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13 October 2020
U.S. Attorneys Peter Deegan and Marc Krickbaum Announce $661,955 to Advance Forensic Science in IowaRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan of the Northern District of Iowa and U.S. Attorney Marc Krickbaum of the Southern District of Iowa today announced $661,955 in Department of Justice grants to the Iowa Department of Public Safety to fund crime laboratories, decrease DNA backlogs, support basic and applied forensic research, and help law enforcement identify missing persons. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of $192 million in funding to advance forensic science nationwide.
“Developments in forensic science have given investigators an extraordinary array of tools that can be enlisted to solve crimes and bring answers to victims and survivors, often after many years and even decades,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These investments in crime-fighting technology, from DNA analysis to drug toxicology to forensic anthropology, will help identify and convict perpetrators, ensure justice for innocent victims and keep communities safe by deterring future criminal activity.”
“Our offices are committed to prosecuting dangerous and violent offenders,” said Deegan and Krickbaum. “This investment in the Iowa Department of Public Safety will allow our state and local law enforcement partners to better investigate violent crime and bring justice to victims across the state.”
Since 2004, the Office of Justice Programs has received an annual appropriation for DNA and other forensic science activities. The funding, administered through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and National Institute of Justice, supports DNA analysis, laboratory capacity enhancement and forensic science research that provides knowledge and tools to improve the quality and practice of forensic science.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and more information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray Announces $267,595 Grant to Prevent School Violence in Franklin School DistrictRead the Press Release
CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray today announced a $267,595 Department of Justice grant to prevent violence in the Franklin School District. The grant, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, is part of more than $87 million in grants nationwide to bolster school security, support first responders who arrive on the scene of a school shooting or other violent incident, and conduct research on school safety.
STOP School Violence, a program of OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, improves school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to and help prevent acts of violence. In addition to STOP School Violence Act funding, OJP’s National Institute of Justice is investing in research on school violence.
“Only by removing the threat of violence from our schools can we expect our kids to reap the full benefits of their education, and only after making our places of learning safe can we ask our teachers to instruct and inspire as they are trained to do,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Department of Justice is committed to securing our schools from danger and giving our kids the support they need to learn, grow and thrive.”
“Students should be able to focus on their education without worrying about the risks of violence as they attend classes,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “It is absolutely critical that our schools be secure places of learning where everyone feels safe. These grant funds will promote learning by helping the Franklin School District to maintain the safety of its students, teachers, and parents.”
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.
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U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona Announces New Initiative to Combat Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
Birmingham, Ala. – U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona announces Operation Safe Families, a new initiative to fight domestic violence in the Northern District of Alabama. Through Operation Safe Families, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will work with federal, state, and local law enforcement to use federal firearm laws to combat domestic violence. Additionally, the Office will work closely with partners in the community who are focused on prevention, education, and survivor support. Operation Safe Families is a partnership between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Birmingham Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, One Place Family Justice Center, YWCA, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama.
“Domestic violence tears at the fabric of our communities and affects every demographic of society,” U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona stated. “Through Operation Safe Families, we look forward to working with our local partners to combat domestic violence in the Northern District of Alabama. Our top priority is to keep our communities safe by keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.”
“Removing the criminal element that uses a firearm to facilitate violent crimes related to domestic violence is a priority of ATF,” ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge, Toby Taylor stated. “These focused investigations will have a lasting impact within our communities.”
Federal firearm laws prohibit gun possession for domestic abusers. These firearm laws can be used to prosecute abusers – often without the testimony of victims, who may be hesitant to testify in a court proceeding against their abuser. The pertinent federal laws that may relate to domestic violence crimes fall into two broad categories:
- Crimes under the Gun Control Act, which prevents prohibited persons – including convicted felons, individuals previously convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence offenses, and individuals subject to certain protective orders—from possessing firearms, or from lying to firearms dealers about their status
- Crimes under the Violence Against Women Act, which prohibits interstate stalking, cyber stalking, and using interstate commerce to commit domestic violence or violate protective orders
Beginning this month, Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Northern District of Alabama along with agents from the ATF Birmingham Field Division will provide training to local District Attorney’s Offices and federal, state, and local law enforcement to assist those agencies in selecting cases involving domestic abusers that are appropriate for federal prosecution.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
U.S. Attorney McAllister: 144 Defendants Charged with Firearms Violations in FY 2020Read the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – Federal prosecutors charged 144 defendants with firearm-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID 19 on the criminal justice process, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Nationally, the Department of Justice charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during the same time.
“Investigating, prosecuting and combatting gun crimes are critical parts of our anti-violence strategy,” McAllister said. “We are partnering with federal law enforcement agencies and state and local police departments to reduce gun violence.”
Attorney General William P. Barr said: “The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe. By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences.
“The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals, who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms,” he continued. “Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”
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 and an 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 required to 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.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn Announces Results of Effort to Address Recent Rise in Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
DENVER – Amid the rise of violent crime in metro areas across the nation – including Denver and Aurora – the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office has doubled down on efforts to target gun violence and enforce federal firearm laws. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on the criminal justice process, the office filed 51 indictments related to firearms since June.
The Denver Post recently reported that “Denver is on track to have its deadliest year in a decade.” In addition, Aurora has seen homicides and violent crime increase 53 percent since last year.
As part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s effort to address the rise in violent crime, and gun crime in particular, U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn has directed his staff to work closely with local law enforcement agencies and aggressively pursue federal felon in possession charges where appropriate. It is illegal under both state and federal law for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. However, federal sentences for such offenses are typically much higher than at the state level. In addition, federal courts are often more willing to grant pre-trial detention requests than state courts. U.S. Attorney Dunn has emphasized to local law enforcement in recent months that his office will take such cases for federal prosecution to help ensure the toughest possible sentences and to assist affected communities in quickly getting the worst actors off the streets.
Specifically, since June, the office has charged 41 individuals with being a felon in possession of a firearm under 18 USC § 922, and 10 individuals with being in possession of a weapon during drug trafficking under 18 USC § 924.
Examples of recent cases involving the felon in possession charge include:
- In September, Andre Daniel Gilmore, a convicted felon from Denver, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. At the time of his arrest, Gilmore was on bond for an attempted murder case in Denver County.
- In August, Nicholas Meyers, of Denver, was sentenced to serve over 11 years in federal prison followed by 5 years on supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Meyers sold 11 firearms including an assault-style rifle capable of accepting high capacity magazines and just under 10 ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover federal agent.
- In June, Jalonni Alexander Moore, also from Denver, was sentenced to serve 16 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years on supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges were filed after Moore was involved in a shootout near downtown Denver where one individual was killed.
Other types of crime related to guns or illegal weapons includes straw purchases and going after those illegally in possession of destructive devices like pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails. The focus on weapon-related charges that has been seen in recent months is the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between federal agencies (United States Attorney’s Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the DEA, and the U.S. Marshals), and local law enforcement.
“We have made a concerted effort this year to focus on preventing future gun crimes and prosecuting those who commit violent crime,” Dunn said. “We’re making sure that the most serious, readily provable charges are brought against anyone who commits a gun-related crime. That ensures that not only are these criminals taken off the street but that they are kept out of the community for a significant period of time.”
Pending any potential changes to the court calendar, this week will see hearings in gun cases brought by the office, including sentencing hearings and change of plea hearings in several cases. The office anticipates sending out a press release on Friday summarizing the results of gun cases from the week.
Throughout the week, the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office will also be joining a nationwide effort to highlight cases that have helped reduce gun violence, to learn more follow us on Twitter.
U.S. Attorney Higdon Announces $749,724 to Address School Violence in the Eastern District of North CarolinaRead the Press Release
RALEIGH– U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. today announced $749,724 in a Department of Justice grant to address violence occurring at our nation’s schools. The grant, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs to the North Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Center, is part of more than $87 million to bolster school security, support first responders who arrive on the scene of a school shooting or other violent incident, and conduct research on school safety.
STOP School Violence, a program of OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, improves school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to and help prevent acts of violence. In addition to STOP School Violence Act funding, OJP’s National Institute of Justice is investing in research on school violence.
“Only by removing the threat of violence from our schools can we expect our kids to reap the full benefits of their education, and only after making our places of learning safe can we ask our teachers to instruct and inspire as they are trained to do,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Department of Justice is committed to securing our schools from danger and giving our kids the support they need to learn, grow and thrive.”
“School safety – that is the protection of our precious children and young people – is among our most important responsibilities”, said Mr. Higdon. “I am very pleased to see these essential funds provided here in the Eastern District to support this critical need.”
The North Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Center in Lumberton, NC received the grant. More information about this organization can be found at https://preventyouthviolencenc.org/
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.
U.S. Attorney Halsey Frank Informs Maine Voters About Potential Election Crimes Ahead of November 2020 ElectionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Fair elections are the foundation of our democracy in the United States, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine is committed to protecting the rights of all Americans to vote. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is issuing this press release to inform voters about federal election crimes and how to avoid them, and to encourage voters to report suspected violations.
“Voting is one of the foundational rights and responsibilities of all Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Halsey Frank. “Elections must remain free and fair to ensure voters' voices are truly heard. As Mainers get ready to vote, they should remain vigilant and report any suspected criminal scheme targeting voters to the FBI immediately.”
Election Crimes
Election crimes threaten the legitimacy of elections and undermine public confidence in our democracy. Election crimes fall into four broad categories:
- Ballot fraud
- Civil rights violations, such as voter suppression or voter intimidation
- Campaign finance violations
- Patronage offenses
While individual states and localities have the constitutional authority and responsibility to manage elections and have their own election laws, an election crime becomes a federal crime when one or more of the following occurs:
- A ballot includes one or more federal candidates
- Election or polling place officials abuse their office
- The conduct involves false voter registration
- The crime is motivated by hostility toward minority protected classes
- The activity violates federal campaign finance law
Examples of federal election crimes include, but are not limited to:
- Giving false information when registering to vote
- Voting more than once
- Changing ballot markings or otherwise tampering with ballots
- Compensating voters
- Threatening voters with physical or financial harm
- Intentionally lying about the time, manner or place of an election to prevent qualified voters from voting
- Political fundraising by federal employees
- Campaign contributions above legal limits
- Conduit contributions
- Contributions from foreign or other prohibited sources
- Use of campaign funds for personal or unauthorized purposes
Distinguishing between legal and criminal conduct is critical for ensuring the integrity of U.S. elections. The following activities are not federal election crimes:
- Giving voters rides to the polls or time off to vote
- Offering voters a stamp to mail a ballot
- Making false claims about oneself or another candidate
- Forging or faking nominating petitions
- Campaigning too close to polling places
The Department of Justice, through the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI, plays an important role in preventing violations of Mainers’ constitutional rights, including their right to vote. Report any instances of potential election crimes to your local FBI field office as soon as possible.
Voter Suppression
Intentionally deceiving qualified voters to prevent them from voting is voter suppression—and it is a federal crime.
Do you know when, where, and how you will vote? If not, there are many reputable places you can find this information, including eac.gov, usa.gov/how-to-vote and https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/index.html. However, not all publicly available voting information is accurate, and some is deliberately designed to deceive you to suppress turnout.
Bad actors use various methods to spread disinformation about voting, such as social media platforms, texting, or peer-to-peer messaging applications on smartphones. These bad actors may provide misleading information about the time, manner or place of voting. This can include inaccurate election dates or false claims about voting qualifications or methods, such as false information suggesting that one may vote by text, which is not allowed in any jurisdiction.
Always consider the source of voting information. Ask yourself, “Can I trust this information?” Look for official notices from election offices and verify the information you found is accurate.
Help defend the right to vote by reporting any suspected instances of voter suppression— especially those received through a private communication channel like texting—to your local FBI field office.
Recommendations for Protecting Your Vote
- Know when, where, and how you will vote.
- Seek out election information from trustworthy sources, verify who produced the content, and consider their intent.
- Report potential election crimes—such as disinformation about the manner, time or place of voting—to the FBI.
- If appropriate, make use of in-platform tools offered by social media companies for reporting suspicious posts that appear to be spreading false or inconsistent information about voting and elections.
- Research individuals and entities to whom you are making political donations. If something seems suspicious, reconsider the donation.
Scam PACs
Making political contributions can be a powerful way to exercise your First Amendment rights. But some individuals and groups soliciting contributions are bad actors trying to enrich themselves at your expense.
The billions of dollars in political spending each election cycle attracts criminals who use deception to cheat Americans out of their hard-earned money. The FBI assesses that seniors are at a high risk of being targeted.
Scam PACs are fraudulent political action committees designed to reroute political contributions for personal financial gain. This is a federal crime. Signs that a PAC is a scam include the PAC and its website disappearing, and the phone number going out of service.
If you or someone you know has been targeted by a scam PAC, contact your local FBI field office and ask to speak to an election crimes coordinator.
Victim Reporting and Additional Information
Mainers should report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to their local FBI field office. The telephone number for the FBI’s Boston field office, which covers Maine and several other states, is (857) 386-2000. For additional election-related assistance and resources, please visit the following FBI webpages:
- Election Crimes and Security
- Protected Voices
U.S. Attorney Duncan Announces $1.9 Million in Grants to Address School Violence in KentuckyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. announced Monday over $1.9 Million in Department of Justice grants, to address violence occurring in our nation’s schools. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of more than $87 million that has been awarded to bolster school security, support first responders who arrive on the scene of a school shooting or other violent incident, and conduct research on school safety.
STOP School Violence, a program of OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, improves school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and help prevent acts of violence. In addition to STOP School Violence Act funding, OJP’s National Institute of Justice is investing in research on school violence.
“Only by removing the threat of violence from our schools can we expect our kids to reap the full benefits of their education, and only after making our places of learning safe can we ask our teachers to instruct and inspire as they are trained to do,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Department of Justice is committed to securing our schools from danger and giving our kids the support they need to learn, grow and thrive.”
“The safety of our kids is always foremost in minds of a community,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “We send our kids to school trusting that they will be safe and that they are able to learn in a positive environment. As we have experienced far too often, there are times when that is simply not the case. These grants award critical funds to address this tragic issue, and I and pleased that three Kentucky communities will directly benefit from these valuable resources and the ongoing effort to help our kids learn safely.”
The following organizations received funding:
- Fayette County Public Schools - $750,000
- Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services - $750,000
- Fleming County Schools - $430,150
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.
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U.S. Attorney Carpenito Announces Reduction in Gun-Related Violence through ‘Project Guardian’Read the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. –The Department of Justice today announced it charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID 19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. Of those cases, 342 have been brought by the District of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as an important part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.
“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” Attorney General Barr said. “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences. The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals, who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms. Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”
“When I became U.S. Attorney more than two years ago, I emphasized that our most important job is protecting the public,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “Project Guardian is one of the best strategies we have to accomplish that mission. By coordinating with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we have pursued and prosecuted those who violate our firearms laws, and helped to reduce gun violence in our state.”
“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo said. “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions. ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”
The Department of Justice announced its commitment to decreasing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws in an effort to make the communities in America safer through Project Guardian. As part of this strategy, Project Guardian focuses on close coordination with all law enforcement partners to investigate, prosecute and prevent gun crimes, including the illegal acquisition or attempted acquisition, possession, use, and trafficking of firearms.
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.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey has continued its long-standing partnerships with federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies to implement Project Guardian and has renewed its commitment to prosecute firearms offenses. For example:
On May 6, 2020, Jonathan Brown, 26, of Covington, Georgia, was arrested for trafficking multiple firearms from Georgia to Jersey City, New Jersey, which were subsequently used in acts of violence. Brown was charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit the unlicensed sale of firearms. Brown led a scheme to purchase firearms in or around Georgia and traffic those firearms to individuals in Jersey City. Brown, who is barred from purchasing firearms himself due to multiple prior felony convictions, used straw purchasers in Georgia to obtain the firearms so that Brown could sell those firearms to others. On multiple occasions, Brown brought firearms from Georgia to New Jersey for sale. Within months of Brown’s trips to Jersey City, law enforcement arrested numerous individuals in Jersey City in possession of firearms purchased by Brown’s straw purchasers. At least one of the weapons trafficked by Brown was later used in the shooting of another person in Jersey City. At least one of the individuals in possession of one of Brown’s guns had a prior felony conviction, and was therefore barred from possessing a firearm. To date, law enforcement has recovered seven firearms allegedly trafficked by Brown in Jersey City.
On May 29, 2020, a New Jersey man with a prior felony conviction was charged with unlawfully possessing dozens of firearms, including handguns, rifles, a silencer, ammunition, and high-capacity magazines. Darick Nollett, 30, of Heislerville, New Jersey, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and one count of knowingly receiving and possessing a firearm that was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Law enforcement officers executing a court-authorized search warrant of Nollett’s residence recovered the following, in addition to a firearm silencer:
• A Remington 710 .270 caliber rifle;
• A Savage 93R17 .17 caliber rifle;
• An Aero Precision DTOM 15 rifle;
• A CMMG Inc. MK4 rifle;
• A Del-Ton DTI-15 rifle;
• An Aero Precision DTOM 15 rifle;
• A Keltec rifle;
• A Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver;
• A Ruger LCP .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol;
• A Colt Python .357 caliber revolver;
• A Taurus PT738 .380 caliber handgun;
• A Sig Sauer P226 .22 caliber handgun;
• A Glock 20 10mm handgun;
• A Heckler & Koch VP9 tactical pistol;
• A Smith & Wesson M&P40 .40 caliber handgun;
• A Springfield XD-40 .40 caliber handgun;
• A Springfield XD-45 .45 caliber handgun;
• A Taurus PT111 G2 9mm handgun;
• A Browning BPS 12 gauge shotgun;
• A Winchester Model 120 12 gauge shotgun;
• A Hatsan Arms Escort PS Magnum 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun;
• A Remington 870 20 gauge shotgun;
• A Mossberg 500E .410 gauge shotgun;
• A Rossi 520 20 gauge shotgun;
• A New England Firearms Pardner SBI 12 gauge shotgun;
• A Fabrica Aguirre y Aranzabal JC Higgins Model 100 12 gauge shotgun;
• A Savage Model 720 12 gauge shotgun;
• A Springfield Armory Model 1896 rifle;
• A Ruger Model 10-22 .22 caliber rifle;
• A Remington 7615 Police .223 caliber rifle;
• A Winchester Model 1864 30 30 rifle; and
• A Mossberg 500 12 gauge shotgun;
Law enforcement officers also recovered an assembled AR-15 style rifle with scope that did not bear a serial number, along with unassembled parts for another AR-15 style rifle.
On June 1, 2020, Ibraaheem Islam, a/k/a “Ish,” 32, was charged by superseding complaint with three counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Counts One through Three), one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (Count Four), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Count Five). Those charges stemmed from Islam’s involvement in narcotics trafficking activity on a regular basis in the vicinity of Chadwick Avenue, Newark. Law enforcement obtained warrants to search two vehicles and one residence associated with Islam. On May 30, 2020, law enforcement recovered a 5.7x28 millimeter caliber FN Herstal model “FN Five-Seven” pistol, loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition, 194 vials containing suspected cocaine base, and 64 glassine envelopes containing suspected heroin.
On July 20, 2020, Tevin Browning, 29, of Newark, was charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking, one count of attempted carjacking, one count of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon following his alleged involvement in a July 9, 2020 attempted carjacking in Jersey City during which a victim was shot in the abdomen. Specifically, at approximately 5:00 p.m. on July 9, 2020, a carjacking occurred in the area of Tonnelle and Broadway avenues in Jersey City. Browning and an armed conspirator attempted to forcibly enter an Acura MDX. As the passenger entered the Acura, Browning and his conspirator forcibly attempted to enter the vehicle. Browning attempted to enter the rear right passenger side of the Acura, and punched the passenger in the head. At that point, the driver quickly attempted to drive away from the area. As the driver drove away, the gunman attempted to enter the front passenger side of the Acura and held onto the Acura. After a short distance, the gunman shot the driver in the abdomen, and then fell off the Acura as its driver was able to escape. Moments later, a Dodge Challenger arrived at the scene and picked up the gunman before fleeing the area. Police officers found a spent .45 caliber shell casing stamped “Blazer .45 Auto” in the area where the gunman had fallen to the ground. A lawful search warrant of the Challenger produced a .45 caliber Hi-Point Model JHP semiautomatic handgun, bearing serial number 406099, which was loaded with four rounds of ammunition. Two of the rounds were stamped “Blazer .45 Auto” on the shell casing.
On Oct. 7, 2020, Benjamin Daye, 34, admitted to robbing a Camden barbershop at gunpoint on November 23, 2019. Upon entering the barbershop, Daye grabbed a juvenile customer, pointed a loaded gun at the customer’s head, and demanded cash and belongings from employees and customers. Daye fled and was apprehended shortly thereafter next to a bag containing the handgun and the stolen items.
These are just a few examples of the cases brought in the District of New Jersey under Project Guardian. Between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020, this office charged 342 individuals with gun offenses. Of those individuals, 252 were prior convicted felons who were prohibited from possessing firearms and almost 90 possessed firearms in furtherance of, or in relation to, drug trafficking offenses or crimes of violence, such as carjackings and shootings.
The charges and allegations pending against all defendants are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Two Sentenced for Roles in Maryland-to-Virginia Heroin Pipeline that Resulted in Fatal OverdoseRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Two individuals connected with a heroin trafficking conspiracy that brought heroin from Maryland into Shenandoah County, Virginia and caused one fatal and one non-fatal overdose were sentenced last week in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg. Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar and Jesse Fong, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Field Office made the announcement today.
James Harold Lichliter, 52, of Mauretown, Va., was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison. In a separate hearing, Jonathan Dale Neice, 42, of Woodstock, Va., was sentenced to 132 months incarceration.
Both Lichliter and Neice previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute resulting in the death of J.H. and the serious bodily injury of J.W. Co-defendants Craig Kidwell, Norma Kidwell, and Stacy Allen Marston are awaiting sentencing.
“The scourge of heroin is a deadly killer that does not discriminate. This office will do all it can to stem the tide and prosecute anyone who participates in its distribution in our communities,” Acting United States Attorney Bubar said today. “We will use all available resources and continue to closely partner with federal, state and local law enforcement to hold drug dealers like Lichliter and Neice, who seek to profit from this treacherous epidemic, responsible for their actions.”
According to court documents, beginning around June 2017 a Maryland-based drug-trafficking network began selling controlled substances to Virginia-based drug traffickers, who, in turn, transported those drugs to Shenandoah County for redistribution.
Defendants Craig Kidwell and his wife Norma Kidwell repeatedly traveled from their home in Shenandoah County to Maryland to obtain heroin from the Maryland-based drug-trafficking organization. At times, the heroin Craig Kidwell and Norma Kidwell obtained from their Maryland-based source was mixed with other drugs, such as fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl.
After obtaining heroin, Craig Kidwell and Norma Kidwell transported the drugs back to Shenandoah County where the drugs were redistributed to others, including, but not limited to, co-defendants Lichliter, Marston, and Neice, who redistributed the drugs to others around Shenandoah County.
As a direct result of the defendants’ drug distribution activities, two overdoses occurred, one of which resulted in the death of victim J.H.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Virginia State Police, Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office, and Woodstock Police Department with the assistance of the Shenandoah County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Assistant United States Attorney Jeb Terrien is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Two Plead Guilty for Roles in Akron to Huntington Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that a Huntington woman and Akron man who participated in a conspiracy that saw large quantities of methamphetamine shipped from Akron and sold in Huntington pled guilty today. Niki Renee Maynard, 49, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and Robert Von Wilson, 24, entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
“100% pure meth from Akron,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “These two defendants were distributing significant amounts of deadly meth in the Huntington area. Now they each face significant prison sentences for their crimes.”
Maynard admitted that between the fall of 2018 and September of 2019, she participated in a conspiracy with multiple individuals to distribute methamphetamine in the Huntington area. During the conspiracy, Maynard repeatedly obtained quantities of methamphetamine which were transported from Akron to Huntington. Maynard relied on multiple individuals from Akron to deliver the methamphetamine to her and Maynard would in turn distribute the methamphetamine to various customers in Huntington. Maynard also admitted that she permitted others to sell methamphetamine from her residence located at 1223 26th Street in Huntington and that she was responsible for distributing up to 500 grams of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.
Wilson admitted that he was present at 1235 25th Street on June 6, 2019, when investigators executed a search warrant at the residence. During the search, investigators seized over 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine. Wilson admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine and intended to distribute it in the Huntington area. The methamphetamine was later examined by a chemist and determined to be 100% pure.
Maynard faces 5 to 40 years in federal prison and Wilson faces 10 years to life in federal prison when sentenced on January 19, 2021.
This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearings. 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. 3:19-cr-00245.
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Two Passaic County Men Indicted for Committing Multiple Armed Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury today indicted two men for their roles in two armed bank robberies in Passaic and Little Falls, New Jersey, respectively, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Nicholas Ortiz, 37, of Paterson, New Jersey, and Jose Soto, 49, of Passaic, New Jersey, are each charged with two counts of bank robbery, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, and brandishing firearms in furtherance of the bank robberies. They will be arraigned at a date to be determined.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Feb. 6, 2020, Ortiz and Soto, while wearing ski masks and holding umbrellas, entered the PNC Bank in Passaic and ordered everyone to get down on the floor. One of the men entered the bank brandishing a silver and black handgun. The other man entered the bank and jumped over the teller counter, demanding that the teller turn over all cash in the drawers.
On Feb. 27, 2020, Ortiz and Soto entered the Valley National Bank in Little Falls, New Jersey. One of the men entered brandishing a silver and black gun. The other man jumped over a teller counter, and began rifling through various drawers. Ortiz and Soto forced the bank employees, at gunpoint, to open the vault, and began retrieving cash from the bank vault. They forced all employees into the bank vault and then fled through the rear door of the National Valley Bank.
Each bank robbery charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Each count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a bank robbery carries a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; the Passaic Police Department, under the direction of Chief Luis A. Guzman; and the Little Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ronald Petrie, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emma Spiro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Members of Racketeering Enterprise Each Sentenced to More Than 30 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Marcus Etienne, a/k/a “Hitler,” and Mario Robinson were sentenced today to 34 and 32 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and FBI Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The sentences were handed down by the Honorable William Alsup, U.S. District Judge.
The sentences follow guilty pleas by both defendants. According to their plea agreements, Etienne, 39, of St. Martin Parish, La., and Robinson, 37, of Opelousas, La., and Oakland, Calif., were involved in an enterprise based in St. Martin Parish consisting of more than seven members who conducted a continuing and extensive narcotics distribution conspiracy. Etienne admitted that he was the leader of the enterprise beginning as early as 2009. The defendants both acknowledged that the enterprise engaged in narcotics distribution, assault, robbery, extortion, extortionate collection of extensions of credit, murder for hire, murder, money laundering, illegal firearms possession, gambling on dogfighting, and obstruction of justice. Robinson further admitted that in 2015, he moved from California to Louisiana and began receiving marijuana from the enterprise to distribute in Louisiana.Etienne and Robinson admitted their respective roles in the 2016 murder of another enterprise member, Trince Thibodeaux. According to the plea agreements, Etienne ordered the murder of Thibodeaux because Etienne believed Thibodeaux had stolen money and narcotics from the enterprise. Etienne offered Robinson $5,000 to murder Thibodeaux, and Robinson accepted. Robinson then contracted with a third party to complete the murder. On March 22, 2016, Robinson lured Thibodeaux to a location in Oakland where the third party shot and killed Thibodeaux. A week later, Robinson sent a $1,250 wire transfer to the individual who shot Thibodeaux. Robinson acknowledged that he expected to remain in good standing with Etienne and the enterprise by completing the murder at Etienne’s direction.
The plea agreements describe additional activities the defendants engaged in to promote the enterprise. For example, the plea agreements describe how the enterprise purchased marijuana in California and used the United States Postal Service to ship the drugs to Louisiana and Texas. Robinson admitted he received packages containing between one and ten pounds of marijuana every one or two months. Robinson and Etienne used cash proceeds from the narcotics trafficking to purchase marijuana and other controlled substances in California. Robinson also purchased money orders in Louisiana to pay the enterprise’s marijuana suppliers in California. Both Etienne and Robinson admitted that they conducted financial transactions with proceeds of narcotics trafficking to conceal the nature, source, and ownership of the enterprise’s profits.
In addition, Etienne admitted he purchased and maintained dogs used for fighting in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, on a property owned by another member of the enterprise. At the property, Etienne and other members of the enterprise hosted dog-fighting events at which attendees would pay a cover fee and bet money on the dogfights. Dogs, including dogs owned by Etienne, were seriously injured and even killed either during the events or as a result of the training leading up to the events.
On December 18, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Etienne, Robinson, and one other individual for their respective roles in the enterprise. Both Etienne and Robinson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(vii), and 846; racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d); and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).
When discussing the reasons for sentencing Etienne and Robinson to lengthy terms of incarceration, Judge Alsup made clear that he was moved by the statements of Mr. Thibodeaux’s mother as well as the mother of Mr. Thibodeaux’s child, both of whom addressed the Court at today’s hearing.
Etienne and Robinson have been in U.S. custody and will begin serving their sentences immediately.
The United States Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime Strike Force is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Oakland Division, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Oakland Police Department, with assistance from the St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office, and the Opelousas, Louisiana, Police Department.Two Detroit Men Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that two Detroit, Michigan men were sentenced to prison for federal drug crimes.
“When Carter and Sparks decided to peddle poisons in southern West Virginia, they made the same mistake that many other Detroit drug dealers made,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Now Carter and Sparks will be joining them in federal prison.”
Carlton Carter, 27, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and oxycodone pills. Carter admitted that on July 10, 2019, law enforcement officers with the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) found him in possession of approximately 30 grams of heroin and 114 oxycodone 30 mg pills after they stopped a vehicle in which he was a passenger in Charleston. Carter admitted he possessed the drugs with intent to distribute them. MDENT conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani handled the prosecution.
William Anthony Sparks was sentenced to 18 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin. Sparks admitted that on April 25, 2019, deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office stopped a car in which he was a passenger and recovered over 40 grams of heroin he possessed with the intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani and former Assistant United States Attorney Drew Inman 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 Nos. 2:20-cr-00009 (Carter) and 2:19-cr-00167 (Sparks).
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Twelfth and Final Member of Violent Baltimore “Trained to Go” Gang Sentenced to More Than Eleven Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering and Drug ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake today sentenced Roger Taylor, a/k/a Milk, age 28, of Baltimore, to 138 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for the federal charges of conspiring to participate in a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go (TTG), and for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Taylor, a fugitive since July 2017, was arrested on June 30, 2019. The racketeering activities to which Taylor pleaded guilty are: narcotics distribution and robberies of other individuals, including rival drug dealers and gang members in TTG territory.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; U.S. Marshal Johnny Hughes; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief William Lowry; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
“Roger Taylor and his fellow gang members brought violence and misery to West Baltimore, in the form of murders, armed robberies, and drug dealing. Taylor will now likely spend over a decade in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute criminals who are terrorizing our neighborhoods who will then face the reality of years spent in a federal prison far from home.”
"This case goes to show that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will work to get justice for the victims,” said Jennifer C. Boone, special agent in charge of the Baltimore Division. “The cooperation with our local, national, and international partners should send a message to those committing crimes that we will find you."
According to his plea agreement, Taylor was associated with a drug trafficking organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore. As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity. Taylor was self-identified member of a group, known as the “Young Go Getters” (YGG), which assisted members and associates of the criminal enterprise in their activities. As of 2014, the organization became known as “Trained To Go” or “TTG.”
As detailed in his plea agreement, Taylor, who referred to himself as YGG Milk, along with other members of YGG, provided support to TTG in the form of money, drugs, and other assistance. For example, on January 22, 2016, law enforcement learned that two members of TTG were looking for several individuals that had robbed a member of TTG of a small quantity of narcotics. The two members of TTG were spotted by law enforcement driving in the area of the 2500 block of West Lafayette Avenue in west Baltimore. In an effort to escape the police, the occupants of the car fled after crashing into a snow bank. Investigation revealed the car had been provided to them by Taylor.
On August 10, 2015, Postal Inspectors interdicted four packages addressed to a fictitious addressee in Windsor Mill, Maryland. Because the address was also a false address, the packages could not be delivered. Taylor, in an effort to obtain the packages, contacted the post office and requested the packages be re-delivered to a different address in Windsor Mill. Additional investigation revealed that the four packages contained 9.9 kilograms of cocaine.
During the course of the conspiracy, the quantity of cocaine within the scope of Taylor’s agreement with his co-conspirators and reasonably foreseeable as to Taylor was equivalent to between 15 and 50 kilograms of cocaine.
The leader of the gang, Montana Barronette, a/k/a Tana, and Tanner, age 25, his brother, Terrell Sivells, a/k/a Rell, age 29, and John Harrison, a/k/a Binkie, age 30, all of Baltimore, were each sentenced to life in prison. Three other co-defendants, Linton Broughton, a/k/a Marty, age 27, Dennis Pulley, a/k/a Denmo, age 33, and Timothy Floyd, a/k/a Tim Rod, age 30, all from Baltimore, were each sentenced to 30 years in prison. Co-defendants Brandon Wilson, a/k/a Ali, age 26, and Taurus Tillman, a/k/a Tash, age 31, both of Baltimore, were each sentenced to 25 years in prison. Three other TTG members previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, which includes FBI special agents and task force officers from the Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County Police Departments. FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force is responsible for identifying and targeting the most violent gangs in the Baltimore metropolitan area, to address gang violence and the associated homicides in Baltimore. The vision of the program is to use federal racketeering statutes to disrupt and dismantle significant violent criminal threats and criminal enterprises affecting the safety and well-being of our citizens and our communities.
This case was further assisted by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the ATF, the DEA, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in these investigations. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano, Daniel C. Gardner, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley formerly of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Enticement, Sex with Illinois MinorRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Joseph L. Hughes, a/k/a “Joe King,” 28, of St. Louis, Missouri, has pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor and two counts of traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a 14 year-old girl in St. Clair County, Illinois. The offenses were committed between Nov. 21, 2018, and Dec. 8, 2018.
In pleading guilty, Hughes admitted using the name “Joe King” on Facebook Messenger to text with the girl and arrange visits to her home in Belleville, Illinois, to have sex. Hughes traveled from
Missouri to the girl’s home on two occasions – Nov. 24 and Dec. 8, 2018. Both times, Hughes engaged in illicit sexual conduct with the girl. He also admitted that the victim told him her age right away and that he knew that what he did was against the law.Hughes’ sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2021, in East St. Louis. He faces 10 years to life in prison on count one (enticement of a minor) and up to 30 years in prison on counts two and three
(travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct). All three counts also carry a fine of up to $250,000 and a possible lifetime term of supervised release.The case was investigated by the Belleville Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s
Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI. Assistant United States
Attorney Angela Scott is prosecuting the case.St. Croix Man Who Denied Knowing the Whereabouts of a Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Providing False Statement to F.B.I. InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Clintford Joseph, Jr. age 54, of St. Croix pled guilty on October 13, 2020 in federal court to Providing a False Statement to law enforcement investigators with respect to the whereabouts of Paul Girard, Jr. a/k/a “Bogus”.
According to court documents, U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon issued a warrant for Girard’s arrest on Oct. 28, 2020 and Joseph “harbored and concealed” Girard between around October 23rd and November 4th. Joseph also knowingly made a false statement to law enforcement officers on November 5th when he told federal investigators that he was unaware Girard “was staying in the bedroom located above the garage of a residence located at 84 Clairmont, St. Croix,” where Joseph, Jr. was the caretaker.
Agents later learned that Girard had been staying in a bedroom above the garage at the Clairmont residence for over a week prior and that Joseph, Jr. in fact knew Girard was staying there when he advised the agents to the contrary. Girard was ultimately arrested at the Clairmont residence on a warrant for a violation of supervised release.
Joseph, Jr. faces up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00. A sentencing date has been set for February 11, 2021.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz.
Spencer, Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Meth and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
On October 9, 2020, Christopher Frerichs, 44, from Spencer, Iowa, plead guilty and was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Frerichs was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.
Evidence at the hearing showed that between March 2019 and August 2019, Frerichs and others conspired to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Iowa Great Lakes area. On August 1, 2019, in Buena Vista County, Iowa, during a controlled drug buy operation, law enforcement seized approximately 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine and a loaded .45 caliber handgun from Frerichs. Later on the same date, law enforcement seized another 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine from Frerichs’ residence near Worthington, Minnesota. Evidence further showed that Frerichs obtained and distributed over 15 pounds of methamphetamine from the end of 2018 through 2019. During that time, Frerichs made at least three trips to his primary source of supply in Colorado, and one trip to another source of supply in Arizona.
Frerichs was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Frerichs was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Frerichs is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Jackson County (MN) Sheriff’s Office, Emmet County Sheriff’s Office and DCI Criminalistics Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 19-4061. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
South Royalton Man Charged with Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that last week a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jeremy Digby, 40, of South Royalton, with possession of an unregistered firearm, specifically, a multi-caliber, AR-style rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length. Digby was arrested for the offense on October 12, 2020 and arraigned today in Burlington before U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy. Digby pleaded not guilty to the charge and was ordered held in custody pending a hearing on his detention or release pending trial, which was set for October 16, 2020.
According to a court filing, on October 2, 2020, the Vermont State Police, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, executed a search warrant at Digby’s residence in South Royalton. During the search, law enforcement recovered evidence of drug use and 43 firearms, including the high powered weapon charged in the indictment. On October 12, 2020, law enforcement went back to Digby’s residence to arrest him on the federal indictment. At that time, investigators recovered two additional firearms. In a post-arrest statement, Digby told law enforcement that for the past couple of years, he had regularly used methamphetamine. Law enforcement also indicated that in recent months, they have received regular complaints from citizens about Digby’s drug use and about gunshots coming from the area of Digby’s residence.
If convicted of this offense, Digby faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine. The actual sentence however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the indictment is merely an accusation, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy Fuller. Jeremy Digby is represented by the Federal Public Defender’s Office.
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 enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting firearm use and possession crimes; prioritizes prosecuting persons who make false statements when attempting to obtain firearms; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concerning persons who attempt to obtain firearms illegally; coordinates responses to persons prevented from obtaining firearms for mental health reasons; and ensures the use of modern intelligence tools and technology to focus on the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
Second Charlotte Man Involved in Two Separate Identity Theft Schemes Pleads Guilty to Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – David Clarke, 30, of Charlotte, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer today, and pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in two separate schemes involving identity theft, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Clarke’s co-conspirator, Jamel Johnson, previously pleaded guilty for his involvement in the schemes.
Clarke and Johnson were initially indicted on June 19, 2020, on bank and wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges, for orchestrating a scheme in which they used stolen personal information of identity theft victims to obtain fraudulent bank loans. On October 7, 2020, new federal wire fraud charges were filed against Clarke, for using stolen identities to file for, and receive, COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits.
According filed court documents and statements made at Clarke’s plea hearing today, from August 2019 to June 2020, Clarke, Johnson and their co-conspirators engaged in a bank loan scheme involving the use of stolen information of identity theft victims. Court documents show that, after acquiring the victims’ stolen identities on the internet and elsewhere, the co-conspirators used them to attempt to obtain more than $1,000,000 in fraudulent bank loans and goods.
According to court records, over the course of the investigation into the bank loan scheme, law enforcement discovered that Clarke was also executing a separate scheme involving COVID-19 UI benefits. In this scheme, court records show that, from May through July 2020, Clarke defrauded the U.S. Department of Labor, the State of Wisconsin, and the State of Arizona, by submitting fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits in the names of identity theft victims. During the relevant time-period, Clarke fraudulently obtained over $82,500 in fraudulent UI benefits using the compromised identities of more than 60 victims. According to court records, Clarke directed that payments of the fraudulent UI benefits be made to Green Dot cards, or to bank accounts under Clarke’s control.
Clarke is currently in federal custody. The charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years and a $1 million fine. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a minimum prison term of two years, consecutive to any other prison term imposed, and a $250,000 fine. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.
Clarke’s co-defendant, Johnson, has also pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud for his role in both schemes. A third co-defendant involved in the bank loan scheme, Justin Parks, has pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. A sentencing date for Clarke, Johnson and Parks has not been set.
The charges against Mikael Roberts, for his alleged involvement in the loan scheme, are still pending, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their investigative efforts, and thanked the Atlanta Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their invaluable assistance.
The prosecution for the government is handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
Santa Monica Woman Admits Price Gouging in Sale of Scarce N95 Masks She Sold at Huge Markups over List Price During PandemicRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Santa Monica day spa owner was charged today in federal court with accumulating N95 respirators in anticipation of the COVID-19 pandemic and then price gouging by selling the scarce masks at vastly inflated prices – sometimes nearly 1,100 percent over list price.
Niki Schwarz, 55, of Santa Monica, the owner of Tikkun Holistic Spa, was named in a criminal information charging her with one count of hoarding and price gouging. In a plea agreement also filed today, Schwarz agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor offense.
In the plea agreement, Schwarz admitted that in February she began accumulating N95 respirators in anticipation of a shortage that would be caused by a global pandemic resulting from the spread of the novel coronavirus. From the beginning of February until the end of June, Schwarz accumulated nearly 20,000 N95 masks that had been manufactured by 3M (list price ranging from $1.02 to $1.27) and Alpha Pro (list price of 86 cents).
In March, the United States government designated N95 respirators as “scarce materials” under the Defense Production Act of 1950 due to the overwhelming need of health care providers dealing with COVID-19 patients to use personal protective equipment.
Schwarz admitted that she obtained the N95 respirators for the purpose of reselling them at above-market rates, and that she sold the masks for up to $15 each.
Schwarz “accumulated and resold the masks at prices in excess of the prevailing market prices willfully, that is, with knowledge that masks had been designated as scarce materials and with knowledge that accumulation of the designated materials to resell in excess of prevailing market prices was unlawful,” according to the plea agreement.
On March 1, an associate informed Schwarz that the associate was going to stop selling N95 masks because she believed it was crime – and that price gouging could result in one year in prison – but Schwarz continued to sell the masks at inflated prices.
The hoarding and price gouging offense that Schwarz admits in the plea agreement carries a statutory maximum sentence of one year in federal prison.
Schwarz will receive a summons directing her to make an initial appearance in United States District Court, likely in early November.
This matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Mitchell of the Major Frauds Section, who is a regional coordinator of the Justice Department’s COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force.
Rocky Mount Man Sentenced to 92 Months for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Rocky Mount man was sentenced today to 92 months in prison for a 2018 bank robbery.
According to court documents, David Marsahll Viverette, 29, was charged with one count of bank robbery. Viverette pled guilty on November 8, 2019.
On November 9, 2018, officers with the Rocky Mount Police Department responded to a robbery alarm at First Carolina Bank in Rocky Mount, NC, after Viverette had entered the bank, presented a demand note, and threatened to kill the teller if she pressed the alarm. Viverette fled with a small amount of cash, but was quickly identified from surveillance photos by officers familiar with him from prior encounters. Viverette has a lengthy criminal record with 19 prior convictions, including 7 prior felonies. The sentence, Viverette’s first federal conviction, included an enhancement for a brief escape from custody before he was indicted federally.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rocky Mount Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina implements the PSN Program through its Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-340-FL.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to five bank robberies, including one that resulted in a high-speed chase.
Dong Lee, 50, pleaded guilty to five counts of bank robbery before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns who scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16, 2021. In Oct. 2018, Lee was charged with co-defendant Charles Lamont Wheeler, 46, who pleaded guilty in March 2020. Wheeler’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 14, 2020.
According to the prosecutor at today’s plea hearing, Lee and Wheeler were responsible for the robberies of the Santander Bank in Andover on Sept. 8, 2018; the Berkshire Bank in Boston on Sept. 8, 2018; the Rockland Trust in Braintree on Sept. 12, 2018; the Abington Savings Bank in Avon on Sept. 14, 2018; and Crescent Credit Union in Brockton on Sept. 14, 2018. Both Lee and Wheeler were arrested following the Sept. 14, 2018 robberies which resulted in a high-speed auto chase by the Massachusetts State Police.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police Department; Avon Police Chief Jeffrey J. Bukunt; Brockton Police Chief Emmanuel Gomes; Attleboro Police Chief Kyle P. Heagney; and North Attleboro Police Chief John J. Reilly made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Repeat federal felon and Mexican Mafia member handed significant sentence for illegally being in USRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 47-year-old resident of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
David Villarreal-Leal, identified as a member of the Mexican Mafia, pleaded guilty Feb. 5 for re-entering the United States after having been previously removed.
Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered Villarreal-Leal to serve a total of 108 months in prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he will again be expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence. At the hearing, the court noted his multiple previous convictions and that he had attacked a rival gang member while waiting for one of his court hearings.
Authorities found Villarreal-Leal Nov. 27, 2019, in a ranch outside of Laredo after illegally crossing into the United States from Mexico.
Villarreal-Leal was removed from the country multiple times beginning Jan. 19, 2006. His most recent removal occurred Oct. 15, 2019, approximately one month prior to his current arrest and charge.
He is a federal felon - previously convicted in 2001 of conspiring to transport 494 pounds of marijuana and again in 2010 when Villarreal-Leal illegally re-entered the United States. His latest came in 2011 when he was found guilty of conspiring with others in a money laundering scheme involving $1.4 million in bulk cash drug proceeds being trafficked to the Zeta Drug Trafficking Organization in Mexico.
Villarreal-Leal has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Harrison is prosecuting the case.
Pitcairn Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation ChargeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of production and attempted production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Rebecca Owens, age 24, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about May 17, 2019 to on or about May 18, 2019, aided and abetted by another person known as "M.K.," Owens induced a female child victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct for Owens to send to M.K. during a sexual online chat.
"Our mandate is to use every resource to protect our children from sexual exploitation at the hands of pedophiles," said U.S. Attorney Brady. "No matter what dark shadows these predators hide in, law enforcement will shine a light on them and hold them accountable for their conduct. Our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will not rest until every victim of child sexual exploitation is rescued and defendants like Owens are behind bars."
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for February 24, 2020, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania State Police, as part of the Northeast Computer Crimes Task Force, and the Allegheny County Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, members of the Western Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Owens.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit
Philadelphia Man Who Attempted to Rob the Trolley Car Diner at Gunpoint Sentenced to 19 YearsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Keenan Smith, 29, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to nineteen years in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno for attempting to rob the Trolley Car Diner on Germantown Avenue in Northwest Philadelphia.
The defendant was convicted after trial in August 2019 of attempted robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), and using or carrying, and discharging, a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In the early morning hours of January 31, 2018, Smith snuck into the Trolley Car Diner through a side entrance before it opened for business that day, and waited outside the manager’s office with a gun. When the manager arrived, Smith pointed the gun at the manager’s head, and then a struggle ensued as the manager attempted to disarm the defendant. Ultimately, the defendant was shot in the hand, causing him to flee, but he was later arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department after seeking medical treatment for his gunshot wound at a hospital in Roxborough. Evidence presented at trial showed that Smith’s DNA was found to match DNA from blood left at the scene of the crime.
“Nobody should be put in a positon of fearing for their life when simply showing up to do their job,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “My Office is committed to prosecuting and punishing this type of inexcusable violence, which is all too prevalent in Philadelphia. Federal crime means federal time: here, 19 years. Keenan Smith deserves every bit of that sentence.”
“Imagine the terror of walking into a gunpoint ambush, alone with an armed stranger making demands,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “In attempting this armed robbery, Keenan Smith made clear that he’s a threat to public safety. Although Smith was the one injured during the robbery, it could have easily been his intended victim or an innocent bystander harmed. The FBI and our partners at the Philadelphia Police Department are committed to taking violent criminals off the street, to keep them from victimizing anyone else.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Whitemarsh Township Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Stengel.
Owasso Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
An Owasso man admitted his guilt Tuesday in federal court after striking and killing William Houseman while eluding officers at speeds exceeding 90 mph in 2019.
Michael Leon Johnson, 34, pleaded guilty to second degree murder in Indian Country. Johnson admitted to leading officers on a chase through Tulsa streets in a stolen pick-up truck, running multiple red lights, driving into oncoming traffic and causing other drivers to divert off the road. Johnson struck the victim’s vehicle after running a red light at the intersection of 12900 East 11th St. Housman died as a result of his injuries.
“William Houseman lost his life because of Michael Johnson’s selfish and reckless choices. His death is a tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Johnson was in possession of a stolen vehicle and chose to run from police, rather than face the consequences for his criminal choices. On Jan. 12, 2021, a federal judge will hand down a sentence suitable for this senseless act.”
The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, and Tulsa Country Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark R. Morgan is prosecuting the case.
Operation Legend: Case of the DayRead the Press Release
Each weekday, the Department of Justice will highlight a case that has resulted from Operation Legend. Today’s case is out of the Northern District of Ohio. Operation Legend launched in Cleveland on July 29, 2020, in response to the city facing increased homicide and non-fatal shooting rates.
A Cleveland man has been charged with federal firearms and drug trafficking offenses after an Operation Legend taskforce conducted surveillance and executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and seized multiple firearms and illicit drugs.
“Trafficking drugs by itself is a dangerous enterprise, but mix in several loaded firearms and some high-powered rifles, and the result is a deadly combination that could hurt many people in more ways than one,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “I want to thank law enforcement agents with DEA and Cleveland Police for their collaborative work to identify this individual and remove him from the community.”
Angel Chacon, 37, of Cleveland, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, law enforcement agents working as part of an Operation Legend taskforce executed a search warrant at Chacon’s residence after observing drug trafficking activity and executing a controlled buy.
During the search of the property, agents allegedly located the following items: cocaine, marijuana, drug trafficking paraphernalia and supplies, $5,000, a 9mm pistol, 55 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a .22 caliber rifle, 165 rounds of .22 caliber rifle ammunition, a .17 caliber rifle with five rounds of .17 caliber ammunition, a custom .223 caliber rifle with two magazines, 59 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition and two bags of miscellaneous ammunition and magazines.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Background on Operation Legend
Since its inception, Operation Legend has yielded more than 3,500 local, state, and federal arrests, with more than 800 defendants charged with federal crimes.
President Trump promised to assist America’s cities that have been plagued by violence. In July, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Operation Legend, a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative across all federal law enforcement agencies working in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime in cities across America that were experiencing an uptick in violence. Operation Legend is named after four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed on June 29th in Kansas City, Missouri, while asleep in his home.
Operation Legend was launched in Kansas City, Mo., on July 8, 2020, and expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020; to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020; to St. Louis and Memphis on Aug. 6, 2020; and to Indianapolis on Aug. 14, 2020. As part of Operation Legend, Attorney General Barr has directed federal agents from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, DEA and ATF to surge resources to these cities to help state and local officials fighting violent crime. The Department of Homeland Security is also contributing agents to these efforts in St. Louis.
O.C. Man Faces Federal Charges for Allegedly Setting Santa Monica Police Department Vehicle on Fire During Civil Disturbances in MayRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Irvine man was taken into federal custody today on charges alleging he set fire to a Santa Monica Police Department car during civil unrest that accompanied widespread protests in late May.
Nathan Wilson, 27, is charged in a federal criminal complaint with malicious damage to property owned by an institution or organization receiving federal financial assistance.
Wilson was linked to the May 31 fire that destroyed the unmarked Santa Monica Police car when a witness told law enforcement they had driven Wilson to Santa Monica on that day and they believed he had set fire to a police car.
Publicly available social media posts show that the person who set fire to the police car parked at the loading dock of the Santa Monic Civic Center was wearing certain clothing and accessories, had an American flag bandana over his face, and had a distinctive tattoo of a rifle on his left arm, according to an affidavit filed with the complaint. The witness directed authorities to one of Wilson’s social media accounts – an Instagram account under the handle “yup_i_eat_crayons” – where Wilson had posted a “selfie” taken in Santa Monica on May 31. In his Instagram selfie, Wilson appeared exactly like the person seen in other social media posts who stoked the fire that destroyed the police car, the affidavit alleges.
In early June, the FBI and the Santa Monica Police Department issued a wanted poster for the person later identified as Wilson. After receiving tips and conducting investigations, law enforcement was not able to identify the perpetrator who caused the fire that destroyed the police car.
That changed when Wilson became a suspect in a September 28 vehicle arson that occurred in Irvine, according to the affidavit. Following a domestic dispute that culminated with a fire in a vehicle owned by Wilson’s live-in partner, authorities obtained information that linked Wilson to the May 31 fire in Santa Monica.
Wilson was taken into custody on October 9 when Santa Monica Police officers, in conjunction with the Irvine Police Department and the FBI, executed a search warrant at the Irvine residence and found Wilson hiding in a mattress box spring in the bedroom. During that search, authorities recovered items of clothing that appear to be the same seen on Wilson in the various photos taken near the destroyed police car.
After Wilson was taken into custody by Santa Monica Police officers, the federal criminal complaint was signed by a United States magistrate judge late on October 9. Wilson was taken into federal custody this morning, and he is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted of the malicious damage offense alleged in the complaint, Wilson would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.
This matter was investigated by the SAFE LA Task Force, which includes representatives of the FBI and the Santa Monica Police Department. The Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority provided substantial assistance.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara B. Milstein of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.
North Park Gang Member, Who Was Previously Convicted of RICO, Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Joseph Orabona (619) 546-7951
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 13, 2020
SAN DIEGO, CA – A member of a North Park based gang, who was previously convicted of participating in a conspiracy to engage in racketeering enterprise (RICO) involving sex trafficking of minors and adults, pleaded guilty to once again being involved in sex trafficking.
Jonathan Devon Price, aka Lil’ TY, who was a member of Black MOB, previously pled guilty to RICO in October 2015, where he admitted he was involved transporting females from San Diego, California to El Paso, Texas for purposes of prostitution. He also admitted to transporting an adult female in San Diego, California to a hotel to engage in prostitution after an online ad had been posted.
Today, Price admitted that in November 2019, he transported a minor in San Diego, California to meet with “johns” for the purpose of her to engage in commercial sex acts. In addition, Price caused online advertisements to be posted offering the minor for commercial sex. An undercover sting operation conducted by members of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force resulted in the arrest of Price, who was transporting the minor for prostitution.
Price also admitted during his guilty plea that he used fraud, force and coercion against another adult female in order to cause her to engage in commercial sex acts. This conducted occurred between June 2018 and November 2019, while Price was on federal supervised release. As a result of his criminal conduct in November 2019, Price has violated his supervised release in his prior RICO case, Criminal Case No. 13CR4510-JAH.
“Sex trafficking is a crime that causes devastating long-term effects for victims, especially minors,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “Our office will continue to vigorously enforce federal laws that are in place to protect women and girls from the pain, humiliation and suffering associated with sex trafficking.” Brewer praised prosecutor Joseph Orabona and members of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force for their excellent work on this case.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 4, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. before the U.S. District Judge John A. Houston. Price has been detained in custody since his arrest in November 2019.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph J.M. Orabona. This guilty plea is the result of the collaborative work by the FBI and the San Diego Police Department.
DEFENDANTS Case Numbers: 20CR0852-JAH
Jonathan “Lil’ TY” Devon Price Age: 30 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Sex Trafficking of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1591
Maximum Penalties: Ten-year mandatory minimum and a maximum of life in prison, Sex Offender Registration
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, which consists of:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- California Department of Justice
- California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation – Parole
- California Highway Patrol
- ICE/Homeland Security Investigations
- National City Police Department
- San Diego City Attorney’s Office
- San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
- San Diego County Probation Department
- San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
- San Diego Police Department
- The United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California
Newburgh Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Arnold Amthor, Chief of the City of Newburgh Police Department, announced that ALBERTO RIVERA, a Newburgh resident, was arrested this morning and charged with possession with intent to distribute narcotics, possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with an incident that occurred in the City of Newburgh on October 1, 2020. RIVERA will be presented before United States Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison in White Plains federal court later today.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Thanks to the quick work of a City of Newburgh detective, Alberto Rivera was apprehended while allegedly illegally in possession of a firearm and carrying illegal narcotics. Working with the City of Newburgh Police Department and the FBI, we have now charged Rivera with serious federal crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “The community of Newburgh has faced its share of crime, and those who wish to live there peacefully don’t need another reminder of the long list of threats posed by illegal guns and drugs. Rivera was already on parole for unrelated crimes, the conditions of which he was in violation on the night an on-duty detective noticed him while on patrol. In an effort to escape arrest, he allegedly tossed the backpack he was carrying, and the contents along with it, aside. Unfortunately for him, that’s not how this works. Federal charges don’t get tossed to the side, and the penalties they carry are usually pretty severe.”
City of Newburgh Police Chief Arnold Amthor said: “We commend the excellent work of the detective who arrested Alberto Rivera. As alleged, Rivera was illegally in possession of a gun at the time. This department is committed to making the City of Newburgh safer, and to working with the FBI and federal prosecutors to do so where appropriate.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint[1]:
On October 1, 2020, around 1:24 p.m., a City of Newburgh detective, who was familiar with RIVERA and knew a warrant had been issued for RIVERA for absconding on parole, spotted RIVERA riding a bicycle on Broadway in the City of Newburgh. When the detective stopped his vehicle in RIVERA’s path, RIVERA fled the scene, tossing a backpack containing a firearm and large quantity of narcotics as he ran from the detective. The detective gave chase and apprehended RIVERA in the backyard of a nearby pizzeria. Detectives recovered the backpack from the same backyard.
* * *
RIVERA, 25, of Newburgh, New York, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the City of Newburgh Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Ong is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the descriptions of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking in TopekaRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Missouri man pleaded guilty today to an armed carjacking in Topeka, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Antonio Duane Simpson, 43, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of carjacking.
In his plea, Simpson admitted he stopped a man near SW 13th and College Avenue in Topeka and demanded his wallet. The victim refused and during a struggle Simpson shot him. Simpson took the victim’s keys and drove away. He left behind a hat and wig he had been wearing. A DNA test on those items tied Simpson to the crime. When the victim’s Toyota Tacoma was recovered in Kansas City, Mo., it had been destroyed by fire.
Sentencing is set for Feb. 2. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 15 years in federal prison. McAllister commended the FBI, the Topeka Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.
Michigan Man Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that a Southfield, Michigan man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a federal drug crime. Donta Cole, 24, previously pled guilty to an indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine.
“Another drug dealer from Michigan – this time with crack,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Just like any other poison peddler, if you’re selling crack, we’ll send you packing. Your next stop will be federal prison.”
Cole previously admitted that on April 26, 2019, he was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over by the West Virginia State Police. An officer found approximately 12 grams of crack cocaine hidden in his groin area. Cole admitted that he intended to sell the crack cocaine.
The West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor 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. 3:20-cr-00033.
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Michigan Man Charged with Hate Crimes for Attacking African-American TeenagerRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Lee Mouat, 42, has been charged by criminal complaint in federal district court with violating 18 U.S.C. § 249 by willfully causing bodily injury to an African-American teenager because of the teenager’s race.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Mouat confronted a group of African-American teenagers, including the victim, at a state park in Monroe, Michigan. Mouat repeatedly used racial slurs and said that African Americans had no right to use the public beach where the incident occurred. Mouat then struck one of the teens in the face with a bike lock, knocking out several of the victim’s teeth and fracturing his jaw.
The charge in the complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, Mouat faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson of the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Michigan Man Charged with Hate Crime for Attacking African-American TeenagerRead the Press Release
DETROIT – The Justice Department announced today that Lee Mouat, 42, has been charged by criminal complaint in federal district court with violating 18 U.S.C. § 249 by willfully causing bodily injury to an African-American teenager because of the teenager’s race.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Mouat confronted a group of African-American teenagers, including the victim, at a state park in Monroe, Michigan. Mouat repeatedly used racial slurs and said that African Americans had no right to use the public beach where the incident occurred. Mouat then struck one of the teens in the face with a bike lock, knocking out several of the victim’s teeth and fracturing his jaw.
The charge in the complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, Mouat faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson of the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Mexico Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Mexico, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing stolen firearms taken during the burglary of Tiger Pawn Shop in Columbia, Mo.
Tyler Andrew Hilderman, 27, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. to one count of possessing stolen firearms and one count of stealing firearms from a licensed firearms dealer.
Co-defendant Alexander Mears, 21, of Columbia, Mo., pleaded guilty on July 14, 2020, to possessing stolen firearms. Mears admitted that he and Hilderman stole 65 firearms during the burglary of Tiger Pawn Shop in September 2019.
According to Mears’s plea agreement, he and Hilderman made a hole in the building’s wall in order to enter the pawn shop. Mears handed the firearms through the hole in the building wall to Hilderman, who remained outside.
Hilderman received one pistol from the burglary, a Springfield Armory .45-caliber pistol. He was supposed to receive half the proceeds from the sale of the remainder of the firearms. The pistol was found by law enforcement officers who executed a search warrant at a residence in Cooper County, Mo. The occupant of the residence told officers he purchased the gun from a woman, who in turn said she obtained the gun from Hilderman.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Columbia, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Mexican national headed to prison for importing $1 million in heroinRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old man from Guadalupe, Nueva Leon, Mexico, has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to import heroin into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Marcos Braylobsky Cantu-Hernandez, 30, pleaded guilty Dec. 2, 2019.
Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña sentenced him to 51 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the term of imprisonment.
Cantu-Hernandez attempted to enter the United States Sept. 21, 2019, at the Juarez–Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo. At that time, an X-ray of his vehicle revealed anomalies. Authorities conducted a search and found 28 bundles hidden in the vehicle’s rocker panels. They were found to contain approximately 28 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of $1 million.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Petters is prosecuting the case.
Manhattan Gang Member Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Racketeering, Arson, Robbery, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LARRY WHITE, a/k/a “L.O.,” pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to participating in a racketeering enterprise known as Bully Gang, setting two cars on fire in Manhattan on January 14, 2019, committing multiple armed robberies, and committing a shooting on June 3, 2017, in Manhattan. U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff accepted the defendant’s guilty plea.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Today, Larry White admitted to a brazen and dangerous crime spree in New York City, including armed robberies, an arson, firearms offenses, and his active participation in a dangerous gang. We continue our daily work with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe and to vigorously investigate acts of violence committed by gang members.”
As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in open court:
Bully Gang was a criminal enterprise involved in committing armed robberies throughout New York City. As admitted today in open court today, White personally participated in multiple armed robberies in furtherance of Bully Gang, set two cars on fire in Manhattan, and shot a victim on June 3, 2017, in Manhattan.
* * *
WHITE, 33, of New York, New York, pled guilty to participating in a racketeering enterprise, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison to run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment; being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and arson, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.
WHITE is scheduled to be sentenced on January 28, 2021.
The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Longyear, Jacob Warren, Andrew Chan, and Paralegal Specialist Claudia Hernandez are in charge of the prosecution.
Major south Georgia drug trafficker sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prisonRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A South Georgia man who has alternated much of his past three decades between selling illegal drugs or serving time in prison has been sentenced to spend nearly 20 years in prison for leading a drug trafficking organization centered in Coffee County.
Wayne Jordan, 62, of Douglas, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 235 months in federal prison after Jordan pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine and Marijuana, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison sentence, Jordan will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“For decades Wayne Jordan has been a malign presence in south Georgia, never skipping a beat between periods of court supervision to distribute and sell illegal drugs throughout the area,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “For the next 20 years, at least, the community will be rid of his destructive influence.”
Jordan was indicted with nine other defendants – including his son, Germany Jordan, 33 – in a 57-count federal indictment returned in December 2018. Judge Wood sentenced each of the other nine defendants on earlier dates. The indictment resulted from a nearly two-year investigation under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agents of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Douglas Coffee Drug Unit, Douglas Police Department, Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, Appling County Sheriff’s Office, the Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service participated in the investigation.
According to court documents and testimony, Jordan – who had served multiple stints in state and federal prison on drug trafficking charges since his first arrest and conviction more than 30 years ago – was the main source of supply for a group of co-conspirators who sold cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana in Coffee, Jeff Davis and Appling counties.
In multiple searches at the time of the arrests, investigators seized more than $410,000 in cash, three kilograms of cocaine, crack cocaine, 55 pounds of high-grade marijuana, and 19 vehicles were seized.
“The appropriate sentencing for the reoffender in this case exemplifies the clear and present danger that dangerous drugs like cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana poses to our communities,” said DEA Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy. “Because of the collective efforts between DEA and its law enforcement partners, this defendant will spend well-deserved time in prison.”
“It is unfortunate this defendant chose to not only make drug trafficking a way life, but also a family affair,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “With the dismantling of this drug trafficking organization, these south Georgia communities will be safer. Thank you to our federal and local law enforcement partners for making this possible.”
The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karl Knoche and Joe McCool.
Maine to Receive More Than $600,000 in Federal Funding for Forensic ScienceRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey Frank today announced $639,654 in Department of Justice grants to the District of Maine to fund crime laboratories, decrease DNA backlogs, support basic and applied forensic research and help law enforcement identify missing persons. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), are part of $192 million in funding to advance forensic science nationwide.
The Maine Department of Public Safety will receive $264,698, and the Maine State Police will receive $374,956.
“Developments in forensic science have given investigators an extraordinary array of tools that can be enlisted to solve crimes and bring answers to victims and survivors, often after many years and even decades,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These investments in crime-fighting technology, from DNA analysis to drug toxicology to forensic anthropology, will help identify and convict perpetrators, ensure justice for innocent victims and keep communities safe by deterring future criminal activity.”
“I am very pleased to share the news about this important federal funding,” U.S. Attorney Frank said. “The use of DNA for solving crimes has only been around for a few decades, but it’s already been an enormous game-changer, for police agencies here in Maine and across the nation. This ever-evolving science will be of tremendous benefit to crime investigations here in Maine, and to crime victims.”
Since 2004, OJP has received an annual appropriation for DNA and other forensic science activities. The funding, administered through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and National Institute of Justice, supports DNA analysis, laboratory capacity enhancement and forensic science research that provides knowledge and tools to improve the quality and practice of forensic science.
More information about the programs and awards announced today is available here: OJP Awards Data webpage.
OJP, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. 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.
Lake Jackson man sent to prison after posting child pornography via social mediaRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 30-year-old man who posted hundreds of images depicting child pornography on two separate public blogs in 2017 and 2018 has been ordered to federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Marcus Ryan Howell pleaded guilty March 12 to two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Today, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown ordered him to serve 151 months in federal prison. Following his prison term, Howell will serve 10 years on supervised release, during which time he will have to comply with numerous conditions that restrict his access to children and the internet. Howell will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In December 2017, authorities received information that a social media user was posting child exploitation material on a public blog. They later learned of a second blog with a different user name which also contained child pornography. Law enforcement traced both blogs to an IP address registered to Howell’s Lake Jackson address.
They executed a search warrant and seized an HP desktop computer belonging to Howell, which was found to contain multiple images and videos of child pornography. Approximately 20 of the videos were longer than five minutes in length, the longest of which lasted nearly 11 minutes.
Howell was ultimately held responsible for a total of 34 GIFs, 354 videos and 1,503 photos depicting child pornography.
Howell has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri Zack and Stephanie Bauman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
KC Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Illegal Firearms, StalkingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms, including purchasing firearms advertised on the internet, and of stalking two female victims associated with massage parlors in Kansas.
“This armed and dangerous criminal, with a history of stalking and violence toward women, will spend the rest of his life in prison,” said U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison.
Robert J. Gross, 69, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 35 years in federal prison without parole.
On May 15, 2019, Gross was found guilty at trial of two counts of stalking victims across state lines, three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and three counts of receiving a firearm while under indictment.
Gross was under investigation in 2017 for destroying property and harassing and stalking four women associated with massage parlors in Kansas, which led to him being placed under surveillance by law enforcement. While under surveillance in December 2017, Gross purchased handcuffs and other items from a surplus store, visited a gun show twice, and purchased two shotguns from a private seller advertising on the internet.
In October 2017, Gross visited the Tea Spa Massage in Lawrence, Kan., where he was asked to leave by the employee. Gross took all of his clothes off and walked around the business completely naked, harassing and threatening the employee. The video and audio surveillance show Gross grabbing and groping the employee, who eventually fled the store and flagged down a passing man for assistance in getting Gross out of the business. Gross got dressed and left the business.
Law enforcement investigators began surveillance of Gross after these incidents.
On Dec. 2, 2017, officers saw Gross purchase four sets of handcuffs, two black shirts with “SECURITY” written on them with badges on the front, and two balaclavas (a garment used to conceal facial identity) from a surplus store in Kansas City, Kan. The manager of the business told investigators that Gross had purchased two sets of handcuffs the week before.
On Dec. 16, 2017, officers saw Gross inquiring about the purchase of firearms at the Kansas City Gun Show located at the KCI Expo Center. Gross picked up and handled a 9mm Velocity “Uzi”-type firearm with an empty 30-round magazine at one of the booths. The dealer at the booth told investigators that Gross, who approached his booth multiple times throughout the day, had asked about purchasing up to three firearms. The next day, Gross visited the gun show again and was seen inquiring about the purchase of firearms. Gross visited a different booth, where he picked up a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun.
At that time, Gross was a convicted felon and also under indictment in the state of Kansas for aggravated sexual battery. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony, or who is under indictment, to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Gross has prior federal felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and interstate transfer of a stolen firearm. He also has prior state felony convictions for making terroristic threats and burglary. The state convictions in Kansas stem from breaking into the house of a former girlfriend and stealing a .380-caliber firearm. He threatened to rape and torture the former girlfriend and her sister, to cut off her sister’s head and leave it on her bed, and to burn down her house.
On Dec. 22, 2017, Gross returned to the surplus store in Kansas City, Kan., and was observed purchasing four more sets of handcuffs and a balaclava. Gross also asked about purchasing a bulletproof vest.
On Dec. 22, 2017, officers observed Gross purchase two shotguns from an individual in the parking lot of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Liberty, Missouri. Gross first drove to the Pizza Ranch parking lot, where he removed the license plate from the front of his car. The rear license plate had been removed as well. Then Gross drove to the nearby Lowe’s store, where he was met by an individual driving a white pickup truck. The unidentified individual sold Gross two shotguns, which he handed to Gross from his truck. As Gross was putting two shotguns in the trunk of his car, officers arrested him for being a felon in possession of firearms.
The individual who sold the shotguns to Gross told investigators that Gross called him the day before, after seeing the Savage 12-gauge shotgun and Winchester 12-gauge shotgun advertised for sale on a website. Gross told him he wanted to buy the two shotguns for $350 and they arranged to meet at Lowe’s to conduct the sale.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jess Michaelsen and Alison D. Dunning, with cooperation from the Platte County, Mo., Prosecutor’s Office. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Olathe, Kan., Police Department, the Lawrence, Kan., Police Department, and the Douglas County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Justice Department Charges More than 14,200 Defendants with Firearms-Related Crimes in FY20Read the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department announced it has charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on the criminal justice process.
These cases have been a department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.
“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr. “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences. The Justice Department is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms. Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”
“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions. ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”
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.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Justice Department Charges More than 14,200 Defendants with Firearms-Related Crimes in FY20Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Today, the Justice Department announced it has charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.
"The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe," said Attorney General Barr. "By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences. The Justice Department is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals, who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms. Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners."
"Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission," commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo. "Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions. ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts."
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Gun crime remains a pervasive problem in too many communities across West Tennessee. Since becoming U.S. Attorney in 2017, I have intensified our focus on removing firearms from the hands of prohibited persons, and removing violent gun offenders from our streets. In order to reduce violent crime and save lives, we will continue to aggressively prosecute the trigger-pullers, traffickers, straw purchasers, and prohibited persons who illegally use and possess firearms in West Tennessee."
Of the more than 14,200 cases charged, a total of 203 federal firearms-related cases have been brought in the Western District of Tennessee in FY 2020, announced U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant.
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 Justice Department and we will use all appropriate, available means to keep the law abiding people of this country safe from gun crime.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
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Justice Department Charges More Than 14,200 Defendants with Firearms-Related Crimes in FY20Read the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – October 13, 2020 - Today, the Department of Justice announced it has charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID 19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.
“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr. “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences. The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals, who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms. Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”
“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions. ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”
“When I became the U.S Attorney in 2017, my highest priority was to make middle Tennessee a safer place for all of our citizens and visitors,” said U.S. Attorney Cochran. “One of the initiatives our office and our law enforcement partners embarked on was a concentrated effort to reduce violent crime – especially gun crime. We quickly doubled the number of federal firearms prosecutions and continued to expand our enforcement efforts. Even with the challenges associated with COVID-19 and the lack of a grand jury for several months in FY20, we still charged 137 individuals with federal firearms crimes. This will be followed by long federal prison sentences for violent offenders, from which there is no parole, and our communities will be safer without these violent criminals on our streets.”
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 illegal to possess a firearm if you have been convicted of a crime of domestic violence or are subject to a domestic violence protective order. 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.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
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Highland Woman who Faked Breast Cancer and Genetic Disorders Pleads Guilty to Five Federal FeloniesRead the Press Release
A woman who falsely claimed she had breast cancer and genetic disorders to defraud nonprofits has pleaded guilty. Sarah A. Delashmit, 35, of Highland, Illinois, appeared in federal district court this morning and admitted her guilt on four counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud.
According to court documents, Delashmit falsely claimed she was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to attend Camp Summit, a nonprofit camp in Texas that serves individuals with disabilities. In October 2015 and March 2016, based on her misrepresentations, Camp Summit awarded Delashmit a spot as a camper and over $2,500 in financial aid. While at the camp, Delashmit confined herself to a wheelchair and pretended to need assistance with most daily activities, such as getting dressed and bathing, despite being fully able to walk and care for herself. Delashmit admitted in court that her fraud prevented deserving people with real disabilities from attending the camp and receiving financial assistance.
As part of her guilty plea, Delashmit also admitted falsely posing as a breast cancer survivor to defraud the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a New York-based nonprofit organization serving young adults diagnosed with cancer. In 2017 and 2018, based on her misrepresentations, Delashmit received over $1,000 in financial benefits and donated items, diverting YSC’s limited resources away from real cancer survivors. In addition, Delashmit admitted making false statements to a credit card company and an internet retailer to fraudulently obtain a $4,500 triathlon bicycle.
Sentencing will be held on Jan. 19, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois. Delashmit faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the five fraud charges.
The investigation was conducted by the Highland Police Department, the FBI, and the United States
Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney Luke J. Weissler.Gregg N. Sofer Is Sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
Gregg N. Sofer is officially the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas. He was sworn in by Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia this morning at the federal courthouse in San Antonio.
Attorney General William P. Barr appointed Mr. Sofer to the position effective October 10, 2020.
“The Western District of Texas is one of the largest, busiest, and most diverse districts in the United States. Every day, the women and men of the U.S. Attorney’s Office diligently work to protect our communities, prosecute the criminals who prey upon the weak and vulnerable, defend the interests of the United States, and safeguard the rights of the people who live in the 68 counties we serve. In my 29 years of public service, I have worked to seek justice for crime victims and bring accountability to those who place their interests over those of society. It is an honor and a privilege to continue this mission alongside the Assistant U.S. Attorneys, support personnel, law enforcement officers, judges, and court staff that make this district so great,” said U.S. Attorney Sofer.
As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Sofer is the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Western District of Texas. He is responsible for prosecuting violations of federal law and representing the federal government in civil litigation where the United States is a party.
The Western District of Texas spans approximately 93,000 square miles, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office employs more than 300 people. The headquarters are in San Antonio with staffed offices in Austin, El Paso, Midland, Del Rio, Waco, and Alpine.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Sofer served as Counselor to the Attorney General of the United States where he handled criminal and national security matters as well as crisis response. Before going to Main Justice, he served for 12 years in the Austin Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney and accomplished litigator, he handled national security, fraud, violent crime, and corruption cases, among others. His last trial in Austin was a RICO prosecution that resulted in a life sentence without parole for a man who attempted to assassinate a state court judge as she sat in her car with her family. Some of Mr. Sofer’s other notable prosecutions include that of an individual who was planning to fight for ISIS overseas; a defendant who built a bomb intending to kill soldiers at Ft. Hood; the former Jarrell Police Chief who was involved in a bribery scheme where he fraudulently provided illegal aliens with immigration benefits; and a money laundering conspiracy involving the owner of several Austin nightclubs. In 2018, Mr. Sofer was promoted to Chief of the Criminal Division. In that role, he was responsible for the supervision of over 120 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and all aspects of the district’s criminal practice.
From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Sofer was a trial attorney in the National Security Division at Main Justice where he led the investigation and prosecution of international terrorism cases. He also served as the Director of the Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism and Director of the National Gang Targeting Enforcement and Coordination Center.
Mr. Sofer started his legal career in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Among a wide variety of cases, he prosecuted violent gang, murder and firearms trafficking cases for over 11 years, distinguishing himself as a skilled trial lawyer, indefatigable investigator, and fierce advocate for justice. Mr. Sofer earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his B.A. from Rutgers University.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Gettysburg Man Charged with Theft of Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jeffrey Dixon, age 53, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on September 30, 2020, by a federal grand jury for theft of Social Security benefits totaling more than $30,000 over a two-year period.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General. Prosecution is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
If convicted of the charge, Dixon faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Four Chicago Women Indicted for Allegedly Defrauding Child Care Subsidy Program of More Than $1 MillionRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A grand jury has returned indictments that charge four Chicago women with allegedly defrauding a government child care subsidy program intended to provide affordable child care to eligible parents. Each woman owned and operated a licensed day care in Chicago that allegedly submitted false claims for payment for child care services that were not provided or were not provided to the extent charged. As a result of the alleged schemes, the estimated loss to the government is more than $1 million.
The Illinois Department of Human Services administers the Child Care Assistance Program with state funds and block grants provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program provides child care services to low-income parents transitioning from educational programs or welfare to work and economic independence. Parents are required to make a co-payment based on their ability to pay and the remainder is paid by the Child Care Assistance Program.
Those charged are Tarnavis A. “Bonnie” Lee, 41, owner and operator of Lee’s Toddler Town, Inc.; Demetra M. Jackson, 41, owner and operator of Jitter Bugs, Inc.; Elizabeth McFarland, 46, currently of Madison, Tenn., who owned and operated Tater Tots, Inc.; and, LaShanda Hudson, 39, who owned and operated a day care business in her name.
Lee is charged in two indictments, one with Jackson and one with McFarland, for operating similar fraud schemes. Lee, who owned Lee’s Toddler Town day care, participated in the subsidy program as a licensed child care provider and submitted claims for services. The indictment against Lee and Jackson alleges that from March 2016 to April 2019, the two women received child care subsidy money by submitting false information regarding applicants’ eligibility and the type of child care and services actually provided. Lee allegedly submitted application forms, on behalf of parents, that contained false information about their employment and income, the time a child would spend at Jackson’s Jitter Bugs day care, the number and names of children, and the location where the services were provided. Payments to Jitter Bugs were deposited to an account that the two women controlled. When payments were received, more than one-half of the funds were transferred to accounts over which only Lee had control. In addition, Lee repeatedly made kickback payments to parents who were purported clients of Jitter Bugs. The two continued to submit false claims for payment even after Jackson had moved from her residence, the licensed day care address. As a result, Lee and Jackson allegedly submitted approximately $312,000 in claims with a loss to the government of more than $140,000.
In addition, Lee is charged in a second indictment with McFarland, who owned and operated Tater Tots, Inc., in Chicago, for allegedly operating a similar fraud scheme from June 2009 to April 2019. False applications and claims for payment were allegedly submitted for child care and services through the Child Care Assistance Program, and upon payment, more than one-half of the payment received was transferred to Lee. Kickback payments were allegedly paid to parents. The indictment alleges that false claims continued to be submitted even after McFarland moved in August 2016 to Nashville, Tenn. As a result of the alleged scheme, Lee and McFarland submitted claims of approximately $1.5 million with an estimated loss to the government of more than $800,000.
The third indictment charges Hudson with operating a similar fraud scheme on behalf of her personal day care business in Chicago from January 2009 to November 2019. Hudson allegedly submitted false records and information regarding applicants’ eligibility as well as information about the type of care and services and the extent of services actually provided. Hudson also allegedly made kickback payments to parents who were purported clients. As a result of the alleged scheme, Hudson submitted claims totaling approximately $734,000 resulting in an estimated loss of more than $400,000.
Specifically, the indictment against Lee and Jackson charges each woman with 17 counts of mail and wire fraud; Lee is additionally charged with eight counts of money laundering. The indictment of Lee and McFarland charges Lee with 35 counts of mail and wire fraud and seven counts of money laundering; McFarland is charged with Lee, with 12 counts of mail and wire fraud. Hudson is charged with 12 counts of wire fraud and nine counts of money laundering.
Each woman will be issued a summons to appear for arraignment in federal court in Springfield. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty for each count of the offenses of mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering is up to 20 years in prison.
The charges were investigated by the Illinois State Police, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Central Division; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In addition, the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services, which administers the Child Care Assistance Program for the state of Illinois, assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass is representing the government in the case prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Former Postal Employee Pled Guilty to Stealing MailRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Havelock man pleaded guilty today to Theft of Mail by a Postal Employee.
According to the United States, William E. Lundy, Sr., 41, worked as a time clerk in the Trenton Post Office. From June 2019 through January 2020, Lundy rifled through the outgoing and incoming mail and stole mail that contained cash, personal checks and gift cards. Based upon customer complaints, the Postal Service conducted an investigation and found 36 first class envelopes in Lundy’s car. 32 victims were identified, resulting in a loss of $1,265. Lundy voluntarily resigned.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Jones accepted the plea. The United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Menzer is prosecuting the case.
U.S District Judge Louise W. Flanagan will sentence Lundy during the February 2021 term of court. The maximum penalties are five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000. Restitution is mandatory.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-cr-00050-FL.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.