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13 January 2021
U.S. Attorneys Warn: Don't Mess with TexasRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorneys representing the four districts in Texas have announced their intent to prosecute any crimes committed at the State Capitol or elsewhere in violation of federal law ahead of the upcoming presidential inauguration.
“During this time of polarized political discord, freedom of speech is an important right that must be safeguarded, but those who threaten to harm others, commit acts of violence, destroy property or attack law enforcement must be held accountable for their criminal behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer. “Now, more than ever, we must respect the rule of law. The Texas United States Attorneys’ Offices along with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners will pursue federal charges against those who refuse to do so.”
U.S. Attorney Sofer joins his counterparts – U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick, Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah and U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox of the Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas, respectively – to warn those planning to cross state lines to commit crimes in Texas or at the State Capitol that justice will be sought.
As the chief law enforcement officers in each of the federal districts, the U.S. Attorneys will be working with federal, state and local law enforcement throughout the state to aggressively identify individuals who violate federal law. The plan is to ensure that, where appropriate, anyone arrested for committing federal crimes related to protests or similar events on or about Inauguration Day will be processed and held in federal custody pending further criminal proceedings.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia (DC) is prosecuting those individuals identified as allegedly committing crimes during the riots last week at the U.S. Capitol. The U.S. Attorneys in Texas have been and will continue to work with Department of Justice (DOJ) officials and necessary law enforcement in those prosecutions.
U.S. Attorney, District Attorney Warn Violence Won’t be Tolerated During Inauguration ProtestsRead the Press Release
Media Relations Director Kelly Thornton (619) 546-9726 or [email protected]
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 13, 2021
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today their offices will not tolerate violence during inauguration-related protests and will work closely with federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue those involved in criminal activity at such events in San Diego and Imperial counties.
“We are issuing the strongest warning possible to anyone who is planning violence in connection with the inauguration,” Brewer said. “If you repeat the despicable behavior we saw at the Capitol last week, and if you disrespect our great democracy by bringing harm to people or property in a display of hatred and rage, the consequences will be swift and strong. You will be found, and you will be charged. Don’t let that become part of your story.”
“I want to be clear that my office will prosecute those who break state laws when they choose violence, hate, assault or vandalism to harm our community—including attacks on fellow citizens and peace officers,” DA Stephan said. “I call on our community members to work hand in hand with law enforcement to keep our neighborhoods safe and to honor our democracy by reporting suspicious activity. If you see something, say something.”
Both U.S. Attorney Brewer and DA Stephan condemned the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol:
“Protesting is an inalienable right recognized by the U.S. Constitution; rioting is a crime,” DA Stephan said. “The insurrection that occurred in the U.S. Capitol last week was a despicable, anti-American attack on the democratic fabric of our nation. It’s a wakeup call that locally, we must work together to keep our community safe, including alerting law enforcement to the threat of violence.”
“The attack on Congress was a shameful and reprehensible affront to our democracy. Our Constitution protects the rights of free speech and assembly, but it does not protect mob violence, threats to harm public officials, assaults on law enforcement officers, or damage to government buildings,” said Brewer.
Anyone witnessing a crime in progress or immediate danger to the public should call 911. If you have witnessed unlawful violent actions, have any information about unlawful violent actions, or have information about the Capitol violence case, the FBI urges you to submit any information, photos, or videos that could be relevant at fbi.gov/USCapitol. You may also call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) to verbally report tips and/or information. If you do not have an attachment but have information to provide, you can also submit your information at tips.fbi.gov.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada Collects over $8.6 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2020Read the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich announced today that the District of Nevada collected $8,674,644.74 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. Of this amount, $2,837,891.57 was collected in criminal actions and $5,836,753.17 was collected in civil actions.
“These significant collections reflect the dedication and commitment of our Financial Litigation Unit, Asset Forfeiture Unit, and other members of our Civil Division,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “Throughout 2020, we continued to expand our coordination with law enforcement agencies and other collection partners, and we’re honored to be able to contribute these funds for (among other things) victim compensation and victim assistance.”
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department of Justice’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Highlights of the District of Nevada’s FY 2020 collection efforts include:
- Trixa Belloso-Rivas was convicted of conspiracy to file fraudulent tax return information, and ordered to pay $2,000,100 in restitution. In coordination with the U.S. Probation Office, our office became aware that Belloso-Rivas would be receiving a personal injury settlement payment. Our Financial Litigation Unit successfully asserted its restitution judgment and lien against the settlement proceeds, and received over $320,000 towards the outstanding restitution amount.
- Gareth Long was indicted and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, having deposited unauthorized checks from more than 375,000 victims into his bank account. At sentencing, the Court ordered a criminal forfeiture money judgment of $11,224,404.31, of which $3,621,523.09 has been forfeited.
Further, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $6,592,713.24 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2020. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Overall, the Justice Department collected more than $15.9 billion in civil and criminal actions in FY 2020 ending Sept. 30, 2020. The $15,988,516,670 in collections represents more than five times the approximately $3.2 billion appropriated budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the main litigating divisions of the Justice Department. The total includes all monies collected as a result of Justice Department-led enforcement actions and negotiated civil settlements. It includes more than $13.5 billion in payments made directly to the Justice Department, and more than $2.4 billion in indirect payments made to other federal agencies, states and other designated recipients.
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U.S. Attorney Warns Demonstrators that Any Violence at Texas State Capitol will be Vigorously ProsecutedRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas - The U.S. Attorneys representing the four districts in Texas have announced their intent to prosecute any crimes committed at the state capitol or otherwise in violation of federal law ahead of upcoming presidential inauguration.
“The First Amendment is a cherished right and bedrock principle of our great nation,” said United States Attorney Stephen J. Cox. “Those who intend to commit crimes at the Texas State Capitol, rather than peacefully demonstrate, can expect to be met with a swift response by law enforcement and prosecution by our office.”
U.S. Attorney Cox joins his counterparts – U.S. Attorneys Gregg N. Sofer and Ryan K. Patrick and Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah of the Western, Southern and Northern Districts of Texas, respectively – to warn those planning to cross state lines to commit crimes in Texas or at the state capitol.
As the chief law enforcement officers in each of the federal districts, the U.S. Attorneys will be working with federal, state and local law enforcement throughout the state to aggressively identify crimes that violate federal law. The plan is to ensure that anyone who is arrested for committing looting, violence or any other crime related to protests or similar events on or about inauguration day will be processed and held in federal custody pending further criminal proceedings.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) in the District of Columbia (DC) is prosecuting those that have been or will be identified as allegedly committing crimes during the riots last week. The Texas U.S. Attorneys will also be working with Department of Justice (DOJ) officials and necessary law enforcement in those prosecutions. Any questions regarding those matters should be directed to DOJ Office of Public Affairs or to the USAO in D.C.
Two Off-Duty Virginia Police Officers Charged in Federal Court Following Events at the U.S. CapitolRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two off-duty Rocky Mount, Virginia police officers were charged yesterday in federal court in the District of Columbia in connection with the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.
Jacob Fracker and Thomas Robertson were charged by complaint with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Both defendants were arrested on January 13, 2021, in Virginia. It is alleged that during the events at the U.S. Capitol, Fracker and Robertson were photographed in the Capitol building making an obscene gesture in front of the John Stark statue.
On social media, Robertson is quoted as saying, “CNN and the Left are just mad because we actually attacked the government who is the problem and not some random small business ... The right IN ONE DAY took the f***** U.S. Capitol. Keep poking us.” He also stated that he was “proud” of the photo on an Instagram post that was shared to Facebook, because he was “willing to put skin in the game.” On Facebook, Fracker posted a comment that read, “Lol to anyone who’s possibly concerned about the picture of me going around... Sorry I hate freedom? …Not like I did anything illegal…y’all do what you feel you need to.” The post has since been deleted.
These cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the DOJ’s National Security Division, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia. The cases are being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the United States Capitol Police.
The information contained in the charging documents are merely allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The ATF and FBI continue to urge the public to report suspected use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected] or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com.
The FBI is looking for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol.
Two Canadian Citizens Charged with Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal criminal complaint against DAYNE ADRIAN SITLADEEN, 29, and MUZAMIL ADEN ADDOW, 29, charging them with being unlawful aliens in possession of firearms. SITLADEEN and ADDOW are currently in federal custody and will make their initial appearances later this week before a Magistrate Judge in U.S. District Court.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit, on January 10, 2021, at approximately 10:10 p.m. near Fergus Falls, a Minnesota State Patrol Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with Texas license plates that was traveling between 95-100 miles per hour. When the Trooper approached the vehicle, the driver provided an Ontario, Canada driver’s license with a false name. The front seat passenger provided a false Florida identification card. The driver was later identified as ADDOW and the passenger was later identified as SITLADEEN.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit, after detecting the odor of marijuana in the vehicle and receiving suspicious and inconsistent statements from SITALDEEN and ADDOW, the Trooper searched the vehicle. As a result of the search, law enforcement officers recovered a total of 67 firearms and numerous pistol magazines from four bags in the vehicle. Law enforcement later discovered a provisional federal arrest warrant from the United States Marshals Service for SITLADEEN, which was based on a 2019 Canadian arrest warrant for first degree homicide, fentanyl distribution, and possession of proceeds of crime. Law enforcement also determined that ADDOW has outstanding felony arrest warrants in Canada for firearms offenses and kidnapping.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Minnesota State Patrol.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Bates and John Docherty.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant Information:
DAYNE ADRIAN SITLADEEN, 29
Citizen of Canada
Charges:
- Unlawful alien in possession of firearms, 1 count
MUZAMIL ADEN ADDOW, 29
Citizen of Canada
Charges:
- Unlawful alien in possession of firearms, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Texas man and woman behind My Buddy Loans charged with filing hundreds of fraudulent applications for COVID reliefRead the Press Release
TEXARKANA, Texas – A Liberty County, Texas, man and woman have been charged with filing hundreds of fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications with the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.
Clifton Pape, 45, and Sally Jung, 58, both of Cleveland, Texas, allegedly operated a COVID relief fraud scheme known as My Buddy Loans, that garnered them more than $775,000 in fraud proceeds and resulted in at least $1.3 million in loss to the United States. Pape and Jung are charged by way of a federal criminal complaint that charges a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1031, major fraud against the United States.
“At a time when small businesses—the engines of our economy in East Texas—most needed the help that the Small Business Administration was rushing to provide, these individuals took advantage of members of the public, depleting the available resources for small businesses and lining their own pockets with fraudulent gain,” said U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox of the Eastern District of Texas. “We encourage members of the public and the banking community to stay vigilant, watching for fraud as another round of COVID relief begins. It is a priority of the Department of Justice to deter and prosecute this type of fraud.”
“Those responsible for committing fraud against SBA for personal gain will be identified and brought to justice,” said SBA OIG’s Central Region Special Agent in Charge Sharon Johnson. “SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides advance grants and loans to eligible small businesses to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic. I want to thank the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their dedication to justice.”
“These charges represent the consequences of exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic by defrauding the EIDL program and thus taking money intended for legitimate businesses in need,” said William Mack, U.S. Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge of the Tyler Resident Office. “The success of this investigation was the direct result of investigative actions taken by the Secret Service and its law enforcement partners. The Secret Service will continue to hold those accountable who seek to exploit CARES Act programs and seek justice for all those who seek to exploit U.S. citizens for their own illicit gain.”
According to court documents filed today in U.S. District Court in Texarkana, Pape and Jung operated under the name My Buddy Loans. In exchange for $1082.50, My Buddy Loans took personal identifying information from third parties and promised to file a federal application for a $10,000 agricultural grant. Instead, Pape and Jung actually filed EIDL applications with the SBA that contained false information. For example, in June and July 2020, Pape and Jung filed 222 EIDL applications, all of which purported to be for businesses with exactly ten employees—the minimum number of employees required to obtain the maximum EIDL advance of $10,000. From those 222 applications, the SBA issued 130 EIDL advances in the amount of $10,000—$1.3 million total.
Pape and Jung used Square’s credit and debit card processing service to charge third parties the fee of $1082.50. Pape and Jung completed 716 successful charges, obtaining at least $775,000 in fees from third parties. Pape and Jung then transferred the proceeds of the fraud scheme into a bank account they controlled. On one occasion, Pape used the fraud proceeds to pay a traffic ticket. On another occasion, Pape and Jung used more than $3600 from the fraud scheme to pay for a stay at La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, Texas. A picture from that stay shows Pape and Jung celebrating over sparkling wine and other beverages. Pursuant to a seizure warrant, agents seized the $505,535.04 in fraud proceeds remaining in the account.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization or EIDL Advances and low-interest loans to small businesses to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Under the EIDL Advance program loan applicants were eligible for an advance of up to $10,000 if the applicant had ten or more employees, which was forgivable. The advance amount was based on the number of employees reported by a business. An applicant could receive $1000 per employee up to $10,000. The SBA required an EIDL Advance applicant to provide specific information at the time the application was made, including the number of employees, revenue, and cost of goods. An EIDL applicant could apply through a third-party processor. Third-party processors were permitted to charge a reasonable fee for their services.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Under federal statutes, Pape and Jung face up to 10 years in federal prison and a $5,000,000 fine at sentencing. The statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the SBA Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan R. Hornok.
Texas Woman Indicted for Transporting Minor for Female Genital MutilationRead the Press Release
A Texas woman has been indicted for transporting a minor from the United States to a foreign country for the purpose of female genital mutilation (FGM).
Zahra Badri, 39, of Houston, who is originally from the United Kingdom, is charged in an indictment with knowingly transporting a minor from the United States in foreign commerce for the purpose of FGM from about July 10, 2016 through Oct. 14, 2016.
“The brutal practice of female genital mutilation not only subjects victims to the immediate trauma of the violent act, but also often condemns them to suffer a lifetime of physical and psychological harms,” said David P. Burns, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This indictment represents the first time the Department has brought charges against a defendant for transporting a child outside U.S. borders to facilitate this abhorrent form of gender-based violence and demonstrates that we will not rest in pursuing and holding to account those who engage in this cruelty.”
Title 18, United States Code, Section 116(d), defines FGM as circumcision, excision, or infibulation of “the whole or any part of the labia majora or labia minora or clitoris of another person who has not attained the age of 18 years.” Since 1996, the United States has prohibited the practice of female genital mutilation. In 2013, Congress amended the statute to add section 116(d), which prohibits the transportation of a person from the United States to another country for purposes of having female genital mutilation performed upon them. This is the first such indictment under section 116(d).
“Female genital mutilation is child abuse,” said Ryan K. Patrick, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. “The long-term damage, both physically and physiologically, is well documented. Unnecessary medical procedures on children will not be tolerated.”
“It is rare this type of crime is brought to the attention of law enforcement,” said Perrye K. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Houston Field Office. “We want the American people to know it is the FBI's responsibility to investigate allegations of Human Rights violations, like female genital mutilation. This is an example of our commitment to protect Human Rights.”
“Female genital mutilation is a human rights violation,” said Andre Watson, Assistant Director of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), National Security Investigations Division, which oversees the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. “This indictment reflects the gravity of FGM and the on-going commitment of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center to investigate this heinous crime.”
This case is being investigated by FBI’s Houston Field Office, with the support of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. The HRVWCC leverages the expertise of a select group of agents, lawyers, intelligence and research specialists, historians and analysts who direct the government’s broader enforcement efforts against these offenders. The HRVWCC is comprised of ICE HSI Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit, ICE’s Human Rights Law Division, FBI’s International Human Rights Unit and the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP).
The case is being prosecuted by HRSP Trial Attorneys Rami S. Badawy, Susan Masling, and Christian Levesque and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo and Sherri Zack of the Southern District of Texas.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Statement on the passing of Chief Deputy District Attorney Chuck BarthRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Fred Federici issued the following statement:
The United States Attorney’s Office wishes to extend its deepest sympathies and condolences to the Barth family and our colleagues at the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office for the passing of Chief Deputy District Attorney Chuck Barth. Chuck devoted his professional life to law enforcement, working as a Secret Service agent, prosecutor at the DA’s office, and as a long-time colleague and friend as a career prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In his latest role as Chief Deputy District Attorney, Chuck was a valued partner to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in helping to coordinate our offices’ joint efforts to fight crime in Albuquerque.
Chuck’s passing is a tremendous loss to the Albuquerque community, and to many of us within the office who worked alongside him for years, a tremendous personal loss. Like his colleagues at the D.A.’s Office, we will miss Chuck and his sense of humor.
St. Thomas Man Pleads Guilty After Being Arrested at Cyril E. King Airport with 2.9 Kilograms of Marijuana in his Carry-on BagRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Trevon Richards, 31, of St. Thomas, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and entered a guilty plea yesterday to one count charging him with possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Richards arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas on November 4, 2020. After disembarking, Richards was stopped on the tarmac when a K-9 alerted to his backpack. Customs and Border Patrol Officers searched Robinson’s bag finding six vacuum sealed plastic bags containing approximately 2.9 kilograms of marijuana.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.
Spencerport Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge After Attempting to Have Sex with A 13-Year-OldRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Michael Greco, 25 of Spencerport, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to attempted receipt of child pornography. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years, lifetime supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that in January 2020, the defendant engaged in online conversations with an individual who Greco believed was a mother engaged in the prostitution of her 13-year-old daughter. In fact, the “mother” was an undercover New York State Police (NYSP) investigator. Between January 2 and January 7, 2020, the defendant exchanged text messages and phone calls with the investigator, during which Greco agreed to pay $100 in order to have sex with the 13-year- old child.
On January 7, 2020, the defendant traveled to a pre-arranged destination, expecting to meet the child for sex. Instead, Greco was taken into custody by the NYSP and Homeland Security Investigations. The defendant was in possession of $100, which was the price he negotiated to have sex with the child, as well as condoms and candy for the child. A subsequent search of his cell phone revealed that Greco attempted to receive child pornography via the Internet.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the NYSP Troop E Major Crimes Unit, Canandaigua, under the direction of Major Barry Chase, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 13, 2021, at 9:15 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.
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Silver Spring Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for the Armed Robbery of a Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Ever Ramiro Torres Enriquez, age 25, of Silver Spring, Maryland, yesterday to 84 months and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for the armed robbery of a Takoma Park, Maryland, jewelry store on February 16, 2019, and for brandishing a gun during the robbery. Judge Grimm also ordered Torres to pay restitution of $174,967, which is the full amount of the victim’s loss.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, on February 16, 2019, Torres entered the jewelry store and pretended to be looking for jewelry for his girlfriend. Moments later, Torres’s co-conspirator, Douglas Amilcar-Vasquez entered the store brandishing a handgun demanding cash and jewelry. At the same time, Torres pulled out a black rifle, which had been hidden under his clothes and, pointing the rifle at his victims, demanded money and jewelry. At one point during the robbery, Amilcar-Vasquez forcibly removed a necklace from around one customer’s neck. Torres and Amilcar-Vasquez stole $7,900 in cash and over 400 pieces of jewelry valued at $167,067.11. The defendants left the store and forcibly carjacked two male victims in a nearby vehicle and fled the scene. The stolen vehicle was later recovered.
Neither defendant wore gloves during the robbery. Amilcar-Vasquez’s left palm print was lifted from one of the jewelry store’s glass counters and DNA found on gloves recovered from the carjacked vehicle matched DNA from Torres.
Following the robbery, Torres used an identification card with his personal information to pawn several pieces of the stolen jewelry, receiving a total of $630. Torres was arrested on June 14, 2019.
Amilcar-Vasquez, age 35, previously pleaded guilty to the same charges. Judge Grimm scheduled the sentencing for March 16, 2021, at 1:00 p.m.
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. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Burden H. Walker, who is prosecuting the case.
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Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Not Reporting International TravelRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A convicted felon and registered sex offender was sentenced to prison for failing to provide information related to his intended international travel, as required by federal law, said Peter D. Leary, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
Michael Walker, 45, of Perry, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Marc T. Treadwell, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Walker previously pleaded guilty on October 21, 2020 to one count of failure of a sex offender to provide information relating to intended international travel. There is no parole in the federal system.
Walker departed the United States on the cruise ship “Carnival Paradise” on December 12, 2019 for a four-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. The ship returned to Tampa, Florida on December 16, 2019. Walker was required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) to report his intended foreign travel no later than 21-days prior to departure, which he failed to do. Upon the ship’s arrival in Tampa, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers boarded the ship and placed Walker under arrest. Walker was previously convicted on April 22, 2004 of child molestation in the Superior Court of Houston County, Georgia. He is a Level 2 sex offender and is required to register as a sex offender in Georgia yearly for the rest of his life.
“The sex offender registration and notification programs are in place to protect the public. Registered sex offenders who disregard the laws governing their movements will face federal prosecution and federal prison,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leary. “I want to thank the U.S. Marshals, Customs and Border Protection, and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office for their work protecting the public and holding this defendant accountable.”
“The United States Marshals Service has prioritized investigations of registered sex offenders who travel between states, or internationally, and fail to notify authorities as required by law. Our district, working with our local and state partners, has dedicated men and women that focus their investigative expertise to locate, apprehend, and prosecute noncompliant sex offenders,” said U.S. Marshal John Cary Bittick.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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. The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul C. McCommon, III and Alex Kalim prosecuted the case for the Government. 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.
Seven Charged in Federal Court Following Events at the United CapitolRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seven individuals have been charged in federal court in the District of Columbia in connection with crimes committed at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.
The defendants and charges are outlined below:
- Robert Keith Packer was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry or disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Packer was arrested today in Virginia.
- Nicholas Rodean was charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without law authority; one count of knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on capitol grounds; and one count of and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the capitol buildings. Rodean was arrested today in Washington, D.C.
- Aaron Mostofsky, was charged with one felony count of theft of government property. He was arrested in New York City yesterday.
- William Pepe was charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without law authority. Pepe was arrested yesterday in New York.
- Andrew Williams was charged with one count of unlawful entry of a restricted building and one count of disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Williams was arrested in Florida yesterday.
- Josiah Colt, of Meridian, Idaho, was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Colt was arrested yesterday in Idaho.
- Kevin Loftus was charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without law authority and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Loftus was arrested yesterday in Wisconsin.
In addition, three defendants previously charged by criminal complaint have been indicted in federal court in the District of Columbia:
- Lonnie Coffman
- Jacob Chansley
- Mark Leffingwell
Defendant, Richard Barnett, who was arrested on Jan. 8, 2021, was charged in an amended complaint yesterday with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without law authority; one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on capitol grounds; and one count of theft of public money, property, or records.
Additional complaints have been submitted in federal court and investigations are ongoing. As previously reported, approximately 40 individuals were arrested and charged in Superior Court with offenses including, but not limited to, unlawful entry, curfew violations, and firearms-related crimes.
The cases are being prosecuted by the U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. The cases are being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by: the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York; the FBI’s New York Field Office; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin; the FBI’s Milwaukee Field Office; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida; the FBI’s Tampa Field Office; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho; the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; the U.S. Attorney's Office for Maryland; and the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office.
The ATF and FBI continue to urge the public to report suspected use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected] or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com.
The FBI is looking for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or s ubmit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Senior NASA Scientist Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements Related to Chinese Thousand Talents Program Participation and ProfessorshipRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (“USAO”), William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Mark J. Zielinski, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Field Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General (“NASA OIG”), announced that MEYYA MEYYAPPAN, a senior NASA scientist, pled guilty today to making false statements to the FBI, NASA OIG, and the USAO. MEYYAPPAN pled guilty in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Meyya Meyyappan held a trusted position at NASA, with access to valuable intellectual property. In violation of the terms of his employment and relevant laws and regulations, Meyyappan failed to disclose participation in a Chinese government recruitment program, and subsequently lied about it to NASA investigators, FBI agents, and our Office. Now, having admitted his crime, Meyyappan awaits sentencing.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “Members of U.S. government agencies are strictly prohibited from maintaining undisclosed affiliations with foreign entities, especially those that are actively seeking our intellectual property and technological advances. Meyyappan violated this sacred rule, and then lied to FBI agents about it. Actions like those carried about by Meyyappan can have security implications, and his charges should serve as a warning to others thinking about engaging in the same type of activity.”
NASA OIG Special Agent in Charge Mark J. Zielinski said: “Certain NASA employees are required to disclose affiliations with foreign entities in order to protect NASA’s intellectual property. Failure to do so could allow malicious foreign actors unauthorized access to American taxpayer funded technologies. We thank the FBI and the USAO, SDNY for their assistance throughout this investigation.”
According to the allegations in the Information filed today in Manhattan federal court and other proceedings in this case:
Since in or about 1996, MEYYAPPAN, the defendant, has been employed by NASA, an independent U.S. government agency responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Since in or about 2006, MEYYAPPAN has been Chief Scientist, Exploration Technology at the Center for Nanotechnology, at NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in Silicon Valley, California.
In his position at NASA, MEYYAPPAN was subject to certain statutory, regulatory, and agency restrictions and reporting requirements regarding, among other things, outside employment, travel, and compensation. Notwithstanding these prohibitions, MEYYAPPAN participated in China’s Thousand Talents Program, a program established by the Chinese government to recruit individuals with access to or knowledge of foreign technology or intellectual property, and held professorships at universities in China, South Korea, and Japan, and failed to disclose these associations and positions to NASA and the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
On or about October 27, 2020, MEYYAPPAN was interviewed by the FBI, NASA OIG, and the USAO, in New York, New York. During that interview, MEYYAPPAN falsely stated, among other things, that he was not a member of the Thousand Talents Program and that he did not hold a professorship at a Chinese university. In truth and in fact, MEYYAPPAN was a member of the Thousand Talents Program and held a professorship at a Chinese university, funded by the Chinese government.
* * *
MEYYAPPAN, 66, of Pacifica, California was charged with one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. MEYYAPPAN is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Castel on June 16, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding work of the FBI and NASA OIG.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua A. Naftalis is in charge of the prosecution.
Rolla Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Rolla, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing a firearm.
Ladd E. Callen, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 12 years in federal prison without parole.
On Sept. 25, 2020, Callen pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Callen admitted that he was in possession of 371.38 grams of methamphetamine when Kansas City police officers stopped the Chevrolet Silverado he was driving on Oct. 30, 2018. Callen told officers he came to Kansas City to purchase one pound of methamphetamine, which he planned to transport back to Rolla. Officers also found a stolen and loaded Glock handgun on the floorboard directly behind the driver’s seat.
At the time of his arrest, Callen was under the supervision of the Missouri Department of Probation and Parole for his prior possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Kate Butterfield. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Roland Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in SexRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A Roland man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity after exchanging messages with an undercover investigator.
Jonathan D. Ross, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced today that Patrick Karl Tate, 57, was sentenced today to 120 months imprisonment. United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr., who presided over Tate’s two-day jury trial in October 2019, imposed the sentence.
Testimony during the trial established that in April of 2017, an undercover investigator with the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office saw an ad posted on Craigslist. The ad was located in a section of the website titled Casual Encounters, which an investigator testified is known for sex solicitations. The ad specified it was looking for “mother/daughter,” and it asked for responses to be sent through KIK messenger, an online messaging service. The ad provided a KIK username: karlpatrick69. This was later identified to be the defendant, Patrick Karl Tate.
The undercover investigator sent a message to the KIK account, and the undercover exchanged messages with karlpatrick69 from April 9 to April 16, 2017. The messages, all of which were introduced at trial, indicated that the undercover officer was posing as an adult male with access to his girlfriend’s daughter, a 13-year-old child. In the messages, and in two recorded phone conversations that were played at trial, the undercover investigator and Tate made plans to meet so that Tate could have sex with the 13-year-old child. In the messages, the undercover investigator told Tate that he should bring at least three condoms. The two agreed to meet at a location in Greenbrier on April 16, 2017, which was Easter Sunday.
Evidence at trial further indicated that on April 16, 2017, Tate arrived at the agreed-upon location. He had three condoms. He was met by investigators from the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office, who arrested him. Tate was transported back to the major crimes unit, where he was read his rights and gave a statement. In his statement, Tate admitted to posting the Craigslist ad, admitted to having the conversations on KIK, admitted that karlpatrick69 was his screenname, and admitted that he knew the child involved was 13 years old.
The statutory penalty for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity is not less than 10 years and not more than life imprisonment, not more than a $250,000 fine, and not less than five years of supervised release. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Moody sentenced Tate to five years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Crews and Allison W. Bragg.
# # #
This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Rockford Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges of producing child pornography and committing felony sex offenses while he was required to register as a sex offender.
GARY WILSON, 50, was charged with four counts of producing child pornography via the internet and one count of committing a felony offense involving a minor when he was required to be registered as a sex offender.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.
According to the indictment, between June 2018 and April 2019 Wilson knowingly enticed four minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct, and then transmitting the depiction via the internet. The indictment also alleges that the production of child pornography by Wilson occurred while he was required to be registered as a sex offender.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The count of committing a felony offense involving a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison that must be served after any sentence for production of child pornography is completed.
Richard D. Westphal Appointed Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of IowaRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa — On Friday, January 8, 2021, Richard D. Westphal was appointed as Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa following the resignation of Marc Krickbaum. Mr. Westphal will serve as Acting United States Attorney until November 16, 2021, or until the new presidential administration selects a nominee, if prior to November 16.
Mr. Westphal was born and raised in Davenport, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and in 1990 received a law degree from the University of Iowa, College of Law. Mr. Westphal was admitted into the State of Iowa bar in June of 1990. He began private practice from 1990-1993 at Reynolds and Kenline in Dubuque, Iowa. From 1993-1996, Mr. Westphal served as an assistant county attorney in Johnson County and Muscatine County.
Mr. Westphal has extensive federal prosecution experience. In April 1996, he was designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in both the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa specializing in methamphetamine prosecutions. From June 1997 to the present, Mr. Westphal has been an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Iowa. While at the U.S. Attorney’s Office he has been Branch Chief of the Davenport Branch Office (2013), Criminal Chief (June 2018), and First Assistant United States Attorney (January 2021).
Restaurant Chain Manager Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax FraudRead the Press Release
The manager of the San Diego Home Cooking restaurant chain pleaded guilty today to employment tax fraud, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Robert S. Brewer Jr. for the Southern District of California.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Aleksandar Sreckovic was a manager for San Diego Home Cooking, a restaurant group with over 110 employees and five restaurants in the San Diego area, including Café 56 & Bar and Mission Valley Café & Bar in San Diego, Lake Murray Café in La Mesa, Lakeside Café in Lakeside, and Centre City Café in Escondido. Sreckovic had significant control over the finances of the company and had a duty to account for and pay over the employment taxes on behalf of the company’s employees to the IRS.
In November 2014, Sreckovic directed an outside payroll company to stop making employment-tax payments. From the last quarter of 2014 through 2017, Sreckovic did not file employment tax returns nor pay employment taxes for San Diego Home Cooking. In total, Sreckovic caused a tax loss of over $1.5 million. Instead of paying employment taxes, Sreckovic paid other creditors and his own personal expenses. Sreckovic has agreed to pay over $2.2 million in restitution, interest, and penalties to the IRS.
U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo scheduled sentencing for April 2, 2021. At sentencing, Sreckovic faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Brewer commended the special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Galvin and Trial Attorney Matthew Hoffman, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the Division’s website.
Researcher Charged with Theft of Trade Secrets from New Jersey-Based Pharmaceutical CompanyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former director of medical and scientific affairs at a New Jersey pharmaceutical company was arrested today on charges of stealing and illegally transmitting trade secrets, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Shafat A. Quadri, 57, of North Potomac, Maryland, is charged by complaint with one count of theft of trade secrets and one count of unauthorized transmission of trade secrets. He is made his initial appearance by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
“Company 1” is a based in New Jersey and is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, creating vaccines, medicines and consumer healthcare products. Company 1 is incorporated in New Jersey and maintains email servers in New Jersey.
In October 2019, Company 1 contacted the FBI to report suspicious activity by Quadri, who had been employed there since 2015 as director of medical and scientific affairs, immune oncology. Company 1’s global immuno-oncology department specializes in research and development related to the diagnosis and treatment of more than 30 cancer types with biopharmaceutical products. Quadri had access to sensitive intellectual property of the company, including research and other trade secrets. He remained at the company through Sept. 30, 2019.
Company 1 reported that an internal investigation revealed that before he left in September 2019, Quadri copied and removed thousands of files containing Company 1’s proprietary information, including research protocols, compound data, strategic plans. Quadri used unauthorized USB devices and personal email accounts to copy, transfer, and retain proprietary information from Company 1. Some documents that were copied and removed were outside of Quadri’s area of work responsibility. Quadri was not authorized to keep or transfer any sensitive or proprietary documents.
A subsequent review of Quadri’s work-issued computer further revealed the theft and transmission of Company 1 trade secrets, including:
- Quadri used his Company 1 email account to send Company 1 proprietary documents to private email accounts used by Quadri. At least twelve of Company 1’s documents were sent to Quadri’s private email addresses, some of which contained proprietary information related to an immunotherapy drug that helps fight certain cancers and is identified as Company 1’s leading oncology asset.
- Quadri used his Company 1 email account to send three of Company 1’s documents containing proprietary information to an email address used by Quadri and controlled by Quadri’s subsequent employer (Company 2), one of Company 1’s competitors. At least one of these documents related to research in the pre-indication stage, which could cause Company 1 significant loss as competitors would not have knowledge of these development plans.
The count of theft of trade secrets charge carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr., with the investigation leading to today’s charges. She also thanked security officials at Company 1 and Company 2 for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean C. Sovolos of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Registered Sex Offender from Freeport Charged with Traveling to Iowa to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Freeport man was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges related to sexual conduct with a minor.
ERICH M. BRINKMEIER, 25, was charged with two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and one count of committing a felony offense involving a minor when he was required to be registered as a sex offender.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Matt Summers, Chief of the Freeport Police Department. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.
According to the indictment, Brinkmeier on Oct. 28, 2019, and Nov. 4, 2019, traveled from Illinois to Iowa with the intent of engaging in a sexual act with a 14-year-old child. The indictment also alleges that the interstate travel and sexual acts with a child by Brinkmeier occurred while he was required to be registered as a sex offender.
Each count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor carries a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. The count of committing a felony offense involving a minor carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of ten years that must be served after any sentence on the travel counts is completed. If Brinkmeier is convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Queens Felon Charged with Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
A criminal complaint was filed today in federal court in Broolyn charging Eduard Florea with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Florea was arrested yesterday at his home in Queens, New York, and made his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Sanket J. Bulsara who ordered the defendant detained pending trial.
Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charge.
“This Office will dutifully and responsibly enforce our nation’s gun and ammunition laws and will act swiftly and decisively where an individual who violates such laws threatens our institutions with acts of violence,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “Respectful of our citizens’ rights and our obligation to protect their safety and their liberties, we will ensure the orderly functioning of our country’s democratic institutions and the safety of those we are sworn to protect through our diligent investigations and, where appropriate, federal prosecution.” Mr. DuCharme expressed his grateful appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their assistance on the case.
“As alleged, Florea, a previously convicted felon, made various social media posts about his plan to travel to Washington D.C. to engage in acts of violence. We saved him a trip and paid him a visit instead. Yesterday evening members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, to include our partners at the New York City Police Department, placed him under arrest for illegally possessing ammunition. For those of you out there with similar intentions, heed this warning—knock it off, or expect to see us at your door,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.
According to the complaint and statements made in court, Florea operated a social media account on Parler using the name “LoneWolfWar.” Florea who was previously convicted of a New York state firearms-related felony, posted threatening statements online about killing a United States Senator-elect and about intending to travel to Washington D.C. as part of a group armed with firearms ready to engage in violence. For example, on January 6, 2021, Florea posted “dead men can’t pass [expletive] laws” in response to a post about a United States Senator-elect. Additionally, Florea posted on social media:
- “Let’s go . . . I will be reaching out to patriots in my area so we can come up with a game plan . . . Here in New York we are target rich[] . . . . Dead men can’t pass [expletive] law. . . . I will fight so help me god.”
- “The time for peace and civility is over . . . ./3 cars full of armed patriots are enroute from NY / 3 cars of armed patriots heading into DC from NY / Guns cleaned loaded . . . got a bunch of guys all armed and ready to deploy . . . we are just waiting for the word.”
- “Its time to unleash some violence.”
n January 12, 2021, FBI Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force executed a search warrant at Florea’s home in Middle Village, Queens. Law enforcement recovered over 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Florea faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorney Francisco J. Navarro is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
EDUARD FLOREA
Age: 40
Middle Village, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-MJ-35
Producing, possessing child pornography sends Glendive man to prison for 40 yearsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Glendive man who admitted producing and possessing child pornography videos for years was sentenced today to 40 years in prison followed by supervised release for life, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.
Anthony Dwayne Boldt, 44, pleaded guilty on July 16, 2020 to production of child pornography and to possession of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters also ordered $36,972 in restitution.
“Not only are vulnerable child victims harmed by the production of this explicit and unlawful material, they are harmed again and again and again when that material is shared, usually through the internet, and then possessed. This sentence sends a powerful message that those who commit these crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Acting U.S. Attorney Johnson said.
The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that in January 2020, law enforcement received information that Boldt may have been videotaping sexual activity with a juvenile girl. Law enforcement also received digital storage cards from Boldt’s residence and files on the cards confirmed the reported activity.
Law enforcement served a search warrant on Bolt’s residence and seized multiple items of electronic media. A forensic analysis of the media found videos of Boldt and the victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct, in addition to videos of other victims, including prepubescent children, engaging in similar conduct. In an interview with law enforcement, the victim confirmed that she was the person depicted with Boldt in many of the videos and that Boldt had sexually assaulted her since about 2014.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.
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Postal Supervisor in Middletown Who Stole Packages is SentencedRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ZOHEB A. DEURA, 34, of Derby, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to three years of probation, the first nine months of which Deura must serve in home confinement, for stealing mail while he was a U.S. Postal Service employee. Judge Dooley also ordered Deura to pay a $20,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between February and April 2020, while he was employed as a supervisor at the U.S. Post Office in Middletown, Deura stole numerous packages, including packages containing an Apple computer, PlayStation and Nintendo gaming devices, an iPhone, footwear, and clothing items.
On October 21, 2020, Deura pleaded guilty to embezzlement of mail by a U.S. Postal Service employee.
Deura has resigned from the U.S. Postal Service.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.
Individuals who believe they are a victim of mail theft should file a complaint by calling 888-USPS-OIG, or by visiting https://www.uspsoig.gov/form/file-online-complaint.
Onawa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
An Onawa man who failed to register as a sex offender was sentenced today to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Tyrone Haskell Tyndall, age 44, from Onawa, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 16, 2020, guilty plea to failure to register as a sex offender.
In a plea agreement, Tyndall admitted to residing in Onawa, Iowa while failing verify his relevant information as a sex offender with the Monona County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office. Tyndall was convicted in 2004 of sexually abusing a child in Nebraska. Tyndall admitted to violating his requirement to register as a sex offender in Iowa and Nebraska from July 2018 to August 2019, even though he lived in both states during this timeframe.
Tyndall was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Tyndall was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Tyndall is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Fletcher and Ron Timmons and investigated by the United States Marshals Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4044.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Ohio man admits to selling cocaineRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Erick Lamont Stanback Singleton, of Cleveland, Ohio, has admitted to a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Singleton, also known as “Gotti,” age 26, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Heroin within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Singleton admitted to selling heroin near Madison Elementary School on Wheeling Island in February 2020.
Singleton faces at least one and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. 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 case 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.
Find related press release here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/26-charged-drug-conspiracy-involving-heroin-fentanyl-crack-cocaine-and-meth-wheeling
Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Providing Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced the guilty plea of Abdelhamid Al-Madioum, 24, to one count of providing material support and resources, namely personnel and services, to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Al-Madioum, a native of Morocco and naturalized U.S. citizen, previously had been detained overseas by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and was subsequently transferred into FBI custody and returned to Minnesota. Al-Madioum entered his guilty plea today before Judge Ann D. Montgomery in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A sentencing date will be scheduled at a later time.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed with the court, on June 23, 2015, Al-Madioum and his family traveled from St. Louis Park, Minnesota, to Casablanca, Morocco, to visit their extended family. On July 8, 2015, Al-Madioum left Morocco and traveled to Istanbul, Turkey. There, Al-Madioum met up with members of ISIS who aided his border-crossing into Syria. Once in Syria, the defendant joined other members of ISIS who brought him to Mosul, Iraq.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, after Al-Madioum arrived in Mosul, he was administratively ISIS and received military training from its members. Al-Madioum was then assigned to the Tariq Bin-Ziyad Battalion of the Abu Mutaz al-Qurashi Division of ISIS, where he served as a solider for ISIS until 2016, when he was injured conducting military activities on behalf of ISIS. Following Al-Madioum’s injury, he remained a member of ISIS and continued to receive a stipend until his surrender to the SDF in or near Baghouz, Syria, in March of 2019. In September of 2020, Al-Madioum was returned to Minnesota.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter and Trial Attorney Danielle S. Rosborough of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Providing Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of ABDELHAMID AL-MADIOUM, 24, to one count of providing and attempting to provide material support and resources, namely personnel and services, to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. AL-MADIOUM entered his guilty plea today before Judge Ann D. Montgomery in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sentencing is currently scheduled for May 26, 2021 at 1:30 pm.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed with the court, on June 23, 2015, AL-MADIOUM and his family traveled from St. Louis Park, Minnesota, to Casablanca, Morocco, to visit their extended family. On July 8, 2015, AL-MADIOUM left Morocco and traveled to Istanbul, Turkey. There, AL-MADIOUM met up with members of ISIS who aided his border-crossing into Syria. Once in Syria, the defendant joined other members of ISIS who brought him to Mosul, Iraq.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, after AL-MADIOUM arrived in Mosul, he enrolled into ISIS and received military training from its members. AL-MADIOUM was then assigned to the Tariq Bin-Ziyad Battalion of the Abu Mutaz al-Qurashi Division of ISIS, where he served as a solider for ISIS until 2016, when he was injured conducting military activities on behalf of ISIS. Following AL-MADIOUM’s injury, he remained a member of ISIS and continued to receive a stipend until his surrender to Syrian Democratic Forces in or near Baghouz, Syria, in March of 2019. In September of 2020, AL-MADIOUM was returned to Minnesota.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter and Trial Attorney Danielle S. Rosborough of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
ABDELHAMID AL-MADIOUM, 24
St. Louis Park, Minn.
Convicted:
- Providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (ISIS), 1 count
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Methuen Man Indicted for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Methuen man was indicted on Monday, Jan. 11 by a federal grand jury on charges of armed bank robbery.
Caio Costa, 25, was indicted on one count of armed bank robbery and one count of using and carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
According to charging documents, on Sept. 25, 2020, Costa, armed with a loaded revolver and donning a black motorcycle helmet, entered a branch of the Salem Five Bank in Tewksbury. Inside the bank, Costa brandished a black revolver and stole over $7,000. Following the robbery, Costa allegedly escaped on a black motorcycle. Law enforcement pursued Costa in a high-speed chase, reaching speeds up to 100 m.p.h. Costa eventually crashed the motorcycle in Lawrence and escaped on foot. Law enforcement later located the black motorcycle helmet and clothing consistent with that worn by Costa during the robbery. The next day, Costa was arrested at a Salem, N.H. motel. At the time of his arrest, Costa was in possession of a large sum of cash.
During an interview with law enforcement on Sept. 28, 2020, it is alleged that Costa admitted to robbing the Salem Five Bank three days earlier and committing four other armed bank robberies between Aug. 28 and Sept. 25, 2020. Costa directed law enforcement to a dumpster where a loaded black revolver, black gloves, a black backpack and other items of clothing used during the robbery were recovered.
The charge of armed bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence provides for a mandatory sentence of seven years in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence on the armed robbery charges. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the 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; Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan; Tewksbury Police Chief Ryan M. Columbus; Lowell Police Chief Christopher Hurst; Wilmington Police Chief Joseph Desmond; and Chelmsford Police Chief James M. Spinney made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Martinsburg man admits to role in drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Pierre Christian, of Martinsburg West Virginia, has admitted to his role in a drug distribution operation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Christian, 44, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute 28 Grams or More of Cocaine Base.” Christian admitted to working with another to distribute cocaine base in April 2020 in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties.Christian faces at least five and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000,000. 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. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Find the related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/west-virginia-and-virginia-residents-indicted-drug-trafficking-operation-berkeley-and
Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Robbery of ATMRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – THEODORE KEYS, age 40, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on January 12, 2021 to conspiracy to commit bank larceny, announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser. KEYS faces 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing is scheduled for April 13, 2021 before the Honorable Susie Morgan.
According to court records, on or about February 5, 2020, KEYS and others attempted to break into an ATM located in the drive-through of a Capital One Bank using sledgehammers, crowbars, chains, and a truck. Just prior to this robbery attempt, KEYS and others were observed in the same truck attempting to break into an ATM at a Hancock Whitney Bank.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney G. Dall Kammer, Supervisor of the General Crimes Unit.
Man Charged with Illegal Importation of over 50 Machinegun Conversion Devices from China to Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging Lucas E. Izagas Figueroa with illegal importation of firearms, conspiracy to import and possess illegally imported firearms, illegal possession of machineguns, smuggling goods into the United States, and conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was in charge of the investigation.
According to the indictment, between June 2017 and November 2019, defendant Lucas E. Izagas Figueroa, aiding and abetting others, imported into the United States from China over 50 devices designed exclusively to convert a semi-automatic weapon into a machinegun. According to the indictment, the seller fraudulently described the items with names such as ‘Nylon Fiber Mag” and “Hardware Accessories.” In reality, those items were machinegun conversion devices with a Glock logo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeanette M. Collazo-Ortiz and Jonathan L. Gottfried, Chief of the Violent Crimes and National Security Section, are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Madison Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Diorian Smith, 30, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 96 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography. This prison term will be followed by 20 years of supervised release.
Smith came to the attention of law enforcement on November 19, 2018, when the investigation revealed he was involved in a shooting on the west side of Madison. While interviewing Smith regarding the shooting, law enforcement became aware that he was involved in a sexual relationship with a minor and possessed pornographic images of her.
Smith pleaded guilty in federal court on September 28, 2020, to possessing child pornography. Smith was charged and pleaded guilty in Dane County Circuit Court to 1st Degree Reckless Endangerment in connection with the shooting.
The charges against Smith were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie S. Pfluger.
Lodge Grass man who strangled girlfriend sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass man who admitted strangling his girlfriend on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.
Augustus Christopher Wolfblack, also known as Augustus Christopher Flatmouth, 19, pleaded guilty to assault by strangulation of a dating partner on Aug. 11, 2020.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said Wolfblack assaulted the victim on Sept. 15, 2019 in Lodge Grass. Wolfblack struck the victim with his fists, put her in a headlock and strangled her. The victim was treated at the Indian Health Services in Crow Agency for injuries. When interviewed, Wolfblack initially denied assaulting the victim except to say he grabbed her arm after she hit him in the head. After being pressed, Wolfblack admitted he had assaulted the victim, although he claimed that he did not squeeze her neck.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Suek prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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Local woman indicted for transporting a minor for the purpose of female genital mutilationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has returned the first-ever indictment regarding the specific allegation of circumcision, excision or infibulation of a minor’s labia majora, labia minora or clitoris.
Zahra Badri, 39, a resident of Houston originally from the United Kingdom, is set to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.
“Female genital mutilation is child abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. “The long term damage, both physically and physiologically, is well documented. Unnecessary medical procedures on children will not be tolerated.”
“The brutal practice of female genital mutilation not only subjects victims to the immediate trauma of the violent act, but also often condemns them to suffer a lifetime of physical and psychological harms,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General David P. Burns of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This indictment represents the first time the Department has brought charges against a defendant for transporting a child outside U.S. borders to facilitate this abhorrent form of gender-based violence and demonstrates that we will not rest in pursuing and holding to account those who engage in this cruelty.”
“It is rare this type of crime is brought to the attention of law enforcement,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner. “We want the American people to know it is the FBI's responsibility to investigate allegations of Human Rights violations, like female genital mutilation. This is an example of our commitment to protect Human Rights.”
The indictment alleges from on or about July 10 through Oct. 14, 2016, Badri knowingly transported a minor from the United States in foreign commerce for the purpose of female genital mutilation.
The FBI’s Houston Field Office conducted the investigation with the support of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC).
Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. The HRVWCC leverages the expertise of a select group of agents, lawyers, intelligence and research specialists, historians and analysts who direct the government’s broader enforcement efforts against these offenders. The HRVWCC is comprised of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit, ICE’s Human Rights Law Section, FBI’s International Human Rights Unit and the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo and Sherri Zack of the Southern District of Texas and HRSP Trial Attorneys Rami S. Badawy, Susan Masling and Christian Levesque are jointly prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Las Vegas Resident Sentenced to Prison for Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Las Vegas resident who participated in a fraudulent prize-notification scheme that bilked victims out of more than $9 million was sentenced today to federal prison, the Department of Justice announced.
U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Andrea Burrow, 50, to 36 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Judge Navarro also ordered Burrow to forfeit $272,000. Burrow pleaded guilty in August 2020 to conspiracy to commit mail fraud based on her participation in a scheme that preyed upon hundreds of thousands of victims, many of whom were elderly and vulnerable, with fraudulent prize notices. The notices led victims to believe that they could claim a large cash prize if they paid a fee of $20 to $30. This was false; victims who paid the fees did not receive anything of value.
Burrow is the first defendant to be sentenced in connection with the scheme. Three other individuals – Patti Kern, Edgar Del Rio, and Sean O’Connor – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in 2019. Following these guilty pleas, Burrow was indicted in November 2019 along with five codefendants: Mario Castro, Jose Salud Castro, Salvador Castro, Miguel Castro, and Jose Luis Mendez. The trial of the remaining five defendants, who are presumed innocent until proven guilty, is currently scheduled for June 7, 2021.
“The Department of Justice has substantially increased its focus and resources on combating schemes that defraud American seniors, prioritizing cases like this one,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice takes every step possible to prosecute perpetrators of elder fraud scams so that it can deliver justice for victims.”
“Our office will continue our efforts to dismantle schemes like this one, preying on the vulnerable and elderly,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada. “Whether they are operating in Nevada or elsewhere in the country, fraudsters will be apprehended and will face stiff consequences for their callous actions.”
“Criminals who target the elderly through heartless scam tactics via the U.S. Mail should know that Postal Inspectors are prepared to unravel their scheme, no matter how complex,” said Inspector in Charge Delany De Léon-Colón of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. “This case highlights the importance of reporting these scams to authorities, so law enforcement agents like our Postal Inspectors can have the information necessary to help bring justice to hundreds of thousands of victims through these large, successful cases.”
The scheme operated from 2010 to February 2018, when postal inspectors executed multiple search warrants and the Department of Justice obtained a court order shutting down the fraudulent mail operation. The indictment and other court filings alleged that Mario Castro, Jose Salud Castro, Salvador Castro, Miguel Castro, Jose Luis Mendez, and Edgar Del Rio worked at the printing and mailing businesses that sent the fraudulent mail, and each shared the profits from the fraudulent prize notices with Patti Kern, who helped manage the scheme. Sean O’ Connor provided laser printing and data processing services to the scheme. Burrow opened victim return mail, sorted cash and other payments, and entered data from the victims’ responses into a database that the scheme used to target past victims with more fraudulent mail, according to the indictment.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Timothy Finley and Daniel Zytnick of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the District of Nevada.
Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In January 2020, the department designated “Preventing and Disrupting Transnational Elder Fraud” as an Agency Priority Goal, one of its top four priorities. In March 2020, the department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 400 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep. The department has also conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.
The department’s extensive efforts to combat elder fraud seek to halt the billions of dollars seniors lose each year to fraud schemes, including those perpetrated by transnational criminal organizations. The best method for prevention, however, is sharing information about the various types of elder fraud schemes with relatives, friends, neighbors, and other seniors who can use that information to protect themselves.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Las Vegas Resident Sentenced to Prison for Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A Las Vegas resident who participated in a fraudulent prize-notification scheme that bilked victims out of more than $9 million was sentenced today to federal prison, the Department of Justice announced.
U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Andrea Burrow, 50, to 36 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Judge Navarro also ordered Burrow to forfeit $272,000. Burrow pleaded guilty in August 2020 to conspiracy to commit mail fraud based on her participation in a scheme that preyed upon hundreds of thousands of victims, many of whom were elderly and vulnerable, with fraudulent prize notices. The notices led victims to believe that they could claim a large cash prize if they paid a fee of $20 to $30. This was false; victims who paid the fees did not receive anything of value.
Burrow is the first defendant to be sentenced in connection with the scheme. Three other individuals – Patti Kern, Edgar Del Rio, and Sean O’Connor – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in 2019. Following these guilty pleas, Burrow was indicted in November 2019 along with five codefendants: Mario Castro, Jose Salud Castro, Salvador Castro, Miguel Castro, and Jose Luis Mendez. The trial of the remaining five defendants, who are presumed innocent until proven guilty, is currently scheduled for June 7, 2021.
“The Department of Justice has substantially increased its focus and resources on combating schemes that defraud American seniors, prioritizing cases like this one,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice takes every step possible to prosecute perpetrators of elder fraud scams so that it can deliver justice for victims.”
“Our office will continue our efforts to dismantle schemes like this one, preying on the vulnerable and elderly,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada. “Whether they are operating in Nevada or elsewhere in the country, fraudsters will be apprehended and will face stiff consequences for their callous actions.”
“Criminals who target the elderly through heartless scam tactics via the U.S. Mail should know that Postal Inspectors are prepared to unravel their scheme, no matter how complex,” said Inspector in Charge Delany De Léon-Colón of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. “This case highlights the importance of reporting these scams to authorities, so law enforcement agents like our Postal Inspectors can have the information necessary to help bring justice to hundreds of thousands of victims through these large, successful cases.”
The scheme operated from 2010 to February 2018, when postal inspectors executed multiple search warrants and the Department of Justice obtained a court order shutting down the fraudulent mail operation. The indictment and other court filings alleged that Mario Castro, Jose Salud Castro, Salvador Castro, Miguel Castro, Jose Luis Mendez, and Edgar Del Rio worked at the printing and mailing businesses that sent the fraudulent mail, and each shared the profits from the fraudulent prize notices with Patti Kern, who helped manage the scheme. Sean O’ Connor provided laser printing and data processing services to the scheme. Burrow opened victim return mail, sorted cash and other payments, and entered data from the victims’ responses into a database that the scheme used to target past victims with more fraudulent mail, according to the indictment.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Timothy Finley and Daniel Zytnick of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the District of Nevada.
Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In January 2020, the department designated “Preventing and Disrupting Transnational Elder Fraud” as an Agency Priority Goal, one of its top four priorities. In March 2020, the department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 400 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep. The department has also conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.
The department’s extensive efforts to combat elder fraud seek to halt the billions of dollars seniors lose each year to fraud schemes, including those perpetrated by transnational criminal organizations. The best method for prevention, however, is sharing information about the various types of elder fraud schemes with relatives, friends, neighbors, and other seniors who can use that information to protect themselves.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
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Lake in the Hills Man Charged with Traveling to Kentucky to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A man from Lake in the Hills, Ill. was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
KEVIN R. DUFFY, 35, was charged with four counts of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor who was 15 years old and at least four years younger than Duffy.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Lake in the Hills Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Maveus.
According to the indictment, Duffy traveled from Illinois to Kentucky on June 25, 2020, July 3, 2020, Aug. 5, 2020, and Oct. 1, 2020, with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with the minor. Duffy has been in law enforcement custody since his arrest on Nov. 18, 2020.
Each count in the indictment carries a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Kansas Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Illicit Sex with a ChildRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A registered sex offender from Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty in federal court today to crossing state lines to engage in illicit sexual activity with a 14-year-old Missouri victim he met on Facebook.
Montoryon Harris, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to one count of traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and one count of committing the felony offense while he was required to register as a sex offender.
Harris, who remains in federal custody without bond, has a 1997 felony conviction for aggravated indecent solicitation of a minor.
On Jan. 24, 2019, the Western Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Facebook reported that Harris was suspected of engaging in the sexual exploitation of a child victim. Harris began communicating with the child victim via Facebook on Dec. 14, 2018. Soon afterward, he told her that he wanted to see her in person. Harris’s text messages quickly became sexual in nature.
A law enforcement officer contacted the child victim, who confirmed that Harris drove to her house on Dec. 17, 2018. They engaged in sexual activity in his pickup truck while parked outside her house. Afterward, Harris continued to message the child victim for the purpose of arranging another sexual encounter.
Under federal statutes, Harris is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole on the first count, plus a mandatory consecutive sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole on the second count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Western Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Wyandotte County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."Justice Department Welcomes Passage of the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2020Read the Press Release
On Jan. 13, 2021, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2020 (the “Act”), which limits the antitrust exemption available to health insurance companies under the McCarran-Ferguson Act. The Act, sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, passed the House of Representatives on Sept. 21, 2020 and passed the Senate on Dec. 22, 2020.
“We thank the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives for recognizing the importance of competition in American health insurance markets,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “Limiting the scope of conduct exempt from the antitrust laws will strengthen the Antitrust Division’s ability to investigate and prosecute anticompetitive behavior. Americans deserve competition in health insurance markets just as they do in any other industry.”
The McCarran-Ferguson Act exempts certain conduct that constitutes the “business of insurance” from the federal antitrust laws. This exemption has sometimes been interpreted by courts to allow a range of harmful anticompetitive conduct in health insurance markets. The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act amends the McCarran-Ferguson Act and will assist the Antitrust Division in its mission to enforce the antitrust laws by narrowing this defense and clarifying that, except for certain activities that improve health insurance services for consumers, the conduct of health insurers is subject to the federal antitrust laws.
The Justice Department has a track record of successfully enforcing the antitrust laws against health insurers. Over the past five years, for instance, the department has enforced the antitrust laws against health insurers involved in transactions valued at over 160 billion dollars. The Act will help the department build upon those successes by requiring health insurers to play by the same rules as competitors in other industries. It will end distracting arguments about when health insurers qualify for the McCarran-Ferguson exemption, and it will enable the Antitrust Division to spend resources more efficiently to achieve results that make a difference for American consumers.
Justice Department Settles with New Jersey-Based Staffing Company to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it reached a settlement with Collabera, Inc., a Basking Ridge, New Jersey-based information technology (IT) staffing agency. The settlement resolves the department’s claims that Collabera violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it discriminated against work-authorized non-U.S. citizens.
“IT staffing companies and their end clients must not impose unlawful barriers to employment on non-U.S. citizens who have legal authorization to work in the United States,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John B. Daukas of the Civil Rights Division. “We look forward to working with Collabera to ensure compliance with the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
Based on its investigation, the department concluded that Collabera implemented a discriminatory applicant screening process in which its recruiters refused to pass on to clients non-U.S. citizens who held permanent work authorization unless they could provide an unexpired immigration document. The department also concluded that on at least 39 occasions Collabera required non-U.S. citizens to present specific documentation to prove their work authorization because of their citizenship. The INA prohibits employers from requesting more or different documents than necessary to prove work authorization based on employees’ citizenship, immigration status or national origin. Instead, in the INA, Congress determined that all work-authorized individuals, regardless of citizenship status, may choose which valid, legally acceptable documents to present to demonstrate their ability to work in the United States. The INA does, however, permit employers to reject non-genuine looking documents.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Collabera will pay to the United States a civil penalty of $53,000. Collabera will also pay $35,475.92 as back pay to an affected worker. Additionally, Collabera will train its employees on the requirements of the INA’s anti-discrimination provision, including an IER-provided training.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment, or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, can file a charge. The public also can contact IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688; call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe to GovDelivery to receive updates from IER.
The Civil Rights Division wants to hear about civil rights violations. Members of the public can report possible civil rights violations through the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal.
Justice Department Publishes Statement on 2016 President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology ReportRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department published a statement on the 2016 President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report, Forensic Science in Criminal Courts: Ensuring Scientific Validity of Feature-Comparison Methods. The statement is a response to PCAST’s claims regarding what it described as forensic “feature comparison methods.”
Published in September 2016, the PCAST report has been cited by several courts that have recently limited the scope of opinion testimony by firearms and toolmarks examiners regarding the source of a bullet or shell casing. These courts relied on certain aspects of the PCAST Report to support their decisions. In its Report, PCAST claimed that forensic “feature comparison” methods belong to the scientific discipline of metrology (measurement science); that feature comparison methods can only be deemed “foundationally valid” by adhering to PCAST’s mandatory and non-severable set of experimental design criteria; and that error rates for feature comparison methods can only be established using these “appropriately designed” black box studies.
The Department disagrees with these claims and explains why they are erroneous. Specifically, it is the Department’s position that:
- Traditional forensic pattern examination methods—as currently practiced—do not belong to the scientific discipline of metrology. Forensic examiners visually compare the individual features observed in two examined samples, they do not measure The result of this comparison is a conclusion that is stated in words (nominal terms), not magnitudes (measurements).
- PCAST’s claim that forensic pattern examination methods can only be validated using its non-severable set of nine experimental design criteria is inconsistent with its own examples, international laboratory standards, and authorities in experimental design. There is no single scientifically recognized means by which to validate a scientific method.
- Casework error rates cannot be established through the exclusive and non-severable application of PCAST’s experimental design criteria. No single error rate is applicable to all labs, examiners, or cases.
The full statement can be found here: U.S. Department of Justice Statement on the PCAST Report: Forensic Science in Criminal Courts: Ensuring Scientific Validity of Feature-Comparison Methods and a link to the abstract can be found here: U.S. Department of Justice Statement on the PCAST Report: Abstract.
Justice Department Issues Business Review Letter for Proposed University Technology Licensing ProgramRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today that it has completed its review of a proposed joint patent licensing pool known as the University Technology Licensing Program (UTLP). UTLP is a proposal by participating universities to offer licenses to their physical science patents relating to specified emerging technologies.
As part of its review, the division interviewed potential participants and considered its prior guidance on patent pools. The department has concluded that, on balance, and based on the representations in UTLP’s letter request, the proposed joint patent licensing program is unlikely to harm competition.
“University research is a key driver of innovation,” said Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Murray for the Antitrust Division. “In the physical science area, however, some university research may never be commercialized due to the costs associated with negotiating multiple licenses and combining the complementary university patents that may be necessary for cutting-edge implementations. To the extent that UTLP makes it easier for universities to commercialize inventions that may be currently unlicensed and under-utilized, industry participants, university researchers, and ultimately the public can benefit.”
Currently 15 participating universities intend to cooperate in licensing certain complementary patents through UTLP, which will be organized into curated portfolios relating to specific technology applications for autonomous vehicles, the “Internet of Things,” and “Big Data.” The overarching goal of UTLP is to centralize the administrative costs associated with commercializing university research and help participating universities to overcome the budget, institutional relationship, and other constraints that make licensing in these areas particularly challenging for them.
UTLP has incorporated a number of safeguards into its program to help protect competition, including admitting only non-substitutable patents, with a “safety valve” if a patent to accomplish a particular task is inadvertently included in a portfolio with another, substitutable patent. The program also will allow potential sublicensees to choose an individual patent, a group of patents, or UTLP’s entire portfolio, thereby mitigating the risk that a licensee will be required to license more technology than it needs. The department’s letter notes that UTLP is a mechanism that is intended to address licensing inefficiencies and institutional challenges unique to universities in the physical science context, and makes no assessment about whether this mechanism if set up in another context would have similar procompetitive benefits.
Under the Department of Justice’s business review procedure, an organization may submit a proposed action to the Antitrust Division and receive a statement as to whether the Antitrust Division currently intends to challenge the action under the antitrust laws based on the information provided. The department’s conclusions in this business review apply only to UTLP. They are not applicable to any other agreements or initiatives relating to patent licensing by universities or other entities. The department reserves the right to challenge the proposed action under the antitrust laws if the actual operation of the proposed conduct proves to be anticompetitive in purpose or effect.
Copies of the business review request and the department’s response are available on the Antitrust Division’s website at https://www.justice.gov/atr/business-review-letters-and-request-letters, as well as in a file maintained by the Antitrust Documents Group of the Antitrust Division. After a 30-day waiting period, any documents supporting the business review will be added to the file, unless a basis for their exclusion for reasons of confidentiality has been established under the business review procedure. Supporting documents in the file will be maintained for a period of one year, and copies will be available upon request to the FOIA/Privacy Act Unit, Antitrust Documents Group at [email protected].
Judge sentences St. Louis man for using online marketplaces to rob victims of iPhonesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS, MO – United States District Judge E. Richard Webber sentenced Clyde Jefferson to 120 months in prison today. The 27-year-old St. Louis, Missouri resident pleaded guilty, last October, to five counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The robberies occurred on August 3, September 21, and October 8, 2018, and on January 8 and 29, 2019 in St. Louis City and St. Louis County.
The victims placed ads to sell their iPhones on various online marketplaces including Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Letgo. Jefferson responded to those ads and arranged to meet the victims purportedly to complete the purchase of the phones. When Jefferson and the victims met, Jefferson gave the victims counterfeit currency in exchange for their iPhones and brandished a firearm before stealing their phones.
U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming adds, “While using online platforms such as these is especially convenient for us all, I strongly encourage everyone to take precautions. Consider conducting your transactions in a public place and with a friend or family member, never divulge personal information, and arrange in advance for an e-transfer or instant payment, if possible.”
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Richmond Heights Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Roy handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Investigation of drug trafficking conspiracy indicts 48 defendants, including three prison guardsRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: Nearly 50 people have been indicted in a drug trafficking investigation that targeted violent gang members distributing methamphetamine and other drugs in the Coffee County area.
Dubbed Operation Sandy Bottom, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation centered in the Sand Ridge neighborhood on the east side of Douglas, Ga., in an area known as “the bottoms,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The 57-count indictment alleges that the conspiracy, controlled by a subset of the violent Gangster Disciples street gang, used guns, violence and fear to control methamphetamine trafficking operations throughout the community and to enable contraband distribution inside Georgia prisons.
“This operation once again demonstrates the success of our relentless pursuit of criminal street gangs and their violent, illegal activities,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners, drug traffickers are getting the message that they have no place to operate in the Southern District of Georgia.”
“Operation Sandy Bottom is another example of the FBI’s willingness to respond when our partners in law enforcement and their communities ask for help,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “When we team our resources with the resources of our local, state and federal partners, gang members better beware. The removal of drugs, weapons and gang members from the streets of Douglas and surrounding communities immediately makes those communities safer.”
“ATF will continue to dedicate federal resources in pursuit of eradicating firearms related violent criminal activity in the Southern District of Georgia,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“The Georgia Department of Corrections maintains a zero-tolerance policy for individuals who perpetrate criminal activity from behind the walls of our facilities and jeopardize our non-negotiable mission of public safety,” said Corrections Commissioner Timothy C. Ward. “We appreciate the support of our state and federal partners in ensuring that justice is served on these individuals.”
The investigation began in 2018 when the Coffee County Drug Unit, responding to complaints about the increasing level of violence and drug activity in the Sand Ridge neighborhood, enlisted the assistance of the FBI and the Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy controlled multiple “trap houses” to store and distribute illegal drugs, primarily methamphetamine, coordinated by leaders of a violent street gang who distributed drugs throughout Coffee, Bacon, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Pierce and Wheeler counties, along with other parts of Georgia.
Investigators infiltrated the operation, intercepting multiple kilograms of drugs and nearly two dozen illegally possessed firearms, along with seven vehicles and more than $12,000 in cash identified as drug-trafficking proceeds.
The operation also identified and charged at least three Georgia state correctional officers alleged to have worked with gang members to smuggle contraband cell phones and illegal drugs to inmates affiliated with the conspiracy. In some cases, contraband phones were used from inside prisons to facilitate drug trafficking operations.
Multiple law enforcement agencies on Tuesday, Jan. 12, conducted raids to arrest defendants who were not already in custody. Initial appearance hearings for the defendants are scheduled today and Thursday, Jan. 13 and 14, in U.S. District Court in Waycross.
Each of the defendants in Operation Sandy Bottom is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Marijuana, Eutylone (Bath Salts), and Alprazolam (Xanax). The charge carries a possible penalty upon conviction of up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
The defendants, and any additional charges, include:
- Jackie Kavaskia McMillan, a/k/a “Bijay,” 40, an inmate at Dooly State Prison;
- Christina Veronda Alexander, 40, of Atlanta, also charged with Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Marijuana and Alprazolam; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Micah Jason Ivey, a/k/a “Scorpio,” 44, an inmate in the Coffee County Correctional Facility, also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Brad Nikita Vickers, 33, of Douglas, also charged with Conspiracy to Use, Carry, or Possess Firearms; Distribution of Methamphetamine; Distribution of Crack Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Crack Cocaine, Eutylone, Marijuana, and Alprazolam; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; two counts of distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Eutylone; and 19 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility, a charge that refers to the use of a telephone for illegal drug distribution;
- Shanazia Shazane Brock, a/k/a “Nan,” 25, of Douglas, also charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine; Distribution of Cocaine; Distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Distribution of Marijuana and Eutylone; and Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Joshua Demond McGinty, a/k/a “Oou,” 33, of Douglas, also charged with Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms;
- James Lamar McGinty, a/k/a “Gang Gang,” 36, of Douglas, also charged with Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms;
- Anthony Qashawn Killiebrew, a/k/a “Luk,” 25, of Douglas, also charged with Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and Distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Antion DeWayne Byrd, a/k/a “Rabbit,” 42, of Nichols, Ga., also charged with Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Phillip Lloyd Morgan, a/k/a “Tree Top,” 37, of Douglas, also charged with Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Tabitha Nicole Wheldon, a/k/a “Pink,” 27, of Douglas, also charged with Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms;
- Leo Vonza Pender, a/k/a “Metro,” 38, of Alma, Ga., also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Coty Keatron Bailey, a/k/a “Codeen,” 39, of Willacoochee, Ga., also charged with Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and Distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Ellis Lowe Jr., a/k/a “Bukk,” 38, of Douglas;
- Robert Lee Peak IV, a/k/a “Peako,” 35, of Valdosta, Ga., also charged with Distribution of Cocaine;
- Daniel Laronn Lowe, a/k/a “Boochie,” 33, of Douglas, also charged with Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms;
- Javarra Deshon Vickers, a/k/a “Shon,” 36, of Pembroke, Ga.;
- Alfonzo Jerrod Brewton, 32, of Douglas, also charged with Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Montel Jermaine Jackson, a/k/a “Teezy,” 25, of Pearson, Ga., also charged with two counts of Unlawful use of Communication Facility;
- Ana Lisa Maria Garcia, 29, of Douglas, also charged with Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- George William Reliford, 55, of Douglas, also charged with two counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Brenda Lynn Sloan, 55, of Douglas, also charged with two counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Jeffrey Brian Voorhees, 37, of Douglas, also charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Gloria Jean Vickers, 56, of Douglas, also charged with two counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Rodney Antonio Shaw, a/k/a “Black,” 32, of Douglas, also charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine;
- Kenric Jamal Lott, a/k/a “Big Lott,” 44, of Blackshear, Ga., also charged with two counts of Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Marquis Jerome Jacques, a/k/a “Joc,” 29, of Nicholls, Ga., also charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine; two counts of Distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and Distribution of 50 Grams or More or Methamphetamine;
- Montana McGinty, 35, of Douglas, also charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine;
- Amos Tyrone Brantley III, 38, of Ambrose, Ga., also charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine; and Distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Avie Ann Wright, 31, of Douglas, also charged with Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Erick Eugene Hunter, 39, of Douglas, also charged with Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Eden Dianne Wright, a/k/a “E,” 33, of Douglas, also charged with Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Richard Young, 54, of Hazlehurst, Ga.;
- Reggie Raynard Johnson, a/k/a “Twin,” 43, of Douglas;
- Alexander Reyes Tyson, 44, of Douglas;
- Ricardo Leon, a/k/a “Migo,” a/k/a “Ricky,” 29, of Swainsboro, Ga.;
- Michael Latrella Scott, a/k/a “Micah Scott,” a/k/a “Mike G,” 35, of Tifton, Ga.;
- Naiyah Nicole Williams, 30, of Hazlehurst, also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Marijuana and Alprazolam; and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises;
- Tomika Nicole Evans, a/k/a T-Dog,” 37, of Lakeland, Ga.;
- Michael Anthony Thomas, a/k/a “Big Mike,” of Savannah, also charged with two counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Zachary Brian Rodrigues, 29, of Douglas, also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Christopher Downing Stone, 32, of Broxton, Ga., also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Idalis Qua Dazia Harrell, 24, of Douglas, a guard at Coffee County Correctional Facility, also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; s
- Jessica Azaelae Burnett, a/k/a “The Madam,” 41, of Douglas, a senior guard at Coffee County Correctional Facility, also charged with Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
- Ebony Desiree Smiley, a/k/a “Baby Girl, 24, of Vidalia, Ga., a guard at Wheeler State Prison;
- Nathan Fabron Irving, 24, of Forsyth, Ga. an inmate a Wheeler State Prison;
- Makarosi Maurice Walker, a/k/a “Jazz,” 26, of Douglas; and,
- Ronnie Dale Moore, a/k/a “Guap,” 36, of Douglas, also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Oxycodone, Marijuana and Alprazolam.
Altogether, the 48 defendants are charged with 129 felonies.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. It is being investigated by the FBI and the FBI Coastal Georgia Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Coffee County Drug Unit; the Georgia Department of Corrections; the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office; Pierce County Sheriff’s Office; Bacon County Sheriff’s Office; Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office; Lanier County Sheriff’s Office; the Blackshear Police Department; Nicholls Police Department; Douglas Police Department; Alma Police Department; the Glynn County Police Department; the Brunswick Police Department; the Swainsboro Police Department; and the Coffee County Department of Family and Children Services.
The cases is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph McCool, Frank Pennington II and E. Greg Gilluly, with asset forfeitures coordinated by Xavier A. Cunningham, Section Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Illinois Man Indicted on Production of Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Illinois man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in connection with producing child pornography.
Domenique Dequon Hines, 23, of Crystal Lake, Ill., was indicted on one count of production of child pornography. Hines was charged by criminal complaint and arrested in Illinois on Dec. 3, 2020.
According to the charging documents, Hines and a 14-year-old Massachusetts victim initially met on Instagram and exchanged phone numbers and began communicating via iMessage. A review of the iMessages revealed that Hines informed the victim that he is 23 years old and the victim confirmed her age. It is alleged that thereafter, at Hines request, the victim took sexually explicit photos of herself and sent them to Hines.
According to the criminal complaint, Hines was previously convicted of a child pornography offense in Illinois.
Due to Hines’s prior conviction, the charging statute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and up to 50 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Grant County Gang Leader and Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Joshua Isaac Stine, age 34, a resident of Ephrata, Washington, was sentenced today after having pleaded guilty on May 28, 2020, to Conspiracy to Distribute 500 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine and a Mixture or Substance Containing Heroin, Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine, Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Senior United States District Court Judge Wm. Fremming Nielsen sentenced Stine to a 240 month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 10 year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, this case involved a long-term coordinated investigation lead by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) into drug trafficking activities in the greater Grant County, Washington and surrounding areas. The U.S. Border Patrol and multiple local law enforcement agencies in Grant County were also involved. Joshua Isaac Stine has been a validated member and a leader of the East Side Familia (“ESF”) Norteno criminal street gang. In this role, Stine engaged in significant, multi-pound-level, trafficking of both methamphetamine and heroin. Further, Stine recruited and trained young gang members to distribute controlled substances for ESF and himself. Those individuals face federal sentencing for their criminal activities later this month.
On July 16, 2019, numerous search warrants were executed by law enforcement as part of this case. Stine was found to have multiple pounds of methamphetamine and an arsenal of weapons, to include assault rifles, in a “stash house.” Multiple firearms were also located at Stine’s primary residence in Ephrata, Washington.
In the sentencing hearing, the Court found Stine to be a leader / organizer of this criminal venture and that he engaged in this criminal conduct as a livelihood. The Court noted the entire Moses Lake and surrounding communities are victims of Stine’s choice to engage in the serious drug trafficking – feeding countless addictions as well as facilitating the creation of new addicts. The Court noted Stine knew he should not engage in this conduct, but chose to do it anyway.
United States Attorney Hyslop said, “As a gang member and repeated large scale prolific drug trafficker, Stine caused great harm to so many families and the community. With the Court’s significant sentence, Stine is now removed from the community and the public is protected from his continued criminal activities – and the inevitable violence that follows the gang subculture from which he refused to separate himself. We thank the ATF, DEA, Border Patrol and all the outstanding work by so many local law enforcement agencies in Grant and Adams County that together deserve great credit for this result.”
“Stine’s lengthy sentence was well justified,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “His actions in directing his criminal associates to sell drugs in the Moses Lake area are abhorrent. This sentence should serve as a warning to others that actions such as Stine’s will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest by ATF and our local, state, and federal partners.”
"Drugs and violence are inextricably linked and major factors in the destabilization of our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “Today, this collaborative and coordinated law enforcement effort stopped this violent offender from threatening our youth and terrorizing our communities. DEA is fully committed to working closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts to thwart this ever present threat.”
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation entitled Operation Dave’s Song. The OCDETF program provides supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the investigation of drug-related crimes. This OCDETF investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to specifically identify the criminals responsible for violent crime in the Eastern District of Washington and pursue criminal prosecution.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Border Patrol, the Moses Lake Police Department, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, the Ephrata Police Department, the Washington State Patrol, the Othello Police Department, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, and the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. This case was prosecuted by Caitlin Baunsgard, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Grand jury indicts more than a dozen people in drug ring stretching from LA to St. LouisRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Marshals arrested 16 people Tuesday as the result of a federal grand jury indictment returned January 6, 2021, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
For more than a year, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Jefferson County Municipal Enforcement Group, conducted an investigation targeting a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of crystal methamphetamine in the St. Louis region, with a network connected to Los Angeles, California.
According to the indictment, on June 18, 2020, investigators joined with the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to execute search warrants at locations associated with Dedrick Jordan, Joseph Holliman and Brandon Thomas. Investigators seized more than $140,000 in cash, crystal methamphetamine and high-grade marijuana, as well as two assault rifles and four handguns. Another gun was seized from a secret compartment in a vehicle, which was stopped on its way to St. Louis, containing 28 pounds of methamphetamine with a purity level of more than 90 percent.
Four of the individuals indicted are from Los Angeles, with the remainder being based in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The defendants are:
Brendon Darnell Thomas, 44, of St. Louis
Joseph Robert Holliman, 46, of St. Louis
Dedrick Deshon Jordan, 32, of Los Angeles
Terry James Williams, 34, of Carson, California
Clifford Dwight Davis, Jr., 40, of Los Angeles
Maria D. Flores-Cervantes, 32, of Los Angeles
Jacqueline Renee Harris, 39, of St. Charles
Thomas William Fogle, 41, of Bonne Terre, Mo.
Richard Leroy Clark, 61, of Farmington, Mo.
Sarah Nicole Reynolds, 36, of DeSoto, Mo.
Joseph Michael Suraud, 41, of Arnold, Mo.
Alexandra Marni Chambers, 27, of Arnold, Mo.
Deidre Denise Medcalf, 51, of Eureka, Mo.
David Michael Nuelle, 34, of St. Louis
Matthew Joseph Aubin, 43, of Imperial, Mo.
Kevin John Karll, 66, of High Ridge, Mo.
Ebony Silinzy, 43, of St. Louis, was indicted separately for obtaining firearms on behalf of Holliman, who is a convicted felon and prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. Thomas and Holliman, who are previously convicted felons, were also charged with unlawful possession of firearms.
“It takes a collective effort with our DEA counterparts to identify and investigate members of these illegal drug trafficking organizations,” noted Marissa Lee, DEA St. Louis Division Acting Assistant Agent in Charge. “As a result, this investigation yielded a successful outcome on the dismantlement of a major criminal enterprise.”
“Criminals who use the U.S. mail to transport illegal and dangerous narcotics into our nation’s communities will be brought to justice,” said William Hedrick, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “With the assistance from our state and federal law enforcement partners, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue its investigative efforts toward targeting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations.”
“HSI remains steadfast in our commitment to keeping criminal enterprises from distributing dangerous narcotics in our communities,” said Greg Paris, Resident Agent in Charge of HSI, St. Louis. “We are proud of the work accomplished with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners.”
“The investigation lasted approximately 15 months and involved nearly a dozen law enforcement agencies,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. “This multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional investigation returned results consistent with the hard work law enforcement in our community demonstrate every day to rid our community of armed drug traffickers.”
The methamphetamine offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a fine of up to $10 million or both. The money laundering offense carries a maximum term of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 60 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000, consecutive to any other sentence imposed. The defendants charged with being felons in possession of a firearm face a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is handling the case. The investigation involved the following law enforcement agencies: DEA, HSI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, St. Charles City and County Police, Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, Arnold Police Department and the Normandy Police Department, all in Missouri.
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Forty Nine Individuals Indicted in October, November, and December 2020 Federal Grand JuriesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester today announced the results of the October, November, and December 2020 Federal Grand Juries. The combined grand jury sessions returned 41 unsealed and 11 sealed indictments on crimes ranging from kidnapping, federal firearms offenses, robbery, drug trafficking/distribution, child exploitation, aggravated sexual assaults in Indian Country, manslaughter, and murder in Indian Country.
The following named individuals have been charged with a federal crime or crimes by the return of an indictment by the Grand Jury. A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States Sentencing Guidelines may be considered, upon conviction, by the sentencing court. Federal prison sentences are non-parolable.
HUNTER JACOB JAMES HOPE
Sexual Exploitation Of A Child / Use Of A Child To Produce A Visual Depiction
Possession Of Certain Material Involving The Sexual Exploitation Of A MinorHope, 20, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, is charged with willfully coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and using a child to produce visual depictions of a sexual nature.
Homeland Security Investigations is the primary investigative agency.
MARVIN LEVERNE ARNETT, JR.
Sexual Exploitation Of A Child / Use Of A Child To Produce A Visual Depiction
Possession Of Certain Material Involving The Sexual Exploitation Of A MinorArnett, 30, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, is charged with willfully persuading a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and using a child to produce visual depictions of a sexual nature.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
BRANDON ALLEN HOWE
First Degree Burglary In Indian Country (2 Counts)
Theft In Indian Country (3 Counts)Howe, 38, of Wagoner, is charged with burglarizing motor vehicles of multiple victims. The vehicles included a Braggs Public School bus.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
SEBRON DEJUAN BROWN
TRACY LADON MAHONEConspiracy To Commit Odometer Tampering
Odometer Fraud
Conspiracy To Commit Wire FraudMuskogee residents Brown, 35, and Mahone, 30, are charged with conspiring to defraud insurance companies through sophisticated means, including wire fraud. Mahone is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud only.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
RICKY DEWAYNE STONE
Sexual Abuse Of A Minor In Indian Country (2 Counts)
Stone, 47, of Holdenville, is charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor. Stone allegedly engaged in sexual acts with a child under the age of 16.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
MICHAEL DAVID JACKSON
Aggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian Country (2 Counts)
Abusive Sexual Contact With A Child Under 12 Years
Sexual Exploitation Of A Child / Use Of A Child To Produce A Visual Depiction
Possession Of Certain Material Involving The Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (2 Counts)Jackson, 38, of Tahlequah, is charged with multiple counts of sex crimes in relation to the sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. The Indictment alleges that in 2019, Jackson knowingly engaged in aggravated sexual activity with a child under the age of 12.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
ASHLEY ALYSSA JOHNSON
DOUGLAS LEE SAIL, JR.Conspiracy To Interfere With Commerce By Robbery
Attempted Interference With Commerce By Robbery
Use, Carry, Brandish And Discharge Of Firearm During And In Relation To A Crime Of Violence (2 Counts)
Conspiracy To Commit Robbery In Indian Country
Attempted Robbery In Indian Country
Felon In Possession Of Firearm (2 Counts)Porum residents Johnson, 47, and Sail, 42, are charged with conspiring to commit robbery of a jewelry store owner with the use of a firearm.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
CHAD HEATH FIELDS
Assault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury In Indian Country
Assault By Striking, Beating, Or Wounding (Misdemeanor)Fields, 34, of Muskogee, is charged with the beating of a female, resulting in serious bodily harm in Indian Country.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
JOSHUA TOWNSLEY
MEGAN LEANNE TILLERYAggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian Country (Townsley Only)
Child Neglect In Indian Country (Tillery Only)Muskogee residents Townsley, 29, and Tillery, 28, are charged with the sexual abuse and neglect of a minor under the age of 12 in Indian Country. Tillery is only charged with Child Neglect in Indian Country.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
PATRICK DWAYNE MURPHY
Murder In Indian Country
Murder In Indian Country In Perpetration Of Kidnapping
Kidnapping Resulting In Death (2 Counts)Murphy, 51, of Vernon, is charged with the kidnapping and premeditated murder of George Jacobs, on August 28, 1999, with a knife.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
WILLIAM CLAYTON BROWN
Murder In Indian Country
Brown, 37, of Eufaula, is charged with the September 2017 premeditated stabbing murder of Damion Martin.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
FLOYD JOSEPH BALL, JR.
Kidnapping In Indian Country
Aggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian CountryBall, 35, of Checotah, is charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a victim at knifepoint on May 5, 2018.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
AMY LEANN HALL
Murder In Indian Country (2 Counts)
Assault With Intent To Commit Murder In Indian CountryHall, 40, of Okemah, is charged with the premeditated shooting murder of Kayson Toliver and Kloee Hall, two of her children. Hall is also charged with intent to commit murder in Indian Country on a third child.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
JERRY WAYNE DICK
Involuntary Manslaughter In Indian Country
Dick, 27, of Wagoner, is charged with involuntary manslaughter after striking and causing the death of Zachary O’Connell while traveling at a rate of speed in a motor vehicle.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
COURTNEY EUGENE ELLIOTT
Involuntary Manslaughter In Indian Country
Elliott, 40, of Red Oak, is charged with involuntary manslaughter after causing a car accident while driving impaired, resulting in the death of Taylor Renee Littleman Daniel.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
SEAN ELLIS
Assault With Intent To Commit Murder In Indian Country
Assault With A Dangerous Weapon In Indian CountryEllis, 47, of Muskogee, is charged with shooting towards law enforcement officers and assaulting a family member with a dangerous weapon.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
GLEN THOMAS WEST
ROBERT CODY ATKINSMurder In Indian Country (West Only)
Murder In Perpetration Of Burglary In Indian Country (2 Counts – 1 Count Each)
First Degree Burglary In Indian Country (2 Counts – 1 Count Each)
Use, Carry, Brandish, And Discharge Of Firearm During And In Relation To A Crime Of Violence
ConspiracyWest, 35, of Weleetka, and Atkins, 31, of Okmulgee, are charged with burglarizing and conspiring to murder Edwin Dominic Reid.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
TIMOTHY DON REED
Felon In Possession Of Firearm & Ammunition
Possession Of Stolen FirearmReed, 40, of Seminole, is charged with unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition as a prior convicted felon.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the primary investigative agency.
JOSEPH EUGENE MEYER
Kidnapping In Indian Country
Felon In Possession Of FirearmMeyer, 37, of Muskogee, is a prior convicted felon charged with the kidnapping of a female at gunpoint in December 2019.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
JAMES MICHAEL STEWART
Aggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian Country (2 Counts)
Stewart, 42, of Muskogee, is charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a female while patronizing a tavern in Muskogee County.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
JEANNIE RENE WELCH
Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine
Welch, 35, of Oklahoma City, is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute while traveling through the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is the primary investigative agency.
RICHARD LLOYD JACK, JR.
KENDALL WHITLOW
ALEXANDER HARRISONAssault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury In Indian Country
Mounds residents Jack, 57, Whitlow, 23, and Harrison, 23, are charged with the stabbing of one of Mr. Jack’s family members.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
JOHN EDWARD CHASE
Felon In Possession Of Firearm & Ammunition (2 Counts)
Chase, 61, of Muskogee, is charged with two counts of unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a prior convicted felon.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
MARCUS ALLEN HETHERINGTON
Felony Child Abuse In Indian Country
Child Neglect In Indian CountryHetherington, 37, of Okmulgee County, is charged with willfully throwing a minor child to the ground and failing to seek medical attention for the injuries sustained by the child.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
JAMES MICHAEL STEWART
Aggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian Country (2 Counts)
Attempted Aggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian CountryIn this superseding indictment, Stewart, 42, of Muskogee, is additionally charged with one count of attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a female, in a Muskogee County hotel.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
STANLEY WAYNE ZACKERY, JR.
Assault Resulting In Substantial Bodily Injury To Spouse, Intimate Partner, Or Dating Partner In Indian Country
Assault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury In Indian CountryZackery, 38, of Weleetka, is charged with assaulting his female partner by beating her, resulting in substantial bodily injury.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
DAMAREA WAYNE BELL
Felon In Possession Of Firearm
Bell, 20, of Muskogee, is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm as a prior convicted felon.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the primary investigative agency.
KENDALL LEN BURGESS
POLLY ANNE SANDERSAggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian Country
Abusive Sexual Contact In Indian Country
Assault With A Dangerous Weapon With Intent To Do Bodily Harm In Indian Country
Assault By Striking, Beating, Or Wounding In Indian Country (Misdemeanor)Burgess, 21, of Henryetta, and Sanders, 36, of Tulsa, are charged with evading law enforcement apprehension in relation to alleged crimes committed by Burgess involving the sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 years old. Sanders is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country only.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
EDMOND CARL WARRINGTON
Aggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian Country (3 Counts)
Sexual Abuse In Indian Country (3 Counts)Warrington, 71, of Okemah, is charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse involving a mentally-handicapped minor female.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
KEVIN MARVELL JACKSON
Murder In Indian Country
Murder In Indian Country In Perpetration Of Robbery
Robbery In Indian Country (2 Counts)
Use, Carry, Brandish, And Discharge Of Firearm During And In Relation To A Crime Of ViolenceJackson, 19, of Muskogee, is charged with the robbing and shooting murder of Bradley Dillon, on October 18, 2020.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
CONRAD EDWARD NEDD
Hobbs Act Robbery
Robbery In Indian CountryNedd, 36, of Broken Arrow, is charged with robbing an EZ Mart convenience store located in Broken Arrow on May 29, 2020.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
DUSTIN KYLE MARRIS
Assault With Intent To Commit Murder In Indian Country
Assault With A Dangerous Weapon With Intent To Do Bodily Harm In Indian Country
Use, Carry, Brandish And Discharge Of Firearm During And In Relation To A Crime Of Violence
Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine
Felon In Possession Of FirearmMarris, 39, of Okmulgee County, a prior-convicted felon, is charged with discharging a fireman towards a law enforcement officer in attempts to evade apprehension while in possession of methamphetamine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
NACOLE RYAN BAIN a/k/a NACOLE RYAN SPEARS
Murder In Indian Country
Use, Carry, Brandish And Discharge Of Firearm During And In Relation To A Crime Of ViolenceBain, 39, of Schulter, is charged with the premeditated shooting murder of Addison Waddell, on June 24, 2018.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
MARVIN LEE BURLESON
Felon In Possession Of Firearm
Possession Of Firearm By Prohibited Person
False Statement During Purchase Of A Firearm
Aggravated Identity Theft During Purchase Of A Firearm (3 Counts)Burleson, 49, a prior convicted felon of Welling, is charged with using a false statement and committing identity theft on multiple occasions to illegally acquire firearms.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the primary investigative agency.
TRENTON ROSS
Robbery In Indian Country
Use, Carry, And Brandishing Firearm During And In Relation To A Crime Of ViolenceRoss, 19, of Okmulgee, is charged with robbing two separate victims of jewelry and a firearm at gunpoint.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the primary investigative agency.
JIMMY RAY MENDENHALL, JR.
Transportation Of Certain Material Involving Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor
Possession Of Certain Material Involving Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (2 Counts)Mendenhall, 42, of Warner, is charged with willfully transporting and possessing multitudes of images of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
WESLEY ALLAN HAHN
Assault With Dangerous Weapon With Intent To Commit Bodily Harm In Indian Country
Maiming In Indian CountryHahn, 37, of Broken Arrow, is charged with repeatedly striking a female victim and dousing her with a caustic substance.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
RONALD WESLEE SPEARS
Assault With Intent To Commit Murder In Indian Country
Spears, 58, of Okmulgee, is charged with the shooting of a male victim during an altercation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
DERRICK LERON JORDAN
Assault With Dangerous Weapon With Intent To Commit Bodily Harm In Indian Country
Assault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury In Indian CountryJordan, 50, of Okmulgee County, is charged with using a dangerous weapon in an assault on an a fellow male Indian inmate at the Okmulgee County Jail.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
RACHEL JEAN STEVENS
KAYLA ANN JONESChild Abuse In Indian Country
Child Neglect In Indian CountryMuskogee residents Stevens, 33, and Jones, 30, are both charged with beating and causing harm to a child under the age of 18, and ultimately failing to provide as appropriate caretakers for the well-being of the child.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.
JOSHUA LEE PURDOM
Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country (2 Counts)
Kidnapping In Indian Country
Use, Carry, And Brandish Of Firearm During And In Relation To A Crime Of ViolencePurdom, 41, of Hughes County, is charged with raping and kidnapping a former partner of an intimate nature at gunpoint.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency.