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Monday 19 October 2020
Six Russian Gru Officers Charged in Connection with Worldwide Deployment of Destructive Malware and Other Disruptive Actions in CyberspaceRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – On Oct. 15, 2020, a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh returned an indictment charging six computer hackers, all of whom were residents and nationals of the Russian Federation (Russia) and officers in Unit 74455 of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), a military intelligence agency of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
These GRU hackers and their co-conspirators engaged in computer intrusions and attacks intended to support Russian government efforts to undermine, retaliate against, or otherwise destabilize: (1) Ukraine; (2) Georgia; (3) elections in France; (4) efforts to hold Russia accountable for its use of a weapons-grade nerve agent, Novichok, on foreign soil; and (5) the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games after Russian athletes were banned from participating under their nation’s flag, as a consequence of Russian government-sponsored doping effort.
Their computer attacks used some of the world’s most destructive malware to date, including: KillDisk and Industroyer, which each caused blackouts in Ukraine; NotPetya, which caused nearly $1 billion in losses to the three victims identified in the indictment alone; and Olympic Destroyer, which disrupted thousands of computers used to support the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy, computer hacking, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false registration of a domain name.
According to the indictment, beginning in or around November 2015 and continuing until at least in or around October 2019, the defendants and their co-conspirators deployed destructive malware and took other disruptive actions, for the strategic benefit of Russia, through unauthorized access to victim computers (hacking). As alleged, the conspiracy was responsible for the following destructive, disruptive, or otherwise destabilizing computer intrusions and attacks:
- Ukrainian Government & Critical Infrastructure: December 2015 through December 2016 destructive malware attacks against Ukraine’s electric power grid, Ministry of Finance, and State Treasury Service, using malware known as BlackEnergy, Industroyer, and KillDisk;
- French Elections: April and May 2017 spearphishing campaigns and related hack-and-leak efforts targeting French President Macron’s “La République En Marche!” (En Marche!) political party, French politicians, and local French governments prior to the 2017 French elections;
- Worldwide Businesses and Critical Infrastructure (NotPetya): June 27, 2017 destructive malware attacks that infected computers worldwide using malware known as NotPetya, including hospitals and other medical facilities in the Heritage Valley Health System (Heritage Valley) in the Western District of Pennsylvania; a FedEx Corporation subsidiary, TNT Express B.V.; and a large U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturer, which together suffered nearly $1 billion in losses from the attacks;
- PyeongChang Winter Olympics Hosts, Participants, Partners, and Attendees: December 2017 through February 2018 spearphishing campaigns and malicious mobile applications targeting South Korean citizens and officials, Olympic athletes, partners, and visitors, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials;
- PyeongChang Winter Olympics IT Systems (Olympic Destroyer): December 2017 through February 2018 intrusions into computers supporting the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, which culminated in the Feb. 9, 2018, destructive malware attack against the opening ceremony, using malware known as Olympic Destroyer;
- Novichok Poisoning Investigations: April 2018 spearphishing campaigns targeting investigations by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) into the nerve agent poisoning of Sergei Skripal, his daughter, and several U.K. citizens; and
- Georgian Companies and Government Entities: a 2018 spearphishing campaign targeting a major media company, 2019 efforts to compromise the network of Parliament, and a wide-ranging website defacement campaign in 2019.
Cybersecurity researchers have tracked the Conspirators and their malicious activity using the labels “Sandworm Team,” “Telebots,” “Voodoo Bear,” and “Iron Viking.”
The charges were announced by Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers; FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich; U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Scott W. Brady; and Special Agents in Charge of the FBI’s Atlanta, Oklahoma City, and Pittsburgh Field Offices, J.C. “Chris” Hacker, Melissa R. Godbold, and Michael A. Christman, respectively.
“No country has weaponized its cyber capabilities as maliciously or irresponsibly as Russia, wantonly causing unprecedented damage to pursue small tactical advantages and to satisfy fits of spite,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “Today the department has charged these Russian officers with conducting the most disruptive and destructive series of computer attacks ever attributed to a single group, including by unleashing the NotPetya malware. No nation will recapture greatness while behaving in this way.”
“The FBI has repeatedly warned that Russia is a highly capable cyber adversary, and the information revealed in this indictment illustrates how pervasive and destructive Russia’s cyber activities truly are,” said FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich. “But this indictment also highlights the FBI’s capabilities. We have the tools to investigate these malicious malware attacks, identify the perpetrators, and then impose risks and consequences on them. As demonstrated today, we will relentlessly pursue those who threaten the United States and its citizens.”
“For more than two years we have worked tirelessly to expose these Russian GRU Officers who engaged in a global campaign of hacking, disruption and destabilization, representing the most destructive and costly cyber-attacks in history,” said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “The crimes committed by Russian government officials were against real victims who suffered real harm. We have an obligation to hold accountable those who commit crimes – no matter where they reside and no matter for whom they work – in order to seek justice on behalf of these victims.”
“The exceptional talent and dedication of our teams in Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Oklahoma City who spent years tracking these members of the GRU is unmatched,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael A. Christman. “These criminals underestimated the power of shared intelligence, resources and expertise through law enforcement, private sector and international partnerships.”
The defendants, Yuriy Sergeyevich Andrienko (Юрий Сергеевич Андриенко), 32; Sergey Vladimirovich Detistov (Сергей Владимирович Детистов), 35; Pavel Valeryevich Frolov (Павел Валерьевич Фролов), 28; Anatoliy Sergeyevich Kovalev (Анатолий Сергеевич Ковалев), 29; Artem Valeryevich Ochichenko (Артем Валерьевич Очиченко), 27; and Petr Nikolayevich Pliskin (Петр Николаевич Плискин), 32, are all charged in seven counts: conspiracy to conduct computer fraud and abuse, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, damaging protected computers, and aggravated identity theft. Each defendant is charged in every count. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, however, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The indictment accuses each defendant of committing the following overt acts in furtherance of the charged crimes:
Defendant
Summary of Overt Acts
Yuriy Sergeyevich Andrienko
· Developed components of the NotPetya and Olympic Destroyer malware.
Sergey Vladimirovich Detistov
· Developed components of the NotPetya malware; and
· Prepared spearphishing campaigns targeting the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.
Pavel Valeryevich Frolov
· Developed components of the KillDisk and NotPetya malware.
Anatoliy Sergeyevich Kovalev
· Developed spearphishing techniques and messages used to target:
- En Marche! officials;
- employees of the DSTL;
- members of the IOC and Olympic athletes; and
- employees of a Georgian media entity.
Artem Valeryevich Ochichenko
· Participated in spearphishing campaigns targeting 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games partners; and
· Conducted technical reconnaissance of the Parliament of Georgia official domain and attempted to gain unauthorized access to its network.
Petr Nikolayevich Pliskin
· Developed components of the NotPetya and Olympic Destroyer malware.
The defendants and their co-conspirators caused damage and disruption to computer networks worldwide, including in France, Georgia, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The NotPetya malware, for example, spread worldwide, damaged computers used in critical infrastructure, and caused enormous financial losses. Those losses were only part of the harm, however. For example, the NotPetya malware impaired Heritage Valley’s provision of critical medical services to citizens of the Western District of Pennsylvania through its two hospitals, 60 offices, and 18 community satellite facilities. The attack caused the unavailability of patient lists, patient history, physical examination files, and laboratory records. Heritage Valley lost access to its mission-critical computer systems (such as those relating to cardiology, nuclear medicine, radiology, and surgery) for approximately one week and administrative computer systems for almost one month, thereby causing a threat to public health and safety.
The conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; the two counts of wire fraud carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; intentional damage to a protected computer carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and the two counts of aggravated identity theft carry a mandatory sentence of two years in prison. The indictment also alleges false registration of domain names, which would increase the maximum sentence of imprisonment for wire fraud to 27 years in prison; the maximum sentence of imprisonment for intentional damage to a protected computer to 17 years in prison; and the mandatory sentence of imprisonment for aggravated identity theft to four years in prison. These maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress, however, and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the assigned judge will determine any sentence of a defendant.
Defendant Kovalev was previously charged in federal indictment number CR 18-215, in the District of Columbia, with conspiring to gain unauthorized access into the computers of U.S. persons and entities involved in the administration of the 2016 U.S. elections.
Trial Attorney Heather Alpino and Deputy Chief Sean Newell of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Eberle and Jessica Smolar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting this case. The FBI’s Atlanta, Oklahoma City, and Pittsburgh field offices conducted the investigation, with the assistance of the FBI’s Cyber Division.
The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in this case. The department also appreciates the significant cooperation and assistance provided by Ukrainian authorities, the Governments of the Republic of Korea and New Zealand, Georgian partners, and the United Kingdom’s intelligence services, as well as many of the FBI’s Legal Attachés and other foreign authorities around the world. Numerous victims cooperated and provided valuable assistance in the investigation.
The department is also grateful to Google, including its Threat Analysis Group (TAG); Cisco, including its Talos Intelligence Group; Facebook; and Twitter, for the assistance they provided in this investigation. Some private sector companies independently disabled numerous accounts for violations of the companies’ terms of service.
NOTE: To view the unsealed indictment, click here. To view Exhibit A, click here.
Rochester Man Faces up to 20 Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Donnie Lee Jackson, 31, of Rochester, NY, a registered sex offender and New York State parolee, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession of child pornography, including prepubescent images. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant, in May 2017, was found to be in possession of a cellular telephone that contained approximately 50 videos and 13 images of child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent minors or minors under 12-years-old. Previously, in 2010, the defendant had been convicted in New York State Court of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, after defendant engaged in sexual conduct with an individual under 11-years-old on multiple occasions.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 25, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.
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Repeat Domestic Violence Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Jason Douglas Black, 37, of Noorvik, was sentenced, by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess, to serve 54 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm. Black has two previous misdemeanor convictions with the State of Alaska for crimes involving domestic violence assault, and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
According to court documents, on July 2, 2018, Black physically assaulted his live-in girlfriend while in possession of a firearm in Noorvik, Alaska. Three days after the assault, the Alaska State Troopers and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force apprehended Black at his residence and executed a search warrant of his home. At the time of his arrest, Black was found to be in possession of several firearms.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Timothy Burgess noted specific deterrence for this individual and general deterrence for the community was extremely important. Judge Burgess pointed out that the community needs to know, “there are serious consequences for this type of conduct.”
The Alaska State Troopers (AST) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charisse Arce and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sayers-Fay.
This case is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN) Initiative’s ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities.
This case is also 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.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ag/about-project-guardian
Recreational Marijuana - Consider the RisksRead the Press Release
In November, Montanans will vote whether to legalize recreational marijuana for state law purposes. Marijuana offenses will still be illegal under federal law.
Because of the serious ramifications of this vote for our public safety and health, I encourage all Montanans to review in detail CI-118 and the lengthy 36 sections of I-190 to understand the system it would create.
The potency of marijuana has increased substantially. The average potency of DEA samples of marijuana increased over 400% between 1995 and 2018, and marijuana resins and extracts used in vaping and edibles can have much higher levels of THC, the active compound in marijuana.
Legalization will increase use, as seen in Colorado and Oregon. The percent of the population age 12 and older using marijuana in the past month increased from 12.7% prior to legalization to 17.3% in 2018 in Colorado, and from 13% to 18.8% in Oregon, well above the national percentage which increased from 7.4% to 9.8%.
Traffic fatalities and accidents will increase. Marijuana significantly impairs judgment, motor coordination and reaction time, and studies have found a direct relationship between blood THC concentration and impaired driving. Since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2014, annual traffic deaths where the operator tested positive for marijuana more than doubled by 2019. Between 2014 and 2019, annual cases of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs in Colorado where marijuana was involved increased from 676 to 1,041.
Marijuana is addictive. Recent data suggest that 30% of those who use marijuana may have some degree of marijuana use disorder. Studies suggest that 9% of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it, increasing to about 17% for those who start using in their teens. At Rimrock in Billings, marijuana is already the third most used substance by patients being treated for substance abuse disorder, ahead of opioids.
I-190 could dilute state laws protecting children, the public and users from marijuana abuse. One provision states that a person may not be denied custody rights to a minor solely for conduct related to this initiative. In 2019 in Yellowstone County, however, marijuana use was identified as a contributing factor in over 25% of removals of children for abuse or neglect. A second provision states that a person currently under probation or released awaiting trial may not be penalized solely for conduct permitted by the initiative, apparently regardless of whether the person’s marijuana abuse contributed to their criminal conduct.
Many who use other drugs start with marijuana. The Surgeon General recently highlighted a study showing that in 2017, teens 12-17 reporting frequent use of marijuana showed a 130% greater likelihood of misusing opioids. Of course, most people who use marijuana do not go on to use other substances; however, in 2019, during focus group interviews of meth users in Billings for Yellowstone Substance Abuse Connect, users stated that they often started using methamphetamine in their late teens or early twenties after being exposed to and using alcohol and marijuana at an early age. Until more research determines the extent of the link between marijuana use and additional drug use, voters should strongly consider this risk.
Other public health facts are important to know. Smoking marijuana, even occasionally, can increase the risk of severe complications from COVID-19; the Surgeon General recently advised that marijuana exposure, before brain development stops in the mid-20s, can cause long-term harm; and studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning and psychotic episodes. Since 2014, hospitalizations related to marijuana in Colorado increased from 6,720 to 16,614 in 2017.
Fellow Montanans, let’s be sure we take a close look at these proposals before voting on CI-118 and I- 190.
Previously Convicted Felon Admits Unlawfully Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man today admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Rashon Alexander, 42, of Long Branch, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to an indictment charging him with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Jan. 13, 2020, officers from the Eatontown Police Department received information that a man fitting Alexander’s description was staying in a local hotel and was in possession of a firearm. The officers observed Alexander – a convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm – and another man approaching the hotel. Officers approached Alexander, who admitted to being in possession of marijuana. Officers searched Alexander and found a quantity of marijuana in his sweatshirt pocket. Officers placed Alexander under arrest and searched him, recovering an RG Industries .22 caliber revolver from his pants pocket.
The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for February 22, 2021.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensured that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson, Newark Field Division, Trenton Field Office, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni, the Eatontown Police Department, under the direction of Chief William P. Lucia, III, and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan for their assistance.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Matthews of the Criminal Division in Trenton.
Defense counsel: Andrea D. Bergman Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Trenton
Preston County man admits to sending obscene material to a minorRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Joshua Armstrong, of Terra Alta, West Virginia, has admitted to having child pornography, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Armstrong, age 26, pled guilty to one count of “Transfer of Obscenity to a Minor.” Armstrong admitted to sending obscene material to a minor under the age of 16 in Preston County in August 2016.
Armstrong faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 David j. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Postal Worker Charged in Federal Court After Alleged Theft of Vote-by-Mail Ballot, Gift and Debit Cards, and Other Articles of MailRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A Miami Beach postal carrier has been charged with theft of mail and deprivation of the right to vote, announced U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Scott Pierce of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office (USPS-OIG).
According to a criminal complaint affidavit, Crystal Nicole Myrie, 31, of Tamarac, Florida, stole a vote-by-mail ballot, approximately 36 political flyers, gift cards and pre-paid debit cards, and other articles of mail instead of delivering them to the intended recipients located within her official postal route. The stolen mail was discovered in the backseat of Myrie’s personal vehicle on October 16, 2020.
Myrie had her initial appearance today in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alicia M. Otazo-Reyes.
USPS-OIG is the investigative agency handling this matter, including the continuing investigation of the deprivation of the right to vote and theft of mail charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Harry Wallace and Hayden P. O’Byrne of the Southern District of Florida and Richard C. Pilger, Director of the Election Crimes Branch, Public Integrity Section, U.S. Department of Justice, are prosecuting this case.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation containing allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until found guilty in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Peruvian Citizen Pleads Guilty to Role in Transnational Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Hilario Renato Mendoza Beltran, age 47, and a citizen of Peru, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine and conspiring to launder the proceeds of an international cocaine trafficking organization.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Jonathan D. Larsen, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-Criminal Investigation; and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office.
Between August 2014 and March 30, 2016, a money laundering and drug trafficking organization based in Montreal, Canada, collected the cash proceeds from selling marijuana in the United States and cocaine in Canada. The cash was delivered to couriers in, among other places, Albany County, Ulster County, and Montreal so that the cash could be delivered, either by a courier or by wire, to cocaine suppliers to purchase cocaine. At least $1 million was sent to Chicago, Los Angeles, Peru, Mexico and Colombia; money was also wired to China. The organization then arranged for the smuggling of cocaine back to Canada, and transported some of the cocaine through northern New York.
Mendoza Beltran’s guilty plea follows his formal extradition from Peru to the Northern District of New York in August 2019.
As part of his guilty plea, Mendoza Beltran admitted that between October and December 2014, he acted as a Peru-based operative for the organization by receiving and transporting approximately $472,000 in drug proceeds, and arranging for the delivery of approximately 140 kilograms of cocaine to co-conspirators in Piura, Peru. Pilots working for the organization then picked up the cocaine at a clandestine airstrip outside of Piura, and flew it to Guatemala, and then on to Mexico, where it was smuggled into the United States.
Mendoza Beltran’s sentencing is scheduled for February 22, 2021 before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. Mendoza Beltran faces up to life in prison, at least 5 years of post-imprisonment supervised release, and a maximum $10 million fine. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
As part of the same case, all of the following people have pled guilty before Judge D’Agostino, and several have been sentenced.
Name
Age
Residence
Charges
Sentence and/or Sentencing Date
Iraklis Haviaropoulos
43
Montreal, Canada
Cocaine conspiracy
> 5 kilogramsInternational money laundering conspiracy
January 26, 2021
Carlos Alberto Ocampo Garcia
58
Cali, Colombia
Cocaine conspiracy
> 5 kilogramsInternational money laundering conspiracy
December 1, 2020
Matthew Fernandes
37
Montreal, Canada
Cocaine conspiracy
> 5 kilograms87 months in prison
Jose Mauricio Ortiz Bolanos
32
Cali, Colombia
Cocaine conspiracy
> 5 kilogramsInternational money laundering conspiracy
78 months in prison
Eduardo Nunez Serna
46
Chicago, Illinois
Promotional money laundering conspiracy
57 months in prison
James DeSantis
58
Pompano Beach, Florida
International money laundering conspiracy
37 months in prison
This case is the result of the close cooperative efforts of the DEA, including the Albany District Office and DEA offices in Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Worcester, Massachusetts; IRS-Criminal Investigation and HSI. These federal agencies worked closely with the Sûreté du Québec, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Peruvian National Police, and the Colombian National Police. U.S. Border Patrol, the Malone Police Department, the New York State Police, the Chicago Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Watervliet Police Department also provided assistance.
Mendoza Beltran was extradited to the United States with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Hanlon and Emmet J. O’Hanlon, and was previously prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth R. Rabe.
Pendleton County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Donnie Gale Leggett, Jr., of Brandywine, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Leggett, 33, pled guilty today to one count of “False Statement During Purchase of Firearm.” Leggett admitted to making a false statement to purchase a firearm in Mineral County in November 2019.
Leggett faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Boetteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
New York man admits to taking West Virginia teen across state lines for sexRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Max Paul Levine, of Bronx, New York, has admitted to the interstate transport of a minor for sex, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Levine, also known as “James Connely” and “Noxx Nocten,” age 35, pled guilty today to one count of “Transportation of a Minor Across State Lines for Sexual Purposes.” Levine admitted to transporting a 15-year-old West Virginia girl from her Harrison County home to his residence in Bronx, New York to engage in sexual activity in June 2019.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bridgeport Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
New York Woman Pleads to Passport Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that MANUELA GONZALEZ-BOOKMAN, age 77, a resident of New York, New York, pleaded guilty on October 14, 2020 to conspiracy to use fraudulent passports before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance.
According to court documents, GONZALEZ-BOOKMAN and Thierno O. Bah, also of New York, flew from Newark Liberty International Airport to Louis Armstrong International on February 18th. They rented a car, and the following day GONZALEZ-BOOKMAN entered a Capital One bank branch in Metairie while BAH waited in the rental car outside. GONZALEZ-BOOKMAN then attempted to cash a stolen check while using a false passport card in the name of another person. When bank employees became suspicious, they called Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputies who arrested the pair.
Court documents further detailed how federal agents subsequently determined that Bah and GONZALEZ-BOOKMAN had executed the scheme at several other bank branches while using stolen identities. The two individuals had even taken a prior trip to New Orleans on January 31, 2020, where they executed or attempted to execute at least seven fraudulent transactions, including a failed attempt to withdraw $18,600.00 in cash from one victim’s account.
GONZALEZ-BOOKMAN faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Judge Vance scheduled sentencing for February 17, 2021.
The investigation is being handled by the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service and Homeland Security Investigations. U.S. Attorney Strasser extended his thanks to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew R. Payne is in charge of the prosecution.
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New U.S. Attorney’s Office in Bowling Green Delivering on Promises to Better Serve South Central KentuckyRead the Press Release
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – In February of this year United States Attorney Russell Coleman officially opened a full-time staffed federal prosecutors’ office in Bowling Green, Kentucky, a first in the history of the Commonwealth.
Since the opening of the office in February and notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal prosecutors now living and working in Bowling Green, have presented, and the grand jury returned, 30 federal indictments in the Bowling Green division. The indictments include 18 cases involving firearms offenses, 10 of which also involved drugs, five stand-alone drug cases, two cases of child exploitation, and two cases involving fraud. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Office is actively coordinating federal investigations across 20 counties alongside numerous state, federal, and local law enforcement partners.
The scope of the enhanced law enforcement cooperation is broad, including collaboration with the following: the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Bowling Green-Warren County Drug Task Force, Bowling Green Police Department, Edmonton Police Department, Allen County Sheriff’s Office, Hart County Sheriff’s Office, Metcalfe County Sheriff’s Office, Simpson County Sheriff’s Office, Todd County Sheriff’s Office, Barren River Drug Task Force, South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force, Taylor County Drug Task Force, Kentucky State Police (KSP), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), National Parks Service (NPS), United States Marshals Service (USMS), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), along with numerous Commonwealth’s Attorneys who serve as the chief state law enforcement officers of their respective circuits.
“Promises made to better protect the families of South Central Kentucky are promises being kept,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “Stay tuned as much more to come as we work with our Commonwealth’s fine lawmen and women.”
Examples of the type cases handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Office include:
- Dusty G. Westmoreland, 30, of, Summershade, Kentucky, has been charged with Robbery after he stole a truck and drug the vehicle’s owner alongside the vehicle at Mammoth Cave National Park. Westmoreland entered the victim’s Ford F-150 truck, which was stopped as the owner tried to help at the scene of an accident. The victim opened the driver’s side door attempting to stop Westmoreland from stealing the vehicle. A struggle ensued, with Westmoreland striking the victim and dragging him down the side of the road, resulting in injuries to the victim.
- Charles Joasch, 33, of Quebec, Canada, who has been indicted for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. According to the indictment, it was part of the scheme that victims were contacted and told their loved ones had been arrested. The victims were asked to send various amounts of money in cash in order to secure the release of their loved one. Charles conspired in this scheme picking up packages across Georgia, Florida, and in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He would then drop off the packages in Florida, New York, and Boston. The nationwide scheme resulted in more than $300,000 in losses. The charge carries a penalty of not more than 20 years in prison.
- Tamia N. Good, 22, of Eastpointe, Michigan, who has been charged federally with knowingly possessing a controlled substance (meth) with intent to distribute. According to a criminal complaint, Good was stopped in an Uber coming from Nashville, Tennessee and arrested on two outstanding warrants. Upon a search of the vehicle approximately 5 pounds of crystal meth was recovered. The case is being investigated by the South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
- Mark Allen Johnson, 30, of Rockfield, Kentucky, who has been charged in a three count indictment with distribution of child pornography, attempted enticement, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Johnson faces no less than 15 years in prison and no more than life behind bars.
Opening the full-time staffed office was a lengthy administrative process which required approval from the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC, and ultimately Congress. Historically, the unstaffed office space in the courthouse was used by federal prosecutors who made the two-hour commute from the U.S. Attorney’s main office in Louisville. The presence of the full-time federal prosecutors living and working in Bowling Green equates to enhanced working relationships and more robust investigative support to law enforcement agents, officers, and state prosecutors.
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The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
- Dusty G. Westmoreland, 30, of, Summershade, Kentucky, has been charged with Robbery after he stole a truck and drug the vehicle’s owner alongside the vehicle at Mammoth Cave National Park. Westmoreland entered the victim’s Ford F-150 truck, which was stopped as the owner tried to help at the scene of an accident. The victim opened the driver’s side door attempting to stop Westmoreland from stealing the vehicle. A struggle ensued, with Westmoreland striking the victim and dragging him down the side of the road, resulting in injuries to the victim.
Murdo Woman Sentenced for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Murdo, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine was sentenced on October 19, 2020, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Harvi Lynn Sharp Butte, a/k/a Harvi Lynn Little Shield, age 41, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, a $500 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Sharp Butte was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 10, 2020. She pled guilty on July 20, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy in 2019 wherein Sharp Butte conspired with others to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. On March 5, 2019, Sharp Butte and a co-conspirator were arrested after law enforcement uncovered a handgun, over $12,000 in U.S. currency, and a small amount of methamphetamine in their vehicle near Mission, South Dakota.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Sharp Butte was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
More Than $3.8 Million Coming to the Western District of New York to Address Substance Abuse and Mental Health IssuesRead 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 the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, has awarded five grants totaling $3,817,765 to Erie and Monroe Counties, The Seneca Nation of Indians, and the City of Buffalo, to address substance abuse and mental health issues in the community.
Erie County will receive $1,200,000 and the Seneca Nation of Indians will receive $595,366 under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program (COSSAP). The program provides financial and technical assistance to states, local governments, and Indian tribal governments to develop, implement, or expand comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs of abuse.
Erie County will use its funding to expand its Quick Response to Overdose Program, which includes naloxone distribution/deployment by law enforcement, police remotely referring overdose survivors from the field to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in emergency departments, and connecting survivors to public health peer teams for follow-up and navigation to long-term treatment
The Seneca Nation of Indians will use its funding for the Native Connections Clubhouse Program (SNNCP), which provides opioid, stimulant, and substance abuse education, prevention, and intervention programming. The program connects law enforcement agencies with K-12 students and provides ongoing community support systems for at-risk youth. This project serves the Seneca Nation of Indians Tribe, and includes partnerships between Lakeshore Central Schools and Silver Creek Central Schools.
The City of Buffalo will receive $746,317, and Monroe County will receive $653,199 under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, which supports cross-system collaboration to improve public safety responses and outcomes for individuals with mental illnesses or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues who come into contact with the justice system.
The City of Buffalo and Monroe County will both place social workers and/or mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to assist officers during encounters with people in mental health crisis. Funds will be used to pay for salaries as well as other expenses such as training and other coordination activities to ensure implementation of the collaborative program.
Additionally, Monroe County will also receive $622,883 under the Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program. The Monroe County Office of Probation-Community Corrections will partner with the Monroe County Office of Mental Health to form the Creating Alternative Pathways for Success (CAPS) program. A specialized probation officer will work in collaboration with the juvenile justice and mental health coordinators to identify and streamline case management and services to youth involved in the juvenile justice system with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse to provide targeted assessment, treatment, and follow-up. The target population will include both diversion and adjudicated youth as well as those placed in juvenile detention who are involved with probation.
# # # #Montrose Man Arrested on Wire Fraud Charge that His Adult Entertainment Website Venture Was Million-Dollar ScamRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Montrose man has been arrested on a federal grand jury indictment charging him with defrauding investors out of more than $1 million via an adult entertainment website scam, the Justice Department announced today.
Patrick Khalafian, 51, was arrested Friday on a single-count indictment charging him with wire fraud. At his arraignment this afternoon, Khalafian pleaded not guilty to the charge, a December 15 trial date was set, and he was ordered released on $50,000 bond.
The indictment alleges that, from November 2009 to October 2016, Khalafian solicited investments for businesses – including 168 Entertainment LLC, Empire Entertainment Group Inc., and EEG LLC – that purportedly developed and operated adult entertainment websites.
Khalafian allegedly represented that victims’ investments would be used for business operations, including developing software and the platform for the proposed websites, paying for servers, hiring employees and purchasing advertising. He also promised that victims’ investments would be repaid by a certain date, according to the indictment.
Instead, Khalafian allegedly used the victim investors’ funds on gambling, luxury shopping sprees, and to pay back other investors. Khalafian allegedly lied to his victims about the status of the adult entertainment websites and eventually stopped responding to victims, disconnected his phone number and changed his email address.
In July 2015, Khalafian received $1 million of ill-gotten gains wired from a victim’s bank account in Canada to a bank account he controlled in Woodland Hills, according to the indictment. Prosecutors believe this amount comprises approximately half of the money Khalafian raised via this scheme.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Khalafian would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI investigated this matter.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger A. Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section.
Montgomery Doctor Sentenced to 15 Years Following Drug Distribution, Health Care Fraud, and Money Laundering ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Friday, October 16, 2020, a former Montgomery, Alabama physician, Richard A. Stehl, 60, received a 15-year prison sentence, announced United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Sean Stephen, HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson, and Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners Executive Director William Perkins. The sentence follows Stehl’s December 2019 conviction on 94 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances, 2 counts of health care fraud, and 5 counts of money laundering.
The trial evidence showed that, from 2010 through 2018, Stehl operated a medical practice, Healthcare on Demand. For most of that time, the practice was located at 201 Winton M. Blount Loop in Montgomery—just off of Taylor Road. At his practice, Stehl prescribed addictive controlled substances—including hydrocodone cough syrup, Adderall, Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, and Ativan—despite knowing no legitimate medical purposes existed to support these prescriptions.
During the trial, the jury heard from ten of Stehl’s former patients. Each patient received multiple controlled substances prescriptions from Stehl. Several of the patients either developed addictions while seeing Stehl or had existing addictions worsened as a result of the supposed medical treatment Stehl provided. One patient stated that she would wait four hours to see Stehl and, by the time she made it to the examination room, she would demand that Stehl give her a prescription and let her leave—which he would then do. Another described driving in excess of four hours to see Stehl because she knew that Stehl would give her the drugs that she wanted. A third patient stated that Stehl gave her routine steroid injections—even though she reported to Stehl that she was allergic to steroids. After receiving several injections from Stehl, this patient wound up in the hospital.
At the sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer emphasized the harm that Stehl inflicted upon his patients, the fact that he prioritized profit over patient care, and Stehl’s complete lack of remorse as grounds for imposing the 15-year sentence.
“The criminal conduct that occurred under the guise of Stehl’s medical practice was appalling,” stated United States Attorney Franklin. “Stehl caused his patients to become addicted to powerful controlled substances all in the name of profit. In doing so, he inflicted immeasurable harm in the lives of his patients and his patients’ loved ones. The significant sentence imposed in this case reflects a just reward for Stehl’s drug dealing.”
“Stehl was the kingpin of taking advantage of vulnerable victims and prescribing them unnecessary prescriptions,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Now, like others who steal from government health programs, he is paying a heavy price for his crimes. Along with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to root out individuals who continually steal health care monies by taking advantage of patients and not giving them the care entrusted by a doctor.”
“Dr. Stehl’s substantial sentence reflects the tremendous harm that physicians can cause when they violate their oath to help others,” said William Perkins, Executive Director of the Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners. “The Board remains committed to doing its part along with state and federal authorities to stop the overprescribing of controlled substances.”
The Drug Enforcement Agency and Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General investigated this case. They were aided by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division. Additionally, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Millbrook Police Department, the Opelika Police Department, the Montgomery Police Department, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, and the United States Marshals Service all assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross, Alice LaCour, and Megan Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.
Mitchell Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm by Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mitchell, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on October 19, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Matthew John Sweeney, age 36, was sentenced to 5 years of probation and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Sweeney was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 9, 2019. He pled guilty on July 30, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on or about September 7, 2019, when the Mitchell Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Sweeney’s vehicle. Sweeney was subsequently arrested and his vehicle searched. Law Enforcement found a handgun with an obliterated number, ammunition, as well as drug and drug-related items. At the time of his arrest, Sweeney was the subject of a valid protection order which prohibited him from using or attempting to use force against another person.
ATF examined the firearm and concluded it was manufactured at a facility outside of South Dakota and, thus, transported across state lines.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice's signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department's past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Mitchell Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Nash prosecuted the case.
Mission Woman Sentenced for Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on October 19, 2020, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Brandi King, age 31, was sentenced to 1 month in federal custody followed by seven months of home confinement, with 2 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
King was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 14, 2020. She pled guilty on October 19, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in Todd County, South Dakota, on December 7, 2019. On that date, King was the passenger in a vehicle stopped by law enforcement for driving on the wrong side of the road. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. King was arrested for public intoxication and an open container violation. While being placed in the back seat of a patrol vehicle, King spit into the arresting officer’s face. Shortly after this assault, the officer developed a staph infection on his face where King had spit on him.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case.
King was to ordered to self-report by 4:00 p.m. on October 19, 2020, to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican citizen sentenced to six years for smuggling firearms out of the United StatesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Genovevo Alvarez-Ronquillo, 55, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison on Oct. 13 for fraudulently purchasing firearms in the United States and smuggling them to Mexico for resale. In December 2019, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict against Alvarez-Ronquillo, a citizen of Mexico with legal residence in the United States.
On March 6, 2019, the owner of a Las Cruces pawnshop alerted agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that Alvarez-Ronquillo recently had purchased multiple firearms. Records showed that Alvarez-Ronquillo crossed the border near the dates of those transactions. Records recovered from two pawnshops in Las Cruces revealed that Alvarez-Ronquillo had purchased 33 firearms between June 21, 2018, and Feb. 26, 2019.
On March 18, 2019, agents learned that Alvarez-Ronquillo had purchased nine more firearms, but had to wait for background approval before taking possession. On March 22, Alvarez-Ronquillo returned to the business to collect the firearms. Agents arrived to question Alvarez-Ronquillo and arrested him later that day.
Upon completion of his prison sentence, Alvarez-Ronquillo will be subject to two years of supervised release. However, the court has recommended that Immigration and Customs Enforcement begin removal proceedings during the service of his sentence.
The ATF investigated this case in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ry Ellison and Maria Armijo prosecuted the case.
Man Sentenced to 151 Months for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Ryan Milholland, 50, formerly of Daphne, Alabama, was sentenced today in federal court on a charge of distribution of child pornography. Miholland pled guilty to the charge in June of 2020.
According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency agent was conducting a routine undercover internet investigation when he discovered an IP address number that was sharing suspected child pornography. These files were available to share through a public file sharing network called Shareaza. The agent was able to determine the physical address associated with the IP address, which belonged to Milholland.
Milholland agreed to provide a statement regarding his internet activity and consented to a preliminary search of his computer. During Milholland’s statement he admitted to utilizing Shareaza to download pornography to his computer. Milholland stated that he became concerned with the law enforcement presence at his apartment complex, and knowing that his computer contained illicit images of minors, he started a program to wipe the hard drive in his computer. He stated he started this program because he knew it was against the law to possess images of minors in illicit activity. The search of Milholland’s computer uncovered 3,232 files of potential child abuse material.
United States District Court Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock imposed a sentence of 151 months imprisonment. The judge ordered that Milholland serve a fifteen-year term of supervised release beginning upon his discharge from prison. Upon his release from prison, Milholland will be required to undergo sex offender treatment, to register as a sex offender, and to have no contact with minors. Judge Beaverstock ordered that Milholland pay $5,100 in special assessments.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals, federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc
The case was investigated by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Kacey Chappelear.
Man Arrested for Threatening to Injure Federal JudgeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested Oct. 18, 2020, for threatening to injure a federal judge, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
William Kaetz, 56, of Paramus, New Jersey, was charged by criminal complaint with making an interstate communication containing a threat to injure a person and with threatening to assault and murder a federal judge. Kaetz is scheduled to have his initial appearance this afternoon by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor.
According to the criminal complaint filed in this case:
On Sept. 24, 2020, Kaetz sent a communication via U.S. Mail to a federal district judge’s house, claiming to have a pending civil matter before the judge and requesting that the judge expedite the case. Kaetz was interviewed that day by investigators and admitted to being concerned about the status of his pending lawsuit before the judge. Kaetz also asked for the judge to be recused and stated that he had acquired the judge’s home address using a paid internet-based service. Kaetz further stated that the excessive delay on his pending case was unacceptable to him.
On Sept. 30, 2020, Kaetz left a voicemail for the judge, at the judge’s office, stating that he had cases pending before the judge, that the judge should have decided his matters weeks ago, and that he wanted the judge off his cases and off the bench. Kaetz further stated that he would not take “no” for an answer.
On Oct. 18, 2020, Kaetz sent an email to the judge’s personal email account and to others, including general email address for the U.S. Marshals Service. In that email, Kaetz claimed that the judge had been “avoiding and stonewalling” his case, that the judge was a “traitor,” that being a traitor “has a death sentence,” and that “there will come a time to take down those people that fail to do their job.” Kaetz further stated that he had pending motions before the judge and that he would try his best “not to harm the traitor” judge but that the “traitor” judge needed to be dealt with. Kaetz then threatened to publicly reveal the judge’s home address and stated: “God knows who has a grievance and what will happen after that.”
The charge of making an interstate communication containing a threat to injure a person carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The charge of threatening to assault and murder a federal judge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Both charges also carry a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr., and deputy U.S. Marshals for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos Jr., with the investigation leading to today’s charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean Sovolos of the Office’s National Security Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Low Level Drug Distributor for Pittsburgh Gang Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Venetia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and other controlled substances, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Michael Norman, age 48, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2017, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force initiated an investigation primarily targeting the Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, neighborhood gang, and its drug-trafficking activity, in and around the South Side area of Pittsburgh. As part of this large-scale narcotics and firearms investigation, in February of 2019, the United States received authorization to conduct a federal wire investigation, which continued through June of 2019.
Norman was identified as a low-level distributor, and in connection with his guilty plea, he accepted responsibility for distributing between 8 and 16 grams of fentanyl/heroin. Mr. Norman is one of 40 defendants charged in the case.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for March 1, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court permitted Norman to remain on bond.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn J. Bloch and Brendan J. McKenna are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Adult Probation, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Wilkinsburg Police Department. Other assisting agencies include the Green Tree Police Department, New York City Police Department, Mount Oliver Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Yonkers Police Department, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program, known as OCDETF. OCDETF was established in 1982 to support comprehensive investigations and prosecutions of major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. It is the keystone of the drug reduction strategy of the Department of Justice. By combining the resources and expertise of federal agencies and their state and local law enforcement partners, OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations.
Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court in Boston to fentanyl conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms.
Ariel Pagan-Romero, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and being a felon in possession of firearms. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Feb. 4, 2021.
During the course of several months, using an undercover officer, a federal investigation uncovered Pagan-Romero’s fentanyl distribution operation. During a search of Pagan-Romero’s residence, agents seized pistols, an AR-15 rifle, ammunition, fentanyl and cocaine base.
The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million and at least 5 years of supervised release. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Andover, North Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Lowell and Lawrence Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering 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.
Lake Traverse Trio Charged with Robbery and Aggravated Assault that Nearly Resulted in Victim’s DeathRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two males and one female have been indicted by a federal grand jury for three counts of aggravated assault, maiming, and robbery.
Tiffany Bernard, age 28, and Randall Delbert Pumpkinseed, age 31, were indicted on October 6, 2020. Each appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on October 15, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
Brendon Javon Jacob Rodlund, age 31, was indicted on the same day. He is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on December 14, 2020, and is expected to plead not guilty to the Indictment.
The Indictment alleges that during the night between November 16 and 17, 2015, Rodlund, Bernard, and Pumpkinseed, while aiding and abetting each other, assaulted the victim in an effort to rob the victim of property and things of value. Each defendant was charged with the following: assault with intent to commit murder; maiming the victim; robbery; assault with a dangerous weapon; assault resulted in serious bodily injury.
A conviction for assault with intent to commit murder and maiming each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison; robbery carries a maximum penalty of 15 years; assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years. Each count also carries a $250,000 fine, or both fine and imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges are merely accusations and Rodlund, Bernard, and Pumpkinseed are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
Rodlund is currently in federal prison and being transported to South Dakota to make his appearance in court on these charges. Bernard and Pumpkinseed are to be arraigned on October 19 and October 21, 2020, and each are currently detained. A trial date has not been set.
Kansas City Man Could Face 12 Years in Prison for Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas City man pleaded guilty today to a charge of distributing heroin, which could send him to federal prison for 12 years, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Titus Sanders, 23, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of distributing heroin.
According to court records, the investigation began when Westwood, Kan., police were called to a Walmart where they found a man suffering from a drug overdose. He was found with a syringe containing heroin. The man was hospitalized and later died.
Investigators found evidence on the victim’s cellphone that he had purchased heroin from Sanders.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 13. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 12 years. McAllister commended the Westwood Police Department, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trent Krug and Kim Flannigan for their work on the case.
Justice Department Seizes Phony Tech Support Websites Used to Defraud Amazon CustomersRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas - U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox announced that the United States has seized 6 websites that were unlawfully used as part of a telemarketing/online advertising scheme to deceive Amazon customers into purchasing unnecessary services to set up their Amazon Echo devices.
“The Eastern District of Texas is proud to work alongside our federal law enforcement partners to protect consumers from Internet-based fraud schemes, and we are glad to partner with companies such as Amazon which referred this matter to the Department in the first instance,” said U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox. “The collaborative efforts that led to the seizures of these phony websites are just the first steps toward holding the wrongdoers accountable.”
“Internet-based fraud schemes are challenging for law enforcement as they typically involve an organized group of con artists scattered around the world,” said William Mack, U.S. Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge of the Tyler Resident Office. “The success of this investigation was the direct result of investigative actions taken by the Secret Service and the Department of Justice. The Secret Service will continue to strengthen our partnerships between the public and private sector, our law enforcement colleagues, and the Department of Justice. The Secret Service will continue to lead the fight against cyber-enabled fraud and hold accountable all those who seek to exploit U.S. citizens for their own illicit gain.”
The seized websites contained photographs of Amazon Echo devices and purported to offer services to help Amazon customers activate their devices. These websites had links to “download” the Alexa app. Rather than leading customers to actually download the Alexa app, these websites simulated a phony “download” process and ended with an error message concerning the purported “failed download.” The websites then prompted customers to call specific telephone numbers for technical support with the application.
Once customers called those phone numbers, so-called “technicians” working for the website operators would take remote control of the customers’ computers and convince them that there were “technical issues” that prevented their Echo devices from working properly. But in reality, no such issues existed. The technicians would then sell the customers computer services to fix these fictional issues, charging the customers a fee ($99 for a two-year plan or $149 for a four-year plan) for otherwise-free and otherwise-unnecessary steps like registering the Alexa software or providing network security.
The Justice Department recommends that Americans take the following precautionary measures to protect themselves from similar scams:
- Before purchasing products or services to support electronic devices, check with the actual manufacturer or provider of those devices to determine whether those services are legitimate or necessary.
- Do not click on links or open email attachments from unknown or unverified sources.
- Do not download software to allow unknown or unverified sources to access your computers or your devices.
- Do not purchase services from telemarketers or online marketers when the solicitation lacks a written description of the services provided and for which no business address is provided.
Further recommendations and resources for victims of deceptive marketing scams and more information on how to avoid becoming the victim of fraud schemes can be found at www.ftc.gov.
Following the United States’ seizure of the websites, visitors to the sites will receive the following message:
This seizure was investigated by the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Hornok, Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld, and Robert Wells. The investigation was referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas by the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, as part of its coordination of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force.
Inland Empire Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Leading Crew that Robbed at Least 15 AutoZone Stores at GunpointRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A Riverside County man who led a crew that committed at least 15 armed robberies of Inland Empire AutoZone stores, sometimes using an AR-15-style rifle, was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison.
Daeon Raishawn Cox, 22, of Moreno Valley, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal. Cox pleaded guilty in July 2019 to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
From September 5, 2018 until December 13, 2018, when he was arrested after leading police officers on a high-speed pursuit, Cox and his co-conspirators robbed at least 15 AutoZone stores at gunpoint, making off with more than $11,000 in cash.
In many of the robberies, Cox or a co-conspirator brandished or pointed a gun at the AutoZone employees in order to gain compliance. These firearms included at least two handguns, and in some instances, an AR-15-style rifle. Cox directly participated in at least eight of the armed robberies, plus one additional attempted robbery.
“[Cox’s] actions placed innocent lives in grave danger, and inflicted immeasurable emotional trauma on the tens of employee victims whom he and his coconspirators robbed – victims who were just trying to make an honest living,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum.
One of Cox’s co-defendants, Dashon Raymond White, 26, of Moreno Valley, pleaded guilty in July 2019 to conspiracy to one count of interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 15, 2021.
Cox, White, and co-defendant Jada Shardae Allen, 20, of Perris, were caught after their attempt to use an AR-15-style rifle to rob an AutoZone on December 12, 2018 was interrupted by Fontana police, who had been conducting surveillance at the AutoZone store in that city after learning about the string of AutoZone robberies in the Inland Empire, according to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint in the case.
The suspects led police on a high-speed chase on Interstate 15 and threw the rifle out of the car. The chase ended when they crashed and tried to run away. Cox was found hiding in a garbage can. All three suspects were eventually apprehended by officers. Officers recovered the firearm on the side of the freeway. Allen’s trial is scheduled for January 26, 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Fontana Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the Riverside Police Department, the Hemet Police Department, the Redlands Police Department, the Moreno Valley Police Department, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerry C. Yang, Chief of the Riverside Branch Office.
Huntington Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that a methamphetamine dealer was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison. Joshua David Ramey, 29, previously pled guilty to a single count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
“Ramey had 471 grams of meth in the trunk when his car broke down on Interstate 64. As I’ve often said, God works in mysterious ways,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Another great interdiction by law enforcement that kept this poison off of our streets.”
On March 13, 2018, a deputy with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department stopped to assist a disabled vehicle on the exit ramp of I-64, mile marker 34 in Putnam County. Ramey had been the driver of the vehicle. The deputy detected the odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle, at which time the deputy located in the trunk four clear plastic baggies of methamphetamine. The plastic baggies contained a combined weight of approximately 471 grams of methamphetamine, which carries a street value close to $36,000.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Keefe and Monica D. Coleman handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:18-cr-00181.
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Harrison County man admits to firearms violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Al-Teric Garrett, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Garrett, age 28, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Garrett, who was previously convicted of felony charges and prohibited from having a firearm, admitted to having a 9mm pistol in August 2019 in Harrison County.
Garrett faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Former Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Role in Marijuana ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that a former postal employee who participated in a scheme to ship and distribute marijuana which was mailed from California to Huntington pled guilty in federal court. Carl Andrew Varnum, 49, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
“16 pounds of marijuana delivered through the U.S. Mail. Varnum was a postal employee that was using the U.S. mail to facilitate marijuana trafficking,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “This prosecution should be a reminder to all that marijuana is still illegal under federal law.”
Varnum admitted that, between 2015 and March of 2018, he conspired with others to distribute marijuana in the Huntington area. During the conspiracy, marijuana was frequently shipped through the United States mail from California to Huntington. Varnum, who was a U.S. Postal employee at the time, recruited a letter carrier also employed with the postal service, to receive and deliver the parcels. Once the parcels containing marijuana arrived in Huntington, the carrier delivered the parcels on his assigned delivery route.
On March 15, 2018, agents located two parcels at the Huntington Post Office which had been mailed from California to Huntington and were found to contain marijuana. Agents conducting surveillance observed the carrier load the parcels into a postal delivery truck and drive to the Dollar General store located in the 800 block of Norway Avenue in Huntington. At that location, the carrier provided the marijuana to another individual who arrived in a separate vehicle. A trooper with the West Virginia State Police subsequently conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and recovered the parcels which contained approximately 16 pounds of marijuana.
Varnum faces up to 5 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on January 25, 2021.
The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the West Virginia State Police and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00180.
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Former Central New York Resident Pleads Guilty to Passport Fraud, Misuse of a Social Security Number, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Timothy John Walsh, age 62, formerly of Dolgeville, New York, pled guilty today to making a false statement on a passport application, misuse of a social security number, and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Keith Byrne, Special Agent in Charge, Diplomatic Security Service’s New York Field Office.
According to the offer of proof filed by the government and admitted to by Walsh during his change of plea today, Walsh mailed a fraudulent passport application to the United States Department of State using his picture but his deceased brother’s name and other personal identifying information, including his brother’s social security number.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 21, 2021, before Senior United States District Court Judge Norman A. Mordue. Walsh faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of at least two years and one day and a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on the false statement charge and five years on the misuse of a social security number charge. He also is subject to a fine of up $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.
Federal Law Enforcement Initiative Leads to Charges Against Seven Baton Rouge Men for Firearms and Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin has announced recent federal grand jury indictments leading to the arrest of seven Baton Rouge men on various firearms and drug trafficking offenses. The federal arrests all occurred on October 13, 2020, and were part of a coordinated federal interagency initiative to address narcotics trafficking and violent crime. Charged in separate indictments and arrested as part of this initiative were the following individuals, all of Baton Rouge:
Tyjiri Anderson, age 21, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. On September 7, 2020, Anderson possessed a Zastava model PAP M92PV, 7.62x39 caliber pistol, 150 rounds of Blazer .40 caliber S&W ammunition, and 25 rounds of Wolf 7.62x39 caliber ammunition.
Benjamin Fields, age 20, for receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. On September 17, 2020, Fields received a Palmetto State Armory Model PA-15, 556 caliber pistol while under indictment for a felony.
Albert Stewart III, age 26, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On August 29, 2020, Stewart possessed a Smith & Wesson Model SD9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
Trayneil T. Gaines, age 25, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On August 17, 2020, Gaines possessed a Spike’s Tactical Model ST15, 300 caliber rifle.
Charles Anthony Brown, age 21, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On June 26, 2020, Brown possessed a Glock Model 36, .45 caliber pistol.
Marvin D. White, age 37, and Lorenzo D. Cain, age 27, for conspiracy to distribute heroin, distribution of heroin, and possession with the intent to distribute heroin. Throughout April 2020, White and Cain committed these various narcotics trafficking offenses.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to illegally purchase - firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense. The Department is committed to prosecuting these firearms offenses as well as using all modern technologies available to law enforcement such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, to promote gun crime intelligence. Keeping illegal firearms out of the hands of violent criminals will continue to be a priority of the Department of Justice and we will use all appropriate, available means to keep the law abiding people of this country safe from gun crime.
These matters are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with critical assistance from the Louisiana State Police, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and the Baton Rouge Police Department. These matters are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William K. Morris and Paul J. Pugliese.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Ex-Marshall University Football Player Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that a Huntington man was sentenced to prison for a federal child pornography offense. Jeremiah Taylor, 32, was sentenced to 90 months in prison for distributing child pornography. Taylor was also ordered to complete 15 years of supervised release after prison, as well as to pay a substantial amount of restitution.
“A former college football star that was a Captain on the Marshall University football team. He was idolized by countless kids across the country. This is a tragic case. Child pornography crimes are absolutely egregious and will not be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Child predators- whether football stars, a relative or a neighbor- should know that we’re coming for you. My office is committed to protecting our most vulnerable through prosecutions like this.”
Taylor previously admitted that in January 2019, he utilized the mobile messaging application Kik to send several graphic videos of child pornography to an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent. These videos depicted nude prepubescent children engaged in sexual conduct, including sadistic or masochistic conduct. Taylor also admitted that he asked the undercover agent for photos of the agent’s purported 9-year-old daughter naked in sexually-explicit poses. On Kik, Taylor was an active member of a group focused on taboo interests, wherein users frequently shared images and videos of child pornography. A search warrant later executed on Taylor’s Kik account uncovered additional stored child pornography. Taylor’s Kik username was “58ThatDude58” – 58 is the number Taylor wore while playing football for Marshall University from 2010 to 2013.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott handled the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00068.
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El Cajon Tax Preparers Indicted for Filing Hundreds of False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 19, 2020
SAN DIEGO – Two former tax preparers based in El Cajon, California were arraigned in federal court today on an indictment alleging they participated in a tax return scam that resulted in the filing of hundreds of false returns and the request of more than $1.4 million in bogus tax refunds.
Mimi Bozzo, also known as Mimi Morrison, and Vincent Bozzo, are charged in the indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States and aiding and assisting the filing of false income tax returns. According to the indictment, Mimi and Vincent Bozzo owned and operated a tax return preparation business in El Cajon, California, under various business names, including “All Pro Services” and “A to Z Tax Preparation.”
The indictment alleges that from at least January 2012 through April 2018, Mimi and Vincent Bozzo knowingly prepared and filed approximately 500 federal income tax returns that contained false Schedule C business income and false Schedule C business expenses resulting in fraudulently inflated tax credits and refunds. Mimi and Vincent Bozzo allegedly charged their customers approximately $800 per tax return. As part of the tax fraud, Mimi and Vincent Bozzo allegedly transported or accompanied some customers to check-cashing businesses to cash their falsely inflated tax refund checks, and at times, demanded from the customers a portion of the cashed refund check in addition to the tax preparation fees that had already been deducted from the inflated tax refunds. According to the indictment, Mimi and Vincent Bozzo also used their customers to recruit new clients in order to prepare fraudulent returns, paying a fee for each new referral.
The indictment further alleges that Mimi and Vincent Bozzo solicited and obtained the false income from taxpayers by encouraging the creation of receipts for income that the taxpayers did not earn in order to inflate tax credits and refunds that the taxpayers were not entitled. Mimi and Vincent Bozzo allegedly solicited and obtained personal identifying information of taxpayers by passing out flyers and business cards, which offered people assistance in obtaining money from the government.
To further their tax fraud, Mimi and Vincent Bozzo allegedly prepared tax returns using taxpayers’ personal identifying information and including false and fraudulent information as to income, expenses, deductions and credits. Of note, the indictment alleges that Mimi and Vincent Bozzo falsely claimed on the tax returns that the taxpayers had engaged in the businesses listed on Schedule C, such as household employment. As the indictment alleges, Mimi and Vincent Bozzo’s conspiracy and tax fraud caused the submission of false claims to the IRS for tax refunds totaling at least approximately $1.4 million and caused the IRS to disperse the refunds to the taxpayers.
“Tax fraud continues to be a growing problem plaguing our community,” said United States Attorney Robert Brewer. “When tax fraud scams are brought to our attention, we will diligently work together with the IRS to unravel the fraud and prosecute those responsible for defrauding the IRS and honest taxpayers in order to protect the integrity of our tax system.”
“Over the course of several years the Bozzos knowingly prepared and filed hundreds of false tax returns,” said Ryan L. Korner, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Office. “This is yet another example of suspect tax preparers taking advantage of fellow Americans. American taxpayers who file accurate, honest and timely returns can be assured that the government will hold accountable those who don't.”
At the end of the arraignment, Mimi and Vincent Bozzo were ordered to post bond before returning to their home in Texas. The next hearing is scheduled for December 3, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel.
DEFENDANTS Criminal Case No. 20CR2944-GPC
Mimi Bozzo Age: 60 Trinity, Texas
Vincent Bozzo Age: 60 Trinity, Texas
SUMMARY OF CHARGES:
Count 1 – Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 B Conspiracy to Defraud the United States
Maximum penalties: 5 years in prison, $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release.
Counts 2-19 – Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2) – Aiding or Assisting the Filing of False Income Tax Returns
Maximum penalties: Three years in prison per count, $250,000 fine per count, one year of supervised release per count
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation
*An indictment itself is not evidence that the defendants committed the crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the Government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Dominican National Convicted by Federal Jury of Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Utah-based cocaine trafficker was convicted on Thursday following a two-day trial in Boston.
Droel Jared Encarnacion, 28, of Medford, Mass. and Salt Lake City, Utah, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2021.
In August and September 2018, federal investigators were conducting a wiretap investigation into Encarnacion and his co-conspirator, Robin Manuel Suazo, who lived in Lynn, Mass. The two men discussed their fentanyl and cocaine distribution activities in several calls, and discussed shipping drugs from Utah to Boston. On Sept. 17, 2018, Encarnacion shipped, via, FedEx, a package containing approximately 427 grams of cocaine from his home in Utah to his mother’s address in Medford, Mass. Encarnacion then flew to Boston himself to pick up the cocaine. Agents stopped the two men as they drove together in a vehicle toward Lynn, and located the FedEx package of cocaine in the vehicle, showing Encarnacion as the sender of the package.
The crimes of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Jared Dolan of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit.
Department of Justice's COPS Office Invests More Than $536.7 Million in Grants to Improve Public Safety, Reduce Crime and Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) awarded more than $536.7 million in Fiscal Year 2020 to increase law enforcement hiring and to improve school safety, combat opioids and methamphetamine, advance community policing efforts, provide training to the law enforcement field, and protect the health of our nation’s officers and deputies.
“Building on the successes in reducing violent crime in 2017, 2018, and 2019, these Department of Justice grants for 2020 help to fight violent crime and deadly narcotics, to improve public safety, and to support the officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “Strong partnerships of federal, state, and local law enforcement can produce better results for the public we all serve.”
“Supporting the men and women of law enforcement as they serve their communities is of paramount importance to the COPS Office,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Now more than ever, it is critical that we continue to provide state, local and tribal agencies the resources they desperately need to continue to advance public safety, which they are so committed to doing. We are all the beneficiaries of that work.”
Funds awarded by the COPS Office in FY2020 include:
COPS Hiring Program (CHP): Nearly $400 million in CHP grant funding was awarded to 605 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which will allow those agencies to hire 2,761 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. CHP provides funding for the hiring and rehiring of entry-level career law enforcement officers in an effort to create and preserve jobs and increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.
School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP): Through SVPP, nearly $49 million was awarded to 160 states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies to be used to improve security at schools and on school grounds. Awards included funding for coordination with local law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent school violence against others and self; placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures providing significant improvements in security.
Community Policing Development (CPD): Through CPD, 24 awards were announced totaling nearly $8 million in funding to advance the practice of community policing in law enforcement. CPD funds are used to develop the capacity of law enforcement to implement community policing by providing guidance on promising practices through the development and testing of innovative strategies; building knowledge about effective practices and outcomes; and supporting new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities.
Community Policing Development Microgrants Program: Through CPD Microgrants, nearly $2.2 million was awarded to 29 local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies to implement demonstration or pilot projects in their jurisdictions offering creative ideas to advance crime fighting, community engagement, problem solving, or organizational changes to support community policing.
COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP): Through CAMP, approximately $12 million in grant funding was awarded to 12 state law enforcement agencies that have demonstrated numerous seizures of precursor chemicals, finished methamphetamine, laboratories, and laboratory dump seizures. This funding will support the location or investigation of illicit activities related to the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine, including precursor diversion, laboratories, or methamphetamine traffickers.
Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program: More than $29.7 million in AHTF grant funding was awarded to 14 state law enforcement agencies with multijurisdictional reach and interdisciplinary team (e.g., task force) structures in states with high per capita rates of primary treatment admissions for heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and other opioids. This funding will support the location or investigation of illicit activities through statewide collaboration related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids.
Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA): Through LEMHWA, 41 awards were announced totaling $4.5 million to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring mental health and wellness, and suicide prevention programs.
Preparing for Active Shooter Situations (PASS): Approximately $8.8 million in PASS funding was awarded to Texas State University / ALERRT to offer integrated, scenario-based response courses and cross-disciplinary active shooter training to law enforcement and other first responders nationally.
Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS): CTAS provides resources for federally recognized tribes from the COPS Office, the Office of Justice Programs, and the Office on Violence Against Women. Through CTAS, the COPS Office made 64 Tribal Resources Grant Program awards for tribal officer hiring, equipment, and/or training to 41 tribes, with funding totaling approximately $22.5 million.
Tribal Resources Grant Program - Technical Assistance (TRGP-TA): Through TRGP-TA, the COPS Office provided $800,000 to fund projects related to the topics of (1) cold cases and missing or murdered indigenous persons and (2) developing an Alaskan law enforcement recruitment strategy.
Full lists of all announced COPS Office awards are available here.
Department of Justice Awards $1 Million to City of Chicago to Support Testing of Sexual Assault KitsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today announced that the city of Chicago will receive $1 million from the Department of Justice to test and track sexual assault kits.
The grant, administered by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, is part of more than $45 million in nationwide awards to support the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI). The program promotes the use of multi-disciplinary teams by supporting investigation, prosecution, and victim advocacy involved with a comprehensive approach to addressing unsubmitted sexual assault kits. The program also helps law enforcement agencies and crime labs process sexual assault evidence and increase the number of sexual assault kits submitted to crime labs in order to solve more crimes, including cold cases.
“These significant federal funds will help the city of Chicago efficiently process sexual assault evidence and establish DNA profiles,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “This is critically important work and effective in reducing violent crime.”
“Far too many people endure the physical and emotional trauma of a sexual assault only to have evidence of the crime remain unanalyzed,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for OJP. “These grants will help investigators get these kits to labs, where they can be tested, used to solve crimes and ultimately bring justice to victims.”
For the full list of awards across the country, view the OJP fact sheet.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. For more information about OJP and its components, visit the OJP website.
Chambersburg Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Daquan Seabrook, age 25, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release by Chief United States District Court Judge John E. Jones III, for drug trafficking.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Seabrook pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 100 grams and more of heroin in October 2017, in Chambersburg, Franklin County. One hundred grams of heroin is equivalent to approximately 4,000 individual doses of heroin.
Chief Judge Jones also ordered Seabrook to forfeit $15,000 of cash seized at the time of his arrest.
The case was investigated by the Franklin County Drug Task Force and the Harrisburg Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy prosecuted 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.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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California University to Pay $225,000 for Allegedly Violating Ban on Incentive CompensationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – San Diego Christian College (SDCC), based in Santee, California, will pay $225,000 to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act for submitting false claims to the U.S. Department of Education in violation of the federal ban on incentive-based compensation, the Justice Department announced today.
Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) prohibits any institution of higher education that receives federal student aid from compensating student recruiters with a commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based on the recruiters’ success in securing student enrollment. The incentive compensation ban protects students against admissions and recruitment practices that serve the financial interests of the recruiter rather than the educational needs of the student.
“Higher education enrollment decisions should put students first,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Offering recruiters financial incentives to enroll students undermines students’ ability to make educational decisions in their own best interests.”
“Colleges should be places for students to learn and grow, not places to be taken advantage of by recruiters watching out for the own financial interests,” said U.S. Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr. for the District of South Carolina. “This office will continue its efforts to protect students against illegal recruiting practices.”
“Today’s settlement is a result of the hard work and effort of the Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice to protect and maintain the integrity of the Federal student aid programs,” said Neil Sanchez, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Southern Regional Office. “We will continue to work together to ensure that Federal student aid funds are used as required by law. America’s taxpayers and students deserve nothing less.”
The settlement, which was based on SDCC’s ability to pay, resolves allegations that between 2014 and 2016, SDCC hired Joined, Inc., a California-based student recruiting company, to recruit students to SDCC. The United States contended that SDCC compensated Joined with a share of the tuition that SDCC received from the enrollment of recruited students, in violation of the prohibition on incentive compensation.
The allegations resolved by the settlement were brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act by Maurice Shoe, the co-owner of Joined. The Act permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to receive a share of any recovery. As part of today’s resolution, the whistleblower will receive $33,750.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina and the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch. Investigative assistance was provided by the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Education.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Shoe v. San Diego Christian College, No. 6:16-cv-01570 (D.S.C.).
Al Qaeda-Trained Jihadist Who Recruited Network of Terrorists to Kill Americans on Behalf of ISIS Sentenced to 300 MonthsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A 46-year-old international terrorist convicted for continuing to provide support to terrorist organizations while an inmate at the U.S. Bureau of Prisons has been sentenced in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.
Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed, an Ethiopian national born in Eretria, was found guilty by a jury in December 2019, of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (ISIS) and making a false statement to the FBI. Ahmed was sentenced to an additional 300 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone. This 25-year sentence will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
“This terrorist’s original prison sentence did not diminish his support of ISIS or its ugly ideology,” said U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox. “Fortunately, his efforts to radicalize and train others to commit acts of violence against civilians were thwarted by the quick actions of our law enforcement partners. Our office is committed to pursuing terrorists wherever they hide, including within our federal prison system.”
“While in prison for a prior terrorism conviction, Ahmed continued to engage in terrorist activity by recruiting fellow inmates to join ISIS and training them in preparation for future attacks,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “As long as terrorists keep offending, the Department will continue to bring them to justice. We have done so in this case.”
“As terrorists have grown more determined to inflict violence on populations and use any tool or method at their disposal to do so, law enforcement has become more agile in disrupting their plots,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division Perrye K. Turner. “Despite serving a sentence for terrorism charges, Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed had unwavering intent to continue on his quest for terror and used his access to incarcerated individuals to further his recruiting efforts for ISIS. Today's sentence not only demonstrates the persistence terrorists and terrorist organizations have, but also, reinforces the persistence of FBI Houston Agents assigned to the Beaumont Resident Agency to protect the homeland.”
According to information presented in court, in 2013 Ahmed was convicted in the Southern District of New York of conspiring to provide material support to and receive military-type training from a foreign terrorist organization. Ahmed had attended an al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan in 1996 and was a member of the Brandbergen Mosque network, which financially and logistically supported other terrorist groups. A federal judge in New York sentenced Ahmed to 111 months in federal prison and he was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) in Beaumont, Texas to serve his sentence.
Ahmed continued his terrorist activities while serving his sentence at FCI-Beaumont. He recruited at least five inmates to join ISIS and to conduct terrorist acts in the United States after their release from federal custody, telling them that he was aligned with ISIS and supported al Shabaab and al Qaeda. From prison, he celebrated the Ariana Grande concert bombing and other acts of terror in the news, telling an inmate, “They kill kids, we gonna kill kids.” Ahmed wanted the inmates he was recruiting to either travel abroad to join ISIS, or create “sleeper cells” within the United States to carry out attacks.
Ahmed provided would-be recruits with a training manual on how to carry out violent jihad, including topics such as “how to carry out guerilla war,” “selection of human targets,” and “how to carry out assassinations.” He even held physical training exercises with other inmates in the prison yard to get them in shape to carry out the acts of terror he was plotting. Ahmed also discussed a plot with fellow inmates to bomb the Federal Detention Center in New York City as a revenge for his prosecution there.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Beaumont Resident Agency, out of the Houston Division, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice and Trial Attorneys Alicia Cook and Katie Sweeten of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The sentencing hearing was conducted by AUSA Christopher T. Rapp.
Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar Appoints Dedicated Official to Answer Western District of Virginia Election ComplaintsRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Virginia – Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar announced today that Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020 general election. AUSA Kavanaugh has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Virginia, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“It is vitally important that our citizens are able to vote without interference or discrimination. They must be confident that every vote is counted without compromise,” Acting United States Attorney Bubar said today. “The Department of Justice will do all it can to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, 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 election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes 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 of persons 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. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).
Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities. District Election Official Kavanaugh will be on duty in the Western District of Virginia while polls are open. He can be reached by the public at: 434-293-3981.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 804-627-1044.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/
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.
27 Defendants Convicted and Sentenced to Federal Prison for Involvement in Cocaine-Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - United States Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that all 27 defendants have been convicted and sentenced to terms of imprisonment for their involvement in a wide-ranging cocaine-trafficking conspiracy led by Howard Mayfield, of Grand Rapids. On October 16, 2020, Mayfield’s sister Tamara Nelson, also known as Tamara Mingo, was the last defendant to be sentenced; U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney sentenced Nelson to 139 months in federal prison.
Mayfield’s drug-trafficking organization distributed kilograms of cocaine in and around Grand Rapids between April 2017 and May 2018. Mayfield pleaded guilty to the cocainetrafficking conspiracy and was sentenced to 360 months in prison. From early 2017 until April 2018, Mayfield worked with Texas-based cocaine distributor, Wilbert Gentry, to bring over 100 kilograms of cocaine into the Grand Rapids area. In April and May 2018, Mayfield began getting kilogram-quantities of cocaine from Muskegon- and Detroit-based supplier Craig Schenvinsky James, as well as Quincy Delon Lofton, of Detroit.
Mayfield then distributed the cocaine, in either powder form or as crack cocaine, to coconspirators in and around Grand Rapids, including Tamara Nelson, Ryan Rashad Brown, Yvette Sheree Brown, Donald Bernard Gardner, Martin Luther Dukes, Douglas Emmanuel Carey III, Nicole Lynn Starr, Carlus Bridgeforth, Martinellus Nix, Demarcus Pinder, Trebarius McGee, Pedro Antonio Mateo, Marvin Nix, Stephawn, McFadden, Troy Jordai Lewis, Jeffrey Allan Dean, and Jessica Warren (also known as Jessica Gatica). These co-conspirators, in turn, sold the cocaine and crack cocaine to their customers.
Additional defendants, including Jennifer Tadeo, Elsie Bridget Boston, Monica Laster, Shamekia Liptrot, Taniedra Sade White, and Salena Kolarich, were convicted for their respective roles in the conspiracy, such as helping to transport or store the cocaine and/or drug proceeds.
In announcing the convictions and sentences, U.S. Attorney Birge stated, “Cocaine and cocaine base are powerful drugs that continue to wreak havoc on individual users, their families, and their communities. Cocaine overdose death rates have risen significantly in recent years, particularly in the Midwest, and about 1 in 5 overdose deaths involve cocaine. Along with our law enforcement partners, we take cocaine offenses seriously and are invested in disrupting the channels drug-traffickers use to distribute illegal and dangerous drugs in the Western District of Michigan.”
DEA Detroit Division Special Agent in Charge, Keith W. Martin, commented, “The sentencing of the 27 members of this drug trafficking organization is a direct result of the collaboration between DEA and many state, local and federal partners. This is a tremendous victory for the law-abiding citizens of west-Michigan, effectively dismantling a major cocaine trafficking operation responsible for peddling poisons and eroding communities.”
The Metropolitan Enforcement Team (MET) of the Michigan State Police began the investigation into Mayfield’s drug-trafficking organization in early 2017, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Kentwood Police Department provided key support throughout the case, including by using one of its detectives in an undercover capacity to purchase cocaine and heroin directly from Mayfield. Numerous other law enforcement agencies assisted with operations during the two-month period the DEA had a wiretap on Howard Mayfield’s phones, including the Arkansas State Police, and the Vice Unit of the Grand Rapids Police Department.
“This case is an excellent example of the fantastic results that can be achieved when Federal, State, and Local law enforcement pool their resources and personnel to tackle the narcotics problems facing West Michigan. In this case a large Drug Trafficking Organization was effectively dismantled due to these cooperative efforts. The Metropolitan Enforcement Team welcomes any opportunity to leverage resources in the effort to combat dangerous drug dealers adversely affecting our communities,” said D/Lt Nathan Grant, commander of MET.
Kentwood Police Chief Richard Roberts likewise is pleased with the collaborative efforts of all of the agencies involved in this case. “Illegal drug use is not only an issue for us in Kentwood, but for all communities across the country. Being a part of this joint effort to combat this problem has been very rewarding. The success of this case also speaks to the professionalism and ability of the men and women of the Kentwood Police Department,” said Chief Roberts.
The 27 defendants, their crimes of convictions, and sentence information are as follows:
Defendant City Conviction(s) Sentence Howard Anthony Mayfield Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute (“PWID”) Cocaine (5kilograms or more) and Crack Cocaine 360 months in prison Wilbert Gentry Houston, TX Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine (5 kilograms or more) and Crack Cocaine 150 months in prison Craig Schenvinsky James Muskegon Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine (5 kilograms or more) and Crack Cocaine 108 months in prison Quincy Delon Lofton Detroit Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine (5 kilograms or more) and Crack Cocaine 78 months in prison Ryan Rashad Brown Wyoming Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID (500 grams or more) and Crack Cocaine; PWID Cocaine (500 grams or more); PWID Cocaine 204 months in prison Yvette Sheree Brown Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute PWID Cocaine (500 grams or more) and Crack Cocaine 120 months in prison Jennifer Tadeo Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute PWID Cocaine (5 kilograms or more) and Crack Cocaine 84 months in prison Donald Bernard Gardner Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine and Crack Cocaine (28 grams or more) 168 months in prison Tamara Nelson, née Tamara Mingo Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine and Crack Cocaine 139 Months in prison Elsie Bridget Boston Houston, TX Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine (5 kilograms or more) and Crack Cocaine 110 months in prison Martin Luther Dukes Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine and Crack Cocaine 63 months in prison Douglas Emmanuel Carey III Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine and Crack Cocaine; PWID Cocaine (2 counts) 150 months in prison Monica Laster Grand Rapids Unlawful use of Communication Facility to Facilitate Drug Felony 24 months in prison Nicole Lynn Starr St. Johns, MI Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine and Crack Cocaine 57 months in prison Shamekia Liptrot Grand Rapids Unlawful use of Communication Facility to Facilitate Drug Felony 30 months in prison Carlus Bridgeforth Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine (500 grams or more) and Crack Cocaine 46 months in prison Martinellus Nix Grand Rapids PWID Cocaine 120 months in prison Demarcus Pinder Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine and Crack Cocaine (28 grams or more) 144 months in prison Trebarius McGee Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine 96 months in prison Pedro Antonio Mateo Grand Rapids PWID Cocaine 54 months in prison Marvin Quantez Nix Grand Rapids Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine and Crack Cocaine; PWID Cocaine 96 months in prison Stephawn McFadden Grand Rapids PWID Cocaine 54 months in prison Troy Jordai Lewis Grand Rapids PWID Cocaine 18 months in prison Jeffrey Allan Dean Grand Rapids PWID Cocaine 13 months in prison Jessica Warren née Gatica Grand Rapids PWID Cocaine 42 months in prison Taniedra Sade White Houston, TX Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine and Crack Cocaine 33 months in prison Salena Kolarich, also
known as Salena Sparr Columbus, OH Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Cocaine and Crack Cocaine; Unlawful use of Communication Facility to Facilitate Drug Felony; Interstate Transport of Drug Proceeds 60 months in prisonThis case was investigated by the DEA, the Michigan State Police, Metropolitan Enforcement Team, the Kentwood Police Department, and the Grand Rapids Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Zell and Dan McGraw.
Sunday 18 October 2020
MEDIA ADVISORY -- U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart in Wood County on Monday to Honor Excellence in Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart will recognize the excellent work of a member of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department and the Wood County Prosecuting Attorney, on Monday, October 19, 2020, at 9:30a.m., during a meeting of the Wood County Commission in Parkersburg.
WHAT: Presentation of U.S. Attorney’s Awards for Excellence in Pursuit of Justice
WHEN: Monday, October 19, 2020, at 9:30am
WHERE: Wood County Commission meeting
1 Court Square, Parkersburg, WV
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
Saturday 17 October 2020
United States Attorney's Office Combats Violent Crime by Advancing Four Firearms Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announces the results from this week prosecuting crimes committed with firearms:
- Guilty plea in U.S. v. Michael Phillip Gonzales (case number 20-cr-194) -- Defendant pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm while in Colorado Springs. During the course of an investigation, police contacted the defendant, a known gang member, in a store parking lot. A search of the defendant’s vehicle revealed a backpack containing a firearm. The defendant was not allowed to possess this weapon due to a prior conviction.
- Guilty plea in U.S. v. Novan Greenwood (case number 20-cr-58) – Defendant pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition while in Wheat Ridge. In September of 2019, the defendant went to a shooting range with his own weapons and purchased ammunition for target practice. The defendant had a prior felony conviction that prohibited this activity.
- Guilty plea in U.S. v. Leon Salazar (case number 20-cr-27) – Defendant pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm while in Colorado Springs. During the course of an investigation, law enforcement found firearms in the defendant’s storage shed and in the trunk of his vehicle. He was not allowed to possess these weapons because he had a prior felony conviction.
- Sentencing hearing in U.S. v. Dashe Eugene Armstrong (case number 18-cr-551) – On November 11, 2018, Mr. Armstrong, a known gang member, was shot at by a rival gang member near the intersection of 21st and Lawrence. There were busy restaurants, bars and businesses in the immediate vicinity, as well as a large group of homeless individuals. Five innocent homeless people were shot, with one dying from his injuries. Armstrong was also shot -- in the foot. He returned fire. He was a felon and not allowed to possess a firearm or the ammunition he used during the shootout. The defendant received a sentence of time served, followed by 3 years on supervised release.
Earlier this week, U.S. Attorney Dunn announced that since June his office has obtained 51 indictments related to firearms as part of a concerted effort to address violent crime. Recent cases were also the focus of Tweets issued on the office’s Twitter account, which can be found @DCoNews.
United States Attorney Josh Minkler issues release concerning the November 2020 general electionRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Tiffany Preston will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. AUSA Preston has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Indiana, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud,” said Minkler. “The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, 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 election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through Election Day.
Federal law protects against such crimes 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 of persons 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. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Minkler stated that AUSA/DEO Preston will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: 317-452-0242 or 317-229-2401.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 317-595-4000.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
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.
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate,” said Minkler. “It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
U.S. Attorneys Mike Stuart and Bill Powell Announce $8.9 Million in Justice Department Grants to Combat Addiction Crisis in West VirginiaRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorneys Mike Stuart and Bill Powell today announced awards of $8,902,765 in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in West Virginia. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.
“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”
Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.
“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”
“West Virginia is ground zero for battling this crisis. With the highest overdose death rate per capita nationally for several years in a row, it’s vital that those in the mountain state working to combat this epidemic have the tools they need to help bring those numbers down and save lives. This funding will assist in that fight,” said Powell.
“With our state being the epicenter of the addiction crisis, this funding is critical to addressing the challenges faced by families and communities throughout West Virginia,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “It will further strengthen the “all hands on deck” approach that is necessary to combat the addiction crisis. The programs funded will provide much needed resources and support to those in need.”
Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
The following organizations received funding:
- West Virginia Justice and Community Services - $6,223,284
- West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals - $1,349,953
- United Way of the River Cities - $690,553
- Legal Aide of West Virginia - $638,975
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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U.S. Attorneys Bill Powell and Mike Stuart announce $8.9 million in Justice Department grants to combat addiction crisisRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorneys Bill Powell and Mike Stuart today announced awards of $8,902,765 in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in the [name of district]. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.
“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”
Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.
“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”
“West Virginia is ground zero for battling this crisis. With the highest overdose death rate per capita nationally for several years in a row, it’s vital that those in the mountain state working to combat this epidemic have the tools they need to help bring those numbers down and save lives. This funding will assist in that fight,” said Powell.
“With our state being the epicenter of the addiction crisis, this funding is critical to addressing the challenges faced by families and communities throughout West Virginia,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “It will further strengthen the “all hands on deck” approach that is necessary to combat the addiction crisis. The programs funded will provide much needed resources and support to those in need.”
Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
The following organizations received funding:
West Virginia Justice and Community Services - $6,223,284
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals - $1,349,953
United Way of the River Cities - $690,553
Legal Aide of West Virginia - $638,975For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow Announces $3,107,586 in Justice Department Grants to Combat Addiction CrisisRead the Press Release
San Juan, Puerto Rico – U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow today announced awards of $3,107,586 in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in the District of Puerto Rico. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.
“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”
Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.
“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”
“Combatting the opioid crisis is a Department of Justice priority,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “Prevention and access to effective treatments for opioid abuse and addiction are critical to fighting this epidemic.”
Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
The following organizations received funding:
- Municipality of Bayamón: $890,070 for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to state, local and tribal jurisdictions to reduce opioid and stimulant abuse and fatalities, and mitigate impacts on crime victims.
- Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA, for its acronym in Spanish): $2,000,000 for the Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which enhances the capacity of regulatory and law enforcement agencies and public health officials to collect and analyze controlled substance prescription data and other scheduled chemical products through a centralized database administered by an authorized agency.
- Puerto Rico Department of Correction and Rehabilitation: $217,516 for the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program, which helps states develop and implement residential substance abuse treatment programs within state and local correctional facilities.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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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Press Release by United States Attorney Relating to November 2020 ElectionsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney SHAWN N. ANDERSON announces the assignment of Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) to lead the efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. AUSA Marivic P. David will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Guam. AUSA Eric S. O’Malley will serve as the DEO for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands. These AUSAs are responsible for overseeing the Districts’ handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Anderson said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, 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 election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes 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 of persons 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. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Anderson stated that the AUSAs/DEOs will be on duty while the polls are open, including periods of early voting. Ms. David can be reached by the public at (671) 479-4120 or (671) 988-3260. Mr. O’Malley can be contacted at (670) 236-2986.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public by calling (671) 645-1805 or (670) 322-6934.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
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.
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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.
Friday 16 October 2020
Worker Admits Setting Fire that Destroyed a Johnstown Building Undergoing RenovationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Johnstown, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of Malicious Destruction of Property by Fire, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Mark A. Hutchison, age 34, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on December 12, 2018 Mark Hutchinson intentionally set a fire that destroyed a large commercial building located at 151-161 Fairfield Avenue in Johnstown. The building had recently been purchased by a limited liability corporation based in New York known as "JoJe." The seller was a company known as "Citrona," which had an office in Johnstown but was based in Florida. The contract of sale set the price at $200,000 for the building, plus $275,000 more to cover renovations to be undertaken by Citrona. The renovations were underway as of the time of the fire. The building was being renovated to permit the operation of a laundromat at street level and rental apartments upstairs. The insurance claim made by JoJe as a result of the fire was for $1.2 million.
ATF’s investigation of the scene resulted in a determination that the fire originated in the middle section of the left side of the building at street level. Nearby businesses had surveillance cameras in place at the time of the fire. One of the cameras captured a person near the left side door of the building that burned. That person can be seen carrying some type of light, walking away from the building, at approximately 4:45 a.m., which was approximately 15 minutes prior to the fire being reported by a passerby. Other cameras led the agents to identify a truck, owned by Citrona, leaving the nearby premises shortly after the person with the light walked away from the building. Follow up investigation revealed that Mark Hutchison, who was one of the workers renovating the building, had the truck that night.
The agents interviewed Hutchison, who admitted that he had set the fire, and admitted that he was the person caught on video with the light. It was the light from his cell phone. He explained that he had purchased kerosene from a nearby Sheetz a couple days prior to the fire and that he had poured and ignited that kerosene inside the building. He then exited the side door, got in the Citrona truck and drove away.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for February 11, 2021. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania State Police and Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mark A. Hutchison.