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27 July 2021
Man Sentenced for Assaulting ICE OfficersRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Greenville man was sentenced today to 2 years’ probation, 6 months of house arrest and 60 days intermittent confinement for assaulting two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. On October 17, 2019, Daniel Oliver-Perez pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Oliver-Perez, 21, was charged in a two-count criminal information charging him with assaulting, resisting, or impeding ICE officers while they were attempting to execute an administrative arrest warrant against Oliver-Perez’s father.
According to the investigation, Oliver-Perez’s father attempted to enter the United States in 2014 using a Texas birth certificate and Texas identification card in an assumed name. Oliver-Perez’s father was arrested by immigration officials for attempted entry into the United States by means of a false claim of United States citizenship. Later that year, Oliver-Perez’s father was convicted in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas of attempted illegal entry by false and misleading representation, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325(a)(3). Oliver-Perez’s father was subsequently served a Notice and Order of Expedited Removal.
Oliver-Perez’s father was granted multiple stays of removal between 2014 and 2017. However, after multiple filings by Oliver-Perez’s father, ICE no longer granted the request, and Oliver-Perez’s father was directed to appear at the ICE office in Charlotte, North Carolina, with tickets to depart the United States before December 16, 2017.
On November 16, 2017, Oliver-Perez’s father appeared with an itinerary in his name and a confirmed scheduled flight departing on December 10, 2017, with an ultimate destination of Mexico. On the date of the flight, Oliver-Perez’s father failed to show or report to ICE. At that point, Oliver-Perez’s father became a fugitive for not departing the United States as directed, and for being in violation of the conditions on the order of supervision.
Based on news reports, Oliver-Perez’s father had been living at the City Well United Methodist Church in Durham, North Carolina since Oliver-Perez’s father’s failure to depart.
On October 12, 2018, Oliver-Perez’s father filed a request for deferred action with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As a result of the request, USCIS generated an Application Support Center (ASC) appointment notice. The appointment notice scheduled fingerprinting of Oliver-Perez’s father at the ASC office in Morrisville, North Carolina, on November 23, 2018 at 9:00 AM.
The fingerprinting appointment of Oliver-Perez’s father was advertised through several social media outlets, inviting people to gather at the ASC on the date and time of the appointment. Approximately a month prior to the appointment, an immigrant advocacy group posted an “event” on Facebook to “accompany [Oliver-Perez’s father] to his Biometrics.” The social media posting provided the appointment date of November 23, 2018, at the USCIS office in Morrisville, North Carolina.
ICE learned about Oliver-Perez’s father’s appointment through the social media posting of the appointment and initiated efforts to apprehend Oliver-Perez’s father.
On November 23, 2018, ICE officers were present at the ASC in order to execute an arrest warrant against Oliver-Perez’s father. ICE officers were positioned in various areas of the ASC building. A Supervisor Detention and Deportation Officer was inside the ACS building in the waiting area. At approximately 9:00 AM, the officer observed Oliver-Perez’s father and Oliver-Perez entering the ASC. The officer observed both Oliver-Perez’s father and Oliver-Perez stand in line to obtain a number to pass to the processing area. Once Oliver-Perez’s father was standing in line, and Oliver-Perez was standing behind him, the officer alerted the other ICE officers and approached Oliver-Perez’s father. The officer identified himself as an immigration officer and told Oliver-Perez’s father that he needed to come with the officer. Oliver-Perez grabbed his father by the jacket while ICE officers were trying to arrest Oliver-Perez’s father.
The ICE officer and another officer attempted to subdue Oliver-Perez to prevent Oliver-Perez from continuing to hold onto his father’s jacket. Meanwhile, yet another officer was attempting to arrest Oliver-Perez’s father. While they were attempting to do this, all four fell on the floor and an officer was able to handcuff Oliver-Perez’s father. Two officers were attempting to remove Oliver-Perez’s father from the waiting area through the back door where some people were trying to block the way out.
As Oliver-Perez’s father was being escorted out, Oliver-Perez tried to get a hold of his father once again. The officer grabbed Oliver-Perez around the waist to prevent Oliver-Perez’s interference with Oliver-Perez’s father’s arrest. Oliver-Perez grabbed the officer by the neck in a chokehold grip. The officer instructed Oliver-Perez to let him go. After several seconds, the officer was able to release himself from Oliver-Perez’s grip. During the altercation, the officer sustained a cut on his hand and had difficulty breathing during the chokehold.
Oliver-Perez then approached the ICE transporting van, which at this point was also surrounded by people obstructing the vehicle’s departure. The assigned driver of the van was another ICE officer. The officer was sitting on the driver’s seat and upon reaching the door, Oliver-Perez gained access to the inside of van and hit the officer on the head and chest area with his right hand while grabbing the steering wheel with his left hand. The officer was able to turn his body towards the door and leaned back repelling Oliver-Perez. The door appeared to be damaged and the officer had to exit the vehicle in order to close it. The officer was able to get back into the vehicle and shut the doors.
Oliver-Perez thereafter again engaged in a physical confrontation with the first officer, at which time Oliver-Perez placed his hands on the clothing of the officer causing his shirt to rip.
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency responsible for the enforcement of our immigration laws. As with any law enforcement agency this office will not tolerate the obstruction, resisting or assaulting of those that we have entrusted to enforce our laws” said Acting United States Attorney G. Norman Acker, III.
“Today’s sentencing sends the message that interfering with our officers while they carry out their legal duty will not be tolerated,” said Francisco Madrigal, Interim Field Office Director for the Atlanta Field Office. “Protecting our officers while they serve the public is one of the greatest concerns law enforcement agencies have, and we are thankful for the great partnerships we have with the US Attorney’s Office and throughout the law enforcement community.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-82-1FL.
Man Facing Federal Charges for Allegedly Sending Threatening Emails to Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins at the National Institutes of HealthRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Thomas Patrick Connally, Jr., age 56, for the federal charges of threats against a federal official and interstate communication containing a threat to harm, specifically for sending emails threatening harm to Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins, the current Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The criminal complaint was filed on July 26, 2021, and unsealed today upon Connally’s arrest. Connally is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan.
The criminal complaint was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Special Agent in Charge George Adams, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.
“We will never tolerate violent threats against public officials,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lenzner. “Our public health officials deserve our thanks and appreciation for their tireless work, and we will not hesitate to bring charges against those individuals who seek to use fear to silence these public servants.”
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, from December 28, 2020 to July 21, 2021, Connally used an email account from a provider of secure, encrypted email services based in Switzerland, to send a series of emails to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the current Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”) and the Chief Medical Advisor to President of the United States, threatening to harm and/or kill him and members of his family. One of the emails threatened that Dr. Fauci and his family would be “dragged into the street, beaten to death, and set on fire.” On April 24, 2021 alone, seven threatening emails were sent from the encrypted account between 10:05 p.m. and 10:12 p.m.
As detailed in the affidavit, also on April 24, 2021, just 30 minutes before the seven emails were sent to Dr. Fauci, Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the NIH, received a total of four threatening emails from the same encrypted email address associated with Connally.
Investigation revealed that the encrypted email account was associated with Connally. Pursuant to a search warrant, law enforcement obtained emails from a mail.com account which the affidavit alleges Connally used to communicate with the encrypted email address used to send the threatening emails.
According to the affidavit, Connally also used the mail.com account to communicate with another individual discussing Dr. Fauci and espousing views that Dr. Fauci was engaged in fraud regarding HIV and AIDS, which was also one of the topics of the first threatening email sent from the encrypted account to Dr. Fauci on December 28, 2020. Connally allegedly sent threatening emails to Dr. Fauci as recently as July 21, 2021.
If convicted, Connally faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for threats against a federal official; and a maximum of five years in federal prison for interstate communication containing a threat to harm. 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.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HHS OIG for its work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajeev R. Raghavan and Jessica C. Collins, 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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Man Arrested on Federal Arson Charge for Allegedly Setting Fire to Chicago BuildingRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been arrested on a federal arson charge for allegedly setting fire to a building in Chicago last year.
An indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuses JOSE VALDOVINOS, 32, of Cicero, Ill., of maliciously damaging and destroying a building at 4000 West 59th Street in Chicago on June 1, 2020.
Valdovinos was arrested Monday. A detention hearing in federal court is set for Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kristen de Tineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives in Chicago; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kavitha J. Babu.
“Anyone committing crimes during the course of civil unrest should know that federal law enforcement will use every available tool to hold them accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with ATF, CPD, and our other federal, state, and local partners to apprehend and charge arsonists and others engaging in violent crime.”
“ATF Special Agents will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to follow every lead related to destructive behavior during civil unrest,” said ATF SAC de Tineo. “I appreciate the commitment from our colleagues and the U.S. Attorney in charging this case.”
The arson charge is punishable by a minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Louisville Man Sentenced for Riot ActRead the Press Release
A Louisville, Kentucky man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Benjamin Beaton to time served (five months) and a three-year term of supervised release for violating the Riot Act on January 6, 2021, in downtown Louisville. John Subleski, age 33, of Louisville was arrested by the FBI on February 11, 2021, and has been in federal custody since that date. Subleski posted multiple statements to social media to incite riots and violence and later committed an act of violence by firing his weapon at a motorist around the second street bridge during a riot in downtown Louisville on January 6, 2021. At the time protesters were stopping and threatening motorists with firearms. It is a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2101 to incite, participate, and commit an act of violence such as discharging a firearm.
According to court documents, including the Indictment and criminal complaint, Subleski used a facility of interstate commerce, namely, the internet, Signal, and Facebook, with intent to incite, organize, promote, and carry on a riot and to commit an act of violence in furtherance of a riot on or about December 29, 2020, to January 7, 2021. According to the Indictment, Subleski is a member and leader of the United Pharaoh Guard “UPG”, a/k/a “Loujahadeen,” a Boogaloo Bois based anti-government anti-police ideology in Louisville, Kentucky.
On December 29, 2020, Subleski posted, “Just thinking of how they've treated us, protectors of the people, as evil...Makes me wanna show them how evil we can be. I no longer care for nor do I want a peaceful resolution or revolution...I want [drop of blood emoji.].” On December 30, 2020, Subleski wrote, “How much more f-----d up s---t gotta happen before the rest of you arm yourselves and armor up and join the resistance?” On January 5, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook account: “The only thing that has ever beaten tyranny was a sword or a rifles….DASSSSS IT. NOTHING ELSE! GETCHO RIFLE AND LET IT BANG AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.” On or about January 6, 2021, riots were occurring in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Subleski, posted in response to events occurring in the Nation’s capital, to a Facebook Account posts inciting, promoting, and encouraging a riot in Louisville, Kentucky. At 12:02 p.m. on January 6, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook account, “Those of you afraid to [B]OOG because “What if we die?” Well what if we f------g live? get out there, do something!” At 2:06 p.m. on January 6, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook account, “They storming the capital in DC and ya’ll can’t unit enough to storm the gov buildings here….smh I HATE IT.
At 3:24 p.m. on January 6, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook “OTTA YOUR HOMES AND INTO THE STREETS F---K THE GOVERNMENT AND THE POLICE!!!!!!!! LETS GET THIS LUAU STARTED”.At 3:38 p.m. on January 6, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook, “Time to Storm LMPD.” On January 6, 2021, in a Signal chat with other members of the UPG, Subleski posted, “Holy s--t woman shot in capital. Ya’ll lets storm LMPD”. On January 6, 2021, in a Signal chat with other members of UPG, Subleski posted, “Everyone be armed and armored because s--t can go south quick and if it kicks off in one state then like dominos WE ALL BALL”.
At around 7:00 p.m. on January 6, 2021, rioters including UPG members surrounded a motorist at 2nd and W. Broadway attempting to drive around vehicles and individuals blocking the intersection. As a car drove on the sidewalk individuals approached the car to prevent it from turning on Broadway. A member of UPG pointed weapons at a driver in a car and damaged his vehicle with a metal trash can when the driver attempted to leave.
Thereafter, more than 20 persons, including Subleski, assembled at 2nd and Main Street closing traffic on main street and to and from Indiana on the 2nd Street Bridge and began rioting by engaging in acts of violence that constituted a clear and present danger and resulted in damage to the property. The assemblage pointed weapons and threatened motorists and damaged vehicles. Subleski participated in the rioting by inciting protestors, providing armed security, and ultimately firing his weapon, committing an act of violence in furtherance of a riot, endangering protestors in the line of fire after a motorist drove past the blocked intersection at 2nd and Main Street.
On January 7, 2021, Subleski posted to this Facebook, “ALL I WANN DO IS GO OUT [BOOGN] WITH THE SHOOTERS [WINK EMOJI] UPG/LOUIJIHADEEN”.
“I commend the FBI agents who investigated this matter and the prosecutors who worked alongside them to successfully prosecute the case,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “Individuals who incite riots and commit violent acts in violation of federal law, subjecting citizens to violence and fear, should know they will face swift investigation and prosecution in the Western District of Kentucky.”
“Mr. Subleski’s conviction and sentence underscore the FBI’s determination that when domestic violent extremists turn to mayhem and destruction, they will be brought to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office. “Mr. Subleski is now a felon and will not be permitted to possess firearms. As a result, our community is safer. FBI Louisville will continue to work with our community, law enforcement, and prosecutorial partners to ensure our citizens’ rights and safety are protected.”
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd, Bryan Calhoun, and DOJ Trial Attorney Dmitry Slavin prosecuted the case.
Local man guilty in $317 million N95 mask scamRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 56-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to a scheme to fraudulently sell 50 million non-existent N95 facemasks to the Australian government, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
In early April 2020, Arael Doolittle attempted to sell 50 million 3M N95 respirator masks to the government of Australia. However, he actually did not possess them.
The Australian government was supposed to pay over $317 million for the masks, but authorities disrupted the transaction before it was completed.
U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes accepted the plea and set sentencing for Oct. 25. At that time, Doolittle faces up tofive5 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin prosecuted the case.
On May 17, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic - 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.
Leader of a Sophisticated Drug Trafficking Organization and Prolific Ally of the Sinaloa Cartel SentencedRead the Press Release
A Mexican national was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to 22 years in prison for her role in an international drug trafficking conspiracy to transport into the United States thousands of kilograms of cocaine and dozens of pounds of methamphetamine.
Following a seven-day jury trial in December 2019, Luz Irene Fajardo Campos, aka “La Comadre,” “La Madrina” and “La Doña,” 57, of Culiacan, Mexico, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and to manufacture and/or distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in Mexico, Colombia, Honduras and elsewhere, knowing or intending that these substances would be unlawfully imported into the United States.
According to the evidence introduced at trial, Fajardo Campos led a drug trafficking organization with her adult children that was aligned with the Sinaloa cartel. She sourced cocaine directly from Colombia, employed pilots, and brokered the purchase of jets to fly the cocaine to Central America and Mexico. She partnered with other traffickers in the Sinaloa cartel and her children for further distribution of the cocaine into the United States. She also oversaw the importation of precursor chemicals into Mexico, which she processed into methamphetamine at a laboratory located in the desert outside Hermosillo, Mexico. She distributed this methamphetamine in Tucson, Arizona, and Jackson, Mississippi, among other locations. She also paid bribes to law enforcement officials in Mexico and Colombia to import cocaine through an international airport and attempted to bribe other public officials to secure the arrest of rival drug traffickers and the release of precursor chemicals seized at Mexican shipping ports.
“Luz Irene Fajardo Campos and her organization imported into the United States large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, bribing foreign law enforcement officers along the way, and then distributed those drugs across our communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Her conviction and sentence demonstrate the department’s commitment to bring to justice those who pump dangerous drugs into our communities and fuel corruption in the process.”
“With this sentencing, we cut the head off of the snake,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheri Oz of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Phoenix Field Division. “Drug traffickers like Fajardo Campos tear at the very fabric of our communities. She made millions of dollars from pushing thousands of pounds of poison into Americans' communities while at the same time fueling violence and crime across the United States. Today, justice was served.”
In addition to the prison sentence, Fajardo Campos was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release and forfeit $18 million.
The case was investigated by the DEA’s Tucson and Mexico City Country Offices.
Trial Attorneys Cole Radovich, Kaitlin Sahni and Imani Hutty of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) and Anthony Aminoff, formerly of NDDS, prosecuted the case with significant assistance provided by the NDDS Judicial Attachés in Bogotá, Colombia, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations.
Ladysmith Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Eric G. Cooke, 51, Ladysmith, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 9 years in federal prison for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. This prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Cooke pleaded guilty to this charge on April 28, 2021.
On July 2, 2020, an investigator with the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop for speeding on a vehicle being driven by Cooke. During the traffic stop, the female passenger told the officer that Cooke forced her to conceal a baggie containing of small amount of methamphetamine to avoid arrest. She turned over the baggie of methamphetamine to the officer, and when officers searched the vehicle, they found a bag containing approximately 118 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also found over $10,000 in cash on Cooke. In addition, the female passenger directed officers to a location off a roadway in Chippewa County where Cooke stashed a cooler containing over three and a half pounds of marijuana.
Cooke was interviewed and admitted to selling methamphetamine off and on for approximately 25 years. He also admitted to selling methamphetamine in increasingly large quantities in 2020 following his release from a yearlong county jail sentence.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Peterson noted the fairly substantial quantity of methamphetamine involved and that Cooke was able to generate enough money selling drugs to purchase a car and have $10,000 in cash on him. Judge Peterson balanced those factors along with Cooke’s lengthy prior criminal record, against his struggle with addiction and his acceptance of responsibility for his actions.
At the time of this incident, Cooke was on state supervision for a prior conviction involving methamphetamine trafficking. His supervision in that case was revoked and he is currently serving a state prison sentence with an expected release date of July 3, 2025. Judge Peterson ordered this federal sentence to run concurrently with the state prison sentence.
The charge against Cooke was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, and Rusk County Sheriff’s Offices, Eau Claire and Ladysmith Police Departments, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson.
Kansas Man to Serve 300 Months in Prison for Child Porn DistributionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – Jason Wayne Irving, 38, of Pittsburg, Kansas, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for distributing child pornography. In February, he pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution of Child Pornography.
According to court documents, Irving admitted that in 2019 he used his email address to upload and send pornographic photos of children. Google detected his activity and notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cyber Tip Line. The images are of children being forced to engage in sexual acts with adults. Soon after, Google reported the email account again for similar conduct during which Google was able to link the account to Irving. After obtaining a search warrant of Irving’s smartphone, law enforcement discovered it has been used for the operation of the Google email account as well as other accounts that had been reported by Facebook for child pornography. Law enforcement also found various files of child pornography on the phone.
Homeland Security Investigation, Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart prosecuted the case.
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KC Man Indicted for Joplin Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for robbing Great Southern Bank in Joplin, Mo., last week.
Leland Scott Graham, 57, was charged with bank robbery in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Graham on July 22, 2021.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original federal criminal complaint, Graham walked into Great Southern Bank, 1232 S. Range Line Road in Joplin, on July 19, 2021. Graham allegedly proceeded to the teller counter, announced a robbery, and demanded money before lifting his shirt to display what tellers believed was a handgun in his waistband. The tellers handed over money, the affidavit says, and Graham left the bank. The affidavit says he dropped some of the cash on the bank floor as he was leaving. Surveillance cameras in the bank captured good quality video during the robbery.
On the day of the robbery, the Joplin Police Department released surveillance images to the media and requested the public’s assistance to identify the bank robber. The next day, July 20, 2021, the police received a tip that identified Graham as the robber. Officers located Graham in Kansas City, Mo., and attempted to stop the vehicle he was driving. Graham did not immediately stop and after a short pursuit, he left the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. Graham was taken into custody a short time later.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI; the Joplin, Mo., Police Department; the Miami County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Department; the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department; and the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.
Justice Department and EPA Reach Clean Air Act Settlement with Advanced Flow Engineering for Selling Defeat DevicesRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Advanced Flow Engineering (aFe), an automotive parts manufacturer and distributor based in Corona, California, has agreed to stop manufacturing and selling parts for motor vehicles that, when installed, defeat, disable or override EPA-approved emission controls and harm air quality.
The complaint, filed simultaneously with the settlement, alleges that aFe’s manufacture and sale of these parts violate the Clean Air Act. From 2014 to the present, aFe manufactured and/or sold over 63,000 of these parts, widely known as “defeat devices.” The company will also pay a $250,000 penalty, which was based on its financial situation.
“The products that aFe manufactured and sold jeopardized the public health by causing illegal emissions of dangerous pollutants, including particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (NOx),” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jean E. Williams of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This case demonstrates that we will undertake necessary enforcement measures to eliminate the manufacture and sale of such devices to ensure that the vehicles on our roads meet required emission standards.”
“Today’s settlement will prevent the future sale of approximately 12,000 illegal product units per year,” said Acting Regional Administrator Deborah Jordan for EPA’s Pacific Southwest. “The increased particulate matter and NOx pollution stemming from defeat devices threatens the health of everyone, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, children and older adults. We also know that air pollution can lead to worse outcomes from COVID-19. It is unacceptable that the same communities that are being hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic are often the same communities that bear the disproportionate impact of air pollution.”
Based on prior sales that are now prohibited under the settlement, EPA estimates that this enforcement action will prevent the release of approximately 112 million pounds of NOx and one million pounds of particulate matter from vehicles that would have been installed with aFe’s defeat devices.
Tampering with diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles by installing defeat devices can cause large amounts of NOx and particulate matter emissions, both of which contribute to serious public health problems. These include premature death, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, aggravation of existing asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis and decreased lung function. Numerous studies also link diesel exhaust to increased incidence of lung cancer. Respiratory issues disproportionately affect families, especially children, living in underserved communities overburdened by pollution. Stopping the sale and use of defeat devices will help reduce harmful air pollution that exacerbates the health effects of pollutant exposures.
The consent decree for this settlement was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the decree will be available on the Department of Justice website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
The enforcement action is part of EPA’s National Compliance Initiative that targets companies that manufacture, sell and install parts that disable vehicle emission controls. To learn more, visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiative-stopping-aftermarket-defeat-devices-vehicles-and-engines
If you suspect someone is manufacturing, selling or installing illegal defeat devices, or is tampering with emission controls, tell the EPA by writing to [email protected].
Jury Finds Maryland Men Guilty of Murder in 2017 Killing of Man in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Nyekemia Everett, 35, of Greenbelt, Md., and Malik Hewitt, 41, of Capitol Heights, Md., have been found guilty of first-degree felony murder while armed and other charges in the 2017 killing of a man in Southeast Washington.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The verdict was returned on July 26, 2021, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In addition to the murder charge, the defendants were found guilty of conspiracy, attempted robbery while armed, and related offenses. The Honorable Neal E. Kravitz scheduled sentencing for Oct. 14, 2021. Both men face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to the government’s evidence, beginning on April 26, 2017, Everett, Hewitt, and a third individual plotted to rob the victim, Christopher Heard. Over the phone, they lured him to the 2300 block of Ainger Place SE, on the pretense of a drug deal. At approximately 3:30 a.m. on April 27, 2017, Everett, Hewitt and the third individual drove together to the area and parked. In the meeting that followed, roughly 15 minutes later, Everett pointed a gun at Mr. Heard and announced a robbery. Mr. Heard lunged toward Everett, who shot him twice. Mr. Heard, 37, died at the scene. Everett and Hewitt fled the area and were arrested in May 2017.
In announcing the verdict, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the FBI, Bode Technology, and the crime scene search unit from the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Services. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyse Constantinide and Richard Barker; Paralegal Specialists Lornce Applewhite, Debra Forte, Nicole McGhee, and Lashone Samuels; Victim Witness Specialist Jennifer Allen; Robert Cephas, La June Thames, Katina Adams-Washington, M. LaVerne Perry, Lesley Slade, and Maenylie Watson, all of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit; Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Homicide Section Intern Jack Holt.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Liebman and Shehzad Akhtar, who prosecuted the case.
Jury Finds Fort Hancock Resident Guilty of Transporting Illegal Aliens and Other CrimesRead the Press Release
EL PASO – Late last Friday, a federal jury found Gilberto Morales guilty on six counts, including one count of conspiracy to possess marijuana; one count of possession of marijuana; one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of conspiracy to transport aliens; one count of conspiracy to harbor aliens; and one count of harboring aliens.
Per the evidence at trial, Gilberto Morales conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana beginning around June 1, 2019, and continuing until August 14, 2020. On August 14, 2020, Morales and another also possessed 100 kilograms or more of marijuana.
On August 14, 2020, Morales was found to be a felon in possession of approximately 1,833 rounds of assorted ammunition and 11 firearms. Morales’ prior conviction consisted of a charge of conspiracy with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine in the Southern District of New York in 2009. He was sentenced to 50 months in prison for that charge.
From June 1, 2019, until August 14, 2020, Morales conspired to transport and harbor aliens and then on August 14, 2020, he harbored aliens.
After the guilty verdict, Morales was taken into custody. Morales’ sentencing date has not been set.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Erik P. Breitzke, El Paso Division made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Border Patrol. AUSAs Adrian Gallegos and Spencer Kiggins are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
AUSA Adrian Gallegos and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas participate in Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. JTFA consists of federal prosecutors and attorneys from U.S. Attorney’s Offices along the Southwest Border (District of Arizona, Southern District of California, Southern District of Texas, and Western District of Texas), from the Criminal Division and the Civil Rights Division, along with law enforcement agents and analysts from DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol. The FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration are also part of the Task Force.
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Joplin Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for enticing a 15-year-old victim through social media to engage in illicit sexual activity.
Clinton Anthony Yeats, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 14 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Yeats to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration.
Yeats, who pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2021, admitted he engaged in an online relationship with the 15-year-old victim, identified in court documents as John Doe. They met through Grindr, a dating application, and communicated online for several months. They also used Snapchat and text messaging to communicate. Yeats solicited and received sexually explicit images of John Doe; Yeats also sent sexually explicit images of himself to John Doe. Yeats and the child victim discussed meeting in person to engage in sexual activity.
The investigation began on Jan. 9, 2020, when Snapchat reported four files that contained child pornography, which had been uploaded by Yeats the day before.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Inmate Indicted on Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury today indicted an inmate on an assault charge, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Lemond Lawrence Burns, 22, of Alpine, with assault of a correctional officer resulting in bodily injury. Burns is accused of assaulting an on-duty corrections officer in the Morgan County Jail in April 2021.
Burns faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The U.S. Secret Service investigated the case along with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin B. Mark is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Indiana Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Interstate Stalking Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Jarvis Wayne Madison (62, New Albany, Indiana) to life in federal prison for interstate stalking resulting in death. Madison was indicted in January 2017 and had pleaded guilty in March 2021.
According to court documents and evidence introduced at his sentencing, Madison, who was married to R.M., physically, emotionally, and mentally abused her for three years before he stalked her and killed her.
The events that led to his conviction began on November 15, 2016, in Indiana, when Madison held R.M. against her will, threatened to kill her, and shot at her with his firearm. R.M. was able to escape from Madison and, with the help of a relative, relocate to Ormond Beach, Florida.
From November 15 to November 27, 2016, Madison left multiple voicemails on and sent multiple text messages to the cellphone of R.M.’s relative, attempting to get R.M. to speak to him. In these voicemails and text messages, Madison sought to terrorize R.M., threatening that she would see him again when she least expected it.
In the days immediately preceding R.M.’s disappearance, Madison stayed with Belenda Sandy at her West Virginia residence. (Sandy, 60, of Buckhannon, West Virginia previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for obstruction of justice for her role in aiding Madison’s crimes.) Madison then left Sandy’s residence, drove to Florida, and conducted surveillance on R.M.
On November 27, Madison watched R.M. leave her relative’s residence in Ormond Beach to go for a jog. Wearing a disguise, Madison stalked R.M. and waited for her to finish her run before he kidnapped her in his SUV. A short time later, as she sat in the front seat of his SUV, Madison shot R.M. three times point blank with a .45 caliber pistol, killing her. With R.M.’s body still in his SUV, Madison left Florida and traveled back to Sandy’s residence in West Virginia. After spending the night there, Madison bought a shovel and a tarp and drove to Tennessee, where he buried R.M.’s body in a shallow grave.
Following R.M.’s disappearance on November 27, 2016, authorities began an investigation that resulted in Madison’s arrest in Kentucky on December 2, 2016. During a subsequent search of Madison’s SUV, law enforcement recovered the firearm used in the homicide, as well as the binoculars he used to stalk R.M. Law enforcement also observed blood stains on the front passenger seat of the SUV. When interviewed, Madison admitted he shot R.M. and later directed authorities where to find her body.
At Madison’s sentencing, the United States presented evidence not only of Madison’s physical, emotional, and mental abuse of R.M. prior to killing her but also evidence that he had been married at least eight times before, and that he had abused each of those women in the same ways. At his sentencing hearing, several of those women bravely testified in detail about Madison’s years of physical, emotional, and mental abuse during their relationships, recounting Madison’s constant threats that he would kill them and their family if they ever reported the abuse to police or attempted to leave him.
Volusia County Sheriff Michael J. Chitwood stated, “This horrific case will never be forgotten here in Volusia County. My heart will always go out to the victim, her family, and friends, and I pray that they’ve found some peace in knowing the coward who killed her will never walk free again. On behalf of the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, the residents of our county and all victims of domestic violence, I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and every agency involved in investigating and prosecuting this tragic case.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Jacksonville, Knoxville, and Louisville Field Offices), with assistance from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, the Indiana State Police, and the Clarksville (Indiana) Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shawn P. Napier and Daniel P. Jancha.
Domestic violence is a crime. If you are a victim of domestic violence, or know someone who is, it is normal to feel scared, helpless, and vulnerable. You are not alone. Help is available locally through City Police Departments and County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as through national entities such as the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 1-303-839-1852.
Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty to Hobbs Act RobberyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man pled guilty to Hobbs Act robbery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Jonathan Nash, 21, of Hattiesburg, was involved in the armed robbery of a Valero gas station in Hattiesburg on March 4, 2019. During the robbery, a firearm was discharged and approximately $400 was taken from the cash register. Nash admitted his involvement in the robbery during a subsequent interview jointly conducted by the ATF and Hattiesburg Police Department.
Nash was originally indicted for this offense on March 16, 2021. He will be sentenced on November 10, 2021, in Hattiesburg, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
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.
Hattiesburg Felon Convicted of Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, on April 25, 2019, Derrick Keys, 34, of Hattiesburg, was the driver of a vehicle pulled over by Hattiesburg Police Department officers near Mobile Street in Hattiesburg. During the stop, Keys began to flee in the motor vehicle, leading police on a miles-long chase through a residential zone. Keys eventually abandoned his vehicle and began to flee on foot. Hattiesburg Police officers found Keys a short distance later, as well as a firearm that he discarded while fleeing on foot. Keys later admitted to possessing the firearm.
Keys was originally indicted for this offense on March 16, 2021. He will be sentenced on November 10, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in 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.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
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.
Glassport, PA Man Admits Having an Extensive Collection of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Glassport, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Rory Shelton, 58, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in May 2019, a 16-year-old female went missing from her home in Paducah, Kentucky. An investigation traced the girl to Shelton’s one-room apartment in Glassport, PA, where the female was found to be staying with Shelton. Subsequent search warrants for the apartment and Shelton’s cell phones revealed an extensive collection of child pornography, including prepubescent minors and sadistic and masochistic conduct. Sexually exploitive images of the 16-year-old were also discovered.
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for Dec. 1, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered Shelton to remain detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Borough of Glassport Police Department, and the Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Shelton.
Former eBay Employee Sentenced for Role in Aggressive Cyberstalking CampaignRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former supervisor of security operations for eBay’s was sentenced today for his role in a cyberstalking campaign targeting a Natick, Mass. couple who published a newsletter that eBay executives viewed as critical of the company.
Philip Cooke, 56, of San Jose, Calif., a former police captain in Santa Clara, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release with the first year spent in home detention. Cooke was also ordered to pay a fine of $15,000 and to perform 100 hours of community service. In October 2020, Cooke pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses.
Cooke admitted to conspiring with six other former eBay employees. David Harville, of New York City, and James Baugh, of San Jose, Calif., were charged on June 15, 2020, with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses and are pending trial. Stephanie Popp and Veronica Zea, both of San Jose, Calif., pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2020 and are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 28, 2021. Stephanie Stockwell, of Redwood City, Calif., and Brian Gilbert, of San Jose, Calif., pleaded guilty on Oct. 29, 2020 and are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 28, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2021, respectively.
According to the charging documents, the victims of the cyberstalking campaign were a Natick couple who are the editor and publisher of an online newsletter that covers ecommerce companies, including eBay. Members of eBay’s executive leadership team followed the newsletter’s posts, often taking issue with its content and the anonymous comments underneath the editor’s stories.
It is alleged that in August 2019, the defendants executed a three-part harassment campaign against the Natick couple. Among other things, several of the defendants ordered anonymous and disturbing deliveries to the victims’ home, including a preserved fetal pig, a bloody pig Halloween mask and a book on surviving the loss of a spouse.
As part of the second phase of the campaign, some of the defendants allegedly sent private Twitter messages and public tweets criticizing the newsletter’s content and threatening to visit the victims in Natick. The charging documents allege that Cooke, Baugh, Gilbert and Popp planned these messages to become increasingly disturbing, culminating with “doxing” the victims (i.e., publishing their home address). It is alleged that the same group intended then to have Gilbert, a former Santa Clara police captain, approach the victims with an offer to help stop the harassment that the defendants were secretly causing, in an effort to promote good will towards eBay.
The third phase of the campaign allegedly involved surveilling the victims in their home and community. The victims spotted the surveillance, however, and notified the Natick Police, who began to investigate.
Aware that the police were investigating, the defendants allegedly sought to interfere with the investigation. For example, Cooke and, allegedly, several of the other defendants discussed the possibility of presenting Natick Police with a false investigative lead to keep the police from discovering video evidence that could link some of the deliveries to eBay employees. As the police and eBay’s lawyers continued to investigate, the defendants allegedly deleted digital evidence that showed their involvement, further obstructing what had by then become a federal investigation.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Natick Police Chief James G. Hicks made the announcement today. eBay provided valuable assistance and cooperation with the federal investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in charging documents as to defendants Harville and Baugh are allegations. They are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Vermillion Township Clerk Sentenced to Prison for $650,000 Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Hastings woman and former elected official was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for misappropriating more than $650,000 in public funds.
According to court documents, from December 2012 through October 2020, Maryann Helen Stoffel, 70, used her elected position as the Clerk of the Township of Vermillion to misappropriate more than $650,000 of Township funds. Although Stoffel had signature authority over the Township’s bank account, Township checks required at least two signatures. As part of the fraud scheme, Stoffel, at times, forged the signatures of the Township’s Treasurer and the Chairman of the Township Board on Township checks. At other times, Stoffel solicited signatures from the Township’s Treasurer and the Chairman of the Township Board on blank Township checks by falsely representing that she would use the checks to pay the Township’s bills. Instead of using the funds to pay the Township’s bills, Stoffel transferred the funds to her personal bank account for her own use and benefit. Stoffel concealed her fraud from the Township and from the State of Minnesota by excluding the unauthorized payments to herself on the Township’s annual report.
On March 16, 2021, Stoffel pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In addition to her prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz ordered Stoffel to serve one year of supervised release and pay $652,674.66 in restitution.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Svendsen.
Former NJDCP&P Employee Sentenced to 250 Months in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man who was previously employed by the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency (NJDCP&P) was sentenced today to 250 months in prison for producing images of child sexual abuse, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Kayan Frazier, 29, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez to one count of producing images of child pornography. Judge Rodriguez imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
After receiving a report of images of child sexual abuse distributed via Tumblr, law enforcement officers identified Frazier, who was then employed as a case worker at NJDCP&P as the sender. On April 12, 2019, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office obtained a search warrant for Frazier’s residence and, while executing the warrant, observed Frazier in the company of an underage boy. Law enforcement officers recovered thousands of additional images of child sexual abuse on Frazier’s cellular telephone and other electronic media, which included images of the boy taken in Frazier’s apartment. Frazier admitted that he took the images with a cellular telephone.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Rodriguez sentenced Frazier to a lifetime term of supervised release. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI Atlantic City Resident Agency Human Trafficking Crimes Against Children Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Cary Shill; the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Scheffler; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, and the New Jersey Human Services Police, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Vondra Carrig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Camden office.
Defense counsel: Lisa Evans Lewis Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Camden
Former Mississippi Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Excessive Force ChargeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that a former officer with the Meridian, Mississippi Police Department pleaded guilty to using excessive force against a man during a vehicle stop and arrest.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Daniel Starks of Meridian, Mississippi, shoved the victim twice as he was getting handcuffed by another officer and then unlawfully used his taser against the victim, even though the victim was compliant and handcuffed. As a result of the tasing, the victim immediately fell to the ground and groaned in pain, his hands restrained behind his back and unable to break his fall. While the victim was still on the ground, Starks pointed the taser at him and demanded that he stand up or else he would be tased again.
“Law enforcement officials who violate people’s federal civil rights are not above the law. This defendant is being held accountable for exceeding his authority and his power when he violated the victim’s civil rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to investigate and prosecute cases involving police officers who willfully violate the constitutional rights of others.”
“Those who abuse their positions of power will be prosecuted according to the law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “This defendant chose to violate his duty and the law, the very law he swore to uphold, by his wanton and violent act against the victim. Justice is served.”
“Law enforcement officers take an oath to serve and protect their communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “When an officer breaks this oath and abuses the authority given to them, they must be held accountable. Investigating violations of civil rights will continue to be a priority for the FBI.”
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26. The defendant faces a statutory maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Jackson Division of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Wansley of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Litigation Counsel Julia Gegenheimer and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Former Intelligence Analyst Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison for Disclosing Classified Information to ReporterRead the Press Release
A Tennessee man was sentenced today to 45 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally obtaining classified national defense information and disclosing it to a reporter.
According to court documents, Daniel Everette Hale, 33, of Nashville, began communicating with a reporter beginning in April 2013 while enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and assigned to the National Security Agency (NSA). Hale admitted to meeting with the reporter in person on multiple occasions and communicating with the reporter via phone, text message, email and, at times, an encrypted messaging platform.
In February 2014, while working as a cleared defense contractor at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Hale printed six classified documents unrelated to his work at NGA and soon after exchanged a series of messages with the reporter. Each of the six documents printed were later published by the reporter’s news outlet.
According to court records, while employed as a cleared defense contractor for NGA, Hale printed 36 documents from his Top Secret computer, including 23 documents unrelated to his work at NGA. Of the 23 documents unrelated to his work at NGA, Hale provided at least 17 to the reporter and/or the reporter’s online news outlet, which published the documents in whole or in part. Eleven of the published documents were marked as Top Secret or Secret.
According to court records, in August 2014, Hale’s cell phone contact list included contact information for the reporter. He also possessed a thumb drive that contained a page marked “SECRET” from a classified document that Hale had printed in February 2014 and had attempted to delete from the thumb drive. In addition, Hale possessed on his home computer another document that he had stolen from NGA.
Hale pleaded guilty to retention and transmission of national defense information on March 31.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark J. Lesko of the Justice Department’s National Security Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Baltimore Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon D. Kromberg and Alexander P. Berrang for the Eastern District of Virginia and Senior Trial Attorney Heather M. Schmidt of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.
Former Collegiate Wrestler Sentenced to Serve 36 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, GUY WESLEY WHITE, 53, of Edmond, was sentenced to serve 36 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Public record reflects that in January 2020, law enforcement were investigating a domestic violence incident involving White and his juvenile daughter. During the investigation, law enforcement learned White possessed a firearm during the domestic violence incident in which he physically assaulted his daughter. In October 2020, a federal grand jury returned a one-count Indictment against White for possession of a firearm after a previous conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Federal law prohibits a person who has previously been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm. On December 9, 2020, White pled guilty to the Indictment.
Yesterday, Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced White to serve 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Chief Judge DeGiusti also ordered White to pay a fine of $6,697.00. Judge DeGiusti ordered White’s sentence to run consecutively to White’s related five-year sentence for child abuse in Oklahoma County Case CF-2020-570. Evidence presented at sentencing indicated White was a former elite collegiate wrestler in Oklahoma. In imposing the sentence, the Court specifically noted White’s abuse of his daughter and his history of domestic violence.
This case is the result of investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Edmond Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Wilson D. McGarry prosecuted the case.
This case is part of "Operation 922," the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhood, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. "Operation 922" prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
Former Camden County jail inmate sentenced to federal prison for providing drugs resulting in fellow inmate's deathRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A former inmate at the Camden County Detention Facility has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for providing the drugs resulting in another inmate’s death by overdose.
Joshua Swing, 36, of Kingsland, Ga., was sentenced to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl, said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Swing to pay $12,919.52 in restitution to the family of the victim, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Overdose deaths in the United States reached an all-time high in the past year, as fentanyl continues to be a growing, deadly threat to users of illicit drugs – particularly highly addictive opioids,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “It’s especially alarming when this dangerous drug penetrates even inside secure jail walls, in this case killing an inmate who thought he was ingesting heroin.”
The investigation of the case, conducted by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office as an outside agency at the request of the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, began May 17, 2020, when an inmate at the Camden County Detention Facility identified as J.D. was found unresponsive in his cell. He later died, and a subsequent autopsy determined acute fentanyl toxicity as the cause of death. After interviews of other inmates and review of security camera footage, investigators determined Swing sold the fentanyl to J.D.
In his guilty plea, Swing admitted providing the fentanyl to J.D., and agreed to pay restitution to the victim’s family in the amount of J.D.’s funeral expenses. Swing has an extensive criminal record with prior felony drug convictions in state court, and just five days before J.D.’s death Swing had been booked into the Camden County Jail after being arrested on a state charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Josephson and E. Greg Gilluly Jr.
Former Boy Scouts Leader Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Boy Scouts Leader was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for sexually exploiting children via a social media app.
Matthew Murphy, 25, of Whitman, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro for the District of New Hampshire to 33 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In January 2020, Murphy pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual exploitation of children.
The investigation began when law enforcement learned that Murphy, posing as a teenage girl, used a Snapchat account to extort nude photographs from a Massachusetts middle school boy. Agents obtained portions of the Snapchat account Murphy had created in the fake identity and uncovered evidence of similar extortion of dozens of other minors in the area. Court records state that Murphy used five separate Snapchat accounts to sexually exploit at least 15 children. Murphy knew some of the children and their families through his connection to local Boy Scouts troops.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. The Whitman Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Mendell’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Former Benton County Pastor, Coach Indicted on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Joshua Henley, 32, of Evansville, Indiana, has been indicted for using three minors to create sexual abuse material and for transporting a minor interstate to engage in criminal sexual activity. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the indictment today.
Henley served as pastor of the Holladay Church of Christ in Holladay, Tennessee, and as a girls’ basketball coach at Holladay Elementary School (K-8) from approximately 2017 through March 2021. He previously held similar positions in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma, and was working as a youth pastor in Indiana until his arrest.
Henley is charged with four counts of producing child sexual exploitation material and one count each of transporting and possessing such materials; one count of transporting a minor interstate to engage in criminal sexual activity; and one count of sending obscene material to a minor under sixteen.
If convicted on all counts, Henley could face up to 160 years in federal prison. The case, number 1:21-cr-10064, is pending before Chief Federal District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson, Tennessee. There is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, with technical assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Anyone with additional information on this or other cases involving sexual exploitation of minors is asked to contact investigators at the FBI Resident Agency in Jackson, Tennessee, or the Sheriff’s Office in Benton County.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
Assistant United States Attorney Debra Ireland is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Florida man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Acting Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, on May 14, 2021, Martin Gerardo Perusquia, 55, of Hollywood, Florida, was driving on I-10 in Jackson County when he was pulled over for a traffic violation by an agent with the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team who was also a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy. During the traffic stop, the agent found that Perusquia was in possession of a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver with ammunition. A search of his criminal history revealed that Perusquia had previous convictions for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and bank robbery. An ATF expert examined the firearm which was determined to have been manufactured outside of Mississippi, and had traveled in interstate commerce. The firearm is being forfeited to the federal government.
Perusquia is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A higher maximum penalty can apply if he is determined to be an Armed Career Criminal, in which case, the penalty would be enhanced to not less than 15 years to life in prison. A federal district court 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, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Jackson County Metro Enforcement Task Force, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris 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.
Filipino Man Convicted of Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal jury in Anchorage has convicted a Philippine national for possessing more than 1,000 doses of pure methamphetamine and a Glock 19 semiautomatic pistol.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Anchorage Police Department (APD) officers were dispatched to a possible homicide in the early morning of August 25, 2018. Looking for possible witnesses in the area, they encountered Markanthony Sapalasan, 38, of Anchorage, who was carrying a backpack. During their conversation with Sapalasan, the officers noticed a pistol in his pants pocket. The officers removed the pistol and transported Sapalasan to APD to speak with detectives about the homicide. Sapalasan’s backpack and gun remained with the initial responding officer. At the end of his shift, the officer conducted the required inventory search of Sapalasan’s backpack prior to placing it into evidence for safekeeping. During this inventory search, the officer found a plastic shopping bag with multiple smaller bags containing methamphetamine. He applied for a search warrant to search the backpack. The search uncovered more than 124.5 grams of actual methamphetamine, which has a street value of nearly $12,000. They also found a scale, a drug ledger, multiple plastic baggies, a phone, two SIM cards, 9mm ammunition, and two pistol magazines. A forensic extraction of Sapalasan’s phone revealed hundreds of text messages coordinating sales of methamphetamine and heroin. Sapalasan was subsequently indicted on October 17, 2018, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in support of a drug trafficking crime.
“Methamphetamine continues to negatively impact the citizens of Anchorage and across Alaska. The conviction of Markanthony Sapalasan is another step forward in ridding the streets of individuals who sell this destructive drug and ruin so many Alaskan lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska.
“Individuals such as Sapalasan and the narcotics that he sold detrimentally affects the safety of our communities,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “Added to this, the use of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug crime exponentially increases the dangers to all Alaskans. Hopefully this conviction will send a message to others that actions such as this will not be tolerated.”
Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy Burgess, who presided over the trial, ordered that Sapalasan be detained pending sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case, with the assistance of the Anchorage Police Department and the State of Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Klugman and Karen Vandergaw prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Federal Jury Convicts Fairview Man of Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Fairview man, Lonnie Burdette Porter, 59, has been convicted of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm after a two-day trial in Billings. Porter was released on conditions pending sentencing which Judge Susan Watters set for December 15, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. in Billings.
The government presented evidence that on September 24, 2020, Porter contacted the Fairview Police Department to report that guns had been stolen from his home while he was out of town. The defendant acknowledged he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his probation.
Later that day, Montana Probation and Parole and Fairview Police Department searched Porter’s home. The defendant again acknowledged he was in possession of firearms. Law enforcement discovered a hole in the floor under the defendant’s dryer which contained a significant amount of firearms. Additional guns were located elsewhere in the house.
In total, thirty-eight firearms, ammunition, and antique firearms were taken from Porter’s home. The following January, eight more guns belonging to the defendant were recovered by the Fairview Police Department.
Porter is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior criminal felony conviction in Richland County, Montana.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Thomas Godfrey prosecuted the case which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Federal Escapee Sentenced After Hitting Law Enforcement Vehicle During ArrestRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that a Montgomery, Alabama man has been sentenced for failing to report back after his work release assignment and running his car into a U.S. Marshals’ vehicle during his arrest. On July 22, 2021, 29-year-old D’Anthony Marquez Dillard was sentenced to 27 months in prison for escaping from federal custody. Following Dillard’s prison sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, in February of 2016 Dillard was sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm and was placed in Bureau of Prisons custody to serve out his term of imprisonment. In June of 2020, Dillard was transferred to a halfway house in Montgomery to complete his sentence where he was allowed to work during the day, then return to the facility in the evening. On September 12, 2020, Dillard failed to report back as required and an arrest warrant was issued for him. On October 15, 2020, the U.S. Marshals Service received a tip concerning Dillard’s location and went to execute the warrant. When Marshals arrived, they spotted Dillard at a gas station in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. The Marshals surrounded Dillard’s vehicle with their own to block him in and prevent escape. Dillard placed his car in reverse and struck the law enforcement vehicle behind him, but quickly gave up when the other vehicles closed in to prevent further movement. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained and there was minimal property damage.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Feil and Joshua Wendell prosecuted the case.
East Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to 15 Years for Attempting to Deal Drugs, Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 180 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years supervised release, for his convictions for violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on James Folks, age 47. Folks was convicted and sentenced for (1) attempting to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of methoxyacetyl fentanyl and (2) possessing a firearm after seven prior felony convictions.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the convictions and sentence in this case.
Durham Man Sentenced for Possessing a Stolen Firearm After High-Speed ChaseRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Durham man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possessing a stolen firearm. On December 8, 2020, Christopher Mandy Holder pled guilty to the charge.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Holder, 37, possessed a stolen handgun, as a convicted felon, during a high-speed chase through Wake County on January 27, 2019. Law enforcement officers found the stolen handgun after Holder crashed his vehicle and attempted to run. Holder exceeded 100 mph while trying to evade law enforcement.
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.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Wake Forest Police Department, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Durham Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated and assisted with the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parris prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-00377-FL.
Duquesne Felon, 22, Charged with Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, has been arrested in West Mifflin on charges of illegal possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The criminal complaint named Keyjuan King, 22, of Duquesne, as the sole defendant.
According to the complaint and supporting affidavit, detectives observed Mr. King walking hastily through a parking lot and quickly approaching an occupied vehicle in the street. Detectives saw that Mr. King has a firearm visible in the front pocket of his shorts and was clutching the handle of the un-holstered firearm. Fearing that Mr. King would potentially harm the individuals inside the vehicle, detectives approached him on foot and asked him to show his hands. When Mr. King noticed the detectives, he turned and fled on foot. While Mr. King was fleeing, he removed the firearm from his shorts and ran toward the wood-line behind a building. He rounded the corner behind the building and was out of detectives’ sight for a brief period of time. Shortly afterwards, detectives were able to place Mr. King in custody. A K9 then searched and found a fully loaded firearm in the hillside, wood-line area in the vicinity of Mr. King when he was not in the detectives’ sight. Mr. King is a convicted felon, so it is a violation of federal law for him to possess a firearm.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, if Mr. King is convicted. 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. Mr. King is being detained pending a detention hearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Ira M. Karoll is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Allegheny County Police Department is conducting the investigation, leading to the arrest of Mr. King.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Two Fentanyl ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national previously residing in Lawrence pleaded guilty today to the second of two fentanyl distribution conspiracies.
Guillermo Aybar-Guerrero, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
In August 2020, Guillermo Aybar-Guerrero was indicted with his brother, Luis Aybar-Guerrero, after investigators conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl from Guillermo on June 10 and 17, 2020. On June 25, 2020, investigators set up a third controlled purchase, at which time Guillermo was arrested in possession of approximately 30 grams of suspected fentanyl. It is alleged that Guillermo retrieved the fentanyl for each of these transactions from Luis. A search of Luis’ residence resulted in the seizure of an additional 223 grams of acetyl fentanyl (a fentanyl analogue) as well as a scale, baggies and other drug distribution paraphernalia.
Luis Aybar-Guerrero pleaded guilty on July 15, 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 18, 2021 by Judge Stearns.
Guillermo previously pleaded guilty in June 2021 to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl for his role in a separate fentanyl conspiracy.
In this conspiracy, investigators conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from Guillermo on April 24 and May 5, 2019. The transactions were coordinated by co-conspirator Francis Jimenez Minyetty. Minyetty pleaded guilty to his involvement in the conspiracy and was sentenced in May 2021 to eight years in prison.
Guillermo’s two cases will be consolidated for purposes of sentencing. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Sept. 29, 2021.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute of 40 grams or more of fentanyl provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Graber of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the cases.
Daytona Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Selling A Firearm and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Lascelles Peter Francis, III (30, Daytona) to 15 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Francis had pleaded guilty on March 15, 2021.
According to court documents, on October 28, 2020, Francis sold approximately 4.8 grams of methamphetamine and a handgun to a confidential informant in the Daytona Beach area. At the time of the offense, Francis had multiple prior felony convictions, including aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and selling methamphetamine within a 1,000 feet of a park.
“Reducing violent crime and protecting the public we serve is a priority for ATF,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig W. Saier. “We will continue to work vigorously with our law enforcement partners to make sure that violent career criminals in possession of firearms are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Daytona Beach Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Daniels.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Danby Man Charged with Distribution of Heroin, Fentanyl, and Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that a federal grand jury, sitting in Rutland, charged Andersen Benoit, 39, of Danby, Vermont with three counts of distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base in July and September of 2019. Benoit is a citizen of Haiti and is also currently facing state drug trafficking charges in New York.
At his arraignment, Benoit pled not guilty to the charges. Upon the Government’s motion for detention, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered Benoit detained pending trial.
The Indictment is an accusation only, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The penalties for each of the charges is up to 20 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and a mandatory three years of supervised release. Any sentence will be formulated through consultation of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and consideration of Benoit’s personal history and characteristics.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigation of the Vermont State Police Narcotics Investigative Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella. Benoit is represented by Rich Bothfeld, Esq.
Boise Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
BOISE – Charles R. Jorgensen, 43, of Boise, was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. announced today. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Jorgensen to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
According to court records, Jorgensen was arrested at a residence in Boise during a probation search. He was found to be in possession of a backpack that contained 333.4 grams of methamphetamine, 2.38 grams of heroin, two 9mm pistols, 39 rounds of ammunition, and $20,485. Jorgensen was interviewed after his arrest and admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to others, the $20,485 was proceeds from his prior drug sales, and that he knew he was prohibited from possessing the firearms. Jorgensen pleaded guilty to the charges on March 11, 2020.
Jorgensen has previously been arrested 39 times and convicted of offenses including aggravated assault, domestic battery, possession of a controlled substance, grand theft, and eluding a police officer. At the time of this offense, Jorgensen was on out on parole for two separate offenses: grand theft and possession of a controlled substance.
Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez credited the cooperative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boise Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and Idaho Department of Correction, which led to charges.
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Bandera Resident Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A federal judge today sentenced 63-year-old Michael Dewayne Sheeds to 50 years in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for the production and possession of child pornography.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra ordered Sheeds to pay $100,000 in restitution to each of the two victims and pay two $5,000 assessments per the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
Sheeds was arrested in Laredo on January 7, 2019, on an arrest warrant from Bandera County Sheriff’s Office. A Samsung Galaxy phone was seized from him. A forensic data extraction from the phone showed it contained images and videos depicting the sexual assault of children, including child abuse images and videos Sheeds produced.
“The defendant’s abuse forever altered his victims’ lives and was only discovered when one of them bravely preserved evidence of his horrific conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “I am convinced the action undertaken by this victim prevented additional harm. While the impact to the victims in this case can never be undone, my hope is that the lengthy prison sentence assists in their healing process while serving to further protect our community.”
On January 6, 2020, the Bandera resident pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Sheeds has remained in custody since his arrest on January 7, 2019.
“Today’s sentencing sends a strong message to those who would harm the children of our community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs. “For years, the defendant in this case committed despicable and heinous acts. Thanks to the exemplary efforts of the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office, he will finally be held accountable for his actions. The FBI is committed to preventing violent crimes against children and to bring those who harm them to justice. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and use every investigative tool to protect the public from acts of violence.”
This investigation was initiated by the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office and then proceeded as a joint investigation with the San Antonio FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Art Dealer Arrested on Federal Charges Alleging He Embezzled Funds from Miracle Mile Art Gallery’s Bankruptcy EstateRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A noted art dealer was arrested today on federal charges accusing him of embezzling more than $260,000 from the bankruptcy estate of Ace Gallery, a Miracle Mile-based art gallery, while acting as the estate’s trustee and custodian.
Douglas J. Chrismas, 77, of the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles, surrendered without incident this morning to special agents of the FBI. A federal grand jury charged Chrismas via indictment with three counts of embezzlement against a bankruptcy estate. Chrismas was ordered released on $50,000 bond. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and a September 21 trial date has been scheduled in this matter.
According to the indictment returned on March 16 and unsealed today, Chrismas was the president and CEO of Art and Architecture Books of the 21st Century, which did business as Ace Gallery and was located on the Miracle Mile in the City of Los Angeles.
In February 2013, Ace Gallery filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in Los Angeles and continued to operate as a bankruptcy estate with Chrismas acting as the gallery’s president, trustee, custodian and overseer of its operations. In this role, Chrismas also had access to the gallery’s property. Chrismas remained in control over Ace Gallery until April 2016, when an independent bankruptcy trustee was appointed to run the bankruptcy estate and Chrismas was removed as trustee and custodian.
In late March and early April of 2016, Chrismas allegedly embezzled approximately $264,595 that belonged to the Ace Gallery bankruptcy estate, including a $50,000 check that Chrismas signed, was drawn against the estate and was paid to a separate corporation that Chrismas owned and controlled.
Chrismas allegedly also embezzled $100,000 owed to Ace Gallery by a third party for the purchase of artwork but the funds instead were paid – at his direction – to his separate corporation. Finally, Chrismas embezzled approximately $114,595 owed to the gallery by a third party that purchased artwork, but which he instead had paid to a creditor of his separate corporation, according to the indictment.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted of all charges, Chrismas would face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team and the Office of the United States Trustee investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Valerie L. Makarewicz of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.
Albany Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Dewey K. Sims, age 32, of Albany, pled guilty today to illegally possessing a .25 caliber pistol as a felon.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
As part of his plea, Sims admitted that on March 7, 2020, he possessed a loaded .25 caliber pistol on his person when he was pulled over for a speeding violation in the Town of Colonie. A prior felony conviction for armed robbery prevented Sims from legally possessing the firearm in New York.
Sims faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on November 30, 2021 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Colonie Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon.
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.
34 indicted for expansive drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Arrests were made this morning after 34 people were indicted on July 20 for a drug trafficking conspiracy that spans several states, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
The 30-count indictment charges 34 people from West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the Dominican Republic for allegedly conducting a drug trafficking operation that included large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base, and cocaine hydrochloride from Hagerstown, Maryland to locations in Berkeley County, West Virginia from August 2020 to June 2021. The drugs seized during the investigation amounted to 8.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.02 kilograms of heroin, and 12 ounces of cocaine base “crack,” with a street value of approximately $471,000. Those charged are:
- Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, also known as “Papi,” 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland and the Dominican Republic
- Juan Manuel De La Rosa-Tejeda, also known as “Little Papi,” 35, of Hagerstown, Maryland and the Dominican Republic
- Daniel Inoa-Rodriguez, also known as “Danny,” 21, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Shawn Gorsira, 50, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Ana Ercilia Luna, 36, of Hagerstown, Maryland and the Dominican Republic
- Stephany Rodriguez, 32, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Dominick Mickens, 38, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Jackie Devon Thompson, 41, of Frederick, Maryland
- Tyrone Lewis, Aka Roc, 42, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Alan Clark Tolliver, 41, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Miguel Angel Santiago Caraballo, 30, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
- Carl Lomax Wynn, 56, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Marcus Deon Longus, 40, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Thomas Moore, 38, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Samuel Rose, 48, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Dandre Trayham, 32, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Branden Watson, 38, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Caleb Sinclair, 35, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Destiny Dabbs, 29, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Felicia Johnson, 34, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Brian C. Dixon, 49, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Christina Anders, 25, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Edwin Orrillio, also known as “J Money,” 34, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Paul David Fairburn, 26, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Edson Velasquez-Lopez, 50, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Chelsea Nicole Pinkcett, 33, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Daniel Hardy, 33, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Eliseo Rozas, 43, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
- Ron Bowers, 52, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Angela Dawn Gregory, 47, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Demitre Mccoy White, 40, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Devron Jerel Brown, also known as “Country,” 33, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Lester Luna, 27, of Hagerstown, Maryland
- Carlos M. Nunez-Arias, also known as “Charlote,” 51, of Hagerstown, Maryland
“This case is, once again, a prime example of the excellent work being performed by the Assistant United States Attorneys in the Northern District of West Virginia, members of the task force and our state and local law enforcement partners. The drug enterprise run by the defendants involved a sophisticated operation including the use of a purported business to act as a front for drug trafficking and the laundering of hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds. The fact that a good portion of the investigation occurred during the pandemic makes the results even more impressive. The message for those engaged in the trafficking of drugs, especially heroin and fentanyl, within the Northern District of West Virginia remains the same; you will be caught and the United States will seek lengthy prison terms to protect the citizens of West Virginia from the danger you present,” said Bernard.
It is alleged that Luna Mota, the owner of Top 3 Sources, a business in Hagerstown, Maryland, was using his business on West Washington Street for the purpose of having and selling controlled substances.
The indictment also lists items requested for forfeiture that include more than $400,000 in cash, a .22 caliber pistol, ammunition, and six vehicles, all believed to be proceeds from the drug trafficking conspiracy.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; The Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia Air National Guard, the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative (agencies included are the West Virginia State Police, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson County Sherriff’s Department, Ranson Police Department, Charles Town Police Department, and Martinsburg City Police Department); West Virginia State Police; Customs and Border Protection; the Hagerstown Police Department; the National Resources Police Department; FBI-New York Safe Streets Task Force; the New York Police Department; the New Jersey State Police; the Washington County (Maryland) Drug Task Force; the Maryland State Police; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
26 July 2021
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Sex Trafficking Charge Defendant Coerced and Sexually Exploited Three Women in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michael Jabaar Wilkins, 38, of Norfolk, Va., has pleaded guilty to a federal sex trafficking charge stemming from his sexual exploitation of three women – sometimes using violence - between 2011 and 2019 for his own financial gain.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Robert E. Bornstein, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Wilkins pleaded guilty on July 21, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to a charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Wilkins remains detained pending his sentencing on Dec. 2, 2021, by the Honorable Rudolph Contreras.
According to the government’s evidence, over the course of a decade, Wilkins separately induced and coerced the women to travel from Virginia to the District of Columbia to engage in commercial sex acts for his own financial benefit. He took sexually explicit photographs of two of the women that he used in online advertisements for commercial sex. The activities took place in the 1300 block of 12th Street NW and other locations in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Northwest Washington. According to the evidence, Wilkins physically assaulted two of the women, knocking one of them unconscious in one confrontation.
Wilkins was arrested on Nov. 5, 2019, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is composed of FBI agents and local, state, and federal partners. He has been detained ever since. He pleaded guilty less than a week before his trial was scheduled to begin.
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Acting Special Agent in Charge Bornstein, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI and MPD. also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Justice Department’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. They acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kenny Nguyen and Alexis Spencer-Anderson, Victim Witness Program Specialist Yvonne Bryant, Victim Witness Service Coordinator Tonya Jones, and Witness Security Specialist Lesley Slade. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy E. Larson and Janani Iyengar, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Vallejo Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Matthew Core, 39, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to six years and three months in prison for committing bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of reproduced U.S. Postal Service keys, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between February and August 2018, Core participated in a scheme to defraud banks in which he and others used counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys to break into residential mailboxes throughout Northern California. The scheme’s participants stole mail from these mailboxes and harvested bankcards, personal and business checks, and government-issued IDs, all belonging to the mail-theft victims. They then altered some of the checks and bankcards with the intent to use them to defraud financial institutions.
In one instance, in April 2018, Core deposited an altered check issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank into his own bank account at an ATM in Vallejo. By depositing the altered check, Core knowingly used the identity of a mail-theft victim without legal authority. Core committed these acts with the intent to defraud JP Morgan Chase, which was insured by FDIC. Similarly, on Aug. 29, 2018, when Core and others were arrested in Granite Bay, Core knowingly possessed at least four counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys and two U.S. Postal Service locks. He possessed these items with the intent to commit identity theft and bank fraud, including using them to steal U.S. Mail. On that same date, Core also possessed at least fifteen unauthorized bankcards.
In April 2020, after pleading guilty, Core sought pretrial release pending his sentencing based on his condition as a cancer survivor and vulnerability to contracting the COVID‑19 virus in jail. He was shortly released and admitted to a residential drug treatment program. Two months later, however, Core absconded from the drug treatment facility without permission, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest. In July 2020, the defendant was arrested in South Lake Tahoe after he fled from police. During a search of his car, law enforcement officers found an assault rifle and an empty 15-round magazine for a Springfield .45‑caliber handgun in the trunk.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the Vallejo Police Department, and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz is prosecuting the case.
Core has been in custody since his July 2020 rearrest and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
US Attorney’s Office Settles ADA Dispute Involving Service Animals at Westborn MarketsRead the Press Release
Detroit, MI – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced today that it has reached a settlement with Westborn Inc., owner and operators of Westborn Markets in Plymouth, Dearborn, Livonia, and Berkley, MI, to resolve an allegation that it improperly interrogated an individual with a disability accompanied by a service animal. The investigation began after the US Attorney’s Office received a complaint through its Civil Rights Hotline from a man with a disability who uses a service animal who alleged that an Westborn employee demanded written proof that his dog was a service animal and was asked to leave the market when he refused.
“People with disabilities who use service animals should not have to suffer through invasive questions or provide written documentation for their dogs in order to go grocery shopping or engage in other activities of daily living,” said Saima Mohsin, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. “If it is not obvious that a dog is a service animal, a store may ask only two questions: 1) Is the animal required because of a disability? and 2) What work or tasks has the animal been trained to perform? Anything beyond that is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
Under the settlement agreement, Westborn Inc. will adopt a non-discrimination policy with specific service animal provisions, train all of its employees on the ADA, and prominently display in each store a notice indicating that service animals are welcome.
The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by public accommodations, such as grocery stores and retail markets. Public accommodations must allow people with disabilities the full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services, and facilities, which includes making reasonable modifications of their policies, practices, and procedures to permit people with disabilities to be accompanied by service animals.
The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan was established in 2010 with the mission of prioritizing federal civil rights enforcement. For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, including a copy of settlement agreement with Westborn Inc., please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/programs/civil-rights. ADA complaints may be emailed to [email protected] or by contacting the U.S. Attorney's Office’s Civil Rights Hotline at (313) 226-9151.
More information about the ADA is available at the Justice Department’s toll free ADA Information line at (800) 514 0301 or (800) 514 0383 (TTY) and on the ADA website at www.ada.gov.
Two SCI Inmates, Two Allegheny County Residents Charged in Schemes to Smuggle Synthetic Cannabinoids into State Prisons and to Obtain Pandemic Unemployment BenefitsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - Two residents of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and two individuals incarcerated at Pennsylvania State Correctional Institutions (SCIs), have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of shipping drugs into a prison and pandemic unemployment fraud, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The three-count drug-related Indictment, returned on July 20, 2021 and unsealed today, named Rodney Howard, 36, who is currently incarcerated at SCI Mahanoy; Dustin Hill, 34, who is currently incarcerated at SCI Benner; and DeAndre Jackson, 28, of Skyline Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15227.
The one-count pandemic unemployment fraud-related Indictment, also returned on July 20, 2021 and unsealed today, named DeAndre Jackson, 28, of Skyline Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15227, Rodneka Howard, 27, of Greensburg Pike, North Versailles, PA 15137; and Rodney Howard, 36, who is currently incarcerated as SCI Mahanoy. Rodney and Rodneka Howard are siblings with each other and half-siblings with DeAndre Jackson.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman said, “Introducing illicit drugs into the prison system endangers inmates and employees. Illegally obtaining pandemic unemployment benefits hurts real Pennsylvania workers struggling to cope with job loss. Both types of crimes violate federal law and will be swiftly and justly prosecuted.”
“The PA Department of Corrections maintains a zero tolerance policy toward individuals who engage in criminal activity while housed in our facilities, particularly those who put staff and others at risk by attempting to smuggle dangerous drugs into prisons,” said PA Department of Corrections (PADOC) Secretary John Wetzel. "The charges announced today are the result of months of exemplary work from members the PADOC’s Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence, the DOJ, and our other state and federal law enforcement partners, and I applaud them for their efforts.”
Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison, Pittsburgh Division said, “Postal Inspectors, federal prosecutors and our law enforcement partners have diligently worked to identify and disrupt the activities of drug trafficking and mail fraud. Postal Inspectors will continue to tirelessly investigate these types of crimes that utilize the U.S. Postal Service to facilitate illicit transactions.”
“An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud related to unemployment insurance programs. We will continue to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations”, stated Syreeta Scott, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
According to the drug-related indictment, Rodney Howard, Hill, and Jackson conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute ADB-BUTINACA, which is a Schedule I controlled substance. The indictment also charges Jackson with distributing that drug and with using the mails to aid this unlawful activity.
According to the pandemic unemployment fraud-related indictment, Jackson, Rodneka Howard, and Rodney Howard conspired to commit mail fraud by applying for or causing applications for pandemic benefits on behalf of three incarcerated individuals who were ineligible for those benefits. One of those cards was mailed to Rodneka Howard’s home address and another was mailed to an address that Jackson has used as his shipping and billing address in other contexts.
According to affidavits filed in support of search warrants that have been unsealed, on January 29, 2021, a manilla envelope was mailed from a post office in Pittsburgh to Hill at SCI Dallas with a return address at the Court of Common Pleas in Pittsburgh. The package contained approximately 30 sheets of cotton fiber paper that appeared to be a docket for a criminal case against Dustin Hill in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Later lab testing concluded that the sheets had been soaked in a synthetic cannabinoid named ADB-BUTINACA.
Postage for that envelope was paid using a pandemic unemployment benefits card in the name of inmate Z.E. who was on the same cell block at SCI Dallas as Rodney Howard and Hill.
In early February 2021, the envelope arrived at SCI Dallas and was treated as legal mail. Under the protocols at that time, the envelope was delivered to Hill by multiple corrections officers who opened it in front of Hill. The officers realized that the envelope’s content had been soaked in suspected synthetic cannabinoids, so they took the envelope to the Security Office for further inspection. At the Security Office, two corrections officers became ill from exposure to the envelope’s contents.
The sheets of paper in the envelope were altered to look like Hill had a criminal case in Allegheny County, so the package would appear to be legitimate legal mail shipped from Pittsburgh. But Hill has no criminal cases in Allegheny County.
Additionally, the affidavits describe recorded jail calls and photos of handwritten notes in DeAndre Jackson’s phone that further connect Rodney Howard, Jackson, and Hill to the envelope and the drug-soaked sheets inside. For example, Jackson’s personal credit card was used to make payments to Hill, consistent with jail calls between Rodney Howard and Jackson, as well as consistent with a photo of a handwritten note in Jackson’s phone.
As explained in the affidavits, there is a market in prison for sheets of paper soaked in synthetic cannabinoids. An inmate will generally cut such a sheet into small pieces to sell to other inmates who ingest the paper for the psychedelic effects. It is common to soak the synthetic cannabinoids in parchment paper because the thicker cotton paper is absorbent. Such contraband is typically introduced into state prisons under the guise of legal mail, which may be addressed to a different inmate to avoid detection if the mail is intercepted. During the coronavirus pandemic, the prices for these sheets of drug-soaked paper have increased dramatically. Although the prices fluctuate, at relevant times, a full sheet of paper with synthetic cannabinoids could sell in an SCI, once divided into separate pieces, for a total of approximately $8,000, $10,000 or $14,000. Jackson’s emails include notifications for hundreds of Cash App transactions, including transactions that indicate they are on behalf of individuals at “SCI Dallas” or “in the Dallas prison.”
The pandemic benefit card that Jackson was using is connected to two other pandemic benefits cards in the names of incarcerated individuals, including Rodney Howard. The Rodney Howard card was shipped to Rodneka Howard’s home address in North Versailles, and she used this card to make purchases. Another of the cards was shipped to the Amato Drive address in North Versailles that Jackson has used, and there is evidence of Jackson using that card.
For the drug charges, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. For the mail fraud conspiracy, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Ira M. Karoll is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections- Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence, and United States Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the Indictments in this case, with assistance from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry—Internal Audits Division.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Nigerian Nationals Indicted for Romance and Pandemic Unemployment Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Nigerian nationals were indicted on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in connection with their roles in expansive online fraud schemes targeting individuals in the United States, including romance scams and pandemic unemployment assistance fraud.
Osakpamwan Henry Omoruyi, 36, and Osaretin Godspower Omoruyi, 34, who previously resided in Canton, were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions. In March 2021, the defendants were charged by criminal complaint.
According to the charging documents, the defendants, along with other co-conspirators, allegedly participated in a series of romance and other online scams designed to defraud victims into sending money to accounts and debit cards they controlled. Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim.
To carry out the schemes, the defendants allegedly used fake passports in the names of others to open numerous bank accounts and directed victims to send money to these accounts. They allegedly used the accounts to collect fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits in the names of beneficiaries who did not apply for such benefits.
The charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and forfeiture. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and forfeiture. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property, whichever is greater, and forfeiture. 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; Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Miron Bloom and Ian Stearns of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. 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.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Men Charged in Connection with 11 Robberies and Attempted Robberies of Luxury Watches in New York City, New Jersey, and Long IslandRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Dermot Shea, Police Commissioner for the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging VICTOR RIVERA, 30, and JOHAN ARAUJO, 40, with conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, attempted robbery, attempted extortion, interstate transportation of stolen property, money laundering, and firearms offenses. ARAUJO was arrested on July 23 and presented and arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. RIVERA was previously charged in an Indictment in November 2020 and is currently in custody. This case is assigned to United States District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged in the Indictment, the defendants committed a series of armed robberies and attempted robberies of jewelers and other owners of luxury watches in and around New York City. In one of these robberies, a victim was shot. Thanks to the outstanding work of the NYPD and Special Agents of our Office, time ran out on the defendants, who now face federal charges for their alleged crimes.”
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “The charges show that while criminals often believe they can operate in plain sight with apparent impunity, the NYPD and our law enforcement partners exist to shatter that notion and bring those responsible to justice. I thank our colleagues at the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York for their dedication and hard work building this case and ensuring these two alleged dangerous criminals will be held to account.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed last Friday in Manhattan federal court and based on statements made in court proceedings and filings[1]:
From at least in or about October 2019 up to and including November 2020, RIVERA, ARAUJO, and others known and unknown agreed to rob victims of luxury watches worth up to hundreds of thousands of dollars each. The watches owned by victims targeted in the robberies included Richard Mille, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe as part of the jewelers’ businesses based in Manhattan’s Diamond District. RIVERA used guns to commit several of the robberies, and in one robbery, shot a victim, who survived.
The 11 robberies and attempted robberies included the following:
- On October 3, 2019, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in Long Island City, New York, of, among other things, a Richard Mille watch worth over $250,000.
- On October 25, 2019, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in Jamaica, New York, of, among other things, a Rolex watch worth over $150,000.
- On December 10, 2019, RIVERA, ARAUJO, and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in Brooklyn, New York, of, among other things, a Patek Philippe watch worth over $160,000 and a diamond necklace worth over $77,000. During the robbery, a firearm was shown to the victim.
- On January 14, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed of a jeweler in Rego Park, New York, of, among other things, a Richard Mille watch worth over $500,000.
- On February 16, 2020, RIVERA and ARAUJO robbed a jeweler in Jamaica Estates, New York, of, among other things, an Audemars Piguet watch worth over $28,000.
- On February 20, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed an individual in Long Island City, New York, of, among other things, an Audemars Piguet watch worth over $125,000.
- On June 11, 2020, RIVERA and ARAUJO robbed a jeweler in Brooklyn, New York, of, among other things, a Richard Mille watch worth over $148,000. During the robbery, a firearm was shown to the victim and a victim was shot.
- On July 6, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in Hoboken, New Jersey, of, among other things, a Richard Mille watch worth over $81,000. Following the robbery, RIVERA and others transported the stolen watch from New Jersey to New York.
- On July 20, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator participated in an attempted robbery of a jeweler in Queens, New York, attempting to steal a Richard Mille watch worth over $180,000.
- On August 2, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed an individual in the vicinity of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, of, among other things, a Richard Mille watch worth over $250,000. During the robbery, a firearm was shown to a victim. Following the robbery, RIVERA and others transported the stolen watch from New Jersey to New York.
- On October 27, 2020, RIVERA and a co-conspirator robbed a jeweler in the vicinity of Woodbury, New York, of, among other things, an Audemars Piguet watch worth over $26,000 and assorted jewels and gold links worth over $60,000. During the robbery, a firearm was shown to a victim.
* * *
A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum and minimum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Ms. Strauss also thanked the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Englewood Cliffs Police Department, the Weehawken Police Department, and the Nassau County Police Department for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Mathew Andrews, Andrew K. Chan, and Celia Cohen are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COUNT
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAX. PENALTY
Count One
Hobbs Act Robbery Conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1951
VICTOR RIVERA
JOHAN ARAUJO
20 years in prison
Count Two
Money Laundering Conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)
VICTOR RIVERA
20 years
Count Three
Hobbs Act Robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
20 years
Count Four
Hobbs Act Robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
20 years
Count Five
Hobbs Act Robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
JOHAN ARAUJO
20 years
Count Six
Firearms offense
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of seven years in prison
Count Seven
Hobbs Act Robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
20 years
Count Eight
Hobbs Act Robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
JOHAN ARAUJO
20 years
Count Nine
Hobbs Act Robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
JOHAN ARAUJO
20 years
Count Ten
Firearms offense
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
Count Eleven
Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
20 years
Count Twelve
Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property
18 U.S.C. §§ 2314 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
10 years
Count Thirteen
Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery and Extortion
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
20 years
Count Fourteen
Hobbs Act Robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
20 years
Count Fifteen
Firearms offense
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of seven years in prison
Count Sixteen
Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property
18 U.S.C. §§ 2314 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
10 years
Count Seventeen
Hobbs Act Robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
20 years
Count Eighteen
Firearms offense
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2
VICTOR RIVERA
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of seven years in prison
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, the description of the Indictment, and the statements made in related court filings and proceedings set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Individuals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two of the 15 individuals charged as a result of the long-term investigation dubbed the “Woo Boyz” have been sentenced to federal prison for federal drug and gun crimes. Erica Ratliff, 36, of Charleston, was sentenced to six years in prison for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine. Devonte Andrews, 28, of Charleston, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Ratliff met her drug source of supply at the Family Dollar store on Bigley Avenue on November 24, 2020 and purchased three ounces of methamphetamine. After Ratliff left the parking lot of the Family Dollar store, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on her vehicle. The officers recovered the methamphetamine that Ratliff had just purchased as well as other controlled substances she had on her person. Ratliff admitted that she intended to distribute the methamphetamine.
Court documents indicate that Andrews was walking on Hale Street on January 24, 2021 when he was stopped by officers with the Charleston Police Department. At the time, Andrews had a loaded Taurus PT 738 .380 ACP firearm behind his back. Andrews admitted that he has a 2016 felony conviction for distribution of heroin and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the U.S. Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman handled the prosecutions.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00046 (Andrews) and 2:21-cr-00033 (Ratliff).
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Two Columbia Men Sentenced to Multi-Year Prison Terms for Role in Sale of Cocaine Base to Undercover Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart announced today that two Columbia men were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base. Jamil Shamond Brennan, 26, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than 9 years in prison. Tevin Brosia, 27, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that Brennan and Brosia helped facilitate the sale of cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine, to an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a drug buyer. On February 25, 2020, the undercover officer made a controlled purchase of 25.7 grams of crack cocaine outside a residence in Columbia. Brennan supplied the crack cocaine sold; Brosia was the middleman for the sale.
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Brennan to 110 months in federal prison and sentenced Brosia to 140 months in federal prison. Both Brosia and Brennan’s prison terms will be followed by a six-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Columbia Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Flynn prosecuted the case.
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