Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
7 June 2021
Marshall County, Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Importing and Distributing U-4Read the Press Release
PADUCAH – A Marshall County, Kentucky man pleaded guilty today to Conspiracy to Distribute U-47700, commonly known as U-4, a Schedule I controlled substance, and to Distributing, Possessing with the Intent to Distribute, and Importing U-4 from China.
According to court documents, Jevan Sheppard, 29, of Marshall County, Kentucky, admitted to conspiring with others to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute U-4, a Schedule I controlled substance over the period from November 14, 2016 to March 22, 2017. Further, Sheppard admitted to distributing U-4 on or about March 13 and 14, 2017, and to possessing U-4 with the intent to distribute on or about March 22, 2017. Sheppard also admitted to importing U-4 into the United States from China during the period from November 14, 2016, until March 22, 2017. He will be sentenced September 23, 2021 at 10;00 a.m. CDT.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Louisville Field Division Jeffrey T. Scott, made the announcement.
The DEA, Calvert City Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, McCracken County Sheriff’s Department, Paducah Police Department, and United States Customs and Border Protection all investigated the case, with assistance from the Marshall County Attorney’s Office and the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Marshall County.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth A. Hancock and Raymond McGee of the Paducah, Kentucky United States Attorney’s Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Livingston Man Convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Sentenced to 292 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Jonathan Kimbrell, age 46, of Livingston, Louisiana, to 292 months in federal prison following his conviction for attempted enticement of a minor. The Court further sentenced Kimbrell to five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and he must register as a convicted sex offender upon his release from prison.
Kimbrell was unanimously convicted by a jury on February 13, 2020, after a four-day trial. As the evidence at trial demonstrated, from May 2, 2019, until June 6, 2019, he communicated online with two undercover FBI agents. Kimbrell believed that he was communicating with an 11-year old girl, her stepfather, and her mother, when in fact, the FBI agents had undertaken those online personas. He believed that the “stepfather” had been repeatedly molesting his “stepdaughter” and was now offering the “child” for sexual encounters by another adult. Kimbrell did his best to convince the stepfather, mother, and child that he should be allowed to join in molesting the child. Hundreds of emails were exchanged over more than 30 days in which Kimbrell sent numerous graphic emails describing how he would have sex with the child. Kimbrell also did his best to convince the three that sex would be better with him than with the stepfather. During the conversations with the fictitious child, Kimbrell developed and encouraged the nicknames of “Turtle” for himself and “Princess” for the child. Eventually, Kimbrell met the undercover agents whom he believed to be the stepfather and mother at a restaurant in Denham Springs to discuss the ground rules for his first sexual encounter with the 11-year old girl. At this meeting, he believed the child to be waiting in a motel room across the parking lot. Kimbrell was arrested as he left the restaurant walking toward the motel where he believed the child was waiting. When he was arrested, Kimbrell was found to be in possession of two boxes of condoms, personal lubricant, and baby oil. Kimbrell was also in possession of a rhinestone key chain that spelled out “Princess,” which he had purchased as a gift for the child.
Acting U.S. Attorney Travis stated, “This conviction and sentence demonstrates our continued commitment to bring justice to those individuals such as Kimbrell who exploit or harm our children. Working alongside our law enforcement partners in protecting our communities from child predators is a top priority of this office and I commend our prosecutor and our partners at FBI, Louisiana State Police, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and Denham Springs Police Department for their excellent work in this matter.”
“Investigating individuals like Jonathan Kimbrell is one of the highest priorities of the FBI. As this case shows, the FBI continues to vigorously investigate and identify unknown individuals involved in the sexual exploitation of children. This sentence is the culmination of an investigation and successful prosecution by federal prosecutors, special agents, and intelligence analysts who work tirelessly to remove sexual predators from children’s lives,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams, Jr. “I would also like to thank our partners the Louisiana State Police, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and Denham Springs Police Department for their collaboration and efforts with this investigation.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and Denham Springs Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frederick A. Menner, Jr. and Demetrius D. Sumner.
Lewis Center man pleads guilty to COVID-relief fraud scheme & laundering more than $2.4M related to online romance scamsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Lewis Center man pleaded guilty in federal court today for his role in conspiring to launder the proceeds of online romance scams for roughly two years. He also admitted to fraudulently misapplying CARES Act loan funds to buy himself boats while out on release from his initial charges.
Eric Ahiekpor, 50, was indicted by a grand jury in June 2020 and charged by a superseding bill of information in May 2021.
In total, as part of the romance scams, bank accounts under Ahiekpor’s control received more than $2.4 million in criminally derived funds.
Kwame Yeboah, 37, of Columbus, has also pleaded guilty in the money laundering scheme. Robert Asante, 36, of Canal Winchester, was charged in the money laundering scheme and is awaiting trial.
According to court documents, individuals committing fraud created several profiles on online dating sites. They then contacted men and women throughout the United States and elsewhere, with whom they cultivated a sense of affection, and often, romance.
After establishing relationships, perpetrators of the romance scams requested money, typically for investment or need-based reasons, and provided victims with account information and directions for where money should be sent. In part, these accounts were in the names of Ahiekpor and his co-defendants, in the names of the defendants’ family members, and in the names of the defendants’ companies. The funds were not used for the purposes claimed by the perpetrators of the romance scams.
Ahiekpor is not accused of committing romance fraud. Instead, by pleading guilty he admits that he helped the perpetrators of the romance fraud move the fraud proceeds from the United States to Ghana.
While he was on release in the romance scam case, in a separate and unrelated scheme, Ahiekpor obtained a coronavirus relief loan for $150,000 and fraudulently misapplied the loan proceeds. In June 2020, Ahiekpor submitted an application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) on behalf of Premier Choice Health Services, a business he owned.
The EIDL Program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The EIDL Program was expanded under the CARES Act. EIDL proceeds can be used for working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities and fixed debt payments. EIDL proceeds cannot be used for the applicant’s personal benefit.
One day after receiving the relief funds, Ahiekpor bought a 2017 Sun Tracker “Fishin’ Barge 22 DKX” boat for $32,000, motor and boat trailer. Shortly thereafter, he also purchased a 1995 Sea Ray Sundancer boat. He continued to fraudulently misapply the EIDL proceeds after his release from his money laundering charges.
Conspiracy to launder money and wire fraud are federal crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine, as well as forfeiture of any proceeds involved in the crimes.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Kanawha County man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Qundre Isaiah Payton, of Institute, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 21 days of incarceration for a firearms charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Payton, 24, pleaded guilty in February 2020 to one count of “False Statement During Purchase of Firearms.” Payton admitted to making a false statement when purchasing three 9mm pistols at a firearms dealer in Berkeley County in December 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Justice Department Issues Proposed Rule and Model Legislation to Reduce Gun ViolenceRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice announced two new steps to help address the continuing epidemic of gun violence affecting communities across the country. First, the department issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that makes clear that when individuals use accessories to convert pistols into short-barreled rifles, they must comply with the heightened regulations on those dangerous and easily concealable weapons. Second, the department published model legislation to help states craft their own “extreme risk protection order” laws, sometimes called “red flag” laws. By sending the proposed rule to the Federal Register and publishing the model legislation today, the department has met the deadlines that the Attorney General announced alongside President Biden in April.
“The Justice Department is determined to take concrete steps to reduce the tragic toll of gun violence in our communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today we continue to deliver on our promise to help save lives while protecting the rights of law-abiding Americans. We welcome the opportunity to work with communities in the weeks and months ahead in our shared commitment to end gun violence.”
The department issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would make clear that the statutory restrictions on short-barreled rifles apply to pistols that are equipped with certain stabilizing braces and intended to be fired from the shoulder. The National Firearms Act imposes heightened regulations on short-barreled rifles because they are easily concealable, can cause great damage, and are more likely to be used to commit crimes. But companies now sell accessories that make it easy for people to convert pistols into these more dangerous weapons without going through the statute’s background check and registration requirements. These requirements are important public safety measures because they regulate the transfer of these dangerous weapons and help ensure they do not end up in the wrong hands. The proposed rule would clarify when these attached accessories convert pistols into weapons covered by these heightened regulations.
Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, the public will have 90 days to submit comments. To view the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, please see here.
The department also published model legislation and detailed commentary that will make it easier for states to craft “extreme risk protection orders” authorizing courts to temporarily bar people in crisis from accessing firearms. By allowing family members or law enforcement to intervene and to petition for these orders before warning signs turn into tragedy, “extreme risk protection orders” can save lives. They are also an evidence-based approach to the problem. The model legislation, developed after consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, provides a framework that will help more states enact these sensible laws.
To read the model legislation, please see here.
To learn more about the rulemaking process, please see here.
Judges sentences member of major drug trafficking organization for conspiring to distributeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig sentenced David M. Foston to 125 months in prison today. The 49-year-old St. Louis, Missouri resident pleaded guilty, in February, to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Foston was indicted with 14 others in St. Louis, Missouri, in May 2019 for conspiring to distribute more than 25 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of heroin, and three kilograms of fentanyl. Throughout the investigation, law enforcement seized more than $2,036,981 from drug payments and profits, luxury jewelry, and vehicles.
Investigators from of the Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division uncovered a cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl distribution organization transporting kilogram quantities of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl from Mexico, through Texas and Florida, to the St. Louis Metropolitan area. The higher echelon of the conspiracy served federal prison sentences for prior controlled substance violations in the Federal Correction Institution in Florence, Colorado beginning in the late 2000s.
Throughout 2018, Foston and his co-conspirators utilized drug couriers and vehicles with concealed compartments to ship multi-kilogram amounts of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl to a residence in Spanish Lake, Missouri from Houston, Texas and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Foston and his co-conspirators unloaded the drugs at the residence and distributed them throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan area. The proceeds from the sale of those controlled substances were stored at residences in St. Louis City and County and loaded into the concealed compartments of vehicles for transportation back to Texas and Florida.
On March 17, 2018, DEA special agents and task force officers located and seized $1,304,804.00 in drug payments from the St. Louis-based distributors in Phelps County, Missouri as a courier was traveling back to drug suppliers in Texas. On April 20, 2018, the DEA intercepted a courier in possession of 25 kilograms of cocaine destined for the St. Louis drug distributors. In July 2018, investigators seized three kilograms of fentanyl and $263,000 in drug payments from a courier’s vehicle in Oklahoma. On September 8, 2018, investigators searched the Spanish Lake residence and seized 10 kilograms of heroin.
In October 2018, the St. Louis based distributors attempted to purchase $385,000 worth of cocaine during a sting operation in a suburb of Houston. DEA investigators intercepted the courier and seized the United States currency belonging to the other St. Louis based distributors. The currency was to be a partial payment for 25 kilograms of cocaine, which the organization intended to distribute.
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration offices in St. Louis, Houston (Texas), Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Detroit (Michigan), the United States Marshal’s Service, St. Charles County Police, St. Louis Metropolitan Police, Bridgeton Police, Phelps County Sherriff’s Department and Cleveland, Texas Police.
#####
Jefferson Parish Men Indicted for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ERIC RODRIGUEZ and GREG TRAHAN were charged on June 4, 2021, in a four-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
In counts 1 and 2, RODRIGUEZ is charged with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C). If convicted of count 1, RODRIGUEZ faces a minimum of five years imprisonment up to a maximum of 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, at least 4 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment. If convicted of count 2, RODRIGUEZ faces up to a maximum term of 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.
TRAHAN is charged in counts 3 and 4 with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, respectively, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). If convicted on either count, he faces up to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the defendants’ guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Kenner Police Department, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Police Department, and St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Nolan Paige, André Jones, and Melissa Bücher.
* * *
Hurricane Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Hurricane man pleaded guilty today to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Derrick Lee Racer, 38, admitted that in the early morning hours of March 2, 2020, he was riding a bicycle through St. Albans and had a loaded Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver on his person. An officer with the St. Albans Police Department stopped Racer because he was not wearing a helmet, in violation of city ordinances. Racer admitted that he had the firearm and that he knew he should not be carrying it due to a 2005 felony conviction for attempted distribution of marijuana in Putnam County Circuit Court. At the time of the stop, Racer’s rights to possess a firearm had not been restored.
Racer faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 8, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00095.
###
Harrison County man admits to bank robberyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Clint Monroe Utter, of West Milford, West Virginia, has admitted to the robbery of Summit Community Bank in November 2020, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Utter, 43, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Bank Robbery” and one count of “Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.” Utter admitted to robbing the Summit Community Bank in Salem, West Virginia, of $69,100 on November 17, 2020 and then attempting to conceal the proceeds from the bank robbery by directing the purchase of prepaid cards.
Utter faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the bank robbery charge. Utter faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $500,000 for the money laundering charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Guatemalan National Extradited to Eastern District of Texas and Sentenced for Conspiracy to Import Cocaine into the United StatesRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Guatemalan man was sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Jose Ramon Reyes Villagran, 37, pleaded guilty on Sep. 1, 2020, to conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and manufacturing, distributing, and importing cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan.
“Despite the sophisticated network of land, sea, and air smuggling routes, it wasn’t enough to conceal the criminal activities of Mr. Villagran and his associates from American investigators and our overseas law enforcement allies,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “The long arm of the American justice system extends even overseas, and brings international drug traffickers and their conspirators to our shores to face justice in American courts.”
According to information presented in court, Villagran, a resident and national of Guatemala, was a member of a drug trafficking organization responsible for multi-ton cocaine shipments which originated from Columbia. The drugs were then shipped to Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico for further distribution to the United States. Airplanes, go-fast boats, semi-tractor trailer trucks, and passenger vehicles were used to transport most of the cocaine shipments. Villagran was involved with coordinating airplanes used to transport cocaine shipments departing from Colombia and Venezuela to arrive at his clandestine landing strips in Guatemala. Thereafter, he distributed the bulk cocaine to his customers in Guatemala and Mexico. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Villagran with federal drug trafficking violations on August 8, 2018.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Bloss.
###
Georgia Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
A federal district court in Cincinnati, Ohio, sentenced an Atlanta, Georgia, man to 57 months in prison today for tax evasion. This sentence included an enhancement for failing to report income from drug trafficking.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least 2011 to 2016, Darryl Brown earned at least $1 million. To evade paying taxes on this income, Brown did not file returns. He created nominee businesses, opened bank accounts and lines of credit in the names of those businesses, and then used the accounts to pay for his luxury lifestyle. This included extravagant overseas trips, Rolex and Cartier watches, and luxury clothing and vehicles. Brown further used cash to purchase money orders in structured amounts to avoid triggering reporting requirements to the Department of Treasury and the IRS. Brown then used the money orders to pay off the balances on his nominee accounts. In total, Brown caused a tax loss of more than $250,000.
U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black in the Southern District of Ohio also ordered Brown to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $377,240.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel of the Southern District of Ohio made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and local law enforcement officials conducted the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Sarah C. Ranney and William Guappone of the Tax Division prosecuted the case, and Criminal Chief Karl Kadon of the Southern District of Ohio provided substantial assistance in this matter.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.
Former Scranton Police Officer Charged with Federal Bribery ViolationRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Thomas McDonald, age 47, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information with a federal bribery violation.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the information alleges that McDonald, while working as a police officer for the Scranton Police Department in April 2018, corruptly solicited for his own benefit, sex and sexual favors from Person #1, intending to be influenced in official actions of the Scranton Police Department and the City of Scranton.
It is also alleged that McDonald’s related conduct also included felony bribery violations with respect to Persons #2 through #4.
“Law enforcement officers hold enormous power over the citizenry and we trust them to exercise that power ethically and with integrity,” stated Acting United states Attorney Bruce D. Brandler. “While most officers perform their duty in an exemplary fashion, we will not hesitate to prosecute those officers who break the law and undermine the administration of justice by engaging in the reprehensible behavior charged here. I want to thank all the law enforcement agents and the entire prosecution team for handling this sensitive matter professionally and expeditiously.”
“The activities alleged today are a serious divergence from the oath Thomas McDonald took to faithfully serve and protect the city of Scranton,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “He betrayed the people of his community and all of us who wear a badge and believe no one is above the law. The FBI will continue to root out corrupt law enforcement officers, on behalf of the vast majority of officers who carry out their duties honestly and honorably.”
“The Pennsylvania State Police worked in collaboration with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough and comprehensive investigation,” said Major Randy Devine, commander of the Pennsylvania State Police Area III. “Corruption and bribery in any form are serious crimes. When public trust is violated by a municipal law enforcement agency, it is our duty to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.”
“I am as appalled and disappointed by this tragedy today as I was the day I first learned that a former member of our force grossly abused his authority, committing vile, repulsive acts,” said Scranton’s Police Chief, Superintendent Leonard Namiotka. “Mr. McDonald must pay the price for his crimes, like anyone else. If there is a bright spot, it is that since she came into office last year, Mayor Cognetti’s uniformed services agenda has included making significant improvements to our department’s internal processes and communications. Accomplishing that should go a long way towards providing earlier warning of issues like this going forward. But what may be most important right now is for Scrantonians to know that McDonald’s actions are not at all representative of our well-trained, caring and dedicated police personnel, a group of men and women whose actions each and every day are proof that they live by the credo of protecting and serving our community.”
McDonald was terminated from his position as a Scranton Police Officer in June 2020.
The case was investigated by the Scranton Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Public Corruption Task Force, which consists of members of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and federal agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Olshefski is prosecuting the case.
Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
# # #
Former Karnes County Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced for Straw Purchasing Firearms Smuggled to MexicoRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A federal judge sentenced Former Karnes County Sheriff’s Deputy Oswaldo Bernal today to 32 months in federal prison for straw purchasing approximately 40 firearms that were subsequently trafficked to Mexico.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court David A. Ezra ordered the San Antonio resident to pay a money judgment in the amount of $7,191.96 and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.
“Bernal betrayed his badge. He knowingly purchased handguns for an individual he knew could not legally purchase them in the U.S. and who would smuggle them into Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “I could not agree more with Judge Ezra’s comments in court today that if any member of the public were to have purchased this many firearms in such a short time period, it would have raised red flags. But because Bernal was a law enforcement officer, he could purchase those weapons without raising suspicion.”
On March 11, 2021, Bernal pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting smuggling goods from the U.S. By pleading guilty, Bernal admitted that while employed as a Karnes County Deputy Sheriff, he purchased the firearms in 2020 from San Antonio firearms dealers under a discount program for law enforcement officers called the “Blue Label Program.” Bernal then sold those weapons to Juan Cesar Fabian Ayala-Melendez, a native of Monterrey, Mexico who was illegally residing in the U.S.
“Public trust is a critical element of accomplishing law enforcements mission. This former officer stepped outside of that public trust by committing crimes and received the proper treatment from the justice system,” said Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Houston Field Office.
Ayala has admitted that he smuggled the firearms into Monterrey through a Laredo-based international shipping company. On March 4, 2021, Ayala pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, namely the proceeds of the weapons trafficking conspiracy, and one count of being an alien in possession of a firearm. He remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing that is scheduled for July 19, 2021.
A third co-defendant who also remains in federal custody, Yesenia Berenice De La Cerda Mendoza, faces federal charges for her role in the weapons trafficking and money laundering scheme. Her re-arraignment is set for June 17, 2021 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard B. Farrer in San Antonio.
The ATF investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey and Fidel Esparza III prosecuted this case.
###
Former CEO of Publicly Traded Company Sentenced to 15 Months’ Imprisonment and Ordered to Pay More Than $1.2 Million in Restitution for Securities Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Dennis Mancino, the former Chief Executive Officer of HD View 360, Inc., a publicly traded penny stock company that purported to distribute and install security surveillance systems, was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 15 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Mancino’s conviction stemmed from his participation in a scheme to manipulate the price and trading volume of HD View’s stock, which traded under the ticker symbol HDVW. Mancino was also ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution and $257,000 in forfeiture. Mancino pleaded guilty in September 2019.
Mark J. Lesko, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentencing.
“Today, Mancino has been held accountable for abusing the trust of more than 1,200 of his own investors in order to line his pockets,” stated Acting United States Attorney Lesko. “As this case demonstrates, we remain committed to protecting the investing public and the integrity of the financial markets from fraudulent schemes such as those advanced by the defendant.” Mr. Lesko expressed his thanks to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office and Washington, D.C. Office, for their invaluable efforts in the case.
Between July 2017 and February 2018, Mancino conspired to increase HD View’s stock price by executing numerous fraudulent matched trades designed to create the false appearance that HD View’s stock price had risen as a result of genuine market demand. Once HD View’s stock price increased, the conspirators sold the stock for profit and caused more than $1.2 million in losses to more than 1,200 HD View investors. Mancino also agreed to pay kickbacks to stock brokers who would execute manipulative trades designed to increase the price and trading volume of HD View’s stock.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys David Gopstein and Michael T. Keilty are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
DENNIS MANCINO
Age: 49
Residence: Miami, FloridaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-296 (KAM)
Former Augusta Man Sentenced for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A former Augusta resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possessing child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Michael C. O’Brien, 40, now of New Lenox, Illinois, to 87 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. O’Brien was also ordered to pay $19,000 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on November 18, 2019.
According to court records, O’Brien possessed thousands of images and hundreds of videos of child pornography that he had received over the internet. Many of these images and videos depicted prepubescent girls under 12 years old. Law enforcement officers discovered the child pornography when they executed a search warrant at O’Brien’s home on September 26, 2018.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Federal Jury Convicts Greeley Man of Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Joel Flores of Greeley, Colorado was convicted by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prior felon.
According to the facts presented at trial, Flores was the passenger in a vehicle that crashed while attempting to evade a police officer. After the crash, Flores and the driver fled on foot. Flores was located a short time later hiding under a porch in a nearby trailer park. Officers searched Flores and located a baggie containing methamphetamine, cash, and a 9mm bullet. Law enforcement searched the area and recovered a firearm and more cash in the area near where Flores fled from the vehicle.
“Drug dealing and guns are a potential volatile mix,” said Acting United States Attorney Matt Kirsch. “Our prosecutors are committed to doing their part, together with our law enforcement partners, to keep our communities safe.”
“It is a top priority for ATF to prevent prohibited individuals from possessing firearms,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge David Booth. “We are proud to work with our local and Federal partners to stop such individuals from bringing violence into our communities.”
United States District Court Judge William J. Martinez presided over the jury trial that began on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, and concluded on Friday. Flores will be sentenced on November 17 at 9:30AM.
This case was investigated by the Greeley Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by the Violent Crime and Immigration Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
CASE NUMBER: 19-cr-522
# # #
Visit our website http://www.justice.gov/usao/co | Follow us on Twitter @DCoNews
Sign up for new releases [email protected]
Federal Jury Convicts Armed Career Criminal for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury today convicted a St. Paul man on charges of illegally possessing a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Following a five-day trial, Darnell Andre Dunn, 30, was convicted on one count of felon in possession of firearm – armed career criminal.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on August 30, 2019, Dunn was involved in a drive-by shooting in St. Paul. Minutes after the shooting, St. Paul police pulled over the car in which Dunn and two others were riding. The police let Dunn and the others go after receiving incorrect information about the license plate of the drive-by shooter’s car from the 911 dispatcher. When they realized the error, Dunn and the others were gone. The following day, St. Paul police saw Dunn parked at a gas station in St. Paul. After asking Dunn about the false name he had given the night before, the officer ordered Dunn out of the car. When Dunn got up, a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson he had been sitting on fell to the floor. A ballistics analysis later showed that it was one of the guns that had been used in the drive-by shooting the night before. Because of his prior felony convictions, Dunn is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Dunn faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years, up to life imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. At sentencing, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the St. Paul Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and Melinda A. Williams.
Federal Inmate Found Guilty of Possessing Foot-long KnifeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A federal jury convicted an inmate at United States Penitentiary (USP) Lee in Jonesville, Virginia, on June 1, for illegally possessing a knife inside the prison.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jose Soto-Ramirez, 34, was found in possession of a 12-inch-long handmade knife while housed as an inmate at the prison. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for September 7, 2021. Soto-Ramirez faces up to five years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer and Special Assistant United States Attorney Christine Hummert are prosecuting the case.
Fayetteville Sex Offender Sentenced to More Than 16 Years After Trading Child Abuse Material OnlineRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Francis Brady of Fayetteville was sentenced today to 200 months in prison for possession of child pornography. On January 19, 2021, Brady pled guilty to the charge.
According to court documents and statements made during hearings, the investigation began in June 2015, when FBI agents in Louisville, Kentucky, seized the phone of a child exploitation suspect. The phone revealed multiple individuals with whom the Louisville suspect had traded images of child pornography and discussed sexually abusing children using the chat platform Kik. One of people used the display name “Horny Dad.” From June 2 to June 18, 2015, the Louisville suspect and the “Horny Dad” user had exchanged multiple images depicting child pornography and discussed what sexual acts they wished to conduct on the children.
Records requests revealed the “Horny Dad” user to be the defendant Francis Brady, of Fayetteville, NC. Internet IP records likewise showed that Brady had accessed the account from a business with open Wi-Fi access that neighbored a restaurant where he worked. Brady was determined to be a registered sex offender, following a 2006 conviction for Indecent Liberty with a Child, and his email address of record on the sex offender registry matched that for the Kik account. IP Records further showed that Brady accessed his Kik account using two Samsung S5 cell phones.
The FBI obtained a federal warrant for Brady’s cell phones, which they executed at Brady’s home on June 12, 2017, with assistance from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement seized the two cell phones, and Brady voluntarily turned over multiple other digital devices, including phones, computers, and memory cards.
During an interview, Brady admitted to using the “Horny Dad” account and that a thumb drive in his room would contain photos of prepubescent children and teenagers. Digital forensics revealed 750 images of child pornography on Brady’s devices, including almost 300 images that depicted children under 12.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-0274-FL.
###
Engineering Firm Pleads Guilty to Decade-Long Bid Rigging and Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A North Carolina engineering firm was sentenced today after pleading guilty to long lasting conspiracies to rig bids and defraud the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
According to court documents, Contech Engineered Solutions LLC (Contech) pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Sherman Act and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud, as charged in a six-count indictment filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina on Oct. 21, 2020. Contech admitted to conspiring to rig bids to the NCDOT and conspiring to defraud the NCDOT in order to fraudulently obtain contracts for infrastructure projects. The conspiracies started at least as early as 2009 and continued at least until March 2018. Former Contech executive Brent Brewbaker was charged as a co-defendant in the same six-count indictment, and he remains under indictment.
“Today’s resolution demonstrates the Antitrust Division’s unwavering commitment to holding accountable those who cheat the competitive process at the expense of the American taxpayer,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “A critical part of that mission is seeking restitution to compensate government victims of public procurement crimes.”
“This is a case about fraud and collusion in the North Carolina bidding process for certain water drainage system components,” said Acting U.S. Attorney G. Norman Acker III for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “All taxpayers lose when companies submit false records in an effort to game the bidding system. I applaud our partners in the Department of Justice for their efforts to halt such practices in North Carolina.”
“Activities related to collusion, bid rigging and market allocation do not promote an environment conducive to open competition which harms the consumer,” said Acting Executive Special Agent in Charge Steven Stuller of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Office of Inspector General. “The USPS spends hundreds of millions of dollars on new construction, maintenance and renovation of USPS facilities. Along with the Department of Justice and our federal law enforcement partners, the USPS Office of Inspector General will aggressively investigate those who would engage in this type of harmful conduct.”
“The agreement and sentence imposed should serve as a significant deterrent for anyone who chooses corporate greed over open and fair competition in transportation projects funded with federal dollars,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jamie Mazzone of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Mid-Atlantic Region. “Together with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue our efforts to pursue and uncover corrupt conduct and hold these bad actors accountable.”
Contech pleaded guilty to one count of bid-rigging under Section One of the Sherman Antitrust Act and one count of conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud. Contech agreed to pay a criminal fine of $7,000,000 and restitution to the NCDOT in the amount of $1,533,988. Contech has also agreed to cooperate with the department’s ongoing investigation.
The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal I Section is prosecuting the case, which was investigated with the assistance of the USPS Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Anyone with information concerning market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging, or other anticompetitive conduct related to the aluminum structures industry should contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html.
In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force, a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact procurement and grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state, and local. For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Drug trafficker who attempted to shoot investigators found guilty on all charges at trialRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Liberty County man whose gun malfunctioned when he attempted to shoot at investigators searching for drugs has been found guilty on all charges by a U.S. District Court jury.
Charles Hyde, 63, of Hinesville, Ga., was found guilty in U.S. District Court in Brunswick on charges of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number; and Possession and Brandishing of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The convictions subject Hyde to a possible maximum sentence of up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
“Charles Hyde has profited from the sale of poison in our communities for years, squandering multiple opportunities to lead a law-abiding life,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “He’s lucky to still be alive, and now likely will spend the rest of that life behind bars – and our neighborhoods are safer as a result.”
As described in court documents and testimony, starting as early as July 2016 through December 2018, Hyde and key codefendant Stacey White, 34, of Hinesville, made multiple trips each month to the Atlanta area to obtain kilograms of methamphetamine from a supplier. They recruited other defendants to assist in selling the drugs.
After a controlled purchase of drugs from Hyde in May 2018, investigators from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted a search of Hyde’s residence. Hyde’s handgun malfunctioned when he attempted to shoot at the investigators; a Liberty County deputy shot Hyde in the hand, and he was taken into custody. Investigators found large amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana in his residence. An examination of Hyde’s Taurus pistol determined that the firing pin had left a mark on the .40-caliber cartridge in the chamber, but that it had failed to fire.
Hyde and White, along with four other defendants, were indicted on federal conspiracy charges in February 2019. White, a certified member of the violent Bloods criminal street gang, pled guilty and was sentenced in August 2020 to 246 months in prison; three codefendants also pled guilty and are serving prison terms. The sixth codefendant, Hyde’s brother, Terry Hyde, 58, of Hinesville, is awaiting trial and is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
“DEA and its law enforcement partners presented a united front to bring this poly-drug trafficker to justice, said the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “This sentencing is a victory, not only for the law enforcement community, but for Liberty County and the surrounding area. Mr. Hyde may very well spend the remainder of his life in federal prison.”
“Illegal drugs have no place in Georgia. They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “The fact that this defendant attempted to shoot at investigators when being taken into custody shows his utter disregard for law enforcement. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.”
This drug-trafficking conspiracy was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Darron J. Hubbard.
Detroit, Michigan Oxycodone Dealer Sentenced to 15 years in Federal Prison for Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
Bismarck - Acting United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor sentenced Mario R. Garmoo, age 32, Detroit, MI, to 15 years in federal prison for the charges of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone and Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone. Judge Traynor also sentenced Garmoo to 3 years of supervised released and $200 in special assessment fees.
On March 20, 2019, the motor vehicle Garmoo was traveling in was stopped near Fargo, ND, and subsequently searched by law enforcement agents, who located 94 oxycodone 30mg pills and approximately 1 pound of marijuana. Garmoo had traveled out of state and was returning to North Dakota with intent to distribute the opiate pills. The investigation determined Garmoo had acquired and distributed hundreds of oxycodone 30mg pills, primarily in the area of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Garmoo was found to be a "career offender" under the United States Sentencing Guidelines based upon two prior drug trafficking convictions.
This case was investigated by DEA, MHA Drug Enforcement, and Bismarck PD, and Assistant United States Attorney Rick Volk prosecuted the case.
###
Detroit Man Sentenced to 240 Months for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in OverdoseRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Martinus Shamar Watts, 32, of Detroit, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury.
According to Watts’ plea agreement, he admitted that he personally distributed fentanyl, that he supplied his co-defendants with the drug for distribution, and that he directed his co-defendants in their distribution of fentanyl. Watts further admitted that he distributed fentanyl on March 20, 2019 to an individual who overdosed and nearly died from use of the substance. In June 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Watts’ local address in Lexington. Officers located drugs, two firearms, and more than $67,000 in U.S. currency that Watts admitted was proceeds of his drug trafficking activities.
Watts pleaded guilty in August 2020.
Under federal law, Watts must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, Watts will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Louisville Field Division; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of the Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury.
– END –
Department of Justice Seizes $2.3 Million in Cryptocurrency Paid to the Ransomware Extortionists DarksideRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice today announced that it has seized 63.7 bitcoins currently valued at approximately $2.3 million. These funds allegedly represent the proceeds of a May 8, ransom payment to individuals in a group known as DarkSide, which had targeted Colonial Pipeline, resulting in critical infrastructure being taken out of operation. The seizure warrant was authorized earlier today by the Honorable Laurel Beeler, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California.
“Following the money remains one of the most basic, yet powerful tools we have,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco for the U.S. Department of Justice. “Ransom payments are the fuel that propels the digital extortion engine, and today’s announcement demonstrates that the United States will use all available tools to make these attacks more costly and less profitable for criminal enterprises. We will continue to target the entire ransomware ecosystem to disrupt and deter these attacks. Today’s announcements also demonstrate the value of early notification to law enforcement; we thank Colonial Pipeline for quickly notifying the FBI when they learned that they were targeted by DarkSide.”
“There is no place beyond the reach of the FBI to conceal illicit funds that will prevent us from imposing risk and consequences upon malicious cyber actors,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “We will continue to use all of our available resources and leverage our domestic and international partnerships to disrupt ransomware attacks and protect our private sector partners and the American public.”
“Cyber criminals are employing ever more elaborate schemes to convert technology into tools of digital extortion,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Stephanie Hinds. “We need to continue improving the cyber resiliency of our critical infrastructure across the nation, including in the Northern District of California. We will also continue developing advanced methods to improve our ability to track and recover digital ransom payments.”
On or about May 7, Colonial Pipeline was the victim of a highly publicized ransomware attack resulting in the company taking portions of its infrastructure out of operation. Colonial Pipeline reported to the FBI that its computer network was accessed by an organization named DarkSide and that it had received and paid a ransom demand for approximately 75 bitcoins.
As alleged in the supporting affidavit, by reviewing the Bitcoin public ledger, law enforcement was able to track multiple transfers of bitcoin and identify that approximately 63.7 bitcoins, representing the proceeds of the victim’s ransom payment, had been transferred to a specific address, for which the FBI has the “private key,” or the rough equivalent of a password needed to access assets accessible from the specific Bitcoin address. This bitcoin represents proceeds traceable to a computer intrusion and property involved in money laundering and may be seized pursuant to criminal and civil forfeiture statutes.
The Special Prosecutions Section and Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California is handling the seizure, with significant assistance from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The Department components who worked on this seizure coordinated their efforts through the Department’s Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force, which was created to combat the growing number of ransomware and digital extortion attacks.
The Task Force prioritizes the disruption, investigation, and prosecution of ransomware and digital extortion activity by tracking and dismantling the development and deployment of malware, identifying the cybercriminals responsible, and holding those individuals accountable for their crimes. The Task Force also strategically targets the ransomware criminal ecosystem as a whole and collaborates with domestic and foreign government agencies as well as private sector partners to combat this significant criminal threat.
Dallas Felon Sentenced for Cooke County Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Dallas man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Charles Jerome Bowman, 54, pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2020, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan.
“Keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals is essential to protecting our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message that the possession of firearms by convicted felons will be aggressively prosecuted.”
According to information presented in court, on March 24, 2019, a deputy with the Cooke County Sheriff's Office responded to a call regarding a reckless driver on Interstate 35. The deputy stopped the reported vehicle and identified the driver as Bowman. The deputy requested that Bowman exit the vehicle to issue a warning for defective equipment and because Bowman was showing signs of intoxication. Bowman refused to comply and became combative. He was wearing a holster containing a Phoenix Arms .25 caliber pistol. Bowman was subsequently arrested and transported to the Cooke County Jail. Upon arrival at the jail, Bowman threated to kill two of the officers. A criminal history check revealed that Bowman had numerous prior felony convictions, including robbery, aggravated assault, and aggravated robbery. Bowman was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 9, 2019.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Cooke County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
###
Court Orders Toledo Pharmacy and Two Pharmacists to Stop Dispensing Dangerous Doses and Combinations of Opioids and Other Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
A federal court in Ohio ordered a Toledo pharmacy and two of its pharmacists to pay a $375,000 civil penalty and imposed restrictions related to the dispensing of opioids and other controlled substances.
Pursuant to an agreed consent judgment and permanent injunction, the court enjoined Shaffer Pharmacy, along with pharmacist-owner Thomas Tadsen and pharmacist Wilson Bunton, from dispensing certain opioid prescriptions, including combination opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions. The order also mandates that the defendants undergo periodic comprehensive reviews of their dispensing practices to ensure compliance with the order and the Controlled Substances Act. The consent decree resolves a civil complaint the government filed on Jan. 6, 2021, in the Northern District of Ohio. The complaint alleged that the defendants repeatedly dispensed opioids and other controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act by ignoring “red flags” – that is, obvious indications of drug diversion and drug-seeking behavior.
“Pharmacies and pharmacists must abide by the Controlled Substances Act and take active steps to ensure opioids are dispensed based on medical legitimacy,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to working closely with the Drug Enforcement Administration to combat the opioid addiction crisis.”
“With opioid abuse and overdose deaths again on the rise in the Northern District of Ohio, we must remain vigilant in our prevention efforts and in holding those in the medical profession accountable when they are alleged to be unlawfully prescribing or dispensing opioids,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan for the Northern District of Ohio. “We will continue to utilize all of our available enforcement options to address this threat and those who are alleged to be engaged in these unlawful practices.”
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, FBI, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, and the Ohio Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Fitzgerald and Angelita Cruz Bridges of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, and Trial Attorneys Scott Dahlquist and Maryann McGuire of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch.
California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Coachella, California man was sentenced to federal prison today for transporting five pounds of methamphetamine from Coachella to Aumsville, Oregon.
Gerardo Figueroa-Felix, 36, was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by four years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on January 7, 2019, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call that squatters had returned to a foreclosed property in Aumsville and that there was methamphetamine inside the house. Deputies had locked the property four days prior in response to a court order. Two deputies approached the house together and spotted a white Chevrolet pickup truck with a California license plate backed into the driveway. As they approached, the deputies saw Figueroa-Felix tying up a tarp near the back of the vehicle.
One of the deputies approached Figueroa-Felix and asked why he was on the property. Figueroa-Felix produced three identification cards with his name and photograph on them. The deputy watched as Figueroa-Felix began to reach his hands into the front pockets of his jacket and ordered him to remove them. The deputy then proceeded to search Figueroa-Felix’s person and located a loaded semi-automatic Ruger 9mm handgun in his left-front pants pocket. The deputy discovered a second loaded handgun tucked into Figueroa-Felix’s waistband. Figueroa-Felix also had a double magazine pouch attached to his belt.
The investigation revealed Figueroa-Felix was a drug mule from Coachella and was paid to transport five pounds of crystal methamphetamine from Southern California to Oregon. He previously sold two pounds of methamphetamine on the Aumsville property and returned that day to sell more. Deputies seized three pounds of methamphetamine and large quantities of live .45 caliber ammunition from his truck along with another handgun.
On March 20, 2019, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Figueroa-Felix with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On March 8, 2021, Figueroa-Felix pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Salem Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Hannah Horsley and Pamela Paaso, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Los Angeles, California man pleaded guilty today to federal drug charges.
According to court documents and statement made in court, Troyvon Lewis, also known as “B.C.,” 32, traveled from Los Angeles, California to Huntington, West Virginia to sell methamphetamine and marijuana. Lewis also admitted that he arranged the drug deal over the telephone and agreed to deliver approximately seven pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of marijuana to an individual in Huntington. On March 28, 2021, the day the drug deal was to take place, Troopers with the West Virginia State Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Lewis was a passenger on I-64 in Cabell County. The Troopers seized seven pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of marijuana from the trunk of the vehicle. Lewis admitted he intended to sell the controlled substances to an individual in Huntington.
Lewis pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and marijuana and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and marijuana. Lewis faces 10 years to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on September 7, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00054.
###
Bronx Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2011 Murder of Bolivia BeckRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that KAREEM DAVIS, a/k/a “Reem,” was sentenced today to life in prison for the April 18, 2011, murder of Bolivia Beck. Ms. Beck, 20, was killed by a bullet while standing next to her boyfriend in the Mill Brook Houses in the Bronx, New York. DAVIS was aiming for Beck’s boyfriend, a rival gang member, but struck Beck instead. On December 17, 2019, DAVIS was convicted of conspiring to commit racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, and murder through the use of a firearm after a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “On April 18, 2011, Bolivia Beck was murdered while meeting her boyfriend’s grandparents on a sidewalk in the Mill Brook Houses. What should have been a happy moment ended in tragedy, when she was shot by Kareem Davis. For his role in this horrific and senseless act of violence, Davis will now spend the rest of his life in a federal prison. We extend our deepest condolences to the members of Bolivia’s family. We thank our partners at the NYPD, who worked to achieve this measure of justice for Bolivia and her family. This Office remains committed to investigating and prosecuting gang violence and seeking justice for all victims of violent crime.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment and the evidence at trial:
On April 18, 2011, Bolivia Beck was struck and killed by a bullet while standing next to her boyfriend in the Mill Brook Houses, where she lived at the time. KAREEM DAVIS was a member of Killbrook, a violent street gang based in the “Down the Block” section of the Mill Brook Houses. Since at least 2007, Killbrook had been engaged in a violent rivalry with “MBG,” a gang based in the “Up the Block” section of Mill Brook.
On the night of April 18, 2011, DAVIS and his brother planned to kill a rival MBG member as part of the broader gang rivalry. DAVIS and his brother, each armed with a gun, walked “Up the Block” in Mill Brook looking for their target, who was standing next to Beck and introducing her to his grandparents. At that point, DAVIS and his brother started shooting, firing at least 12 shots from their guns. Tragically, Beck was struck by one of the bullets and killed.
DAVIS also committed other crimes in connection with his membership in Killbrook, including drug dealing and robbery.
* * *
In addition to his prison term, KAREEM DAVIS, 32, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Clore, Jordan Estes, and Alexandra Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
Berkeley County man sentenced for drug possessionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Walter Lee Evans, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 131 months of incarceration for a drug distribution charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Evans, age 48, pleaded guilty in February 2020 to one count of “Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin.” Evans admitted to having heroin in April 2019 in Berkeley County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Martinsburg Police Department investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Attorney General Announces Initiatives to Combat Human Smuggling and Trafficking and to Fight Corruption in Central AmericaRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced a series of steps that the Department of Justice is taking to address the threats posed by both corruption and by transnational human smuggling and trafficking networks.
Attorney General Garland announced the establishment of Joint Task Force Alpha, a law enforcement task force that will marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
“Transnational human smuggling and trafficking networks pose a serious criminal threat,” said Attorney General Garland. “These networks profit from the exploitation of migrants and routinely expose them to violence, injury, and death. The joint efforts we are announcing today will combine investigative, prosecutorial, and capacity-building efforts of both the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. Our focus will remain on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. Together, we will combat these threats where they originate and operate.”
In addition to the work of the Joint Task Force, Attorney General Garland directed the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT) and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), in coordination with the State Department, to enhance the assistance provided to counterparts in the Northern Triangle countries and Mexico to support their efforts to prosecute smuggling and trafficking networks in their own courts.
The Joint Task Force will consist of federal prosecutors from U.S. Attorney’s Offices along the Southwest Border (District of Arizona, Southern District of California, Southern District of Texas, and Western District of Texas), from the Criminal Division and the Civil Rights Division, along with law enforcement agents and analysts from DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol. The FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration will also be part of the Task Force. And it will work closely with Operation Sentinel, a recently announced DHS operation focused on countering transnational criminal organizations affiliated with migrant smuggling.
“In our continued efforts to disrupt transnational criminal organizations, and smuggling and trafficking enterprises, the Department of Homeland Security will partner with the Department of Justice to launch Joint Task Force Alpha,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “We will take action to identify smugglers and their associates to ensure that we enhance the security of the U.S. border, and help save the lives of vulnerable people these organizations routinely prey upon.”
Joint Task Force Alpha will also complement the Justice Department’s efforts to fight corruption. The Justice Department will increase its focus on investigations, prosecutions, and asset recoveries relating to corruption in Northern Triangle countries through its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement program, counternarcotics prosecutions, and Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. In addition, adopting a Task Force approach, the department’s OPDAT and ICITAP personnel – including new Northern Triangle anti-corruption legal advisors – will work with Northern Triangle prosecutors and investigators to build corruption cases in those countries themselves, as well as to develop leads that can be pursued by the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative.
Alleged Gang Member Charged by Miami Federal Grand Jury with Possession of a Cache of Sophisticated Firearms, including Two “Switch” Enabled Fully Automatic Machine GunsRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida -- A prior convicted felon from Miami with alleged ties to the national “Bloods” gang and the local “77 Street” gang has been indicted by a South Florida grand jury on federal firearms charges, including illegal possession of machine guns.
According to the Indictment, an earlier-filed criminal complaint, and statements made in court, law enforcement officers approached 22-year-old Ty’ree Dixon on May 17, 2021, as part of an investigation into gang-related violent crime and fraud. When police confronted him, they discovered that Dixon was armed with a Glock 20 and a 10mm semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine, it is alleged. They also located a large amount of ammunition and several firearms inside Dixon’s residence while executing a search warrant that same day, including three Glock semi-automatic pistols, a Century Arms International AK style pistol, and two pistols that had been converted into machine guns using “switch” devices, according to the allegations. When installed on a handgun, a “switch” (technically called an auto-sear) allows the handgun to expel more than one bullet by a single pull of the trigger, turning the weapon into a fully automatic machine gun, according to statements made in court.
Law enforcement officers arrested Dixon on May 17, and South Florida federal prosecutors charged him by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm. On May 21, following a hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge John J. O’Sullivan ordered that Dixon be held in a federal detention center without bond pending his trial (pre-trial detention). On June 1, a South Florida grand jury returned an indictment charging Dixon with two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and two counts of illegally possessing a machine gun. Dixon faces up to 40 years in federal prison, if convicted. He is scheduled for arraignment in federal magistrate court in Miami on June 16.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Robert Cekada, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, announced the charges.
A multi-agency gang task force consisting of the Miami Divisions of USSS, FBI, and ATF, as well as the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) and City of Miami Police Department (MPD) investigated the matter.
AUSA Frederic “Fritz” Shadley is prosecuting this case.
This case stems from Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Anyone with information related to possible gun crimes is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
Indictments and criminal complaints are mere allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 21-cr-20325.
###
Akron Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Akron, Ohio man pleaded guilty today to distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Lamark Glover, 22, admitted that, on June 20, 2019, he distributed an ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Charleston, West Virginia. Glover admitted that when he was arrested on September 22, 2019 in Charleston, agents located a number of items in his vehicle including methamphetamine, fentanyl and a loaded .40 caliber pistol equipped with a 30 round magazine. Glover admitted that he intended to distribute the drugs and that he possessed the pistol to protect himself from other drug dealers and drug users. Glover further admitted that he and others participated in a conspiracy between July and September of 2019 to distribute methamphetamine that was frequently shipped from Akron, Ohio to various locations in West Virginia. During the conspiracy, Glover received quantities of methamphetamine that he would distribute in the Charleston area. Some of Glover’s customers redistributed the methamphetamine to other drug users throughout the district.
Glover faces a mandatory minimum of at least five years and up to 40 years in federal prison for the drug charge and an additional mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in federal prison for the gun charge when he is sentenced on September 7, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-000246.
###
3 Cincinnati men plead guilty in narcotics conspiracyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – The lead of three defendants charged in a narcotics conspiracy punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison pleaded guilty in federal court in Cincinnati today.
Derek (Duke) Ragan, 51, appeared in U.S. District Court today to enter his guilty plea for conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
Co-defendants Anthony (Pea Head) Sanderson, 65, and Lawrence (LB) Bell, 68, have also pleaded guilty in this case.
The three were charged in 2019 after an extensive investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. In 2010, police seized more than $1 million in cash, along with guns and drugs from Ragan’s residence “Duke’s Place.” Ragan forfeited the million dollars in that local case as part of his plea to local gambling charges.
According to court documents in the current case, the co-conspirators brought fentanyl and other drugs into the Cincinnati area, where they were further processed, cut, combined, packaged and stored prior to distribution. The defendants used “Duke’s Place” on Oliver Street in Cincinnati to distribute the illegal opioids.
As part of his plea, Ragan admitted to eight specific occasions in which he conspired to sell anywhere between 28 and 283 grams of fentanyl. Each transaction involved between $2,800 and $28,000 worth of narcotics.
Ragan, Sanderson and Bell will be sentenced at future court hearings. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant is determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac announced the plea entered into today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker and Criminal Chief Karl P. Kadon are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
5 June 2021
Statement of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Regarding the U.S. Marshals Task ForceRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota is providing the public with information regarding the North Star Fugitive Task Force:
The North Star Fugitive Task Force (the “Task Force”) is a U.S. Marshals-led Task Force, established pursuant to federal law, that locates and apprehends fugitives in the District of Minnesota.
The Task Force is comprised of members of local, state and federal law enforcement who partner to arrest the state’s most violent fugitives.
The Task Force adopts warrants issued by state and local courts for pending criminal charges, probation violations, or failures to comply with court-ordered conditions.
Task force officers (TFOs) are state and local law enforcement officers who receive special deputations from the U.S. Marshals Service. While on a task force, these officers can exercise U.S. Marshals’ authorities, such as being able to cross jurisdictional lines to apprehend violent fugitives. Nationally, these critical partnerships result in the arrest of nearly 100,000 violent fugitives each year.
In October 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a Body-Worn Camera (BWC) policy to permit TFOs to utilize body-worn cameras on federal task forces. In February 2021, the U.S. Marshals Service began to phase-in this policy, which continues to be implemented in the District of Minnesota.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is leading the investigation into the officer involved shooting incident that occurred on June 3, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Jury Convicts Man of Robbing Cell Phone Store at GunpointRead the Press Release
A 38-year-old man who robbed a cell phone store at gunpoint has been found guilty of robbery, carjacking, and multiple gun crimes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah.
After just an hour of deliberation, a federal jury in Dallas on Friday convicted Michael Tremaine Schexnayder of one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of carjacking, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to evidence presented at trial, around 10:45 a.m. on July 16, 2019, Mr. Schexnayder entered a Grand Prairie T-Mobile store, armed with a small black pistol. After milling around for a few moments, he suddenly approached two employees and a customer, pointing his gun in their faces. He demanded they hand over personal possessions – cell phones, watches, cash, and car keys – and then ordered staff members to open the safe in the back of the store.
Terrified, one of the employees, an assistant store manager, explained that the safe was on a time delay, and would not open for a period of several minutes after she input the code. The employee testified that Mr. Schexnayder, who apparently did not believe her, grew agitated, and forced her instead to empty the till into a garbage bag. He then demanded that the same employee surrender her car keys and describe her vehicle, a boxy white Toyota Scion.
With their property in tow, he fled the store.
Employees and customers then barricaded themselves in the back of the store and the assistant manager dialed 911. Within moments of police’s arrival, the assistant manager noticed her vehicle was missing, as was her iPhone.
With the assistant store manager’s permission, officers quickly began tracking her phone, located the vehicle, and gave chase. An officer observed the driver run into a wooded area as the Toyota rolled to a stop. Officers later found Mr. Schexnayder lying in the woods, dressed in the same clothing robbery witnesses had described. A short distance away, they found a small black pistol stashed under a pile of wood.
Mr. Schexnayder now faces up to 52 years in federal prison. His sentencing is set for October 15, 2021.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary Tromblay and Lindsey Beran are prosecuting the case. U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay presided over the trial.
4 June 2021
Yassein Said Sentenced to 12 Years for Concealing '10 Most Wanted' Suspect Yaser Said from ArrestRead the Press Release
The brother of capital murder suspect Yaser Said has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for helping the “10 Most Wanted” suspect evade capture for more than 12 years, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah.
In February, a federal jury in Fort Worth found Yassein Abdulfatah Said, Yaser Said’s 59-year-old brother, guilty of conspiracy to conceal a person from arrest, concealing a person from arrest, and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. Yassein Said was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor.
Judge O’Connor varied upwardly from the sentencing guidelines, writing in a court filing, “the guidelines also do not adequately take into account the extravagant lengths that Defendant and his co-defendant, and perhaps others, went to harbor and conceal Yaser Said… Defendant’s efforts resulted in incalculable resources spent by law enforcement, both locally, nationally, and internationally.”
Yassein Said’s co-conspirator, his 32-year-old nephew Islam Said, pleaded guilty to the same charges prior to trial and was sentenced in April to 10 years in federal prison.
According to evidence presented at Yassein Said’s trial, Mr. Said sheltered his brother from arrest in an attempt to subvert the administration of justice.
Yaser Said had been a fugitive from justice since New Year’s Day 2008, when he allegedly murdered his teenage daughters, Amina and Sarah. According to law enforcement, he shot the girls to death inside his taxicab and abandoned their bodies inside the vehicle. He was captured by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force in August 2020, and is currently in state custody.
Conspiring with his nephew, Yaser’s son Islam, Yassein Said helped harbor Yaser inside an apartment in Bedford, Texas, where a maintenance worker spotted Yaser on Aug. 14, 2017.
He later harbored his brother inside a home in Justin, Texas. On Aug. 25, 2020 FBI agents observed Mr. Said and his nephew deliver grocery bags to the residence, then followed the men to a shopping center 20 miles away, were they dumped trash retrieved from the home.
“Yassein Said prioritized the comfort of his brother, an alleged murder, over justice for his nieces, two innocent teenagers on the brink of adulthood,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah. “No sentence can bring Sarah and Amina back, but we are hopeful that seeing justice served brings a measure of comfort to those who loved these two young souls.”
“Yassein Said protected his brother and accused murderer, Yaser Said, by providing aid and comfort to him while he was a fugitive. By taking the law into his own hands, Yassein Said delayed justice for the victims, Amina and Sarah, and their family,” Matthew DeSarno, Special Agent in Charge of FBI’s Dallas Field Office, said after the trial.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Division and the Irving Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of U.S. Customs & Border Patrol, the Dallas Police Department, the Garland Police department, the Grand Prairie Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany H. Eggers and Errin Martin are prosecuting the case with counsel from appellate Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Bradshaw.
Washington County Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sean Eckrote, age 37, of Granville, New York, pled guilty yesterday to distributing and possessing child pornography.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Nicholas B. Boshears, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In pleading guilty, Eckrote admitted that he used a phone-based messaging application to distribute images and videos containing child pornography to members of a private chat group. Eckrote admitted that he distributed child pornography to others in exchange for other child pornography, and to gain acceptance within the private chat group. Eckrote also admitted to possessing additional images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone, including depictions involving prepubescent children and children under the age of 12, the sexual abuse and exploitation of toddlers, and sadistic conduct.
Eckrote will be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on October 28, 2021, and is facing at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Eckrote will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s’ offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal 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.
United States Announces Final Resolution of Violations of Safe Drinking Water Act at New York State ParksRead the Press Release
Mark J. Lesko, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Walter Mugdan, Acting Regional Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2 (EPA), announced today the final resolution of the United States’ claims that the State of New York, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (collectively, “Defendants”) violated the Safe Drinking Water Act (the “SDWA”) with respect to 54 Large Capacity Cesspools (“the LCCs”) that discharged untreated sanitary waste into the ground at comfort stations located in parks across New York State. The announcement follows Defendants’ compliance with the terms of an April 2017 Court-ordered Consent Judgment, which required closure of the LCCs and installation of systems at seven parks that reduce the levels of harmful nutrients—including nitrogen—that enter the local groundwater.
Based on Defendants’ compliance with the terms of the Consent Judgment, the parties submitted a stipulation and proposed order requesting that the Court terminate the Consent Judgment.
“Through its implementation of the terms of the Consent Judgment, New York State has complied with the Safe Drinking Water Act and prevented significant amounts of harmful nutrient pollution from entering our groundwater,” stated Acting United States Attorney Lesko. “This Office will continue to vigorously enforce violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect the public from water contamination.”
“Large cesspools are now a thing of the past in New York State’s parks. These polluting sewage handling systems use centuries-old technology that can cause serious pollution of groundwater and drinking water,” stated EPA Acting Regional Administrator Mugdan. “The actions required in the court judgement, including Supplemental Environmental Projects called SEPs that used state-of-the-art technologies at parks across Long Island, dramatically reduced the amount of nitrogen getting into groundwater across New York. These technologies can now serve as best practices for others.”
Congress enacted the SDWA to protect the nation’s drinking water sources, and EPA regulates LCCs to prevent them from contaminating underground sources of drinking water. Under the SDWA regulations, owners and operators of LCCs were required to close them by April 5, 2005. LCCs are cesspools that receive untreated sanitary waste, including human excreta, and are capable of being used by 20 or more persons a day. Such untreated waste is high in harmful nutrients, such as nitrogen, that can compromise ground and surface water quality. Nutrient pollution of the ground and surface waters in and surrounding Suffolk County is a longstanding problem that threatens the area’s water quality and ecosystem.
Many of New York’s public water systems rely on underground sources of water for their supply. Underground injection wells, including cesspools, pose a risk to the public because they can contaminate underground drinking water sources and the public water systems that use those sources. Thirty-six of the LCCs were above the Nassau/Suffolk County Sole Source Aquifer, which supplies most of the drinking water for the population of Long Island. Nine of the LCCs, previously located in Broome and Orange Counties, were above the Clinton Street-Ballpark and the Ramapo Sole Source Aquifers, which supply most of the drinking water for the populations of the Broome and Orange County areas.
Pursuant to the Consent Judgment, which settled claims filed by the United States, Defendants closed the LCCs between 2017 and 2019. The injunctive relief in the settlement had an approximate value of $8.8 million. Defendants also implemented a series of Supplemental Environmental Projects (“SEPs”) at seven Long Island parks which significantly reduce the amount of harmful nutrients, including nitrogen, that enter the local groundwater. These SEPs included urine separation systems, nitrogen-reducing technology, and green technology improvements to stormwater treatment systems. Defendants spent over $3.5 million to implement these projects, which are ongoing.
To date, the SEPs have collectively removed approximately 1,500 pounds of nitrogen from septic system discharges, and they will continue to remove approximately 500 pounds of nitrogen per year. These amounts represent a substantial portion of nitrogen present in the waste waters discharged from the park facilities. For example, the treatment system at Connetquot State Park Preserve was found to remove 88% of the nitrogen from sanitary wastewater. In addition, there is an educational area at Connetquot and Captree State Parks where park visitors can learn about the nitrogen pollution, including sources, effects and solutions and the nitrogen removal technology installed at each of the parks. Visitors of Captree State Park can also learn about green technology, which manages and treats stormwater run-off, and removes 50% of the nitrogen from rain events.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Division. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Silverman is in charge of the litigation, with assistance from Lauren Fischer, Assistant Regional Counsel, Water and General Law Branch, EPA Region 2, Nicole Kraft, Section Chief, Water Compliance Branch, EPA Region 2, and Lisa Kim Pelcyger, Environmental Engineer, Water Compliance Branch, EPA Region 2.
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CV-6989 (JMA)
Two Tacoma men plead guilty to drug trafficking and illegal gun possession chargesRead the Press Release
Tacoma – Two Tacoma residents pleaded guilty this week in U.S. District Court to drug-distribution charges that carry mandatory-minimum sentences, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Tyson Lloyd, 32, faces a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison. Cole Hornbeck, 24, faces a mandatory minimum 5 years in prison and up to 40 years in prison. The penalties are driven by the drug quantities in the case. In addition, both men illegally possessed firearms in connection with their drug activity. Sentencing by U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle is scheduled for August 30, 2021.
According to the plea agreements, Lloyd supervised Hornbeck as a distributor in his drug-trafficking network. In April 2020, the defendants engaged in various sales of methamphetamine to a person working with law enforcement. One sale occurred in the parking lot of a Target store, another in a McDonald’s parking lot. Ultimately, the defendants and the person who was a source of supply for the drugs were arrested during a drug deal for a large quantity of methamphetamine in Auburn, Washington. When law enforcement searched Lloyd and Hornbeck’s shared residence, investigators seized more methamphetamine, cocaine, Xanax and steroids that the defendants planned to distribute. Law enforcement also found two firearms in the residence: a shotgun and a stolen .45‑caliber pistol.
In addition to the drug conspiracy, Lloyd pleaded guilty to possessing firearms as a felon; he has multiple Washington State felony convictions for crimes such as burglary, car theft, and identity theft. Hornbeck pleaded guilty to possessing firearms as an unlawful user of controlled substances. These firearm offenses are both punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Lloyd and Hornbeck have been in custody at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since their arrests on April 29, 2020.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Tacoma Resident Office, the Lewis County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), and the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force (GHDTF).
Two Defendants Sentenced in Federal Court in ShreveportRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two defendants have been sentenced to federal prison by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr.
Armed Robbery of Shreveport Store Sends Man to Federal Prison
Rekory Johnson, 26, of Shreveport, has been sentenced for his role in a robbery that took place at the Top Dollar Pawn in Shreveport in November 2018. Johnson pleaded guilty on August 31, 2020 to robbery and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and was sentenced to 117 months (9 years, 9 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
The robbery occurred on November 21, 2018 when Rekory Johnson and his co-defendants entered the Top Dollar Pawn on St. Vincent Avenue in Shreveport, dressed in black hoodies, gloves, wearing clown masks, and armed with handguns. They ordered the store clerks to the floor, opened the register and took cash out. One of the clerks was then forced at gunpoint to open the counter where they also stole 18 pistols, a revolver, and a shotgun, as well as jewelry.
Johnson was also involved in a robbery that occurred on November 27, 2018, when he and Alexander Baker entered the Petro Gas Station on West Bert Kouns in Shreveport with the intent to rob the store using firearms. The two men entered the store wearing all dark clothing, covered faces and both were armed with semi-automatic handguns, and demanded money from the cashier. They told the cashier to open the vault, but she did not have access to it. Johnson and Baker then ran out the side door and got into a parked vehicle driven by Brandon Brown and drove away.
The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
Nolan Washington a.k.a. “Slim Thug,” 35, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for drug trafficking. Information introduced in court revealed that between March 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, Washington conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Federal law enforcement agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration intercepted phone calls between Washington and a co-defendant wherein they discussed buying and selling of narcotics. Agents conducted surveillance of Washington and observed the sale of the methamphetamine to an individual. A laboratory analysis determined it to be pure methamphetamine.
Law enforcement agents intercepted additional phone calls wherein Washington discussed providing drugs to a co-defendant and Washington spoke about amounts, prices and transportation of drugs.
The DEA, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Shreveport Police Department, Bossier City Police Department, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police and U.S. Marshal’s Service conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille Gilreath.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
# # #
Tucker County man sentenced to more than 17 years for his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Dustin Bruce Moran, of Parsons, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 210 months of incarceration for his role in a methamphetamine distribution operation, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Moran, age 34, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Moran admitted to having more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in April 2018 in Randolph County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Traverse County Farmer Sentenced for Fraud Scheme Against Cenex Harvest StatesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Traverse County man was sentenced today to four years of probation, local community confinement, and $416,389 in restitution, for his role in a wire fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Bryan Dallas Crandall, 37, conspired with two employees of the Cenex Harvest States (CHS) grain elevator in Herman, Minnesota to manipulate the records of corn and soybeans delivered by Crandall on multiple occasions between 2013 and 2017. At the time of the fraud, the computer system in place at the elevator in Herman allowed an elevator employee to manually adjust scale readings, in order to allow the scale operator to correct potential errors in the weighing process.
Crandall conspired with the CHS employees to have the employees falsely inflate the number of bushels that Crandall appeared to deliver by semi-truck for sale to CHS. In some cases, entries were made in the elevator computer where a truck was not even present. After receiving payment for the fraudulent deliveries, Crandall kicked-back a portion of the proceeds to his co-conspirators in the form of money, vehicles, and firearms.
Unbeknownst to the elevator employees and Crandall, the CHS database automatically recorded a notation whenever a grain load was manually altered. The scheme ended when local investigators found bank and cell phone records that reflected unusual text messages and payments between Crandall and one of the employees, and CHS located the manual alterations though an analysis of the computer records. In 2018, investigators seized and forfeited vehicles, a snowmobile, and farm equipment obtained in the scheme.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery sentenced the defendant.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Lewis prosecuted the case.
Three Individuals Charged with Illegally Straw Purchasing Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A criminal complaint charging federal firearms violations has been filed against three individuals for their alleged roles an illegal straw purchasing scheme.
Sarah Jean Elwood, 33, Jeffrey Paul Jackson, 30, and Geryiell Lamont Walker, 21, are charged with one count each aiding and abetting false statements in connection with the purchase of firearms. Following a detention hearing on June 3, 2021, before Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson, all three defendants were ordered to remain in custody.
According to the complaint, in May 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) learned that at least three firearms that Elwood had recently purchased had been recovered by police during crime investigations shortly after Elwood bought them. After further investigation, law enforcement subsequently discovered that Elwood had purchased at least 56 firearms from various Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) in the State of Minnesota between August 1, 2020, and May 28, 2021. Approximately 47 of the 56 firearms were purchased in the month of May 2021 alone.
According to the complaint, ATF agents reviewed Forms 4473 that Elwood completed and signed in connection with 22 transactions for firearm purchases. On each form, Elwood certified that she was the actual purchaser of the firearms. Based on the investigation, this was a false certification because Elwood was purchasing the firearms for, and at the direction of, another person, primarily Walker. For example, a Glock model 19, 9mm pistol that Elwood purchased on May 12, 2021, was recovered 15 days later, in possession of a suspect whom investigators believe was involved in a shooting incident that occurred on May 11, 2021.
According to the complaint, on May 30, 2021, agents observed a Chevy Impala arrive at an FFL in Circle Pines, Minnesota. Three of the vehicle’s occupants were identified as Elwood, Jackson, and Walker. Walker and another individual entered the FFL first and returned to the vehicle about 15 minutes later. Elwood then exited the vehicle and entered the store. Approximately 15 minutes later, Elwood exited the store with three newly purchased firearms, a 100-round magazine, and three boxes of high-caliber ammunition, for which she paid over $1,750. She was immediately detained by law enforcement. The other occupants in the vehicle, including Jackson and Walker, were also detained. Elwood later described to law enforcement her role in the scheme was to purchase the firearms while Jackson arranged the deals through Walker. After purchasing the firearms, Elwood and Jackson would sell the guns to Walker and others for about a $100 profit per firearm.
Straw purchasing typically involves a buyer who lawfully purchases firearms from an FFL and then provides them to another person who is legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms, therefore allowing the prohibited person to avoid the background check system.
“The Twin Cities is experiencing an unprecedented spike in gun violence. Federal law enforcement continues to be aggressive in our efforts to stem this deadly tide through investigations and prosecutions of federal gun cases, including straw purchasing schemes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
“ATF is dedicated to investigating violent gun crimes and straw purchasing schemes such as this,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Terry Henderson. “Trafficking firearms in order to put guns in the hands of criminals can have irreparable consequences for our communities and we simply cannot let these acts go unaddressed.”
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF and the Blaine Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Temple Hills Man Sentenced to Three and A Half Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking of Ghost GunsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Marcus Gray, age 32, of Temple Hills, Maryland to 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation- Washington Field Office Criminal Division.
According to his plea agreement, on November 1, 2019, Individual 1 called Art J. Vincent, Jr., age 43, of Capitol Heights, Maryland to purchase a firearm with no serial number engraved on the frame or receiver (also known as a “ghost gun”). Vincent provided pricing information and referred Individual 1 to Gray for the purchase of ghost guns. Gray then called Individual 1 and discussed the sale of firearms and the number of firearms.
During the conversation, Gray described himself as a source of firearms and offered Individual 1 a firearm that he could sell immediately for $1,500. Gray also stated that he had four ghost gun pistols for sale for $850 each and that each firearm came with extended magazines. Individual 1 also expressed the desire to purchase additional firearms for Individual 1’s buyer (Individual 2). Gray also explained the benefits of ghost guns, specifically, that the lack of serial numbers would hamper law enforcements ability to trace the firearm when being used during a crime. Individual 1 and Gray planned to convene at Vincent’s Maryland residence to conduct the sale of firearms.
The following day, Individual 1 called Gray to confirm the planned firearm purchase, the quoted price of $1,050, and reiterated that Individual 1’s buyer (Individual 2) would purchase additional firearms at a later date. Vincent and Individual 1 continued to discuss payment and gun retrieval logistics at a location near Vincent’s residence. Vincent confirmed that Gray would sell the firearm at Vincent’s residence. Following this, Vincent texted Individual 1 a Capitol Heights, Maryland address to meet and complete the firearms sale.
Law enforcement observed Gray handing Individual 1 a shopping bag containing a .223 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, with no serial number and a magazine containing 30 rounds of .223 ammunition in the residential parking lot. After completing the sale, Individual 1 sold the ghost gun to Individual 2 for $1,500.
Gray’s plea agreement also states on November 14, 2019, Individual 1 called Gray to purchase additional firearms for Individual 2. On November 26, 2019, Gray texted Individual 1 a picture of the ghost gun pistol with an extended magazine with the text “it’s ready”. Shortly after, Individual 1 texted Gray an address in Washington, D.C. to deliver the firearm. After the completion of the sale, Individual 1 sold Individual 2 a handgun and extended magazine bearing the same serial number of the gun Gray texted to Individual 1.
Neither Gray nor Vincent possessed a Federal Firearms License or permit through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
On March 18, 2021, Vincent was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the ATF, DEA, and the FBI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajeev R. Raghavan and Erin B. Pulice, who prosecuted the case.
# # #
Statement of U.S. Attorney’s Office on the Motion for Revocation of Gary Creek’s Conditions of ReleaseRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Gary Creek was initially arrested in December 2019 on a federal indictment charging him with a drug distribution conspiracy and with conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and was ordered to be detained pending trial. On May 1, 2020, the Court ordered that Mr. Creek be released and imposed several conditions of release, including a third-party custodian and electronic monitoring.
For more than a year, Mr. Creek has not been charged with violating any of his conditions of release. Therefore, when Mr. Creek was charged in a second superseding indictment on racketeering and drug conspiracy charges, the government determined that it was reasonable and appropriate to work through Mr. Creek’s counsel to arrange a time for Mr. Creek to self-surrender for his initial appearance on the new charges. The initial appearance was scheduled for Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. That hearing was ultimately cancelled and a new date was being sought.
Unfortunately, new evidence has come to light indicating that Mr. Creek has violated his conditions of release, and the government has accordingly filed a motion to revoke Mr. Creek’s conditions of release, and has requested a warrant for his arrest based on an assessment that he is a flight risk.
Anyone with information concerning Mr. Creek’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477) or [email protected].
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.
# # #
St. Louis man pleads guilty to unlawful purchase of firearmsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Jelanie Reeves, 26, of St. Louis, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of making false and fictitious statement in order to acquire firearms. Reeves appeared, today, before United States District Court Judge Rodney W. Sippel.
On December 12, 2019, Reeves went with a group of people to High Country Shooting Sports in Jefferson County. One of the people accompanying Reeves was his cousin, a convicted felon, having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by in excess of one-year imprisonment and therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. Reeves knew and later admitted to law enforcement that he knew his cousin was a prohibited person and could not purchase a gun himself. Reeves went to High Country Shooting Sports with the intent to purchase a firearm for his cousin.
While at High Country Shooting Sports, Reeves’s cousin pointed out various firearms to Reeves. Eventually, his cousin selected a Springfield model XD40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. While purchasing the firearm, Reeves counted out money to pay for the gun as his cousin waited nearby. Reeves completed a Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Form 4473 Firearms Transaction Record. In the Form 4473, Reeves identified himself as the "actual buyer" of the firearm. This was a false statement.
In May 2019, Reeves contacted the St. Louis County Police Department and reported nine of his guns had been stolen from the trunk of his car. Reeves later admitted this was a false report.
In August 2019, Reeves admitted to ATF agents that he had been purchasing firearms for his cousin and others and that he knew his cousin was a convicted felon and could not legally possess firearms. Reeves also admitted he and his cousin would split the proceeds after Reeves purchased the firearms and gave them to his cousin to sell.
In January 2020, the ATF arrested Reeves’s cousin following his indictment for various narcotics and firearms offenses, which occurred between 20l9 and 2020. The ATF obtained consent to search the residence where the cousin was living with his girlfriend. Agents seized the Springfield model XD40 in the cousin’s bedroom, along with the box it came in and the receipt from High Country Shooting Sports showing Reeves’s name as the purchaser. The gun was loaded with a round in the chamber. The cousin made a false statement to ATF agents, denying he had been with Reeves during the gun purchase. Further investigation revealed Reeves had purchased at least 18 firearms from businesses between March and September of 2019.
Judge Sippel has set sentencing for August 17, 2021.
The St. Louis County Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is handling the case.
#####
Six Defendants Indicted on Federal Firearms Charges as Part of Intensified Focus on Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and ATF Special Agent in Charge John B. DeVito announced that the following defendants have been indicted within the last week for illegally possessing firearms as felons:
- Macquawn E. Surgick, age 25, of Albany. The case is being investigated by the Albany Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office and ATF.
- Marchane Turner, age 33, of Schenectady, New York. The case is being investigated by the Schenectady Police Department and ATF.
- Nicholas Cole, age 35, formerly of Clifton Park, New York. The case is being investigated by the Albany Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and ATF.
- Adgun J. Honore, age 29, of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The case is being investigated by the New York State Police and ATF.
- Sassone Watson, age 41, of Troy, New York. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
- Michael Darling, age 42, of Gloversville, New York, was indicted for unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon, and for unlawfully possessing 6 pipe bombs. The case is being investigated by the Gloversville Police Department, the New York State Police, ATF, and the FBI.
These are separate cases. The charges in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert A. Sharpe.
Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon stated: “These cases, and many others under investigation, reflect our ongoing efforts to take as many illegal guns off the streets as possible, and to prosecute those who illegally possess and use these guns. With our law enforcement partners, we are directing greater resources to prosecuting gun crimes as part of an all-hands approach to address rising violence in many of our cities. Families and neighborhoods should not have to suffer another summer of increased shootings and tragedy. We will continue working to make safer communities for all by holding offenders accountable and by engaging in community-based efforts for violence reduction.”
John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), stated: “ATF New York’s highest priority is reducing violent crime. Through collaboration with our local, state and federal partners, and the use of unique investigative tools such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), we are fully committed to an intelligence-driven approach to disrupt and dismantle the firearms trafficking organizations and networks responsible for supplying prohibited persons and violent offenders with the crime guns plaguing our communities.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is undertaking efforts in the following areas, among others, to address the rise in shootings:
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the prosecutions of felons who possess firearms and ammunition, offenders who illegally possess firearms and ammunition while subject to court-issued protective orders, as well as gang members and drug dealers who illegally possess firearms. These efforts incorporate Attorney General Garland’s May 26 announcement of a renewed and coordinated Department of Justice effort to disrupt the most dangerous criminals in our communities, and are supported by Department programs Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Guardian.
- Criminals committing gun crimes will be the subject of consultation with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners at regular meetings in Albany and Syracuse. These collaborations carefully analyze recent shootings, gun possession crimes, and regional crime data to prioritize investigative resources toward the worst offenders, criminal groups, hotspots, and neighborhoods experiencing increased rates of gun crime.
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to participate in programs, activities, and events aimed at crime prevention and reduction, and at fostering relationships with communities and neighborhoods most affected by violent crime and gun violence.
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue its participation in federal Intensive Reentry Court and regular meetings with formerly incarcerated individuals who are returning to their communities after being granted parole or finishing their state terms of imprisonment.
Citizen tips can help get illegal guns off the streets, and can be provided as follows:
- Syracuse Police Department – tips can be made anonymously via the tip411 web site, or by calling (315) 442-5111.
- Capital Region Crime Stoppers – tips can be made anonymously by visiting http://www.capitalregioncrimestoppers.com.
This initiative is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
- Macquawn E. Surgick, age 25, of Albany. The case is being investigated by the Albany Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office and ATF.
Serial Mail Thief Sentenced to 10 YearsRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A 26-year-old Miami man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for stealing mail and packages from mailboxes, porches, and other outside areas of several homes in Miami and Coral Gables.
According to court records, Yunior L. Blanco-Pedroso, was pulled over on September 8, 2020, while driving a blue BMW that matched the description of a vehicle associated with mail and package thefts in South Florida. Inside the BMW, officers discovered mail, packages and checks addressed to other people that Blanco-Pedroso had stolen. Blanco-Pedroso later admitted to committing 10 porch burglaries between August and September 2020 in Miami and Coral Gables. Other evidence in the case included home surveillance recordings showing Blanco-Pedroso following delivery trucks, walking up to front doors to steal packages, and stealing mail from mailboxes. When he committed these burglaries in 2020, Blanco-Pedroso was on supervised release following a previous conviction and sentence for robbing a letter carrier.
On March 26, 2021, Blanco-Pedroso pled guilty in this case to theft of mail and possession of stolen mail.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin, United States Postal Inspection Service, announced the sentence.
United States Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division, investigated the case, in collaboration with Coral Gables Police Department and City of Miami Police Department. United States Coast Guard Investigative Service Southeast Region assisted. Assistant United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20049-KMM.
###
Repeat offender sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of images of child rape and abuseRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 68-year old SeaTac, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for possession of images of child rape and abuse, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Michael David Mathisen pleaded guilty in October 2020. At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Richard A. Jones noted that people such as Mathisen create the market for child pornography, and that the creation of the images damages the most vulnerable among us. “These young victims do a life sentence,” Judge Jones said.
Mathisen was contacted by law enforcement in October 2019, following a referral from Microsoft to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that the account, later linked to Mathisen, was uploading images and searching on the internet for images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The King County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations obtained Mathisen’s electronic devices. A search of the electronic devices revealed nineteen files with images of children being sexually molested and abused. Mathisen has convictions in 1984 and 1994 for sexually molesting children under the age of nine.
The 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.justice.gov/psc
The Internet Crimes against Children Task Force led by the Seattle Police Department coordinated the investigation. The King County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations completed the Mathisen investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.