were then delivered to workshops and storage facilities controlled by some of the defendants in Queens and on Long Island. In those workshops, insignias, emblems, trademarks and other brand signifiers were applied to the generic goods, converting them into purported brand name merchandise. These counterfeit goods were then sold as a part of the scheme directly to consumers and to wholesale buyers. The estimated retail value of the counterfeit-branded goods, had they been genuine, was in excess of $130 million.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Dylan A. Stern and Benjamin L. Weintraub are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha Payne of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters in the case.
The Defendants:
HAI LONG ZHOU (also known as “Zangkun Zhou”)
Age: 53
Queens, New YorkSAIYIN HOU
Age: 25
Brooklyn, New YorkYAN XUE HUANG (also known as “Yan Xue Zhou” and “Yan Xue Li Ming”)
Age: 50
Queens, New YorkJIAN FEN YANG
Age: 57
Queens, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-417 (SJ)
Former Procurement Director at Broward Health Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Bribery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Today, Brian Bravo, 46, of Pembroke Pines, Florida a former procurement director at Broward Health, was sentenced to 42 months in prison and to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $427,000. On June 1, 2021, Bravo pled guilty in federal district court in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to a federal conspiracy charge, admitting that he accepted kickbacks from vendors and a consultant in exchange for awarding them lucrative government contracts.
From 2005 through 2015, Brian Bravo worked as the Corporate Procurement Officer and Director of Materials Management of North Broward Hospital District, known in the community as Broward Health. As Procurement Director, one of Bravo’s responsibilities was to decide which vendors would provide goods and services to Broward Health, including health care products, linens, compression sleeves, and printer repairs. During his change of plea hearing, Bravo admitted to accepting approximately $427,000 in kickback payments ($150,000 of it in cash) from two vendors and a consultant for two additional vendors in exchange for awarding them Broward Health goods and services contracts. In 2015, Bravo steered kickback payments to designated bank accounts in order to conceal the illegal activity.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced sentence.
FBI Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey N. Kaplan is prosecuting it.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 20-cr-60125.
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Former Manager at Fort Leonard Wood Pleads Guilty to TheftRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The former general manager of the hospital dining facility at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, pleaded guilty in federal court today to stealing more than $69,000 from the cash registers.
Gregory Arthur Norton, 53, of Springfield, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of theft of public money.
Norton was employed by Sodexo, Inc., which was contracted to provide food services to the patients and staff of the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, from August 2015 to July 2018. Norton’s duties as general manager included managing payroll for the employees, managing the budget, reviewing financial statements and tracking operating expenses for the hospital dining area, the close out of all cash drawers, and the preparation and verification of the daily cash deposit.
Significant cash discrepancies totaling $78,320 were discovered during an audit in November 2018. These discrepancies were identified as being related to large unexplained voids conducted at the cash register Point of Sale (“POS”) systems, which began in November 2015 and ended in March 2018. The report concluded the voids were conducted by one or more Sodexo managers in an attempt to defraud the government. The report further concluded Norton was present and working in the dining facility during the loss of at least $69,025. Multiple witnesses stated that Norton worked unusual hours, often staying at work longer than would be considered normal for someone in his position.
Norton admitted he conducted fraudulent voids at the POS systems from August 2015 to March 31, 2018. Norton used his manager code to authorize the voids and stole the voided amount of cash. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Norton must pay $69,025 in restitution to the government.
Under federal statutes, Norton is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon T. Kempf. It was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Leonard Wood.
Former DEA Special Agent Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Corruption-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
A former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent was sentenced today to 160 months in prison for nine crimes related to official misconduct, including perjury, obstruction of justice, and theft.
According to court documents, Chad Allan Scott, 53, of Covington, Louisiana, perjured himself and directed others to commit perjury to obtain a conviction against an alleged drug dealer. He also falsified forms so that he could take possession of a truck bought for him by a drug dealer. When he and two other law enforcement officers began to worry that they would be investigated, Scott and the others conspired to throw evidence of their wrongdoing into the swamps outside New Orleans. Scott also stole money and possessions from defendants his DEA group had arrested. Scott was found guilty in August 2019 and June 2021 after his case was severed into two separate federal trials by Federal District Court Judge Milazzo.
“Chad Scott wielded his police powers to victimize the very citizens he had sworn to serve and protect, eroding the community’s trust in law enforcement and undermining the rule of law,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentencing shows that law enforcement officers who betray the public’s trust will be held accountable and punished accordingly.”
“Chad Scott took an oath to serve his community with integrity, but rather than use his badge to protect his community, he used it to break the law,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “This goes against everything that the Drug Enforcement Administration stands for. Scott betrayed the very people he was entrusted to protect and today he is being held accountable for his crimes.”
“Corrupt officials who break the law and breach their oaths will be prosecuted and sent to prison, even if they come from within the ranks of federal law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that Chad Scott will be held responsible and that no one is above the law. We thank our partners at DOJ, DEA-OPR, and DOJ-OIG for their strong partnership and unrelenting pursuit of justice.”
“While he was a law enforcement agent, Scott compromised cases and conspired to steal from the people he arrested,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas B. Bruce of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) Denver Field Office. “His actions were antithetical to the oath he swore to uphold. Now, he will rightly serve time for his many crimes.”
This case was initially investigated by the Louisiana State Police and later by the FBI, DEA Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), and DOJ-OIG.
Assistant Deputy Chief Timothy A. Duree of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section and Trial Attorney Charles A. Miracle of the Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted the case.
Felon Sentenced to More Than 3 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Handgun in New HavenRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALLEN LUSMAT, 30, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 10, 2019, Tyrell Cox-Henderson entered a convenience store in New Haven and placed a Smith & Wesson .357 caliber revolver behind some merchandise on a shelf. Approximately one hour later, Lusmat entered the store and retrieved the firearm from the shelf. Later that day, after New Haven police officers had reviewed the convenience store’s surveillance video, officers stopped a car in which Lusmat was a passenger. As officers approached the vehicle, Lusmat threw a black plastic bag out of the window. A search of bag revealed the firearm that Lusmat retrieved from the store. Lusmat was arrested at that time.
Prior to April 2019, Lusmat was convicted in state court of firearm, assault and burglary offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Lusmat has been detained since his arrest. On November 18, 2020, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Cox-Henderson pleaded guilty to the same charge on September 14, 2020, and awaits sentencing. He also has been detained since April 10, 2019.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.
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.
Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms on Two Occasions, Including One When He Attempted to Run from the PoliceRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Anthony Dwayne White, age 29, of Suitland, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Robert J. Contee III of the Metropolitan Police Department (D.C. MPD); and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to his guilty plea, on June 20, 2014, White was convicted of attempted distribution of cocaine in the District of Columbia Superior Court and was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, with all but 6 months suspended. Upon his conviction, White became ineligible to possess a firearm.
Since his 2014 conviction, White has illegally possessed firearms on at least two separate instances.
For example, on September 24, 2020 law enforcement officers conducted a search of White’s District Heights, Maryland residence, pursuant to a lawfully issued search warrant, and recovered one .40 caliber handgun with one round of ammunition, a magazine containing fourteen rounds of ammunition, two digital scales, one glass measuring cup with heroin residue, three boxes of buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual film, and other identifying information in White’s name. After White was advised of his rights, White admitted that the handgun was in his possession.
On January 30, 2021, in Washington D.C., a Metropolitan Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that failed to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. White was identified as the driver of the vehicle and was asked to step outside the vehicle. After processing White’s license and registration, the officer discovered that White had an active arrest warrant related to the September 24, 2020 offense. When the officer asked White to put his hands behind his back, White attempted to flee on foot.
In the process of capturing White, the officers and White fell to the ground. During the conflict, an officer observed a handgun in White’s jacket pocket. The handgun was identified as a .45 caliber pistol loaded with thirteen rounds of ammunition.
White faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count followed by up to three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has scheduled sentencing for November 17, 2021 at 2:30 p.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HSI, D.C. MPD, and the PGPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin B. Pulice, Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan Woods, and Brian W. Lynch, who are prosecuting the case.
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Federal Jury Finds Registered Sex Offender Guilty of Possessing of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found a Minneapolis man guilty of possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Following a four-day trial before Judge Eric C. Tostrud, Gene Paul Schave, 50, was convicted of one count of possession of child pornography.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Schave is a registered sex offender who was convicted in 2010 in Minnesota state court for possessing child pornography. On October 3, 2019, while on supervised release for his previous conviction, Schave was found to be in possession of an Asus tablet that contained more than 3,000 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minneapolis Police Department.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miranda E Dugi and Emily A. Polachek.
Federal Jury Convicts St. Paul Man in Target Headquarters ArsonRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury found a St. Paul man guilty of arson and riot after looting, damaging, and burning businesses in downtown Minneapolis, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Following a four-day trial before Judge Joan N. Ericksen, Victor Devon Edwards, 32, was convicted of one count of riot and one count of arson.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on the evening of August 26, 2020, Edwards joined a large crowd that had gathered in downtown Minneapolis following false rumors regarding police involvement in the death of a man on Nicollet Mall earlier that evening. Throughout the course of the evening, Edwards engaged in acts of rioting, looting, and other property damage. Beginning around 9:00 p.m., Edwards and his co-defendant Shador Tommie Cortez Jackson worked together to steal women’s purses and other items from Saks Off Fifth. Edwards sent text messages to various acquaintances telling them, “I got M[ichael] K[ors] purses.” In response to a text message from one acquaintance asking why he was downtown, Edwards simply replied, “Lootin.”
Shortly before 11:00 p.m., Edwards and Jackson were captured on video surveillance using a construction sign to break into the Target Corporation’s headquarters building. Once inside, Jackson started a fire inside the mailroom while Edwards added a liquid accelerant to fuel the fire.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the Minneapolis Fire Department, and the Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Richfield Police Departments.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan H. Nelson and Chelsea A. Walcker.
Federal Jury Convicts South Bay Man of Child Pornography and Child Enticement ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A federal jury today convicted Johnny Ray Wolfenbarger of attempted production of child pornography, the attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in child pornography production, and the receipt of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Craig D. Fair. The verdict follows a one week trial before the Honorable Lucy H. Koh, United States District Judge.
Wolfenbarger, 64, of the South Bay, proceeded to trial for the offenses charged in a February 6, 2020, superseding indictment, that is, one count of the attempted production of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and (e); one count of the attempted coercion and enticement of a minor (defined as an individual under 18 years of age) to engage in attempted child pornography production, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b); and the receipt of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2). The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts.
According to the evidence presented at trial to the federal jury, the FBI received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). A web services provider earlier had notified NCMEC of child pornography that was attached to an email and identified the user of the e-mail address as a person receiving or distributing child pornography. In 2016, FBI agents were granted a federal search warrant to examine the contents of the email account for child pornography. The email account was determined to belong to Wolfenbarger. Upon executing the warrant, the FBI identified numerous additional images of child pornography that had been sent to Wolfenbarger by other people. The search warrant further revealed evidence that, in 2013, Wolfenbarger solicited and paid individuals in the Philippines to create custom-made child pornography at his direction, which was transmitted to him live via webcam.
Among further evidence presented to the jury, records indicated that Wolfenbarger traveled to the Philippines throughout 2015 and early 2016. Wolfenbarger returned to the United States on August 2, 2016. Upon his arrival at San Francisco International Airport, he was referred for a customs inspection and met with an FBI Special Agent. Wolfenbarger was interviewed, and he admitted requesting and watching sex acts carried out by children between the ages of three and twelve years old during his webcam viewing sessions. Wolfenbarger stated that he would typically request that the children masturbate, perform oral sex on each other or an adult, or request adults use sex toys on the children. Wolfenbarger admitted he watched these sex acts on a desktop and laptop computer at his home. Wolfenbarger stated that he paid for the child pornography transmissions via Western Union and by using the tip function of the webcam service. Western Union records produced at trial documented over $25,000 in money transfers from Wolfenbarger to individuals in the Philippines.
Further evidence presented at trial indicated that on August 25, 2016, Wolfenbarger called the FBI Special Agent and requested another meeting. The meeting occurred on August 31, 2016, and the conversation was recorded. During the meeting, Wolfenbarger provided additional information about his email accounts and passwords.
The total evidence presented by the government at trial included Wolfenbarger’s recorded statements, his chats and e-mails, the images of child pornography attached to the e-mails Wolfenbarger received and sent, and records of the Western Union money transfers sent by Wolfenbarger to pay for the child pornography that was created at his direction.
The statutory sentences are as follows:
• for attempted production of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and (e): imprisonment for a minimum term of 15 years and a maximum term of 30 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a minimum term of supervised release of 5 years and a maximum of life; • for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in the charged attempted child pornography production in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b): imprisonment for a minimum term of 10 years and a maximum term of life, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a minimum term of supervised release of 5 years and a maximum of life; and
• for the receipt of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2): imprisonment for a minimum term of 5 years and a maximum term of 20 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a minimum term of supervised release of 5 years and a maximum of life.Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
United States District Judge Lucy H. Koh scheduled a sentencing hearing on December 8, 2021, at 9:15 a.m. Wolfenbarger was remanded into the custody pending sentencing.
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 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Harris and Maia Perez prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Mimi Lam and legal assistants Susan Kreider and Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Customs and Border Protection.
Federal Indictment Charges Four Men for a Drug Distribution Conspiracy Involving Cocaine, Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging four men for a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. The indictment was returned on August 11, 2021. The defendants were arrested on a related criminal complaint on August 10, 2021. Charged in the indictment are:
Pedro Luis Ramos-Diaz, a/k/a “Rafael Antoni Regalado-Jiminez” and “Angel Diaz,” age 38, of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Nelson Antonio Serrano-Munoz, a/k/a “Victor Santiago,” age 36, of Landover, Maryland; Erick Vonsander, a/k/a “Erick Vonsander-Jimenez,” “Julio Alcantara,” and “Eddie Vonsander,” age 54, of Chillum, Maryland; and
William Calderon, age 43, of York, Pennsylvania.The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Department of Police; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Robert J. Contee III of the Metropolitan Police Department; Colonel Robert Evanchick, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police; Commissioner Danielle Outlaw of the Philadelphia Police Department; and Commissioner Michael Muldrow of the City of York, Pennsylvania Police Department.
According to the indictment and related court documents, law enforcement obtained information that between December 2020 and about August 10, 2021, Vonsander was allegedly supplying cocaine to a confidential source for approximately $1,400 per ounce. As detailed in the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, further investigation revealed that Ramos-Diaz, Serrano-Munoz, and Calderon were also part of the conspiracy.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. 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. Vonsander, Serrano-Munoz, and Calderon each had an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on the criminal complaint. Vonsander was detained; Serrano-Munoz was detained pending a detention hearing on August 13, 2021, and Calderon was released under the supervision of U.S. Pre-Trial Services. Ramos-Diaz is expected to have his initial appearance on August 13, 2021.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA, the Montgomery County Department of Police, the Prince George's County Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the City of York Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin B. Pulice and Rajeev R. Raghavan, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Ex-Marine Again Convicted of Using Drugs and Force to Sexually Abuse Young Girls in CambodiaRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – At the end of a re-trial prompted by appellate court reversal, a federal jury today convicted a retired Marine Corps captain who traveled to Cambodia in 2005 for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors.
Michael Joseph Pepe, 67, a former resident of Oxnard who has been in federal custody since 2007, was found guilty of four felony offenses – two counts of traveling in foreign commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer is scheduled to sentence Pepe on December 6, at which time he will face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison. The two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child each carry mandatory minimum sentences of 30 years in prison.
During the seven-day trial, jurors heard testimony from eight minor victims who were as young as 9 when they were sexually abused. Each of the victims testified that Pepe sexually abused them, and several explained that Pepe drugged, bound, beat and raped them.
Prosecutors also presented evidence corroborating the victims’ testimony, including homemade child pornography.
Pepe was initially charged in this case in 2006. After being brought to the United States in early 2007, he was subsequently tried, convicted and sentenced to prison. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the conviction in 2018, and prosecutors decided to retry the defendant.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Cambodian National Police.
Chief Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Christensen, AUSA Damaris Diaz of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, and AUSA Lynda Lao of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Eagle River Man Charged with Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that an indictment was unsealed today charging Ryan Shelton, 29, Eagle River, Wisconsin, with receiving and possessing child pornography. The indictment was returned yesterday by a grand jury sitting in Madison.
The indictment alleges that on February 12, 2021, Shelton received a live stream video via Omegle that depicted a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also alleges that on May 26, 2021, Shelton possessed visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and that at least one of the depictions involved a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.
Shelton was arrested this morning at his home and appeared in U.S. District Court in Madison this afternoon. He was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
If convicted, Shelton faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison on the charge of receiving child pornography, and a maximum of 20 years on the possession charge. He is also subject to a lifetime period of supervised release.
The charges against Shelton were the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation assisted by the Vilas and Oneida County Sheriffs’ Offices. Assistant U.S. Elizabeth Altman is handling the prosecution.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
District Woman Pleads Guilty to Two Assaults, Including One Prosecuted as Hate CrimeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nicole Gogan, 41, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty this week to charges stemming from two assaults that took place this spring, including one that was prosecuted as a hate crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced today.
Gogan pleaded guilty on Aug. 9, 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of bias-related assault and one count of simple assault. She was sentenced by the Honorable Neal E. Kravitz to a total of 180 days in jail, with all but 90 days suspended on the condition that she complete a year of probation.
According to the government’s evidence, the first incident took place on April 6, 2021. At approximately 9:30 that night, Gogan assaulted a U.S. Postal Service worker who was making deliveries in the vicinity of the 400 block of 4th Street NE. Gogan shoved the worker, who is a Black female, while using racial slurs against her. The worker tried to flee, but Gogan pursued her and continued her assault by repeatedly shoving her while using racial slurs.
The second incident took place on May 7, 2021. That evening, at about 7:15, Gogan initiated an encounter with a woman at 12th and H Streets NE, and then assumed a fighting stance while yelling, “Do you want to fight?”
Gogan was arrested on May 7 and has been detained ever since.
In announcing the plea and sentencing, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips commended the work of those who investigated the cases from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the cases from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Wolf, who investigated and prosecuted both matters.
Corrected Release: Final Defendant in Video Gambling Machine Tax Evasion Case Sentenced to 14 MonthsRead the Press Release
This release corrects an earlier version which indicated that James Donker cooperated with the government. That was incorrect.
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that James Donker, 63, Eagle River, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 14 months in federal prison and fined $25,000 for conspiracy to the defraud the Internal Revenue Service. Donker pleaded guilty to this charge on June 4, 2021.
Donker is the sixth defendant to be charged and convicted of tax crimes relating to a federal tax investigation into video gambling machine (VGM) vendors and bar owners who skimmed VGM cash receipts and failed to pay federal and state income taxes, as well as state sales taxes on the gambling revenues. The other defendants include:
Defendant
Charge
Tax Loss
Prison Sentence Imposed
Fine Imposed
Restitution Ordered to IRS and WI Dept. of Revenue
Cherie Hellenbrand
Filing False Tax Return
$268,852
6 months
$350,191
Dudley Hellenbrand
Filing False Tax Return
$268,852
6 months
$350,191
Tom Laugen
Tax Evasion
$580,220
1 year and 1 day
$548,416
Mary Lavine
Filing False Tax Return & Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS
$3,028,930
1 year and 1 day
$75,000
$2,762,622
Colin Albany
Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS
$146,337
1 year of probation
$146,337
This investigation began when an IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent working undercover posed as a buyer for Middleton Sports Bowl (MSB), which had been listed for sale by the owners, Dudley and Cherie Hellenbrand in late 2017. The undercover agent met with the Hellenbrands, Tom Laugen, and Colin Albany at MSB on May 31, 2018. At that meeting, the Hellenbrands admitted to the agent that they skimmed the cash receipts from the VGMs and did not report the skim on their tax returns. They told the agent they stored the skimmed VGM cash receipts at a safe in their home and used the cash to pay for various things, including a car, spending money for vacation, $40,000 in landscaping, and cash wages to some of their employees.
Laugen told the agent that his company, Global Vending, prepared false collection tickets and false machine generated tickets that underreported the true gross receipts and profits generated from the VGMs. Laugen stated, “you got to steal in this business or you ain’t going to make any money.” Laugen later admitted to investigators that Donker supplied the false machine generated tickets.
Albany told the agent that his company, Bullseye, would report whatever VGM income number the bar owner wanted them to report. Bullseye's owner, Mary Lavine, later told the Hellenbrands she would underreport the VGM cash receipts by whatever number the Hellenbrands desired.
Search warrants executed at MSB and at the homes of Laugen and the Hellenbrands resulted in the seizure of ledgers and business records showing the evasion of federal and state taxes on VGM cash receipts going back to 2010. All six defendants pleaded guilty and four of the six - but not Donker - agreed to cooperate with the government in enforcing tax compliance with their bar customers who operated VGMs.
At today's sentencing, Judge Peterson explained that Donker’s sentence was 2 months more than Laugen’s, his colleague at Global Vending, because Donker destroyed his business records after being served with a federal grand jury subpoena demanding the production of the records. Judge Peterson emphasized that Donker committed a serious crime that involved a significant tax loss. As a result, Donker needed a sentence that was punitive and would send a message to the business community that "if they evade taxes this is the price they will pay. There is a cost to it and the cost is a prison term."
Judge Peterson ordered Donker to report to prison on September 17, 2021. The judge also ordered Donker to pay total restitution of $540,619, which consists of $224,733 to the IRS, $42,411 to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for Donker's state income taxes, and $273,475 to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for the state sales taxes due and owing by Global Vending. Judge Peterson noted that Donker's restitution order may be moot because Donker paid $540,619 last month to settle these tax debts.
The case against these six defendants is the result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Office of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Graber and Chadwick Elgersma.
Convenience Store Robber is Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Acting U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer announced today that James Edward Massey, 27, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell, for the robbery of a Circle K convenience store.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and statements made in court, on August 24, 2020, at approximately 4:04 a.m., Massey approached the Circle K convenience store located at 4801 Central Avenue, in Charlotte. Inside the Circle K were a store employee and a vendor making a delivery. Court records show that the store employee saw Massey standing outside and unlocked the front door, thinking that Massey was a customer. Massey entered the store brandishing a semi-automatic handgun, pointed the firearm at the store employee and ordered him to hand over cash from the register. Massey threatened to shoot the employee and the vendor if the employee did not comply. The employee handed Massey approximately $70 from the register and Massey fled the scene on foot.
On August 27, 2020, CMPD’s Armed Robbery Unit received two Crime Stopper tips identifying Massey as the suspect in the Circle K robbery. Following an investigation, law enforcement arrested Massey in connection with robbery of the convenience store.
On April 16, 2021, Massey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and Hobbs Act Robbery.
Massey is currently in custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked the FBI and CMPD for handling the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Constable of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana Pleads Guilty to Misbranding Illegal SupplementsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – William Earl Maddox, 73, of Haynesville, Louisiana, the Constable of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to misbranding an illegal supplement, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced.
Maddox was charged in a superseding indictment in September 2020 with selling and misbranding illegal supplements online and in stores. At today’s hearing, he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of misbranding of a drug while held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce. In connection with his guilty plea, Maddox agreed to a forfeiture judgment not to exceed $50,000 to the United States and agreed to sell real property in Homer, Louisiana to satisfy that judgment.
According to information presented at the hearing, Maddox formed Middle Marketing, LLC in 2011. Shortly thereafter, he began operating two websites, www.sexassurance[.]com and www.middlemarketing[.]com, wherein he advertised for sale capsules called “Sex Assurance.” Maddox described the capsules on his websites as a “natural male enhancement solution.”
In 2017, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a package that was shipped from Hong Kong and addressed to Maddox at his residence in Homer, Louisiana. The parcel was inspected and found to contain 2,000 unlabeled blister-packaged green capsules. The parcel was then referred to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA sent two letters to Maddox advising that the parcel had been detained for non-compliance with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and advising him of his right to respond regarding the admissibility of the capsules. Maddox did not respond to either letter, and so the capsules were surrendered.
In January 2018, FDA agents conducted a controlled purchase of two packs of Sex Assurance from Maddox’s website. An online receipt was issued that identified Middle Marketing as the seller and provided the email address and phone number associated with Maddox. A few days later, agents received a package shipped from Haynesville, Louisiana, that contained a business card in the name of “William Maddox” along with the two packs of Sex Assurance that were ordered. Both packs of Sex Assurance were labeled “100% natural herbs.” The Sex Assurance capsules were submitted to the crime lab for analysis and tested positive for sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. The packs did not list sildenafil as an ingredient of the product, nor did it list any identifying information of the manufacturer, packer or distributor.
In March 2019, agents executed a search warrant at Maddox’s residence. Agents found thousands of green blister-pack capsules, Sex Assurance labels, packaged Sex Assurance capsules, a computer, and other items to suggest Maddox packaged the product from his home. Maddox is not a licensed practitioner, nor has he ever registered with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to manufacture and distribute drugs as required by 21 U.S.C. § 360.
“The regulations put in place by the FDA are to be taken seriously. When individuals decide to purchase medications from outside of the United States and sell to unknowing victims, it could result in serious complications,” stated Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “Cases such as these will continue to be brought against those who choose to abuse these regulations.”
"Misbranded prescription drugs that are disguised as dietary supplements and smuggled from overseas can present a serious health risk to those who buy and use them,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin C. Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “The drugs often contain undisclosed active pharmaceutical ingredients and are made under unknown conditions. We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who attempt to traffic in misbranded prescription drugs.”
The defendant, William Earl Maddox, faces a sentence of not more than three years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Sentencing has been set for December 10, 2021.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy is prosecuting the case.
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Columbia Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Columbia, Mississippi woman pled guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of health care fraud.
According to court documents, beginning in 2016 and continuing for well over two years, Joy Beth Harden, 51, executed a scheme to defraud Medicare and other health care benefit programs. Specifically, Harden submitted fraudulent bills for durable medical equipment on behalf of her business, BZB LLC doing business as Duracare Home Medical Equipment in the Hattiesburg area. As a result, Medicare and other benefits programs paid Harden for durable medical equipment that was never prescribed for patients and for medical equipment that was never delivered to the patients.
Harden pled guilty on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. She will be sentenced on November 23, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Harden remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Acting Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson of U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) Atlanta Regional Office, Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce of the DoD OIG, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office, and Inspector General Martin J. Dickman of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Inspector General (RRB OIG).
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Dave Fulcher.
Columbia Man Receives Maximum Federal Prison Sentence for Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart announced that Eric Jahann Nixon, 39, of Columbia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on firearm and drug charges, after having been convicted following a three-day trial in April. Nixon was convicted on being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as possession of crack cocaine.
Evidence presented in court showed that at approximately 7pm on Friday, October 16, 2020, Columbia Police Department officers responded to Wash City Laundromat off Broad River Road after receiving a number of 911 calls about a man brandishing a firearm and assaulting a 65-year-old female attendant at the laundromat.
At the scene, officers were approached by witnesses who provided a detailed description of the man and also provided officers with a cellphone video taken of him during the incident. A screenshot of the man from that cellphone video was distributed to other officers who were canvassing the area in search of him. A short time later, an officer encountered the man, identified as Eric Jahann Nixon, walking nearby and placed him in investigative detention. During a lawful pat-down search of Nixon, officers recovered a loaded Hi-Point .380 caliber handgun in the man’s waistband of his shorts. A further search revealed a pill bottle containing a baggie of 3 grams of crack cocaine and a razor blade.
Surveillance video from the Laundromat confirmed that Nixon was the man who pulled a handgun from his waistband and assaulted the laundromat attendant, as well as pointed the firearm at others in the parking lot.
Nixon is a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law based upon prior state and federal convictions. Nixon’s prior adult convictions include: possession of a stolen motor vehicle (1998 in Lexington County), conspiracy to commit money laundering (2005 federal conviction in Columbia), assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (2005 in Lexington County), throwing bodily fluid on correctional officer (2005 in Lexington County), indecent exposure to adult while in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in West Virginia (2010 federal conviction), forgery (2013 in Lexington County), distribution of crack cocaine near a school (2016 in Richland County), driving under the influence, (2016 in Calhoun County), and unlawful carrying of a pistol, stemming from a shooting outside of a Waffle House (2018 in Richland County).
During the sentencing hearing, in addition to hearing a summary of Nixon’s prior criminal history since age 12, the court was presented evidence showing that, since being in custody on these charges, Nixon had accumulated dozens of disciplinary violations within the local detention center, including possessing a handmade weapon and threatening correctional officers. On one occasion, Nixon told a female correctional officer, “Bitch, when you write me up, I’m going to know your whole name. I will shoot your head off, blow your brains out. I will have your whole family dead by tonight, you better ask about me. Bitch, I’m important.” On another occasion, Nixon told a correctional officer that he has beat all his cases and that he will beat this one and google her to blow her head off and kill her kids. The court was also presented evidence outlining the numerous disciplinary violations Nixon accumulated while in federal prison on an earlier federal conviction.
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Nixon to the maximum of 120 months imprisonment on the firearm charge and the maximum of 24 months on the possession of crack cocaine charge, with those sentences to be served concurrently with one another. Once Nixon is released from prison, he will be on federal supervised release for 3 years. There is no parole in the federal system. In pronouncing the sentence, the Court noted that Nixon had a “significant criminal history” and his conduct has been “out of control and inappropriate” in prison, the local detention center, and in the courtroom.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes, as part of the joint federal, state, and local 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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Clairton, PA Man Indicted on Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The four-count Indictment named Darryl Craig, 41, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on July 14, 2021, Craig possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and a quantity of crack cocaine, possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, possessed a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking offense, and possessed with intent to distribute a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school. Craig was previously charged by criminal complaint on July 15, 2021.
According to the complaint and supporting affidavit, investigators obtained a search warrant for Craig’s residence. When they were executing the search warrant, they encountered Craig leaving the residence from a basement stairwell. They took Craig into custody for an active bench warrant from the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. In the course of their search, investigators found two semi-automatic handguns, several live rounds of ammunition for various different calibers, magazines, boxes for both a weapon mounted light and optic, body armor, approximately thirteen ounces of mixtures and substances that field-tested positive for cocaine some of which was suspected to be powder cocaine and some of which was suspected to be cocaine base in the form commonly known as crack, approximately 12 ounces of suspected marijuana, approximately six grams of suspected ecstasy pills, several pieces of indicia addressed to Darryl Craig at this residence, $58,351 in US currency, eight cellular telephones, keys to a Mercedes Benz belonging to Darryl Craig, and copious amounts of drug paraphernalia associated with processing, manufacturing, and packaging of both cocaine and crack cocaine for sale. Craig has prior felony convictions in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas for carrying a firearm without a license and for the manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance.
For the drug charge, the law provides for a sentence between five and 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000 or both. For possessing the firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense, the law provides for an additional sentence of at least five years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence. 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. Craig has been detained at the Allegheny County Jail since his arrest on July 14, 2021.
Assistant United States Attorney Ira M. Karoll is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case and has been assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Clairton Police Department, and the Elizabeth Township Police Department in conducting the investigation.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 15 Years of ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Lavelle Hatley, 26, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to 180 months of imprisonment following his guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
According to documents in the case, on January 9, 2020, Hatley was driving in Gary, Indiana, when police performed a traffic stop. Hatley exited his vehicle, fled on foot, and was apprehended a short time later while possessing a firearm. Hatley has an extensive criminal history which includes ten prior felony convictions; eight prior convictions for robbery affecting commerce, one prior conviction for battery, and one prior conviction for attempted escape.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the ATF/HIDTA Task Force and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin M. Padula and David E. Hollar.