Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
19 October 2020
U.S. Attorney McCoy Announces More Than $2.5 Million in Justice Department Grants to Combat Addiction CrisisRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr., announced today awards of more than $2.5 million in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in the District of South Carolina. 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.”
“As the perils of addiction ravage through the country, the citizens of South Carolina have been hit hard,” said U.S. Attorney McCoy. “While this office continues to vigorously prosecute those who traffic these addictive substances, it is critical to address other factors surrounding the addiction crisis in South Carolina. These funds do that by providing resources for drug courts, veteran treatment programs, site-based addiction programs, and residential substance abuse treatment.”
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:
- Oconee County: $585,693
- Lancaster County: $590,757
- Colleton County: $483,599
- Richland County: $500,000
- South Carolina Department of Public Safety: $430,032
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.
U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn Announces Election Day Program for November 2020 and Appointment of Election OfficerRead the Press Release
DENVER -- United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn today announced that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Rebecca Weber will lead the efforts of the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. AUSA Weber 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.
In the past two weeks U.S. Attorney Dunn has been involved in a variety of meetings to discuss election security, including meeting with Governor Jared Polis and hosting a virtual meeting with representatives of the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, the FBI, Homeland Security, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
United States Attorney Dunn 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.”
United States Attorney Dunn continued, “Ensuring free and fair elections also depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my office or the FBI.”
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 Dunn directed that AUSA/DEO Weber be on duty now through the election and final result tabulation in Colorado. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: 303-454-0332 desk or 720-281-1734 cell.
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 303-629-7171.
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.
U.S. Attorney Erica H. Macdonald Announces $4.7 Million in Justice Department Grants to Combat Addiction CrisisRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced awards of more than $4.7 million in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in the District of Minnesota. 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.”
“As a former judge and Assistant United States Attorney, I have seen first-hand the damage and destruction drug addiction can cause to individuals, families, and communities, said United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald.” But I have also seen inspiring examples of recovery and I know that there is always hope. These grants will provide and sustain the treatment and prevention resources that are crucial in the fight against drug 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.”
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.
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program:
Category 1
Awardee
Amount Awarded
Ottawa County Community Mental Health
$900,000
City of Duluth
$899,055
Upper Sioux Community
$538,819
County of Saint Louis
$897,607
City of Saint Paul
$412,125
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program: Category 2
8th Judicial District Treatment Court
$286,617
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program: Category 3
Judiciary Courts of the State of Minnesota
$499,486
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
$279,382
Total Minnesota
$4,713,091
A full list of the awards, organized under specific grant programs and listing awardees by state, is available here.
Additional information about FY 2020 grant awards from the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Award Data Page.
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.
###
Additional news available on our website.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
U.S. Attorney Duncan Announces over $2 Million in Justice Department Grants to Combat Addiction CrisisRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr., announced on Monday the awarding of $2,011,078 in Department of Justice grants, to fight drug abuse and addiction in eastern Kentucky. 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.”
“Opioid abuse continues to have a devastating impact on eastern Kentucky and the Department of Justice remains committed to continuing the fight against this scourge,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “These important grant awards to entities in the Eastern District of Kentucky will allow criminal justice officials to better allocate resources toward addressing the critical health issues associated with opioid abuse.”
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:
- Floyd County Fiscal Court- $600,000
- Kenton County Fiscal Court- $900,000
- Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government- $511,078
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
###
U.S. Attorney Appoints Election Officers to Respond to Election Fraud or Voting Rights Complaints in MaineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey Frank announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) John Osborn and Andrew McCormack will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3 general election. AUSAs Osborn and McCormack have been appointed as the District Election Officers for the District of Maine. In that capacity they will be 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,” U.S. Attorney Frank said. “The Department of Justice will always use whatever means are necessary 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, AUSAs Osborn and McCormack will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. Osborn can be reached in Portland at 207-771-3214, and McCormack can be reached in Bangor at 207-262-4615.
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 207-774-9322.
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 U.S. Attorney Frank. “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.”
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 Announces Resources for Voter Intimidation and Election FraudRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Christopher P. Tenorio (619) 909-7556
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 19, 2020
U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher P. Tenorio will lead the efforts on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming general election on November 3, 2020.
Mr. Tenorio has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for the Southern District of California, which includes San Diego and Imperial Counties. He will be responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of complaints of voting rights abuses and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination,” Brewer said. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the integrity of the election process, stopping fraud, and making sure votes are not stolen.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and responding to election fraud and discrimination at the polls. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program aims to enhance this role and ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process. To this end, the Department is providing local points of contact for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations through Election Day.
Federal law prohibits 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. Federal law also protects voters from intimidation and harassment, including challenges at polling places designed to interrupt or intimidate voters, or the photographing or videotaping of voters under the pretext of uncovering illegal voting. Federal law also protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to receive assistance by a person of their choice to overcome a disability or illiteracy.
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 Brewer stated that AUSA/DEO Tenorio will be on duty while the polls are open. The public can reach him at (619) 909-7556.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents and an Election Crimes Coordinator available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses. The public can contact the San Diego FBI at (858) 320-1800. The public may also contact the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. at (800) 253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.
The public is advised, however, to call 911 immediately in the case of a crime of violence or active intimidation. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and can generally respond more quickly in an emergency. Federal authorities can respond thereafter.
Brewer said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. 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. Attorney Announces $2.3 Million Award to Support Offenders Returning to Communities in AlaskaRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced $2,300,000 in Department of Justice grants to reduce recidivism among adults and juvenile offenders returning to their communities in Alaska after confinement. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of more than $92 million in funding to support reentry efforts throughout the United States.
These awards represent President Trump’s commitment to assisting people in America’s prisons and detention facilities who have earned the opportunity to take their places back in society.
“Former offenders are ultimately responsible for their own successes and failures, but our criminal and juvenile justice systems have an important role to play in preparing them for the obstacles that lie before them,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “I’m very pleased to make these resources available to help them get back on their feet and contribute to the prosperity of their communities and the betterment of our nation.”
The reentry and recidivism reduction grants awarded will help communities develop and implement comprehensive strategies to address the challenges posed by reentry and recidivism; support reentry services for detained juveniles and incarcerated parents with children under the age of 18; and support research and evaluation programs to advance understanding about reoffending.
The following organizations received funding:
- $900,000 was awarded to Alaska Department of Corrections through BJA’s Correctional Adult Reentry Education, Employment and Recidivism Reduction Strategies Program, to implement or expand education and employment programs that emphasize strong partnerships with corrections, parole, probation, education, workforce development and reentry service providers.
- Alaska Native Justice Center was awarded $900,000 through BJA’s Improving Reentry for Adults with Substance Use Disorders Program, the to support establishing, expanding, and improving treatment for people with substance use disorders during their incarceration and reentry into the community.
- $500,000 was awarded to Alaska Department of Corrections through BJA’s Statewide Adult Recidivism Reduction Strategic Plan Implementation Program, to implement strategic plans that will result in improved reentry systems and reduced recidivism.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: [link to fact sheet] 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
- $900,000 was awarded to Alaska Department of Corrections through BJA’s Correctional Adult Reentry Education, Employment and Recidivism Reduction Strategies Program, to implement or expand education and employment programs that emphasize strong partnerships with corrections, parole, probation, education, workforce development and reentry service providers.
Tyndall Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Tyndall, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography was sentenced on October 13, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol.
Paul Hovorka, age 25, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Hovorka was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 4, 2020. He pled guilty on July 30, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between June 15, 2019, and November 21, 2019, when Hovorka accessed child pornography using a private social media network known as "MeWe." Using the "MeWe" app, he uploaded images of child pornography and shared images of child pornography with other users of the "MeWe" app. After receiving a cybertip of the illegal activity, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant and discovered child pornography on two of Hovorka's cell phones.
This case was investigated by South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
Hovorka is required to report to the U.S. Marshals Service on October 29, 2020.
Two Lowcountry Men Each Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Selling Heroin and Fentanyl that Killed One and Hospitalized AnotherRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr., announced today that Gordon William Brock, III, 49, of Mount Pleasant, and Carlos Ravenel, 37, of North Charleston, were sentenced to 20 years each after pleading guilty to distribution of heroin and fentanyl causing death and serious bodily injury.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on November 20, 2018, Brock distributed heroin and fentanyl to the victim in the Snee Farm area. The victim and a friend shared the drugs, which ultimately hospitalized the friend and killed the victim.
"Pushing drugs that seriously harm others is reprehensible, and this office will continue to deal swiftly and severely with these criminals,” said U.S. Attorney McCoy. “I particularly appreciate the work of our federal, state, and local partners. Together, we are doing everything in our power to disrupt and dismantle the flow of deadly opioids into South Carolina.”
“In this case, the death of one victim and the hospitalization of another, strikes at the core of this country’s opioid epidemic,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. “DEA’s commitment to combat the opioid epidemic is unwavering and the defendants in this case will spend well-deserved time in prison.”
“The North Charleston Police Department is committed to confronting the opioid crisis through prevention, education, intervention, and enforcement,” said Scott Deckard, Deputy Chief of the North Charleston Police Department. “The successful prosecution and sentence in this opioid death case is a result of the inter-agency cooperation necessary to hold the individuals, who are dealing in illegal drugs, responsible for their actions.”
Text messages showed that Brock had used the drugs himself prior to the sale, and the drugs made him extremely ill. Brock had been enraged that his dealer distributed him “garbage” drugs, and Brock attempted to get his money back from the dealer for the drugs. Brock explained that if he couldn’t get his money back, he would “unload” the bad drugs. Evidence also showed that Brock believed the substance could be fentanyl due to his own prior experience overdosing on fentanyl.
Further investigation, including data recovered from cell phones, revealed that Ravenel - a heroin dealer in North Charleston - had been the source of supply for the fentanyl and heroin mix. Evidence showed that Ravenel had been distributing heroin since at least 2015.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Ravenel and Brock to 240 months in federal prison each, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Gergel also required each defendant to pay restitution to the victim’s family for the victim’s funeral.
The case was investigated by the DEA Task Force, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, the North Charleston Police Department, and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.
According to the CDC, 67,367 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2018, and opioids were involved in 69.5% of those deaths. Fentanyl can be 50 times more potent than heroin, significantly increasing the risk for overdose, and a person who obtains drugs illegally may not know that a substance contains fentanyl. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance misuse, you can find treatment options in your area at http://www.daodas.sc.gov/treatment/local-providers/.
#####
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.
Two Cleveland men with long, violent criminal history sentenced to 30 years for drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Clayton Hall, 40, and Gregory D. Franklin, II, 43, both of Cleveland, were sentenced by Judge Donald C. Nugent to 30 years imprisonment each. A jury previously found both defendants guilty of drug trafficking and found Franklin guilty of firearms crimes.
“This sentence reflects the lengthy criminal history and incarceration records of both defendants,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. "These men have had little time as an adult in which they were free and not pending new charges or in prison. Thanks to the hard work of federal law enforcement and the men and women of the Cleveland Division of Police Vice Units, these two career criminals will be behind bars for a long time.”
According to court documents, Hall and Franklin conspired together between February and April of 2019 to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues and cocaine. On February 4, 2019, Hall was arrested in possession of 24.36 grams of cocaine and a mixture of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. On March 28, 2019, Cleveland Police searched the residence where Hall had been trafficking narcotics and found more than 50 grams of various mixtures containing heroin and fentanyl as well as 12.25 grams crack cocaine.
While Hall was detained pending county charges for those incidents and incidents in October and November of 2018, he used the jail phone system to call Franklin and coordinate further trafficking. Cleveland Police detectives found Franklin on April 30, 2019, and he was arrested with approximately 319.32 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl analogues, as well as 527.59 grams of cocaine hidden under the center console of the vehicle he was driving.
Despite multiple prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing a firearm or ammunition, Franklin possessed a 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, also concealed under the console. Those prior convictions include two first-degree drug trafficking with firearm specifications and a conviction for felonious assault of a peace officer.
The sentence comes after courtroom proceedings emphasized both Hall and Franklin’s “career offender” criminal histories. Hall’s criminal history includes 22 adult criminal convictions. During previous jail sentences, Hall committed approximately 86 rule violations, including possessing and using drugs in prison and assaulting an officer.
Franklin’s criminal history includes 15 adult criminal convictions. One of those convictions was for a 2012 incident with facts similar to the circumstances of his April 2019 arrest—heroin and a firearm found concealed under the center console of the vehicle he was driving.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of Police Second District Vice Unit and the Drug Enforcement Agency. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot Morrison and Bryson N. Gillard.
Two Brothers from California Charged with Trafficking 100 Pounds of Methamphetamine to Las VegasRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Two brothers made their initial appearances in federal court on Friday for allegedly transporting 100 pounds of methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich.
Huy Ngoc Tran, aka “Tony,” 37, and Sinh Van Tran, aka “Paul,” 34, both of Riverside, California, are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance – methamphetamine. Both defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts, who scheduled a preliminary hearing on October 30, 2020.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, on October 14, 2020, Huy Ngoc Tran and Sinh Van Tran were arrested in the parking lot of a Las Vegas hotel and casino after delivering 100 pounds of methamphetamine for $300,000. The brothers had also agreed to deliver an AR-15 type rifle and a shotgun.
During the search of the brothers’ vehicle, in addition to methamphetamine, law enforcement found an AR-15 style rifle, a Norinco SKS rifle with a sling and bayonet, a scoped Ruger Mini-14, and a double barrel 12 gauge shotgun.
Huy Ngoc Tran and Sinh Van Tran each face a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is the product of a joint investigation by the FBI, North Las Vegas Police Department, the Nevada Highway Patrol, and the Nevada Gaming and Control Board.
###
Ten Individuals Charged in $50 Million Russian Smuggling SchemeRead the Press Release
An indictment and a complaint were unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn variously charging 10 defendants with transportation of stolen property, failure to file export information, illegal exportation of electronic devices and conspiracy to commit these offenses. The defendants allegedly participated in the illegal smuggling of electronic devices, particularly Apple products, from the United States to Russia using couriers, many of whom were current and former employees of Aeroflot Airlines.
Akmal Asadov, Sayuz Daibagya, Anton Perevoznikov, Shohruh Saidov, Marat Shadkhin, Kirill Sokhonchuk and Zokir Iskanderov were arrested today and will be arraigned this afternoon via teleconference before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. Azamat Bobomurodov was arrested in the Northern District of Illinois and will be arraigned in that district later today. Two additional defendants are fugitives.
Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Keith Byrne, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, New York Field Office; William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Troy Miller, Director of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection, New York Field Office (CBP); Jonathan Carson, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office (Commerce); Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York Office (HSI); and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrests and charges.
“As alleged, the defendants were members of an international smuggling ring that used a network of operators here and in Russia to circumvent U.S. export laws and regulations,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “With today’s arrests, the network has been disabled thanks to the outstanding work of the Eastern District of New York prosecutors who worked tirelessly alongside our agency partners to closely scrutinize the goods and individuals that transit our international borders.”
“If you believe it is acceptable to exploit positions with a foreign airline to smuggle millions of dollars in illegal goods back to Russia as we allege, the answer is Nyet. While this international smuggling ring’s activities demonstrate vulnerabilities exist, it also highlights that the combined efforts of federal agents, detectives, analysts and prosecutors are a powerful counter to any threat. The FBI New York office and our inter-agency partners are on watch, and we all take our obligation to enforce our laws and protect the United States seriously,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.
“This case represents the finest efforts of cooperative law enforcement,” stated Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent-in-Charge Byrne. “If criminal enterprises manipulate the instruments of international travel for profitable gain, then we are all at risk on the national security level. The federal agencies, police, and the United States Attorney’s Office deserve high praise for vigorously defending the interests and security of the United States of America.”
“CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border security and control, combining customs, and immigration, into one coordinated and supportive activity by leveraging our unique authorities to enhance criminal investigations. This indictment serves as a direct message that no matter how complex the criminal scheme, crimes occurring at our border will be stopped,” stated CBP Director Miller.
“Today’s action is the result of the outstanding effort and collaboration among law enforcement agencies. The illicit smuggling of goods on commercial aircraft is a serious violation of export control and public safety laws that we take very seriously. We will continue to pursue violators wherever they are, worldwide,” stated Commerce Special Agent-in-Charge Carson.
“Those charged today are alleged to have taken full advantage of their position with the airline to smuggle more than $50 million in stolen electronics to Russia,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh. “It is with the continued collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that we are able to put an end to schemes like these that rob U.S. businesses of millions while funding illicit organizations overseas that threaten our national security.”
“As alleged, these defendants used commercial air travel in furtherance of their illegal smuggling scheme, a staggeringly dangerous circumstance that this investigation uncovered and grounded. I thank our dedicated NYPD detectives and all of our law enforcement partners for their work in this case,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.
As set forth in the government’s court filings, the defendants allegedly engaged in a scheme to export over $50 million worth of electronic devices, including Apple iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches, from the United States to Russia. The defendants allegedly carried out this scheme by smuggling cash and merchandise via airline passengers, including current and former Aeroflot Airlines employees. Upon receiving instructions from defendant Daibagya, a resident of Russia, Aeroflot Airlines crew members and others travelled to the United States to pick up the electronic devices. Defendants Asadov, Sokhonchuk, Perevoznikov and Shadkhin, together with others in the United States, had obtained the devices, many of which had been stolen, to be sent to Russia without the required export authorizations. During the investigation, searches of luggage belonging to various Aeroflot crew members and other couriers revealed millions of dollars of electronic devices. Occasionally, defendants Daibagya and Saidov smuggled the devices themselves. For example, between August 2019 and December 2019, Daibagya took four trips from the United States transporting over 1,000 Apple products valued at over $1 million, and on October 5, 2019, Saidov carried nine suitcases containing 235 Apple products with an estimated value of about $250,000.
As a result of the investigation, the Department of State has revoked approximately 113 visas of Aeroflot employees for their participation in their scheme.
Search warrants executed at the time of the defendants’ arrest revealed over $600,000 in cash, including some hidden in the crawl space of Shadkhin’s residence, and large amounts of electronic devices.
The charges in the indictment and complaint are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Keith D. Edelman, Andrey Spektor and Dana Rehnquist are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-415 (ARR)
AKMAL ASADOV
Age: 38
Brooklyn, New YorkSAYUZ DAIBAGYA
Age: 46
Moscow, RussiaANTON PEREVOZNIKOV
Age: 34
Brooklyn, New YorkSHOHRUH SAIDOV
Age: 31
Brooklyn, New YorkMARAT SHADKHIN
Age: 40
Brooklyn, New YorkKIRILL SOKHONCHUK
Age: 37
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-MJ-884 (LB)
AZAMAT BOBOMURODOV
Age: 31
Brooklyn, New YorkZOKIR ISKANDEROV
Age: 30
Brooklyn, New YorkStockton Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Roeuth Korm, 33, of Stockton, pleaded guilty Monday to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on July 26, 2019, deputies encountered Korm near East Waterloo Road in Stockton. Korm was on parole and subject to search. When deputies searched his car, they found a Glock semi‑automatic handgun. Korm has been convicted of several felonies and is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
This case is the product of an investigation by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tanya B. Syed and Cameron Desmond are prosecuting the case.
Korm is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Jan. 11, 2021. Korm faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
St. Thomas Man Charged with Robbery of a Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a complaint has been filed charging Jamari Benjamin with interference with commerce by threats or violence and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to the affidavit filed in this case, on Saturday, September 19, 2020, a white Suzuki Vitara arrived in the area of Gems & Gold Corner jewelry store located on the waterfront near Veteran’s Drive, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Two men wearing masks, got out of the white Suzuki Vitara with firearms and entered Gems & Gold Corner jewelry store. A third person remained with the vehicle as the driver. The two masked men brandished the firearms and threatened the jewelry store employees and others. One of the masked men physically assaulted a jewelry store employee using the firearm, striking the employee’s head. The two masked men broke the jewelry showcases and took jewelry from the store. They then retreated from the jewelry store, got back into the white Suzuki Vitara, and were driven away from the area of the jewelry store by the same driver. The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) initiated an investigation into the robbery, collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses and developing sources of information to provide investigative leads. This led VIPD to interview Jamari Benjamin, who admitted to participating in the robbery.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Juan Albino.
A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
St. Louis man pleads guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamineRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS, MO – United States District Judge Ronnie L. White accepted a plea today from LeVaughn Neal. The 35-year-old St. Louis, Missouri resident pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to a plea agreement, in August 2019, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned Neal and a co-defendant were involved in significant methamphetamine distribution in the St. Louis area. The United States Postal Inspection Service, at the same time, was conducting surveillance of suspicious packages mailed from Arizona to St. Louis.
On October 17, 2019, postal inspectors intercepted a suspicious package mailed from Scottsdale, Arizona to a vacant home in Jennings, MO. The addressee was not associated with the vacant home. DEA agents conducted surveillance on the vacant house and saw Neal parked in a vehicle near the house. The DEA conducted a controlled delivery of the package and left it on the front porch of the vacant house. Agents then watched Neal get out of a vehicle and pick up the package off the porch.
Agents tried to arrest Neal, but he dropped the package and ran. Agents eventually arrested Neal and executed a search warrant to search the package. Inside the package, agents found zip-lock bags of crystal methamphetamine wrapped in duct tape and a vacuum-sealed bag inside bubble wrap. Neal admitted he chose the vacant address for delivery and the package should contain five pounds of meth. A forensics lab confirmed the package contained 2,217 grams. Neal is actually responsible for between 1.5 kilograms and 4.5 kilograms.
The charge of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine carries a maximum penalty of no more than Life imprisonment and a fine of no more than $10,000,000.
Judge White has set sentencing for January 25, 2021.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is handling the case.
#####
Six Russian GRU Officers Charged in Connection with Worldwide Deployment of Destructive Malware and Other Disruptive Actions in CyberspaceRead the Press Release
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 authorities, 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.
Senior Executive of Venture Capital Funds Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Securities and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that MARC LAWRENCE pled guilty to securities fraud and wire fraud in connection with his role as a senior executive of a number of corporate entities (collectively referred to as “Downing”) that were operated as a Ponzi-like scheme. LAWRENCE solicited millions of dollars from Downing investors through materially false and misleading statements regarding, among other things, Downing’s use of investor proceeds, sources of funding, financial condition and ability to pay salaries to employee-investors, and portfolio companies. LAWRENCE pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. LAWRENCE’s co-defendant, David Wagner, the chief executive officer of Downing, previously pled guilty to securities fraud and wire fraud before Judge Hellerstein on September 21, 2020.
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As he admitted in court, Marc Lawrence and his co-defendant swindled employee-investors of their purported venture capital firm. They fraudulently induced employee-investors to hand over more than $8 million that was supposed to be invested in profitable business operations. The firm was a sham, and employee-investor funds were used to pay personal expenses or pay off other investors in Ponzi-like fashion. Now Lawrence awaits sentencing for his crimes.”
According to the Indictment filed in Manhattan federal court:
From at least in or about December 2013 through at least in or about 2017, Wagner, the chief executive officer of Downing, and LAWRENCE, the president of several Downing entities, solicited investments in Downing, a purported venture capital firm that would invest in healthcare start-ups referred to as “portfolio companies” and provide sales, operations, and management expertise to the portfolio companies in order to bring their products to market and generate returns for Downing investors, who also worked for Downing (the “employee-investors”). Wagner and LAWRENCE, and others acting at their direction, solicited more than approximately $8 million in investments in Downing from employee-investors located across the United States, including in the Southern District of New York, as a requirement of employment with Downing.
After making the required investment of between $150,000 and $250,000 in Downing and starting their employment at Downing, employee-investors soon learned, among other things, that contrary to representations made by Wagner and LAWRENCE, and others acting at their direction, Downing did not have access to millions of dollars in funding, often could not make payroll, had virtually no products to sell, and employee investments were the overwhelming source of funding. Employee-investors also learned that Wagner and LAWRENCE had misrepresented the companies in Downing’s portfolio, their product readiness, and ability to generate revenue. While the particular formulation of these misrepresentations shifted over time, Wagner and LAWRENCE systematically sought and obtained employee-investor money through materially false and misleading statements.
Beginning in or about May 2016, after several employee-investors had brought lawsuits against Wagner, LAWRENCE, and several Downing entities alleging claims based on, among other things, fraud, Wagner and LAWRENCE continued the scheme by recruiting employee-investors into a new company called Cliniflow Technologies, LLC (“Cliniflow”), through materially false and misleading statements about Cliniflow’s cash reserves, portfolio companies, and exposure to litigation. In fact, Cliniflow purportedly held majority ownership in the same primary portfolio company as other Downing entities and was simply a new name used by Wagner and LAWRENCE to solicit investments from new employee-investors that was not tainted by the lawsuits filed against Downing entities. A majority of the over $1.5 million raised by Wagner and LAWRENCE through Cliniflow was transferred to other Downing entities and used to pay for, among other things, Wagner’s personal expenses and the repayment of prior investors.
* * *
LAWRENCE, 66, of St. Petersburg, Florida, pled guilty to two counts of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. As part of the plea agreement with the Government, LAWRENCE agreed to forfeit $150,000 in United States currency and pay restitution of $4,550,000 to victims of his criminal conduct.
LAWRENCE will be sentenced by Judge Hellerstein on February 1, 2021, at 2:30 p.m.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Enforcement Section of the Massachusetts Securities Division for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jilan J. Kamal and Sagar K. Ravi are in charge of the prosecution.
Seattle man with significant ties to a violent street gang sentenced to 42 months in prison for illegally possessing a machinegunRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 22-year-old member of a violent street gang was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for possession of a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. JAYVON GRAYSON was on probation for an armed robbery when he used straw-buyers to obtain various firearms, one of which was converted from semi-automatic to automatic. GRAYSON made a video of himself shooting this machinegun from a moving car. U.S. District Judge James L. Robart referenced the video at the sentencing hearing saying it indicates GRAYSON “was an immediate and serious threat to the community and himself.”
“This case demonstrates how illegally purchased firearms circulate in the criminal community and pose a danger to anyone who is in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “To fire an automatic weapon, loaded with an extended capacity magazine, from a moving vehicle, puts countless people at risk. Stopping the circulation of these firearms in the criminal community is a top priority of the Department of Justice.”
According to the records filed in the case, during 2018, GRAYSON and a friend had the friend’s mother purchase firearms for them from a licensed gun store. The woman falsely claimed she was the person who would purchase and possess the firearms. Instead, she turned the firearms over to her son who shared or sold various firearms with gang associates, including GRAYSON. A second straw-purchaser also provided a firearm to GRAYSON. On social media GRAYSON posted numerous videos of his use and possession of firearms, including the machinegun. GRAYSON posted these images and videos on social media even as he was under state supervision for an armed robbery conviction.
At the sentencing hearing GRAYSON told Judge Robart, “I was reckless…. I was dangerous… Please give me a second chance.” Judge Robart noted that GRAYSON needs to forge a new path, saying, “I don’t know how you get much worse than possessing a machine gun.” The judge imposed a three-year term of supervised release to follow prison and noted that if GRAYSON returned to gang and gun life, the prison sanctions will increase significantly.
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 and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. Project Guardian ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. More information about Project Guardian is here.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Division of Alaska State Troopers (AST) and the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca.
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.
# # # #
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.
###
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.
* * *
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.
####
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.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
###
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.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
###
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.