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Thursday 22 October 2020
Goldman Sachs Resolves Foreign Bribery Case and Agrees to Pay over $2.9 BillionRead the Press Release
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Goldman Sachs or the Company), a global financial institution headquartered in New York, New York, and Goldman Sachs (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (GS Malaysia), its Malaysian subsidiary, have admitted to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a scheme to pay over one billion dollars in bribes to high-ranking government officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi to obtain lucrative business for Goldman Sachs, underwriting approximately $6.5 billion in three bond deals for 1Malaysia Development Bhd. (1MDB), for which the bank earned hundreds of millions in fees. Goldman Sachs will pay more than $2.9 billion as part of a coordinated resolution with criminal and civil authorities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and elsewhere.
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Goldman Sachs entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Fraud Section and Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Sections (the Department) in connection with a criminal information filed in the Eastern District of New York charging the Company with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. GS Malaysia pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to a one-count criminal information charging it with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA.
Previously, Tim Leissner, the former Southeast Asia Chairman and a Participating Managing Director of Goldman Sachs, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the FCPA and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Ng Chong Hwa, also known as “Roger Ng,” former Managing Director of Goldman and Head of Investment Banking for GS Malaysia, has been charged with conspiracy to violate the FCPA and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Ng was extradited from Malaysia to face these charges and is scheduled for trial in March 2021. All four cases are assigned to U.S. District Judge Margo K. Brodie of the Eastern District of New York.
In addition to these criminal charges, the Department has recovered, or assisted in the recovery of, an additional over $1 billion in assets associated with and traceable to the 1MDB money laundering and bribery scheme.
Seth DuCharme, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Brian C. Rabbitt, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office (IRS-CI), made the announcement.
“Over a period of five years, Goldman Sachs participated in a sweeping international corruption scheme, conspiring to avail itself of more than $1.6 billion in bribes to multiple high-level government officials across several countries so that the company could reap hundreds of millions of dollars in fees, all to the detriment of the people of Malaysia and the reputation of American financial institutions operating abroad,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney DuCharme. “Today’s resolution, which includes a criminal guilty plea by Goldman Sachs’ subsidiary in Malaysia, demonstrates that the Department will hold accountable any institution that violates U.S. law anywhere in the world by unfairly tilting the scales through corrupt practices.”
“The conduct that Goldman Sachs admitted to today—engaging in a scheme to bribe high ranking public officials of a foreign country to obtain lucrative underwriting and other business related to 1MDB—erodes public confidence in the integrity of American business,” stated Acting Assistant Attorney General Rabbitt. “Today’s resolution demonstrates the Department’s commitment to combatting corruption and ensuring that no institution or individual is above the rule of law in the United States, no matter their business, their profits, or their profile.”
“When government officials and business executives secretly work together behind the scenes for their own illegal benefit, and not that of their citizens and shareholders, their behavior lends credibility to the narrative that businesses don't succeed based on the quality of their products, but rather their willingness to play dirty. Greed eventually exacts an immense cost on society, and unchecked corrupt behavior erodes trust in public institutions and government entities alike. This case represents the largest ever penalty paid to U.S. authorities in an FCPA case. Our investigation into the looting of funds from 1MDB remains ongoing. If anyone has information that could assist the case, call us at 1-800-CALLFBI,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.
“1MDB was established to drive strategic initiatives for the long-term economic development of Malaysia. Goldman Sachs admitted today that one billion dollars of the money earmarked to help the people of Malaysia was actually diverted and used to pay bribes to Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials to obtain their business,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Korner. “Today’s guilty pleas demonstrate that the law applies to everyone, including large investment banks like Goldman Sachs. IRS Criminal Investigation will work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to identify and bring to justice those who engage in fraud and deceit around the globe. When the American financial system is misused for corruption, the IRS will take notice and we will take action.”
According to Goldman’s admissions and court documents, between approximately 2009 and 2014, Goldman conspired with others to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA by engaging in a scheme to pay more than $1.6 billion in bribes, directly and indirectly, to government officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi in order to obtain and retain business for Goldman from 1MDB, a Malaysian state-owned and state-controlled fund created to pursue investment and development projects for the economic benefit of Malaysia and its people. Specifically, Goldman admitted to engaging in the bribery scheme through certain of its employees and agents, including Leissner, Ng and a former executive who was a Participating Managing Director and held leadership positions in Asia (Employee 1), in exchange for lucrative business and other advantages and opportunities. These included, among other things, securing Goldman’s role as an advisor on energy acquisitions, as underwriter on three lucrative bond deals with a total value of $6.5 billion, and a potential role in a highly anticipated and even more lucrative initial public offering for 1MDB’s energy assets. As Goldman admitted—and as alleged in the indictment pending in the Eastern District of New York against Ng and Low—in furtherance of the scheme, Leissner, Ng, Employee 1, and others conspired to pay bribes to numerous foreign officials, including high-ranking officials in the Malaysian government, 1MDB, Abu Dhabi’s state-owned and state-controlled sovereign wealth fund, International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), and Abu Dhabi’s state-owned and state-controlled joint stock company, Aabar Investments PJS (Aabar).
Goldman admitted today that, in order to effectuate the scheme, Leissner, Ng, Employee 1 and others conspired with Low Taek Jho (also known as “Jho Low”) to promise and pay over $1.6 billion in bribes to Malaysian, 1MDB, IPIC and Aabar officials. The co-conspirators allegedly paid these bribes using more than $2.7 billion in funds that Low and other members of the conspiracy diverted and misappropriated from the bond offerings underwritten by Goldman. Leissner, Ng and Low also retained a portion of the misappropriated funds for themselves and other co-conspirators. Goldman, through Leissner, Ng, Employee 1 and others, used Low’s connections to advance and further the bribery scheme, ultimately ensuring that 1MDB awarded Goldman a role on three bond transactions between 2012 and 2013, known internally at Goldman as “Project Magnolia,” “Project Maximus,” and “Project Catalyze.”
Goldman also admitted that, although employees serving as part of Goldman’s control functions knew that any transaction involving Low posed a significant risk, and although they were on notice that Low was involved in the transactions, they did not take reasonable steps to ensure that Low was not involved. Goldman further admitted that there were significant red flags raised during the due diligence process and afterward—including but not limited to Low’s involvement—that either were ignored or only nominally addressed so that the transactions would be approved and Goldman could continue to do business with 1MDB. As a result of the scheme, Goldman received approximately $606 million in fees and revenue, and increased its stature and presence in Southeast Asia.
Under the terms of the agreements, Goldman will pay a criminal penalty and disgorgement of over $2.9 billion. Goldman also has reached separate parallel resolutions with foreign authorities in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, and elsewhere, along with domestic authorities in the United States. The department will credit over $1.6 billion in payments with respect to those resolutions.
The department reached this resolution with Goldman based on a number of factors, including the Company’s failure to voluntarily disclose the conduct to the department; the nature and seriousness of the offense, which included the involvement of high-level employees within the Company’s investment bank and others who ignored significant red flags; the involvement of various Goldman subsidiaries across the world; the amount of the bribes, which totaled over $1.6 billion; the number and high-level nature of the bribe recipients, which included at least 11 foreign officials, including high-ranking officials of the Malaysian government; and the significant amount of actual loss incurred by 1MDB as a result of the co-conspirators’ conduct. Goldman received partial credit for its cooperation with the department’s investigation, but did not receive full credit for cooperation because it significantly delayed producing relevant evidence, including recorded phone calls in which the Company’s bankers, executives, and control function personnel discussed allegations of bribery and misconduct relating to the conduct in the statement of facts. Accordingly, the total criminal penalty reflects a 10 percent reduction off the bottom of the applicable U.S. sentencing guidelines fine range.
Low has also been indicted for conspiracy to commit money laundering and violate the FCPA, along with Ng, E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-538 (MKB). Low remains a fugitive. The charges in the indictment as to Low and Ng are allegations, and those defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s International Corruption Unit and IRS-CI. The prosecution is being handled by the Business and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Alixandra E. Smith and Drew G. Rolle of the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorneys Katherine Nielsen, Nikhila Raj, Jennifer E. Ambuehl, Woo S. Lee, Mary Ann McCarthy, Leo Tsao and David Last of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. Additional Criminal Division Trial Attorneys and Assistant U.S. Attorneys within U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York and Central District of California have provided valuable assistance with various aspects of this investigation, including with civil and criminal forfeitures. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Criminal Division provided critical assistance in this case.
The Department also appreciates the significant assistance provided by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the New York State Department of Financial Services, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority, the Attorney General’s Chambers of Singapore, the Singapore Police Force-Commercial Affairs Division, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Office of the Attorney General and the Federal Office of Justice of Switzerland, the judicial investigating authority of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Criminal Investigation Department of the Grand-Ducal Police of Luxembourg, the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia, the Royal Malaysian Police, and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. The department also expresses its appreciation for the assistance provided by the Ministry of Justice of France; the Attorney General’s Chambers of the British Virgin Islands; the Attorney General’s Office of the Bailiwick of Guernsey; and the Federal Office of Justice of Germany.
The Defendants:
THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-437
GOLDMAN SACHS (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD.
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-438
Goldman Sachs Charged in Foreign Bribery Case and Agrees to Pay over $2.9 BillionRead the Press Release
The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Goldman Sachs or the Company), a global financial institution headquartered in New York, New York, and Goldman Sachs (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (GS Malaysia), its Malaysian subsidiary, have admitted to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a scheme to pay over $1 billion in bribes to Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials to obtain lucrative business for Goldman Sachs, including its role in underwriting approximately $6.5 billion in three bond deals for 1Malaysia Development Bhd. (1MDB), for which the bank earned hundreds of millions in fees. Goldman Sachs will pay more than $2.9 billion as part of a coordinated resolution with criminal and civil authorities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and elsewhere.
Goldman Sachs entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the department in connection with a criminal information filed today in the Eastern District of New York charging the Company with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. GS Malaysia pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to a one-count criminal information charging it with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA.
Previously, Tim Leissner, the former Southeast Asia Chairman and participating managing director of Goldman Sachs, pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and to violate the FCPA. Ng Chong Hwa, also known as “Roger Ng,” former managing director of Goldman and head of investment banking for GS Malaysia, has been charged with conspiring to launder money and to violate the FCPA. Ng was extradited from Malaysia to face these charges and is scheduled to stand trial in March 2021. The cases are assigned to U.S. District Judge Margo K. Brodie of the Eastern District of New York.
In addition to these criminal charges, the department has recovered, or assisted in the recovery of, in excess of $1 billion in assets for Malaysia associated with and traceable to the 1MDB money laundering and bribery scheme.
“Goldman Sachs today accepted responsibility for its role in a conspiracy to bribe high-ranking foreign officials to obtain lucrative underwriting and other business relating to 1MDB,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s resolution, which requires Goldman Sachs to admit wrongdoing and pay nearly three billion dollars in penalties, fines, and disgorgement, holds the bank accountable for this criminal scheme and demonstrates the department’s continuing commitment to combatting corruption and protecting the U.S. financial system.”
“Over a period of five years, Goldman Sachs participated in a sweeping international corruption scheme, conspiring to avail itself of more than $1.6 billion in bribes to multiple high-level government officials across several countries so that the company could reap hundreds of millions of dollars in fees, all to the detriment of the people of Malaysia and the reputation of American financial institutions operating abroad,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Seth D. DuCharme of the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s resolution, which includes a criminal guilty plea by Goldman Sachs’ subsidiary in Malaysia, demonstrates that the department will hold accountable any institution that violates U.S. law anywhere in the world by unfairly tilting the scales through corrupt practices.”
“When government officials and business executives secretly work together behind the scenes for their own illegal benefit, and not that of their citizens and shareholders, their behavior lends credibility to the narrative that businesses don’t succeed based on the quality of their products, but rather their willingness to play dirty,” said Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office. “Greed eventually exacts an immense cost on society, and unchecked corrupt behavior erodes trust in public institutions and government entities alike. This case represents the largest ever penalty paid to U.S. authorities in an FCPA case. Our investigation into the looting of funds from 1MDB remains ongoing. If anyone has information that could assist the case, call us at 1-800-CALLFBI.”
“1MDB was established to drive strategic initiatives for the long-term economic development of Malaysia. Goldman Sachs admitted today that one billion dollars of the money earmarked to help the people of Malaysia was actually diverted and used to pay bribes to Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials to obtain their business,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s guilty pleas demonstrate that the law applies to everyone, including large investment banks like Goldman Sachs. IRS Criminal Investigation will work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to identify and bring to justice those who engage in fraud and deceit around the globe. When the American financial system is misused for corruption, the IRS will take notice and we will take action.”
According to Goldman’s admissions and court documents, between approximately 2009 and 2014, Goldman conspired with others to violate the FCPA by engaging in a scheme to pay more than $1.6 billion in bribes, directly and indirectly, to foreign officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi in order to obtain and retain business for Goldman from 1MDB, a Malaysian state-owned and state-controlled fund created to pursue investment and development projects for the economic benefit of Malaysia and its people. Specifically, the Company admitted to engaging in the bribery scheme through certain of its employees and agents, including Leissner, Ng, and a former executive who was a participating managing director and held leadership positions in Asia (Employee 1), in exchange for lucrative business and other advantages and opportunities. These included, among other things, securing Goldman’s role as an advisor on energy acquisitions, as underwriter on three lucrative bond deals with a total value of $6.5 billion, and a potential role in a highly anticipated and even more lucrative initial public offering for 1MDB’s energy assets. As Goldman admitted — and as alleged in the indictment pending in the Eastern District of New York against Ng and Low — in furtherance of the scheme, Leissner, Ng, Employee 1, and others conspired to pay bribes to numerous foreign officials, including high-ranking officials in the Malaysian government, 1MDB, Abu Dhabi’s state-owned and state-controlled sovereign wealth fund, International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), and Abu Dhabi’s state-owned and state-controlled joint stock company, Aabar Investments PJS (Aabar).
Goldman admitted today that, in order to effectuate the scheme, Leissner, Ng, Employee 1, and others conspired with Low Taek Jho, aka Jho Low, to promise and pay over $1.6 billion in bribes to Malaysian, 1MDB, IPIC, and Aabar officials. The co-conspirators allegedly paid these bribes using more than $2.7 billion in funds that Low, Leissner, and other members of the conspiracy diverted and misappropriated from the bond offerings underwritten by Goldman. Leissner, Ng and Low also retained a portion of the misappropriated funds for themselves and other co-conspirators. Goldman admitted that, through Leissner, Ng, Employee 1 and others, the bank used Low’s connections to advance and further the bribery scheme, ultimately ensuring that 1MDB awarded Goldman a role on three bond transactions between 2012 and 2013, known internally at Goldman as “Project Magnolia,” “Project Maximus,” and “Project Catalyze.”
Goldman also admitted that, although employees serving as part of Goldman’s control functions knew that any transaction involving Low posed a significant risk, and although they were on notice that Low was involved in the transactions, they did not take reasonable steps to ensure that Low was not involved. Goldman further admitted that there were significant red flags raised during the due diligence process and afterward — including but not limited to Low’s involvement — that either were ignored or only nominally addressed so that the transactions would be approved and Goldman could continue to do business with 1MDB. As a result of the scheme, Goldman received approximately $606 million in fees and revenue, and increased its stature and presence in Southeast Asia.
Under the terms of the agreements, Goldman will pay a criminal penalty and disgorgement of over $2.9 billion. Goldman also has reached separate parallel resolutions with foreign authorities in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, and elsewhere, along with domestic authorities in the United States. The department will credit over $1.6 billion in payments with respect to those resolutions.
The department reached this resolution with Goldman based on a number of factors, including the Company’s failure to voluntarily disclose the conduct to the department; the nature and seriousness of the offense, which included the involvement of high-level employees within the Company’s investment bank and others who ignored significant red flags; the involvement of various Goldman subsidiaries across the world; the amount of the bribes, which totaled over $1.6 billion; the number and high-level nature of the bribe recipients, which included at least 11 foreign officials, including high-ranking officials of the Malaysian government; and the significant amount of actual loss incurred by 1MDB as a result of the co-conspirators’ conduct. Goldman received partial credit for its cooperation with the department’s investigation, but did not receive full credit for cooperation because it significantly delayed producing relevant evidence, including recorded phone calls in which the Company’s bankers, executives, and control function personnel discussed allegations of bribery and misconduct relating to the conduct in the statement of facts. Accordingly, the total criminal penalty reflects a 10 percent reduction off the bottom of the applicable U.S. sentencing guidelines fine range.
Low has also been indicted for conspiracy to commit money laundering and violate the FCPA, along with Ng, E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-538 (MKB). Low remains a fugitive. The charges in the indictment as to Low and Ng are merely allegations, and those defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s International Corruption Unit and IRS-CI. The prosecution is being handled by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), and the Business and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Trial Attorneys Katherine Nielsen, Nikhila Raj, Jennifer E. Ambuehl, Woo S. Lee, Mary Ann McCarthy, Leo Tsao, and David Last of the Criminal Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Alixandra Smith and Drew Rolle of the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case. Additional Criminal Division Trial Attorneys and Assistant U.S. Attorneys within U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York and Central District of California have provided valuable assistance with various aspects of this investigation, including with civil and criminal forfeitures. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Criminal Division provided critical assistance in this case.
The department also appreciates the significant assistance provided by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; the New York State Department of Financial Services, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority; the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority; the Attorney General’s Chambers of Singapore; the Singapore Police Force-Commercial Affairs Division; the Monetary Authority of Singapore; the Office of the Attorney General and the Federal Office of Justice of Switzerland; the judicial investigating authority of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Criminal Investigation Department of the Grand-Ducal Police of Luxembourg; the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia; the Royal Malaysian Police; and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. The department also expresses its appreciation for the assistance provided by the Ministry of Justice of France; the Attorney General’s Office of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Guernsey Economic Crime Division.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/foreign-corrupt-practices-act.
MLARS’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
MLARS’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S. Attorney’s Offices, seeks to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to use those recovered assets to benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office.
Relevant court documents will be uploaded throughout the day and available at the following links: The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Goldman Sachs Sdn. Bhd.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 201 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE--Damien Thomas, age 40, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Holly A. Brady after his plea of guilty to possessing multiple controlled substances with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Thomas was sentenced to 201 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, Thomas sold fentanyl and cocaine to another individual, and on or about April 30, 2018, Thomas possessed in his residence almost a kilogram of heroin, over a half-kilogram of crystal methamphetamine, and large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana. Thomas also possessed two pistols, a rifle, and over 1,300 rounds of ammunition in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity.
“Mr. Thomas’ sentence illustrates our collective mission to rid our communities of violent drug offenders who put our residents in harm’s way,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify and investigate these operators and put them out of business.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Indiana State Police, and the Allen County Sheriff’s Department. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
Former elementary teacher admits to explicit sexual conversations originating via CraigslistRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 27-year-old Odom man has entered a guilty plea to transferring obscene materials to a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Lazaro Benito Rocha admitted today that he had responded to an ad on Craigslist advertising a “good time” with a teenage girl. He continued communicating with whom he thought was a 14-year-old female which soon escalated into conversations of an explicit sexual nature via text messaging.
Using his cell phone, Rocha eventually sent a photograph of his genitals.
The investigation revealed he was a part-time elementary music teacher at the Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales will impose sentencing Jan. 25, 2021. At that time, Rocha faces up to 10 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Texas Department of Public Safety and Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Popejoy is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Former U.S. Army Reservist Sentenced to 40 years in Prison for Sex Trafficking and a Related OffenseRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. of the Western District of North Carolina sentenced Xaver M. Boston, 31, of Charlotte, North Carolina, today to serve 40 years in prison and 30 years of supervised release. Judge Conrad also ordered Boston to pay $354,000 in restitution and $25,000 pursuant 18 U.S.C. 3014 and the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. A federal jury in Charlotte previously convicted Boston on Oct. 11, 2018, of six counts of sex trafficking and one count of using an interstate facility to promote a prostitution enterprise.
Evidence presented during the three-day trial, including the testimony of three of the four victims identified in the indictment by their initials, revealed that Boston, who served in the U.S. Army as a reserve military policeman, operated an extensive sex trafficking enterprise in the Charlotte area between 2012 and September 2017, except for a brief period when he was deployed overseas. Boston recruited young women and one teenager by promising to provide them with a place to live and heroin or other opioids. Boston then advertised the victims on Backpage.com for prostitution and collected the proceeds for his own profit.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Boston used violence to control and coerce the victims. Testimony revealed that on multiple occasions, Boston choked one victim and punched and slapped other victims. He also used a pistol to strike one victim in the face, breaking her nose.
“The seriousness of today’s sentence reflects the extent to which the defendant in this case used physical violence and opioids to control and exploit the young vulnerable victims of his crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to fighting human trafficking and committed to working with our federal and state partners to provide justice to the victims of this vile crime.”
“Boston used fear, coercion and violence against young women to build a depraved sex trafficking criminal enterprise, robbing his victims of the most basic standards of human dignity. I could not be more pleased with his lengthy sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina. “My office will continue to work with our law enforcement counterparts to hold accountable those who engage in this illegal, dehumanizing trade, and partner with community organizations to ensure victims receive the support they need on their path to recovery.”
“It takes an especially heinous person to physically, psychologically, and sexually abuse someone,” said Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “Xaver Boston's victims truly believed he was there to help. There is no way of knowing the long term damage he caused to their lives, but we do know for certain he will pay with a lengthy federal prison sentence.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Charlotte, North Carolina, Field Division with assistance from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani M. Ford of the Western District of North Carolina and Special Litigation Counsel Matthew T. Grady of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Former U.S. Army Reservist Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking and A Related OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. of the Western District of North Carolina sentenced Xaver M. Boston, 31, of Charlotte, North Carolina, today to serve 40 years in prison and 30 years of supervised release. Judge Conrad also ordered Boston to pay $354,000 in restitution and $25,000 pursuant 18 U.S.C. 3014 and the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. A federal jury in Charlotte previously convicted Boston on Oct. 11, 2018, of six counts of sex trafficking and one count of using an interstate facility to promote a prostitution enterprise.
Evidence presented during the three-day trial, including the testimony of three of the four victims identified in the indictment by their initials, revealed that Boston, who served in the U.S. Army as a reserve military policeman, operated an extensive sex trafficking enterprise in the Charlotte area between 2012 and September 2017, except for a brief period when he was deployed overseas. Boston recruited young women and one teenager by promising to provide them with a place to live and heroin or other opioids. Boston then advertised the victims on Backpage.com for prostitution and collected the proceeds for his own profit.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Boston used violence to control and coerce the victims. Testimony revealed that on multiple occasions, Boston choked one victim and punched and slapped other victims. He also used a pistol to strike one victim in the face, breaking her nose.
“The seriousness of today’s sentence reflects the extent to which the defendant in this case used physical violence and opioids to control and exploit the young vulnerable victims of his crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to fighting human trafficking and committed to working with our federal and state partners to provide justice to the victims of this vile crime.”
“Boston used fear, coercion and violence against young women to build a depraved sex trafficking criminal enterprise, robbing his victims of the most basic standards of human dignity. I could not be more pleased with his lengthy sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina. “My office will continue to work with our law enforcement counterparts to hold accountable those who engage in this illegal, dehumanizing trade, and partner with community organizations to ensure victims receive the support they need on their path to recovery.”
“It takes an especially heinous person to physically, psychologically, and sexually abuse someone,” said Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “Xaver Boston's victims truly believed he was there to help. There is no way of knowing the long term damage he caused to their lives, but we do know for certain he will pay with a lengthy federal prison sentence.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Charlotte, North Carolina, Field Division with assistance from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani M. Ford of the Western District of North Carolina and Special Litigation Counsel Matthew T. Grady of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Former Selma Police Department Officer Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Matthew Blaine Till, 33, a former officer of the Selma Police Department, pled guilty before United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock on September 25, 2020 to three felony counts of obstruction of justice by corrupt persuasion of a witness.
At his plea hearing, Till admitted the following facts:
On April 30, 2020, Till used force against a citizen while on duty as a Selma police officer. On multiple occasions thereafter, Till instructed a fellow law-enforcement officer not to say anything to anyone—including a federal agent—regarding a phone call Till had received from his wife shortly before the use-of-force incident. Till admitted that he gave those instructions with the intent to hinder, delay, or prevent the communication to a federal law-enforcement officer of information relating to the possible commission of a federal civil-rights violation. As part of his plea agreement, Till will no longer be able to work in local, municipal, state or federal law enforcement, nor as a corrections officer or private security guard. Judge Beaverstock has scheduled sentencing for December 28, 2020. Till faces up to twenty years in prison.
Till has pending state criminal charges in Dallas County, Alabama. On September 29, 2020, a state grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Till, charging him with second-degree assault, a felony, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, a misdemeanor, and obstructing governmental operations, a misdemeanor. An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until and unless he or she is proven guilty at trial.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Alabama Attorney General investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Roller and Deborah Griffin prosecuted the federal case in coordination with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the state case.
Former Inmate Charged with Conspiring to Use Drones to Smuggle Contraband into Fort Dix Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man has been charged with conspiring to use drones to smuggle contraband, including tobacco, cell phone chargers, and a cell phone, into the federal correctional facility at Fort Dix, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Johansel Moronta, 27, of Linden, New Jersey, an inmate at Fort Dix from April 2018 to March 2019, was charged by complaint, unsealed today, with one count of conspiring to smuggle contraband into the prison and to defraud the United States and one count of being a federal inmate possessing and obtaining, and attempting to possess and obtain, contraband. Moronta will be scheduled to appear on a date to be determined by the court.
Three other men, Adrian Goolcharran, a/k/a “Adrian Ahoda” and “Adrian Ajoda,” Nicolo Denichilo, and Jason Arteaga Loayza, a/k/a “Juice,” previously have been charged with participating in the scheme to use drones to smuggle contraband into Fort Dix.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) obtained evidence that in October 2018, while incarcerated at the federal prison at Fort Dix, Moronta participated, along with Arteaga, a former Fort Dix inmate, Goolcharran, and others, in a scheme to use unmanned aircrafts, or drones, to deliver contraband to inmates. Moronta’s role in the scheme was to coordinate the drone drops with Goolcharran and Arteaga from within the prison, and then retrieve the contraband after the drone, piloted by Goolcharran, had dropped the contraband inside the facility.
On Oct. 30, 2018, at approximately 1:40 a.m., Fort Dix officers observed a drone with fishing line hovering above the rooftop of an inmate housing unit. Officers found Moronta leaving a bathroom in the area where the bag of contraband dropped from the drone had been found, along with bolts that secured an open rooftop hatch used to access the delivery. Officers also found a cell phone that Moronta used to coordinate drone drops with Arteaga and Goolcharran. The phone contained numerous text messages and phone calls exchanged between Moronta, Goolcharran and Arteaga in the days leading up to the drop. On Oct. 27, 2018, Moronta sent a text message to Goolcharran referring to himself as “Joe [expletive] in fort dix on the rooftop.” On Oct. 30, 2018, at 12:07 a.m., Moronta sent a text message to Goolcharran asking “U in the area,” and Goolcharran responded “Yea.,” likely meaning that Goolcharran was near Fort Dix and available to make the drone drop. At 12:36 a.m., Goolcharran messaged Moronta “How we lookin,” and Moronta responded a few minutes later with “It ok.” Moronta also sent messages to Arteaga at 12:57 a.m., stating “Two trip,” likely referring to the number of drone flights planned, and “Same cop from last week,” likely referring to the corrections officer on duty.
Moronta also coordinated other drone drops with Arteaga and Goolcharran. Location data from Goolcharran’s cell phone confirmed that Goolcharran’s cell phone was in the Fort Dix area during the early morning hours of October 24, 2018, and began to depart the area by about 1:54 a.m. that same morning. In addition, evidence obtained from Moronta’s cell phone revealed numerous communications between Moronta, Arteaga, and Goolcharran on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24, 2018, showing the three men coordinating multiple drone drops.
The offenses charged in the complaint carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and maximum fine of $250,000 for the conspiracy count and one year in prison and $100,000 maximum fine for the possessing or obtaining contraband count.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited agents of DOJ-OIG, New York Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Guido Modano; DOJ-OIG’s Cyber Investigations Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Keith Bonanno; the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 307 under the direction of Superintendent Jonathan Jackson; and the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Douglas Shoemaker, with the investigation leading to the charges.
He also thanked Federal Bureau of Prisons personnel at Fort Dix, under the direction of Warden David Ortiz; agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr.; investigating agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Supervisory Special Agent Thomas J. Mahoney; and officers with the Pemberton Borough Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward Hunter; the Pemberton Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Jantas; and Chesterfield Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Kyle Wilson, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cari Fais and Jeffrey J. Manis of the Office’s Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Five Charged in Connection with COVID-Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Five individuals were charged in an indictment unsealed today for their alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.1 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Thomas Smith, 46, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Stephen Smith, 42, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Samuel Davis Jr., 40, of Chicago, Illinois, Robert Hamilton, 59, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Jonathan Henley, 52, of Chicago, Illinois were charged in an indictment filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin with bank fraud and money laundering.
The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted several fraudulent PPP loan applications to a federally insured financial institution and the SBA in the names of businesses with no actual operations or employees. In the applications, the defendants allegedly misrepresented the number of employees and payroll expenses. To support the fraudulent applications, the indictment alleges that the defendants submitted fake tax documents. The defendants are alleged to have fraudulently sought over $1.1 million in PPP loan funds.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the U.S. SBA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), the FBI, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation OIG, and IRS-Criminal Investigation. Trial Attorneys Laura Connelly and Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Ingraham of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are prosecuting the case.
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.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Felon who brought gun to Savannah protest enters guilty plea to federal firearms chargeRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A previously convicted felon found carrying a gun after a Savannah protest has pled guilty to a federal firearms charge.
Arkeem Collins, 24, of Savannah, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Collins to a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
“Protests this spring throughout the Southern District were peaceful,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “As this prosecution demonstrates, we will not tolerate those who violate the law under the guise of exercising constitutional rights.”
According to court documents and testimony, Savannah Police officers on May 31 were enforcing a citywide curfew, declared by the mayor after a protest march in the city. Collins was captured after running from officers, who found a pistol in his pocket. In his plea agreement, Collins admits knowing that as a previously convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
“The defendant had no business carrying a firearm given his previous criminal conduct,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF's partnership with the Savannah Police Department will continue to focus on getting illegally possessed firearms off our streets.”
“We are pleased with the federal assistance we received in this investigation leading to the prosecution of an armed convicted felon," said Savannah Police Chief Roy W. Minter Jr. "Convicted felons should never be in possession of a firearm. Part of our mission is to aggressively address possession of firearms by persons in our community who are convicted felons.”
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Savannah Police Department, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Bearden.
Federal Prosecutors to Serve as District Election Officers for Seven California Counties During November 3 General Election PeriodRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – United States Attorney Nicola T. Hanna announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsey Greer Dotson and Thomas F. Rybarczyk will serve as District Election Officers for the Central District of California during this year’s general election period, which culminates on Election Day on November 3.
As the District Election Officers, AUSAs Dotson and Rybarczyk will oversee the handling of complaints related to election fraud and voting rights concerns occurring in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. If complaints are received, the AUSAs will coordinate with the FBI Field Office in Los Angeles to investigate them and will consult with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
The Justice Department has an important role in deterring interference or discrimination at the polls and election fraud, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible voting rights violations and election fraud while the polls are open through Election Day.
Federal law prohibits crimes such as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.
For example, actions designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law.
The FBI will have special agents available across the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. Agents at the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, which serves the same seven counties as the United States Attorney’s Office, can be reached by the public at (310) 477-6565.
In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns up to and including November 3, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs Dotson and Rybarczyk will be on duty while the polls are open.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can also be made directly to the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., by phone at (800) 253-3931 or TTY (202) 305-0082. Individuals may also report complaints by email to [email protected] and by a complaint form on the Justice Department’s website: www.justice.gov/crt/votercomplaint.
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency. These complaints should also be reported to the Justice Department after local authorities have been contacted.
Forrest Fenn Treasure Hunter Indicted for Damage to Yellowstone National ParkRead the Press Release
A man claiming to have been seeking the elusive Forrest Fenn treasure has been indicted by a federal grand jury after he was found digging in the historic Fort Yellowstone Cemetery. RODRICK DOW CRAYTHORN was indicted on September 16, 2020 on charges of excavating or trafficking in archeological resources and injury or depredation to United States property.
Count one of the indictment alleges Craythorn did knowingly and unlawfully excavate, remove, damage, alter and deface, and attempt to excavate, remove, damage, alter, and deface archeological resources, in particular the Fort Yellowstone Cemetery in Yellowstone National Park between October 1, 2019 and May 24, 2020.
The second count alleges Craythorn, during the same period, did willfully damage, injure, and commit depredation against property belonging to the United States. Craythorn was reported to have been searching for Forrest Fenn’s treasure in the Fort Yellowstone Cemetery when these acts allegedly occurred.
Forrest Fenn, an art dealer and author from Santa Fe, hid a treasure chest containing gold, rare coins, jewelry, and gemstones somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. The Fenn treasure spurred a decade long search. Treasure hunters used clues from a book Fenn had written to scour the west hoping to find the fortune. The chest was eventually located in Wyoming in June, 2020. Forrest Fenn passed away several months later.
Craythorn, 52, of Syracuse, Utah, made his initial appearance in Federal Court on October 22, 2020 before Chief Federal Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin and entered a plea of not guilty to both counts. He is set for trial on December 14, 2020 in U.S. District Court in Casper, Wyoming. An indictment is an allegation and Craythorn is presumed innocent until convicted.
Five Charged in Connection with COVID-Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, joins Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in announcing five individuals were charged in an indictment based upon their alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.1 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Thomas Smith, Stephen Smith, and Robert Hamilton, all of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Samuel Davis, Jr., and Jonathan Henley, of Chicago, Illinois were charged in an indictment filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin with bank fraud and money laundering.
The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted several fraudulent PPP loan applications to a federally insured financial institution and the SBA in the names of businesses with no actual operations or employees. In the applications, the defendants allegedly misrepresented the number of employees and payroll expenses. To support the fraudulent applications, the indictment alleges that the defendants submitted fake tax documents. The indictment alleges that the defendants fraudulently sought over $1.1 million in PPP loan funds.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the U.S. SBA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), the FBI, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation OIG, and IRS-Criminal Investigation. Trial Attorneys Laura Connelly and Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Ingraham of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are prosecuting the case.
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.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Eastern District of Kentucky Federal Prosecutor and Victim Witness Coordinator Recognized by Western District U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Russell Coleman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, is pleased to announce that Eastern District of Kentucky Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury and Victim Witness Coordinator Jenny Parker are the latest recipients of the U.S. Attorney’s Law Enforcement Award.
“Tackling Kentucky’s drug epidemic requires law enforcement professionals with a laser beam focus on saving lives and serving victims; collaborating across agency and even jurisdictional lines,” said Western District of Kentucky U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “Our Commonwealth is blessed by having such public servants, and we are blessed to have such colleagues, as AUSA Bradbury and Ms. Parker.”
The Award commendations presented by U.S. Attorney Coleman to AUSA Bradbury and Victim Witness Coordinator Parker recognize their extraordinary service in support of education, investigation, and the prosecution of overdose cases throughout the 53 counties of the Western District.
AUSA Bradbury counseled with Western District federal prosecutors and their law enforcement partners as they formulated a plan to address overdose cases in the District. Furthermore, he routinely made himself available as a resource over the last several years to discuss best practices in investigating and prosecuting drug overdose cases which resulted in death or serious injury.
Victim Witness Coordinator Jenny Parker provided insight and guidance in the development and operational aspects of the Western District’s Drug Threat Team which focuses on educating school age children about the dangers associated with drug abuse. Ms. Parker’s expertise in the planning and execution of the Eastern District’s nationally recognized Heroin Education and Action Team (HEAT) program proved instrumental in the successful development and operation of the Western District’s Drug Threat Team.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky is honoring the extraordinary efforts of its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. Additional awards will be presented during the coming months.
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Dominican National Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIAN LEONARDO SANCHEZ MATA, 33, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 37 months of imprisonment for illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force into a drug trafficking organization that was distributing heroin and fentanyl in and around Hartford. After investigators made controlled purchases of fentanyl from a member of the organization, they obtained a search warrant for an apartment on Crown Street in Hartford.
On October 23, 2019, investigators searched the Crown Street apartment and seized a loaded .380 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun with an obliterated serial number from Sanchez Mata’s bedroom. Investigators also seized approximately 100 grams of fentanyl, as well as items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, from other locations within the apartment.
The investigation revealed that Sanchez Mata had illegally entered the U.S. twice and was unlawfully residing in the country.
Sanchez Mata has been detained since his arrest on October 23, 2019. On June 3, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by an alien who is illegally in the U.S.
Sanchez Mata faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month featured grant and organizationRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today’s Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women featured grant and grant recipient.
“This year, we provided STOP grants to 46 organizations in Indiana,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “This funding will go a long way to shore up our criminal justice system and works to, not only hold offenders accountable, but also help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault navigate the legal system.”
STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program
The STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program (STOP Formula Grant Program) was authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and reauthorized by subsequent legislation. The STOP Formula Grant Program encourages partnerships between law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and victim services organizations to enhance victim safety and hold offenders accountable in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The goal of the grant program is to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services, including community-based, culturally specific services, in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
For more information about this grant, contact the Office on Violence Against Women at 202/307-6026 and ask for the Outreach and Communications Division.
Department of Justice is Combatting COVID-19 Fraud but Reminds the Public to Remain VigilantRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice is reminding members of the public to be vigilant against fraudsters who are using the COVID-19 pandemic to exploit American consumers and organizations and to cheat disaster relief programs. In particular, the department is warning the public about scams perpetrated through websites, social media, emails, robocalls, and other means that peddle fake COVID-19 vaccines, tests, treatments, and protective equipment, and also about criminals that fabricate businesses and steal identities in order to defraud federal relief programs and state unemployment programs.
“A pandemic is a time when people should come together to pursue the common good, but sadly there are some who instead use it as an opportunity to deceive and thieve,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “From the outset, the Justice Department has acted quickly to detect, investigate, and prosecute wrongdoing relating to this crisis. Pursuing these criminals and deterring would-be bad actors will remain a priority for the foreseeable future.”
At the direction of Attorney General William Barr on March 16, 2020, the Department of Justice mobilized to safeguard Americans from coronavirus-related fraud and other illegal activity. On March 18, Deputy Attorney General Rosen instructed the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) to take coronavirus-related complaints from the public and facilitate information sharing among law enforcement partners and regulators, like the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Drug Administration. The Deputy Attorney General also tasked U.S. Attorneys to appoint Coronavirus Fraud Coordinators in each judicial district, and many U.S. Attorneys also established state-wide and regional task forces to improve federal, state, and local law enforcement coordination. On March 24, following the President’s invocation of his authorities under the Defense Production Act, the Attorney General formed the DOJ Hoarding & Price Gouging Task Force, which is a nationwide effort to deter, detect, and prosecute hoarding and profiteering in the sale of health and medical resources essential to combatting the spread of COVID-19. Memoranda from the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General prescribing these measures may be found at www.usdoj.gov/coronavirus/DOJresponse.
To date, the NCDF has received more than 76,000 tips concerning COVID-19-related wrongdoing. Similarly, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has also received more than 20,000 tips regarding suspicious websites and media postings. These tips, as well as reports made directly to the offices of U.S. Attorneys, FBI field offices, and other law enforcement agencies, have led to federal law enforcement opening hundreds of investigations.
The department charged its first COVID-19-related fraud case on March 25, and since then, the department has filed criminal charges in 33 cases across the country involving scam vaccines, treatments, or testing or price gouging in the sale of scarce medical supplies. Additionally, the department has initiated civil actions in 11 cases to enjoin fraudulent coronavirus schemes targeting consumers, including cases against defendants marketing ozone gas, silver-ion solution, and bleach-based solution as treatments.
The department has also focused on prosecuting bad actors who have exploited federal relief programs enacted on March 27 under the CARES Act that are intended to assist hard-hit Americans and businesses. In particular, the department has charged 65 defendants in 50 separate cases to date that relate to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The total intended loss to the PPP in those cases is more than $227 million. The defendants in these cases include those brazen enough to submit PPP loan applications for fabricated businesses named after “Game of Thrones” characters and to spend PPP loan proceeds on exotic cars, boats, and expensive jewelry.
The department has coordinated closely with the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) and various other federal law enforcement agencies to stand up the U.S. Department of Justice National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force.
(See https://www.justice.gov/file/1319301/download.) This task force is charged with investigating numerous fraud schemes targeting the unemployment insurance programs of state workforce agencies, which have been distributing additional Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds provided for under the CARES Act. To date, the department has charged fraud or money laundering in 12 cases relating to unemployment insurance, and has also been supporting DOL-OIG’s efforts to mitigate the threats that transnational criminal organizations and other identity thieves continue to pose to the important benefits programs on which unemployed Americans rely. The department’s leadership has been crucial in organizing and focusing the whole of federal law enforcement on this important issue, including by leveraging the capabilities and resources of the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center and by hiring additional prosecutors to investigate and charge these schemes.
Moving forward, the department also is concerned about, and will aim to deter and prevent, attempts by wrongdoers to prey upon potential victims by leveraging news about anticipated approval of a COVID-19 vaccine or about the potential enactment of new disaster relief bills that extend or expand upon CARES Act relief.
The department encourages the public to continue to report wrongdoing relating to the pandemic to the NCDF and to remain vigilant against bad actors looking to exploit this national emergency. To report a scam relating to COVID-19, or if you have information on hoarding or price gouging of critical supplies necessary to respond to the spread of COVID-19, you can report it without leaving your home by calling the NCDF Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form, available at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Dallas Man Pleads Guilty After Placing Hoax Bomb on RailroadRead the Press Release
A Dallas man plead guilty today to charges in connection with placing a hoax bomb on a Dallas railroad track, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Mark Ashley Robert, 37, plead guilty to one count of false information and hoaxes before Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez via VTC.
According to court documents, during the early morning hours of December 21, 2018, Mr. Robert admitted to placing a device (as seen in the photo below) on the Kansas City Rail Line railroad tracks in Dallas.
A railroad conductor noted a red and green flashing LED light in the middle of the tracks while operating on the railroad. The conductor observed what appeared to be a box wrapped in electrical tape with a nine-volt battery attached to the side of the device.
The Dallas Police Department Bomb Squad responded to the scene to assess the device. Upon examination, law enforcement authorities determined that the box, placed by Mr. Robert, appeared to resemble an improvised explosive device (IED). As a result, officers rendered the device safe.
Law enforcement submitted the remaining parts of the device to the FBI for latent print examination. Through the course of that examination, Mr. Robert’s fingerprints were recovered.
Mr. Robert now faces up to 5 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has been set for March 5, 2021.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Dallas Field Office and the Dallas Police Department with the assistance of the Kansas City Southern Railway Company. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Eggers is prosecuting this case.
DEA Announces 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – DEA is holding its 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24 at locations across the country. The nationwide event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Collection sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.
“The initiative – now in its tenth year – addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” said DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Together with our partners, we are not only holding National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, but offering other ways to dispose of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications.”
“Even in the midst of the pandemic, DEA’s nineteenth take-back event will allow Americans to safely and properly dispose of their unwanted/unused prescription medications,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “Collection sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement. DEA will work hand-in-hand with a number of law enforcement, Tribal and community partners, all in effort to stem the tide of prescription drug abuse.”
“Many people don’t know how to properly dispose of old medication. So, it is either disposed of improperly, which can seriously damage the environment, or not discarded, which can cause medications to all too often end up in the wrong hands,” said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Robert J. Higdon, Jr. “DEA is providing an important public service. I encourage everyone to get rid of their old, unused and unneeded prescription medicine in the proper way. DEA is making it easier for all of us and I thank them again for this twice a year effort.”
North Carolinians participating in the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) 18th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Initiative (NTBI) held on Saturday, October 26, turned in 38,541 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at sites set up throughout the state. This was the highest amount ever collected during the previous 17 Rx drug take back events. Given the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, DEA wants to ensure that the public is aware of other ways they can dispose of unwanted prescription drugs without having to leave their homes. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have tips on how to safely dispose of drugs at home.
In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs can be disposed of at any of the 11,000 DEA authorized collectors at any time throughout the year. For more information, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1.
DEA also encourages the public to reach out to their local law enforcement to find out if they have any permanent drug disposal locations throughout their local community.
DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms. DEA will also accept vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers, only after the batteries are removed from the devices. If the battery cannot be removed, individual consumers can check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the vape pen or e-cigarette devices for proper disposal. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs cannot be dropped off. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
For more information on DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and to find a collection site near you, visit www.deatakeback.com.
DEA Announces 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr. announced today that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is holding its 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 24, at locations across South Carolina. The nationwide event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Collection sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement. Here in South Carolina, collection site locations include the following:
- Greenville Memorial Hospital, at 701 Grove Road in Greenville, sponsored by the Greenville Health System Police Department;
- Florence County Sheriff’s Office, at 6719 Friendfield Road in Effingham;
- Walgreens in Conway, at 1601 Church Street, sponsored by the Conway Police Department;
- Grand Strand Medical Center, at 809 82nd Parkway in Myrtle Beach, sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Police Department;
- City of Columbia Police Department, at 1 Justice Square in Columbia;
- Richland County Sheriff’s Department, at 5623 Two Notch Road in Columbia;
- CVS in Lexington, at 5608 Sunset Boulevard, sponsored by the Lexington Police Department;
- Clyburn Center in Aiken, at 1000 Clyburn Place, sponsored by the Aiken Department of Public Safety;
- Tidewater Pharmacy in Mt. Pleasant, at 421 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, sponsored by the Mt. Pleasant Police Department; and
- Charleston’s Lowcountry Senior Center, at 865 Riverland Drive in Charleston, sponsored by the Charleston Police Department.
“The initiative – now in its tenth year – addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” said DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Together with our partners, we are not only holding National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, but offering other ways to dispose of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications.”
“Even in the midst of the pandemic, DEA’s nineteenth take-back event will allow Americans to safely and properly dispose of their unwanted/unused prescription medications,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “Collection sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement. DEA will work hand-in-hand with a number of law enforcement, Tribal and community partners, all in effort to stem the tide of prescription drug abuse.”
South Carolinians participating in last year’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day turned in 11,124 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at sites set up throughout the state. Given the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, DEA wants to ensure that the public is aware of other ways they can dispose of unwanted prescription drugs without having to leave their homes. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have tips on how to safely dispose of drugs at home.
In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs can be disposed of at any of the 11,000 DEA authorized collectors at any time throughout the year.
DEA also encourages the public to reach out to their local law enforcement to find out if they have any permanent drug disposal locations throughout their local community.
DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms. DEA will also accept vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers, only after the batteries are removed from the devices. If the battery cannot be removed, individual consumers can check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the vape pen or e-cigarette devices for proper disposal. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs cannot be dropped off. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
For more information on DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and to find a collection site near you, visit www.deatakeback.com.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
- Greenville Memorial Hospital, at 701 Grove Road in Greenville, sponsored by the Greenville Health System Police Department;
Crime Family Associate Admits Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An alleged crime family associate today admitted possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Jason Vella, 39, of Toms River, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
On Sept. 19, 2019, investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office executed a search warrant on Vella’s residence and recovered in excess of 150 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, $2,295 in cash and pieces of jewelry.
The charge of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 26, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited the members of the FBI’s Organized Crime Task Force under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; and investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O=Malley of the U.S. Attorney=s Office’s Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
Coordinated Opioid Fentanyl Outreach Initiative for the Tri-Cities Communities AnnouncedRead the Press Release
Kennewick, Wash., - Today, United States Attorney William Hyslop and DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis announced a coordinated Opioid Fentanyl Outreach initiative by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, community leaders, prevention specialists and school superintendents. They were joined at the announcement by Kennewick Police Chief Ken Hohenberg and Dr. Traci Pierce, Superintendent of the Kennewick School District.
The Opioid Fentanyl Outreach Project addresses the public safety and public health threats caused by the increasing influx of deadly fentanyl into the Tri-Cities and throughout the Eastern District of Washington. This initiative has a multi-pronged approach with the focus on educating our communities and directing resources through community outreach and prevention efforts.
United States Attorney Hyslop stated, “Our communities, our residents, our parents, and our youth are all faced with the growing and continued influx of deadly fentanyl into Eastern Washington. Very small amounts in a fentanyl-laced pill can kill a person. We are now seeing it here in the Tri-Cities, and sadly, we are now witnessing deaths in our high school and young adult populations. Dangerous counterfeit pills killing Americans are manufactured in mass quantities by drug trafficking organizations based in Mexico. In response, law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels have increased efforts to investigate and prosecute drug trafficking groups for importing and distributing this lethal narcotic in the Tri-Cities, Spokane, and Yakima areas. However, this is much greater than just a law enforcement issue; it is now a critical community issue that everyone must address.”
Keith Weis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration stated, “Now, it is more important than ever that we all come together as a call for action to save lives. Per the CDC, in 2019 more than 71,000 lives were lost in the United States as a result of drug overdoses. Of this number, approximately 51% of the deaths can be attributed to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Alarmingly, DEA seizures of fentanyl in Eastern Washington have increased almost 200% over the 2019 to 2020 time period. A lethal dose of fentanyl is estimated to be about two milligrams, but can vary based on an individual’s body size, tolerance, amount of previous usage and other factors. Additionally, fentanyl can be lethal when it is airborne or even when touched and absorbed through the skin.”
As part of the Opioid Fentanyl Outreach Project, community, law enforcement, and educational leaders have come together in Tri-Cities, Spokane, and Yakima to address this issue. Plans are underway with media engagement pieces, town halls and presentations. On October 7th, 2020, DEA Diversion in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services held a virtual conference with hundreds of health care professionals in Washington providing information and support during the pandemic and raising awareness on the ongoing opioid crisis.
On October 12, 2020, a 12 week media awareness campaign was launched in the Eastern District of Washington, “You Can Save Lives” knowing the warning signs of counterfeit fentanyl pills keeps your loved ones and the community safe. Viewers can obtain a variety of resources at
https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/ https://vimeo.com/user96937699/dl/469641512/a59c2c8768
Community forums and parent discussions are being organized. School Superintendents throughout the region are collaborating on educational lessons and presentations, with a focus on student involvement to spread the message. A special video about the fentanyl problem is being produced and will be available.
Another resource available to educators and the community is DEA Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program. Red Ribbon Week is celebrated annually October 23-31. This year’s theme is “Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free.” You can learn more about DEA Red Ribbon and ways to get involved through programs and contests by visiting https://www.dea.gov/redribbon Other outreach efforts are being added as they are planned.
This Saturday, October 24, 2020, National Drug Take Back Day will be recognized. The Tri-Cities is sponsoring socially distanced “Drug Take Back” sites from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. More information about Drug Take Back Day and locations in the Tri-Cities are available at https://deatakeback.com
The Opioid Fentanyl Outreach Strategy Committee Benton/Franklin County Members include:
William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney
Keith Weis, DEA Special Agent in Charge
Mark Haigh, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge
Korey Bearden, DEA Supervisor
Stephanie Van Marter, Assistant United States Attorney
Peter Orth, FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent – Yakima/Tri-Cities Resident Agency
Dr. Amy Person, Health Officer – Benton-Franklin Health District
Dave Zabell, City Manager – City of Pasco
Marie Mosley, City Manager – City of Kennewick
Cindy Reents, City Manager – City of Richland
Chief John Bruce, Richland Police Department
Chief Ken Hohenberg, Kennewick Police Department
Chief Ken Roske, Pasco Police Department
Sheriff Jim Raymond, Franklin County
Shawn Sant, Prosecutor – Franklin County
Sheriff Jerry Hatcher – Benton County
Andy Miller, Prosecutor and Deputy Prosecutor Julie Long-Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office
Darcy Weisner, Superintendent – ESD 123
Dr. Traci Pierce, Superintendent – Kennewick School District
Dr. Shelley Redinger, Superintendent – Richland School District
Michelle Whitney, Superintendent – Pasco School District
Lt. Aaron Clem, Kennewick Police Department – Youth Services
Mayor Brent Gerry, City of West Richland
Chief Ben Majetich, West Richland Police Department
Convicted Felon from Lafayette Sentenced for Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jeremy Rubin, 32, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays to 52 months (4 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Rubin pleaded guilty on July 24, 2020 to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The charge stems from a domestic disturbance call that Lafayette City Police Department officers responded to on August 19, 2018. The caller advised that her boyfriend had threatened her, directed her into a bedroom, placed a handgun to her head and threatened her life. Law enforcement officers arrived at the residence where the call had been placed and questioned Jeremy Rubin about the incident. Rubin denied having a firearm and denied consent for law enforcement officers to search his vehicle. A search warrant was obtained and officers found the firearm and ammunition in a case bearing Rubin’s name in the vehicle. Further investigation by law enforcement officers revealed that the firearm had been reported stolen.
Rubin has a previous felony conviction for first degree robbery (2008). Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
The ATF and Lafayette City Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog prosecuted the case.
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Convicted Felon Who Adheres to the “Sovereign Citizen” Movement Is Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced Jerrell Tito Bowman, 35, of Asheville, to 185 months in prison and eight years of supervised release on drug and gun charges, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Asheville Resident Office, Vincent C. Pallozzi, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Chief David Zack of the Asheville Police Department, and Sheriff Quentin Miller of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to plea documents and statements made in court, in March 2018, officers with Buncombe County’s Anti-Crime Task Force (BCAT) became aware that Bowman was trafficking narcotics in the Asheville area. On March 21, 2018, while executing a search warrant, law enforcement recovered narcotics from Bowman’s apartment and vehicle, including Fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia, approximately $15,000 in cash, and a loaded firearm. Bowman was previously convicted of state drug and gun offenses, including Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Bowman has been in federal custody since September 2019. While in federal custody, Bowman, through an individual acting as his representative, has filed numerous court documents demonstrating that he adheres to the sovereign citizen movement whose followers believe that they are only answerable to their interpretation of common law and not subject to government statutes or proceedings.
On June 29, 2020, Bowman pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, Fentanyl, and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray commended the Asheville Police Department, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the DEA, and the ATF in Asheville for their investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
Clarkston Business Owner and Federal Government Contracting Officer Indicted for Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Spokane – Today, William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced the indictment of Christopher Hamilton Clemens, 39, of Clarkston, Washington, Hamilton’s West LLC, a Clarkston, Washington business owned and operated by Clemens, and Calandra Charging Eagle, 52, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in connection with a federal bribery scheme. The Indictment charges Defendant Clemens with Bribery of a Public Official, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201(b)(1), and charges Defendant Charging Eagle with Accepting a Bribe as a Public Official, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201(b)(2). The Indictment also charges all three defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States and theft of government property. All the charges in the Indictment are felonies.
According to the Indictment, Defendant Charging Eagle was a contracting official at the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (“BIA”), in its Albuquerque, New Mexico office. BIA is a federal agency that, among other things, provides funding and oversight for improvement projects on American Indian land and facilities. Defendant Hamilton’s West, a government contracting company owned and operated by Defendant Clemens, competed and sought to compete for BIA and other federal government contracts.
The Indictment alleges that through her position as a contracting official at BIA, Charging Eagle had access to internal and confidential BIA estimates and other information regarding potential contracts, and had a role in approving contracts, modifications, and invoices. The Indictment charges that between June and October 2018, Clemens and Charging Eagle engaged in a bribery scheme in which Clemens agreed to pay a $10,700 debt owed by Charging Eagle to the Sandia Resort and Casino, a resort, casino, and event center located in Albuquerque. In return, the Indictment charges, Charging Eagle agreed to use her position to steer BIA contracts, including an over half-million dollar contract to provide lightning protection improvements at the Navajo Nation’s Pine Hill School in New Mexico, to Clemens and his companies. The Indictment also charges that in return for the bribe, Charging Eagle provided Clemens and his companies with inside confidential information regarding BIA’s procurement process, including, but not limited to, providing Clemens and his companies with the Independent Government Cost Estimate and other confidential and internal BIA information in order to provide Clemens and his companies with an unfair competitive advantage in obtaining the Pine Hill School lightning protection contract and other BIA contracts.
United States Attorney Hyslop said “the integrity of the federal procurement process is critical to ensuring that public funds are used appropriately and that precious and limited funds are used for improvements of tribal schools and facilities.” Hyslop continued, “I commend the excellent work of both the Department of Interior Office of Inspector General and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General in investigating this scheme. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals and companies that misuse the federal contracting process.”
The bribery charges, if proved, carry a maximum penalty of a 15-year term of imprisonment; up to a $250,000 fine; and up to a 3-year term of court supervision following any term of imprisonment. The theft of government property and conspiracy charges, if proved, carry a maximum penalty of 10 and 5 years of incarceration, respectively.
An Indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Interior Office of Inspector General and Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
hamilton_et._al._indictment.pdfCharlotte Man Is Charged with CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury sitting in Charlotte has returned a criminal indictment charging Amir Salvatore Khayyat, 27, of Charlotte, with cyberstalking and making interstate threats, for sending his victim hundreds of harassing and threatening emails and voicemails, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations in the indictment, in 2017, Khayyat met the victim, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe.” Jane Doe is a licensed clinical psychologist and a credentialed mental health service provider, who met Khayyat in her professional capacity. As alleged in the indictment, from April 2019 to October 2020, Khayyat engaged in an extensive cyberstalking and threats campaign targeting Jane Doe. For approximately 18 months, Khayyat allegedly sent Jane Doe hundreds of harassing emails, including unsolicited sexual imagery, from multiple email addresses, and left numerous harassing voicemails on Jane Doe’s office phone line. Many of the harassing emails and voicemails contained express or implicit threats to harm Jane Doe and law enforcement officers. The indictment further alleges that Khayyat continued to harass and threaten Jane Doe even after she obtained a state court order forbidding Khayyat from communicating with her.
Khayyat is currently in federal custody. The cyberstalking charge and the communicating interstate threats charge each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges against Khayyat are allegations. The defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the FBI and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Warren, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case.
CBL/BFL Associate Going to Prison for 9 Years on Racketeering, Drug, and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Mikel Lowe, aka L-O, 25, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul C. Parisi and Seth T. Molisani, who handled the case, stated between 2010 and August 28, 2018, the defendant was an associate with the CBL/BFL Gang, which stands for, among other things, “Cash Been Long” and “Brothers for Life.” He conspired with several other associates to sell drugs, commit robbery, retaliate against witnesses, and commit assault. CBL/BFL operated within a specifically defined geographic area on the East side of Buffalo. Gang members and associates engaged in drug trafficking to generate income and violent crimes to maintain control over their territory.
On January 8, 2012, the defendant, brandishing a firearm, approached Victim A at a gas station on Jefferson Avenue and demanded Victim A’s property. Victim A complied and provided defendant with jewelry that Victim A was wearing. Victim B, having witnessed the foregoing incident, subsequently testified about it in Buffalo City Court. Thereafter, in March of 2012, Victims A and B were traveling in a vehicle in the Towne Gardens neighborhood when the defendant began following them in a separate vehicle, displayed a firearm in violation of a Buffalo City Court order of protection, and threatened to cause physical injuries to Victims A and B because of their status as witnesses to the January robbery.
Between March 2015 and 2017, an individual working with investigators met the defendant in the City of Buffalo at various locations, such as the Towne Gardens, for the purposes of purchasing heroin. The individual met the defendant on an almost daily basis and purchased at least .1 grams of heroin on each occasion and purchased one gram of heroin at least 100 times.
On February 28, 2017, the defendant was in the Towne Gardens when Buffalo Police Officers observed him with a loaded 9mm firearm. The officers chased Lowe and arrested him. In addition to the firearm, the defendant was found in possession of quantities of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl and crack cocaine, and packaging for the distribution of heroin and fentanyl.
On June 8, 2017, FBI agents attempted to arrest Lowe. Agents surrounded 1190 East Lovejoy Street in Buffalo and knocked to announce their presence. Soon after, an agent observed an object being thrown from 1190 East Lovejoy toward the building next door. The defendant was arrested and 1190 East Lovejoy was searched. Agents recovered two boxes of 9mm ammunition, a quantity of marijuana, a .45 caliber pistol, two digital scales, a blender, a scale clap, a bottle of Vitablend, commonly used to mix narcotics, packaging material for heroin and marijuana, a razor blade. On the roof of the building next door, agents recovered a shotgun with ammunition. The recovered pistol contained a DNA profile that matched Lowe’s DNA profile. The recovered shotgun contained a DNA profile mixture of three individuals and the defendant could not be excluded from the mixture.
Lowe is one of 13 members and associates of the CBL/BFL Gang to be convicted in this case. He is the 11th to be sentenced.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major James Hall; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Sliwinski; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard; the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina; and the Erie Crime Analysis Center. Additional assistance was provided by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney John Flynn.
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Bronx Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bronx, New York, man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Steven Justo, 33, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In August 2019, Justo conspired with others to distribute cocaine in New Jersey. Justo and a conspirator travelled from the Bronx into Bergen County, New Jersey, to deliver approximately two kilograms of cocaine before being identified and arrested by agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Justo to four years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Barnes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Box Elder man admits meth trafficking crime in scheme to smuggle drugs into Cascade County jailRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder man accused in a scheme to smuggle methamphetamine into the Cascade County Detention Center by having inmates hide the drug inside their bodies admitted a drug trafficking charge today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Franklin Troy Caplette, 36, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Caplette faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Sentencing was set for Feb. 11, 2021. Caplette was detained.
The prosecution said in court documents that in May 2019, while Caplette was incarcerated at the Cascade County Detention Center, detectives began to investigate a drug smuggling scheme. Caplette arranged for people outside of the jail to bond out inmates, provide the defendants with drugs to conceal in their rectums and have the defendants smuggle the drugs back into the jail.
When defendants returned to the jail and were placed in the booking room, they told detention officers who their enemies were at the jail so they could get placed into the right pod to distribute the drugs.
In June 2019, a judge temporarily released Caplette to attend a relative's funeral on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation and directed him to return by 5 p.m. the next day.
While on release, Caplette spoke by cell phone with jail inmates and told one inmate he was "coming in hot." Detectives waited at the jail for Caplette, who arrived late. While Caplette went to the booking area, Caplette's wife told detectives that they never made it to the funeral and instead went to other places before returning to Great Falls.
Detectives served a warrant on Caplette to search his body for drugs and took him to an emergency room for an x-ray. The x-ray showed three oblong-shaped objects in Caplette's abdomen. Caplette eventually passed the bags. An analysis determined that one of the bags contained meth, while two of the bags contained tobacco.
Other inmates told detectives that Caplette was in charge of contraband entering the jail and that he would use young inmates to be runners to bring back drugs into jail, where they would have parties at night.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Russell Country Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Great Falls Police Department and Cascade County Sheriff's Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Bounty Hunter Felon Convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, AgainRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a three-day jury trial with proper COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Jeremy Fields, 35, was found guilty as charged for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the guilty verdict in what was the second post-COVID-19 federal trial held in Memphis.
According to information presented in court, on March 28, 2019, U. S. Probation and Parole Officers conducted a home inspection at the residence of Jeremy Fields, a convicted felon, who was on supervised release for possessing a firearm and body armor in conjunction with his duties as a bounty hunter. During the search, officers observed suspicious items in the home that led them to believe Fields was still engaged in the bounty hunting business. They discovered a handgun in a case containing Fields’ bounty hunter ID and badge, handcuffs, and two holsters, along with other personal documents in Fields’ bedroom.
Fields explained to the officers that the gun must belong to his brother (friend) Julian Williams, 36. When Williams arrived, he initially told officers nothing in the home belonged to him. After some time on the scene, Williams mentioned he stayed with Fields previously and might have left a gun there some time ago. At trial, Williams took the stand and told the jury that he did not know Fields was a convicted felon. He said he left his gun under Fields' bed in the case without telling Fields it was there. The jury rejected that defense, and found Fields guilty as charged in the indictment.
Sentencing is set for December 18, 2020 before U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays, where Fields faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison followed by up to 3 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to community, and in this case, this offender stubbornly continued to possess a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history and his supervised probation status. Fields has demonstrated his refusal to accept responsibility for his criminal conduct, and as a result of this guilty verdict, he will now face a significant consequence for his brazen recidivism."
U.S. Probation and Parole, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Memphis Police Department – Crump Station and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force investigated the case.
The Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative is 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. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Justice Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neal Oldham and Jennifer Musselwhite are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Boston Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Loaded Semi-Automatic PistolRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was indicted yesterday for being a felon in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
Tyrone Goforth, 40, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Goforth was charged by criminal complaint in September 2020 and is currently in custody.
According to charging documents, on July 31, 2020, Goforth possessed a Sig Sauer P938 9mm semi-automatic pistol loaded with five rounds of 9mm ammunition. Due to a prior conviction, Goforth is prohibited from possessing firearms, and does not possess a federal license to sell firearms.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement. Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
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.
Bellaire man ordered to pay $9.5 million in restitutionRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 61-year-old purported “investment advisor” has been ordered to serve the maximum sentence for his conviction of wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
William Andrew Hightower pleaded guilty Oct. 19, 2019.
Today, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller ordered him to serve 188 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard from some of the victims who described how he stole retirement funds and their life savings. Judge Miller further ordered Hightower to pay a total of $9.5 million to the people victimized by his scheme.
Hightower was president of Hightower Capital Group (HCG) which he founded in 2010 and held himself out to be an investment advisor. However, he concealed the fact that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) had barred him from acting as a broker or associating with a broker-deal firm in October 2015.
Hightower conducted a Ponzi scheme – taking money from clients from 2013-2018 and making false promises regarding their investments. He falsely told them their money was being invested in various projects, such as restaurants, movies, insurance contracts and more.
Hightower met most of his investors through referrals from other investors, family and friends. He lulled clients with misleading portfolios by presenting investment programs with purported high returns in a short period of time.
On some occasions, Hightower would make monthly payments to investors. They falsely believed their money was being properly invested. Some even re-invested additional funds with Hightower.
Hightower fraudulently used investor monies to pay back other investors, pay his credit cards, fund his company and/or to enrich his own lifestyle.
Previously released on bond, he was ordered into custody after the hearing today where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady prosecuted the case.
Belgrade man sentenced, fined for wire fraud in dumping of radioactive drilling wasteRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Belgrade man who admitted dumping radioactive contaminants from oil drilling at an abandoned gas station in North Dakota instead of properly disposing of the waste as hired to do was sentenced today to four months in prison, which was the time he had served in custody, and two years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
James Kenneth Ward, 58, pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris also ordered Ward to pay a $2,500 fine and $9,977 restitution.
"Mr. Ward's actions not only defrauded a company that had hired him to properly dispose of oil drilling waste but they also put the environment and the public at risk by deliberately abandoning the contaminated materials at an unsecure, defunct gas station property. Those who poison the environment for personal gain will be caught and prosecuted," U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
“The defendant in this case engaged in a fraudulent scheme that resulted in a serious threat to public health in the form of improperly disposed of radioactive waste.” said Lance Ehrig, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Enforcement Program in Montana. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the EPA’s commitment to protecting public health and holding accountable those who defraud consumers.”
The prosecution said in court documents that from 2011 until 2014, Ward contracted with Zenith Produced Water, LLC, to properly incinerate and dispose of filter socks, which are tubular nets that collect pollutants and radioactive materials from saltwater produced from drilling and developing oil. Zenith Produced Water, a Colorado company that owned and operated saltwater disposal wells, paid Ward $9,977 to properly dispose of the filter socks. Instead of disposing the filter socks as agreed, Ward dumped the filter socks at an abandoned gas station in Noonan, N.D. Zenith Produced Water would never have paid Ward the money if it knew he was going to dump the filter socks in an abandoned gas station. Ward deposited some of the checks he received from Zenith Produced Water in a bank in Deer Lodge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric E. Nelson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division.
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Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Chief United States District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced codefendants Ashley Rose Yellowbear, 28, Kristen Jade Antelope, 27, Rusty Tso Tabaho, 28, and Samuel Harold Friday, 38, all of the Wind River Reservation or Riverton, Wyoming, on October 15, 2020 for kidnapping and aiding and abetting.
“The violence in this case is disturbing and unacceptable,” said US Attorney Mark Klaassen. “The victims were bound at the wrists, beaten, threatened, and held captive for hours at the hands of the defendants. This prosecution makes clear that such actions will not be tolerated, and affirms our commitment to reduce violent crime in Indian County and across Wyoming.”
Each codefendant’s sentence depended upon his or her role in the offense. Yellowbear was sentenced to 135 months of imprisonment, Antelope was sentenced to 124 months of imprisonment, Tabaho was sentenced to 114 months of imprisonment and Friday was sentenced to 160 months of imprisonment. All codefendants’ prison sentences will be followed by five years of supervised release. All codefendants were ordered to pay restitution jointly and severally in the amount of $4,408.69 with the possibility of additional restitution being added on or before January 9, 2021. Each codefendant must pay a $100.00 special assessment.
"The FBI, along with the Wind River Police Department, worked diligently to investigate and gather evidence in this case," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. "The recent sentencing of Ashley Yellowbear, Kristen Antelope, Rusty Tabaho and Sam Friday demonstrates the commitment and dedication to our citizens and communities. The FBI, our law enforcement partners, and prosecutors work together every day to find justice for the victims of violent crime on our nation’s Indian reservations.”
These sentences were in connection with an incident in which the codefendants confined two victims in Yellowbear’s Ford Expedition on January 1, 2020, by cuffing their wrists using handcuffs and plastic zip-ties and activating child locks on the Expedition’s doors and windows. The victims were held for several hours, during which time they were repeatedly assaulted with fists, were struck in the head with a tire iron, strangled and kicked. The victims were eventually taken out of Yellowbear’s Expedition, thrown to the ground, kicked and left at an abandoned house in the St. Stephens area. One victim was able to run for help but could not direct law enforcement to where the second victim had been left unconscious. The second victim regained consciousness and crawled into the abandoned house in an attempt to find shelter, as temperatures were at or near freezing at the time The motive for the kidnapping and assaults was a series of text messages that angered Yellowbear. All codefendants were arrested on the Wind River Reservation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs
33 Latin King Members and Associates Convicted and Sentenced to Lengthy Federal Prison Terms for Racketeering OffensesRead the Press Release
In Del Rio, a federal judge has sentenced 33 members and associates of the Austin, San Antonio and Uvalde Chapters of the Latin King’s Central Region of Texas from 45 to 288 months in federal prison for their roles in a racketeering scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS) Director Steven McCraw, and Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez.
According to court records, the defendants have operated a criminal enterprise in Central Texas for ten years beginning in 2005. Under the leadership of Texas-Central Region “Inca” Pete Perez in Austin (188 mos.), San Antonio Chapter “Inca” Joe Pierce (aka “Dro”) (252 mos.) and Uvalde Chapter “Incas” James Marty Long (aka “Whiteboy”) (264 mos.) and Jacob Mariscal (aka “Righteous”) (250 mos.), the defendants conspired to carry out unlawful acts including attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, extortion, robbery, various firearms offenses and drug distribution involving marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine.
Charges included conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute to include ten attempted murders, approximately ten assaults and various other acts of violence committed as a result of a prospect initiation, leaking of sensitive information to a non-Latin King member, breaking an organizational rule, retaliation against rival gang members, and for unpaid drug distribution debts.
“Violent gangs like the Latin Kings are made up of members who wake up each and every day intent on committing violence, dealing drugs, breaking our laws and threatening our social fabric. Simply put, they cannot be allowed to run unchecked in our streets,” stated U.S. Attorney Sofer. “Thanks to the hard work of Assistant United States Attorney Amy Hail, and the extraordinary efforts of HSI, DEA, and the Texas DPS, our community is safer. The sentences announced today ensure that these gang members will no longer be in a position to shoot, rob, extort or peddle poison in the Western District of Texas.”
Among the overt acts described in court documents are:
- In 2008, Latin King members assaulted a rival gang member by beating about his head, face and body with rocks, bats, and glass bottles.
- In 2009, Latin King members conspired to shoot a rival gang member in retaliation for the stabbing of a Latin King member and supplied the gun for the retaliatory shooting.
- In 2009, Latin King members struck a rival gang member in the head with a brick, and then brandished a shotgun while stating “I’m going to kill you” over a gang related dispute. That individual suffered non-life threatening injuries.
- In 2009, Latin King members engaged in a fistfight with rival gang members at a gas station and during that fight one of the Latin King members drove a vehicle into a group of rival gang members.
- In 2010, Latin King members used two females to lure two rival gang members to a residence where they were stabbed, punched, kicked, and beaten with a baseball bat.
- In 2010, Latin King members assaulted a rival gang member by beating him, striking him with a beer bottle, and stabbing him.
- In 2011, Latin King members engaged in a fight with rival gang members at a bar over a gang dispute, which resulted in the death of a Latin King member.
- In 2012, Latin King members attempted to murder a rival gang member by shooting at individuals standing in front a residence, causing a non-gang member to be hit by a stray bullet.
- In 2013, Latin King members attempted to murder a rival gang member by shooting him with a shotgun, stabbing him with a knife, and hitting him in the head with a brick while beating him in retaliation for previous fight the individual had with a Latin King member.
“Violent gangs have no room here in south Texas,” stated HSI Special Agent in Charge Folden, San Antonio Division. “These significant sentences take dangerous gang members off the streets and weaken the larger illicit organization. HSI will continue to stand united with local, state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle these criminal organizations in an effort to protect our communities.”
“These federal prison sentences sends a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work diligently to disrupt and dismantle gangs and rid our streets of these criminals and the violence associated with their activities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Combs. “Communities and neighborhoods which this gang has impacted through drug dealing and violence deserve to be able to peacefully go about their daily lives without fear.”
“The sentencing of these 33 violent Latin King gang members sends a clear message to all who engage in violent criminal activity: DEA and our law enforcement partners will bring them to justice, no matter where they are or how long it takes,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Whipple, Houston Field Office.
HSI, FBI, DEA, TXDPS and the Uvalde Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy M. Hail prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
3 sent to prison for smuggling 24 in hidden compartmentRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Two men and one woman have been sentenced for their part in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
A Laredo federal jury deliberated for eight hours following a one-day trial Jan. 16 before convicting Clarence James Lee, 61, San Antonio. Co-conspirators Ellis Levaughn Boston, 48, San Antonio, and Julie Perez, 34, Elmendorf, pleaded guilty Dec. 3, 2019.
Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered Lee to serve a total of 46 months in federal prison, while Boston and Perez were sentenced to respective terms of 24 and 15 months. They all must also serve three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional information including testimony detailing Lee’s knowledge of the scheme and how much he was to be paid for driving the truck. In handing down the sentence, Judge Saldana noted the trio appeared to be a “motley crew” who were easily convinced to take part in the scheme.
On Sept. 26, 2019, authorities at the Bruni immigration checkpoint on Texas Highway 359 stopped a Penske truck. Lee was driving. He said he lived in San Antonio and was moving furniture to Kingsville. During the initial inspection, a K-9 detected contraband in the cargo area of the truck.
Authorities conducted a search and discovered 24 illegal aliens hidden behind a false wall built into the truck. Furniture and appliances were blocking the door, leaving those inside with no means of escape. Upon their release, they were sweating profusely, gasping for air and immediately asked for water. A temperature reading inside the truck measured 94 degrees.
At trial, the jury heard Lee was to be paid cash and narcotics to drive the truck from Laredo to Kingsville. Testimony revealed he admitted he thought it contained contraband. However, Lee claimed he did not know people were in the back of the truck until he received a call about eight minutes prior to arriving at the checkpoint. He still decided to continue his trip.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that while Lee thought he was smuggling narcotics, he did not intend to transport persons. The jury was not convinced and found him guilty as charged.
Boston and Perez were in a scout car and admitted to their roles in the scheme. Perez admitted at today’s sentencing hearing that she knew the smugglers in Laredo and put them in contact with her boyfriend, Boston. Boston admitted to recruiting Lee to drive the truck in exchange for money.
All three defendants have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Harrison and Jennifer Day prosecuted the case.
2nd Austin-Based Nigerian National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Furthering a Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
In Austin today, a federal judge sentenced a Nigerian National residing in Austin to 51 months in federal prison for his participation in a conspiracy that laundered more than $1.7 Million in Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam proceeds stolen from multiple companies, announced U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer; Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), San Antonio; and, Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Houston Division
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered that 33–year-old Nosa Onaghise pay $1,639,419.57 in restitution; pay a $230,000 money judgment; forfeit $14,282.50 seized from a bank account; and, be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.
In a BEC scheme, scammers target businesses and individuals making wire transfer payments, often targeting employees with access to company finances. The scammers trick the employees into making wire transfer payments to bank accounts thought to belong to trusted partners—except the money ends up in accounts controlled by the fraudsters. Sometimes the scammers use computer intrusion techniques to alter legitimate payment request emails, changing the recipient bank accounts. Sometimes they send spoofed emails from email addresses similar to the real email accounts used by trusted partners.
On December 12, 2018, Onaghise pleaded guilty to one count of passport fraud admitting to attempting to use a false, forged or counterfeit passport to open several bank accounts in the U.S. in 2018, in furtherance of the fraud scheme.
On December 20, 2019, Joseph Odibobhahemen, a 28-year-old Nigerian citizen formerly residing in Austin and Onaghise’s co-defendant, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for his role in the fraud scheme.
Court records in this indictment (A18CR358), and the indictment also returned in Austin against four other coconspirators (A19CR78), show that between November 2016 and April 2019, over $10 million was allegedly sent by victims to accounts controlled by the conspirators, who were able to take in excess of $6 million before law enforcement or financial institutions stopped the fraudulent transfers. Onaghise, Odibobhahemen and the others acquired or controlled dozens of bank accounts opened in the U.S., including in Austin, utilizing fraudulent identification documents, including fraudulent foreign passports in fake names. Once the funds were fraudulently procured and deposited into these bogus accounts, the defendants worked quickly to withdraw or transfer the funds.
The four additional co-conspirators—Bameyi Omale, Chinonso Agbaji, Igho Calaba and Chibuzor Uba—have all pleaded guilty and are currently serving lengthy federal prison terms: Omale, 135 months; Agbaji, 78 months; Calaba, 30 months; and Uba, 36 months.
“Scammers and fraudsters beware! We will bring the full weight of federal law enforcement down on those who prey on the legitimate business community here in Austin and elsewhere in this district,” stated U.S. Attorney Sofer. “The sentence and restitution order handed down today demonstrate the serious nature of these offenses - offenses that damage our economy and harm innocent victims. If you are engaged in this shameful and illegal activity, you can expect to go to federal prison.”
“This federal investigation uncovered a sophisticated scheme to steal from U.S. businesses,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Folden. “These types of crimes cost U.S. citizens hundreds of millions of dollars each year to finance criminal organizations around the world. HSI and its law enforcement partners will continue to do everything possible to stop this kind of fraud and to protect the citizens of the United States.”
“Technological advancements have led to the sophistication of fraudulent schemes,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Gonzalez. “However, no matter what their scheme may be, if criminals use the U.S. Mail in furtherance of it, they will face the full investigative force of the Postal Inspection Service. Postal Inspectors will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners, such as HSI, to ensure these fraudsters are brought to justice.”
Special agents with HSI and USPIS investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Galdo and Keith Henneke prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
110 Gang Member Sentenced to 12.5 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Kemnorris Kinsey, age 33, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 150 months in federal prison for violating the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner. Senior United State District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also ordered Kinsey to serve three years of supervised release following his term of incarceration.
In imposing sentence, Senior United State District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., found that Kinsey was personally involved in drug trafficking, gun possession, and at least one shooting, on behalf of the gang.
Kinsey was one of fourteen defendants charged in the case. All of the defendants have either pleaded guilty or been convicted following trial. Previously sentenced 110 Gang RICO defendants in this case include:
- Anthony Hopper was sentenced to 385 months in prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release;
- Damani Prince was sentenced to 78 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release;
- Rashawn Wynn was sentenced to 92 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release;
- Davon Sullivan was sentenced to 68 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release;
- Qualik Vaughn was sentenced to 68 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release;
- Jason Lebron was sentenced to 92 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release;
- Javon Peterson was sentenced to 98 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release;
- Daquan Dowdell was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release;
- Terry Linen was sentenced to 110 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release; and
- Deshawnte Waller was sentenced to 80 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Syracuse Police Department, and the Gang Violence Task Force, which consists of members of the Syracuse Police, the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Corrections, the New York State Attorney General, and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Commandeur and Kristen Grabowski
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Wednesday 21 October 2020
Youngstown man charged with illegal possession of machine gunRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a two-count indictment charging Marlin Black, age 28, of Youngstown with illegal possession of a machine gun and receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm.
According to court records, on July 31, 2020, Youngstown Police were called to a domestic violence dispute involving gunshots. The victim of the dispute claimed that the defendant had allegedly fired a gun towards her. Officers later arrested the defendant and recovered four firearms, ammunition and narcotics. The defendant then allegedly placed a phone call from jail and mentioned additional firearms located at his residence. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and officers located a Glock model 17, with a machine gun conversion device attached. The firearm was not registered to the defendant in the National Forearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.
In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Youngstown Police Department and ATF. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.
Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper sentenced Christopher L. Childs (48), of Hartford, Wisconsin, to 27 years in prison for sex trafficking.
On October 3, 2019, Childs entered a guilty plea to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) & 1591(b)(1). According to court records and filings in the case, Childs: (1) operated as a trafficker in the Milwaukee area and elsewhere since approximately 1996; (2) recruited adult females and at least one minor female to work for him; (3) caused the females to perform prostitution dates using fraud, coercion, and, at times, force and threats of force; (4) required his victims to provide the proceeds of prostitution dates to him; and (5) transported victims to strip clubs and other locations inside and outside of Wisconsin, including clubs in Dodge County, Wisconsin, known as TNT and the Hardware Store.
Before imposing sentence, Chief Judge Pepper heard from six of the victims at the hearing or in written impact statements. In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Pepper noted that Childs destroyed and dehumanized others for a feeling of control and for his own financial gain. Chief Judge Pepper explained that this was one of the most serious offenses the court had seen, as Childs victimized “person after person” for an extended period. Chief Judge Pepper also expressed the need for the court’s sentence to deter other traffickers from similar conduct.
United States Attorney Krueger commented, “This 27-year sentence reflects that sex trafficking is a horrific, dehumanizing crime. The prosecution was only possible because some of Childs’s victims had the courage to bring the truth to light. This case also resulted from extraordinary cooperation among work of federal, state, and local law enforcement.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, Racine Police Department, United States Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, Hartford Police Department, United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Deposition Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, Milwaukee Police Department, and Wisconsin Department of Justice –Division of Criminal Investigation.
The case has prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Richard G. Frohling.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Wilmington Man Receives 85 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced yesterday to 85 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine.
According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Nathaniel McFarland, 40, was involved in the importation and distribution of methamphetamine into Wilmington between July and August 2019. On August 6, 2019, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Detectives received information that McFarland was in the process of obtaining narcotics from a residence on Ovalberry Court in New Hanover County. Detectives followed the car and performed a traffic stop on an automobile being driven by McFarland in the parking lot of McDonalds on Gordon Road. McFarland had provided a female passenger 78 grams of pure methamphetamine as the police were approaching and a quantity of cocaine was found in the car. The investigation uncovered the source of the methamphetamine was from Greensboro.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case. This case was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation “White Rabbit” focusing on a drug trafficking organization involved in the importation of heroin and methamphetamine into Eastern North Carolina.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-cr-00076-M-1
Wheeling man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Jason Timothy Henry, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Henry, age 44, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Henry admitted to having more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in November 2019 in Ohio County.
Henry faces at least five years 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 Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Wheeling Police Department and the Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Warwick Man Detained on Charges of Possessing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Warwick man who allegedly shared links of child pornography while participating in an online group chat was ordered detained in federal custody until a hearing on Friday following his arrest today by members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Providence on child pornography charges.
It is alleged that Owen Batista, 26, posted links on a social media platform where members allegedly distribute videos and images of child pornography. It is alleged that Batista directed members of the platform to online digital storage folders that, a forensic review by FBI agents determined, contained 738 files. A forensic examination determined that seventeen of eighteen mp4 videos downloaded and viewed by FBI agents allegedly depicted the sexual abuse of children.
According to court documents, at the time of his arrest Batista allegedly told agents that he opened a social media account on the platform used for sharing child pornography by using a family member’s email address. A brief forensic review by task force agents of Batista’s iPad at the time of his arrest allegedly revealed a video depicting child pornography. Batista allegedly told agents that he thought the video contained “midget porn” and was unaware that the video depicted child pornography.
Batista appeared before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan and was ordered detained until a Friday hearing on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is comprised of FBI agents and members of the Providence and Warwick Police Departments.
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and FBI Boston Division Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta thank the FBI in Salt Lake City, Utah, for their assistance in this investigation.
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Wanted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges of Attempted Coercion and Enticement and of Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Robert Black, 49, of St. Croix, appeared before Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon in District Court and entered a guilty plea to the charges of Attempted Coercion and Enticement and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Sentencing is set for February 19, 2021.
According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations initiated a law enforcement operation investigating online predators seeking to exploit children in St. Croix. Agents working online in an undercover capacity created personas in online forums and applications designed to facilitate interactions between individuals. On August 12, 2019, Black initiated contact with an undercover agent on the application Grindr by sending a picture of his naked torso and another of his genitals. A dialogue ensured during which the undercover agent stated that he was 14 years old. Later the defendant discussed the sexual activity that he wished to participate in with the undercover agent. A meet was arranged for August 16, 2019, at which time Black was arrested on the Boardwalk in Christiansted.
Black is a convicted sex offender from Missouri who failed to register locally when he moved to the Virgin Islands in 2018. In 2000, he was convicted in Missouri of Statutory Sodomy in the 2nd degree. As a result of this conviction, he was classified as a Tier 3 Offender who must register every 90 days for his lifetime under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Black has a parole violation warrant from Missouri for a sex offender registration violation and has an outstanding trafficking in methamphetamine parole violation warrant from Georgia.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston.
Wagner Man Charged with MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Wagner, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Second Degree Murder.
Ronald Bohn, age 50, was indicted on October 7, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on October 15, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on September 15, 2020, Bohn unlawfully and with malice aforethought murdered a human being, by stabbing him.
The charge is merely an accusation and Bohn is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yankton Sioux Law Enforcement, with assistance from the Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office, Wagner Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Bohn was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for December 22, 2020.
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking Tulsa MayorRead the Press Release
A Virginia man who sent harassing and intimidating emails directed toward Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and his family pleaded guilty to cyber stalking, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
Adam Maxwell Donn, 41, of Norfolk, Virginia, appeared today in federal court via video conferencing. At his hearing, the defendant admitted that he sent Mayor Bynum and his wife 44 emails and left 14 voicemails from June 11 through June 22, 2020, that were meant to harass, annoy, threaten and intimate the Bynum family. He also admitted that the threatening messages made numerous references to Bynum’s children and their home address. Donn believed the threats would coerce Bynum into cancelling President Donald Trump’s campaign rally scheduled for June 20, 2020.
“Cyberstalking can be a terrifying ordeal for victims. Adam Donn’s incessant harassment and threats to both the Mayor and his family more than crossed the line. They weren’t protected speech; they were criminal acts,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Today, Mr. Donn admitted his guilt and will now face the possibility of federal prison time when sentenced. The Tulsa Police and FBI really did some top notch investigative work on this case. They identified the cyber stalker, protected the victims from harm, and ultimately arrested Mr. Donn in Virginia.”
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan accepted Donn’s plea and set sentencing for Jan. 25, 2021. The date could potentially be accelerated.
Initial charges were filed against Donn in July. You can find the press release here.
The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. U.S. Attorney Trent Shores and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar are prosecuting the case.
Vero Beach Man Pleads Guilty to over $40 Million in FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – David John Ridling (58, Vero Beach) has pleaded guilty to 10 counts of wire fraud, 4 counts of bank fraud, 8 counts of money laundering, and 2 counts of aggravated identity theft. Ridling faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud count; 20 years’ imprisonment for each wire fraud count; 10 years in prison for each money laundering count; and a mandatory minimum of 2 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft counts. Ridling also will be ordered to pay restitution. In addition, the United States is seeking a forfeiture money judgment of over $40 million and the forfeiture of approximately $348,000, a Chevrolet Silverado truck, a Peterbilt truck, and a Featherlite trailer seized from Ridling as well as real property in St. Lucie County.
According to court documents, Ridling is a farmer. Over the course of three years, Ridling attempted to defraud five financial institutions, one financial services provider, and one local Orlando business out of over $50 million. Ridling’s scheme involved the use of false brokerage account statements, fabricated tax returns, and false financial statements, to obtain loans and lines of credit.
As part of his scheme, Ridling falsely claimed that three individuals were his account representatives at a financial brokerage company and set up fake email accounts for two of those individuals without their consent or knowledge. Assuming the identities of those two individuals, Ridling then sent emails from the fake email accounts in an effort to convince lenders that he had millions of dollars in his two brokerage accounts. In fact, Ridling only had one brokerage account, which never had more than $2,000 in it. During the last year of Ridling’s scheme, he was able to obtain three loans totaling over $25 million, based in part on his claim that his brokerage accounts had millions of dollars. During that timeframe, Ridling’s brokerage account had less than $2.00.
In total, Ridling was successful in receiving over $40 million in proceeds from his scheme. He used some of the proceeds that he obtained from his victims to pay amounts that he owed to other victims, prolonging his scheme.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko is handling the criminal forfeitures.
Urbana Woman Sentenced to Prison for Counterfeit Check SchemeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid today sentenced an Urbana, Ill., woman, Stephanie Lemons, 43, of the 1200 block of South Vine Street, to serve 18 months in prison for engaging in a counterfeit check scheme that resulted in an estimated loss of more than $100,000. Lemons was ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons on March 2, 2021, to begin serving her sentence. Following her sentence, Lemons was ordered to serve two years of supervised release.
On Feb. 6, 2020, Lemons entered pleas of guilty to conspiracy and 19 counts of fraud as charged in the indictment. Lemons’ co-defendant, Tommie Slayton, of Champaign, Ill. is scheduled for a change of plea hearing and sentencing on Dec. 1, 2020, before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Slayton is charged, along with Lemons, with seven counts of bank fraud.
Lemons and Slayton were charged with conspiring together and with others to engage in a scheme to pass more than 120 counterfeit checks from July through December 2018. As a result of the scheme, counterfeit checks were presented at Walmart Stores in Champaign and Bloomington, Ill., and forged checks at Heartland Bank of Champaign, Ill. At the sentencing hearing, the court found that Lemons purchased specialized equipment, including a printer, paper and ink, designed to print payroll checks, as an investment in the “infrastructure of her enterprise” to defraud others.
The charges are the result of investigation by the FDIC Office of Inspector General and the Champaign and Urbana Police Departments, in cooperation with the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson in the prosecution.
United States seizes more domain names used by foreign terrorist organizationRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – The United States has seized “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezbollah.com,” two websites that were unlawfully utilized by Kata’ib Hizballah, a Specially Designated National and a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
“We will be steadfast in protecting our electronic infrastructure and commerce system from use by terrorist groups,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak of the Northern District of Georgia. “This seizure shows that we will continue to leverage our national reach to stop these groups from using U.S.-based resources to further their terrorist agenda.”
“Seizures like these are critical to preventing designated entities and terrorist organizations from using U.S. websites to recruit new members and promote their twisted world views,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “While this case is a reminder that terrorists don’t need to step foot in our country to further their aims, today’s actions show that the Department will do what it takes to stop them.
“The internet is continuously updating with new threats to our nation’s safety, but we will continue to rise and meet this challenge,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The success of this seizure should serve as a message to others that would threaten the safety of our communities: We will continue to fight terror groups and their propaganda no matter the domain.”
“The Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement will continue to aggressively disrupt Iranian backed terrorist organizations such as Kata’ib Hizballah from utilizing U.S. based online networks and services in violation of U.S. law,” said P. Lee Smith, Performing the Non-exclusive Functions and Duties of the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce. “The Bureau of Industry and Security is committed to protecting our war fighters and Allied Forces from terrorist acts of violence inspired and directed via online networks.”
On July 2, 2009, the U.S. Secretary of Treasury designated Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iran-backed terrorist group active in Iraq, as a Specially Designated National for committing, directing, supporting, and posing a significant risk of committing acts of violence against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. On the same day, the U.S. Department of State designated Kata’ib Hizballah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization for committing or posing a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism.
On August 31, 2020, pursuant to a seizure warrant in the District of Arizona, the United States seized “Aletejahtv.com” and “Aletejahtv.org.” “Aletejahtv.com” and “Aletejahtv.org,” acted as Kata’ib Hizballah’s media arm and published internet communications such as videos, articles, and photographs. These communications included numerous articles designed to further Kata’ib Hizballah’s agenda, particularly destabilizing Iraq and recruiting others to join their cause. They also functioned as a live online television broadcast channel, “Al-etejah TV.” Portions of the communications expressly noted that they were published by Kata’ib Hizballah.
Within weeks, federal agents located the content from “Aletejahtv.com” and “Aletejahtv.org” on “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezbollah.com,” including the Kata’ib Hizballah flag and the words “Islamic Resistance, Kataib Hizbollah.” The content even included false information about COVID-19 designed to damage perception of the United States in the minds of Iraqi citizens and to destabilize the region to the benefit of Iran.
Federal law prohibits designated entities like Kata’ib Hizballah from obtaining or utilizing goods or services, including website and domain services, in the United States without a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezbollah.com” are domain names that are owned and operated by a United States company based in Reston, Virginia. Kata’ib Hizballah did not obtain a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control prior to utilizing the domain names.
On October 14, 2020, pursuant to a seizure warrant issued in the Eastern District of Virginia, the United States seized “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezbollah.com.”
This seizure was investigated by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Atlanta Resident Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Northern District of Georgia, Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Eastern District of Virginia, and trial lawyers from the Department of Justice National Security Division prosecuted the seizure.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
United States Seizes More Domain Names Used by Foreign Terrorist OrganizationRead the Press Release
The United States has seized “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezbollah.com,” two websites that were unlawfully utilized by Kata’ib Hizballah, a Specially Designated National and a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
“Seizures like these are critical to preventing designated entities and terrorist organizations from using U.S. websites to recruit new members and promote their twisted world views,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “While this case is a reminder that terrorists don’t need to step foot in our country to further their aims, today’s actions show that the Department will do what it takes to stop them.”
“We will be steadfast in protecting our electronic infrastructure and commerce system from use by terrorist groups,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak of the Northern District of Georgia. “This seizure shows that we will continue to leverage our national reach to stop these groups from using U.S.-based resources to further their terrorist agenda.”
“The internet is continuously updating with new threats to our nation’s safety, but we will continue to rise and meet this challenge,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The success of this seizure should serve as a message to others that would threaten the safety of our communities: We will continue to fight terror groups and their propaganda no matter the domain.”
“The Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement will continue to aggressively disrupt Iranian backed terrorist organizations such as Kata’ib Hizballah from utilizing U.S. based online networks and services in violation of U.S. law,” said P. Lee Smith, Performing the Non-exclusive Functions and Duties of the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce. “The Bureau of Industry and Security is committed to protecting our war fighters and Allied Forces from terrorist acts of violence inspired and directed via online networks.”
On July 2, 2009, the U.S. Secretary of Treasury designated Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iran-backed terrorist group active in Iraq, as a Specially Designated National for committing, directing, supporting, and posing a significant risk of committing acts of violence against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. On the same day, the U.S. Department of State designated Kata’ib Hizballah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization for committing or posing a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism.
On Aug. 31, 2020, pursuant to a seizure warrant in the District of Arizona, the United States seized “Aletejahtv.com” and “Aletejahtv.org.” “Aletejahtv.com” and “Aletejahtv.org,” acted as Kata’ib Hizballah’s media arm and published internet communications such as videos, articles, and photographs. These communications included numerous articles designed to further Kata’ib Hizballah’s agenda, particularly destabilizing Iraq and recruiting others to join their cause. They also functioned as a live online television broadcast channel, “Al-etejah TV.” Portions of the communications expressly noted that they were published by Kata’ib Hizballah.
Within weeks, federal agents located the content from “Aletejahtv.com” and “Aletejahtv.org” on “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezbollah.com,” including the Kata’ib Hizballah flag and the words “Islamic Resistance, Kataib Hizbollah.” The content even included false information about COVID-19 designed to damage perception of the United States in the minds of Iraqi citizens and to destabilize the region to the benefit of Iran.
Federal law prohibits designated entities like Kata’ib Hizballah from obtaining or utilizing goods or services, including website and domain services, in the United States without a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezbollah.com” are domain names that are owned and operated by a United States company based in Reston, Virginia. Kata’ib Hizballah did not obtain a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control prior to utilizing the domain names.
On Oct. 14, 2020, pursuant to a seizure warrant issued in the Eastern District of Virginia, the United States seized “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezbollah.com.” Visitors to the site received the following message:
This seizure was investigated by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Northern District of Georgia, Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Eastern District of Virginia, and trial lawyers from the Department of Justice National Security Division prosecuted the seizure.