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13 October 2020
DOJ Charges More Than 14,200 Defendants with Firearms-Related Crimes in Fy20Read the Press Release
Eastern District of Wisconsin Charged 115 Defendants
U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger joined the Department of Justice in announcing that 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.”
“Central to our strategy for reducing violent crime is prosecuting firearms offenses,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “By working closely with ATF and our local law enforcement partners, we are sending a clear message that illegal firearm possession results in serious punishment.”
“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.”
Of the more than 14,200 defendants charged, 115 defendants have been charged by the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced U.S. Attorney Krueger. This includes defendants who were prohibited from firearm possession because of prior felony convictions, domestic violence misdemeanor convictions, and unlawful controlled substances use. Prosecutions also included individuals who possessed firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and violent crime.
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.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Cross Lanes Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that Joseph Lee Harper, 35, was sentenced today on two federal drug trafficking charges. Harper was sentenced to 168 months – 14 years – in federal prison on each charge, to run currently, for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl. At sentencing, the Court found that Harper was a career offender under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, given his prior criminal history of drug trafficking. Upon completion of his prison sentence, the defendant will serve a term of three years of supervised release.
“120 grams of fentanyl. It’s fentanyl dealers like Harper that have devastated families and communities throughout West Virginia. The number of lives lost to fentanyl-related overdose deaths is staggering,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Dealers like Harper will not be let off the hook lightly for their crimes.”
Harper previously pled guilty and admitted that on June 10, 2019, he sold over four grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in return for $700. The sale occurred at the Speedway in Cross Lanes. Harper also admitted that on June 12, 2019, he had approximately 26 grams of fentanyl concealed behind an air duct in his Cross Lanes residence. Officers executing a search warrant located the fentanyl when they searched Harper’s residence. Inside Harper’s residence, officers also located the United States currency tied to the earlier controlled drug sale conducted by Harper. In a post-arrest interview, Harper ultimately admitted to trafficking 120 grams of fentanyl from Huntington to the Cross Lanes area.
The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott 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. 2:19-cr-00300.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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Convicted Fraudster Pleads Guilty to New Fraud Scheme, Plea Agreement Includes Stipulated 10-Year SentenceRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Christopher D. Hales, 39, of Lehi pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in connection with a financial fraud scheme he and other co-conspirators devised while Hales was in a halfway house serving a sentence for another federal fraud case. The scheme resulted in a loss to investors of at least $7 million.
The plea agreement includes a stipulated 10-year sentence, subject to the Court’s approval. Federal prosecutors asked for detention following the change of plea. Hales did not contest detention at this time. U.S. Magistrate Judge Daphne A. Oberg presided over the hearing last week.
“Utah has an outsized fraud problem, and these allegations illustrate the conduct of a serial schemer. Utahns must diligently consider investment pitches and their risks before parting with hard-earned savings,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said today.
“A judge once told Christopher Hales he was addicted to defrauding people,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Haertel of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The reality is that most fraudsters have no remorse or conscience, and they often reoffend. That's why it's so important for the public to do their due diligence when looking to invest and immediately report fraud to police or the FBI.”
“Hales is a bad apple that has continuously fed his greed and preyed on others too many times,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan, “IRS-Criminal Investigation is proud to work with our partners to help protect Utah residents from scammers like Hales. Please remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Hales was convicted of bank fraud in April 2011 as a part of a mortgage fraud case. He was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $12,719,236 in restitution. He violated terms of his supervised release in 2016 and he was sentenced to another 30 months in federal prison.
According to a Felony Information filed in the current case, Hales was released from federal prison on Feb. 8, 2018, and resided at a halfway house in Salt Lake City until around Aug. 8, 2018. Nevada Secretary of State records show Sindakit Software LLC was formed on Aug. 6, 2018, by a co-conspirator (CC1) known to federal prosecutors. CC1 was listed as the sole officer. CC1 was listed on the Sindakit Software bank account as the manager and was the only authorized signor.
The Information alleges Hales and CC1 conspired to defraud investors and potential investors by inducing them to purchase investments in a sports betting software. Hales purported to own a sports betting software that “beat the house” to convince investors to give him money to place sports bets. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges Hales made a variety of false statements of material facts to investors and potential investors, including representing that 100 percent of investor funds would be used to place sports bets when, in fact, Hales diverted nearly all investor funds received to his and CC1’s personal use, and to make payments to other investors.
Hales also told them he was Chris Christian, when in fact, he was Christopher Hales, a convicted felon on supervised release. Investors were also told Hales would match all investor funds, when in reality he would take out a line of credit with the sports betting website and use the line of credit to hedge bets. Hales also told investors that the sports betting was producing a rate of return for investors of around 10 percent a week – an amount made up by Hales to entice investors to provide funds. He also represented that there were potential buyers willing to purchase the software he developed for tens of millions of dollars, when there were actually no buyers, according to the Felony Information.
In furtherance of the conspiracy, Hales failed to disclose to investors that they did not actually own an algorithm or a sports betting software and that they were laundering investor funds through transfers in and out of the Sindakit Software account. Sports betting account statements provided to investors were false and were inflated based on Hales’ line of credit and his ability to manipulate the statements. They also did not disclose that part of the investors’ money was used to pay commissions to those introducing investors to Sindakit or that they were using investment money from newer investors to pay promised winnings to earlier investors in what is commonly recognized as a Ponzi scheme.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case. Special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI are conducting the investigation.
Collaborative law enforcement strategy continues success in fighting illegal firearmsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Twelve men and women face federal felony charges related to illegal firearms possession, indicted in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.
The charges include multiple convicted felons, many of them on state probation for previous weapons or drug charges. The cases are under the umbrella of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal firearms, and in coordination with the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF).
“A vital part of protecting our communities is in enforcing laws that keep weapons out of the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “Under Project Guardian, we will continue to collaborate with our local law enforcement partners and the ATF to lock up gun-carrying criminals.”
In the past year, at least 168 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for carrying a firearm after having been convicted of a previous felony. The charge carries a penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system. Nationwide, more than 14,200 defendants have been charged with federal firearms violations in the past fiscal year.
“Gun violence has negatively impacted the lives of far too many people in the Southern District of Georgia,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF. “This type of violence is more likely to happen when guns are in the hands of individuals willing to obtain and/or use them illegally. This inter-agency collaboration and the resulting indictments goes a long way towards addressing gun violence by removing from our streets firearms and those willing to obtain them illegally and potentially use them.”
Those named in federal indictments from the October term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- Jonah Robert Schafner, 32, of Grovetown, Ga., charged with two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Schafner was arrested July 27 when Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a report of a burglary in progress found Schafner inside a man’s residence in the Ivey Falls neighborhood where multiple firearms had been gathered, including one in his possession that had been reported stolen in a vehicle break-in. One of the charges also relates to a firearm Schafner is alleged to have sold to a pawn shop.
- Terrence Latroy Brown, 30, of North Charleston, S.C., charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Eutylone (bath salts), and Possession of a Firearm by a Drug User. Brown was arrested by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies after a traffic stop in which drugs and an AK-47 rifle and ammunition were found in his vehicle.
- Evan Vashard Smith, 33, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Smith was arrested Nov. 16, 2019, after running from a stopped vehicle and dropping a pistol while being chased by Richmond County Sheriff’s investigators.
- Dennis O’Keefe Harris, 40, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harris was arrested Jan. 1, 2019, by Savannah Police officers who found a pistol in his waistband after he ran during a traffic stop.
- Cary Dewayne Cranford, 48, of Thomson, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Cranford was arrested July 1 by Thomson Police officers responding to a report of a man firing a shotgun at a motorist.
- Tona Nikia Wright, 47, of Augusta, charged the Possession of Firearm by a Drug User; Possession of Marijuana; Driving Under the Influence on an Area in Federal Jurisdiction; and for entering a military installation with an unauthorized firearm. Wright was arrested April 30 after running through the gate at Fort Gordon. After her vehicle was stopped, U.S. Army CID officers found a pistol and drugs in her car.
- Chavar Alec Harrison, 44, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harrison was arrested April 17 during a traffic stop when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found a pistol in his vehicle.
- Tyshaun Richey, 24, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richey was arrested Oct. 7, 2019, by Savannah Police officers after running from a traffic stop and dropping a pistol. The firearm had been reported stolen.
- Alisha Nicole Howard, 34, of Augusta, Ga., charged with Transfer of an Illegal Firearm (Sawed-Off Shotgun); three counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person; and two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Fentanyl and Heroin. Howard was prohibited from possessing firearms because of previous state convictions for domestic violence.
- Frank Mitchell, 40, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Mitchel was arrested Nov. 21, 2019 when Savannah Police officers investigating a domestic disturbance briefly chased his pickup truck before it ran in a ditch and Mitchel fled. After he was apprehended, officers found a pistol on the front seat along with an unharmed and unrestrained 4-month-old baby.
- Joseph Brandon Melton, 29, of Jesup, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Melton was arrested Jan. 23 by Ware County deputies who found a pistol in his pocket during a traffic stop.
- Ashley Pitts, 30, of Hinesville, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm by a Drug User. Pitts was arrested Jan. 24, 2019, when Liberty County Sheriff’s deputies responded to her home to investigate a complaint about a man brandishing a firearm. Accompanied by an officer from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the deputies checked to see if firearms were present in Pitts’ home and found a pistol, two shotguns and four rifles in her residence.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two additional defendants have been sentenced to federal prison terms for crimes including illegal firearms possession.
- Akeem Kirksey, 31, of Brunswick, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Kirksey, who was on federal supervised release, was arrested April 24, 2019, after a U.S. Probation officer saw Kirksey in possession of a pistol. Kirksey will be required to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.
- Damian Kareim Barton, 40, of Augusta, was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison, fined $1,500 and ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Barton was arrested in Richmond County Feb. 12, 2019, after a traffic stop by the Georgia State Patrol in which marijuana and THC vaping cartridges were found, along with a pistol that had been reported stolen.
In addition to Project Guardian, the cases are investigated under the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), in which federal and state prosecutors collaborate to determine the most appropriate venue for prosecuting crimes.
Agencies involved in investigation of the cases include the ATF; the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command; the U.S. Probation Service; the Georgia Department of Community Supervision; the Georgia State Patrol; the Savannah Police Department; the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office; the Ware County Sheriff’s Office; the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office; the Pooler Police Department; and the Thomson Police Department.
The cases are being investigated for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Project Guardian Coordinator Henry W. Syms; Patricia G. Rhodes; Jennifer Stanley; Jennifer Kirkland; John P. Harper III; and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edwin Caban and Darron Hubbard.
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, also is a federal offense.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
California Woman Pleads Guilty to Large Scale Multistate Credit Card "Bust-Out" Conspiracy that Funded Marijuana BusinessRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A California woman pleaded guilty today to participating in a complex multistate credit card “bust- out” conspiracy that funded an illicit Interstate Marijuana Operation, and defrauded banks for over a $1,500,000, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.
Mariam Gevorkova pleaded guilty today to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy.
“The defendant and her co-conspirators built a house of credit cards fueled by a bottomless pit of greed.” said U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams, “The sheer scale and amount of the fraud exposed by the dedicated and determined law enforcement investigators on this case is astounding and took years to unravel. This prosecution signals the end of the line for this criminal enterprise and all those involved”
“This fraud funded a lavish lifestyle of luxury goods and vacations while also supporting an illegal marijuana grow operation that was not licensed in Oregon and sent pot out of the state," said Renn Cannon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon. "While Gevorkova and her co-conspirators used the Corvallis Cannabis Club as a legal front they cost the victim banks hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses."
“Gevorkova and her co-conspirators took advantage of the U.S. Mail to commit bank fraud and identity theft in furtherance of the distribution of illegal narcotics while acting under the guise of a legitimate business. This abuse of the U.S. Postal Service allowed them to finance a lavish lifestyle at the expense of honest Oregonians. The Postal Inspection Service works tirelessly to hold criminals who misuse the U.S. Mail accountable.” said Tony Galetti, Inspector in Charge, Seattle Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
According to court documents, in December 2016, USPIS and the FBI initiated an investigation concerning a credit card “bust-out” fraud perpetrated by individuals residing in the Corvallis, Oregon area. As the investigation expanded, it included the Drug Enforcement Administration. Gevorkova and her co-conspirators opened credit card accounts using stolen and fictitious identities, using the funds on expensive jewelry, clothing, gambling, vacations, as well as establishing and operating at least two large marijuana grows and covering the operating expenses of Corvallis Cannabis Club, a state-licensed marijuana retail sales business in Corvallis.
Gevorkova obtained numerous credit cards, working with co-conspirators to create fake or altered identification information, such as fake Oregon ID cards. Gevorkova recruited others into the conspiracy, including enticing workers at Corvallis Cannabis Club to engage in the fraud for a monetary kickback.
After numerous purchases and payments on the fraudulent credit cards, the co-conspirators reported to their financial institution that the payments made to the cards were not authorized. The banks obtained reimbursement from the card company, which resulted in losses in excess of $1,500,000 in amounts substantially greater than the card’s credit limit.
As part of the conspiracy, Gevorkova and her co-conspirators used the proceeds of the conspiracy to establish and operate marijuana grows and Corvallis Cannabis Club. The investigation uncovered two active marijuana grows, both of which were not licensed by the State of Oregon. One marijuana grow was located in a warehouse one block away from Corvallis Cannabis Club. Gevorkova and her codefendants established the marijuana grow and paid for expenses, such as rent, utilities, and growing supplies, utilizing credit cards from the fraud conspiracy. On June 12, 2018, agents seized over 1,200 marijuana plants from the warehouse and another 200 plants from another illegal grow site in Philomath.
Marijuana from the warehouse grow was also sold at Corvallis Cannabis Club. Gevorkova and her co-conspirators purchased marijuana from state-licensed marijuana distributors, which it then entered into Oregon’s Cannabis Tracking System. The product purchased would be very cheap. Gevorkova and her co-conspirators would replace this cheap product with marijuana grown at the illegal marijuana grow sites, raise the price, and sell to consumers at a substantial profit. Gevorkova and her co-conspirators would then sell the state-licensed and tracked marijuana illegally to others, including to out-of-state purchasers.
Gevorkova faces maximum penalties of 30 years imprisonment for the Bank Fraud Conspiracy, 20 years imprisonment for the Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, and a mandatory two years imprisonment for Aggravated Identity Theft, a $2,250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. She will be sentenced on March 11, 2021 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.
As part of the plea agreement, Gevorkova has agreed to pay restitution to the victim financial institutions.
The FBI, USPIS, and DEA investigated this case, assisted by the Oregon State Police, Corvallis Police Department and Philomath Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
CEO Charged with Fraud in Connection with Construction of Military and Humanitarian Projects in AfricaRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher (619) 546-9714 and Andrew J. Galvin (619) 546-9721
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 13, 2020
SAN DIEGO – Micheline Pollock was indicted by a federal grand jury for participating in a scheme to defraud the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Navy Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) in connection with construction contracts for military and humanitarian projects across Africa.
According to the 98-count indictment, Pollock was the chief executive officer of Dover Vantage, a U.S. construction firm that specialized in expeditionary projects in Africa. Between 2011 and 2018, Dover Vantage competed for and won construction contracts for various USACE and NAVFAC projects in Africa, including a maternity ward and a school for the deaf in Togo, and a military aircraft hangar in Niger.
These USACE projects were undertaken in support of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), one of 10 combatant commands within the U.S. Department of Defense. AFRICOM’s mission is to support diplomacy and development with partner governments and militaries, to apply pressure to various violent extremist organizations, to increase security and U.S. influence, and to protect U.S. government personnel and property. To this end, AFRICOM spends billions of dollars in contracts, grants, and other funding for African militaries to increase their capabilities in fighting violent extremists such as Boko Haram, Al-Shabbab and ISIS. AFRICOM also funds humanitarian assistance projects to benefit populations in areas of Africa where violent extremist groups recruit membership
During the tenure of these contracts, Pollock and other individuals at Dover Vantage submitted fraudulent quality control plans with résumés of fictitious employees; fabricated quality control checklists, certifying quality control work that was never performed; fraudulent concrete strength test results; and fraudulent claims for construction that was never performed or that did not adhere to specification. As a result of the fraudulent conduct, many of the structures constructed by Dover Vantage were so poorly constructed that they collapsed, including the aircraft hangar in Niger and a training facility in Senegal. Most of the other structures constructed by Dover Vantage are now unusable. Pollock’s conduct has required USACE to reissue contracts, repair damaged buildings, and reduce operating capacity.
This case is the first arising from the Africa Strike Force initiative out of the Southern District of California, developed to combat fraud and corruption as the United States expends resources across Africa.
“To protect the American and coalition warfighter, vigilance does not end at our borders,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “Where our military goes, we go, whether to support and defend military construction dollars or those dollars spent to improve the lives of the communities we assist. To combat fraud, waste, and abuse, we’ve toiled in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Asia-Pacific, and now, through our participation in the Africa Strike Force, we turn our substantial attention to Africa. Corrupt fraudsters in Africa beware, the bright light of justice now shines directly on you.” Brewer praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher and Andrew J. Galvin and agents from Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Department of the Army, Criminal Investigative Command, for their excellent work on this case.
“Those who seek to blatantly defraud the American taxpayer and jeopardize the safety of the American warfighter and then hide behind an elaborate web of lies will be held accountable” said Stanley A. Newell of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Transnational Operations Field Office. “Even in the most distant points on the globe, DCIS works tirelessly with our investigative partners of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command and the United States Attorney’s Office to ferret out this type of egregious fraud and to protect the integrity of the Department of Defense procurement system.”
Pollock was arrested on September 22, 2020 in Tbilisi, Georgia by Georgian authorities based on a provisional arrest warrant issued at the request of the United States. She is currently in custody in Georgia and awaiting extradition proceedings.
This case is being investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, European Post of Duty in Germany, and the US Army Criminal Investigation Command, Major Procurement Fraud Unit, European Fraud Resident Agency. Additional investigative assistance was rendered domestically and internationally by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Substantial ongoing assistance in prosecuting this case has been provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California specially acknowledges the assistance provided by our international partners in Georgia, including the Office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia, Georgia Border Police, Isani Police Department, and the Isani Prosecutor’s Office.
DEFENDANT: Case Number 20-CR-3167-DMS
Micheline Pollock Age: 50 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1 -- Conspiracy to Defraud the United States – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Counts 2-35 -- Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
Counts 36-98 -- Aggravated Identity Theft – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1028A
AGENCY
Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Department of the Army, Criminal Investigative Command
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Augusta man charged with fraud in purchase of downtown Augusta apartment complexRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: An Augusta man who borrowed nearly $3 million to purchase an Augusta apartment complex, and then filed for bankruptcy protection when facing foreclosure, has been indicted on federal fraud charges.
Jerome Walter Kiggundu, 36, the registered agent and managing member of Nakaddu LLC, a/k/a Kiggun Properties LLC, is charged with Bank Fraud, Bankruptcy Fraud, and False Statements Under Oath, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. If convicted, Kiggundu faces a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and substantial fines and restitution, followed by a period of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Financial fraud robs communities of legitimate opportunities for growth and development by siphoning off funds that otherwise could have been used for productive purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we will aggressively pursue those who would illegally enrich themselves at the expense of their communities.”
According to the indictment, in March 2019, Kiggundu borrowed $2,831,250 from Red Oak Capital Fund II LLC “by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses” and submitted, as part of a loan application, “altered Wells Fargo bank statements for the months of October 2018 to December 2018 … which falsely reflected an average monthly operating balance for Nakaddu LLC of approximately $100,000, when in fact the monthly average was $500 or less during this time.”
As collateral to secure the loan, Kiggundu pledged an 80-unit apartment complex located at 405 Hale Street in Augusta, and “falsely listed an ownership interest in 1726 Leona Mitchell Blvd., Enid, Oklahoma, and reported $2,150,000 in equity.”
Kiggundu then, according to the indictment, filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 “with the intention of avoiding foreclosure by Red Oak on 405 Hale Street and to conceal the fraudulent actions of the defendant.” The indictment further alleges that Kiggundu again used falsified bank statements in his filing for bankruptcy protection.
“Any fraud in connection with banks or bankruptcy is an erosion of the integrity of the system, and ultimately entire communities are hurt,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to work aggressively to make sure only those who honestly seek help in times of need are protected and deserving of that help.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin Caban.
American Contractor Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Government Equipment from U.S. Military Base in AfghanistanRead the Press Release
An American military contractor pleaded guilty today to her role in a theft ring on a military installation in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Rabbit of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia, and Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John F. Sopko made the announcement.
Varita V. Quincy, 35, of Snellville, Georgia pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of making false official statements. Sentencing is set for Feb. 23, 2021 before Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.
Quincy admitted that, between April 2015 and July 2015, she, Larry J. Green of Chesapeake, Virginia, and others conspired to steal, and did steal, equipment and property of value to the United States while working for a government contractor operating on Kandahar Airfield, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Kandahar Airfield was used by U.S. military forces to support U.S. military missions throughout Afghanistan.
Quincy was a supervisor in the office that issued security badges required for the movement of personnel and property on and off Kandahar Airfield. Quincy admitted that as part of the conspiracy, Green identified items of value to steal, such as vehicles, generators, refrigerators, and other equipment. Green negotiated the sale of those items with persons outside of the installation. Quincy then facilitated the thefts by creating false official documents, or instructing those she supervised to prepare such documents, to facilitate the entry of unknown and unvetted Afghan nationals and their vehicles on to the military installation to remove the stolen property. Quincy shared in the profits from this scheme. The false documents she created, or directed others to create, were used to deceive security officers and gate guards and thereby compromised the security and safety of the military installation.
Quincy’s co-conspirator Green pleaded guilty on July 8, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit theft of property of value to the United States worth over $300,000, one count of theft of property of value to the United States; and one count of aiding and abetting the submission of false statements. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2020.
SIGAR investigated the case with help from Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and the 939th Military Police Detachment of the Indiana Army National Guard. Trial Attorneys Sasha N. Rutizer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Rosaleen O’Gara of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Kosky of the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
12 October 2020
U.S. Attorney Wrigley Announces the Arrest of a Michigan Man for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl)Read the Press Release
BISMARCK - United States Attorney Drew Wrigley announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Donald Eugene Green, age 53, Southfield, MI, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The Indictment was unsealed today, alleging that on July 24, 2020, Donald Green traveled via a one-day round-trip ticket on an Amtrak Train from Chicago, IL, to Minot, ND. After arriving in Minot, Donald Green, carrying a duffle bag, went to the Minot Airport, rented a vehicle, departed, and later returned to the airport. After returning to the airport, the Ward County Narcotics Task Force effected a search of Green’s vehicle and discovered a duffle bag containing 500 grams of Fentanyl.
"We remain in the torrent of the opioid and synthetic opioid epidemic, and this defendant is alleged to have been playing a significant role in helping to funnel this poison into our state," said United States Attorney Drew Wrigley, "we look forward to placing our evidence before a jury in this case, and continuing our battle against the organizations that have targeted North Dakota."
Grand jury indictments are allegations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Ward County Narcotics Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the case is being prosecuted by the United
States Attorney’s office, with Special Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy Ensrud assigned to the case.
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Fort Worth Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexual Exploitation of InfantRead the Press Release
A Fort Worth man who videotaped the sexual assault of an infant was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Chester Devin Leban, 34, pleaded guilty in January to sexual exploitation of a child. He was sentenced last Tuesday before Senior U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means.
In July 2018, the Fort Worth Police Department was dispatched to a domestic disturbance call where officers met with Mr. Leban’s estranged wife. She notified law enforcement of the presence of child pornography on Mr. Leban’s cell phone.
When questioned by detectives, Mr. Leban admitted to using his cell phone to record a sexually explicit encounter between an adult female, Emily Conner, and a 5-month-old infant.
Ms. Conner pleaded guilty in January and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison in connection with this case. Following their sentences, both defendants are ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release.
The Fort Worth Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Secret Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Saleem.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative designed to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The initiative organizes federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Faith and Blue Weekend Helps to Build Bridges Between Local Police and Their CommunityRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — The Grand Rapids Police Department and local neighborhood groups took part in a National Faith and Blue Weekend aimed at connecting law enforcement officers with people in the community. On Saturday October 10, 2020, more than 30 volunteers from GRPD, Walker Police Department, the U.S. Department of Justice, and local community organizations took part in a volunteer event in the West Grand neighborhood. Police officers, members of the West Grand community, and local business leaders came together to help clean up Indian Mill Creek. The volunteers were then treated to a lunch at Long Road Distillers on Leonard Street, sponsored by the West Grand Neighborhood Organization.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge and Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator Erin Lane welcomed attendees, including those from his office. The Walker Police Department Chaplain Tom Bradley, said a prayer before lunch and talked about the importance of strong community and police relationships. He told the volunteers that “faith people and law enforcement have more in common than I ever thought. In our own ways, we both strive to make our community a better place for everyone that lives here.” GRPD Deputy Chief Scott Rifenberg also addressed the crowd, acknowledging that law enforcement is “a calling” to protect and serve. He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to volunteer alongside members of the community that he and his officers serve.
The National Faith and Blue Weekend (October 10-12) is a collaborative initiative that builds bridges and breaks down biases through activities and outreach amongst law enforcement professionals and the communities that they serves. Steepletown Neighborhood Services, the West Grand Neighborhood Organization, the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds, and the Grand Rapids Police Department sponsored the October 10 event.
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11 October 2020
International Statement: End-To-End Encryption and Public SafetyRead the Press Release
We, the undersigned, support strong encryption, which plays a crucial role in protecting personal data, privacy, intellectual property, trade secrets and cyber security. It also serves a vital purpose in repressive states to protect journalists, human rights defenders and other vulnerable people, as stated in the 2017 resolution of the UN Human Rights Council[1]. Encryption is an existential anchor of trust in the digital world and we do not support counter-productive and dangerous approaches that would materially weaken or limit security systems.
Particular implementations of encryption technology, however, pose significant challenges to public safety, including to highly vulnerable members of our societies like sexually exploited children. We urge industry to address our serious concerns where encryption is applied in a way that wholly precludes any legal access to content. We call on technology companies to work with governments to take the following steps, focused on reasonable, technically feasible solutions:
- Embed the safety of the public in system designs, thereby enabling companies to act against illegal content and activity effectively with no reduction to safety, and facilitating the investigation and prosecution of offences and safeguarding the vulnerable;
- Enable law enforcement access to content in a readable and usable format where an authorisation is lawfully issued, is necessary and proportionate, and is subject to strong safeguards and oversight; and
- Engage in consultation with governments and other stakeholders to facilitate legal access in a way that is substantive and genuinely influences design decisions.
IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Law enforcement has a responsibility to protect citizens by investigating and prosecuting crime and safeguarding the vulnerable. Technology companies also have responsibilities and put in place terms of service for their users that provide them authority to act to protect the public. End-to-end encryption that precludes lawful access to the content of communications in any circumstances directly impacts these responsibilities, creating severe risks to public safety in two ways:
- By severely undermining a company’s own ability to identify and respond to violations of their terms of service. This includes responding to the most serious illegal content and activity on its platform, including child sexual exploitation and abuse, violent crime, terrorist propaganda and attack planning; and
- By precluding the ability of law enforcement agencies to access content in limited circumstances where necessary and proportionate to investigate serious crimes and protect national security, where there is lawful authority to do so.
Concern about these risks has been brought into sharp focus by proposals to apply end-to-end encryption across major messaging services. UNICEF estimates that one in three internet users is a child. The WePROTECT Global Alliance – a coalition of 98 countries, 39 of the largest companies in the global technology industry, and 41 leading civil society organisations – set out clearly the severity of the risks posed to children online by inaccessible encrypted services in its 2019 Global Threat Assessment: “Publicly-accessible social media and communications platforms remain the most common methods for meeting and grooming children online. In 2018, Facebook Messenger was responsible for nearly 12 million of the 18.4 million worldwide reports of CSAM [child sexual abuse material to the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)]. These reports risk disappearing if end-to-end encryption is implemented by default, since current tools used to detect CSAM [child sexual abuse material] do not work in end-to-end encrypted environments.”[2] On 3 October 2019 NCMEC published a statement on this issue, stating that: “If end-to-end encryption is implemented without a solution in place to safeguard children, NCMEC estimates that more than half of its CyberTipline reports will vanish.”[3] And on 11 December 2019, the United States and European Union (EU) issued a joint statement making clear that while encryption is important for protecting cyber security and privacy: “the use of warrant-proof encryption by terrorists and other criminals – including those who engage in online child sexual exploitation – compromises the ability of law enforcement agencies to protect victims and the public at large.”[4]
RESPONSE
In light of these threats, there is increasing consensus across governments and international institutions that action must be taken: while encryption is vital and privacy and cyber security must be protected, that should not come at the expense of wholly precluding law enforcement, and the tech industry itself, from being able to act against the most serious illegal content and activity online.
In July 2019, the governments of the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada issued a communique, concluding that: “tech companies should include mechanisms in the design of their encrypted products and services whereby governments, acting with appropriate legal authority, can gain access to data in a readable and usable format. Those companies should also embed the safety of their users in their system designs, enabling them to take action against illegal content.”[5] On 8 October 2019, the Council of the EU adopted its conclusions on combating child sexual abuse, stating: “The Council urges the industry to ensure lawful access for law enforcement and other competent authorities to digital evidence, including when encrypted or hosted on IT servers located abroad, without prohibiting or weakening encryption and in full respect of privacy and fair trial guarantees consistent with applicable law.”[6]
The WePROTECT Global Alliance, NCMEC and a coalition of more than 100 child protection organisations and experts from around the world have all called for action to ensure that measures to increase privacy – including end-to-end encryption – should not come at the expense of children’s safety[7].
CONCLUSION
We are committed to working with industry to develop reasonable proposals that will allow technology companies and governments to protect the public and their privacy, defend cyber security and human rights and support technological innovation. While this statement focuses on the challenges posed by end-to-end encryption, that commitment applies across the range of encrypted services available, including device encryption, custom encrypted applications and encryption across integrated platforms. We reiterate that data protection, respect for privacy and the importance of encryption as technology changes and global Internet standards are developed remain at the forefront of each state’s legal framework. However, we challenge the assertion that public safety cannot be protected without compromising privacy or cyber security. We strongly believe that approaches protecting each of these important values are possible and strive to work with industry to collaborate on mutually agreeable solutions.
SIGNATORIES
Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, United Kingdom Secretary of State for the Home Department
William P. Barr, Attorney General of the United States
The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Australian Minister for Home Affairs
Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of Justice, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS
The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
India
Japan
11 October 2020
[1] https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/LTD/G17/073/06/PDF/G1707306.pdf?OpenElement
[2] WePROTECT Global Alliance, 2019 Global Threat Assessment, available online at: <https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5630f48de4b00a75476ecf0a/t/5deecb0fc4c5ef23016423cf/1575930642519/FINAL+-+Global+Threat+Assessment.pdf>,
[3] http://www.missingkids.org/blog/2019/post-update/end-to-end-encryption
[4] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/12/11/joint-eu-us-statement-following-the-eu-us-justice-and-home-affairs-ministerial-meeting/
[5] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/822818/Joint_Meeting_of_FCM_and_Quintet_of_Attorneys_FINAL.pdf
[6] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-12862-2019-INIT/en/pdf
[7] http://www2.paconsulting.com/rs/526-HZE-833/images/WePROTECT%202019%20Global%20Threat%20Assessment%20%28FINAL%29.pdf?_ga=2.109176709.1865852339.1591953966-1877278557.1591953966, http://www.missingkids.org/blog/2019/post-update/end-to-end-encryption, https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/policy/letter-to-mark-zuckerberg-february-2020.pdf
10 October 2020
Statement from Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband and Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin on Legal Victory Protecting Religious Worship in the Nation’s CapitalRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband and Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin for the District of Columbia issued the following statements:
“Yesterday, in the heart of our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., a federal district court ruled that the fundamental right of all Americans to worship endures during our COVID-19 response,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Last night’s decision is a victory for religious liberty and the rule of law. In an overwhelming vote, Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in order to guarantee our nation’s first freedom is always upheld. The Department of Justice is grateful the court ruled preliminarily with this in mind and is grateful that members of Capitol Hill Baptist Church will be able to worship together on Sunday.”
“I am gratified that the court upheld the right of worshipers in the District of Columbia to exercise their First Freedom of religious exercise, in a safe manner,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin for the District of Columbia.
Background
On Oct. 2, 2020, the Justice Department filed a statement of interest in federal district court in Washington D.C., arguing that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) — a 1993 federal law signed by President Clinton — and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution made the District of Columbia’s restrictions on Capitol Hill Baptist church illegal.
On Oct. 9, 2020, the federal court — after hearing oral argument and “review[ing] the statement of interest submitted by the United States” —
granted a preliminary injunction motion . In issuing its injunction, the court held that Capitol Hill Baptist “Church has shown that it is likely to succeed in proving that the District’s actions impose a substantial burden on its exercise of religion. For its part, the District has not shown that it is likely to prove a compelling interest in prohibiting the Church from holding outdoor worship services with appropriate precautions, or that its restrictions are the least restrictive means available to achieve its public health objectives.”The Justice Department’s statement of interest was filed in Capitol Hill Baptist Church v. Bowser, a case challenging the District of Columbia’s refusal to allow outdoor worship because of the city’s COVID-19 restrictions. The suit challenges the permit denial under the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The suit alleges that while places of worship are limited to 100 people at outdoor worship services, these limits do not apply to, among other things, outdoor protests and rallies accommodating thousands.
The statement of interest is part of Attorney General William P. Barr's initiative, announced April 27, directing Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Eric Dreiband, and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Matthew Schneider, to review governmental policies around the country to ensure that civil liberties are protected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Capitol Hill Baptist Church is a church of more than 850 members with a strong religious conviction that it should meet in person as a complete body for worship each Sunday. It therefore sought a permit to hold worship outdoors in excess of the 100-person limit, which the city denied.
The United States’ statement of interest explained that there is no constitutional or statutory basis for allowing protests and rallies attended by thousands of people, while at the same time silencing religious worship. The brief also explained that the District of Columbia bears a high burden of proof to justify its actions under the First Amendment and RFRA because its actions impose a “substantial burden” on religious exercise, as the church has shown here.
Though seeking to prohibit the Church’s socially-distanced outdoor worship, the District of Columbia nonetheless denied that the protests it had encouraged this past summer caused infection. The Court observed: “In fact, the District’s brief explains that the protests did not trigger any spike in COVID-19 ‘outbreaks,’ undermining the notion that large gatherings are always exceptionally dangerous.”
On Sept. 22, 2020, the Justice Department marked the 20th Anniversary of another federal law enacted to protect religious liberty, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)—a law enforced by the department’s Civil Rights Division, by releasing a comprehensive report detailing how RLUIPA has helped preserve the religious liberty rights of thousands of individuals and institutions. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-marks-20th-anniversary-religious-land-use-and-institutionalized-persons
In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced the formation of the Religious Liberty Task Force. The Task Force brings together department components to coordinate their work on religious liberty litigation and policy, and to implement the Attorney General’s 2017 Religious Liberty Guidance.
More information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to protect religious exercise, including its Place to Worship Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/crt/placetoworship.
Mexican Citizen Arrested for SmugglingRead the Press Release
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Rey David Jimenez-Lopez, age 20, and a citizen of Mexico, was arrested on October 3 and charged by criminal complaint with alien smuggling in connection with a failed smuggling event.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Robert N. Garcia, Chief Patrol Agent, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.
The criminal complaint alleges that Jimenez-Lopez was arrested while transporting six illegal aliens, five of whom had illegally crossed into the United States through the woods near Churubusco, New York. Border Patrol Agents from the Burke Station stopped the vehicle that was being operated by Jimenez-Lopez and detained the occupants.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Jimenez-Lopez appeared before United Magistrate Judge Gary L. Favro on October 6 and was detained.
If convicted, Jimenez-Lopez faces up to 5 years in prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The six occupants of the vehicle were found to be citizens of Guatemala and Mexico, and illegally present in the United States. Five occupants were expelled to Canada and one was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and is subject to deportation.
This case is being investigated by United States Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt.
9 October 2020
Wichita Falls Drug Dealer Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Wichita Falls drug dealer has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Dustin Keith Weaver, 31, was indicted in July 2019 for conspiring to distribute marijuana along with six codefendants. He pleaded guilty to in May to conspiracy to contribute a controlled substances and was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor.
In his factual resume, Mr. Weaver admitted to coordinating shipments of marijuana through the U.S. Mail, typically using fictitious sender and recipient names to minimize likelihood of detection. Over an 18-month period (March 2015 to September 2016), he and his coconspirators shipped 443 packages, each containing an average of two to three pounds of marijuana, from Oregon to Wichita Falls. The packages were typically shipped in flat-rate Priority Mail boxes for easy tracking, and upon receipt, the drugs were repacked and resold in Texas, Mr. Weaver admitted.
Mr. Weaver further admitted that he recruited a number of coconspirators, including a grower, into the scheme. He also coordinated payments, directing coconspirators to deposit money into certain bank accounts, or, in at least one instance, directing them to make car payments on behalf of others.
Five of Mr. Weaver’s codefendants – Randall Dizon, Jonathan Michael Fernandez, Jarrett Devon Grant, Ronald Vance Latimer, and Justin Kent Reed – also pleaded guilty. The sixth, Chad Anthony Ray, was convicted at trial in November 2019 and sentenced to 50 months in federal prison.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Wichita Falls Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Walters and Joseph Magliolo prosecuted the case.
Update: US v. Alexanda Amon Kotey and El Shafee ElsheikhRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Defendants Alexanda Amon Kotey, 36, and El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, two militant fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) charged for their alleged participation in a brutal hostage-taking scheme that resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, today made multiple appearances here in federal court.
At 11:30 a.m. EST, both defendants appeared separately via video link for their respective detention hearings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan. Both defendants waived their detention hearing, and were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
At 2:00 p.m. EST, both defendants appeared separately via video link for their respective arraignment hearings before Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Both defendants waived formal readings of the indictment, pleaded not guilty, and requested a trial by jury.
Judge Ellis found that the case is unusual and complex, will require a considerable amount of discovery, and may include classified information. As such, Judge Ellis found that the ends of justice outweigh the interests of the public and the defendants in proceeding to trial within the 70-day deadline established by the Speedy Trial Act.
The next court appearance for both defendants is a status conference scheduled for Jan. 15, 2021.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-239.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Grant of Nearly $500,000 to Assist Offenders Returning to Communities in NevadaRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich today announced a Department of Justice grant of nearly $500,000 to reduce recidivism among adults and juvenile offenders returning to their communities in Nevada after confinement. The grant, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, is part of more than $92 million in funding to support reentry efforts throughout the United States.
This award represents the President’s and the Department of Justice’s commitment to assisting people in America’s prisons and detention facilities who have earned the opportunity to take their places back in society.
“Former offenders are ultimately responsible for their own successes and failures, but our criminal and juvenile justice systems have an important role to play in preparing them for the obstacles that lie before them,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “I’m very pleased to make these resources available to help them get back on their feet and contribute to the prosperity of their communities and the betterment of our nation.”
“This grant will help offenders successfully reenter our Nevada communities,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “We appreciate the Department’s Office of Justice Programs’ commitment to reducing recidivism and helping individuals break out of the cycle of repeated offenses, both in Nevada and across the country.”
The reentry and recidivism reduction grants awarded will help communities develop and implement comprehensive strategies to address the challenges posed by reentry and recidivism; support reentry services for detained juveniles and incarcerated parents with children under the age of 18; and support research and evaluation programs to advance understanding about reoffending.
Through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program, more than $4.7 million has been awarded to 11 recipients to develop a strategic plan for integrating correctional and employment programming. In Nevada, the Department of Corrections received $499,835 in grant funds.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/reentryfactsheet.pdf. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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U.S. Attorney Trent Shores Announces $598,792 in Grant Funding to Support Mentoring, Protect Children in Rogers CountyRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Trent Shores today announced that Volunteers for Youth in Roger’s County is being awarded $598,792 in Department of Justice funding to support mentoring services for youth in rural areas hit hard by the opioid epidemic. The awards were made by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Office for Victims of Crime, part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
“Protecting the next generation is key to ensuring the prosperity of our nation and its citizens. This is the goal of Volunteers for Youth. They are committed to helping vulnerable at-risk youth impacted by opioid addiction in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “I applaud their efforts to reach out to children in schools, and I am proud to announce they will be receiving $598,792 to aid in their mission. This grant will help fund impactful mentoring strategies that will set Roger’s County youth up for success.”
“Volunteers for Youth is looking forward to working with all of our schools and local law enforcement agencies in Claremore and Rogers County to make a positive impact on the youth in these communities,” said Art Turpel, Executive Director for Volunteers for Youth. “Our primary focus for this funding will be countering the negative impacts of misused opioids and prescription drugs.”
Today’s award in Rogers County is part of more than $261 million going to organizations and agencies across the country. Grants from OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will allow national, state and local organizations to provide mentoring to youth who are at risk of juvenile delinquency, victimization and juvenile justice system involvement. Mentoring programs supported by OJJDP help youth make connections with leaders and respected members of their communities, including law enforcement officers. Police and sheriffs’ departments have formed close and lasting bonds with young citizens, leading to greater trust and respect between law enforcement professionals and community members.“Young people in America face an array of challenges, from social and academic pressures to dangerous predators and lethal drugs. They are better equipped to meet those challenges with a model of care and compassion to guide them along,” said Sullivan. “These awards will support outstanding youth-serving organizations like the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs and their local affiliates across the country as they help youth discover their talents, find their purpose and realize their full potential. We are incredibly grateful to our mentorship programs, both nationally and locally. Badges in Blue and Badges for Baseball are great examples of successful community partnerships through law enforcement and mentoring.”
In addition, more than 100 sites are receiving grants from OJJDP and OVC to help find missing children, investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, serve abused and neglected children, and assist minor victims of human trafficking.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit here and here.
Additional information about Fiscal Year 2020 grant awards made by the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Awards Data webpage.
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur Announces More Than $9.3 Million in Grant Funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to Support Mentoring and to Protect Children in MarylandRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur today announced awards of $9,380,000 in Department of Justice grants to support mentoring services for youth and to protect children from abuse, exploitation and threats such as sex trafficking. The awards were made by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Office for Victims of Crime, part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
“One of the best ways to stop violent crime is to equip young people with the skills necessary to meet the challenges they face,” said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur. “The organizations receiving these funds support youth and provide mentorships and strategies to help them to excel in any situation.”
“Young people in America face an array of challenges, from social and academic pressures to dangerous predators and lethal drugs. They are better equipped to meet those challenges with a model of care and compassion to guide them along,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These awards will support outstanding youth-serving organizations like the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs and their local affiliates across the country as they help youth discover their talents, find their purpose and realize their full potential. We are incredibly grateful to our mentorship programs, both nationally and locally. Badges in Blue and Badges for Baseball are great examples of successful community partnerships through law enforcement and mentoring.”
Today’s awards in Maryland are part of more than $261 million going to organizations and agencies across the country. Grants from OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will allow national, state and local organizations to provide mentoring to youth who are at risk of juvenile delinquency, victimization and juvenile justice system involvement. Mentoring programs supported by OJJDP help youth make connections with leaders and respected members of their communities, including law enforcement officers. Police and sheriffs’ departments have formed close and lasting bonds with young citizens, leading to greater trust and respect between law enforcement professionals and community members. Grants also address the impact of the addiction crisis on children and teens. Funds support mentoring in rural and other underserved communities hit hard by the opioid epidemic.
In addition, more than 100 sites are receiving grants from OJJDP and OVC to help find missing children, investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, serve abused and neglected children, and assist minor victims of human trafficking.
The following organizations in Maryland received funding:
- The National 4-H Council received $3 million for national mentoring programs and $1.25 million for statewide and regional mentoring initiatives for youth impacted by opioids and drug addiction;
- The U.S. Dream Academy received $2.3 million, and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation received $2.23 million for multi-state mentoring programs; and
- The Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore received $600,000 for mentoring strategies for youth impacted by opioid and drug addiction.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit here and here.
Additional information about Fiscal Year 2020 grant awards made by the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Awards Data webpage
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
U.S. Attorney Overbey Announces $600,000 to Support Mentoring Services for Children in Eastern District of TennesseeRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey announced an award of $600,000 in Department of Justice grants to the Knoxville Leadership Foundation to support mentoring services for youth to protect children from abuse, exploitation and threats such as sex trafficking. The awards were made by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Office for Victims of Crime, part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
“Young people in America face an array of challenges, from social and academic pressures to dangerous predators and lethal drugs. They are better equipped to meet those challenges with a model of care and compassion to guide them along,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “These awards will support outstanding youth-serving organizations like the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs and their local affiliates across the country as they help youth discover their talents, find their purpose and realize their full potential. We are incredibly grateful to our mentorship programs, both nationally and locally. Badges in Blue and Badges for Baseball are great examples of successful community partnerships through law enforcement and mentoring.”
“Knoxville Leadership Foundation has been a pillar in our community for 26 years. These funds will help KLF with initiatives like the AMACHI mentoring program. This initiative helps youth remove barriers and provide the skills necessary to cope with the challenge of an incarcerated parent. Putting funding back into our communities and our youth creates a stronger connection within our communities and benefits everyone,” said U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey
“KLF is so honored to partner with the Department of Justice. These funds will mean so much to children of promise in the Knoxville area. The power of a child having healthy adults in their life is proven and our collaborative works hard every day to ensure that thousands of children have these opportunities for a healthy start said,” Chris Martin, President, Knoxville Leadership Foundation.
Today’s award to KLF in the Eastern District of Tennessee is part of more than $261 million going to organizations and agencies across the country. Grants from OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will allow national, state and local organizations to provide mentoring to youth who are at risk of juvenile delinquency, victimization and juvenile justice system involvement. Mentoring programs supported by OJJDP help youth make connections with leaders and respected members of their communities, including law enforcement officers. Police and sheriffs’ departments have formed close and lasting bonds with young citizens, leading to greater trust and respect between law enforcement professionals and community members. Grants also address the impact of the addiction crisis on children and teens. Funds support mentoring in rural and other underserved communities hit hard by the opioid epidemic.
In addition, more than 100 sites are receiving grants from OJJDP and OVC to help find missing children, investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, serve abused and neglected children, and assist minor victims of human trafficking.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit here.
Additional information about Fiscal Year 2020 grant awards made by the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Awards Data webpage.
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart Announces over $600,000 Awarded in Support of West Virginia ChildrenRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart today announced an award of $638,975 in a Department of Justice grant to support direct services to children who are crime victims as a result of the nation's addiction crisis. Today’s award in the Southern District of West Virginia is part of more than $261 million going to organizations and agencies across the country. The awards were made by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP).
“Young people in America face an array of challenges, from social and academic pressures to dangerous predators and lethal drugs. They are better equipped to meet those challenges with a model of care and compassion to guide them along,” said Sullivan. “These awards will support outstanding youth-serving organizations like the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs and their local affiliates across the country as they help youth discover their talents, find their purpose and realize their full potential. We are incredibly grateful to our mentorship programs, both nationally and locally. Badges in Blue and Badges for Baseball are great examples of successful community partnerships through law enforcement and mentoring.”
“This funding is desperately needed to help the vast number of West Virginia children negatively affected by the addiction crisis,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Our children have suffered greatly as a result of substance abuse and addiction and we need to direct every possible resource in support of them during their healing process.”
The grants from OJP’s OJJDP will allow national, state and local organizations to provide mentoring to youth who are at risk of juvenile delinquency, victimization and juvenile justice system involvement. Mentoring programs supported by OJJDP help youth make connections with leaders and respected members of their communities, including law enforcement officers. Police and sheriffs’ departments have formed close and lasting bonds with young citizens, leading to greater trust and respect between law enforcement professionals and community members. Grants also address the impact of the addiction crisis on children and teens. Funds support mentoring in rural and other underserved communities hit hard by the opioid epidemic.
In addition, more than 100 sites are receiving grants from OJJDP and OVC to help find missing children, investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, serve abused and neglected children, and assist minor victims of human trafficking.
The following organization in the Southern District of West Virginia received funding:
- Legal Aide of West Virginia was awarded $638,975 under OVC’s Enhancing Community Responses to America’s Drug Crisis: Serving our Youngest Crime Victims Program.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit here and here.
Additional information about Fiscal Year 2020 grant awards made by the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Awards Data webpage.
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey Announces over $2 Million to Address School Violence in ArizonaRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey today announced over $2 million in Department of Justice grants to address violence occurring at our nation’s schools. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are 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.”
The following organizations in the District of Arizona received funding:
- Santa Cruz County School Superintendent’s Office - $672,024
- Wickenburg Unified School District 9 - $231,907
- Casa Blanca Community School - $93,558
- Page Unified School District 8 - $709,293
- Tempe Union High School District 213 - $492,632
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.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2020-085_School Safety Grants
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.- Santa Cruz County School Superintendent’s Office - $672,024
U.S. Attorney Davis Announces More Than $10 Million in Grants to Assist Victims in IdahoRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis today announced $10,089,836 in Department of Justice grants to assist victims in Idaho. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of almost $1.8 billion distributed to state victim assistance and compensation programs to fund thousands of local victim assistance programs across the country and to provide millions in compensation to victims of crime.
The Office for Victims of Crime, a component of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, flagship formula grant program is supported by the Crime Victims Fund (the Fund), which was established under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). The Fund supports a broad array of programs and services that focus on helping victims in the immediate aftermath of crime and continuing to support them as they rebuild their lives. In FY 2019 alone, VOCA grants served over seven million victims and paid more than $399 million in compensation claims.
“Advocates, service providers, and law enforcement agencies from around the country stand ready to help crime victims exercise their legal rights and reclaim their lives,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “These new funding resources continue this administration’s unprecedented commitment to providing the support necessary for victims of crimes to be able to heal and recover.”
The awards made to two Idaho organizations, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and Idaho Industrial Commission, will support local direct victim service programs, including children’s advocacy centers, domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, human trafficking and elder abuse programs, civil legal services, crime victims’ rights enforcement, as well as victim assistance positions in prosecutors’ offices and law enforcement agencies.
“It is vital we support those agencies that selflessly provide services for victims of crime,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “The Department and my office are committed to ensuring victims have the necessary resources to begin to heal their physical, emotional, and financial injuries. I am confident these added resources will help victims of crime on their journey to rebuild their lives.”
State victim compensation programs throughout the country will receive over $133 million to supplement the state funds that offset victims’ financial burdens resulting from crime. This compensation is often extremely vital to victims who face enormous financial setbacks from medical fees, lost income, dependent care, funeral expenses and other costs.
“The services made available by this funding represent a lifeline for tens of thousands of survivors each month, many of whom otherwise would have no place to turn in a moment of profound crisis,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs. “These awards will help service providers, as well as law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices respond to the many emotional and material challenges that crime victims in our country face every day.”
The Fund is financed by fines and penalties paid by convicted federal offenders and does not include tax dollars. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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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 Announces $794,650 to Improve Services for Crime VictimsRead the Press Release
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands today announced $794,650 in Department of Justice grants to improve services for crime victims. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of over $144 million distributed to enhance the response to victims of crime throughout the United States. Recipients of this funding will include the following organizations:
- Judiciary of Guam - $399,312
- CNMI Department of Public Safety - $395,338
The awards will advance the use of technology, improve community preparedness and law enforcement training, and provide emergency and transitional shelter to assist victims of crime. Programs will also support victims of child abuse and fund research projects related to perpetrators and victims of elder abuse. Approximately $64.3 million was awarded under Office for Victims of Crime grant programs; over $54.1 million was awarded under Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention programs; over $19.9 million was awarded under Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking grant programs; and nearly $5.7 million was awarded under two National Institute of Justice grant programs.
“The Department of Justice is steadfast in its commitment to protecting public safety and bringing justice to those who have been victimized,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The investments we are making today will support service providers as they work to secure the legal rights of victims and put survivors of criminal acts on the road to recovery.”
U.S. Attorney Anderson stated, “We must never overlook that most crimes involve victims who suffer from the acts of others. This significant federal funding will promote greater access to victim resources and services. I applaud the efforts of these grant applicants in helping victims obtain justice.”
“As lockdowns and lawlessness fuel crime in America’s homes and communities, more people are vulnerable to victimization and those who have been victimized face new hurdles,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is committed to giving our victim service partners the tools they need to better serve their clients and protect victims’ rights.”
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive this funding, visit:
https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/ovcvictimsfactsheet.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
- Judiciary of Guam - $399,312
U.s. Attorney Kurt Alme Announces $500,000 to Support Mentoring, Protect Children in District of MontanaRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme today announced an award of $500,000 to Big Sky Youth Empowerment Project, Inc., as among Department of Justice grants to support mentoring services for youth and to protect children from abuse, exploitation and threats such as sex trafficking. The awards were made by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Office for Victims of Crime, part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Today’s award in Montana is part of more than $261 million going to organizations and agencies across the country.
“Young people in America face an array of challenges, from social and academic pressures to dangerous predators and lethal drugs. They are better equipped to meet those challenges with a model of care and compassion to guide them along,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These awards will support outstanding youth-serving organizations like the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs and their local affiliates across the country as they help youth discover their talents, find their purpose and realize their full potential. We are incredibly grateful to our mentorship programs, both nationally and locally. Badges in Blue and Badges for Baseball are great examples of successful community partnerships through law enforcement and mentoring.”
"Being a teenager is hard enough, but many youth are facing risks from substance abuse, homelessness, neglect and mental health issues. Mentoring programs provide vulnerable young adults with the support they need to grow and become productive and contributing members of their communities. I am pleased to announce this award for the Big Sky Youth Empowerment Project," U.S. Attorney Alme said.
Grants from OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will allow national, state and local organizations to provide mentoring to youth who are at risk of juvenile delinquency, victimization and juvenile justice system involvement. Mentoring programs supported by OJJDP help youth make connections with leaders and respected members of their communities, including law enforcement officers. Police and sheriffs’ departments have formed close and lasting bonds with young citizens, leading to greater trust and respect between law enforcement professionals and community members. Grants also address the impact of the addiction crisis on children and teens. Funds support mentoring in rural and other underserved communities hit hard by the opioid epidemic.
In addition, more than 100 sites are receiving grants from OJJDP and OVC to help find missing children, investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, serve abused and neglected children, and assist minor victims of human trafficking.
The following organization in Montana received funding:
- Big Sky Youth Empowerment Project, Inc., $500,000
For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit here and here.
Additional information about Fiscal Year 2020 grant awards made by the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Awards Data webpage.
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Turner Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Cultivating Marijuana and Other OffensesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Turner man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Portland for manufacturing 100 or more marijuana plants, possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, possessing an unregistered silencer and transferring property subject to forfeiture, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Andrew Waite, 32, to six years in prison and four years of supervised release. Judge Singal also ordered Waite to pay a $10,000 fine. Waite pleaded guilty on October 16, 2019.
According to court records, on February 27, 2018, law enforcement officers searched Waite’s residence and two warehouses under his control. In the warehouses, agents seized more than 500 pounds of marijuana, 104 sheets of marijuana concentrate and more than 350 marijuana plants. In his residence, agents seized approximately 100 pounds of marijuana, approximately $216,000 in United States currency, a 2010 Ferrari, firearms, ammunition and a silencer with no markings or serial number.
On April 18, 2018, Waite transferred title of his residence to his brother in order to prevent or impair seizure of the property for criminal forfeiture. In May 2020, Judge Singal ordered that residence criminally forfeited for facilitating the drug offenses.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate, and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state, and local law enforcement.
Todd County Man Found Not Guilty of Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Todd County, South Dakota, man was acquitted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse as a result of a federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota, beginning on October 6, 2020, and concluding on October 8, 2020.
Conrad Good Voice, Jr., age 24, was indicted on February 11, 2020.
The charge stemmed from an alleged incident that occurred in June 2018, near Mission, South Dakota.
The investigation was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
Three Individuals Plead Guilty to Charges Including Murder, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, And/Or Retaliating Against an InformantRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyler Ross Deerinwater, age 29, of Holdenville, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to Murder In Indian Country- Second Degree, punishable by up to life imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both; Tyler Shane Grandstaff, age 29, of Seminole, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to Assault Resulting in Serious bodily injury in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both & to Retaliating Against an Informant, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both; and that Caleb Trent Hodgins, age 25, of Holdenville, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to Assault Resulting in Serious bodily injury in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.
The Information alleged that on or about June 24, 2018, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian Country, the defendant, Tyler Ross Deerinwater, an Indian, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice aforethought, did unlawfully kill Jonathon Merriman with a firearm.
The Information further alleged that on or about June 24, 2018, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian Country, defendants Grandstaff and Hodgins, both Indians, did assault Jonathon Merriman and P.H, resulting in serious bodily injury. Furthermore, on or about August 20, 2020, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Grandstaff, did knowingly engage in conduct, specifically, assaulted R.H., which caused bodily injury to R.H., with the intent to retaliate for information given by R.H. to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission of a Federal offense.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of the presentence investigation reports.
Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Conway and Special Assistant United States Attorney Robert Reeves represented the United States at the plea hearings.
Texas Man Charged in $24 Million COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
A Dallas-area man was charged in an indictment filed Thursday for his alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking approximately $24.8 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Inspector General Jay N. Lerner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Special Agent in Charge Tamera Cantu of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Dallas Field Office, and Inspector General J. Russell George of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) made the announcement.
Dinesh Sah, 55, of Coppell, Texas, was charged in an indictment filed in the Northern District of Texas with three counts of wire fraud, three counts of bank fraud and one count of money laundering.
The indictment alleges that Sah submitted 15 fraudulent applications, filed under the names of various purported businesses that he owned or controlled, to eight different SBA-approved lenders seeking approximately $24.8 million in PPP loans. In his applications, Sah claimed that these businesses had numerous employees and hundreds of thousands of dollars in payroll expenses when, in fact, no business had employees or paid wages consistent with the amounts claimed in the PPP applications. The indictment further alleges that Sah submitted fraudulent documentation in support of his applications, including falsified federal tax filings and forged bank statements for the purported businesses. Sah ultimately received approximately $17.3 million in PPP loan funds and used the proceeds primarily for personal expenses, spending them on multiple homes and luxury cars, including a 2020 Bentley convertible, and sending millions of dollars in international transfers, the indictment alleges. To date, the government has seized more than $6.5 million in fraudulent proceeds that Sah obtained during the scheme.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the funds towards payroll expenses.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Dallas Field Offices of FDIC-OIG, IRS-CI, and TIGTA. Assistant Deputy Chief Anna G. Kaminska of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Economic Crimes and Public Corruption Section Chief Katherine Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Suburban Chicago Businessman Charged with Illegally Exporting Arms to UkraineRead the Press Release
A suburban Chicago businessman has been indicted on federal criminal charges for allegedly illegally exporting gun parts and other defense articles from the United States to a company in Ukraine.
Glenn Stepul owned a Buffalo Grove, Ill.-based business that distributed horizontal directional drilling equipment. From 2014 to 2016, Stepul conspired with a Ukranian resident – Andriy Yakin – and an unindicted co-conspirator in Ukraine to violate the Arms Export Control Act by exporting or attempting to export pistol slides and stainless steel gun barrels from the United States to Ukraine, without obtaining the required authorization from the U.S. Department of State, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Stepul, Yakin, and the unindicted co-conspirator also conspired to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by exporting or attempting to export rifle scopes and night-vision cameras from the United States to Ukraine, without obtaining the required authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the indictment states.
The charges allege that Stepul commingled and concealed some of the export-controlled items inside shipments of drilling equipment sent to Ukraine. One such shipment was intercepted by customs officials in Lviv, Ukraine, in September 2014, the indictment states. Stepul had completed a customs declaration falsely describing the items inside the parcel as “household goods,” “cosmetics,” “toys,” “stationary,” and “cassettes,” the indictment states.
The indictment charges Stepul, 33, of Miami Beach, Fla., and formerly of Wheeling, Ill., and Yakin, 38, of Poltava, Ukraine, with conspiracy to violate the AECA and IEEPA and knowingly impede and obstruct the functions of the Commerce and State Departments. Stepul also faces additional export-control, smuggling, and false statement charges. Stepul pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment Thursday before U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey in Chicago. Judge Blakey scheduled a status hearing for Dec. 16, 2020, at 1:00 p.m.
Yakin is believed to be residing in Ukraine, and a warrant for his arrest has been issued.
The indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; James M. Gibbons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; Dan Clutch, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security-Office of Export Enforcement, Chicago Field Office; and Cynthia Bruce, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Grayson S. Walker.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Suburban Chicago Businessman Charged with Illegally Exporting Arms to UkraineRead the Press Release
CHICAGO —A suburban Chicago businessman has been indicted on federal criminal charges for allegedly illegally exporting gun parts and other defense articles from the United States to a company in Ukraine.
GLENN STEPUL owned a Buffalo Grove, Ill.-based business that distributed horizontal directional drilling equipment. From 2014 to 2016, Stepul conspired with a Ukranian resident – ANDRIY YAKIN – and an unindicted co-conspirator in Ukraine to violate the Arms Export Control Act by exporting or attempting to export pistol slides and stainless steel gun barrels from the United States to Ukraine, without obtaining the required authorization from the U.S. Department of State, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Stepul, Yakin, and the unindicted co-conspirator also conspired to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by exporting or attempting to export rifle scopes and night-vision cameras from the United States to Ukraine, without obtaining the required authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the indictment states.
The charges allege that Stepul commingled and concealed some of the export-controlled items inside shipments of drilling equipment sent to Ukraine. One such shipment was intercepted by customs officials in Lviv, Ukraine, in September 2014, the indictment states. Stepul had completed a customs declaration falsely describing the items inside the parcel as “household goods,” “cosmetics,” “toys,” “stationary,” and “cassettes,” the indictment states.
The indictment charges Stepul, 33, of Miami Beach, Fla., and formerly of Wheeling, Ill., and Yakin, 38, of Poltava, Ukraine, with conspiracy to violate the AECA and IEEPA and knowingly impede and obstruct the functions of the Commerce and State Departments. Stepul also faces additional export-control, smuggling, and false statement charges. Stepul pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment Thursday before U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey in Chicago. Judge Blakey scheduled a status hearing for Dec. 16, 2020, at 1:00 p.m.
Yakin is believed to be residing in Ukraine, and a warrant for his arrest has been issued.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; James M. Gibbons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; Dan Clutch, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security-Office of Export Enforcement, Chicago Field Office; and Cynthia Bruce, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Grayson S. Walker.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Springdale Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Raul Martinez, age 40, was sentenced yesterday, to 210 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $25,000.00 in fines for the Distribution of more than 500 grams of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, during the course of an investigation into the distribution of controlled substances in the Western District of Arkansas, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identified Martinez, as a distributor of methamphetamine in Northwest Arkansas, and an investigation was initiated into his criminal activity.
In December 2019, agents with the DEA and local law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery of methamphetamine from Martinez. The methamphetamine from Martinez was sent to the DEA crime lab to be tested. The lab determined that it contained 1306.2 grams of actual methamphetamine.
A federal grand jury indicted Martinez in May 2019, and he entered a guilty plea in September 2019.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Benton County/Rogers Police Department Narcotic Unit, Springdale Police Department and the 4th JDDTF. Assistant United States Attorney’s Amy Driver and Kim Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.
Singaporean National Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Acting in the United States as an Illegal Agent of Chinese IntelligenceRead the Press Release
Jun Wei Yeo, also known as Dickson Yeo, was sentenced today in federal court to 14 months in prison. Yeo pled guilty on July 24, 2020 to acting within the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign power without first notifying the Attorney General, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 951. The announcement was made by John G. Demers, Assistant Attorney General; Michael R. Sherwin, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Columbia; James A. Dawson, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of FBI Washington Field Office; Alan E. Kohler, Jr., Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division; and Deputy Assistant Secretary Ricardo Colón, Domestic Operations.
Yeo was sentenced by The Honorable Tanya S. Chutkan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
“At the direction of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, Yeo recruited Americans to provide information that he would pass back to his PRC handlers,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “Yeo concealed his PRC affiliation from his recruits and, contrary to law, from the United States Government. This criminal conduct is part of the PRC’s efforts to exploit the openness of American society by using agents who may appear innocuous, but who act upon taskings from a foreign government to obtain access and information.”
“This case serves as a reminder that China is using professional networking social media sites to target U.S. citizens with government security clearances, and to try to gain non-public and classified information. The threat is real, and we will prosecute foreign agents who exploit those platforms,” said Michael R. Sherwin, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.
“Today we are reminded yet again of the Chinese government's aggressive attempts to gain knowledge and information about U.S. policy and government," said James A. Dawson, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office. "The FBI’s warning is not new, but the message warrants repeating: the Chinese communist government is working to gain information and access by all means, including recruiting US-based individuals to provide classified and/or sensitive information. There is no doubt that if you are a former clearance holder, you are an ideal and vulnerable target because of your knowledge and access. If you believe you have been the target of a recruitment scheme, the FBI is here to help. We remain committed to rebuffing the Chinese government’s attempts, and to protecting the American people, our ideas, and our national and economic security interests.”
"Jun Wei Yeo admittedly acted as an illegal agent of a foreign power by using various social media sites, such as a professional networking website and other social networking applications, to recruit Americans with access to sensitive government information. He identified their vulnerabilities, like dissatisfaction with work or financial difficulties, and offered money in exchange for information and written reports,” said Alan E. Kohler Jr., Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. "This is a sobering reminder that the U.S. needs to be clear-eyed about the scope of the Chinese government’s ambition to manipulate Americans for their own nation’s advancement; and, confronting this threat remains the FBI’s top counterintelligence priority."
“The close working relationship between the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office resulted in today's sentencing of Mr.Yeo before he could potentially harm the security of our country,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Ricardo Colón, Domestic Operations, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. “This was a great success by all of the agencies involved.”
As outlined in the Statement of Offense, Yeo began working with Chinese intelligence officers as early as 2015, initially targeting other Asian countries, but then focusing on the United States. In response to taskings from his Chinese intelligence contacts, Yeo worked to spot and assess Americans with access to valuable non-public information, including U.S. military and government employees with high-level security clearances. After Yeo identified American targets, he solicited them for non-public information and paid them to write reports. Yeo told these American targets that the reports were for clients in Asia, without revealing that they were in fact destined for the Chinese government.
Yeo made use of various social media sites to carry out the taskings given to him by Chinese intelligence operatives. In 2018, Yeo created a fake consulting company that used the same name as a prominent U.S. consulting firm that conducts public and government relations, and Yeo posted job advertisements under that company name. Ninety percent of the resumes Yeo received in response were from U.S. military and government personnel with security clearances, and he passed resumes of interest to one of the Chinese intelligence operatives.
Yeo also used a professional networking website that is focused on career and employment information to carry out the taskings he received from Chinese intelligence officials. Yeo used the professional networking website to find individuals with resumes and job descriptions suggesting that they would have access to valuable information. After he identified individuals worth targeting, Yeo followed guidance he received from Chinese intelligence operatives regarding how to recruit potential targets, including identifying their vulnerabilities, such as dissatisfaction with work or financial difficulties.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas N. Saunders and Erik M. Kenerson of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, along with David Aaron of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice. If you suspect you have been the target of a recruitment scheme, contact your local FBI Field Office.
Singaporean National Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Acting in the United States as an Illegal Agent of Chinese IntelligenceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jun Wei Yeo, also known as Dickson Yeo, was sentenced today in federal court to 14 months in prison. Yeo pled guilty on July 24, 2020 to acting within the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign power without first notifying the Attorney General, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 951. The announcement was made by John G. Demers, Assistant Attorney General; Michael R. Sherwin, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Columbia; James A. Dawson, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of FBI Washington Field Office; Alan E. Kohler, Jr., Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division; and Deputy Assistant Secretary Ricardo Colón, Domestic Operations Deputy Assistant Secretary Ricardo Colón, Domestic Operations.
Yeo was sentenced by The Honorable Tanya S. Chutkan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
“At the direction of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, Yeo recruited Americans to provide information that he would pass back to his PRC handlers,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “Yeo concealed his PRC affiliation from his recruits and, contrary to law, from the United States Government. This criminal conduct is part of the PRC’s efforts to exploit the openness of American society by using agents who may appear innocuous, but who act upon taskings from a foreign government to obtain access and information.”
“This case serves as a reminder that China is using professional networking social media sites to target U.S. citizens with government security clearances, and to try to gain non-public and classified information. The threat is real, and we will prosecute foreign agents who exploit those platforms,” said Michael R. Sherwin, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.
“Today we are reminded yet again of the Chinese government's aggressive attempts to gain knowledge and information about U.S. policy and government," said James A. Dawson, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office. "The FBI’s warning is not new, but the message warrants repeating: the Chinese communist government is working to gain information and access by all means, including recruiting US-based individuals to provide classified and/or sensitive information. There is no doubt that if you are a former clearance holder, you are an ideal and vulnerable target because of your knowledge and access. If you believe you have been the target of a recruitment scheme, the FBI is here to help. We remain committed to rebuffing the Chinese government’s attempts, and to protecting the American people, our ideas, and our national and economic security interests.”
"Jun Wei Yeo admittedly acted as an illegal agent of a foreign power by using various social media sites, such as a professional networking website and other social networking applications, to recruit Americans with access to sensitive government information. He identified their vulnerabilities, like dissatisfaction with work or financial difficulties, and offered money in exchange for information and written reports,” said Alan E. Kohler Jr., Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. "This is a sobering reminder that the U.S. needs to be clear-eyed about the scope of the Chinese government’s ambition to manipulate Americans for their own nation’s advancement; and, confronting this threat remains the FBI’s top counterintelligence priority."
“The close working relationship between the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office resulted in today's sentencing of Mr. Yeo before he could potentially harm the security of our country,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Ricardo Colón, Domestic Operations, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. “This was a great success by all of the agencies involved.”
As outlined in the Statement of Offense, Yeo began working with Chinese intelligence officers as early as 2015, initially targeting other Asian countries, but then focusing on the United States. In response to taskings from his Chinese intelligence contacts, Yeo worked to spot and assess Americans with access to valuable non-public information, including U.S. military and government employees with high-level security clearances. After Yeo identified American targets, he solicited them for non-public information and paid them to write reports. Yeo told these American targets that the reports were for clients in Asia, without revealing that they were in fact destined for the Chinese government.
Yeo made use of various social media sites to carry out the taskings given to him by Chinese intelligence operatives. In 2018, Yeo created a fake consulting company that used the same name as a prominent U.S. consulting firm that conducts public and government relations, and Yeo posted job advertisements under that company name. Ninety percent of the resumes Yeo received in response were from U.S. military and government personnel with security clearances, and he passed resumes of interest to one of the Chinese intelligence operatives.
Yeo also used a professional networking website that is focused on career and employment information to carry out the taskings he received from Chinese intelligence officials. Yeo used the professional networking website to find individuals with resumes and job descriptions suggesting that they would have access to valuable information. After he identified individuals worth targeting, Yeo followed guidance he received from Chinese intelligence operatives regarding how to recruit potential targets, including identifying their vulnerabilities, such as dissatisfaction with work or financial difficulties.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas N. Saunders and Erik M. Kenerson of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, along with David Aaron of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice. If you suspect you have been the target of a recruitment scheme, contact your local FBI Field Office.
Shiprock man charged with murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Simeon Atcitty, 38, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared in federal court on Sept. 29 for a detention hearing. A federal grand jury indicted Atcitty Sept. 10 on a charge of second degree murder in Indian Country. Atcitty will remain in custody pending trial.
According to the indictment, on or about June 19, Atcitty allegedly killed a victim, identified in court records as John Doe, in San Juan County, New Mexico.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI Farmington Resident Agency investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
Road Rage Incident on H.E. Baily Turnpike Involving Discharge of Firearm Lands Lawton Man in Federal Prison for Ten YearsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, NATHAN R. ROLLINS, JR., 29, of Lawton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison for possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction, stemming from a road rage incident on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike in Lawton, Oklahoma, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
According to court records and proceedings, on December 11, 2019, Rollins was the driver of a vehicle with passenger and co-defendant, Martavious Gross. When Rollins and Gross believed they were cut off by another driver on the turnpike, Gross rolled down his window, yelled at the other driver, made obscene gestures. Rollins slowed down for a moment and then sped up to catch the other vehicle. When they caught up to the other vehicle, Gross brandished a firearm for the driver of the other vehicle to see, and then fired at the vehicle with the handgun.
In responding to a 911 call, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper located Rollins’ vehicle, clocking it at 106 miles per hour. After stopping the vehicle, the Trooper found an AR-15 rifle loaded with a high capacity magazine, the handgun that was fired in the incident, two black masks, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Rollins and Gross were then arrested.
On January 8, 2020, Rollins was charged with possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. On February 26, 2020, he pled guilty and admitted to unlawful possession of the AR-15 rifle. Today, Senior U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Rollins to serve 120 months in prison, the statutory maximum for the offense, followed by three years of supervised release. In imposing the sentence, the Judge not only considered the serious nature of Rollins’ crime, but also his lengthy history of domestic violence, including a conviction in 2019 in Comanche County for domestic assault and battery by strangulation, and his history of abusing firearms. The Judge concluded that a lengthy sentence was necessary to protect the public from Rollins’ escalating pattern of violent conduct.
On March 10, 2020, co-defendant Gross pled guilty to illegal possession of a firearm while being subject to a domestic violence protective order. He is currently in custody and awaiting sentencing.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Wilson D. McGarry prosecuted the case.
Queens Pharmacy Operator Charged with Obstruction of Justice for Sending Powder Cocaine to DEA Investigator’s HomeRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Raymond P. Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today that DIMITRIOS LYMBERATOS, the operator of a Queens pharmacy, has been charged with obstruction of justice for arranging for a package containing white powder, later identified as cocaine, to be sent to the home address of a DEA Diversion Investigator who was investigating LYMBERATOS’s pharmacy. LYMBERATOS surrendered to the DEA this morning and will be presented before United States Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses in Manhattan federal court later today.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “When Dimitrios Lymberatos learned his pharmacy was under investigation by the DEA, he allegedly took sinister action against a Diversion Investigator assigned to his case. Lymberatos allegedly sought to interfere with the investigation through intimidation, by sending cocaine to the Investigator’s home, potentially causing physical harm. Lymberatos’s misguided message was received loud and clear – and he now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term for his potentially harmful attempt to obstruct law enforcement.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Raymond P. Donovan said: “Today’s arrest is another example to the public that pharmacy owners can set out to do harm with ill intent. One of our own Diversion Investigators was allegedly targeted simply for doing their job, and as such, Mr. Lymberatos’s alleged actions were completely unconscionable. Thankfully, due to the diligent work of our Tactical Diversion Squads, he will be brought to justice.”
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “I want to commend the officers, detectives, federal agents, and prosecutors who worked together to investigate the dangerous acts alleged in these charges.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed today[1]:
LYMBERATOS is the operator of a pharmacy in Queens, New York. Beginning in or about November 2019, the DEA, led by a DEA Diversion Investigator, conducted an overt regulatory investigation into the pharmacy, which had the effect of delaying the issuance of the pharmacy’s registration to dispense controlled substances. LYMBERATOS responded to the investigation of his pharmacy by taking steps to obstruct the investigation, including hiring a private investigator to obtain the Diversion Investigator’s home address, and then causing to be mailed to the Diversion Investigator’s home a greeting card containing a white powdery substance, which law enforcement later determined to be cocaine. Upon receiving the package with white powder, the Diversion Investigator immediately notified law enforcement, which responded to the scene, and the Diversion Investigator was taken to the hospital for toxicology screening. LYMBERATOS caused the package to be sent to the Diversion Investigator in order to interfere with and obstruct the pending investigation into his pharmacy by threatening the Diversion Investigator, deliberately causing the Diversion Investigator to fear for her physical safety, and seeking to create trouble for the Diversion Investigator by causing her to come into possession of an illegal controlled substance.
* * *
LYMBERATOS, 34, of Queens, New York, is charged with one count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s New York Tactical Diversion Squad, which comprises agents and officers from the DEA, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, New York State Department of Financial Services, New York National Guard, New York City Department of Investigation, and New York State Department of Health Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement. Ms. Strauss also praised the outstanding work of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York Strike Force Tactical Diversion Squad. The OCDETF New York Strike Force is a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The Strike Force is affiliated with the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, New York National Guard, Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department, and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jacob R. Fiddelman and Kedar S. Bhatia are 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 description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Portsmouth Woman Charged with Fraud Scheme Targeting VeteransRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Portsmouth woman with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud veterans.
According to allegations in the indictment, Rita Copeland, 59, operated an entity known as “Veteran Services of the Commonwealth.” Copeland purported to provide caregiving, contracting and rental assistance services to various veterans from 2016 through 2019. Copeland allegedly caused a number of victims to apply for Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grants through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such grant payments are to be used for certain designated improvements to the residences of veterans. Copeland allegedly failed to perform all of the promised work and used a portion of these payments to her own benefit, contrary to the designated purposes of the funds. Copeland also allegedly diverted the income and retirement fund payments of another veteran to a bank account that she had opened. Copeland also allegedly fraudulently obtained and diverted loan funds and used the credit and debit cards of this elderly victim. Finally, Copeland also allegedly engaged in a rental fraud scheme, purporting to link veterans with landlords, but then diverting rental and security deposit payments to her own benefit.
Copeland is charged with eight counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Copeland faces a maximum penalty of 20 years on the wire fraud charges and a mandatory consecutive term of two years on the aggravated identity theft charge. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Samuels is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-cr-63.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Portland Resident Accused of Civil DisorderRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that a Portland, Oregon resident has been charged with Civil Disorder after he attempted to punch a Portland Police officer in the face during an unlawful assembly on August 4, 2020.
A federal grand jury in Portland has returned a 1-count indictment charging Travis Austin Hessel, 27, with Civil Disorder.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of August 4, 2020, an unlawful assembly was declared near the Penumbra Kelly Public Safety Building, located at 4735 E. Burnside Street in Portland, after individuals in a crowd of protestors shined powerful lasers at officers’ eyes, threw water bottles, beer and soda cans, marbles, and other hard objects at police officers. The crowd also blocked vehicular traffic on the street requiring a fire engine to divert around the protestors in order to respond to a structure fire.
When officers attempted to disburse the protestors, a smaller group of protestors braced themselves in an effort to resist being moved. A physical melee ensued, during which Hessel threw a punch at a female officer. When the officer grabbed him in order to place him under arrest, Hessel attempted to flee and dragged the officer a short distance before she lost her grip. Two other officers were able to detain Hessel and placed him under arrest.
Hessel was arraigned on the Indictment in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman. Hessel pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a 2-day jury trial scheduled to begin on December 8, 2020.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pembroke Pines Resident Charged for Fraud Related to Hurricane IrmaRead the Press Release
Miami, Fl. – A 45-year-old Pembroke Pines woman has been charged with disaster relief fraud and other federal crimes in connection with her application and receipt of federal relief funds following Hurricane Irma.
According to allegations contained in the complaint, in September of 2017, after Hurricane Irma, Desmicia Mathis filed a fraudulent property damage claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”), and received disaster and rental assistance money to which she was not entitled. Mathis used the fraudulently obtained FEMA funds and moved into a rental apartment. She utilized a stolen identity to obtain a new residence and establish utility accounts, according to the complaint.
Mathis made her initial appearance today in Fort Lauderdale before U.S. Magistrate Alicia O. Valle.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, James DePalma, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG), Miami Field Office, and Rodregas Owens, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Atlanta Field Division, made the announcement.
DHS–OIG and SSA-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc S. Anton is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an accusation that contains allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no. 20-mj-6441.
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Owner of Japanese Fishing Vessel Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Trafficking of Shark FinsRead the Press Release
Hamada Suisan Co. Ltd., the owner of the Japanese-flagged fishing vessel, M.V. Kyoshin Maru No. 20, pleaded guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement, to aiding and abetting the attempted export of shark fins out of Hawaii in violation of the Lacey Act, the Department of Justice announced.
The company was sentenced to pay a fine of $126,000, forfeiture of $119,000 (representing the value of the vessel), and a period of probation of three years. This sentence represents the largest monetary penalty ever imposed for a federal shark finning case. During the three-year probation period, the company must comply with a robust compliance plan developed in coordination with the Department of Justice and supervised by the probation officer. The company must also retire and relinquish the fishing license in Japan previously associated with the Kyoshin Maru.
“Shark finning is a cruel practice, prohibited by federal law, numerous states, including Hawaii, and multilateral bodies to which both the United States and Japan belong,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jonathan D. Brightbill for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The sentence imposed today, and Japan’s related actions holding this Japanese company to account, reflects the seriousness of these offenses and the United States’ and international commitment to ending this practice.”
“Shark finning is inhumane, intolerable, and takes a very real toll on our precious ocean ecosystem,” said U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price for the District of Hawaii. “My office is committed to combatting this cruel practice by prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law anyone found to be trafficking in these types of shark fins.”
According to court documents, the case arose from the November 2018 discovery of approximately 962 shark fins, weighing approximately 190 pounds, from the checked luggage of fisherman working aboard the Kyoshin Maru. The Kyoshin Maru had engaged in longline tuna fishing in the southern Pacific Ocean for approximately one year prior, utilizing a crew of officers who were Japanese nationals and fishermen who were Indonesian nationals. When sharks were caught as bycatch by the Kyoshin Maru, the fishing master of the vessel directed the crew members to haul the shark into the vessel and kill the shark, instead of cutting the line and letting the shark swim free, in order to save the hook. The crew members followed this instruction, though at times they cut the line when the fishing master was not looking, in order to avoid the danger of handling a live shark. The fishermen dried the shark fins without the corresponding shark carcasses, in plain view of the captain and crew. The captain and the fishing master personally observed the shark finning that took place on the vessel, and did nothing to stop it. In the course of the voyage, crew members harvested fins from approximately 300 sharks.
On or about Nov. 6, 2018, the Kyoshin Maru traveled near Hawaii, and its Indonesian crew members legally entered the United States in order to board return flights departing from Honolulu International Airport. During routine screening, Transportation Security Administration officers discovered the shark fins in 10 of the fishermen’s checked luggage. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) seized the shark fins, which it later determined were worth as much as $57,850 on the black market.
Some of the shark fins were from oceanic whitetip sharks, which are listed as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act and are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), an international convention with over 180 parties, including the United States, Japan, and Indonesia. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the oceanic whitetip shark has declined by approximately 80-95 percent across the Pacific Ocean since the mid-1990s. Other fins were from silky sharks and bigeye thresher sharks, which are also protected under the CITES.
The 10 Indonesian nationals with shark fins in their luggage were arrested and eventually pled guilty to a violation of the Lacey Act in United States v. Abdurahman et al., Cr. No. 18-00192 KJM.
The Japan Fisheries Agency, which is the government agency in Japan responsible for enforcement of Japan's shark finning laws, conducted a parallel investigation. On March 27, 2019, Japan found a violation of Japan's shark finning ordinances, and imposed an administrative penalty upon the Kyoshin Maru, specifically a “stoppage” that prohibited the vessel from operating for a period of 67 days, and also prohibited maintenance or repairs during the stoppage period. The Kyoshin Maru did not operate and remained at port from the time it arrived in Japan after dropping off the fishermen in Honolulu, until the time it was eventually sold – a period of approximately eight months, during which the vessel deteriorated. The parties stipulated that $119,000 in substitute assets is appropriate in lieu of forfeiture of the Kyoshin Maru, which is now beyond the control of the defendants.
The possession and sale of shark fins are regulated by several international treaties, to which both Japan and the United States are parties. These treaties obligate member nations to pass domestic laws prohibiting the retention onboard of any part of certain protected shark species, including oceanic whitetip sharks and silky sharks; and to require shark fins to comprise no more than 5 percent of the weight of sharks on board, among other requirements. Japan and the United States have passed domestic laws that implement these treaty obligations by restricting the shark fin trade. The State of Hawaii goes beyond these treaty obligations and completely bans the shark fin trade. It is unlawful to possess, sell, offer for sale, trade, or distribute shark fins in Hawaii, and Hawaii was the first state to impose an outright ban on the shark fin trade.
This case was investigated by the FWS, Office of Law Enforcement, with assistance from NOAA, Office of Law Enforcement; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard. It was prosecuted by Senior Counsel for Wildlife Programs Elinor Colbourn of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc A. Wallenstein for the District of Hawaii. The prosecution team coordinated with the U.S. Department of State on this matter.
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.
Owner of Food Service Firm Operating in Government Buildings Throughout the D.C. Area Sentenced to Prison for Payroll Tax FraudRead the Press Release
A Potomac, Maryland, owner of companies providing food services in government buildings was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment for not paying more than $10 million in employment and sales tax, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin for the District of Columbia.
According to documents and information provided to the court, Steve Choi was the founder, president, and operator of nine companies that provided food services within government buildings located in the D.C. area, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, NASA, and the Library of Congress, among other locations.
As president and operator of the companies, Choi was responsible for collecting and paying employment taxes to the IRS. Notwithstanding these obligations, and civil collection efforts from the IRS, from 2012 through 2015, Choi collected tax withholdings from his employees’ wages, but did not pay over $4.4 million in employment taxes. During the same period, Choi also did not pay more than $6.2 million in sales taxes to the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue. Rather than pay the sales and employment taxes, from 2011 through 2015, Choi directed his companies to pay millions of dollars in other expenditures, including over $1 million in personal salary, personal donations, and cash advances.
On Feb. 7, 2020, Choi pleaded guilty to employment tax fraud.
“As an employer, Choi had a legal obligation to pay over the money withheld for taxes on behalf of his employees,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson. “CI will continue to investigate those who choose to utilize their companies’ payroll tax withholdings for their personal benefit.”
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson ordered Choi to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $6,390,182 in restitution to the Office of Tax and Revenue and $4,737,809 in restitution to the United States.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman, Acting U.S. Attorney Sherwin, and IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson thanked special agents of IRS-CI and Office of Tax and Revenue who investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys Jack Morgan and Eric Schmale of the Tax Division, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Sanchez, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Office of Justice Programs Awards $261 Million to Support Youth Mentoring, Protect ChildrenRead the Press Release
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) today announced that it has awarded $261 million in grant awards to support mentoring services for youth and to protect children from abuse, exploitation and threats such as sex trafficking. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan made the announcement at an event with leaders and representatives of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and local chapters of the Police Athletic League, along with local police chiefs.
“Young people in America face an array of challenges, from social and academic pressures to dangerous predators and lethal drugs. They are better equipped to meet those challenges with a model of care and compassion to guide them along,” said Sullivan. “These awards will support outstanding youth-serving organizations like the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs and their local affiliates across the country as they help youth discover their talents, find their purpose and realize their full potential. We are incredibly grateful to our mentorship programs, both nationally and locally. Badges in Blue and Badges for Baseball are great examples of successful community partnerships through law enforcement and mentoring.”
Grants from OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will allow national, state and local organizations to provide mentoring to youth who are at risk of juvenile delinquency, victimization and juvenile justice system involvement. Funds also support the National Mentoring Resource Center, which last year provided training and other support to 362 school-, community- and faith-based mentoring programs that served more than 79,000 youth nationwide.
“We can take no greater step toward securing the future health and prosperity of our nation than by investing now in the physical safety and emotional resilience of our children,” said OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp. “These grants will give law enforcement officials, service providers and children’s advocates the resources they need to fight off predators, take kids out of harm’s way and help children overcome the effects of trauma.”
Mentoring programs supported by OJJDP help youth make connections with leaders and respected members of their communities, including law enforcement officers. Police and sheriffs’ departments have formed close and lasting bonds with young citizens, leading to greater trust and respect between law enforcement professionals and community members. Grants also address the impact of the addiction crisis on children and teens. Funds support mentoring in rural and other underserved communities hit hard by the opioid epidemic.
In addition, more than 100 sites are receiving grants from OJJDP and OJP’s Office for Victims of Crime to help find missing children, investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, serve abused and neglected children, and assist minor victims of human trafficking.
Sullivan was joined today by Steve Salem, President and CEO of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation; V. Glenn Fueston Jr. of the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services; Sergeant Kweise Dadzie from the Prince George’s Police Athletic League Badges for Baseball mentorship program; U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rob K. Hur; and representatives of the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, where the event was held.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit here and here.
Additional information about Fiscal Year 2020 grant awards made by OJP can be found online at the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components is located at www.ojp.gov.
Niles, Michigan Man Sentenced to 71 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND –Clarence Bonds, 36, of Niles, Michigan was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty upon his plea of guilty to transporting a firearm in interstate commerce knowing that a felony offense would be committed with it, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Mr. Bonds was sentenced to 71 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents filed in this case, Mr. Bonds was on federal supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine when he bought a .45 caliber handgun in Michigan. Mr. Bonds brought the gun from Niles, Michigan to South Bend, where he was caught with it while a passenger in a car stopped by police. Mr. Bonds has multiple prior convictions, including several for weapons-related offenses.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly E. Donnelly.
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New Britain Man Admits Distributing Fentanyl and CrackRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JORDAN FLYTHE, also known as “T,” 28, of New Britain, pleaded guilty today to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack”).
Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson occurred via videoconference.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford Police Department identified Flythe as a narcotics distributor who supplied various gang members in the Hartford’s South End. On February 3, 2020, after investigators conducted a controlled purchase of approximately six grams of crack cocaine from Flythe in exchange for $300 in Hartford, Hartford Police stopped Flythe’s vehicle and arrested Flythe on state narcotics charges. A search of Flythe’s vehicle and person at the time of his arrest revealed approximately 20 grams of crack, a digital scale and $3,450 in cash.
While Flythe was released on bond in his state case, investigators made controlled purchases from Flythe of approximately 12 grams of crack on February 12, and 100 sleeves of fentanyl and approximately eight grams of crack on February 17.
Flythe has been detained since his federal arrest on February 26, 2020.
Flythe is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on January 20, 2021, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Navajo man pleads guilty in federal court to abusive sexual contact in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Lyle Woody Begay, 34, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque to abusive sexual contact in Indian Country.
According to the plea agreement, Begay sexually abused the child on or about Feb. 23, 2004, through Dec. 31, 2011, in San Juan County, New Mexico, within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. Begay, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted in a plea agreement to causing intentional and unlawful sexual contact with a minor under the age of twelve with the intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, arouse or gratify sexual desire.
Begay is currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces 10 to 15 years in prison under the terms of his plea agreement. Begay also must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The Gallup office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations unit investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Novaline D. Wilson and Kyle T. Nayback are prosecuting the case.
NDTX Round-Up: October 2-8Read the Press Release
SENTENCING – DAVID MARTINEZ MARTINEZ
On October 5, David Martinez Martinez, 40, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by prohibited person. Martinez was previously admitted to the United States on a non-immigrant visa and not allowed to possess a firearm. In October 2019, Martinez was driving a truck down Interstate-45 when law enforcement noticed a defective taillight and pulled the vehicle over. A search was conducted of Martinez’s truck. Law enforcement recovered five firearms hidden in various packages. This case was investigated by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith prosecuted this case.
SENTENCING – ROBERT RIVEROS
On October 5, Robert Riveros was sentenced to 22 years for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of crime of violence. In 2016, Riveros was charged along with four other coconspirators for a string of violent robberies against jewelers. In one instance, Riveros punched through a car window of a jewelry salesman and took a case containing jewelry. The jewelry salesman attempted to enter a co-defendant’s vehicle through the window and to retrieve his case. Riveros and other co-defendants drove to an apartment complex in Irving, where the victim was removed from the vehicle and beaten, which contributed to his death. This case was investigated by the FBI, Dallas Police Department, and the DFW International Airport Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Robinson is prosecuted this case.
GUILTY PLEA – ANTONIO LULE
On October 6, Antonio Lule, 26, plead guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees. FBI agents obtained a search warrant for a Dallas residence. Shortly before SWAT arrived at the residence, FBI agents who had been conducting surveillance that morning arrived and encountered Lule, who began yelling profanity at the agents. When SWAT arrived, agents gave verbal commands to Lule so law enforcement could detain him. Lule initially refused to obey the commands given by agents. As Lule was being detained he intentionally bit an agent. Lule faces up to 1 year years in federal prison for his crimes. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S Attorney P.J. Meitl is prosecuting this case.
SENTENCING – ARTURO CALDERON
On October 7, Arturo Calderon, 26, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Between February 2018 and February 2019, Calderon purchased numerous firearms from licensed vendors. During the purchase of these firearms, Calderon responded falsely to the question on the ATF Form that asks if the buyer is “the actual transferee/buyer of the firearms(s) listed on this form.” Calderon purchased at least 16 firearms that he then gave to an individual who covered the cost of the firearms, and then additionally compensated Calderon. This case was investigated by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jon Bradshaw and Brian McKay prosecuted the case.
Muskogee Man Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Wayne Miller, age 41, of Muskogee, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to Child Abuse In Indian Country (2 Counts) in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1151, 1153, and Title 21, Oklahoma Statutes, Section 843.5(A), punishable by not more than life imprisonment, a fine up to $5,000.00, or both for each count.
The Indictment alleged that on or about January 12, 2019, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian Country, the defendant, an Indian, did willfully and maliciously cause and threaten harm to the health, safety, and welfare of E.M., a child under the age of eighteen, by striking E.M.
The Indictment further alleged that on or about January 17, 2019, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian Country, the defendant, an Indian, did willfully and maliciously cause and threaten harm to the health, safety, and welfare of S.M., a child under the age of eighteen, by striking S.M.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Cory Ortega represented the United States.
Monmouth County Company Sued for Illegally Obtaining Government ContractsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The Justice Department today sued a Monmouth County, New Jersey, company for allegedly defrauding the United States by falsely claiming to be eligible for more than $16.5 million in government contracts set aside for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
VE Source LLC, based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, and its owners, Sherman Barton and Chris Neary, along with a related company, Vertical Source Inc., allegedly defrauded the government by falsely claiming that VE Source was eligible for government contracts set aside for companies owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.
To promote contracting opportunities for United States veterans, Congress has authorized federal agencies to make contracts available exclusively to service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses, known as “SDVOSBs.” Small businesses must be both majority-owned by and controlled on a long-term and day-to-day basis by service-disabled veterans.
According to the complaint:
VE Source obtained contracts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), a component of the U.S. Department of Defense. Under the DLA contract, VE Source was paid to deliver fire-retardant coveralls for the U.S. Navy; under the USDA contract, VE Source was paid to deliver aprons and apron strings to the USDA. Both contracts were set-aside for SDVOSBs. VE Source’s owners falsely certified that the company was controlled by Sherman Barton, a service-disabled veteran, when the company was in fact controlled by Christopher Neary, who is not a service-disabled veteran. By diverting contracts and benefits intended for businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans towards an ineligible company, the defendants undercut the express congressional purpose in enacting laws intended to encourage the awards of federal contracts to SDVOSBs.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General, acting under the direction of Inspector General Carol F. Ochoa; The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong; and the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leigh-Alistair Barzey, with the investigation leading to the filing of this civil fraud complaint.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David V. Simunovich and Mark C. Orlowski of the U.S. Attorney’s Government Fraud Unit in Newark.
Mescalero man pleads guilty to assault with a dangerous weaponRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Samuel Joseph Chee, 26, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, pleaded guilty in federal court on Oct. 8 to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.
In the plea agreement, Chee admitted that in January he assaulted a victim identified in court records as Jane Doe with a knife. Jane Doe, also an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, suffered a multiple lacerations to both arms and one thumb and required emergency medical treatment.
The assault occurred on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Otero County, New Mexico.
By the terms of the plea agreement, Chee faces 18 months in prison in addition to five months he served in Mescalero tribal custody for the same offense. Upon his release from prison, Chee will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.