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Friday 7 May 2021
Member of White Supremacist Gang Pleads Guilty to Violent Assault and Conspiracy to Sell FirearmsRead the Press Release
A member of the Aryan Circle (AC) pleaded guilty Thursday to his role in an October 2016 violent assault, as well as conspiring to sell firearms to a convicted felon. Another individual pleaded guilty on April 19, to conspiring with members of the AC to sell methamphetamine.
Rodney Shane Holt, aka “Turbo,” 48, of Tyler, Texas, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering, as well as conspiracy to sell firearms to a convicted felon. Holt committed the assault as part of his membership in the AC, a gang that operates in Texas and other states throughout the country. According to court documents, Holt planned and participated in the events surrounding a violent beating of another AC member who wanted to switch his gang affiliation, or “patch over,” from the AC to a different gang. Holt and other AC members carried out the attack in order to “X,” or remove the AC member from the gang, because joining another organization violated the AC’s rules. Holt also sold high caliber firearms to convicted felons.
Eulalio Torres-Cadenas, aka “Yayo,” 43, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, namely 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. According to court documents, Torres-Cadenas supplied an AC member with multiple kilograms of methamphetamine in 2016, in the area of Houston, Texas. The AC member then went on to distribute the methamphetamine to buyers in Louisiana, including other AC members. The drug conspiracy that Torres-Cadenas pleaded to was uncovered as part of Operation Noble Virtue, an investigation that has focused on the criminal conduct of the AC’s leadership.
The AC is a violent, white supremacist organization that originated in the Texas Department of Corrections and operates in federal prisons across the country, as well as outside prisons in states including Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri. The AC enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects, and associates through murder, attempted murder, assault, and threats. Members, and oftentimes associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members without question.
Sentencing dates have not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Holt faces maximum sentences of 20 years in prison for the assault in aid of racketeering and five years in prison for the firearms conspiracy, while Torres-Cadenas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Eastern District of Texas made the announcement.
This case is being investigated by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Montgomery County (TX) Precinct One Constable’s Office; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; New Jersey Department of Corrections-Special Investigations Division; Indiana State Police; Fort Smith (AR) Police Department; Arkansas Department of Corrections; Arnold (MO) Police Department; Jefferson County (MO) Sheriff’s Department; St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; St. Louis County (MO) Police Department; Indiana Department of Corrections; Carrollton (TX) Police Department; Montgomery County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Travis County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Tarrant County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Evangeline Parish (LA) Sheriff’s Office; Smith County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; McCurtain County (OK) Sheriff’s Office; Montgomery County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Liberty County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Harris County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Mercer County (NJ) District Attorney’s Office; Evangeline Parish (LA) District Attorney’s Office; and the Sebastian County (AR) District Attorney’s Office.
Trial Attorneys Bethany Lipman, Rebecca Dunnan and Alexander Gottfried of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Rapp of the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
Man from Nambe sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sexual abuse in Indian CountyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Yvon Loretto, 62, of Nambe, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Nambe, was sentenced in federal court on May 5 to 15 years in prison for abusive sexual contact in Indian Country.
Loretto pleaded guilty on Aug. 11, 2020. According to the plea agreement, on or between Oct. 1, 2016, and Oct. 31, 2016, Loretto sexually abused the victim, who at the time was less than 12 years old. The assault occurred on the Pueblo of Nambe in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
Upon his release from prison, Loretto will be subject to eight years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle prosecuted the case.
Man Indicted for Shooting Gun on Federal Property During the May 2020 ProtestRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS - A federal grand jury in Indianapolis, returned an indictment charging an Indianapolis man with a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
According to court documents, Tyrone Ross, 29, was in downtown Indianapolis on May 30, 2020, protesting the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, 2020. The Federal Protective Services (FPS) cameras associated with the Birch Bayh Federal Building on Ohio Street, captured the activities of peaceful and non-peaceful protesters.
The indictment alleges that at approximately 11:15 p.m., the FPS cameras captured a group of approximately seven individuals who began assembling on federal property at the southeast corner of the federal building. As the group began to walk west on the north side of Ohio Street, a person in the group, later identified as Ross, pulled out a firearm from under his clothing and fired at least four shots across Ohio Street towards the Yolk Restaurant on the south side of Ohio Street. At the time, Ohio Street was filled with pedestrians and vehicles. After the shots were fired, the other members of the group began to run west as other pedestrians ran in different directions. The indictment further alleges that Ross then began running as well and caught up with the original group as they all ran toward the southwest corner of the federal building at the corner of Ohio Street and Meridian Street. As Ross continued to run on federal property, he again raised the handgun straight in the air and fired at least one additional round.
“Randomly shooting a gun across a busy street and crowded sidewalk at any time is senseless and reckless,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “This type of behavior cannot be justified or tolerated in a civil society and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The charge against Mr. Ross demonstrates the tenacity of the FBI and our law enforcement partners in identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals who incite violence and threaten the safety of other citizens,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “We will continue to devote time and resources to gather information and locate those who engage in such criminal activity.”
Ross is charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm. If convicted, he faces a maximum $250,000 fine, 10 years in prison, and 3 years supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Peter A. Blackett is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Leader of Armed Home Invasion Robbery Crew Sentenced for RICO Conspiracy and Other Violent CrimesRead the Press Release
A Texas man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his leadership role in an armed home invasion robbery crew that traveled the United States targeting families of South Asian and East Asian descent.
Juan Olaya, 41, of Houston, Texas, was convicted by a federal jury of one count of racketeering conspiracy, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence on March 9, 2020. According to evidence presented at trial, Olaya acted as the road boss for an enterprise that committed a string of armed home invasions in Michigan, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, and Texas from August through December of 2014. Olaya recruited other crew members and assigned roles to those members. Olaya and crew members then traveled to specific locations, conducted surveillance, and executed the robberies.
“The Criminal Division is committed to protecting the American public from violent criminals, particularly when those criminals target individuals based on their ethnicity or race,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We hope that this prosecution, trial conviction, and sentence will serve as a deterrent to others who might think about engaging in similar violent conduct.”
“Juan Olaya and his robbery crews committed a host of violent crimes that terrorized innocent victims across the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “His crimes are made more disturbing because the victims were chosen based on their ethnicity or race. The FBI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and hold accountable predators like Olaya who threaten the safety of our communities.”
The organizer of the crew, Chaka Castro, ran the enterprise from 2011 through 2014. Castro was convicted by a federal jury on June 4, 2019, and was sentenced to 37 years in prison on Oct. 28, 2019. Castro generated lists of robbery targets in various states around the county, specifically families whose last names were common to certain ethnicities and assigned crews to carry out armed robberies inside the families’ homes.
The crew utilized a particular modus operandi in each of the robberies. Members preferred to rob homes while the families were present so they could use their victims to point out valuable items. Members disguised their appearance with clothing and bandanas so that victims would have difficulty identifying them. They openly carried and brandished firearms to gain control of the victims and then immediately corralled the victims, including children, into one location in the home. At least one crew member then restrained the victims using duct tape and threats of violence, as one or more others ransacked the home in search of cash, jewelry, and electronics. The crew organized their trips to involve multiple home invasion robberies over a series of days.
The FBI’s Ann Arbor Office investigated the case with the assistance of federal agencies including U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Secret Service, and local law enforcement agencies in Michigan, including Washtenaw County Sherriff’s Office, Ann Arbor Police Department and Canton Police Department; local law enforcement agencies in Ohio, including Beachwood Police Department; local law enforcement agencies in Georgia, including the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office, Cobb County Police Department, Gwinnett County Police Department, Duluth Police Department and Milton Police Department; local law enforcement agencies in New York, including Nassau County Police Department; the Tennessee Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies in Texas including Allen Police Department, Coppell Police Department, Flower Mound Police Department, Carrollton Police Department, Lewisville Police Department and Southlake Police Department.
Trial Attorneys Conor Mulroe and Bethany Lipman of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the case.
Lame Deer man admits manslaughter crime in vehicle death of womanRead the Press Release
UPDATE: The defendant in this case, Jerard David Threefingers, ultimately withdrew his guilty plea and the case went to a jury trial, where he was acquitted on Dec. 14, 2021 of the charge alleged in the indictment described in the press release below.
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man accused in the death of a woman who was struck and killed by his car on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation pleaded guilty to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Jerard David Threefingers, 31, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, as charged in an indictment. Threefingers faces a statutory maximum of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. A plea agreement filed in the case calls for a term of five years of probation to be imposed if the federal district court judge accepts the agreement at sentencing. The judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters ordered Threefingers released and set sentencing for Sept. 17.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that on March 6, 2020, Threefingers was at a Muddy Cluster house, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, where he was hanging out and drinking with the victim, identified as Jane Doe, and others. Threefingers and Doe argued, and he drove away in a car. Threefingers returned, Doe came outside and they continued to argue at the car. Doe attempted to punch at Threefingers through the window and then grabbed the handle of the car door. Threefingers started to drive away.
The government further alleged that Doe continued to hang onto the handle and that her hand became lodged in it. Doe fell and got caught under the car. Threefingers picked up Doe and drove her to a relative’s house. An ambulance was called, and Doe was pronounced dead. An autopsy determined the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan T. Dake is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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Kinnear Man Sentenced to 42 Months on Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that SHAYNE KYLE ARMAJO, age 34 of Kinnear, Wyoming was sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. A jury found Armajo guilty in February of assaulting his uncle with a knife.
In October 2020, Armajo and his uncle had been drinking heavily and were driving home from visiting friends when an argument about money ensued. The pair pulled to the side of the road where they exited the uncle’s truck, who had been driving, and continued arguing Armajo stabbed his uncle in the leg with a knife. Shortly after the stabbing, Armajo left the scene in his uncle’s truck. A passerby later spotted an unresponsive man lying by the side of the road, on the Wind River Indian Reservation, and called 911. The uncle was life-flighted to Wyoming Medical Center in Casper due to the significant loss of blood. He survived the assault.
“Even though both men had been drinking heavily and should not have been operating a motor vehicle, the fact that Armajo left his uncle for dead is extremely concerning. Because of his reckless behavior, he nearly killed a man and could have injured others while driving drunk,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Murray. “Thanks to the passerby, the FBI and Wind River Police Department, the victim survived, and his attacker was held accountable.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wind River Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Timothy J. Forwood.
Justice Department Proposes New Regulation to Update Firearm DefinitionsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would update the definitions of “firearm” and related parts for the first time since 1968. The proposed rule would modernize the definition of “frame or receiver” and help close a regulatory loophole associated with the un-serialized privately made firearms that are increasingly being recovered at crime scenes across the country. These unmarked firearms, known as “ghost guns,” are often assembled from kits that are sold without background checks, making them easily acquired by criminals who otherwise would not be permitted to possess a firearm.
“We are committed to taking commonsense steps to address the epidemic of gun violence that takes the lives of too many people in our communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Criminals and others barred from owning a gun should not be able to exploit a loophole to evade background checks and to escape detection by law enforcement. This proposed rule would help keep guns out of the wrong hands and make it easier for law enforcement to trace guns used to commit violent crimes, while protecting the rights of law-abiding Americans. Although this rulemaking will solve only one aspect of the problem, we have an obligation to do our part to keep our families and our neighborhoods safe from gun violence.”
As the proposed rule explains, from 2016 to 2020, more than 23,000 un-serialized firearms were reported to have been recovered by law enforcement from potential crime scenes — including in connection with 325 homicides or attempted homicides. The proposed rule, once implemented, would help address the proliferation of these un-serialized firearms in three ways:
- To help keep guns from being sold to convicted felons and other prohibited purchasers, the rule would make clear that retailers must run background checks before selling kits that contain the parts necessary for someone to readily make a gun at home.
- To help law enforcement trace guns used in a crime, the rule would require that manufacturers include a serial number on the firearm “frame or receiver” in easy-to-build firearm kits.
- To help reduce the number of “ghost guns” on our streets, the rule would set out requirements for federally licensed firearms dealers to have a serial number added to 3D printed guns or other un-serialized firearms they take into inventory.
Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, the public will have 90 days to submit comments. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking can be viewed here.
To learn more about the rulemaking process, please see the
attached.Jury Convicts Iranian National for Illegally Exporting Military Sensitive ItemsRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – In San Antonio, a federal jury convicted Mehrdad Ansari, a 39-year-old Iranian citizen and a resident of the United Arab Emirates and Germany, for scheming to obtain military sensitive parts for Iran in violation of the Iranian Trade Embargo. These parts had dual-use military and civilian capability and could be used in such systems as nuclear weapons, missile guidance and development, secure tactical radio communications, offensive electronic warfare, military electronic countermeasures (radio jamming), and radar warning and surveillance systems.
The jury convicted Ansari of one count of conspiracy to violate the Iranian Transaction Regulations (ITR), one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Department of the Treasury and two counts of aiding and abetting the making of false statements. Evidence presented during trial revealed that Ansari attempted to transship cargo obtained from the U.S. by co-defendants Taiwanese citizen Susan Yip, aka Susan Yeh, and Iranian citizen Mehrdad Foomanie, aka Frank Foomanie, using Ansari’s companies, Gulf Gate Sea Cargo L.L.C. and Global Merchant L.L.C., located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
From October 9, 2007, to June 15, 2011, primarily Yip and Foomanie obtained or attempted to obtain from companies worldwide over 105,000 parts valued at approximately $2,630,800 involving more than 1,250 transactions. The defendants conducted 599 transactions with 63 different U.S. companies in which they obtained or attempted to obtain parts from U.S. companies without notifying the U.S. companies these parts were being shipped to Iran or getting the required U.S. government license to ship these parts to Iran.
At no time did Yip, Foomanie or Ansari, individually or through any of their companies, ever apply for or receive either a required U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license or Department of Commerce export license to ship any item listed in this indictment to the Republic of Iran.
Iranian Transaction Regulations prohibit, among other things, the exportation, re-exportation, sale or supply, directly or indirectly, to Iran or the Government of Iran, of any goods, technology or services from the U.S. or by a U.S. person. The embargo also prohibits any transaction by any U.S. person or within the U.S. that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, any prohibition set forth in the Executive Orders.
John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff; FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee; Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southwest Field Office Special Agent in Charge Michael Mentalvos; and Acting Special Agent in Charge John Ruiz, U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement, Dallas Field Office, made today’s announcement.
Ansari faces up to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to violate Iranian Trade Regulations; up to five years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud; up to five years for conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Department of the Treasury; and up to five years on each count of aiding and abetting the making of false statements. Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2021.
In October 2012, Yip was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the ITR by acting as a broker and conduit for Foomanie to buy items in the U.S. and have them unlawfully shipped to Iran. Mehrdad Foomanie remains a fugitive.
FBI, HSI, the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg, William R. Harris and Kelly Stephenson are prosecuting this case.
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Jury Convicts Iranian National for Illegally Exporting Military Sensitive ItemsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal jury convicted an Iranian citizen and a resident of the United Arab Emirates and Germany, for scheming to obtain military sensitive parts for Iran in violation of the Iranian Trade Embargo. These parts had dual-use military and civilian capability and could be used in systems such as nuclear weapons, missile guidance and development, secure tactical radio communications, offensive electronic warfare, military electronic countermeasures (radio jamming), and radar warning and surveillance systems.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mehrdad Ansari, 39, of Iran, attempted to transship and transshipped cargo obtained from the U.S. by co-defendants Taiwanese citizen Susan Yip, aka Susan Yeh, and Iranian citizen Mehrdad Foomanie, aka Frank Foomanie, using Ansari’s company Gulf Gate Sea Cargo LLC, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
From Oct. 9, 2007 to June 15, 2011, the defendants obtained or attempted to obtain from companies worldwide over 105,000 parts valued at approximately $2,630,800 involving more than 1,250 transactions. The defendants conducted 599 transactions with 63 different U.S. companies in which they obtained or attempted to obtain parts from U.S. companies without notifying the companies these parts were being shipped to Iran or getting the required U.S. government license to ship these parts to Iran.
At no time did Yip, Foomanie or Ansari, individually or through any of their companies, ever apply for or receive either a required U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license or Department of Commerce export license to ship any item listed in this indictment to the Republic of Iran.
Iranian Transaction Regulations prohibit, among other things, the exportation, re-exportation, sale or supply, directly or indirectly, to Iran or the Government of Iran, of any goods, technology or services from the U.S. or by a U.S. person. The embargo also prohibits any transaction by any U.S. person or within the U.S. that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, any prohibition set forth in the Executive Orders.
Ansari was convicted of one count of conspiracy to violate the Iranian Transaction Regulations (ITR), one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Department of the Treasury and two counts of aiding and abetting the making of false statements. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 1 and faces a up to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to violate Iranian Trade Regulations; up to 5 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud; up to 5 years for conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Department of the Treasury; and up to 5 years on each count of the aiding and abetting the making of false statements. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In October 2012, Yip was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the ITR by acting as a broker and conduit for Foomanie to buy items in the U.S. and have them unlawfully shipped to Iran. Mehrdad Foomanie remains a fugitive.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg, William R. Harris and Kelly Stevenson are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by Deputy Chief for Export Control and Sanctions Elizabeth Cannon of the Justice Department’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Joplin Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine that was shipped via UPS from Arizona.
Johnny T. Taylor, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 19 years in federal prison without parole.
On June 23, 2020, Taylor pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Co-defendant Jennifer M. Conant, 41, of Joplin, also pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy and was sentenced on Aug. 13, 2018, to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
Taylor and Conant admitted they had a package shipped via UPS, which contained approximately one pound of methamphetamine, to a residence in Seneca, Mo.
On May 6, 2017, law enforcement officers tracked the suspicious package from its origin in Arizona and upon its arrival at the Joplin UPS conducted a search to confirm the package contained methamphetamine.
A federal agent conducted a controlled delivery of the package to its Seneca destination on May 7, 2017. Shortly after the package was delivered, officers executed a search warrant and located the package in a bedroom of the residence. An occupant of the residence told investigators that Taylor and Conant had the package shipped to his address and that they had inquired about the package just prior to law enforcement executing the search warrant. He then contacted Conant, with law enforcement officers listening to the conversation, and told her the package had arrived. Taylor and Conant arrived at the residence approximately 45 minutes later to pick up the package and were arrested.
This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Jacksonville man was sentenced today to 360 months in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. On September 24, 2020, Jesse Gabriel Marks pled guilty to the charges. The sentence also requires Marks to pay $249,700 in restitution to multiple victims.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Marks, 38, prostituted hundreds of women, including at least one minor, over nearly two decades. He used drugs, including heroin and methamphetamine, to keep them dependent on and prostituting for him. After meeting Marks, many victims either developed addictions or deepened their addictions, ruining their health and, in many cases, their lives. Marks physically and emotionally abused many of the victims. He also gave women drug cocktails without their full knowledge and, once they were unconscious or nearly unconscious, sexually assaulted them. He recorded many of those sexual assaults on video.
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 James C. Dever III. The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Jacksonville Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin C. Blondel and Bryan Stephany 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. 7:19-CR-127-D.
Irvine Man Arrested on Federal Grand Jury Indictment Alleging He Fraudulently Obtained $5 Million in COVID-Relief PPP LoansRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man was arrested today on federal charges alleging he fraudulently obtained approximately $5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for his sham businesses, then used the money on himself, including purchasing Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini sports cars.
Mustafa Qadiri, 38, of Irvine, was named in a federal grand jury indictment returned Wednesday charging him with four counts of bank fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and six counts of money laundering.
Qadiri surrendered to law enforcement this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
According to the indictment, Qadiri claimed to have operated four Newport Beach-based companies, none of which are currently in operation: All American Lending, Inc., All American Capital Holdings, Inc., RadMediaLab, Inc., and Ad Blot, Inc.
In May and June of 2020, Qadiri allegedly submitted false and fraudulent PPP loan applications to three banks on behalf of those companies. The false information allegedly included the number of employees to whom the companies paid wages, altered bank account records with inflated balances, and fictitious quarterly federal tax return forms. Qadiri allegedly also used someone else’s name, Social Security number and signature to fraudulently apply for one of the loans.
Relying on this false information, the banks funded the PPP loan applications and transferred approximately $5 million to accounts Qadiri controlled, according to the indictment. Qadiri allegedly used the fraudulently obtained PPP loan proceeds for his own personal benefit, including for expenses prohibited under the requirements of the PPP program, such as the purchase of luxury vehicles, lavish vacations, and the payment of his personal expenses.
Federal agents have seized the Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini cars that Qadiri allegedly purchased with the fraudulently obtained PPP loans, along with $2 million in alleged ill-gotten gains from his bank account.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
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.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter as part of the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Waier of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on May 6 was:
Aaron Leo Ludwig, 30, of Billings, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and illegal receipt of a gun by a person under indictment. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ludwig faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Ludwig was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Billings Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-24.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on May 4 was:
Ronald Dean Lords, 53, of Corvallis, on charges of wire fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lords faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Lords was released pending further proceedings. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-16.
Christopher Scott Jessop, 46, of Belgrade, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Jessop faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Jessop was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Probation and Parole investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-08.
Ramon Gomez Delgado, 32, of Mexico, on charges of illegal entry of a previously removed alien. If convicted of the most serious crime, Delgado faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Delgado was detained pending further proceedings. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and Department of Homeland Security’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. PACER case reference. 20-37.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on May 4 was:
Ras Jahmikes Matta, 27, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Matta faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Matta was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI Transnational Organized Crime Task Force West and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-22.
Appearing on May 6 and pleading not guilty was:
Raul Jorge Acosta, 27, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Acosta faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Acosta was released pending further proceedings. The FBI Transnational Organized Crime Task Force West and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-22.
Robert Roswald Redfield, 40, of Lodge Grass, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Redfield faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Redfield was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-77.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Heroin User Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A Decorah man who unlawfully possessed a gun while a drug user was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison.
Lester Wallace Erickson, III, age 30, from Decorah, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a December 21, 2020, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Information disclosed at sentencing and in his plea agreement showed that in October 2019 police officers responded to a storage unit in Ridgeway, Iowa. They found Erickson passed out in a vehicle. He had recently used heroin and fentanyl and overdosed. Erickson was treated for the overdose. Officers searched the vehicle and found a gun in a nearby bag. Erickson had stolen the gun a few days prior from a friend. He intended to pawn the gun. In 2018, Erickson was convicted of a felony-controlled substance offense. Erickson has twelve adult criminal convictions, nine of which were committed while he was on court supervision. Erickson also has one conviction for a violent offense.
Erickson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Erickson was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alex Geocaris and Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Department, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from its Project Guardian partners. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-2050.
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Harrison Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Setting Fire in the Buffalo National RiverRead the Press Release
FORT SMITH – A Harrison man was sentenced on May 5, 2021, to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $12,494.14 in restitution on one count of Willfully and Without Authority and Consent of the United States Set on Fire Timber, Underbrush, Grass and Other Inflammable Material Upon a Public Domain within the Buffalo National River. The Honorable US District Judge P.K. Holmes, III, presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.
According to court documents, In March 2020, Jacob Edward Walls, 29, was indicted by a federal grand jury, of setting a wildland fire within Buffalo National River, in Newton County, near Pruitt, on February 5, 2019. Federal investigators determined Walls set a fire within the park, which threatened nearby private structures and lands, and subsequently fled the area.
Acting U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The National Park Service, Investigative Services Branch, and the U.S. Park Rangers at Buffalo National River investigated the case. The Newton County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the case
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyra Jenner prosecuted the case.
Guatemalan Man Who Possessed a Fraudulent Social Security Card and a Fraudulent Permanent Resident Card Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A Guatemalan man who possessed false identification documents was sentenced today to two months in federal prison.
Miguel Padilla, age 46, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and living in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 3, 2021, guilty plea to one count of unlawful possession of identification documents.
In a plea agreement, Padilla admitted that in August 2019, he possessed a fraudulent social security card and a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” in connection with completing paperwork to obtain employment in Waterloo, Iowa. The account numbers on the identification documents were assigned to other people. Social Security and Permanent Resident cards are documents used to prove identity and are prescribed by statute or regulation for entry into or as evidence of authorized stay or employment in the United States.
Padilla was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Padilla was sentenced to 60 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Padilla was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on May 21, 2021.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-02048.
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Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being DeportedRead the Press Release
A Guatemalan man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported once was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in federal prison.
Moses Suarez-Garcia age 39, a citizen of Guatemala, illegally present in the United States and residing in Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 15, 2021, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
Information disclosed at sentencing showed that in November 2019, Dubuque police officers responded to a report of sexual abuse. Suarez-Garcia and another woman were located. Suarez-Garcia was charged with, and ultimately convicted of, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Officers learned through their investigation that Suarez-Garcia had been removed from the United States in 2012 but had since illegally reentered.
Suarez-Garcia was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Suarez-Garcia was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-1038.
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Four Individuals Plead Guilty to RICO Conspiracy Involving “Bulletproof Hosting” for CybercriminalsRead the Press Release
Four Eastern European nationals have pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in a Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) arising from their providing “bulletproof hosting” services between 2008 and 2015, which were used by cybercriminals to distribute malware and attack financial institutions and victims throughout the United States.
According to court documents, Aleksandr Grichishkin, 34, and Andrei Skvortsov, 34, of Russia; Aleksandr Skorodumov, 33, of Lithuania; and Pavel Stassi, 30, of Estonia, were founders and/or members of a bulletproof hosting organization. The group rented Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, servers, and domains to cybercriminal clients, who used this technical infrastructure to disseminate malware used to gain access to victims’ computers, form botnets, and steal banking credentials for use in frauds. Malware hosted by the organization included Zeus, SpyEye, Citadel, and the Blackhole Exploit Kit, which rampantly attacked U.S. companies and financial institutions between 2009 and 2015 and caused or attempted to cause millions of dollars in losses to U.S. victims. A key service provided by the defendants was helping their clients to evade detection by law enforcement and continue their crimes uninterrupted; the defendants did so by monitoring sites used to blocklist technical infrastructure used for crime, moving “flagged” content to new infrastructure, and registering all such infrastructure under false or stolen identities.
“Every day, transnational organized cybercriminals deploy malware that ravages our economy and victimizes our citizens and businesses,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The criminal organizations that purposefully aid these actors — the so-called bulletproof hosters, money launderers, purveyors of stolen identity information, and the like — are no less responsible for the harms these malware campaigns cause, and we are committed to holding them accountable. Prosecutions like this one increase the costs and risks to cybercriminals and ensure that they cannot evade responsibility for the enormous injuries they cause to victims.”
“Fraud over the internet has had a major economic impact on our community, and all over our nation and the world,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Saima S. Mohsin of the Eastern District of Michigan. “An essential part of reducing the fraud involves vigorously investigating and prosecuting individuals such as these ‘bulletproof hosters’ who enable the fraudsters in victimizing people over the internet.”
“Over the course of many years, the defendants facilitated the transnational criminal activity of a vast network of cybercriminals throughout the world by providing them a safe-haven to anonymize their criminal activity,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “This resulted in millions of dollars of losses to U.S. victims. Today’s guilty plea sends a message to cybercriminals across the globe that they are not beyond the reach of the FBI and its international partners, and that anyone who facilitates or profits from criminal cyber activity will be brought to justice.”
According to court filings and statements made in connection with their guilty pleas, Grichishkin and Skvortsov were founding members of the organization and its proprietors. Skvortsov was responsible for marketing the organization’s criminal business and served as a point of contact for important and/or disgruntled clients, and Grichishkin was the organization’s day-to-day leader and oversaw its personnel. Skorodumov was one of the organization’s lead systems administrators, and at some points, its only systems administrator. In this role, he configured and managed the clients’ domains and IP addresses, provided technical assistance to help clients optimize their malware and botnets, and monitored and responded to abuse notices. Stassi undertook various administrative tasks for the organization, including conducting and tracking online marketing to the organization’s criminal clientele and using stolen and/or false personal information to register webhosting and financial accounts used by the organization.
Stassi, Skorodumov, and Grichishkin pleaded guilty in February and March 2021 to one count of RICO conspiracy. Skvortsov pleaded guilty today to the same charge. All four guilty pleas took place before Chief U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood in the Eastern District of Michigan. Sentencing of Stassi, Skorodumov, Grichishkin, and Skvortsov has been set for June 3, June 29, July 8, and Sept. 16, respectively. Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine each sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with critical assistance from law enforcement partners in Germany, Estonia, and the United Kingdom.
Senior Counsel Louisa K. Marion of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick E. Corbett of the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.
Four Former Minneapolis Police Officers Indicted on Federal Civil Rights Charges for Death of George Floyd; Derek Chauvin Also Charged in Separate Indictment for Violating Civil Rights of a JuvenileRead the Press Release
Note: A copy of the indictment against Chauvin et al. can be viewed
here and the two count indictment against Chauvin can be viewed here.WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury in Minneapolis, Minnesota, returned two indictments that were unsealed today. The first indictment charges former Minneapolis Police Department officers Derek Chauvin, 45; Tou Thao, 35; J. Alexander Kueng, 27; and Thomas Lane, 38, with federal civil rights crimes for their roles in the death of George Perry Floyd Jr.
The three-count indictment alleges that all four defendants, while acting under color of law, willfully deprived Mr. Floyd of his constitutional rights, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242. Specifically, Count One of the indictment alleges that on May 25, 2020, Chauvin held his left knee across Mr. Floyd’s neck, and his right knee on Floyd’s back and arm, as George Floyd lay on the ground, handcuffed and unresisting, and kept his knees on Mr. Floyd’s neck and body even after Mr. Floyd became unresponsive. The indictment alleges that Chauvin’s actions violated Mr. Floyd’s constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer and resulted in bodily injury to, and the death of, Mr. Floyd.
Count Two of the indictment charges that Thao and Kueng willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin’s use of unreasonable force, resulting in bodily injury to, and the death of, Mr. Floyd. Finally, Count Three of the indictment alleges that all four defendants saw Mr. Floyd lying on the ground in clear need of medical care and willfully failed to aid him. The indictment alleges that by doing so, all four defendants willfully deprived Mr. Floyd of his constitutional right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, which includes an arrestee’s right to be free from a police officer’s deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. The indictment alleges that this offense resulted in bodily injury to, and the death of, Mr. Floyd.
A separate, two-count indictment also charges Chauvin with willfully depriving a Minneapolis resident who was then fourteen-years-old of the constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242. Count One of this indictment alleges that on Sept. 4, 2017, Chauvin, without legal justification, held the teenager by the throat and struck the teenager multiple times in the head with a flashlight. The indictment alleges that this offense included the use of a dangerous weapon—a flashlight—and resulted in bodily injury to the teenager. Count Two of the indictment charges that Chauvin held his knee on the neck and the upper back of the teenager even after the teenager was lying prone, handcuffed, and unresisting, also resulting in bodily injury.
Both indictments charge violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242. 18 U.S.C. § 242 states that it is a crime for an official acting under color of law to willfully violate a person’s constitutional rights. If government employees, like police officers, use or misuse the power provided to them by their position, they are acting “under color of law.”
An indictment is merely a formal accusation of criminal conduct. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The charges announced today are separate from the Justice Department’s civil pattern or practice investigation into the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department that the Attorney General announced on April 21. The charges announced today are criminal, while the pattern or practice investigation is a civil investigation that will be conducted separately and independently from the criminal case, and will be handled by a different team of career staff from the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The charges announced today are also separate from, and in addition to, the charges the State of Minnesota has brought against these former officers related to the death of Mr. Floyd. The federal charges allege different criminal offenses; specifically, they allege violations of the U.S. Constitution, rather than of state law.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan and Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota commend the investigative efforts of the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in this matter, and thank the Minneapolis Police Department for its cooperation in the investigation.
The federal criminal cases are being prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk of the District of Minnesota, Special Litigation Counsel Samantha Trepel and Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Bates, LeeAnn Bell, Evan Gilead, Manda Sertich and Allen Slaughter of the District of Minnesota.
Four Former Minneapolis Police Officers Indicted on Federal Civil Rights Charges for Death of George Floyd; Derek Chauvin Also Charged in A Separate Indictment for Violating Civil Rights of A JuvenileRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury in Minneapolis, Minnesota returned two indictments that were unsealed today. The first indictment charges former Minneapolis Police Department officers Derek Chauvin, 45; Tou Thao, 35; J. Alexander Kueng, 27; and Thomas Lane, 38, with federal civil rights crimes for their roles in the death of George Perry Floyd Jr.
The three-count indictment alleges that all four defendants, while acting under color of law, willfully deprived Mr. Floyd of his constitutional rights, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242. Specifically, Count One of the indictment alleges that on May 25, 2020, Chauvin held his left knee across Mr. Floyd’s neck, and his right knee on Floyd’s back and arm, as George Floyd lay on the ground, handcuffed and unresisting, and kept his knees on Mr. Floyd’s neck and body even after Mr. Floyd became unresponsive. The indictment alleges that Chauvin’s actions violated Mr. Floyd’s constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer and resulted in bodily injury to, and the death of, Mr. Floyd.
Count Two of the indictment charges that Thao and Kueng willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin’s use of unreasonable force, resulting in bodily injury to, and the death of, Mr. Floyd. Finally, Count Three of the indictment alleges that all four defendants saw Mr. Floyd lying on the ground in clear need of medical care and willfully failed to aid him. The indictment alleges that by doing so, all four defendants willfully deprived Mr. Floyd of his constitutional right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, which includes an arrestee’s right to be free from a police officer’s deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. The indictment alleges that this offense resulted in bodily injury to, and the death of, Mr. Floyd.
A separate, two-count indictment also charges Chauvin with willfully depriving a Minneapolis resident who was then fourteen-years-old of the constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242. Count One of this indictment alleges that on Sept. 4, 2017, Chauvin, without legal justification, held the teenager by the throat and struck the teenager multiple times in the head with a flashlight. The indictment alleges that this offense included the use of a dangerous weapon—a flashlight—and resulted in bodily injury to the teenager. Count Two of the indictment charges that Chauvin held his knee on the neck and the upper back of the teenager even after the teenager was lying prone, handcuffed, and unresisting, also resulting in bodily injury.
Both indictments charge violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242. 18 U.S.C. § 242 states that it is a crime for an official acting under color of law to willfully violate a person’s constitutional rights. If government employees, like police officers, use or misuse the power provided to them by their position, they are acting “under color of law.”
An indictment is merely a formal accusation of criminal conduct. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The charges announced today are separate from the Justice Department’s civil pattern or practice investigation into the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department that the Attorney General announced on April 21. The charges announced today are criminal, while the pattern or practice investigation is a civil investigation that will be conducted separately and independently from the criminal case, and will be handled by a different team of career staff from the Civil Rights Division and the United States Attorney’s Office.
The charges announced today are also separate from, and in addition to, the charges the State of Minnesota has brought against these former officers related to the death of Mr. Floyd. The federal charges allege different criminal offenses; specifically, they allege violations of the U.S. Constitution, rather than of state law.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan and Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota commend the investigative efforts of the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in this matter, and thank the Minneapolis Police Department for its cooperation in the investigation.
The federal criminal cases are being prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk of the District of Minnesota, Special Litigation Counsel Samantha Trepel and Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Bates, LeeAnn Bell, Evan Gilead, Manda Sertich, and Allen Slaughter of the District of Minnesota.
Former Tennessee Correctional Officer Sentenced for Covering up Staff Assault of an InmateRead the Press Release
A former Tennessee Correctional Officer was sentenced today to a year and a day in prison and two years supervised release for conspiring to cover up the beating of an inmate and for persuading other officers to provide false information to investigators.
On May 7, Tommy Morris, a former Corporal with the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) at the Northwest County Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to federal offenses arising out of the assault of R.T., an inmate in the mental health unit at the facility. Morris is the third officer to be sentenced.
“The defendant, as a supervisory correctional officer, watched other officers assault a vulnerable inmate and then he guided these officers in their efforts to cover up their criminal conduct,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those who commit civil rights violations and those who conspire with their fellow officers to obstruct the ensuing criminal investigation.”
“The civil rights statutes are there to protect the Constitutional rights and freedoms of everyone,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee. “Our office will prosecute those who violate these laws, regardless of the victim’s status and those who attempt to cover up these crimes.”
“This sentence should send a clear message that the FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the civil rights of those in his care and custody,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas M. Korneski of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “It undermines the respect and reputation of all law enforcement officers when a correctional officer violates the civil rights of an inmate whose safety he is charged with.”
On Nov. 24, 2020, Morris pleaded guilty to conspiring to cover up the beating of R.T. and to knowingly encouraging correctional officers to provide investigators with false and misleading information.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Division of the FBI with the support of the TDOC, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebekah J. Bailey of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
Former Montgomery County Teacher Charged in Superseding Indictment with Traveling to the Philippines to Have Sex with ChildrenRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Craig Alex Levin, 65, of King of Prussia, PA, was charged by Superseding Indictment with additional child exploitation offenses related to his travel to the Philippines. The defendant, who was previously detained in the Philippines, was deported back to the United States in August 2020 and has been held in federal detention since that time.
The Superseding Indictment contains sixteen counts including nine counts of interstate and foreign travel for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of sex trafficking of a minor, one count of use of an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor, and one count of transportation of child pornography.
The Superseding Indictment alleges that Levin, a former high school teacher for the Lower Merion School District, created and maintained Facebook accounts that he used to communicate with minors in the Philippines for the purpose of enticing them to engage in illicit sexual conduct with him during his visits to the Philippines. In addition, the defendant allegedly used Facebook Messenger to send images depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and obscene photographs from his residence to minors in the Philippines. Between August 29, 2016 and May 8, 2019, Levin is alleged to have traveled to the Philippines nine times to have sex with minor children. Levin was first indicted with child exploitation offenses related to his travel to the Philippines in February 2020.
“As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, the defendant repeatedly traveled to the Philippines and stayed for months as a time in order to sexually prey on children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “If Mr. Levin thought he could get away with these crimes because they occurred on the other side of the world, that was a grave miscalculation on his part. Holding child sexual predators accountable, including those who travel overseas to commit their heinous acts, will continue to be a top priority of our Office.”
“Craig Levin went to extraordinary lengths to sexually exploit children, as alleged in the superseding indictment,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “He repeatedly trekked thousands of miles to the Philippines and ensconced himself there for months, taking advantage of situations of extreme poverty in order to prey on underage girls. Child sexual exploitation is abhorrent anywhere it occurs, and the FBI will continue to go after Americans who travel abroad for that purpose. We’re determined to hold them accountable for the damage they’ve done and prevent them from victimizing anyone else’s child.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of lifetime imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of ten years’ imprisonment, lifetime supervised release, a $4,000,000 fine, and a $1,600 special assessment, and an additional $75,000 mandatory special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Damiani and Trial Attorney Austin M. Berry of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Deputy Campaign Manager Pleads Guilty to Theft of Campaign FundsRead the Press Release
An Illinois man pleaded guilty today to the theft of more than $115,000 in campaign funds from the McSally for Senate Campaign in 2018 and 2019.
According to court documents, Anthony Barry, 33, of Yorkville, served as a deputy campaign manager and consultant for former U.S. Senator Martha McSally. Barry used his position in the campaign to fraudulently direct the campaign to make payments to him beyond what he was owed for his salary and had the fraudulently obtained funds deposited into his personal bank account.
Barry pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of unlawful conversion of campaign funds. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6, and faces a maximum term of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Glenn B. McCormick for the District of Arizona; and Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Rosaleen O’Gara and Nicole Lockhart of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney William Voit of the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case.
Former Client Relationship Manager at Bank of America Sentenced for Embezzling from Client CompanyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former client relationship manager at Bank of America was sentenced today in connection with embezzling $1.5 million from a client company and using a portion of those funds to purchase luxury items.
Waqas Ali, 31, of Abington, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to one year and one day in prison and two years of supervised release, one year of which is to be served on home confinement. Ali was also ordered to pay $600,000 in restitution and forfeiture. In October 2020, Ali pleaded guilty to wire fraud and unlawful monetary transactions.
Ali was the client relationship manager for the victim company, which was a Bank of America client. Ali opened a checking account in the name of the victim company without its knowledge or authorization, and between September 2016 and July 2017, fraudulently transferred over $1.5 million from the victim company’s accounts to a fraudulent account.
Ali used approximately $600,000 of the funds he fraudulently obtained to fund his lifestyle and pay for luxury items, including a Porsche SUV and retail items at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Christian Louboutin and Tag Heuer.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Former CEO of La Quinta Communication Services Company Pleads Guilty to Charges He Defrauded Major Lender to Tech StartupsRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – The former CEO of a La Quinta-based communication services company pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges that he fraudulently obtained $5 million in bank loans by, among other things, submitting sham financial documents that falsely stated his company’s net worth.
Richard Loren Lewis, 67, of La Quinta, pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution.
According to his plea agreement, from April 2013 to April 2016, Lewis schemed to defraud Silicon Valley Bank, a Santa Clara-based commercial bank that funds start-up technology companies.
Lewis, who was the CEO of Blue Wave Media Inc., and served on its board of directors, fraudulently obtained loans from the bank by preparing and causing to be prepared false financial documents, including balance sheets and income statements, which falsely overstated, among other things, Blue Wave Media’s net worth, liquidity, and revenue.
Based on the false financial documents, Lewis caused Silicon Valley Bank to approve the loans to Blue Wave Media and deposit the loan proceeds into a bank account he controlled. Lewis’s misrepresentations caused the bank to approve four loans totaling $5 million.
Lewis admitted he executed the scheme by willfully causing a loan and security agreement to be signed with Silicon Valley Bank in April 2013 to secure a $500,000 loan. In January 2014, he submitted an amendment to the agreement to the bank to secure an additional $500,000 loan. In June 2014, Lewis willfully caused another amendment to the agreement to secure a $1 million loan, and, in April 2015, Lewis signed a third amendment to the agreement with the bank to secure a $3 million loan.
As a result of Lewis’s fraudulent scheme, Silicon Valley Bank sustained actual losses of approximately $3,414,064, according to the plea agreement.
United States District Judge John W. Holcomb has scheduled a July 30 sentencing hearing, at which time Lewis will face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Trisotto of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
Former Attorney Sentenced for Embezzlement and Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former attorney was sentenced today in connection with a long-running scheme to embezzle funds from trusts for which he served as trustee.
Kevin M. Brill, 61, of Newton, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Mark L. Wolf to two years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $15,000. Brill was also ordered to pay restitution of $381,662 to the victims and $169,000 to the IRS. On Jan. 11, 2021, Brill pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud and four counts of filing false tax returns.
From 2012 to July 2017, Brill served as a trustee for three family trusts with fiduciary responsibilities to protect and preserve the trust funds and make expenditures for the benefit of the beneficiary. Instead, Brill embezzled and misappropriated more than $600,000 from the trusts and used the proceeds for personal expenses including the purchase of a vehicle, a vacation home in Vermont, major renovations to the vacation home, and his personal credit card bills.
In addition, Brill failed to report his illegal income to the IRS, thereby avoiding payment of more than $169,000 that he owed in federal income taxes.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Florida Resident Sentenced for Misbranding and Money Laundering Conspiracies Involving Online Sale and Distribution of Unapproved Drug Obtained from OverseasRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Odessa, Florida, was sentenced in federal court on May 5, 2021, for one count of conspiracy to smuggle misbranded drugs into the United States and introduce them into interstate commerce, as well as one count of money laundering conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak sentenced Julia Fees, 29, to four years of probation. Fees was also ordered to forfeit a total of approximately $231,000 to the United States.
During the defendant’s plea hearing on Jan. 17, 2019, Fees admitted her role in obtaining and distributing etizolam to individual consumers for their personal, recreational use. Etizolam, as Fees admitted, is a drug known as a thienodiazepine, which is chemically similar to benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax) and carries risks of dependency, toxicity, and the possibility of fatal overdose—particularly in combination with other depressants. Etizolam is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the United States, and it cannot legally be imported, distributed, or prescribed domestically for use as a drug. The defendant further admitted that she and her business partner and co-conspirator, William Kulakevich, illegally brought significant quantities of etizolam into the United States from an overseas supplier—an Indian national named Jeetendra Belani, aka Jeetu—for the purpose of distributing the drug to individual consumers. As part of the conspiracy, the defendant arranged to have etizolam smuggled into the United States from Belani through the use of, among other means, multiple post office boxes controlled by the defendants. To evade scrutiny by regulatory and law enforcement authorities, Fees and Kulakevich used false and misleading packaging, and generally misrepresented the nature of the products sold on their website.
In addition, in order to promote their continued illegal activities, Fees and Kulakevich engaged in money laundering activity, including by using varied methods to transfer funds to Belani in India as payment for his ongoing supply of etizolam. These methods included international wire transfers, virtual currency payments, and even cash payments. To further mask the co-conspirators’ activities, Fees admitted using used a front entity—Clicken Little LLC—and related bank accounts to route payments between the defendants and Belani.
Kulakevich and Belani previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the etizolam conspiracies—among other offenses as to Belani—and were sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and approximately thirteen months’ imprisonment, respectively.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. The United States Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.
Florida Man Sentenced to Prison After Traveling to Edwardsville to Cash Counterfeit Checks Using Stolen IdentitiesRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Elvin Lugo-Cales, 47, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced today to 51 months in
federal prison and 3 years of court supervision after his release. In January, Lugo-Cales pled
guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, use of a false passport, and aggravated identity theft.
On March 2, 2020, Lugo-Cales and his co-defendant, Johnny Collado, flew from New York to St. Louis
for the sole purpose of defrauding banks using stolen identities. They were paid members of a
criminal organization based in New York. Collado was the driver and coordinated the scheme through
text messages with a co-conspirator in New York. Lugo-Cales was known in the scheme as a “soldier”
– a person willing to travel to a new city, walk into banks, and conduct fraudulent transactions
face- to-face with bank tellers using fake IDs and counterfeit checks.On March 5, 2020, Collado drove Lugo-Cales in a rental car to a US Bank location in Edwardsville,
Illinois. Lugo-Cales went inside the bank while Collado waited in the car. Lugo-Cales walked up to
a bank teller and presented a counterfeit check in the amount of $3,650.00 made payable to an
identity theft victim from Colorado. The check had a forged endorsement and the victim’s social
security number written on the back. Lugo-Cales also presented a false U.S. passport card bearing
Lugo-Cales’ photograph and the name of the victim. He then asked the bank teller to cash the check.The bank teller recalled an internal e-mail she had received warning branches about a man traveling
around the St. Louis area attempting to cash counterfeit checks. Seeing that Lugo-Cales
fit the description of the suspect, she notified her bank manager and stalled the transaction
while the bank manager called the police.Lugo-Cales grew nervous and demanded the bank teller return his check and passport card. When the
teller refused, he left the bank and drove away with Collado, leaving behind the counterfeit check
and passport card with his picture on it. The two men were pulled over and arrested nearby.Lugo-Cales had over $1,500 cash in his pocket at the time of his arrest. Collado had numerous items
concealed near his crotch, including over $25,000 in cash, multiple counterfeit IDs, counterfeit
credit cards, and 19 blank counterfeit checks.During the sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle remarked that identity
theft is a “very serious offense” that “destroys people’s lives.Federal Inmate and Accomplice Plead Guilty to Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal inmate and his accomplice pleaded guilty today to charges stemming from a fraudulent tax withholding scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. for the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS CI).
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Jabari Laquan Marshall, 43, devised the fraudulent tax withholding scheme while incarcerated in a Bureau of Prisons facility. As part of the scheme, Marshall provided co-defendant Jalen Tony Henry, 27, with false documents that purportedly showed the sale of certain trade secrets for $25 million during the 2014 tax year. To make those false documents appear more credible, Marshall used the real social security numbers of two other individuals.
In April 2015, Henry filed an amended tax return for tax year 2014, using the false documents and fraudulently claiming that — as part of the fictitious sale of the trade secrets — $5,575,633 in federal income tax had been withheld on his behalf. Henry requested a tax refund of $1,359,645, and actually received a refund check for $1,439,039, which he deposited into his bank account. Marshall then directed Henry to split the funds among their family members. Because of the suspicious nature of the transaction, Henry’s bank account was frozen, and the IRS successfully recovered $1,433,971 of the refund amount sent to Henry.
Marshall pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money and one count of aggravated identity theft. Henry pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. The maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison for theft of government money, and two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan on August 13, 2021.
The case was investigated by IRS CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Schmale is prosecuting the case.
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FCI Hazelton Inmate sentenced for assault and contraband chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Dell Dingle, an inmate at the Federal Correction Institution Hazelton in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, was sentenced today to an additional 30 months of incarceration after admitting to assault and contraband charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Dingle, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of “Assault of a Correctional Officer Involving Physical Contact” and one count of “Possession of a Prohibited Object (Narcotic).” Dingle admitted to attacking a federal correctional officer during the officer’s workday in May 2019. Dingle also admitted to having suboxone inside the prison in October 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher L. Bauer prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Estill County Man Convicted of Methamphetamine Trafficking and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. - An Estill County man was convicted on Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Lexington, of four counts of trafficking methamphetamine and a firearm offense.
Following a three day trial before United States District Judge Karen K. Caldwell, the jury convicted 56 year-old George Harrison on three counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The evidence at trial established that Harrison sold methamphetamine to the Kentucky State Police, in a series of controlled purchases. Specifically, Harrison sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant, on three separate occasions, in September of 2018. During a search of his premises, at the time of arrest, approximately 12 grams of methamphetamine and over $1,000.00 was found. Harrison was arrested on September 18, 2019 and detained at the Fayette County Detention Center. While incarcerated, Harrison communicated through recorded jail phone calls with his girlfriend about securing drugs, money, and a firearm that law enforcement did not recover during the search of his house. The Kentucky State Police secured another search warrant and recovered a 45 -caliber pistol, $16,546.00 and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. The jury found that the $16,546.00 was forfeitable to the United States, as drug proceeds.
Harrison was indicted in August of 2019.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Jerry C. Templet Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations; and Colonel Phillip “PJ” Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.
The investigation was conducted by DEA, ATF, DHS-HSI, and the Kentucky State Police. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily K. Greenfield
Harrison will appear for sentencing on August 6, 2021. If the district court finds Harrison’s prior Kentucky conviction for complicity to commit murder conviction is a serious violent felony, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life imprisonment. For the firearm offense, he faces up to ten years. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
EDVA Commemorates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage MonthRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – In the month of May, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) honors the rich traditions, history, and cultures that are recognized during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have enriched our Office, our communities, and our Nation with their enduring leadership, vibrant cultures, and extensive contributions to all aspects of our society,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the first Indian American and person of color to serve as EDVA’s chief federal law enforcement official. “While showing steadfast resilience in the face of great hardship, they have helped shape our country’s history for the better, including protecting the Nation during times of war, serving the American people at all levels of government, and spearheading innovations in the law, science, education, commerce, and the arts, among many other fields. As a proud member of the AAPI community, I am honored to continue EDVA’s commitment to celebrating the rich heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and furthering our collective efforts to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do.”
The Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage encompasses a diverse group of nations and cultures from the entire Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, which includes Native Hawaiians. At present, there are over 20 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, and more than 300,000 living veterans from the AAPI community.
The national theme for this year’s observance is “Advancing Leaders Through Purpose-Driven Service.” The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the May 10, 1869 completion of the transcontinental railroad, which was built primarily by Chinese immigrant workers.
This year’s AAPI commemoration comes at a time of heightened fear and pain for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our country. “Hate crimes and discrimination against anyone, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, are reprehensible acts that are contrary to the ideals of our Nation and have no place in our society,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Parekh in a recent statement condemning acts of violence against Asian Americans. “I reaffirm our Office’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that those who perpetrate federal crimes fueled by hate are held accountable, and EDVA stands united with our law enforcement partners in combating these injustices.”
During the 2021 AAPI Heritage Month celebration, EDVA will host office-wide virtual events, including a virtual fireside chat with Vanita Gupta, a lifelong civil rights lawyer who recently became the first woman of color to serve as the Associate Attorney General of the United States, and discussions involving the prosecution of hate crimes in partnership with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Recently, EDVA hosted virtual events with Aloke Chakravarty, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the Boston Marathon bombings case, and Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the first South Asian American federal appellate court judge in the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Doctor Charged with Illegally Distributing Opioids, Defrauding Health Care Benefit ProgramsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh-area physician has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics laws and health care fraud, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The 242-count Indictment, returned on May 5 and unsealed yesterday, named John Keun Sang Lee, age 78, of Venetia, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, the defendant was a medical doctor and owner of the medical practice Jefferson Pain and Rehabilitation Center, with a principal office located at 4735 Clairton Blvd, Pittsburgh, Pa 15236. The indictment alleges that on multiple dates between May 2016 and October 2020, Lee knowingly distributed Schedule II controlled substances to five patients outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. The Indictment further alleges that from May 2016 to October 2020, Lee executed a scheme and artifice to defraud health care benefit programs Medicare and Medicaid by knowingly and willfully submitting claims for steroid injections that were neither reasonable nor medically necessary.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Gal-Or is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health & Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Convicted felon admits threatening to kill a witness and a federal judgeRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A convicted felon and gang member faces substantial additional time in federal prison after admitting he threatened a witness and a federal judge.
Wilbert Stephens, 29, of Brunswick, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence and Mailing Threatening Communications, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Stephens’ guilty plea subjects him to a statutory sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison and substantial financial penalties, followed by up to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Less than a year ago, Wilbert Stephens was sentenced to 10 years in prison on a firearms charge related to a drug trafficking investigation, and rather than accept responsibility for his criminal behavior, he sought to retaliate against those who held him accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “He’ll now learn that his actions will keep him behind bars for a very long time – and our community will be safer as a result.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Stephens was indicted in U.S. District Court in 2018 along with 23 other defendants as part of a drug trafficking conspiracy. He later pled guilty to an Information charging him with Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced in June 2020 to 10 years in prison. While being held in the Glynn County Detention Center awaiting transfer to federal prison, Stephens contacted a fellow member of the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang to solicit retaliation against a witness, and wrote and mailed a letter in which he threatened a federal judge.
Stephens remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
“Stephens’ death threats against a witness and a judge show his complete lack of remorse for the crimes he was convicted of,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “If there is anything positive to come from his actions, it’s that he will stay in prison and off our community’s streets for a much, much longer time.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo.
Cleveland man found guilty in plot to ambush and kidnap law enforcement officersRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that a federal jury found Christian Ferguson, 21, of Cleveland, Ohio, guilty of two counts of attempted kidnapping. Ferguson was arrested on May 8, 2020, for an attempted plot to kidnap and ambush law enforcement officers responding to a false distress call in order to start an uprising.
“Mr. Ferguson devised a plan, and took steps to see it through, that involved placing a fake distress call to lure responding officers to the scene so that he could violently attack them, steal their department-issued weapons and equipment, and incite various militias to similarly attempt to overthrow the U.S. government and its institutions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan. "Exploiting first responders’ most solemn obligation – to protect and serve – as a way of luring them into a violent ambush and inciting violence against our democratic institutions was cowardly, heinous, and, as Mr. Ferguson’s jury determined today, criminal. The community members who reported this plan, and the federal agents who worked to prevent it, should be commended for their actions. Lives were saved.”
“Christian Ferguson's plan was to lure law enforcement to a remote location then murder as many as he could in hopes of starting an "uprising",” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “Mr. Ferguson then attempted to recruit others to assist him in this cowardly and despicable act. We wish to thank those citizens who advised the FBI of the hateful and violent feelings Ferguson held for law enforcement. Ferguson's guilty verdict will ensure he is no longer able to promote or commit violence against those charged with the solemn responsibility to stop it.”
According to court records, in April of 2020, the FBI received a call-in complaint from a civilian regarding several violent and extremist online postings made in a chatroom by an individual later identified as Ferguson. In these postings, Ferguson expressed a desire to call in a false in-progress call to the police in order to lure law enforcement to a remote location where they could be robbed of their weapons and body armor and possibly killed. Based on this initial reporting, the FBI introduced a confidential human source into the chatroom, which was controlled by Ferguson.
In March of 2020, Ferguson further discussed this plot in the chatroom in greater detail. Specifically, Ferguson’s discussed purchasing high-powered firearms, creating homemade chemical weapons and leaving a “calling card” to promote media attention to his intended uprising. As part of the plot, Ferguson intended for the ambush to gather significant media attention and to inspire other militia groups.
Ferguson expressed an interest in a response by federal law enforcement officers to the phony distress call because he believed they had better quality firearms and body armor to steal. Furthermore, Ferguson made statements about tactical options for killing multiple targets and the disposal of their bodies.
As a result of these online conversations, Ferguson and multiple confidential human sources met on several occasions to further discuss Ferguson’s plan and see it to fruition. Ferguson then engaged in practice drills with an AR-15 rifle and, on one occasion, conducted reconnaissance in a dry run. Ferguson indicated to the FBI sources that his “final play” was in Washington, D.C.
On May 8, 2020, Ferguson ultimately facilitated a hoax distress call within the boundaries of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to gauge response time by Park Rangers. Ferguson believed four federal officers arrived and indicated that if that many officers respond to the actual event, they would likely have to kill them all. Shortly thereafter, Ferguson was placed under arrest.
Ferguson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27, 2021, before U.S. Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr. This case was investigated by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Rangers, Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, City of Cuyahoga Falls Prosecutor’s Office, and the Cleveland Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Duncan Brown and Jerome Teresinski.
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to 11+ Years for the Attempted Armed Robbery of A Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr sentenced James Tiwauna Murray, 24, of Charlotte, to 137 months in prison and three years of supervised release for the 2019 attempted armed robbery of a 7-Eleven convenience store, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and statements made in court, on September 9, 2019, at approximately 3:04 a.m., Murray, while armed with a handgun, entered the 7-Eleven convenience store, located at 5343 Monroe Road in Charlotte. Upon entering the store, Murray jumped over the counter and ran into the back office, where he encountered a store employee. Court records show that Murray told the store employee “this is a robbery” and shot the employee in the chest. Murray then ran out of the back office while the store employee pursued Murray. Murray shot at the store employee again and fled the scene without taking any of the store’s cash. The store employee reported the robbery to CMPD and Murray was arrested in the vicinity shortly thereafter.
On July 2, 2020, Murray pleaded guilty to attempted Hobbs Act robbery, which is the attempted robbery of a business engaged in interstate commerce.
Murray is currently in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.
In announcing today’s sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess handled the prosecution.
California money launderer for Mexican drug cartel sentenced to nearly 5 years in prisonRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A repeat offender, who laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds for a Mexican drug cartel using bitcoin, was sentenced today to 58 months in prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Gregory David Werber, 58, of Manhattan Beach, California, laundered drug proceeds for a drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in Western Washington. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan told him, “There is no way to judge how many people have been hurt by this drug cartel and all of the people who suffered from drug addiction… You were helping violent people do violent things.”
“Drug traffickers are in it for the money–and those who collect the cash and send it over international borders to drug suppliers are key players in feeding the addictions that damage our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “This defendant lived the good life on the beach, with first class travel to collect drug money. But it was a lifestyle gained at the expense of those struggling with addiction to heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine.”
During an 18-month investigation in 2017 and 2018, law enforcement identified Werber as the key money launderer for a drug distribution network. In Western Washington, the group distributed heroin, crystal methamphetamine, and fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills in Pierce, Kitsap, King, Skagit and Snohomish Counties. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills tainted with fentanyl, a powerful and potentially deadly opioid. Following one seizure from a vehicle, Washington State Patrol troopers were treated for their accidental exposure.
The investigation began with the Bremerton Police Department’s controlled buys of heroin through Facebook. On August 31, 2018, detectives and DEA agents seized more than 3,000 fentanyl-laced imitation oxycodone pills, nearly a kilogram of heroin, and more than $100,000 in cash from an apartment in South King County. On November 28, 2018, law enforcement seized more than 13 pounds of heroin from the engine compartment of a semi-truck driven by a frequent smuggler for the ring. In addition to coded cell phone conversations, many of the members of the ring also communicated via Facebook messenger. On December 6, 2018, law enforcement seized thousands of fentanyl-laced pills, more than 7.5 kilograms of heroin, and 3 kilograms of cocaine, dozens of firearms, and over $325,000 in cash. Nearly 50 defendants have been prosecuted in connection with the drug trafficking ring.
Werber originally used his own bank account to deposit drug cash and convert it to bitcoin to be transferred to drug conspirators in Mexico. Following one seizure of more than $100,000 by law enforcement in a traffic stop, Werber started using fake names to move the cash via FedEx. When an undercover agent contacted Werber and indicated he wanted to launder illegal proceeds, Werber described how he could handle the laundering of large amounts of cash and help the undercover agent avoid detection by the government.
Werber has prior federal convictions for credit card fraud, transporting stolen goods, smuggling, and passport fraud, and prior state convictions for drug trafficking, fraud, grand theft, and escape. His criminal conduct in this case began within months of his 2017 release from state prison following a nine-year sentence for a drug distribution conviction in Ohio. In fact, Werber has been in custody almost continuously since 1997.
Werber is forfeiting $69,000 in cash to the government. Following prison, he will be on three years of supervised release.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA Tacoma Resident Office and the Bremerton Police Department, with significant assistance from the Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team (TNET); DEA Special Operations Division, Chantilly, Virginia; and Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marci Ellsworth and Karyn Johnson.
Buffalo Man Arrested on Meth ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. announced today that William Fugate, 31, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on May 6, 2021, a search warrant was executed at a residence on Northumberland Avenue in Buffalo, during which the defendant was present. Law enforcement officers recovered approximately 13 ounces of suspected methamphetamine in a safe located in the master bedroom. The key to the safe was located on a table in the residence on Fugate’s car key ring. In addition, officers recovered a digital scale with white residue in a dresser in the bedroom where the suspected methamphetamine was located and a spoon with white residue on it in the safe.
The defendant made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was held pending a detention hearing on May 11, 2021.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by are the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Howard; the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Brazilian National Sentenced for Racketeering and Robbery ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of Primeiro Comando da Massachusetts (“PCM”), a gang with Brazilian origins, was sentenced yesterday in connection with committing armed robberies.
Alvaro Dos Santos Melo, 22, a Brazilian national illegally residing in Everett, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to four years in prison. The defendant will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. On Jan. 25, 2021, Melo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and racketeering conspiracy.
According to court documents, in September 2018, law enforcement began investigating members and associates of PCM, which first appeared in Massachusetts in 2017. It is alleged that members and associates of PCM were actively involved in violent crimes including the illegal sale of firearms, drug trafficking, robberies, kidnappings and armed assaults in numerous communities in Massachusetts, including Boston, Malden, Everett, Somerville, Framingham and Peabody, among others.
Melo participated in the armed robbery of a car in Marlborough and a conspiracy to commit armed robbery of a drug courier. Melo is also wanted in Brazil.
All eight of the defendants in the case pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and other charges. In February 2021, Judge Saris sentenced co-defendant Breno Henrique DaSilva to 108 months in prison. In April 2021, Judge Saris sentenced co-defendant Matheus Marley Machado to 27 months in prison.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The Chelsea, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Somerville and Weymouth Police Departments and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Moran, Deputy Chief of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Crowley prosecuted the case.
Anchorage Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for International Parental KidnappingRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced to 18 months and 19 days in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release for kidnapping his two young children in 2014 while on a family vacation in the Philippines.
According to evidence presented at trial, Leo James Chaplin, 62, who is an American-born United States citizen, abducted the young children he shared with his then spouse in November 2014. Both children were born and lived in Anchorage prior to their abduction. Chaplin kept the children in the Philippines for over four-and-a-half years, depriving their mother from lawfully exercising her parental rights. Chaplin was also acting in flagrant disregard of Alaska family court orders to return the children to Alaska. In July 2019 Chaplin was arrested in the Philippines and the U.S. Marshals Service returned him to the United States in September 2019 for prosecution. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State ensured the safe reunification between the children and their mother.
“This sentence is a strong reminder that there are severe consequences for any parent who kidnaps their children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “Abducting young children and hiding them in a foreign country will not be tolerated and we will seek justice for those torn apart. The years of separation are lost forever, and the resulting emotional tragedy is unimaginable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of State and U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison O’Leary and George Tran prosecuted the case.
To learn more about the FBI’s Crimes Against Children Program, visit fbi.gov. For more information and resources on International Parental Kidnapping, visit DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section webpage.
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Acting U.S. Attorney M. Rhett DeHart Recognizes National Police Week and Honors Officers Lost in Past YearRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina will be honoring the 10 South Carolina law enforcement officers and three law enforcement K9s lost in the line of duty in 2020, while also recognizing the daily sacrifices made by all law enforcement officers, during National Police Week, observed from Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2021.
“Law enforcement officers and their families sacrifice greatly to protect and serve our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney DeHart. “Unfortunately, in the past year, South Carolina has suffered from the ultimate sacrifices made by officers across the state. We will always remember their sacrifices and honor their legacies.”
This year marks the 59th annual National Police Week that celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country and recognizes their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Based on data shared by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 93 law enforcement officers died nationwide in line-of-duty incidents in 2020. The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2021 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read at a public vigil at 8:00 pm (EDT) on Thursday, May 13, 2021. A live stream of the vigil can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF.
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Acting U.S. Attorney Jon Ophardt Recognizes Service of Law Enforcement for National Police WeekRead the Press Release
The week of May 9th to May 15th will be recognized around the country as National Police Week. This tradition of recognizing the service and sacrifice of law enforcement began in 1962, when President John F. Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officer’s Memorial Day and National Police Week. National Peace Officer’s Day, which falls on May 15th every year, honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. National Police Week is set aside each year to recognize the significant contributions and extraordinary work by law enforcement in keeping our communities safe.
“Our federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners regularly face challenging and dangerous situations, without hesitation,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. “The commitment of law enforcement to protecting the safety of our community has not waivered during the difficulties of the pandemic. A necessary conversation is happening nationwide about police reform, and an examination of the role of police and the tactics they use is warranted and justified. I encourage continued engagement with this important issue, but also encourage celebration of the individuals who belong to the noble profession of law enforcement. We cannot live in a thriving community without having guardians of peace and a functioning system of justice. Police officers are vital to preventing the victimization of our children, our elders, our minority populations, and all vulnerable Vermonters. I thank each of them for their daily sacrifices and call good men and women to join them in the ranks of the hard working and honest law enforcement professionals serving all Vermonters.”
According to national statistics, 295 American law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2020. 182 of them died of COVID, which they contracted while on duty, serving their communities. This is a stark reminder of the level of dedication and good work law enforcement officers selflessly perform every day. Their work stands in sharp contrast with officers who unlawfully choose to abuse their authority and betray their peacekeeper oath.
Although Vermont was fortunate to avoid a law enforcement line-of-duty death this past year, the Vermont law enforcement community lost a close friend and colleague. On February 2, 2021, FBI Special Agent Daniel Alfin was shot to death in Sunrise, Florida while serving a search warrant at the home of a child pornography suspect. Agent Alfin’s death and that of his fellow FBI Agent sent shockwaves through the federal law enforcement community. SA Alfin had worked in the Albany Field Office of the FBI, which supports FBI investigations in Vermont. SA Alfin’s dedication to the protection of children included supporting multiple Vermont investigations and prosecutions, and his name was known within the Vermont USAO as an agent with the brightest of futures. His death was a true tragedy, and a grim reminder that all investigations have risk.
A total of 41 law enforcement officers have died on duty while serving Vermonters. The risks of this profession are a constant concern of our law enforcement officers and present in every town in Vermont. Danger is a possibility in each call for help. Their willingness to rush to intervene in instances of domestic violence, shootings, assaults, burglaries, homicides, robberies, and other crimes deserves gratitude.
The United States Attorney’s Office honors those who have lost their lives and been injured in service of others. We also recognize the sacrifice of law enforcement families, who shoulder a unique and complex set of emotions and challenges stemming from the service of their loved ones. Some endure the horrors of loss, but all endure additional anxiety and burdens stemming from the demands of a law enforcement career.
National Police Week also reminds us about the need for officer wellness. Law enforcement is a highly stressful profession, requiring a unique combination of poise, flexibility, and perception. The constant pressures of responding to unknown circumstances can take a toll in normal circumstances. The addition of a public health crisis and frequent burden of overtime undoubtedly has exacerbated the challenge. Law enforcement officers suffer increased heart disease, stress disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and alcohol abuse. Stigmas and the perception of potential impacts on employment create barriers to treatment. In 2020, 172 officers died of suicide. So far in 2021, 56 officers have taken their own lives. We encourage officers to seek the support and help they need. Please call 1-800-273-TALK or text “blue” to 741741.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office relies heavily on our federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners in striving to make Vermont a safe community. During National Police Week, we will join Vermonters and our nation in remembering and honoring those injured and fallen officers who bravely served. And we will celebrate the noble sacrifice made by all honorable officers each and every day.
Thursday 6 May 2021
Upper Marlboro Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Nearly $323,000 in Social Security Benefits to Which She Was Not EntitledRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Sonya Bannister Burford, age 53, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty on May 5, 2021, to the federal charge of theft of government property, for stealing $322,938 in Social Security benefits to which she was not entitled.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration (SSA) - Office of Inspector General (OIG), Philadelphia Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge Rico Medina of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) – OIG.
According to her guilty plea, Burford’s husband, who was receiving SSA Disability Insurance benefits, died on August 30, 1996. Upon his death, Burford failed to disclose to SSA that he had died and SSA continued to make monthly benefits payments. Between September 1996 and January 2020, Burford received and spent $322,938 in benefits paid to her husband after his death to which she was not entitled.
As detailed in her plea agreement, SSA paid the disability payments for her husband through direct deposit to a joint account held in Burford‘s and her husband’s name. After his death, Burford accessed the funds primarily through cash withdrawals or through the purchase of gift cards in large amounts at grocery stores. Burford also used the funds to make retail purchases and to pay for living expenses, and wrote checks to herself.
As part of her plea agreement, Burford will be required to forfeit and pay restitution in the full amount of the loss, which the parties agree is $322,938.
Burford faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for theft of government property. U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte has scheduled sentencing for August 5, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the SSA OIG and WMATA OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Davio, who is prosecuting the case.
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Two Texas Women Sentenced to Federal Prison for Involvement in Transnational Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – Two Texas women have each been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for conspiracy charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Pamela Sue Hannan, 68, of Sherman, and Pamela Sue Jennings, 69, of Houston, pleaded guilty on August 6, 2020, to conspiring with foreign co-conspirators to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and were sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker today.
“Today’s sentences send a clear message that schemes targeting elderly victims will not be tolerated, and those facilitating such schemes will be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “By acting as domestic money transmitters for foreign co-conspirators, these defendants played fundamental roles that allowed foreign actors to reach from overseas to target elderly victims in communities across the United States. Bringing the remaining perpetrators to justice remains a priority for this office.”
According to information presented in court, over the course of several years, Hannan and Jennings received funds from romance scam victims and from victims of other fraudulent schemes on behalf of their co-conspirators, who were based outside of the United States. In order to facilitate the scheme, Hannan and Jennings opened bank accounts in the names of businesses which purported to provide legitimate services. In reality, Hannan and Jennings used these businesses as fronts to facilitate the money transmitting scheme. Together, Hannan and Jennings received more than $4.1 million from victims of the schemes. Hannan and Jennings transferred the majority of the funds they received to their co-conspirators’ foreign bank accounts.
Hannan and Jennings were indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 16, 2019.
In October 2017, the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) was signed into law. The EAPPA’s purpose is to increase the federal government’s focus on preventing elder abuse and exploitation. Subsequently, the Department of Justice launched the Elder Justice Initiative (EJI). Through the EJI, the Department has participated in hundreds of criminal and civil enforcement actions involving misconduct that targeted vulnerable seniors. In March of last year, the Department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 400 defendants in a nationwide sweep. The Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country. The EJI website contains useful information, including educational resources about prevalent financial scams so you can guard against them.
In August of 2020, the Eastern District of Texas announced its own initiative, in partnership with law enforcement and private financial institutions, to identify and prosecute transnational elder fraud. This EDTX initiative is designed to combat these criminal organization, both foreign and domestic, as well their networks of associates and money mules who launder the stolen funds.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Sherman Police Department, and the Appleton (Wisconsin) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.
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Two Niagara County Men Plead Guilty to Forcing Undocumented Immigrants to Work at Their Mexican RestaurantRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Roberto Montes-Villalpando, 60, of Sanborn, NY, and Abraham Montes, 28, of North Tonawanda, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to harbor aliens for financial gain and causing serious bodily injury. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan A. Tokash and Laura A. Higgins, who are handling the case, with support from the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, stated that the defendants owned and operated El Cubilete Mexican Restaurant, in Niagara Falls, NY. Between December 2014 and late 2018, the restaurant was located at 9400 Niagara Falls Boulevard. In late-2018, the restaurant moved to 2050 Cayuga Extension in Niagara Falls. Defendant Montes-Villalpando managed the restaurant, supervised the staff, including wait and kitchen staff, made hiring and firing decisions, and determined payroll. Defendant Montes supervised the kitchen staff. The kitchen staff included Victims 1, 2, 3, and 4, who were each natives and citizens of Mexico. The victims—none of whom had legal status in the United States—were employed by the defendants as cooks, food preparers, and dishwashers. In addition, the victims sublet a Niagara Falls apartment rented by defendant Montes-Villalpando.
Between November 1, 2014, and February 18, 2018, the defendants recruited and hired undocumented foreign nationals who had entered the United States illegally to work for them. Montes-Villalpando and Montes enticed prospective laborers who lived and worked in Ohio, including Victim 1 and Victim 2, to work at El Cubilete by promising them better pay and fewer hours. During their employment, Victims 1, 2, 3, and 4 were paid less than required by the Fair Labor Standards Act and by New York State law, which required a minimum wage of $9/hour. According to analysis performed by the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, the victims were underpaid in the following amounts respectively: Victim 1—$5,386.60; Victim 2—$8,513.44; Victim 3—$61,665.40; and Victim 4—$6,006.60.
Additionally, in about February 2018, defendant Montes punched Victim 3 in the nose and stated he would kill Victim 3. Montes then used a fire extinguisher to strike Victim 3 in the head causing him to fall to the ground. Victim 3 was transported to a hospital for medical treatment where he was diagnosed with a broken nose and a laceration on his head was closed with staples.
The pleas are the result of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Labor Racketeering and Fraud, under the direction of Nikitas Splagounias, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Region; and the Human Trafficking Task Force of Western District New York, which is co-led by the United States Attorney's Office, Erie County Sheriff's Office and International Institute of Buffalo.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 14, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
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Trucking Company Employee Pleads Guilty to PPP Loan Application FraudRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Lisa Bradshaw Rowberry, 49, of Provo, pleaded guilty for her role in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud scheme last week in federal court. Rowberry pleaded guilty to loan application fraud for unlawfully obtaining a federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for the Frisbu trucking company, where she was employed by the owner of the company and co-defendant, Hubert Ivan Ugarte. Ugarte pleaded guilty to PPP loan fraud and federal bribery charges involving the FedEx Ground Hub in federal court last month.
According to the plea agreement, Rowberry admitted to submitting a fraudulent loan application to Transportation Alliance Bank in Ogden, Utah, for PPP loans authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and that she fraudulently obtained $210,000 in PPP loans for Frisbu after failing to disclose on the loan application that Ugarte was under federal indictment for his role in a bribery scheme involving the FedEx Ground Hub. Rowberry stated that she first met Ugarte while working as Branch Manager at a U.S. Bank branch in Utah where Ugarte was a customer, and that when she went to work for Ugarte, she was aware that he was under federal indictment for his role in a FedEx Ground Hub bribery scheme that occurred in Utah.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding, and Congress again authorized more than 284 billion in Additional PPP funding in 2021.
PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be entirely forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses a certain amount of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
Sentencing is set for July 7, 2021 for Rowberry and on June 3, 2021 for Ugarte.
Assistant United States Attorneys in the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case against Rowberry. Special Agents from the FBI, IRS, and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General conducted the investigations.
Three Maryland Residents Facing Federal Indictment for Dating and Business Email Compromise Scams with Alleged Losses of More Than $2.3 MillionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging three defendants on federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and aggravated identity theft:
Noel Chimezuru Agoha, age 37, of Baltimore, Maryland
Sessieu Ange Oulai, age 34, of Parkville, Maryland, and
Kelechi Arthur Ntibunka, age 32, of Essex, Maryland.The indictment was returned on March 22, 2021, and was unsealed today. Agoha and Ntibunka were arrested yesterday and had their initial appearances today. At today’s hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner ordered that Agoha and Ntibunka be detained pending a detention hearing scheduled on May 12, 2021. Oulai is currently detained on unrelated state charges and will have an initial appearance on the federal charges at a later date.
The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Edwin Guard of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to the three-count indictment, from August 2016 to December 2018, the conspirators conspired with others to execute a business email compromise scam (“BEC” scam) in which the defendants sent deceptive emails to victim businesses posing as clients or representatives of companies with whom the victims had ongoing business to induce money from victims. The parties being impersonated were also victimized by the BEC scam because the object of the fraud was to intercept payments intended for these parties and/or to deprive these parties of money to which they were entitled.
As part of the scheme, “drop accounts” were opened with financial institutions and controlled by the defendants and their co-conspirators, in order to receive money from victims of criminal fraud schemes, including the BEC scam, allegedly perpetrated by the defendants and their conspirators. During the course of the conspiracy, Agoha transmitted the identity of at least one BEC victim to a co-conspirator.
The indictment alleges that the conspirators created fraudulent email accounts that included or abbreviated the names of the BEC scam victims, or accessed the BEC victims’ email accounts without authorization, in order to send fraudulent emails impersonating the victims and to receive information and funds without the victims’ knowledge or authorization. Conspirators sent emails and made phone calls to the BEC victims requesting and instructing the victims to make electronic transfers and payments of money into the drop accounts, without the knowledge or authorization of the victims being impersonated. Agoha, Oulai, Ntibunka, and other conspirators allegedly monitored drop account activity (deposits, transfers, and balances), relayed information, and provided instruction about transactions to co-conspirators via text messages. In total, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly received, or attempted to receive, more than $1.1 million in proceeds from BEC scams.
The indictment further alleges that from May 2016 to July 2018, Agoha conspired with others to execute a dating scam. As detailed in the indictment, members of the conspiracy communicated with individual victims on dating websites and created a false pretense of a romantic relationship with the victims to coax the victims to send money. The conspirators allegedly used common dating scam tactics, including claiming fictious financial hardships and crises in order to persuade victims to transfer funds to the drop accounts. As part of the conspiracy, Agoha allegedly provided drop account information to co-conspirators to relay to dating victims including routing numbers, account numbers, and the name of the account holder. The indictment alleges that Agoha and his co-conspirators accrued more than $1.2 million in dating scam proceeds.
Finally, the indictment alleges that Agoha, Oulai, and Ntibunka conspired to launder proceeds from the dating and BEC scams in order to conceal the source of the funds. Specifically, the defendants allegedly negotiated payments for their roles in conducting drop account transactions, transferred and disbursed money received from the scams into other accounts, withdrew cash, and negotiated bank checks made payable to themselves and others.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting financial institutions and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, Agoha faces a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. 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.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended HSI, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for its assistance. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Maddox, who is prosecuting this case.
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Tallahassee Man Convicted for Communicating Threats of ViolenceRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – This afternoon a federal jury convicted Daniel Alan Baker, 33, of Tallahassee on two counts of transmitting a communication in interstate commerce containing a threat to kidnap or injure another person. The conviction, which followed a two-day trial that began Tuesday morning, was announced by Jason R. Coody, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Baker was arrested by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on January 15, 2021, after he issued a “Call to Arms” for like-minded individuals to violently confront protestors that may gather at the Florida Capitol in the wake of the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. He specifically called for others to join him in encircling any protestors and confining them at the state Capitol complex using firearms. Baker posted two such threatening communications on January 12 and 14, 2021.
“The free exercise of speech is central to our democracy,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “However, the defendant’s threats of armed violence to inhibit expression of political views different than his own are both unlawful and dangerous. This office and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting public safety, and the jury’s verdict today has ensured that the defendant will be held accountable for his actions.”
At trial, evidence was presented showing that both threatening communications were true threats. The evidence included Baker’s foreign and domestic military training, his experience with firearms and explosives, as well as his social media posts that threatened the use violence and calls to war against those of different ideologies. Jurors observed social media posts in which Baker proclaimed himself as an anarchist, relayed his desire to slay his enemies, and boasted about assaulting law enforcement officers at protests in addition to his capabilities as a trained sniper. The evidence also included three firearms, a loaded shotgun and handgun depicted in many of his posts which were seized from Baker at the time of his arrest, and a third firearm, an AK-47 style rifle purchased by Baker days before transmission of his “Call to Arms.”
Baker’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 16, 2021, at 3:30 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before the Honorable Allen Winsor. Baker faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release on each count.
"This case proves that the FBI will not tolerate those who seek to wreak havoc in our communities," said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. "Violence designed to intimidate citizens and influence government is what the FBI's counterterrorism team was designed to combat, and our team remains laser focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals who cross the line from expressing beliefs to violating federal law by inciting violence or engaging in criminal activity. The communities of North Florida deserve nothing less than our full commitment to aggressively pursue these cases, and we will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. We are especially grateful for the work of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Leon County Sheriff’s Office and Tallahassee Police Department in this case."
This conviction was the result of a collaborative investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Kunz and Lazaro Fields prosecuted this case.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Syracuse Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Uploading Child Pornography to FacebookRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Randy Tremfer, 43, of Syracuse, was sentenced today in federal court in Utica to 18 years in prison for transportation of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office.
In pleading guilty, Tremfer admitted that on January 24, 2019, he uploaded to Facebook a video containing child pornography, and that he possessed 37 additional videos of child pornography in his Facebook account. Tremfer committed the offense while on supervised release for a prior federal conviction for receipt and possession of child pornography, for which he served a 60-month prison sentence. United States District Judge David N. Hurd sentenced Tremfer to an additional 18 months in prison for violating the conditions of that release, which will run consecutively to the sentence imposed for his new crime.
Tremfer was also sentenced to serve a lifetime term of supervised release after he is released from prison, and he will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Superseding Indictment Charges 8 Bridgeport Gang Members with Drug Trafficking, Committing 6 MurdersRead the Press Release
As part of an ongoing investigation into gang-related drug trafficking and related violence in Bridgeport, a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a superseding indictment charging an additional four Bridgeport men with conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including drug trafficking, murder and attempted murder.
Today’s announcement was made by Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England.
The superseding indictment, which was returned on May 3 and unsealed yesterday, charges
KEISHAWN DONALD, 20
TREVON WRIGHT, also known as “Tre,” 19
KYRAN DANGERFIELD, 24,
ERIC HAYES, also known as “Heavyweight Champ,” 24
TRAVON JONES, also known as “Budda,” 19
TYRONE MOORE, also known as “Ty Ralph Lauren,” 19
CHARLES ANTHONY BONILLA, also known as “30 Cal” and “Ant,” 22
HARRY BATCHELOR, also known as “Bookie,” 24Donald, Wright, Dangerfield and Hayes were originally charged by indictment in January 2021, and the original indictment included overt acts related to four murders. The superseding indictment adds Jones, Moore, Bonilla and Batchelor as defendants, and includes overt acts related to an additional two murders.
Batchelor was arrested this morning. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector via videoconference and is detained. The other defendants are detained in federal or state custody.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address escalating violence in Bridgeport, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and Bridgeport Police are actively investigating multiple Bridgeport-based groups whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. The eight defendants are members or associates of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns. The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport. These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End.
The indictment alleges that the East End gang distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed murder and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals. East End members celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
Among the violent acts committed by the gang, the indictment alleges that:
- On January 30, 2018, Donald shot and killed Eric Heard, a.k.a. “Fetti,” a member and associate of the GHB/Hotz gang;
- On March 5, 2019, Hayes shot and killed Jerrell Gatewood;
- On July 4, 2019, Bonilla shot and killed Richard McDonald, a member and associate of the GHB/Hotz gang;
- On July 12, 2019, Jones and Moore shot and killed Sean Warren, also known as “Kujoe,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
- On September 15, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Marquis Isreal, a.k.a. “Garf” or “Gbaby,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
- On October 17, 2019, Jones shot and attempted to kill Joshua Gilbert, a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
- On December 8, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Arvan Smith, a.k.a. “Arv Barkley,” an associate of the O.N.E. gang;
- On January 26, 2020, Wright shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both members and associates of the GHB/Hotz gang;
- On June 25, 2020, Dangerfield and “JW,” an East End associate who is now deceased, and another individual, shot and killed Tyler Ballew, a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
If convicted, Donald, Wright, Dangerfield, Hayes, Jones, Moore and Bonilla face a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and Batchelor faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle noted that, in the past year, 24 members of the East End, O.N.E. and GHB/Hotz gangs have been charged with federal offenses as a result of this ongoing investigation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Peter D. Markle and Karen L. Peck.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.