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Thursday 18 February 2021
Repeat Sex Offender Who Abused and Produced Sexually Explicit Photos of A Deaf Child Sentenced to 45 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Adam Lee Hollis (42, Polk County) to 45 years in federal prison for producing sexually explicit photographs of a seven-year-old child in his custody, and for having committed that offense while being required to register as a sex offender. Hollis was also ordered to serve a 20-year term of supervised release following his incarceration.
Hollis had pleaded guilty on November 30, 2020.
According to court documents, in January 2013, Hollis advertised, produced, and distributed sexually explicit images of a deaf, seven-year-old child to whom he had access. Hollis also molested that child, in addition to sexually abusing another eight-year-old child. For years, Hollis groomed these children by forcing them to watch pornography with him, threatening their relatives, and threatening that their mother would lose custody of them if they reported his abuse. Hollis advertised, created, and traded these child sex-abuse images using the internet, in part, so that he could add to his personal collection of child exploitation materials, which consisted of more than 250 images and more than 80 videos.
In 2014, Hollis was convicted in Polk County for sexual battery on a child. Hollis was in violation of his sex offender registration requirements when law enforcement officers approached him in 2013. Before the offense conduct, in 2000, Hollis had been convicted of directing/promoting the sexual performance of a child by distributing child-exploitative images using America Online (“AOL”).
“This criminal deviant committed the most horrible atrocities on young, helpless children,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs. “This sentencing ensures this repeat child predator will spend the rest of his natural life in prison.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Prince George’s County Couple Linked to Two Overdoses Facing Federal Indictment for Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Andrew Joseph Trimmer, a/k/a D and Smoke, age 32, and Alicia Marie Walls, a/k/a Porsha and Alicia Porsha, age 28, both of Bowie, Maryland, on federal charges related to a fentanyl distribution conspiracy. The superseding indictment adds Walls as a defendant and adds three counts, including conspiracy and two counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. The superseding indictment also includes the two counts from the original indictment charging Trimmer with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and with assault on a federal officer. The superseding indictment was returned on February 17, 2021.
The superseding indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; and Interim Chief Hector Velez of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
“Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can kill you. Our law enforcement team in Maryland is working together to build cases and prosecute those who peddle this deadly drug,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “Enhanced federal penalties for drug dealers whose distribution results in an overdose increases their odds of federal prosecution and lengthy sentences in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever.”
According to the five-count superseding indictment, from May 2018 through September 25, 2020, Trimmer and Walls conspired to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, Trimmer and Walls, who were romantically involved and had a child together, were the subjects of an investigation into narcotics trafficking activity. The investigation revealed that Trimmer and Walls had been living with their child in a rental home in Bowie, Maryland, but had moved on September 15, 2020. In August 2020, Walls allegedly posted two videos on her YouTube channel discussing her narcotics use and the activities of her drug-dealer boyfriend, whom law enforcement believed to be Trimmer. Walls stated that she and “her man” lived in fear of police detecting their whereabouts and drug customers finding their location. As a result, Walls and Trimmer would use hotels as temporary residences and frequently moved between hotels while storing and distributing narcotics in order to avoid detection.
The superseding indictment alleges that on May 28, 2018, Trimmer distributed fentanyl to an individual, causing serious bodily injury to that person. On September 25, 2020, law enforcement located Trimmer living in a hotel in the area of the Bowie Towne Center. As detailed in court documents, law enforcement found Trimmer sitting in his vehicle outside the hotel. As soon as investigators identified themselves as police officers, Trimmer fled. The superseding indictment alleges that when law enforcement caught and attempted to arrest Trimmer, he assaulted a federal law enforcement officer. As detailed in court documents, during the physical altercation, another officer deployed his Taser, but Trimmer continued to fight. Trimmer was able to get to his feet and run to a nearby fast-food restaurant, where he was apprehended by a third law enforcement officer. Court documents allege that Trimmer continued to resist arrest and physically assaulted the third officer during the arrest. Further, the superseding indictment alleges that Trimmer possessed fentanyl with intent to distribute the drug. Finally, the superseding indictment alleges that, in October 2020, Walls distributed fentanyl, resulting in serious bodily injury to a victim.
If convicted, Trimmer and Walls each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy; a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life in federal prison for each count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. Trimmer also faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and eight years in federal prison for assaulting a federal officer. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence, after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Trimmer and Walls are expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, although no date has been scheduled. Trimmer and Walls remain detained on a related federal criminal complaint.
A superseding indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by superseding indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Crofton Police Department, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Maryland National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division for their assistance. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin B. Pulice, who is prosecuting the case.
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President of Albany Movement, Federally Charged for His Non-Violent Leadership During Civil Rights Movement, Addresses USAO MDGARead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – Dr. William G. Anderson, the President of the Albany Movement, a coalition of activists including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rev. Ralph David Abernathy that worked to end segregation in Albany, Georgia, served as the guest speaker for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia’s Black History Month presentation, held virtually on Wednesday, February 17.
Dr. William G. Anderson was chosen as President of the Albany Movement in 1961. In 1963, Dr. Anderson, along with other Albany Movement leaders, was indicted on charges of conspiring to injure a juror. These charges stemmed from the 1963 picketing of an Albany grocery store owner who served as a juror in a case where the sheriff was acquitted of murdering a black man. Albany leaders maintained they were picketing the store because black employees were not promoted, but the owner believed it was a retaliation. The case resulted in a mistrial. Dr. Anderson was later brought before a federal judge in Detroit, Michigan, where he was residing and serving as a practicing physician and surgeon.
According to Dr. Anderson, “The Judge indicated that I was subjected to 20 years in a federal penitentiary at hard labor. But then he took a deep breath and said, ‘However.’ And, what followed was suspending that sentence and placing me on probation. It was death and resurrection. Death--when he announced that I was subjected to 20 years in the federal penitentiary. Resurrection--when he placed me on probation. That is how it ended. I was never called back, and I never had to serve one day in a federal penitentiary.”
“You can’t always argue with fate. I was proud to have been a part of (the Albany Movement),” remarked Dr. Anderson.
“Dr. Anderson epitomizes leadership and commitment to justice, and he was wrongfully prosecuted by this office for his role during the Albany Civil Rights Movement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “There is what is the law, and then there is what is right. In an ideal world, those two principles align. However, they don’t always line up, as is the case with Dr. Anderson. Our office never should have prosecuted this great man. We are eternally grateful to Dr. Anderson for sharing his life story with our office and for dedicating his life to the service of civil rights for all.”
Dr. Anderson was presented with a certificate by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for his “courage, leadership, and commitment to justice.” Dr. Anderson continues to be a seminal figure in the struggle for American Civil Rights, and has been instrumental in the creation of the “Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey” lecture series at Michigan State University. The civil rights icon, who is a retired osteopathic physician, was the first black surgical resident in Detroit and the first black president of the American Osteopathic Association. Dr. Anderson, 93, lives in Michigan.
Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Officer (Contractor), U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Political Donor Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Lobbying and Campaign Contribution Crimes, Tax Evasion, and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
A venture capitalist and political fundraiser was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for falsifying records to conceal his work as a foreign agent while lobbying high-level U.S. government officials, evading the payment of millions of dollars in taxes, making illegal campaign contributions, and obstructing a federal investigation into the source of donations to a presidential inauguration committee.
Imaad Shah Zuberi, 50, of Arcadia, California, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips, who also ordered him to pay $15,705,080 in restitution and a criminal fine of $1.75 million.
In November 2019, Zuberi pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging him with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) by making false statements on a FARA filing, tax evasion, and making illegal campaign contributions. In June 2020, Zuberi pleaded guilty in a separate case to one count of obstruction of justice. His sentence today pertains to both cases.
“Zuberi turned acting as an unregistered foreign agent into a business enterprise,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “He used foreign money to fund illegal campaign contributions that bought him political influence, and used that influence to lobby U.S. officials for policy changes on behalf of numerous foreign principals. He not only concealed his lucrative agreements with those foreign principals, but also made false statements about them in a FARA filing. After learning he was under investigation, Zuberi doubled down on his criminal conduct, obstructing justice by creating false records, destroying evidence, and attempting to purchase witnesses’ silence. This sentence should deter others who would seek to corrupt our political processes and compromise our institutions in exchange for foreign cash.”
“Mr. Zuberi flouted federal laws that restrict foreign influences upon our government and prohibit injecting foreign money into our political campaigns. He enriched himself by defrauding his clients and evading the payment of taxes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison for the Central District of California. “Today’s sentence, which also accounts for Mr. Zuberi’s attempt to obstruct an investigation into his felonious conduct, underscores the importance of our ongoing efforts to maintain transparency in U.S. elections and policy-making processes.”
"As Mr. Zuberi’s greed and wealth increased, his elaborate influence-peddling scheme collapsed,” said Assistant Director in Charge Kristi K. Johnson of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “By lending a veneer of credibility through name dropping and flashing photos with high-level government officials, Zuberi was able to con foreign donors. Now that he’s been sentenced, he will be held accountable by the United States government which he so recklessly misrepresented.”
“Through myriad international contacts and business partners, Imaad Shah Zuberi was able to raise money and gain influence among the U.S.’s highest political circles. Zuberi used his status to solicit funds for lobbying, campaign contributions, and investments, but ultimately swindled his business partners and pocketed most of the funds for himself,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner of IRS-Criminal Investigation Los Angeles Field Office. “An opportunist at his core, Zuberi worked with political figures across the aisle, depending on who was in power, to lend an appearance of credibility to his political charades. At the end of the day, IRS Criminal Investigation worked closely with our partner federal agencies to ensure Zuberi’s criminal behavior would not pay off, and that he was held accountable for paying himself rather than using the funds he solicited for their original intended purpose.”
Zuberi operated Avenue Ventures LLC, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm, and solicited foreign nationals and representatives of foreign governments with claims he could use his contacts in Washington, D.C., to change U.S. foreign policy and create business opportunities for his clients and himself.
Clients gave Zuberi money for consulting fees, to make investments, or to fund campaign contributions. As part of his efforts to influence public policy, Zuberi hired lobbyists, retained public relations professionals, and made campaign contributions that gave him access to high-level U.S. officials, some of whom acted in support of his clients. As evidence of his access and influence, Zuberi distributed to his clients photographs of himself discussing policy with elected officials.
While Zuberi had a limited degree of success with some U.S. officials, most of his business efforts failed and his clients suffered significant financial losses. Many of the lobbyists, public relations consultants, and other subcontractors also suffered losses when Zuberi refused to pay them. Meanwhile, Zuberi became wealthy, largely through his theft of client funds and unlawful lobbying on behalf of foreign interests.
For example, Zuberi made efforts to convince the government of Bahrain to lift sanctions on a Bahraini citizen in order to allow the citizen to develop a large resort in that country. The scheme falsely created the appearance that Avenue Ventures had made a major investment in the resort project. Citing this purported investment, Zuberi lobbied members of Congress to apply political pressure on Bahrain to cease its interference in the project, claiming that it was adversely affecting him as a U.S. investor. At Zuberi’s urging, at least a dozen members of Congress sent letters to the government of Bahrain requesting that it stop interfering with the project. In fact, however, Zuberi designed these efforts to benefit the Bahraini citizen, who paid Zuberi consulting fees. Zuberi violated FARA by failing to register as an agent of the Bahraini citizen in connection with this scheme.
Zuberi also siphoned money invested in U.S. Cares, a company set up to export humanitarian aid to Iran. In 2013 and 2014, investors deposited approximately $7 million into U.S. Cares, but Zuberi used more than 90 percent of investor funds for his personal benefit, which included purchasing real estate, paying down debt such as mortgages and credit card bills, remodeling properties, investing in brokerage accounts, and donating $250,000 to a non-profit organization established by a former high-ranking elected official.
In addition, the government of Sri Lanka hired Zuberi in 2014 to rehabilitate the country’s image in the United States, which had suffered because of allegations that its minority Tamil population had been persecuted. Zuberi promised to make substantial expenditures on lobbying efforts, legal expenses, and media buys, which prompted Sri Lanka to agree to pay Zuberi a total of $8.5 million over the course of six months in 2014. Days after Sri Lanka made an initial payment of $3.5 million, Zuberi transferred $1.6 million into his personal brokerage accounts and used another $1.5 million to purchase real estate.
In total, Sri Lanka wired $6.5 million pursuant to the contract, and Zuberi used more than $5.65 million of that money to the benefit of himself and his wife. Zuberi paid less than $850,000 to lobbyists, public relations firms and law firms, and refused to pay certain subcontractors based on false claims that Sri Lanka had not provided sufficient funds to pay invoices.
Relatedly, Zuberi failed to report on his 2014 tax return millions of dollars in income he received from the Sri Lankan government. While his 2014 federal income tax return claimed income of $558,233, Zuberi failed to report more than $5.65 million he received in relation to the Sri Lanka lobbying effort. Zuberi’s tax evasion over the course of four years – 2012 through 2015 – caused tax losses ranging from $3.5 million to as much as $9.5 million.
Zuberi also violated the Federal Election Campaign Act in 2015 by making conduit contributions in the names of other people, reimbursing contributions made by others, and being reimbursed for contributions he made. Over a five-year period – 2012 through 2016 – he made or solicited more than $250,000 in illegal campaign contributions.
The obstruction charge to which Zuberi pleaded guilty in June 2020 stemmed from a federal investigation into a $900,000 donation from Zuberi through his company to a presidential inaugural committee in late 2016. Some of the funds Zuberi donated to the committee came from other people, including one individual who gave him a $50,000 check.
After media reports that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York was investigating donations to the presidential inaugural committee, Zuberi met with the individual at a California restaurant on Feb. 25, 2019. During that meeting, the individual asked Zuberi to refund the $50,000, which Zuberi did, but backdated the check to Feb. 1, 2019, to make it appear the refund was sent before he learned of the federal investigation.
This matter was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. O’Brien and Elisa Fernandez of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith A. Heinz of the National Security Division, and Trial Attorney Evan N. Turgeon of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Political Donor Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Lobbying and Campaign Contribution Crimes, Tax Evasion, Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A venture capitalist and political fundraiser was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for falsifying records to conceal his work as a foreign agent while lobbying high-level U.S. government officials, evading the payment of millions of dollars in taxes, making illegal campaign contributions, and obstructing a federal investigation into the source of donations to a presidential inauguration committee.
Imaad Shah Zuberi, 50, of Arcadia, was sentenced by United States District Judge Virginia A. Phillips, who also ordered him to pay $15,705,080 in restitution and a criminal fine of $1.75 million.
In November 2019, Zuberi pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging him with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) by making false statements on a FARA filing, tax evasion, and making illegal campaign contributions. In June 2020, Zuberi pleaded guilty in a separate case to one count of obstruction of justice. His sentence today pertains to both cases.
“Mr. Zuberi flouted federal laws that restrict foreign influences upon our government and prohibit injecting foreign money into our political campaigns. He enriched himself by defrauding his clients and evading the payment of taxes,” said Acting United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison. “Today’s sentence, which also accounts for Mr. Zuberi’s attempt to obstruct an investigation into his felonious conduct, underscores the importance of our ongoing efforts to maintain transparency in U.S. elections and policy-making processes.”
“Mr. Zuberi’s entire business centered on acting as an unregistered foreign agent,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. “He used foreign money to fund illegal campaign contributions that bought him political influence, and used that influence to lobby United States officials for policy changes on behalf of numerous foreign principals. He not only concealed his lucrative agreements with those foreign principals, but also made false statements about them in a FARA filing. After learning he was under investigation, Mr. Zuberi doubled down on his criminal conduct, obstructing justice by creating false records, destroying evidence, and attempting to purchase witnesses’ silence. This sentence should deter others who would seek to corrupt our political processes and compromise our institutions in exchange for foreign cash.”
“As Mr. Zuberi’s greed and wealth increased, his elaborate influence-peddling scheme collapsed,” said Kristi K. Johnson, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “By lending a veneer of credibility through name dropping and flashing photos with high-level government officials, Zuberi was able to con foreign donors. Now that he’s been sentenced, he will be held accountable by the United States government which he so recklessly misrepresented.”
“Through myriad international contacts and business partners, Imaad Shah Zuberi was able to raise money and gain influence among the U.S.’s highest political circles. Zuberi used his status to solicit funds for lobbying, campaign contributions, and investments, but ultimately swindled his business partners and pocketed most of the funds for himself,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation L.A. Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner. “An opportunist at his core, Zuberi worked with political figures across the aisle, depending on who was in power, to lend an appearance of credibility to his political charades. At the end of the day, IRS Criminal Investigation worked closely with our partner federal agencies to ensure Zuberi’s criminal behavior would not pay off, and that he was held accountable for paying himself rather than using the funds he solicited for their original intended purpose.”
Zuberi operated Avenue Ventures LLC, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm, and solicited foreign nationals and representatives of foreign governments with claims he could use his contacts in Washington, D.C., to change U.S. foreign policy and create business opportunities for his clients and himself.
Clients gave Zuberi money for consulting fees, to make investments, or to fund campaign contributions. As part of his efforts to influence public policy, Zuberi hired lobbyists, retained public relations professionals, and made campaign contributions that gave him access to high-level U.S. officials, some of whom acted in support of his clients. As evidence of his access and influence, Zuberi distributed to his clients photographs of himself discussing policy with elected officials.
While Zuberi had a limited degree of success with some U.S. officials, most of his business efforts failed and his clients suffered significant financial losses. Many of the lobbyists, public relations consultants, and other subcontractors also suffered losses when Zuberi refused to pay them. Meanwhile, Zuberi became wealthy, largely through his theft of client funds and unlawful lobbying on behalf of foreign interests.
For example, Zuberi made efforts to convince the government of Bahrain to lift sanctions on a Bahraini citizen in order to allow the citizen to develop a large resort in that country. The scheme falsely created the appearance that Avenue Ventures had made a major investment in the resort project. Citing this purported investment, Zuberi lobbied members of Congress to apply political pressure on Bahrain to cease its interference in the project, claiming that it was adversely affecting him as a U.S. investor. At Zuberi’s urging, at least a dozen members of Congress sent letters to the government of Bahrain requesting that it stop interfering with the project. In fact, however, Zuberi designed these efforts to benefit the Bahraini citizen, who paid Zuberi consulting fees. Zuberi violated FARA by failing to register as an agent of the Bahraini citizen in connection with this scheme.
Zuberi also siphoned money invested in U.S. Cares, a company set up to export humanitarian aid to Iran. In 2013 and 2014, investors deposited approximately $7 million into U.S. Cares, but Zuberi used more than 90 percent of investor funds for his personal benefit, which included purchasing real estate, paying down debt such as mortgages and credit card bills, remodeling properties, investing in brokerage accounts, and donating $250,000 to a non-profit organization established by a former high-ranking elected official.
In addition, the government of Sri Lanka hired Zuberi in 2014 to rehabilitate the country’s image in the United States, which had suffered because of allegations that its minority Tamil population had been persecuted. Zuberi promised to make substantial expenditures on lobbying efforts, legal expenses, and media buys, which prompted Sri Lanka to agree to pay Zuberi a total of $8.5 million over the course of six months in 2014. Days after Sri Lanka made an initial payment of $3.5 million, Zuberi transferred $1.6 million into his personal brokerage accounts and used another $1.5 million to purchase real estate.
In total, Sri Lanka wired $6.5 million pursuant to the contract, and Zuberi used more than $5.65 million of that money to the benefit of himself and his wife. Zuberi paid less than $850,000 to lobbyists, public relations firms and law firms, and refused to pay certain subcontractors based on false claims that Sri Lanka had not provided sufficient funds to pay invoices.
Relatedly, Zuberi failed to report on his 2014 tax return millions of dollars in income he received from the Sri Lankan government. While his 2014 federal income tax return claimed income of $558,233, Zuberi failed to report more than $5.65 million he received in relation to the Sri Lanka lobbying effort. Zuberi’s tax evasion over the course of four years – 2012 through 2015 – caused tax losses ranging from $3.5 million to as much as $9.5 million.
Zuberi also violated the Federal Election Campaign Act in 2015 by making conduit contributions in the names of other people, reimbursing contributions made by others, and being reimbursed for contributions he made. Over a five-year period – 2012 through 2016 – he made or solicited more than $250,000 in illegal campaign contributions.
The obstruction charge to which Zuberi pleaded guilty in June 2020 stemmed from a federal investigation into a $900,000 donation from Zuberi through his company to a presidential inaugural committee in late 2016. Some of the funds Zuberi donated to the committee came from other people, including one individual who gave him a $50,000 check.
After media reports that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York was investigating donations to the presidential inaugural committee, Zuberi met with the individual at a California restaurant on February 25, 2019. During that meeting, the individual asked Zuberi to refund the $50,000, which Zuberi did, but backdated the check to February 1, 2019, to make it appear the refund was sent before he learned of the federal investigation.
This matter was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. O’Brien and Elisa Fernandez of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, Assistant United States Attorney Judith A. Heinz of the National Security Division, and Trial Attorney Evan N. Turgeon of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge related to drug trafficking in connection with a large-scale investigation conducted by the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Jarrell Dawson, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV. Mr. Dawson is one of 40 defendants charged in the Indictment and Superseding Indictment returned in the case.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2017, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force initiated an investigation primarily targeting the Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, neighborhood gang, and its drug-trafficking activity, in and around the South Side area of Pittsburgh. As part of this large-scale narcotics and firearms investigation, in February of 2019, the United States received authorization to conduct a federal wire investigation, which continued through June of 2019. In addition to communications about drug trafficking between Dawson and several of his coconspirators, agents made numerous seizures of fentanyl, heroin, and other drugs from members of the organization, as well as maintained critical physical surveillance of Dawson’s drug-trafficking activities.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $8,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of each defendant.
Dawson remains in custody pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna and Carolyn J. Bloch are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Adult Probation, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Wilkinsburg Police Department. Other assisting agencies include the Green Tree Police Department, New York City Police Department, Mount Oliver Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Yonkers Police Department, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Peever Man Charged with Interstate Domestic Violence, Kidnapping, and Possession of Firearm by Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Peever, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Interstate Domestic Violence, Kidnapping, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Brandon Lee Renville, age 29, was indicted on January 12, 2021. He last appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on February 12, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
According to the Indictment, on or about November 6, 2020, Renville caused his spouse to travel in interstate commerce and to enter and leave Indian country by force, coercion, duress, and fraud, and in the course of and as a result of that conduct, he intentionally committed or attempted to commit a crime of violence, that is, an assault or attempted assault with a dangerous weapon.
On or about December 21, 2020, Renville, being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, and knowing he was an unlawful user of a controlled substance, knowingly possessed a firearm.
The maximum penalties upon conviction are ten years (interstate domestic violence and the firearm charge) up to life imprisonment (kidnapping); a maximum $250,000 fine, or both fine and imprisonment; a maximum term of three (3) to five (5) years of supervised release; and $100 to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The charges are merely accusations and Renville is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the its 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.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
The investigation is being conducted by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
Renville was detained pending trial. A trial date has been set for April 13, 2021.
North Dakota Man Charged with Possession of Firearm by Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mandan, North Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Joel Dean Kraft, Jr., age 34, was indicted on December 8, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on February 12, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered, and the firearm involved in the offense may be forfeited.
The Indictment alleges that on May 25, 2020, Kraft, then being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, and knowing he was an unlawful user of a controlled substance, knowingly did possess a handgun in Walworth County, South Dakota.
The charge is merely an accusation and Kraft is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its 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 local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the City of Mobridge Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Kraft was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
New Milford Gun Manufacturer and Dealer Sentenced for Violating Federal Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JON VICTOR BENSON, 62, of New Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to five years of probation and a $5,000 fine for violating federal firearms laws. Benson owned and operated The Freedom Shoppe, a former federally-licensed firearms manufacturer and dealer located in New Milford.
Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.
According to court documents and statements made in court, The National Firearms Act (“NFA”) provides that it is unlawful for any person or entity to possess any NFA-regulated firearm that is not registered to that person or entity. In December 2017, ATF Industry Operations Investigators (IOIs) began a firearms compliance inspection of The Freedom Shoppe in New Milford. At the time, Benson held a firearm manufacturers and dealer’s license and was the “responsible person” with respect to the business. ATF IOIs determined that Benson and The Freedom Shoppe had manufactured, possessed and transferred several NFA-regulated firearms that were not registered to it in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) maintained by ATF. Benson admitted to investigators that he had not kept a record of manufacture for any firearms that had been converted from a pistol or from a frame/receiver, as required for all licensed manufacturers.
The ATF’s inspection confirmed that Benson did not maintain proper Acquisition and Disposition (A&D) records for the firearms he manufactured, and that he did not properly complete Firearms Transaction Records (Form 4473s) for firearms sold to customers. The ATF IOIs reviewed more than 750 Form 4473s and discovered that more than a third of the forms had blank or incomplete information.
On October 27, 2020, Benson pleaded guilty to one count of failure to maintain firearms records. As part of his guilty plea, Benson agreed not to challenge the administrative revocation of his federal firearms licenses to manufacture firearms and to deal firearms.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.
Myrtle Beach Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Federal Prison for Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
Florence, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr. announced today that Michael Quantrell Barr, 30, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute heroin and distributing heroin.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in June and July of 2019, the Myrtle Beach Police Department Street Crimes Unit used a confidential informant to make three controlled drug purchases from Barr. In each purchase, an informant exchanged police funds for what a forensic scientist later confirmed to be heroin.
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr. sentenced Barr to 46 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Myrtle Beach Police Department Street Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Montgomery County Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Omar Santiago-Muniz, age 30, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 17, 2021, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to 127 months’ imprisonment for production of child pornography.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Santiago-Muniz previously admitted that in June-July 2017, he enticed and persuaded two minors, ages 9 and 10, from Schuylkill County, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of such conduct, and that he used a cell phone and the internet to commit the crimes.
Judge Mariani also ordered Santiago-Muniz to serve 10 years on supervised release following his prison sentence, and pay a special assessment of $5,100. Santiago-Muniz will have to undergo sex offender treatment and must comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
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Michigan man admits producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Michigan man has admitted producing child pornography while previously residing in Savannah.
Bobby Fields, 40, of Lansing, Mich., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of Production of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution, registration as a sex offender, and a period of supervised release after completion of the prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Bobby Fields eluded justice for nearly three years, but his crimes have found him out thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “The significant prison sentence that awaits should serve as a stark warning to anyone who would exploit vulnerable children.”
Fields was indicted in July 2020 after an FBI investigation into child pornography discovered on a laptop linked him to the illegal material’s creation through images that captured distinctive tattoos on Field’s arm.
A date for Field’s sentencing has not yet been set.
“The GBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims of online exploitation,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We are grateful for the partnerships we maintain with our local and federal agencies to bring these predators to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Savannah Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.
Mexican national faces federal charges in violent Albuquerque carjackingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal judge today ordered that Gael Antonio Rodriguez, 18, of Mexico, will remain detained pending trial for carjacking.
According to a criminal complaint, on Jan. 16, Rodriguez allegedly approached an elderly victim in northwest Albuquerque outside her apartment complex and asked her for a cigarette. The victim responded that she had no cigarettes and Rodriguez then allegedly demanded her purse and the keys for her vehicle. When the victim resisted, Rodriguez allegedly slashed her hand with a knife, causing her to drop the keys. Rodriguez allegedly grabbed the keys and fled in the victim’s vehicle.
An Albuquerque Police Officer was dispatched to the scene and relayed a description of the vehicle and Rodriguez to the Rio Rancho and Corrales police departments. Police were able to locate the vehicle in Corrales. After a pursuit on foot, police subdued and arrested Rodriguez.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Rodriguez faces up to 25 years in prison.
The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the Corrales Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
Methamphetamine Trafficker Who Fired a Handgun at Officer Receives 198 Months in JailRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Sean Smith, 32, of Onslow County, was sentenced on February 17, 2021, to 198 months imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine and possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The investigation, along with evidence presented in court, revealed that on October 22, 2019, an Onslow County Sheriff’s Deputy was investigating a possible burglary on West Morton Street in Jacksonville. The deputy was dressed in his police uniform and arrived in a patrol car. While the deputy was speaking to an individual at the scene, Smith emerged from the side of the residence and fired a gun at the deputy from a distance of approximately 8-12 yards. The deputy, who was uninjured, retreated to his patrol vehicle and retrieved his rifle. Smith fled the scene but was later found seated on the steps of a nearby residence. The 9mm handgun was found underneath the porch where Smith was seated. Smith ultimately admitted to firing the gun. Smith was searched following his arrest and was found in possession of approximately 12 grams of methamphetamine and 3 grams of cocaine.
During the investigation, law enforcement obtained evidence that Smith had possessed more than 400 grams of methamphetamine from September 2019 until the time of his arrest.
On January 1, 2021, Smith was captured on a recorded Facetime jail phone call bragging about how he had fired the gun at the officer, even demonstrating shooting the gun and laughing about the incident. Smith also described how law enforcement would be unable to find a large amount of methamphetamine that he had hidden at an earlier time.
Mr. Higdon commented: “We are certainly gratified by the sentence imposed by the court in this case. Sean Smith is a dangerous, cruel drug dealer, and that alone makes his prosecution critical to ‘Taking Back North Carolina’ for drug traffickers and violent criminals. But his decision to risk the lives of law enforcement officers investigating his crimes puts him at the head of the line for prosecution as we attempt to support the brave officers who do the dangerous work of investigating armed drug trafficking.”
According to law enforcement, Smith was a member of a violent white supremacist organization. Smith had prior convictions including possession or distribution of methamphetamine precursors; assault on a government official; possession of methamphetamine and, assault inflicting physical injury on a detention officer or employee. Smith was on probation for possession of methamphetamine and felony assault inflicting physical injury on a detention employee or officer at the time of this offense.
The investigation was part of OCDETF Operation. An Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. This OCDETF focuses on a Multi-State Drug Trafficking Organization and Gang Activity that has been responsible for the distribution of large quantities extremely pure methamphetamine throughout the United States.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing before U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol took part in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-00005-M.
Member of New Bedford Latin Kings Chapter Sentenced for Racketeering Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) was sentenced today on racketeering charges. The defendant admitted to participating in a June 2019 shooting of another Latin Kings member who was in bad standing with the gang.
Shelton Johnson, a/k/a “King Shellz,” 31, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2020, Johnson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.
The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.
Johnson admitted that he conspired with other Latin Kings members and leaders and participated in a June 2019 shooting of a member who was in bad standing with the gang. Johnson also admitted to participating in a beating of members of the Latin Kings who had violated its rules.
In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Johnson is the 15th defendant to be sentenced in the case.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Lauren Graber of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Member of New Bedford Latin Kings Chapter Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) pleaded guilty today to racketeering and drug charges.
Roberto Vargas, a/k/a “King Royalty,” 27, pleaded guilty before U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute, manufacture and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
Vargas admitted that on Sept. 30, 2019, he was one of multiple members of the Latin Kings who travelled to Ruth Street and McGurk Street in New Bedford in order to confront rival gang members. After “flagging” – brandishing a yellow and black Latin Kings bandanna – in the territory of the rival gang, the Latin Kings members approached one of the rival gang members, surrounded him, pointed a firearm at him and demanded his phone. During the robbery, the victim ran from the Latin Kings, and another Latin Kings member chased the victim and fired one gunshot, hitting the victim in the back. The victim fell to the ground and was transported to the hospital, where he was treated and ultimately survived the incident.
Vargas also admitted to participating in the drug trafficking conspiracy that the Latin Kings operated in multi-unit apartment buildings controlled by the gang, known as trap houses, throughout New Bedford.
The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.
In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Robert Vargas is the 35th defendant to plead guilty in the case.
The RICO conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Lauren Graber of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Manderson Man Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter was sentenced by Judge Karen K. Schreier, U.S. District Court.
Charles Merrival, age 28, was sentenced on February 11, 2021, to 46 months custody in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Merrival was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2020. The charge related to Merrival driving while intoxicated and killing a pedestrian, who was walking on the shoulder of the highway east of Pine Ridge on May 5, 2020. Merrival’s blood alcohol content was .215% approximately 5 hours after the accident.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Merrival was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Adam W. Gagnon, 43, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 30, 2020, Manchester police detectives received information that Gagnon would be travelling to Lawrence, Massachusetts in an Uber to pick up a significant quantity of fentanyl for distribution. There were several outstanding warrants for Gagnon’s arrest. Detectives observed Gagnon travel to Lawrence in an Uber, enter a building for approximately 10 minutes and get into another Uber to head northbound. Detectives stopped the vehicle, arrested Gagnon on the warrants, and observed a cellophane wrapped package at Gagnon’s feet. The Uber driver consented to a search of the vehicle and the package was seized. A lab later confirmed the package contained over 480 grams of fentanyl.
Gagnon is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2021.
“Those who bring large quantities of fentanyl into New Hampshire are endangering public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect our communities, Operation S.O.S. is targeting the fentanyl dealers who are distributing this deadly drug in Hillsborough County. I am grateful to the Manchester Police Department for their successful efforts to prevent this significant quantity of fentanyl from being sold on the streets of Manchester.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Major Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficker Receives 30 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Darion “Pluck” Graham, 31, of New Hanover County, North Carolina, was sentenced on February 16, 2021, to 365 months imprisonment for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of 1,000 grams or more of heroin; two counts of distribution of a quantity of heroin and aiding and abetting; and possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and aiding and abetting.
The investigation, along with evidence presented in court, revealed that beginning in October 2015 until May 2017, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wilmington Police Department made several controlled purchases of more than 90 grams of heroin from Graham and persons working at his direction in various locations in Wilmington, North Carolina.
On August 29, 2017, the Wilmington Police Department, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, executed a search warrant at Graham’s residence on Summertime Lane in Wilmington. Graham was on house arrest for pending state charges at the time the search took place. During the search, law enforcement found a small quantity of heroin and fentanyl, packaging material, and more than $13,000. As law enforcement made forced entry into the residence, Graham managed to flush a large quantity of heroin down the toilet. As a result, Graham was detained exiting the bathroom.
From February 2019 until May 2019, the Wilmington Police Department, working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made several controlled purchases of 30 grams of heroin from Graham in the Wilmington area.
On June 28, 2019, the Wilmington Police Department, together with the FBI, executed a search warrant on a River Front Place Apartment in Wilmington. The apartment was rented in the mother’s name of one of Graham’s co-conspirators. As law enforcement was conducting the search of the residence, Graham and his co-conspirator arrived at the residence and attempted to flee upon seeing the police. Law enforcement found 761 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture and more than $16,000 in drug proceeds.
The investigation revealed that Graham held a position of leadership in a large heroin and/or fentanyl drug trafficking organization which had more than 10 people. Graham was supplying heroin and/or fentanyl and working with several members of a violent gang in Wilmington. Graham obtained heroin from New York, and, on one occasion, he and a co-conspirator picked up 3 kilograms of heroin. Graham was responsible for the distribution of more than 7 kilograms of heroin overall, more than 750 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture, and a quantity of a heroin/methamphetamine mixture. Graham had a prior conviction for Conspiracy to Sell a Schedule I Controlled Substance. Graham was one of the largest heroin suppliers in New Hanover County at the time of his arrest in 2019. While awaiting sentencing, Graham attempted to intimidate witnesses by disclosing their identity on social media.
The investigation was part of OCDETF Operation. An Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. This OCDETF focuses on a Multi-State Drug Trafficking Organization and Gang Activity that has been responsible for the distribution of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the United States.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing before U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wilmington Police Department, Holly Ridge Police Department, and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-00005-M.
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Maine Man Indicted on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Maine man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston for travelling to have sex with a minor and child pornography.
Patrick Plummer, 29, of Parsonsfield, Maine, was indicted on one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a person under 18 years of age and one count of transportation of child pornography. Plummer was charged by criminal complaint and arrested in January 2021.
It is alleged that Plummer communicated via various messaging applications with an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl and devised a plan to meet the purported child in Georgetown, Mass. to have sex. On Sept. 26, 2020, Plummer allegedly drove from Maine to a predetermined location in Georgetown, as they had planned. Officers arrested Plummer on scene, and found him in possession of four cell phones, a computer and a spring-release knife. Preliminary analysis of the electronic evidence seized from Plummer’s car revealed in excess of 100 images and videos of child pornography on at least three of the devices. Preliminary analysis also revealed evidence that Plummer was logged into the account from which he had communicated with the undercover officer. Forensic analysis of the devices is ongoing.
According to court documents, Plummer admitted that he had traveled from Maine to meet the purported 13-year-old girl, that he was talking to approximately 10 underaged girls and that investigators would find child pornography on his devices.
The charge of attempted enticement of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. The charge of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison. All three charges carry a minimum of five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Georgetown Police Chief Donald C. Cudmore made the announcement today. The Essex County District Attorney’s Office and the Salisbury and Newbury Police Departments provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Duane of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Lake County Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Douglas V. Oakes (62, Lake County) to 30 months in federal prison for tax evasion, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Oakes had pleaded guilty on November 18, 2020.
According to court documents, Oakes tried to evade and defeat the payment of federal income taxes that he owed for tax years 2002 to 2005. In August 2015, after the IRS initiated collection actions, Oakes submitted a signed statement to the IRS in which he represented that he was not employed or self-employed, earned no income, and did not have a financial interest in any business entities. In fact, at that time, Oakes was working for Dealerindustry.com, LLC (“DI”) d/b/a Automotive Capital Corporation, a company in which he had a significant financial interest and from which he was earning approximately $400,000 per year. To conceal from the IRS his financial interest in DI, Oakes registered his daughters as DI’s managing members with the Florida Department of State, removed his name from DI’s website and bank account, and removed his profile from the website LinkedIn.
In addition, in September 2015, Oakes submitted a sham rent agreement to the IRS representing that he and his wife were renting their 4,321 sq. ft. lakefront home in Orlando from DI for $1 per month. In November 2015, Oakes further attempted to conceal his assets from the IRS by purchasing a new beachfront home in Merritt Island for $1 million in the name of a nominee.
In July 2017, following the death of his daughter, Oakes caused posthumous tax returns to be prepared for Oakes’s deceased daughter in which DI’s income from 2010 through 2015 was falsely claimed to be entirely his deceased daughter’s income. In fact, between 2010 and 2015, Oakes earned approximately $2.2 million in income from DI, including payments that Oakes caused to be made from DI’s business bank account for credit card payments, luxury car payments, and the rent for his lakefront home.
The total tax loss to the United States in this case was $1,112,651.
“We teach our kids that lying is often what gets them in the most trouble. That does not change when we become adults,” stated Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Mr. Oakes broke the law when he failed to uphold his duty to pay an honest tax, but then he made his situation worse by spinning a tangled web of lies. IRS Special Agents take great pride in persistently uncovering the truth, and that’s what they did in this case. This tax filing season, I am putting would-be tax evaders on notice that cheating does not pay.”
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chauncey A. Bratt and Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.
LaFollette Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On February 18, 2021, Timothy Wayne Turben, 40, of LaFollette, Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable R. Leon Jordan, U.S. District Judge, to serve 97 months in federal prison for knowingly distributing child pornography in interstate commerce.
Following his imprisonment, Turben will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years and will be required to register with the state sex offender registry in any state in which he lives, works, or attends school.
The investigation began after a social media company notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that the defendant’s social media account was utilized to send child pornography to others through the internet. In October 2018, the FBI executed a federal search warrant and seized computer devices containing 75 digital videos and over 1000 images of child pornography from Turben’s residence. Turben confessed that he had sent child pornography to others with his social media account.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Morris represented the United States in court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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KCK Man Sentenced for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Kansas, man was sentenced in federal court today for distributing methamphetamine.
Jeffery N. Sharp, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
On Nov. 10, 2020, Sharp pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Sharp sold methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer on five separate occasions from Aug.6 to Nov. 1, 2018.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg R. Coonrod and Mary Kate Butterfield. It was investigated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force.
Justice Department Settles Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Alleging Disparate Treatment Against Female Correctional Officers by the Michigan Department of CorrectionsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that it has reached a settlement, through a court-supervised settlement agreement, with the State of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to resolve a sex discrimination lawsuit brought by the United States of America.
The settlement agreement, filed today in federal district court in Detroit, resolves allegations that the defendants have engaged in two unlawful employment practices that discriminate against female correctional officers at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility (WHV) because of sex, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The United States’ complaint, filed on June 13, 2016, alleged that the defendants violated Title VII by classifying four job assignments as female-only and by denying female correctional officers job transfers.
The lawsuit is based on charges of sex discrimination filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Detroit Area Office by 28 female correctional officers who work or worked at WHV. The EEOC investigated the charges and found that there was a reasonable basis to believe that violations of Title VII had occurred. After unsuccessful conciliation efforts by the EEOC, the charges were referred by the EEOC to the Department of Justice.
“The female correctional officers employed by the Michigan Department of Corrections will finally be able to work under conditions that are fair and consistent with equal employment opportunity principles,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement agreement is an important first step in eliminating the sex discrimination that has so hampered the workplace for female correctional officers currently assigned to the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.”
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, which is subject to court approval, Defendants will pay $750,000 in compensatory damages to eligible female correctional officers who worked at WHV between 2009 and the present, including those who filed charges with the EEOC. Additionally, the State and MDOC will take a number of actions to remedy the alleged discrimination, including efforts to improve the recruitment and retention of female correctional officers at WHV, providing for a lift of the transfer freeze at WHV when the staffing level of female correctional officers reaches a certain level, allowing for a specific number of female correctional officers to transfer out of WHV to other MDOC facilities, and implementing a Title VII-compliant review process for female-only assignments.
“We must fight barriers to equal employment for women at all levels,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Saima S. Mohsin of the Eastern District of Michigan. “In those rare circumstances where gender is a bona fide occupational qualification, employers must ensure that it is narrowly applied and does not impose more onerous working conditions on women. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to continuing its role as a staunch defender of equality.”
In a joint filing today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the Justice Department, along with the State of Michigan and MDOC, moved for a court order provisionally approving the terms of the settlement agreement. The motion also asks the court to schedule a fairness hearing to provide an opportunity for individuals potentially affected by the proposed agreement to provide comments on the terms of the settlement.
The case was brought by Senior Trial Attorneys Taryn Wilgus Null, Nadia Said, and Jennifer Swedish of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section, as well as Susan K. DeClercq of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Employment Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and the jurisdiction of the Employment Litigation Section is available on its websites at www.justice.gov/crt/ and https://www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
Judge sentences St. Louis County man for role in fentanyl distribution ringRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Judge Stephen R. Clark sentenced Kevin White to 120 months in prison today. The 27-year-old Hazelwood, Missouri resident pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Beginning in 2018 and continuing until November 20, 2019, White and his co-conspirators began distributing large quantities of fentanyl in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Their initial supplier was Juan Gonzalez, who was charged in a separate indictment with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute both fentanyl and methamphetamine. Gonzalez continued to supply White and his co-conspirators until DEA and U.S. Marshals arrested Gonzalez in September 2019. Prior to his arrest, Gonzalez would either ship fentanyl through mail or hand-deliver the narcotics to co-conspirators who traveled to Arizona at the request of co-conspirators including Marcius Futrell. Futrell was also charged with drug conspiracy in the same case as Gonzalez. While Gonzalez and Futrell were fugitives from the charges in that indictment, they continued to conspire with White and others to distribute fentanyl.
After September 2019, White and his co-conspirators then obtained another source of fentanyl in Arizona and continued their distribution. Once the raw fentanyl arrived in the the St. Louis area, co-conspirators would "cut" or "stretch" the fentanyl with products like Dormin to increase its volume and their profit. The cut fentanyl was then put in capsules and sold by members of the conspiracy. The conspiracy was responsible for distributing in excess of four kilograms of fentanyl.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, St. Louis County and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is handling this case.
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Jackson County Man Is Sentenced to 18 Months for Embezzling Funds from Indian Tribal OrganizationRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced today that Fredrick Thomas Gettins Strohm, 41, of Jackson County, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release for embezzling more than $95,000 from an Indian tribal organization. U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger presided over the hearing. In addition to the prison term imposed, Judge Reidinger also ordered Strohm to pay $199,077.06 to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) as restitution.
Chief Doug Pheasant of the Cherokee Indian Police Department joins U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to plea documents filed in the case and today’s sentencing hearing, Strohm was employed as an Office Manager at Cherokee Broadband Enterprises (CBE), an entity of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. In that capacity, Strohm had access to CBE’s bank accounts and bank cards, which he was authorized to use to pay for business related expenses. Beginning in August 2014, and continuing through February of 2018, Strohm used his access to CBE’s bank accounts and bank cards to pay for personal expenses and to make large cash withdrawals. For example, Strohm unlawfully used CBE funds to pay for numerous personal purchases on Amazon, and to pay approximately $52,040.55 in personal credit card debt. During the relevant time period, Strohm also used CBE funds to make approximately $45,855.01 in PayPal payments, some covering personal purchases and some consisting of cash payments to himself. In total, during the relevant time period, Strohm embezzled approximately $199,077.06 of CBE funds.
Court records also show that, throughout the years in which he was engaged in the wrongdoing, Strohm attempted to conceal his embezzlement from the authorities within the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. To do so, Strohm altered bank statements for the CBE bank account he submitted to Tribal Finance, and further attempted to conceal evidence by deleting QuickBooks files from the CBE computer located in his office. According to court records, the authorities within the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians were able to recover the deleted files and uncover Strohm’s theft.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray commended the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigation of this case and thanked EBCI Attorney General Michael McConnell and his office for their invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bradley, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.
Harrisburg Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Weapons OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that George Jones, age 40, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 17, 2021, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges Jones with distribution of cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, being in possession of a .44 magnum firearm as a convicted felon and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, between July 2020 and September 2020, in Harrisburg.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and the Harrisburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 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.
Indictments and 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 life 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.
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Granite Bay Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Jesse Alan Tory, 35, of Granite Bay, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Dec. 1, 2020, Tory was in possession of a Smith & Wesson 28 revolver. Tory has previously been convicted of seven felonies in El Dorado County, including convictions for domestic violence, illegal firearm possession, and hit and run causing injury.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Rocklin Police Department, and the Placer County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael W. Redding is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Tory faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 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. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
Gloversville Man Arrested for Possessing Pipe BombsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael D. Darling, age 41, of Gloversville, New York, was arrested earlier this week on a charge of possessing pipe bombs as unregistered destructive devices.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Gloversville Police Chief Anthony Clay.
A criminal complaint alleges that on February 12, 2021, Gloversville Police Officers observed pipe bombs in plain view while conducting a requested welfare check at Darling’s residence. Officers applied for, and received, a search warrant. While executing the warrant, law enforcement located six capped metal pipes that each appeared to contain propellant powder and small metal balls (commonly known as “BBs”). They also recovered rolls of fuse, a container of Pyrodex (a propellant) and other items that could be used to manufacture explosive devices. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Darling, who is in custody, is scheduled to appear in Albany federal court on February 24 for a detention hearing.
If convicted of the charge set forth in the complaint, Darling faces up to 10 years in prison, and up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the ATF and Gloversville Police Department, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, the New York State Police Bomb Disposal Unit, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Amsterdam Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sharpe.
Gastonia Man Is Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced today that Samuel Lamont Harris Sr., 28, of Gastonia, North Carolina, was sentenced to 54 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for illegal possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell presided over the hearing.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, on March 30, 2019, a state trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Harris was driving in Lincoln County, North Carolina. During the traffic stop, law enforcement determined that Harris was driving with a suspended license and located a loaded firearm between the center console and the passenger side seat of the vehicle. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that the firearm was reported stolen on or about November 5, 2018, out of Caldwell County, North Carolina. Harris has a prior felony conviction and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
On September 11, 2021, Harris pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the North Carolina Highway Patrol for their investigation of this case, and thanked District Attorney Mike Miller, of North Carolina’s 39th Prosecutorial District, for his office’s invaluable assistance and coordination.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Gastonia Man Is Indicted for Threatening the President of the United States and Related ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – David Kyle Reeves, of, Gastonia, N.C., has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Charlotte for making threats against the President of the United States and related charges, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Reginald A. DeMatteis, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, joins U.S. Attorney Murray for making today’s announcement.
Reeves was arrested on Friday, February 5, 2021, via a federal complaint. According allegations in the affidavit filed with the complaint and the indictment, between January 28 and February 1, 2021, Reeves contacted multiple times the White House switchboard via telephone and made threats against President Biden and others. Court documents allege that, a Secret Service agent contacted Reeves to discuss the threats. Reeves allegedly proceeded to call back the Secret Service agent multiple times throughout the day, and repeated the threats against the President, the Secret Service agent, and others. Court documents further allege that, on the same day, Reeves also contacted the U.S. Capitol Police switchboard and communicated similar threats.
The indictment charges Reeves with making a threat against the President of the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine; two counts of interstate communications with intent to injure, which carry a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count; and influencing a federal official by threat, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Reeves is currently in federal custody. Reeves’ court hearing on the new charges has not been scheduled yet. The charges against Reeves are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Bozin, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Four Alleged Smugglers Charged for Importing Banned Catfish into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Peter C. Fitzhugh, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Timothy Donovan, Assistant Director of the Northeast Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”), Office of Law Enforcement (“OLE”), and Bethanne M. Dinkins, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Office of the Inspector General for the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA-OIG”), announced the unsealing today of a Complaint charging MAHMUD CHOWDHURY, a/k/a “Masum Chowdhury,” a/k/a “Uncle Masum,” SHAKIL AHMED, BELAYET HUSSAIN, a/k/a “Belayet Sohel,” and FIROZ AHAMMAD with participating in a conspiracy to smuggle banned catfish into the United States through the Southern District of New York. All four defendants were taken into custody today and will be presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, food safety for U.S. consumers was seriously compromised by these defendants, who disguised their importation and distribution of dangerous fish and fish products. Thankfully, investigators with HSI, NOAA, and USDA-OIG detected something fishy and reeled in the defendants, who now face serious federal charges.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said: “Something smelled fishy, and this investigation led to this transnational criminal organization as the center of an alleged smuggling operation moving multiple shipments of catfish from prohibited countries into our ports to further a very lucrative scheme. It is a major concern when food entering the U.S. does not meet our strict health and safety guidelines, and HSI New York, working with CBP and our law enforcement partners, will continue to protect the public from potentially contaminated, diseased or adulterated food products and bring to justice those who choose to line their pockets at the expense of our food supply chain.”
NOAA-OLE Northeast Division Assistant Director Timothy Donovan said: “This case demonstrates the importance of our cooperation with U.S. government partners to interdict illegal products before they enter the country. OLE continues to work to protect consumers and fishermen from seafood fraud and the illegal importation of seafood through initiatives like our Seafood Import Monitoring Program.”
USDA-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins said: “Protecting the safety of food is a top priority for USDA-OIG, and we will continue to dedicate investigative resources and work with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to protect the integrity of the food supply and bring to justice those who circumvent food safety protocols and put consumers at risk.”
As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
Since in or about 2017, the importation into the United States from most countries of fish of the order Siluriformes, which includes multiple species of fish commonly referred to as catfish, has been prohibited by federal law, in order to ensure the safety of food for human consumption in the United States. From at least in or about January 2018 up to and including at least in or about October 2019, notwithstanding this ban, MAHMUD CHOWDHURY, a/k/a “Masum Chowdhury,” a/k/a “Uncle Masum,” SHAKIL AHMED, BELAYET HUSSAIN, a/k/a “Belayet Sohel,” and FIROZ AHAMMAD, the principals of Asia Foods Distributor Inc. (“AFD”), a trading company based in New York City, conspired to smuggle large quantities of prohibited catfish into the United States through the Southern District of New York for distribution to their customers around the United States. The defendants implemented a scheme through which the banned catfish were listed as other species of fish in the shipping documents of foreign exporters presented at customs, and also in the commercial invoices that they provided to their customers, thereby disguising their importation and distribution. In or about 2019, a customs inspection of a shipping container bound for AFD led to the discovery of the prohibited catfish. Further quantities of illegally imported catfish were also found at AFD’s warehouse and at certain of AFD’s customers’ stores during site inspections. The ensuing investigation of HSI, NOAA, and USDA-OIG led to the seizure of multiple shipping containers bound for AFD, in which banned catfish were identified. Moreover, the execution of a search warrant at AFD’s warehouse resulted in the seizure of evidence documenting AFD’s orders to foreign exporters and communications between the defendants about how to avoid the detection of their scheme and the accompanying risk of potential arrest and imprisonment.
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A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, NOAA, and USDA-OIG, as well as the assistance of United States Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”).
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas John Wright is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COUNT
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAX. PENALTIES
1
Catfish smuggling conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 371
MAHMUD CHOWDHURY,
a/k/a “Masum Chowdhury,”
a/k/a “Uncle Masum,”
SHAKIL AHMED,
BELAYET HUSSAIN,
a/k/a “Belayet Sohel,” and FIROZ AHAMMAD
5 years in prison
2
Catfish smuggling
18 U.S.C. § 545
MAHMUD CHOWDHURY,
a/k/a “Masum Chowdhury,”
a/k/a “Uncle Masum,”
SHAKIL AHMED,
BELAYET HUSSAIN,
a/k/a “Belayet Sohel,” and FIROZ AHAMMAD
20 years in prison
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the descriptions of the Complaint constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Former Tech Employee at Blue Ridge School District Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme; Agrees to Pay Back MoneyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A former technology coordinator who worked for Blue Ridge Community School District in Farmer, City, Ill., Joshua Raymer, 45, today waived indictment and pled guilty to a scheme that defrauded the district of approximately $336,276 over two years. Raymer, of Clinton, Ill., entered his guilty plea by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins.
According to court documents, during the time Raymer carried out the scheme, from April 2016 to December 2018, he falsely represented to a district official that computer switches had failed, and replacements were needed to maintain the district’s computer system. Raymer repeatedly used his position to have the district order and pay for more than 100 computer switches that it did not use or need, from two separate vendors, at a total cost of more than $400,000. Another 28 computer switches were ordered that were never paid for that resulted in a loss to the vendor of approximately $106,200.
When Raymer received the switches, he admitted that he sold them as if they were his personal property and used the money for himself. Acting under his name and doing business as “The Bored Woodworker,” Raymer contacted at least five different buyers and negotiated a purchase price for the switches that had been shipped to and paid for by the Blue Ridge school district. Raymer then shipped the switches to his buyers and had payments issued to himself or his business name.
Sentencing for Raymer is scheduled on June 21, 2021. As part of the plea agreement, Raymer has agreed to pay full restitution, in the amount of $336,276 to Blue Ridge School District and its insurer, and $106,200 to a computer vendor. In addition, although it is not charged conduct, Raymer has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $17,897 to Special Olympics Illinois, where he worked after he was no longer employed by the school district.
The statutory penalty for the offense of wire fraud is up to 20 years in prison. The government has agreed to recommend a sentence within the applicable advisory Sentencing Guidelines range.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass. The investigation was conducted by the Farmer City Police Department, with the full cooperation of the school district, which referred the matter to law enforcement.
Former Schoolteacher from Cary Sentenced to 12 Years on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Chip Hollingsworth of Cary, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison after pleading guilty to eleven counts charging receipt and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in summer 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was conducting an undercover investigation on the chat and file sharing platform called, “Gigatribe.” On August 6, 2018, an unknown user contacted the undercover investigator, transmitted child pornography, and requested images of 10-12-year-old boys in recorded conversations. After obtaining account information from Gigatribe and an internet service provider, law enforcement identified the user as the defendant Chip Hollingsworth at a residence in Cary, North Carolina. Law enforcement further determined that Hollingsworth had been employed as an elementary school teacher.
On August 20, 2018, members of the FBI and Cary Police Department executed a federal search warrant at Hollingsworth’s residence. He agreed to be interviewed and admitted to having a Gigatribe account, with which he obtained, viewed, and shared child pornography.
Officers seized multiple electronic devices and conducted a forensic examination. Nearly 1,500 images and videos were found that constitute child pornography, the majority depicting children under 12. File metadata showed that Hollingsworth had received the files on dates from as early as August 29, 2008 to July 21, 2018.
United States Attorney Higdon commented “We are grateful for the sentence handed down by the Court today. As I have repeatedly said, the sexual exploitation of the most vulnerable among us – our children – is one of the worst offenses we are working to stop in communities all across the Eastern District. Each of these cases is heartbreaking and each requires a strong response if we are to punish and, most importantly, deter others who may harm our children in the future. This offender is particularly concerning because of his role as a teacher. This sentence ensures that he will be held accountable and will not harm children in the future. And we hope this message goes out to others that this type of crime must stop.”
This case is 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 initiative, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., 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 Cary Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-0231-FL.
Former New Windsor Town Official and Contractor Plead Guilty to Negligent Release of AsbestosRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JAMES PETRO, the former Planning and Zoning Coordinator and Property Development Manager for the Town of New Windsor, and RICHARD MCGOEY, the former Town Engineer by contract for the Town of New Windsor, each pled guilty today to one count of negligently causing the releasing of asbestos into the ambient air, thereby negligently placing other persons in imminent danger of death and serious bodily injury. PETRO and MCGOEY pled guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As they admitted in court today, James Petro and Richard McGoey decided to cut corners and do things on the cheap, soliciting bids for demolition work without disclosing that the property contained asbestos. The contract was awarded to a contractor unqualified to do asbestos abatement work, and as a result Petro and McGoey jeopardized the health and safety of the people they had a responsibility to protect.”
According to the allegations in the Informations to which PETRO and MCGOEY pled guilty and other court documents:
In or about 1999, the Town of New Windsor (the “Town”) acquired 250 acres adjacent to Stewart Airport from the Department of the Army. The property contained dozens of military barracks and other buildings that the Army had constructed in or about the 1940’s, when the property was part of an Army Air Force base. These buildings included 10 buildings contained on the parcel of land bordered by International Boulevard to the south, Reed Street to the north, Aviation Avenue to the east and Raz Avenue to the west (the “10 Buildings”). The 10 Buildings contained asbestos.
After it acquired the 250 acres, the Town entered into an agreement with a real estate developer (the “Developer”) pursuant to which the Developer would lease the land and develop it. From in or about 2006 through in or about 2009, the Town applied for various government grants to abate the asbestos in some of the buildings on the 250 acres and to demolish those buildings. PETRO and MCGOEY participated with others in preparing and submitting the grant applications.
In or about May 2008, the Developer obtained a report from an asbestos inspector that indicated the 10 Buildings had asbestos-containing material. The report stated that any disturbance or abatement of the asbestos was required to be performed by a licensed contractor in accordance with federal and state regulations. PETRO and MCGOEY knew of the existence of this report prior to August 2015.
In or about June 2012, PETRO, MCGOEY, and others discussed the need to prepare a written request for bids to abate the asbestos in, and demolish, the 10 Buildings. The Town initially requested bids from asbestos inspectors to conduct asbestos surveys of the 10 Buildings. PETRO, MCGOEY, and others decided asbestos surveys were unnecessary because the 10 Buildings had already been surveyed in May 2008.
From May 2015 to June 2015, PETRO, MCGOEY, and others drafted a request for proposals to demolish the 10 Buildings. This request for proposals did not disclose the presence of asbestos containing materials in the 10 Buildings but said only that the demolition materials were to be disposed of in accordance with all federal, state, and local regulations. The Town published this request for proposals on or about June 5, 2015.
In July 2015, the Town awarded the contract to demolish the 10 Buildings to Contractor-1, who had submitted the lowest bid of $262,000. Contractor-1 was not a licensed asbestos contractor and had limited experience with asbestos. Although Contractor-1 did not submit a plan to abate the asbestos in the 10 Buildings or an asbestos clearance letter to the Town, the Town gave Contractor-1 permits to demolish the 10 Buildings.
From August 11, 2015 through August 16, 2015, Contractor-1 and his crew demolished the 10 Buildings without removing the asbestos contained therein by knocking the buildings down with a backhoe, thereby releasing the asbestos to the open air. During this period, both PETRO and MCGOEY visited the site while the buildings were being knocked down. On August 19, 2015, an official with the Asbestos Control Bureau of the New York State Department of Labor suspended work on removing the debris piles resulting from the demolition of the 10 Buildings.
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PETRO, 68, of New Windsor, New York, and MCGOEY, 71, of Monticello, New York, each pled guilty to one count of negligently causing the release of asbestos into the ambient air, thereby negligently placing other persons in imminent danger of death and serious bodily injury. This offense carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of PETRO and MCGOEY will be determined by a judge. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge McCarthy on May 27, 2021.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Margery Feinzig and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Florida Prepaid College Program Contractor Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jamilla Ciar Hall of Tallahassee, Florida, has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft arising out of her work with the Florida Prepaid College Program. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Tuesday following Hall’s guilty plea last September.
“This woman abused her position of trust to rob money from the Florida Prepaid program – but worse, she robbed from unsuspecting parents who invested in a future college education for their loved ones,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “She thought she had discovered a path to easy money, but instead, choosing that path has led her to prison.”
The Florida Prepaid College Board, which administers the Florida Prepaid College Program (“Florida Prepaid”), contracted with Intuition College Savings Solutions to provide customer service and records administration services for Florida Prepaid. While working for Intuition, between July and December 2018 Hall accessed the personal identification information of Florida Prepaid account owners and beneficiaries, and then fraudulently changed mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses associated with those Florida Prepaid plans. She then fraudulently submitted forms to cancel accounts, using the personal identification information of the account owners and beneficiaries. Refund checks for the Florida Prepaid plans she cancelled were mailed and delivered by the United States Postal Service to Hall at the addresses she fraudulently submitted. She personally cashed some of the refund checks and gave some to others to fraudulently cash. In total, Hall fraudulently obtained and attempted to obtain approximately $42,000 in funds to which she was not entitled.
"Hall took advantage of hardworking families that utilize the Florida Prepaid program to provide their children an opportunity for a college education," said FDLE's Tallahassee Regional Operations Center Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez. "Hall’s arrest and sentencing assures families that the Florida Prepaid program is a safe and secure way to save for their children’s future. Those that take advantage of these families will be brought to justice."
Hall pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, five counts of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Her 33-month prison sentence will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Hall was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims.
“Tuesday’s sentencing is a reminder that financial crimes are not victimless crimes,” said United States Secret Service Resident Special Agent in Charge Seth Reister, Tallahassee. “The defendant victimized the community for her own personal gain by taking advantage of multiple Florida Prepaid customers. The U.S. Secret Service and its law enforcement partners such as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, will continue to investigate and pursue prosecution of those who engage in identity theft or financial fraud.”
This sentencing was the result of a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Press Release - U.S. v. HallFederal Charges Against Stanford University Researcher ExpandedRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment charging Chen Song with visa fraud, obstruction of justice, destruction of documents, and false statements in connection with a scheme to conceal and lie about her status as a member of the People’s Republic of China’s military forces while in the United States, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.
“We allege that while Chen Song worked as a researcher at Stanford University, she was secretly a member of China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson. “When Song feared discovery, she destroyed documents in a failed attempt to conceal her true identity. This prosecution will help to protect elite institutions like Stanford from illicit foreign influences.”
“The FBI’s investigation revealed Song Chen took active steps to destroy evidence of her official affiliation with the Chinese military, including her current PLA credentials depicting her in military dress uniform,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Fair. “The FBI is committed to protecting academic institutions in the Bay Area from PRC military officers who knowingly and willfully lie about their military affiliations to access American research and development. We will exhaust all investigative techniques and measures to ensure the safety, security, and hard work of American universities.”
The superseding indictment expands on the allegations set out in an affidavit supporting a criminal complaint filed on July 17, 2020, and an indictment filed on January 7, 2021. According to the superseding indictment, Song, 39, a Chinese national, entered the United States on December 23, 2018, using a J-1 non-immigrant visa to conduct research at Stanford University. Song obtained the J-1 visa, a document “for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs” with an application she submitted in November 2018. In that application, Song described herself in her visa application as a neurologist who was coming to the U.S. to conduct research at Stanford University related to brain disease. As part of the application, Song stated that she had served in the Chinese military only from September 1, 2000, through June 30, 2011. She further stated that her employer was “Xi Diaoyutai Hospital” located at “No. 30 Fucheng Road, Beijing, 100142,” and that her highest rank was “STUDENT.” The superseding indictment alleges that these were lies, and that Song was a member of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the Chinese military, when she entered and while she was in the United States, and that the hospital she listed on her visa as her employer was a cover for her true employer, the PLA Air Force General Hospital in Beijing.
The superseding indictment also adds allegations and charges of obstructive conduct by Song. Specifically, the superseding indictment alleges that Song found out about a case against another PLA member, who was charged on June 7, 2020, in the Northern District of California with visa fraud. The superseding indictment alleges that she then attempted to delete a digital folder of documents on an external hard drive that she possessed containing records relating to her military service and visa fraud, including:
- A digital version of a letter from Song, written in Chinese and addressed to the People’s Republic of China consulate in New York, in which Song explained that her stated employer, “Beijing Xi Diaoyutai Hospital” was a false front, and that because relevant approval documents were classified, she had attempted to mail them;
- An image of Song’s PLA credentials, with a photograph of her in military dress uniform, covering the time period from July 2016 to July 2020; and
- A digital version of a resume for Song, written in Chinese, again with a photograph of her in military dress uniform and listing her employer as the Air Force General Hospital.
Further, according to the superseding indictment, Song lied to FBI agents when interviewed, denying any affiliation with the PLA after 2011, and information associating Song with the PLA or Air Force General Hospital began to disappear from the Internet after FBI’s investigation of Song was known to her. Finally, the superseding indictment alleges that, after Song had been charged by criminal complaint in this case, she selectively deleted relevant emails from that account, including certain emails relevant to her military service, employment, and affiliations.
Song is charged with visa fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1546(a); obstruction of official proceedings, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2); two counts of alteration, destruction, mutilation, or concealment of records, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(1); and making false statements to a government agency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2).
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed and Song, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, she faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the visa fraud count; up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each of the obstruction and alteration charges; and up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the false statements charge. In addition, the court may order additional terms of supervised release. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Song’s next appearance is scheduled for April 7, 2021, at 12:00 p.m., before the Honorable William Alsup, United States District Judge, for pretrial conference, with a trial scheduled to begin on April 12, 2021.
The United States Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Section is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Essex County Man Admits Role in $23 Million Identity Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark today man admitted his role in a large international money laundering conspiracy and to using a stolen identity in furtherance of the scheme, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Edwin Deleon-Batista, 37, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of identity fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From March 2018 through October 2019, Deleon-Batista laundered over $23 million in cash drug proceeds on behalf of a money laundering organization with close ties to drug trafficking organizations in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. Deleon picked up large amounts of cash drug proceeds in New Jersey, New York, and Florida and laundered it by purchasing cashier’s checks at local bank branches. The checks were made payable to individuals and companies specified by the leaders of the money laundering organization. By converting the drug proceeds to cashier’s checks, Deleon tried to hide the source of the illegal cash and avoid scrutiny by law enforcement and banks.
Deleon-Batista was previously arrested on federal money laundering charges in New York in April 2019. Soon after his arrest, Deleon-Batista began using a stolen identity and obtained a fraudulent Florida driver’s license to continue the money laundering scheme. He used the fraudulent license to open several bank accounts, which he then used to convert millions of dollars more in cash drug proceeds into cashier’s checks at bank branches in New Jersey, New York, and Florida over a five-month period.
The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of identity fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson, and the New York Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan; special agents and task force officers of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez; and the Morristown, New Jersey, police department, under the direction of Acting Police Chief Darnell Richardson with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan M. Peck of the Criminal Division in Newark.
This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Edgerton Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Illegal Gun Possession During Civil UnrestRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Anthony R. Krohn, 37, Edgerton, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 5 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On June 1, 2020, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Krohn was walking with some friends toward the Capitol Square in downtown Madison, an area which was experiencing significant civil unrest. As Krohn walked past deputies who were posted outside near the jail, the gun that he was carrying discharged into his leg. Dane County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Madison Police Department officers provided assistance to Krohn until he was transported to the hospital for treatment. Krohn admitted to a deputy that he shot himself in the leg. The .22 handgun and a spent casing were recovered.
At the time, Krohn was on supervision for a sixth offense operating while intoxicated after serving two years in prison. His criminal history stretches back to 2001 and includes convictions for several batteries, another felony OWI where he led police on a high-speed chase, and possession of cocaine with the intent to deliver.
At sentencing, Krohn agreed with the government about the dangers involved with bringing a gun into this situation. Judge Peterson also recognized the serious nature of Krohn’s offense commenting that it was the court’s role to look out for the community in this case.
The charge against Krohn was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan.
Drug Trafficker Who Transported More Than a Kilogram of Methamphetamine from South Carolina Received 210 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Neville Singleton, 38, of North Charleston, South Carolina was sentenced on February 17, 2021, to 210 months imprisonment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting.
The investigation, along with evidence presented in court, revealed that on August 29, 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made a controlled purchase of 51 grams of actual methamphetamine at a restaurant in Wilmington, North Carolina from Sean Thomas and Singleton. Following the drug deal, Singleton and the undercover officer discussed having Singleton provide him with larger amounts of methamphetamine in the future. Singleton indicated that the methamphetamine was coming from Charleston, South Carolina.
On August 29, 2019, ATF, with the assistance of the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, ordered a quantity of methamphetamine from Singleton and Thomas to be delivered to a hotel in Brunswick County. When Singleton and Thomas arrived in the hotel parking lot from Charleston, both men were arrested. Law enforcement searched the trunk and found 1,134 grams of actual methamphetamine. Between July 2019 and August 2019, Singleton possessed or distributed more than two and a half kilograms of actual methamphetamine into North Carolina and South Carolina.
Singleton had prior convictions for possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine in proximity of a school (2003); possession with intent to deliver cocaine (2004); possession with intent to deliver marijuana (2007); possession with intent to deliver or distribute cocaine, LSD or other drug; possession with intent to deliver or distribute a drug within close proximity of a school (2010); and possession with intent to distribute marijuana (2016). Singleton was on probation at the time he committed the crimes that brought him into federal court.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office took part in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-00005-M.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that Lamont Thomas, 42, of Detroit, Michigan, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and a quantity of heroin.
“This Detroit drug dealer brought eight pounds of meth and some heroin into Charleston for distribution,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Great work by the Charleston Police Department and DEA to catch Thomas soon after he got off of the bus.”
Thomas admitted that on May 14, 2020, he traveled from Detroit to Charleston by Greyhound bus. He further admitted that he was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by officers of the Charleston Police Department after leaving the Greyhound Bus Station. When a drug K-9 alerted on Thomas’s backpack, officers searched it and found approximately eight pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 61 grams of suspected heroin. Thomas admitted that the drugs were his and that he intended to distribute the controlled substances.
Thomas faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in federal prison when sentenced on May 17, 2021.
The Charleston Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Monica Coleman 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-00198.
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Defendant Sentenced to 72 Months Imprisonment for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Paige Michelle Anderson, 29, from Ocean Isle Beach, NC was sentenced today to a total of 72 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine from April to June 2020; possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine on June 1, 2020; and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine on June 14, 2020.
According to court documents and other information, beginning in April 2020, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and others with the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office in Elizabethtown, North Carolina learned through a confidential source that Anderson was part of a drug trafficking organization selling methamphetamine in Bladen County. During the week of May 30, 2020, law enforcement received information that Anderson would be traveling to Sanford, North Carolina to pick up methamphetamine with an associate. Law enforcement tracked Anderson’s trip and on June 1, 2020, conducted a traffic stop on the car in which Anderson was a passenger. During a search of the car, law enforcement found 90.7 grams of methamphetamine, a firearm, and $1,189.00 in currency. On June 14, 2020, while monitoring Anderson’s movements, law enforcement noted Anderson once more traveled to Sanford. Upon her return, officers stopped Anderson’s car when she failed to stop at a stop sign. Anderson admitted that she had methamphetamine in the car. During the search of the car, officers found 222 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale for weighing narcotics, and $536.00.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Murphy Averitt prosecuted the matter.
This case is part of the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-cr-00090-D.
Daniel A. Baker Indicted for Inciting Violence at the Florida Capitol BuildingRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, Florida – In a case arising from anticipated protests at the Florida Capitol last month, a federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Daniel A. Baker, of Tallahassee, with two counts of transmitting a communication in interstate commerce containing a threat to kidnap or injure. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the indictment.
Baker was arrested by FBI agents on January 15 after he issued a “Call to Arms” for like-minded individuals to violently confront protestors gathered at the Florida Capitol in the wake of the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. He specifically called for others to join him in encircling any protestors and confining them at the state Capitol complex using firearms.
“At a time of widespread alarm and turmoil in our nation, and at state capitals in particular, Baker’s actions clearly posed a threat to public order,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “Though some media descriptions cast Baker in a sympathetic light, the indictment alleges that he sought to physically stop the expression of political views different than his own, potentially through armed violence. This office and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting public safety no matter where the threat comes from, and we are confident Baker’s actions will be properly dealt with through the judicial process.”
On January 25, United States Magistrate Judge Michael J. Frank ordered Baker detained pending trial to assure the safety of the community. That order followed a combined preliminary and detention hearing that took place four days earlier.
"The FBI is laser focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals who are intent on inciting violence or engaging in criminal activity,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “We will not tolerate those who seek to wreak havoc in our communities. We are fully coordinating with law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens in North Florida, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Leon County Sheriff’s Office and Tallahassee Police Department have been especially vital in this effort. Help from the public is also critical and we encourage anyone with information regarding potential violence or criminal activity to contact law enforcement immediately.”
Baker’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for Monday, February 22, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. EST, at the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee before Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick.
This indictment is the result of a collaborative investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Kunz and Lazaro Fields are prosecuting this case.
All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Press Release - U.S. v. Baker - Indictment Baker Indictment Media Advisory - Baker Arraignment InformationConvicted Sex Offender in Boone, N.C. Is Sentenced to 25 Years for Possession and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Joshua Wayne Clemons, 40, of Boone, North Carolina, to 25 years in prison on child pornography charges, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Clemons was also ordered to pay a $52,000 special assessment fee, to serve a lifetime of supervised release, and to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
According to information contained in filed documents and statements made in court, in October 2019, law enforcement determined that an individual later identified as Clemons was using a peer-2-peer network to download and transmit child pornography. In November 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Clemons’ residence and seized numerous computer devices and a cell phone. A forensic review of the seized devices revealed that they contained more than 755 images depicting the sexual abuse of children. On August 11, 2020, Clemons pleaded guilty to possession and distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography. At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Bell enhanced Clemons’ sentence, based on Clemons’ prior convictions of Indecent Liberties with a Child.
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In a separate case, Frank Darrell Cromwell, 24, of Boone, N.C., has pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. According to plea documents and today’s plea hearing, between December 2018 and February 2019, Cromwell used Snapchat to convince a minor victim that Cromwell was a female, and to communicate with the minor. During the relevant time period, Cromwell admitted to inducing the minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct and to send explicit images and videos to Cromwell. The defendant entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler. At sentencing, Cromwell faces a minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray commended the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Boone Police Department for their investigation of both cases, and thanked the North Carolina State Bureau of investigation for their invaluable assistance with Cromwell’s investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Wasserman and Mark Odulio prosecuted Clemons’ case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cortney Randall and Emily Wasserman, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Spaugh are in charge of Cromwell’s prosecution.
Both cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Columbus man and Wheeling woman admit to roles in drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Milik I. Stanley, of Columbus, Ohio, and Susan Manuel, of Wheeling, West Virginia, have admitted to their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Stanley, also known as “Taco,” age 23, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Stanley admitted to selling methamphetamine near Madison Elementary School on Wheeling Island in January 2020.
Manuel, age 58, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Manuel admitted to working with another to distribute meth near Madison Elementary School on Wheeling Island in January 2020.
Stanley faces at least one and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Manuel faces at least five and up to 80 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
California Passenger Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Smuggle Marijuana into St. Thomas through the Cyril E. King AirportRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Christopher Vera was sentenced to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release for attempting to smuggle marijuana into St. Thomas.
According to public documents filed in the case, Vera was stopped on October 13, 2020 at the Cyril E. King airport after arriving on St. Thomas from Miami, FL. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers then searched his luggage and found 18 separate baggies containing in total over 8 kilograms of marijuana. Vera admitted to officers that he had been offered approximately $1,500 to transport the marijuana, which he was supposed to deliver to another individual once he arrived on St. Thomas.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and CBP. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Brooks
Brunswick County Man Sentenced for Heroin ChargeRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Shallotte man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.
According to court documents, Deontray Tremell Bryant, a/k/a “Certified,” 32, pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin on July 5, 2018.
In March 2016, investigators with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received complaints that Deontray Bryant was selling heroin from a residence in Supply, North Carolina.
On March 19, 2016, officers saw a male walk up to Bryant and conduct a hand-to-hand transaction. Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and found bindles of suspected heroin in the vehicle.
On March 22, 2016, a confidential informant (CI) conducted a controlled purchase of heroin from Bryant.
On March 23, 2016, a search warrant was executed at Bryant’s residence. Agents seized 6.44 grams of cocaine and more than 150 bindles of heroin, each of which contained about .02 grams of heroin.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. For additional information about this initiative, click here https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott A. Lemmon prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:17-CR-150-FL-1.
Bristol Man Charged with Attempting to Sex Traffic Minor, Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that ROBERT MARLIN SELLERS, 60, of Bristol, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses related to his attempt to engage in commercial sex with a minor.
Sellers appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson via videoconference. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on February 4, 2021.
As alleged in court documents, law enforcement launched an investigation in late 2020 after receiving information that Sellers was sharing videos of child sex abuse on a website that is focused on incest. In November 2020, an undercover FBI employee began interacting with Sellers on the social media application Kik. In the chats, Sellers made statements that he had sexually abused children, and that he had trafficked a child to engage in commercial sex acts. He also said that he had recently traveled out of state to have sex with another 12-year-old girl. The undercover investigator told Sellers that he had a 12-year-old daughter (“Doe”). After Sellers introduced the idea that Doe could be trafficked for sex, and offered suggestions to the undercover investigator about how it could be accomplished, Sellers arranged to have sex with Doe in exchange for $200.
It is further alleged that, in January 2021, Sellers sent the undercover investigator videos of child sex abuse that Sellers maintained on a file sharing website.
On February 4, 2021, Sellers was arrested at a hotel in Southington shortly after he provided the undercover investigator $200, as alleged, to engage in sex with Doe.
The complaint charges Sellers with one count of attempted commercial sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and one count of distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Durham thanked the New Britain State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Child Exploitation Task Force and the Southington Police Department. The task force includes members from the Connecticut State Police and the Naugatuck, East Windsor, New London and Southington Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarala V. Nagala.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Brighton Man Convicted by Jury of Child Pornography Charges Going to Federal Prison for 6 YearsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Richard Dzionara-Norsen, 29, of Brighton, NY, who was convicted by a federal jury of possession, receipt, and distribution of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison and 10 years supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle P. Rossi and Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that the defendant was apprehended by members of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force after sharing a child pornography video with an undercover investigator over a peer to peer file sharing network. Subsequent investigation determined that Dzionara-Norsen had been receiving and distributing child pornography for a number of years. The images of child pornography depicted children as young as infants and also included depictions of violence against children.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belongia.
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Attorneys and Managers of Fraudulent Asylum Scheme Charged in Manhattan Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeny Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Patricia Menges, the New York Asylum Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), and Jason J. Molina, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Newark Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the unsealing of two indictments charging nine individuals in two respective schemes to prepare and submit fraudulent asylum applications, affidavits and other documents to USCIS, and to coach asylum seekers to lie under oath during immigration proceedings.
ILONA DZHAMGAROVA and ARTHUR ARCADIAN, two immigration attorneys based in Brooklyn, New York, and their associate, IGOR REZNK, were charged in one indictment with conspiracy to commit asylum fraud (the “Dzhamgarova Indictment”). The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil. All three defendants were taken into custody today. DZHAMGAROVA and ARCADIAN are expected to be presented in the Southern District of Florida. REZNIK is expected to be presented in the District of Maryland.
In a separate indictment, YURY MOSHA, ULADZIMIR DANSKOI, JULIA GREENBERG, ALEKSEI KMIT, TYMUR SHCHERBYNA, and KATERYNA LYSYUCHENKO were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit asylum fraud. That case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Alison J. Nathan. Five defendants were taken into custody today. MOSHA and DANSKOI are expected to be presented in the Southern District of New York today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. GREENBERG and KMIT are expected to be presented in the Districts of Colorado and Idaho, respectively. LYSYUCHENKO was arrested in Milan, Italy, and is pending extradition.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Fear of violence and persecution, be it on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation, is a daily reality for too many across the world. To exploit and profit from the fears of the victims of persecution is cynical; to do so through lies and for money is fraud. As alleged, these defendants engaged in a scheme to deceive asylum officers of the United States through carefully scripted lies, trading on deeply held concerns for actual victims of persecution in an effort to obtain money and illegal immigration documents. Asylum fraud was not merely a means of lining these defendants’ pockets. It is a burden on the asylum system and a hindrance to those legitimately in need of our country’s protection.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “The elaborate deceptions allegedly created by the groups of attorneys and managers in this investigation are astounding. As we allege, they told their clients to lie on asylum applications and under oath about being persecuted in their home countries, and they even created ghost-written blogs to bolster those false claims. As these defendants will learn, engaging in this kind of conduct has grave consequences. Creating false narratives to conceal the identities of people seeking asylum in the United States threatens our national security, and we will continue to address it accordingly."
USCIS New York Asylum Director Patricia Menges said: “USCIS is committed to finding and stopping those who want to cheat the immigration system, and preserving it for those who qualify for immigration benefits.”
Special Agent-in-Charge, HSI, Newark Jason J. Molina said: “Under the guise of fictitious stories of persecution to gain asylum, these individuals allegedly exploited their fellow Russians for financial gain. Their arrest should serve as a warning to others of his ilk that the cooperative efforts of law enforcement agencies will track and persecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to the allegations in the Indictments[[1]]:
The charges in these two Indictment arise from an investigation into two New York City immigration firms, the “Dzhamgarova Firm” and “Russian America,” which helped their respective clients – primarily aliens from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States – seek visas, asylum, citizenship, and other forms of legal status in the United States. Among other things, both firms advised certain of their clients in the manner in which they were most likely to obtain asylum in this country, fully understanding that those clients did not legitimately qualify for asylum. The firms also prepared and submitted to USCIS clients’ fraudulent Form I-589 asylum applications, asylum affidavits – statements of an asylum applicant’s personal history and claimed basis for asylum, often including allegations of past persecution – and related supporting documentation. Members and associates of each firm also coached certain clients to lie under oath during interviews conducted by USCIS Asylum Officers and provided legal representation to their clients during various immigration proceedings.
The Dzhamgarova Indictment
Between November 2018 and December 2021, ILONA DZHAMGAROVA, an immigration attorney, maintained the Dzhamgarova Firm, based in Brooklyn, New York. Among other things, DZHAMGAROVA advised clients to seek asylum by falsely claiming that they were members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (“LGBTQ”) community who suffered persecution in their native countries, when DZHAMGAROVA fully understood that these clients were not members of that community and suffered no such persecution. Additionally, DZHAMGAROVA and her husband, ARTHUR ARCADIAN, also an attorney, prepared and submitted clients’ fraudulent asylum applications and affidavits to USCIS, under penalty of perjury, fully understanding that these documents at times contained material falsehoods. DZHAMGAROVA and REZNIK also coached certain clients to lie in asylum interviews conducted by USCIS asylum officers and represented clients during immigration proceedings.
The Dhzamgarova Firm also employed writers and bloggers, including IGOR REZNIK, who knowingly concocted and drafted clients’ fraudulent asylum affidavits so that they could be submitted as part of clients’ asylum applications. These affidavits, which were designed to support clients’ persecution claims, conveyed purported aspects of clients’ personal histories that were filled with falsehoods, including events and incidents of alleged persecution that were completely manufactured by REZNIK.
The Mosha Indictment
YURY MOSHA and ULADZIMIR DANSKOI operated and maintained Russian America’s Manhattan and Brooklyn offices, respectively. Each advised and aided clients to seek asylum under fraudulent pretenses. Among other things, MOSHA encouraged certain clients to establish and maintain online blogs that were critical of the clients’ home countries, as a way to generate a claim that, based on the clients’ invented political opinions, it was unsafe for them to return to their native countries. MOSHA did so understanding that the clients’ decision to blog was prompted not by their own idea or initiative, but by MOSHA’s instruction, and that the clients’ motive for blogging was to contrive a basis for asylum, rather than to publicly express a sincerely held opinion. MOSHA also understood that, in some instances, these clients lacked the desire, topical knowledge, journalistic ability, and/or technical expertise to write blogposts and maintain these blogs. In those instances, MOSHA connected some Russian America clients with TYMUR SHCHERBYNA, a Ukraine-based purported journalist, with the understanding that, in exchange for a fee, SHCHERBYNA would and did maintain and ghost-write the clients’ blogs. MOSHA also personally prepared and submitted clients’ asylum applications and related paperwork under penalty of perjury, knowing that these documents contained material falsehoods. ALEKSEI KMIT, who worked directly under MOSHA in Russian America’s Manhattan Office, and who understood that certain clients were seeking asylum under fraudulent pretenses, served as a liaison between these clients and Russian America employees and at times advised these clients regarding their fraudulent applications.
DANSKOI performed similar functions as MOSHA, but in Russian America’s Brooklyn Office. For example, DANSKOI advised one Russian America client, a confidential FBI source (the “Source”), to seek asylum on the fraudulent basis that the client was persecuted in Ukraine for being a gay male, when in fact DANSKOI fully understood that the Source was a heterosexual male who suffered no such persecution. DANSKOI also advised the Source on how to most effectively advance this fraudulent claim.
Both MOSHA and DANSKOI referred certain clients to KATERYNA LYSYUCHENKO – an Italy-based associate, who helped certain Russian America clients draft fraudulent Asylum Affidavits by, among other things, sending them template Asylum Affidavits to model off of, and advising clients about what information to include in their affidavits, understanding these documents to be fraudulent – and JULIA GREENBERG, a New York immigration attorney, who coached clients to lie to Asylum Officers and provided legal representation to such clients during immigration proceedings. For example, GREENBERG, understanding that the Source was a heterosexual male who did not suffer persecution in his home country, prepared the Source for questioning by an Asylum Officer and advised the Source how to falsely answer certain anticipated questions from the Asylum Officer.
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DZHAMGAROVA, 44, and ARCADIAN, 42, both of Brooklyn, NY; and REZNIK, 39, of New York, NY, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
MOSHA, 45, DANSKOI, 54, and GREENBERG, 41, each of Staten Island, New York; KMIT, 30, of Boise, Idaho; SHCHERBYNA, 35, of Ukraine, and LYSYUCHENKO, 39, of Italy, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit asylum fraud.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, USCIS New York Asylum Office and Fraud Detection and National Security unit, and thanked United States Customs and Border Protection and the New York City Police Department for their assistance.
These cases are being prosecuted by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Rebold is in charge of the prosecution.
[1] The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.