Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
9 October 2020
Former Missouri Resident Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Dozens in Odometer Roll Back SchemeRead the Press Release
WILFRED J. ALBANESE, 50, formerly of Waterbury, Connecticut and Blue Springs, Missouri, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for fraud and identity theft offenses stemming from the sale of numerous used vehicles with altered odometers.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately August 2014 and October 2015, Albanese, while residing in Missouri, sold approximately 43 vehicles with altered odometers to unsuspecting purchasers. As part of the scheme, Albanese purchased high-mileage used vehicles and then used a variety of means to alter or reduce the mileage shown on the vehicles’ odometers. He also concealed mechanical issues with those vehicles by removing “check engine” lights from the instrument panels, providing buyers with phony maintenance receipts and vehicle history reports, and concealing rust and other damage to the vehicle through paint or other means. Albanese obtained Certificates of Title for the used vehicles he purchased. Under the assumed identities of the persons listed on those Certificates of Title, he advertised and sold the vehicles to customers on Craigslist.org. Most of the victim purchasers resided in Missouri.
Judge Shea ordered Albanese to pay $51,600 in restitution.
On May 22, 2019, a grand jury in the Western District of Missouri returned a 20-count indictment charging Albanese and his accomplice with offenses related to this scheme. Albanese was located and arrested in New London, Connecticut, on July 18, 2019. The case was subsequently transferred from the Western District of Missouri to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution.
Albanese has been detained since his arrest. On July 15, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Albanese’s criminal history includes 12 convictions for fraud, larceny, burglary and other offenses.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Freismuth of the District of Connecticut, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Casey of the Western District of Missouri.
NHTSA estimates that odometer fraud in the U.S. results in consumer losses of more than $1 billion annually. Individuals with information relating to odometer tampering should call NHTSA’s odometer fraud hotline at (888) 327-4236 or (202) 366-4761. More information on odometer fraud is available on the NHTSA website at https://www.nhtsa.gov/odometer-fraud.
Former Long Island Liquor Distributor Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Defrauding Investors in Wine Product Featured on “Shark Tank” TV ShowRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Joseph Falcone, who formerly operated a wine and liquor distribution business known as 3G’S VINO LLC, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sandra J. Feuerstein to 24 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud investors. As part of the sentence, Falcone was ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution to seven of 3G’S investors. Falcone pleaded guilty in June 2019.
Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentencing.
“Falcone’s victims were reeled in by his “Shark Tank” pitch, but with today’s sentence, the defendant is now squarely on the hook for his crimes,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “This Office remains committed to prosecuting those who mislead the public and abuse the trust placed in them to engage in fraud against their own investors.” Mr. DuCharme thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, for its outstanding investigative work on the case.
In December 2012, Falcone established 3G’S, which was based in Bethpage and Farmingdale, New York. Among other products, 3G’S distributed a single-serving wine in a sealed glass, which was featured on the television program “Shark Tank.” Between September 2014 and November 2015, Falcone solicited investments and promised potential investors that their money would be used to fund 3G’S by purchasing the single-serving wine product. Relying on those promises, investors wired money to bank accounts in Florida controlled by Falcone. Rather than invest the money as promised, Falcone used approximately $527,064 for his personal benefit – paying off the mortgage on a residence in Florida and funding his online securities trading.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley T. King and Madeline M. O’Connor are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
JOSEPH FALCONE
Age: 60
Rockledge, FloridaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-257 (SJF)
Former Commander of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A former Commander of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison following his multiple convictions of obstructing justice and making false statements, in connection with the death of a civilian at the naval base.
Following a five- day trial, on Jan. 17, 2020, a federal jury in the Middle District of Florida convicted Captain John Nettleton, 53, of Jacksonville, Florida, of two counts of obstruction of justice, one count of concealment of material facts, one count of falsification of records, and two counts of making false statements, all related to his actions during the Navy’s investigation of the death of Christopher M. Tur, the Loss Prevention Safety Manager at GTMO’s Naval Exchange.
Nettleton was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan who also ordered Nettleton to serve one year of supervised release.
Tur, 42, was found drowned in the waters of Guantanamo Bay on Jan. 11, 2015. An autopsy revealed that Tur had suffered injuries prior to his drowning. At the time of Tur’s death, Nettleton was the commanding officer of GTMO.
“Nettleton misled and obstructed the investigators attempting to determine what happened to Mr. Tur, and this sentence ensures that he will pay a heavy price,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “That price, however, pales in comparison to that paid by the family of Mr. Tur, whose pain was compounded by Nettleton’s actions. The Department of Justice was proud to work closely with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) to hold Nettleton accountable for his obstruction, concealment, and false statements.”
“By deliberately misleading NCIS in the search for Mr. Tur and the ensuing investigation into the circumstances of his death, Captain Nettleton delayed justice and wasted valuable Department of the Navy resources,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Cannizzo of the NCIS Southeast Field Office. “NCIS is dedicated to holding accountable those who unlawfully impede investigations."
The facts developed at trial showed that Tur confronted Nettleton at a party at the GTMO Officers’ Club on Jan. 9, 2015, with allegations that Nettleton and Tur’s spouse had engaged in an extramarital affair. Later that same evening, Tur went to Nettleton’s residence and a physical altercation ensued that left Tur injured. Tur was reported missing on Jan. 10, 2015, by other residents of GTMO. Despite knowing that Tur had been at his residence and injured during the altercation, Nettleton falsely informed his superior officers and other Navy personnel that Tur had last been seen at the Officer’s Club the night before. Nettleton also did not report that Tur had accused him of the extramarital affair, that Nettleton and Tur had engaged in a physical altercation at Nettleton’s residence, or that Tur had been injured. Nettleton persisted in this concealment and these false statements as the search for Tur and then the investigation into the circumstances of his death continued.
NCIS investigated the case and Deputy Chiefs Todd Gee and Peter M. Nothstein of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case.
Five Defendants Charged in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A fourth defendant involved in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy was arrested by U.S. Marshals Thursday in West Tulsa and made an initial appearance today in U.S. District Court, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
Tina Marie Tankersley, 33, of Tulsa, was one of five defendants named in an August 2020 indictment charging the defendants with drug conspiracy and other crimes.
Also charged with drug conspiracy were Charles Dean Studie, 36; Albert Douglas Parker, 35; Sydney Daloise Courtney, 28; and Marty Jay Foster, 52, all of Tulsa. The defendants allegedly conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine in the Tulsa area. Defendant Marty Foster remains at large and is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service.
“Drug traffickers should know that our team of prosecutors and agents will disrupt and dismantle their operations and bring them to account in a federal courtroom,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Keeping our neighborhoods safe is a top priority for all of us in the law enforcement community. I appreciate DEA Tulsa and Sheriff Regalado teaming up to take down these alleged meth-dealing criminals.”
“The Deputies that make up our Tulsa Housing Authority Community Enhancement Unit are dedicated to the safety and security of the families that live within the THA complexes,” said Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado. “There’s no doubt in my mind the people who live in these complexes are safer now that this drug operation is shut down. We are extremely proud of the work of our Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office Community Enhancement Unit.”
The indictment also charged Tankersley and Parker with maintaining a drug involved premises at 1503 West 59th St. South in Tulsa. Studie is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Studie and Courtney are also charged with maintaining a drug involved premises at 1622 West 59th Street South in Tulsa.
The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar is prosecuting the case.
Felon sentenced to more than five years in prison for arsenal of ‘ghost guns’ and smuggled silencersRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 41-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 70 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. NATHAN BRASFIELD was arrested in February 2020 when agents seized 17 pistols and 24 rifles from his home—most of the firearms had been manufactured at his residence as ‘ghost guns’—guns without any serial numbers or registration. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said he was very concerned about the sheer volume of guns and silencers BRASFIELD possessed. “You have your own perception of the 2nd Amendment. Your perception is completely inconsistent with the law and will continue to land you in prison,” Judge Jones said.
“Undeterred by previous convictions and supervision from federal probation, this defendant built an arsenal of illegal weapons in his home and imported silencers from China,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “It is shocking conduct demonstrating this defendant’s abject refusal to follow the law. I hope this prison time will break his cycle of lawlessness.”
According to records filed in the case, in December 2019 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspected a package from China that was labeled “aluminum tubes.” The package, addressed to BRASFIELD, actually contained five firearm silencers, which are illegal to possess under federal law. In February 2020, agents executed a search warrant at BRASFIED’s residence and seized numerous home manufactured firearms that did not contain serial numbers. These ‘ghost guns’ are illegal for BRASFIELD to possess. Further, BRASFIELD illegally possessed more than 300 pounds of ammunition. Agents also seized the gun manufacturing equipment known as a ‘ghost gunner.’ Ten illegal silencers were also seized.
“Brasfield’s sentencing today is a clear message to those who so blatantly disregard the law,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “Convicted felons who are prohibited from owning firearms and attempt to skirt the law will be caught and prosecuted.”
“Brasfield has a lengthy criminal history and has shown time and time again that he has no regard for the law,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Eben Roberts. “A repeat felon, caught in possession of an illegally modified automatic firearm, is nothing short of a recipe for disaster. Brasfield, and criminals like him, should take today’s sentence as a stern warning. HSI and our law enforcement partners, working together, will seek, investigate, and ultimately bring to justice all those who seek to disregard our nation’s laws.”
In 2015, BRASFIELD was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 48 months in prison. He was on supervised release for that crime when he committed the current crimes. Previously, BRASFIELD was prosecuted in state court for crimes ranging from burglary to possession of stolen property. In 2002, he was arrested and prosecuted in state court for sending harassing messages as part of an effort to intimidate a person who was associated with animal research.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Woods.
Federal Jury Convicts Getaway Driver of Two Armed Business Robberies and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a three-day jury trial with proper COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Frederick Coleman, 29, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit multiple armed business robberies and brandishing a firearm during crimes of violence, in the first post-COVID-19 federal trial held in Memphis. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, from July 8, 2019-July 15, 2019, Coleman and co-defendant Raphael Hall, committed three armed business robberies at the following locations in Memphis: Dixie Queen at 4092 S. Third Street; Waffle House at 4313 American Way; and Captain D’s at 2238 Frayser Boulevard. Hall was the gunman and Coleman served as the lookout and getaway driver in the robberies. In the Waffle House robbery, Coleman entered the business, but stayed at the door holding a silver revolver, while Hall pointed a shotgun at the cashier and then took the money.
On January 14, 2020, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Hall and Coleman, charging them with the 3 business robberies affecting interstate commerce and brandishing a firearm during those crimes of violence. On September 15, 2020, Hall pled guilty as charged, and has yet to be sentenced.
On October 8, 2020, the jury found Coleman guilty of the robberies and firearms offenses involving the Waffle House and Captain D’s businesses. The jury was unable to reach a verdict as to the charges involving the Dixie Queen.
Sentencing is set for January 8, 2021, before U.S. District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla, where Coleman faces sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison and $250,000 fine for each of the business robberies, and a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 7 years imprisonment for each firearm offense.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Business owners and employees have a fundamental right to be safe from armed robbers who terrorize our communities with their lawlessness. The senselessness of gun violence has a long lasting effect on victims of armed robbery, and we will no longer allow gun crime to rule our streets. This verdict sends a clear message that there will always be a reckoning, a real and significant consequence, for the commission of violent crimes."
The FBI’s Safe Street Task Force investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Whitmore is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
###
Federal Inmates Plead Guilty to Weapon ChargesRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. -- United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that two federal inmates pled guilty to possessing weapons. Tyrice Perkins, 24, and Troy Covington, 20, inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) at Beckley, both admitted to possessing a handcrafted weapon, commonly known as a “shank.”
“We will prosecute every federal inmate found to be in possession of a weapon,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Those prisoners should expect another conviction and a longer prison stay.”
Perkins admitted that on February 9, 2020, he possessed a handcrafted weapon known as a shank. A staff member at the prison saw Perkins drop the shank in the chow hall. The staff member then recovered the weapon.
Covington admitted that on February 8, 2020, he also possessed a handcrafted weapon while he was an inmate at the FCI in Beckley. A staff member at the prison found the shank concealed in a pair of shorts Covington was wearing.
Both defendants admitted that the shanks were designed and intended to be used as a weapon.
Both Perkins and Covington face up to five years in prison, to be served consecutively to the sentences they are now serving. Sentencing for both defendants is set for January 22, 2021.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Assistant United States Attorneys John L. File and Timothy D. Boggess are handling the prosecutions. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the plea hearings.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:20-cr-00179 (Perkins) and 5:20-cr-00178 (Covington).
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
###
Federal Indictment Charges Man with Using Explosive Device to Damage Suburban Chicago RestaurantRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been arrested on a federal criminal charge for allegedly using an explosive device to damage a suburban Chicago restaurant.
DIEGO VARGAS, 24, is charged with one count of maliciously attempting to damage and destroy a building by means of an explosive device, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Vargas allegedly used the explosive device at the Egg Harbor Cafe in Naperville, Ill., on June 1, 2020.
The federal charge is punishable by a minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years.
Vargas, whose most recent address is unknown, was arrested Wednesday night. A detention hearing is scheduled for today at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain in Chicago.
The indictment and arrest were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Naperville Police Department and Aurora Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is 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 a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Federal Court Issues Temporary Restraining Order Against El Paso Man Offering Fraudulent Coronavirus Prevention TreatmentsRead the Press Release
Federal authorities have obtained a civil injunction against 39-year-old El Paso resident Hugo Chico in an effort to combat alleged fraud related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Erik P. Breitzke, El Paso Division; and, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven C. McCraw.
The purpose of the civil injunction is to stop Chico’s sale of fraudulent COVID-19 prevention treatments through his business and his Facebook webpage, “Centro de Medicina Fisica y Rehabilitacion.” According to court records, Chico allegedly met with undercover agents on October 5, 2020 to sell, and administer, COVID-19 prevention treatments.
This action will ensure Chico, and any others working with him, stop advertising or performing any COVID-19 treatments. In so doing, the government is employing a federal statute that permits federal courts to issue injunctions to prevent harm to potential victims of fraudulent schemes.
HSI El Paso is seeking to warn members of the public who received unauthorized COVID-19 prevention treatments from Chico in the last several weeks. Individuals who received treatment are asked to contact HSI by calling (915) 730-7012. Those individuals are also encouraged to contact their primary care physician, local health department, free standing ER, or nearby urgent care facility for COVID-19 testing.
This enforcement action is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kirk Mangels and Eddie Castillo of the Western District of Texas. HSI El Paso and the Texas Department of Public Safety are conducting the investigation.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove to receive a permanent injunction against the defendant.
The Department of Justice recommends that Americans take the following precautionary measures to protect themselves from known and emerging scams related to COVID-19:
- Independently verify the identity of any company, charity, or individual that contacts you regarding COVID-19.
- Check the websites and email addresses offering information, products, or services related to COVID-19. Be aware that scammers often employ addresses that differ only slightly from those belonging to the entities they are impersonating. For example, they might use “cdc.com” or “cdc.org” instead of “cdc.gov.”
- Be wary of unsolicited emails offering information, supplies, or treatment for COVID-19 or requesting your personal information for medical purposes. Legitimate health authorities will not contact the general public this way.
- Do not click on links or open email attachments from unknown or unverified sources. Doing so could download a virus onto your computer or device.
- Make sure the anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer is operating and up to date.
- Ignore offers for a COVID-19 vaccine, cure, or treatment. Remember, if a vaccine becomes available, you won’t hear about it for the first time through an email, online ad, or unsolicited sales pitch.
- Check online reviews of any company offering COVID-19 products or supplies. Avoid companies whose customers have complained about not receiving items.
- Research any charities or crowdfunding sites soliciting donations in connection with COVID-19 before giving any donation. Remember, an organization may not be legitimate even if it uses words like “CDC” or “government” in its name or has reputable looking seals or logos on its materials. For online resources on donating wisely, visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website.
- Be wary of any business, charity, or individual requesting payments or donations in cash, by wire transfer, gift card, or through the mail. Don’t send money through any of these channels.
- Be cautious of “investment opportunities” tied to COVID-19, especially those based on claims that a small company’s products or services can help stop the virus. If you decide to invest, carefully research the investment beforehand. For information on how to avoid investment fraud, visit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website.
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, consumers may visit the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO websites.
In addition, the public is urged to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or by e-mailing the NCDF at [email protected].
For information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to stop COVID-19 fraud, visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
#####
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.
Federal Court Issues Temporary Restraining Order Against El Paso Man Offering Fraudulent Coronavirus Prevention TreatmentsRead the Press Release
Federal authorities have obtained a civil injunction against 39-year-old El Paso resident Hugo Chico in an effort to combat alleged fraud related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Erik P. Breitzke, El Paso Division; and, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven C. McCraw.
The purpose of the civil injunction is to stop Chico’s sale of fraudulent COVID-19 prevention treatments through his business and his Facebook webpage, “Centro de Medicina Fisica y Rehabilitacion.” According to court records, Chico allegedly met with undercover agents on October 5, 2020 to sell, and administer, COVID-19 prevention treatments.
This action will ensure Chico, and any others working with him, stop advertising or performing any COVID-19 treatments. In so doing, the government is employing a federal statute that permits federal courts to issue injunctions to prevent harm to potential victims of fraudulent schemes.
HSI El Paso is seeking to warn members of the public who received unauthorized COVID-19 prevention treatments from Chico in the last several weeks. Individuals who received treatment are asked to contact HSI by calling (915) 730-7012. Those individuals are also encouraged to contact their primary care physician, local health department, free standing ER, or nearby urgent care facility for COVID-19 testing.
The enforcement action taken today is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kirk Mangels and Eddie Castillo of the Western District of Texas. HSI El Paso and the Texas Department of Public Safety are conducting the investigation.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove to receive a permanent injunction against the defendant.
The Department of Justice recommends that Americans take the following precautionary measures to protect themselves from known and emerging scams related to COVID-19:
- Independently verify the identity of any company, charity, or individual that contacts you regarding COVID-19.
- Check the websites and email addresses offering information, products, or services related to COVID-19. Be aware that scammers often employ addresses that differ only slightly from those belonging to the entities they are impersonating. For example, they might use “cdc.com” or “cdc.org” instead of “cdc.gov.”
- Be wary of unsolicited emails offering information, supplies, or treatment for COVID-19 or requesting your personal information for medical purposes. Legitimate health authorities will not contact the general public this way.
- Do not click on links or open email attachments from unknown or unverified sources. Doing so could download a virus onto your computer or device.
- Make sure the anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer is operating and up to date.
- Ignore offers for a COVID-19 vaccine, cure, or treatment. Remember, if a vaccine becomes available, you won’t hear about it for the first time through an email, online ad, or unsolicited sales pitch.
- Check online reviews of any company offering COVID-19 products or supplies. Avoid companies whose customers have complained about not receiving items.
- Research any charities or crowdfunding sites soliciting donations in connection with COVID-19 before giving any donation. Remember, an organization may not be legitimate even if it uses words like “CDC” or “government” in its name or has reputable looking seals or logos on its materials. For online resources on donating wisely, visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website.
- Be wary of any business, charity, or individual requesting payments or donations in cash, by wire transfer, gift card, or through the mail. Don’t send money through any of these channels.
- Be cautious of “investment opportunities” tied to COVID-19, especially those based on claims that a small company’s products or services can help stop the virus. If you decide to invest, carefully research the investment beforehand. For information on how to avoid investment fraud, visit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website.
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, consumers may visit the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO websites.
In addition, the public is urged to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or by e-mailing the NCDF at [email protected].
For information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to stop COVID-19 fraud, visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
#####
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.
Executive Office for Immigration Review Announces Investiture of 20 New Immigration Judges, Resulting in a 70 Percent Expansion of the Immigration Judge Corps Since 2017Read the Press Release
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced the investiture of 20 new immigration judges today, including three new assistant chief immigration judges. The introduction of this class marks the most recent step in the ongoing development and expansion of the nationwide corps of professional adjudicators who resolve questions regarding the legal status of aliens in the United States and adjudicate claims of relief or protection from removal, such as asylum or withholding of removal.
“To provide for timely, efficient, and lawful resolution of immigration cases, the Department of Justice has prioritized the growth of EOIR’s corps of immigration judges and expansion of courtroom capacity for these officials to hear cases,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “These have been longstanding challenges for the immigration system.”
Since Jan. 20, 2017, the department has increased EOIR’s immigration judge corps from 306 to 520 adjudicators – an increase of nearly 70 percent. During that same period, the agency has opened 137 new courtrooms for immigration proceedings, an increase in courtroom capacity of more than 40 percent. This expansion of critical space for immigration judges to operate and resolve requests for relief is the direct result of a strategic partnership between EOIR and the General Services Administration, which has fostered innovative approaches to acquiring and designing space for immigration proceedings.
“Since 2017, EOIR has responded to the calls of stakeholders by devoting expanded resources to the hiring of quality immigration judges and expanding opportunities for aliens to receive more timely resolution of their cases,” said EOIR Director James McHenry. “I am proud of those efforts, and EOIR will continue to take steps to ensure every alien’s case is adjudicated in a timely manner consistent with due process.”
The names of each new judge along with his or her biographical description and assigned court location is attached in an EOIR notice available here. Information about the operational status of immigration courts nationwide can be accessed here.
Durham Men Convicted of Carjacking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. - On Thursday, October 8, 2020, a jury in federal court found a Durham resident guilty on three felony charges relating to a violent carjacking, announced United States Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina.
Following a three day trial in Greensboro, the jury found KENNETH JEROME WILEY, age 37, guilty of carjacking, brandishing a firearm during the carjacking, and felon in possession of a firearm.
“We are committed to pursuing violent gun criminals in Durham. This case is yet another example. The lesson is simple: breaking federal gun laws does not end well,” said United States Attorney Martin. “I thank the Durham County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI for their excellent investigation of this case.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that on February 5, 2020, at around 10:45 p.m., WILEY and another man approached the victim at a Bank of America ATM at 2 Park Drive in Research Triangle Park. The victim was sitting in a 2005 Mercedes sedan when WILEY and the other man, both brandishing Glock semi-automatic pistols with extended magazines, threatened the man by pointing the guns at his head and forced the victim out of the Mercedes. WILEY then drove off in the Mercedes, while the other gunman and another assailant, JORDAN HART, drove off in a burgundy Kia Sorrento. On February 27, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at WILEY’s residence on Troy Street in Durham. Police located WILEY in his bedroom holding a Glock model 26 9mm handgun with an extended magazine. The firearm was loaded with 33 rounds of ammunition, including one round in the chamber. WILEY later admitted to law enforcement that he possessed the firearm.
HART, age 26, also from Durham, NC, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking on October 5, 2020.
Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for February 8, 2021, in Greensboro before United States District Judge Catherine C. Eagles. With regard to the carjacking offense, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to
$250,000, or both, and a term of not more than three years of supervised release. With regards to the brandishing a firearm offense, WILEY faces a sentence of not less than seven years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and a term of up to five years of supervised release. For being a felon in possession of a firearm, WILEY faces a sentence of up to ten years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and up to three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Durham County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Waid and Stephen Inman.
###
Dominican Republic Official Extradited to the United States to Face Narcotics Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Yamil Abreu Navarro was arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on an indictment charging him with international heroin distribution. Abreu Navarro was arrested in the Dominican Republic on an extradition arrest warrant based on an indictment and extradition request from the Eastern District of New York. Abreu Navarro was extradited yesterday to the United States.
Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ray Donovan, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), and Keith M. Corlett, Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP), announced the extradition and charges.
“As alleged in the indictment, Abreu Narvarro betrayed his elected office and the people he represented in the Dominican Republic by directing an international drug trafficking enterprise that imported kilogram quantities of heroin into the United States,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “The United States will continue to work with its international partners to dismantle such organizations and prosecute its members regardless of their rank or official status.” Mr. DuCharme extended his grateful appreciation to the DEA’s offices in Santo Domingo, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Department of State, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Government of the Dominican Republic.
“This is another example of the insidious way the Sinaloa cartel has infiltrated people in positions of power to further their drug trafficking networks,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Donovan. “I applaud our law enforcement partners in New York and the Dominican Republic for their stalwart efforts throughout this investigation.”
“This extradition and indictment are the result of an aggressive strategy to stop illegal drug trafficking and keep deadly drugs off our streets. This individual took advantage and abused his public office, using it to bring dangerous drugs to the New York City area. Together, with our partners, we have dismantled a dangerous trafficking operation and stopped the infiltration of a large quantity of narcotics into the United States. We will continue to work vigilantly to put dangerous individuals like this behind bars,” stated NYSP Superintendent Corlett.
According to the indictment and statements made in court, Abreu Navarro held public office as the “Sindico,” or Director, of the Municipal Board for the Padre de Las Casas municipality in the Azua province of the Dominican Republic, and was a former leader of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM). Between 2016 and 2017, Abreu Navarro allegedly worked directly with Sinaloa cartel members in Mexico who supplied him and his organization with heroin and fentanyl, and he assisted in coordinating the importation and distribution of over 79 kilograms of heroin in New York City and elsewhere in the United States.
The extradition of Abreu Navarro is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the DEA. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Abreu Navarro faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Francisco J. Navarro and Genny Ngai are in charge of the prosecution. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs handled the extradition in this matter.
The Defendant:
YAMIL ABREU NAVARRO
Age: 58
Padre de las Casas, Dominican RepublicE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-7 (DLI)
Des Moines Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for EscapeRead the Press Release
Des Moines, IA—On October 9, 2020, Jesse Jay Walker, age 32, of Des Moines, appeared before United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey and was sentenced to 30 months in prison for escape and was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term. Walker pleaded guilty to the offense on June 2, 2020.
In October of 2019, Walker left the Fort Des Moines residential reentry center where he was serving the last part of a federal prison sentence for felon in possession of a firearm. Walker left the facility on a pass and never returned. The escape offense was aggravated by his commission of additional offenses while on escape status, including a theft in the second degree (a felony) and leaving the scene of a bodily injury accident in Clive, Iowa. Walker is scheduled to be sentenced on those state charges on December 4, 2020, in the Iowa District Court for Polk County.
This matter was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Clive Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Department of Justice Invests More than $87 Million in Grants to Address School ViolenceRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced it has awarded 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.
The 2018 STOP School Violence Act authorized the Justice Department to create a series of grant award programs under a School Violence Prevention Program. This year, the Department made 130 awards to schools, districts and other jurisdictions throughout the United States.
“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 Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Department’s Office of Justice Programs. “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 Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Institute of Justice, within the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, manage the programs and administer the grants, which include funds to:
- train school personnel and educate students on preventing student violence against others and themselves, to include anti-bullying training;
- implement or improve school safety measures, including coordinating with law enforcement;
- train law enforcement to help deter student violence against others and themselves;
- improve notification to first responders through implementation of technology that expedites emergency notifications;
- develop and operate anonymous reporting systems to encourage safe reporting of potential school threats;
- train school officials to intervene when mentally ill individuals threaten school safety;
- provide training and technical assistance to schools and other awardees in helping implement these programs;
- examine the root causes of school violence;
- evaluate the effectiveness of the approaches to stopping school violence; and
- analyze the perspectives of STOP School Violence Act grantees.
For more details about these individual award programs, as well as listings of individual 2020 awardees, visit here . To see the fact sheet, with information on awardees and the award amounts, click here.
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 can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Dayton man pleads guilty for role in string of convenience store armed robberiesRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Kavonte Knolton, 21, pleaded guilty to two crimes related to armed robbery today in federal court. Knolton will face at least seven years and up to life in prison for brandishing a firearm during a crime violence, and up to 20 years in prison for robbery. Any sentence imposed for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence must be served consecutively to any other punishment.
Knolton and Jamaal Murphy, 19, were charged in June 2020 with working together to rob at gunpoint several businesses in the Dayton area.
Knolton and Murphy were arrested June 29 by Dayton Police and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
As part of his plea, Knolton admitted he helped rob a UDF on Woodman Avenue on Valentine’s Day 2020. According to court documents, Knolton pointed an inoperable firearm at the store clerk while Murphy stole approximately $80 in cash and various tobacco products.
Knolton admitted he helped Murphy rob the Circle in Kettering, Ohio in February 2020 and the Wyoming Mini-Mart in Dayton during March 2020. He is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 14, 2021.
Charges against Murphy remain pending.
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Dayton Police Chief Rick Biehl announced the plea entered into today before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Brent G. Tabacchi and Deputy Criminal Chief Dominick S. Gerace are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Coppell Man Charged in $24 Million PPP FraudRead the Press Release
A Coppell man who spent more than $17 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on lavish personal expenses has been charged with filing fraudulent loan applications, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
A federal grand jury indicted Dinesh Sah, 55, on three counts of wire fraud, three counts of bank fraud and one count of money laundering.
“Mr. Sah exploited this terrible pandemic for personal gain – and he should be held accountable to the American people for that behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “COVID-19 has devastated the finances of hardworking business owners across the nation. PPP funds should be reserved for those who really need them to keep their companies afloat. We are committed to ensuring that anyone that take advantage of the system will be brought to justice. ”
“Today’s indictment shows Mr. Sah’s disgraceful display of greed. Mr. Sah looked at the Paycheck Protection Program as his own personal piggy bank, treating himself to not only millions in cash, but several luxury vehicles and properties, all while legitimate small business owners in the United States desperately sought out ways to put food on their tables and to ensure their employees were paid,” said IRS-CI’s Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office, Tamera Cantu. “This indictment reinforces that IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal partners in the Northern District of Texas are dedicated to working together to protect innocent Americans from these CARES Act fraudsters.”According to the indictment, unsealed yesterday evening, Mr. Sah allegedly 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, which are guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
In his applications, Sah allegedly claimed that these businesses had numerous employees and hundreds of thousands of dollars in payroll expenses – when, in fact, Sah created many of the businesses after the CARES Act was enacted, and no business had employees or paid wages consistent with the amounts claimed in the PPP applications. Sah also 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 $17.7 million in PPP loan funds and allegedly 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, no evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Sah is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Dallas Field Offices of FDIC Office of Inspector General, IRS - Criminal Investigations Division, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant Deputy Chief Anna G. Kaminska of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section Economic Crimes and Public Corruption Section Chief Katherine Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Hilliard 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 COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator for the Northern District of Texas, AUSA Fabio Leonardi, can be reached at 214-659-8600.
Columbus men found guilty for their roles in a drug distribution operation that spanned three statesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – After a four-day trial, a jury has found Rodriquies M. Evans and Cedric L. Douglas, both of Columbus, Ohio, guilty of charges involving methamphetamine distribution that spanned multiple states, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
The jury deliberated for two hours before finding Evans, also known as “Dree”, age 30, and Douglas, age 32, each guilty of one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances,” two counts of “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” The crimes took place in Wetzel County and elsewhere, including the Southern District of West Virginia, Ohio, and Georgia from July 2015 to April 2018.
“This case is another example of exemplary investigative teamwork. It’s this collaboration of efforts that continues to stop the trafficking of dangerous drugs. And the verdict sends a strong message to those who want to sell drugs in West Virginia. If you do the crime, justice will be served,” said Powell.
Evans and Douglas each face up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., and Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol; Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office; the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office; the Sistersville Police Department; the Paden City Police Department; and the New Martinsville Police Department investigated. The Columbus, Ohio Police Department Gang Crimes Unit assisted in the case.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Colorado Tax Evader Sentenced to Prison for Fleeing to Avoid Previously Imposed Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
Colorado tax defier Lawrence Martin Birk was sentenced to an additional 78 months in prison for failing to surrender to serve his previously imposed tax evasion prison sentence and for unlawfully possessing firearms, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
“Let the message from today’s sentencing be loud and clear: the Tax Division will vigorously pursue and prosecute those who defraud the United States and flee punishment, wherever they may go,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman.
Birk, 66, was found guilty of tax evasion by a jury in July 2019. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Birk founded a sole proprietorship, Tarryall River Log Homes LLC, which built and sold log homes. Although the company was profitable, Birk did not voluntarily pay federal taxes on its income. When the IRS began collection efforts, Birk hired a tax firm to prepare eight years’ worth of delinquent tax returns, but concealed from the firm $400,000 of retirement distributions. Even after filing returns, Birk still did not pay what the returns acknowledged he owed in taxes. Instead, he sent the IRS threatening correspondence and sought to impede its efforts to seize money from his bank accounts. He did not make any voluntary tax payments for 2006 through 2018.
Based on this conduct, on Oct. 30, 2019, U.S. District Judge Robert E. Blackburn sentenced Birk to 60 months in prison, to serve three years of supervised release, and to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $1,858,826.
Birk was ordered to report to prison to begin serving his sentence in November 2019. Instead, he fled Colorado with a fully automatic assault rifle, two pistols, over a dozen loaded magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition, ballistic helmets, ballistic vests, and gas masks. Birk remained a fugitive until he was caught and arrested in Florida in January 2020 and has been in custody ever since.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani, who prosecuted the case. Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Chesapeake Man Sentenced to 31 Years for Sexually Abusing ChildRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to 380 months in prison for sexually abusing a child.
“Child sexual abuse is heinous and causes incalculable and unknowable harm to survivors,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Sadly, this horrendous crime is likely to have personal and public reverberations for years to come. I want to thank and applaud our law enforcement partners and prosecutors for ensuring that this defendant will now be in a place where he cannot sexually abuse minors.”
According to court documents, in July or August of 2017, Jacob Earl Gilmore, 38, sexually abused a minor girl at St. Julian’s Creek Annex, a controlled Naval Facility and Gillmore’s place of work. During a weekend in July or August, Gillmore secreted the child onto the installation in the trunk of his car. Once on the installation, brought the child to his office and sexually abused her multiple times. During their investigation, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) learned that Gillmore had been escorting the girl on to St. Julian’s Creek Annex for years.
“This sentencing should serve as a warning that child sexual predators will always be exposed and rooted out,” said Gregory Scovel, NCIS Special Agent in Charge of the Norfolk Field Office. “NCIS remains committed to fully investigating all criminal threats to communities where our Department of the Navy family live and work.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Gregory Scovel, Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Heck prosecuted 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. 2:19-cr-114.
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 224 Months’ Imprisonment for Home Invasion Armed Robbery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Devone Jefferys was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 224 months’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, attempted Hobbs Act robbery of heroin and cash, and the unlawful use and possession of a firearm. Jefferys was found guilty at a jury trial in October 2019.
Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John B. Devito, Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
On July 31, 2015, Jefferys and a co-conspirator, impersonating NYPD police officers, entered an apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to steal heroin and cash from a drug dealer. They pointed their guns at those present in the apartment – including a pregnant woman who was in labor, the drug dealer’s sister and the drug dealer’s mother – threatened them with violence, ordered them to lie on the floor, and bound them with duct tape. Jefferys ransacked the apartment searching for drugs and cash, with his and his co-conspirator’s guns aimed on the victims’ heads and the pregnant woman’s stomach. When Jefferys learned that the drug dealer’s sister had thrown a bag of heroin out a window, he forcibly took her to an outside alleyway and raped her.
“Today’s substantial sentence will protect the community by incapacitating this violent predator, who inflicted injury and terror upon his victims before he was brought to justice,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “I commend the prosecutors and the investigators who worked tirelessly to make this case and to bring a measure of closure to the victims.”
“Thanks to the diligent work of the ATF agents and NYPD detectives of the Joint Robbery Task Force, today the victims and the community finally have justice for this horrific crime,” stated ATF Special Agent-in-Charge DeVito.
“We work tirelessly to keep people from being victims of this kind of violence and join with our law enforcement partners in embracing today’s sentencing,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan Reilly and Ryan Harris are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
DEVONE JEFFERYS (also known as “Moneybags”)
Age: 28
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-359 (KAM)
Bronx Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Ashley Washington, 33, of Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to bank fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately January 17, 2020, and February 28, 2020, Washington entered a number of different bank branches in New Hampshire and made withdrawals from other people’s bank accounts. For each transaction, Washington used customers’ personal identification information, including their name, bank account numbers and false drivers’ licenses that contained the bank customers’ personal identifying information and Washington’s photograph. In total, Washington withdrew over $18,000 and attempted to withdraw approximately $1,600 from other persons’ bank accounts.
Washington is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2021.
“Fraud crimes deprive victims of their money and are particularly troubling when personal identifying information is misused,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We are committed to protecting the identity and finances of our citizens and will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who come into the Granite State to commit fraud crimes.”
This matter was investigated by the United States Postal Service with assistance from the Concord Police Department and Pembroke Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.
###
Baltimore Felon Arrested on Federal Charge for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Frank William Robertson Perry, age 39, of Dundalk, Maryland, has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Perry has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the Boogaloo Movement. “Boogaloo” is a term referencing a violent uprising or impending civil war, and is sometimes used by militia extremists and racially or ethnically motivated extremists. Perry was arrested late on October 7, 2020. A virtual initial appearance is scheduled in U.S. District Court in Baltimore at 4:00 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson.
The arrest was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
According to the criminal complaint and court documents, a search warrant was executed at Perry’s residence, which he shares with his girlfriend. Agents recovered from the bedroom: a black tactical vest containing two ballistic plates on the interior of the vest; two loaded rifle magazines located in pouches affixed to the exterior of the vest; a third loaded rifle magazine located on top of the vest; an AM-15 rifle which was partially concealed behind a nightstand; eight rounds of .223-caliber ammunition located in the nightstand; and other firearms-related accessories.
As detailed in the criminal complaint, Perry’s girlfriend was in the home at the time of the search and agreed to speak with agents. She advised that she had purchased the AM-15 lower receiver in April at the suggestion of Perry, who said that she needed the weapon for self-defense. She told agents that she learned Perry was obtaining firearms parts and shipping them to the residence in her name, and law enforcement found that the items were purchased using Perry’s credit card. In addition, Perry’s girlfriend stated that she had not been involved in building the rifle—that was done by Perry and a neighbor. Perry was arrested while he was en route to the residence.
According to court documents, Perry is prohibited from possessing firearms and/or ammunition as a result of a previous felony conviction. Investigation revealed that while the firearm is registered to Perry’s girlfriend, a review of her social media indicates no apparent interest or involvement with firearms, hunting, the Second Amendment, or the Boogaloo Movement, nor was there any record of Perry’s girlfriend ever having a hunting license, or any other firearms registered in her name. In contrast, as detailed in the court documents, Perry’s social media reflects a substantial interest in firearms and militia extremist activities.
If convicted, Perry faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. 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.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the ATF, for their work in the investigation and thanked the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen O. Gavin and P. Michael Cunningham, who are prosecuting the case.
# # #
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting A Woman on the Fort Mohave Indian Reservation in LaughlinRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — An Arizona resident pleaded guilty yesterday to sexually assaulting a woman on the Fort Mohave Indian Reservation in Laughlin, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Richard Hernandez, 25, of Fort Mohave, Ariz., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware II to one count of aggravated sexual abuse. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled on January 14, 2021.
“Native American women have experienced unacceptably high rates of violence, including sexual assaults and physical attacks,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “Our office will continue supporting and working closely with our tribal partners to bring perpetrators to justice, and increase public safety at all tribal communities within our district.”
According to court documents and admissions made in court by Hernandez, on or about September 24, 2018, he hit a woman with his fists to coerce her to engage in a sexual act with him. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered multiple facial abrasions and contusions, ear pain, bleeding to the head, and loss of consciousness with a concussion, all of which required medical treatment at a hospital.
Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI and Fort Mohave Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bianca Pucci and Penelope Brady are prosecuting the case.
###
Another Clan Del Golfo associate extradited to face charges for international cocaine distribution conspiracyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – An alleged associate of one most serious transnational organized criminal organizations has landed in the United States on charges of distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Jhony Fidel Cuello-Petro aka Mocho, 45, is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances H. Stacy at 2 p.m. in Houston today.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Cuello-Petro and others Aug. 16, 2018. Colombian authorities took him into custody in November 2018. He was extradited and landed in Houston yesterday.
Cuello-Petro is an alleged close associate of Joaquin Guillermo David-Usuga aka Guillermo, 43, who is believed to be a ranking member of the Clan Del Golfo. David-Usuga was extradited to Houston Dec. 5, 2019, and is pending trial.
The Department of Justice designated Clan Del Golfo as one of the most serious transnational organized criminal organizations that threatens the United States.
The indictment alleges Cuello-Petro, David-Usuga and others were involved in the importation of kilogram quantities of cocaine into the United States. Both are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally and one count of international cocaine distribution.
Cuello-Petro and David-Usuga were allegedly involved in an ongoing five-year conspiracy to distribute cocaine from Colombia to the United States. In May 2019, they and others participated in distributing approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine in Colombia knowing it was to be imported into the United States, according to the allegations.
The FBI and DEA led the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Macondo. OCDETF is a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. OCDETF’s principal mission is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in the extradition. The Justice Department also extends its gratitude to the government of Colombia and the Colombian police and military for its cooperation and assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal Alaniz are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Afghan Man Sentenced to 106 Months for Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping and Conspiracy to Commit Murder for HireRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. - An Afghan man, known as “John” Sadiqullah, 32, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday, to 106 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, following his convictions for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.
According to the evidence presented at his trial, Sadiqullah believed that the victim, L.E., owed him a substantial amount of money. After repeated attempts to try to get his money back, through persistent visits to L.E.’s place of business, Sadiqullah contacted Mahmoud Shalash, a local religious leader, to help him get his money back. Shalash had been working with an individual known as Thomas Smith, for whom Shalash had laundered approximately $100,000. Shalash then introduced Smith to Sadiqullah, as an individual who could collect debts by any means necessary.
The evidence also established that Sadiqullah and Smith agreed to kidnap L.E., or his son, in an attempt to retrieve the money; and then, if necessary, they would kill L.E. Three days later, when Sadiqullah learned that L.E. was in Lexington, Sadiqullah, along with others, cornered L.E. at his place of business and called Smith to carry out the plan. Smith, who had been working for the FBI during this entire period of time, reported the incident to the FBI, which then took L.E. and his son into protective custody.
Shalash was sentenced on June 22, 2020, for conspiring to commit kidnapping and committing money laundering. Shalash received two years in prison and five years of supervised release, including one year of home incarceration. Shalash was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and forfeit $81,861.99 in illegally laundered proceeds.
Under federal law, Sadiqullah must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Following his release, Sadiqullah will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Louisville Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew T. Boone and Kathryn M. Anderson.
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.
— END —
2 charged with MS-13 execution-style murder involving baseball bat and macheteRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two alleged high ranking gang members are set to appear in federal court an allegations they committed murder in furtherance of the of the Mara Salvatrucha aka MS-13 international street gang, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Walter Chicas-Garcia, 23, and Jimmy Villalobos-Gomez, 23, are set to make their appearances via video conference today at 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances H. Stacy.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Sept. 29 against the Salvadorian nationals who resided in Houston. They are charged with murder in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to do so.
The two men allegedly murdered the victim July 3. The charges allege Chicas-Garcia and Villalobos-Gomez beat the victim to death with a baseball bat and machete so they could increase their position in the MS-13 enterprise.
If convicted, they face up to life in federal prison or the possibility of death.
The FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Michael Lewis and Britni Cooper are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Julie A. Finocchiaro and Matthew Hoff from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
11 charged in conspiracy to steal account information, money from bank customersRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged 11 Cincinnatians in a conspiracy to steal bank customers’ information in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in an indictment unsealed here today.
According to the indictment, five of the defendants were employed as customer service representatives at Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati, and in conspiracy with the other defendants, stole customer account information from 2018 until August 2020.
“Fifth Third had protective measures and a culture in place to help identify potential misuse of customer information and should be commended for coming forward to work together with law enforcement to hold these alleged fraudsters accountable,” said U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers.
It is alleged the bank employees were recruited into the scheme through social media. The employees were allegedly paid by other co-conspirators to identify bank customers with high cash balances, and steal and provide the customer information to the other co-conspirators.
Other individuals known as “runners” were recruited to enter Fifth Third bank branches to withdraw money from the compromised accounts. These runners were often homeless or drug-addicted. It is alleged they were given false ID cards with their picture and the name of the account theft victim. The indictment details that runners were sometimes taken to thrift stores and bought clothing to more appropriately match the victims’ identities. Co-conspirators drove the runners to and from the bank branches. After withdrawing $3,000 to $8,000, the runners would receive a small payment.
Those charged include:
Name
Also Known As
Age
Keyonte Bronson
Dom
25
Juan Leonard
Tim
27
Duane Grigsby
34
Marcus Knox
Sleepy
28
Patrick H. Walker
Sin Wolf
46
Gregory Palmer
Cook LaFlare
28
Diamond Brocks
25
Kenisha Cavitt
29
Kellielle Berry
25
Jalen Rowe
25
Sharnese Davis
26
Each of the defendants is charged with conspiring to commit bank fraud, a crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Bronson, Grigsby, Knox, Palmer and Walker are also charged with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory penalty of two years in prison.
Bronson was arrested Thursday evening and is scheduled to appear at 2:30pm today in federal court in Cincinnati.
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Yvonne DiCristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, announced the charges. They also commended the investigative coordination of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Springfield Police Department, Drug Abuse Reduction Taskforce (DART) and Cincinnati Police Department. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
8 October 2020
Worley Man Sentenced for Role in High Speed ChaseRead the Press Release
COEUR D'ALENE – Joseph Louis James, 37, of Worley, Idaho, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 46 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered James to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. James pleaded guilty to the charge on June 10, 2020.
According to court records, on March 6, 2020, a Coeur d’Alene Tribal police officer attempted to pull over the vehicle James was in for a traffic violation. Instead of pulling over, the vehicle sped up and led the officer on a high-speed chase. During the chase, multiple gunshots came from the passenger side of the vehicle towards the pursing officer’s vehicle. Neither the officer nor his vehicle were struck. Due to safety concerns, the officer ended the pursuit. Later, officers were able to locate the vehicle, James, and others involved in the incident in Spokane, Washington. During James’ arrest, officers located the firearm that was used during the police pursuit. During his interview, James admitted to possessing the firearm prior to the car chase. James is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions.
This case was investigated by the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Benewah County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime
# # #
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.
Washington State Resident Charged with Distribution of Child Pornography After Allegedly Sending Videos to Undercover AgentRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Christopher Michael David was arrested for distribution of child pornography, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.
According to the criminal complaint filed on October 5, 2020, and unsealed on October 6, 2020, David, 43, of Fife, Washington, allegedly delivered seven videos containing child pornography to an undercover agent.
“This case should serve as a warning to child predators,” said United States Attorney David L. Anderson. “The patience and persistence with which this investigation was pursued demonstrates how relentlessly we will hunt down people who exploit minor children and distribute child pornography. Law enforcement is watching.”
“Fighting child exploitation is a top priority of the FBI,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Bennett. “We will continue to go after those who prey on society's most vulnerable and hold them accountable for their reprehensible crimes.”
The complaint describes how an individual—subsequently identified as David—used the handle “pervyguy40” to contact individuals on a social media application. In April of 2020, David contacted an undercover agent who claimed to be a “bad momma” looking for a “teacher” for her 7- and 9-year-old daughters. David told the agent that his “dark desires” included “incest and young sharing.” In subsequent chats, David claimed to have had previous sexual contact with at least four minors. David also communicated a desire to travel to the Northern District of California to engage in a long-term sexual relationship with the agent’s purported minor children. David exchanged messages with the undercover agent about the difficulties of arranging travel in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and his difficulties in getting time off from work.
To acclimate the purported children to this idea, he sent pictures of his genitalia. He also repeatedly asked for photos of the purported children. On August 17, 2020, in the context of anticipated travel in September, he asked the agent whether her minor children “would like to see examples of what they will learn?” David then sent seven (7) videos containing child sexual abuse material.
The complaint further describes how David claimed to have collected “hundreds” of pictures and videos containing child pornography. David allegedly obtained the child pornography by trading online. In addition, David sent text messages to coach the agent on how to obtain such images without attracting law enforcement attention.
David is charged with distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2).
Criminal complaints merely allege that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted on the distribution of child pornography charge, the defendant faces a minimum sentence of five years, a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a supervised release term of five years to life, a fine of $250,000, a special assessment of $5,000, criminal forfeiture, and restitution. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
David was arrested in Fife, Washington and made his initial federal court appearance before Magistrate Judge J. Richard Creatura in the Western District of Washington. Magistrate Judge Creatura ordered David’s pre-trial detention pending transport to the Northern District of California for his initial appearance in this District.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christoffer Lee is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Marina Ponomarchuk and Angelica Jao. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Wolverine Watchmen Press ConferenceRead the Press Release
Good afternoon. All of us in Michigan can disagree about politics. But those disagreements can never, ever, result in violence. And because of the hard work of the men and women in law enforcement – police officers and federal agents – violence has been prevented today.
This case is being brought in the Western District of Michigan. Some of the defendants reside in the Eastern District, where search warrants have been executed. But at the end of the day, what matters most is that the people of Michigan should be reassured that our state and federal governments are working together to keep us all safe.
I want to thank Attorney General Nessel and her office, for their outstanding work and her committed partnership.
I also thank Colonel Gasper, Special Agent Hauxhurtst, and of course, U.S. Attorney Birge.
Every day, police officers and federal agents put their lives on the line for us. In this case, arrests were made swiftly and safely by those officers and agents. We are most thankful to them. Thank you.
Virginia Businessman Pleads Guilty to Bribery of FBI OfficialRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Robert Bailey, 63, of Centreville, Virginia, pleaded guilty to paying a bribe to a public official, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. Bailey pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information filed in connection with his plea agreement. Sentencing is set for December 16, 2020, before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
According to court records, in 2001, Bailey purchased L-1, a construction management and operations company located in Chantilly, Virginia. In 2008, Bailey became a business acquaintance of an FBI employee when they worked together on a FBI construction project. The FBI employee was a Management and Program Analyst with the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In that position, the FBI employee was responsible for managing construction and services contracts for FBI buildings across the country.
According to court records, in 2017, the FBI broke ground on the construction of a data center in Pocatello, Idaho (the Pocatello Data Center project). The Pocatello Data Center project involved construction of a two-building, 140,000 square-foot complex that would accommodate data halls containing computer equipment and office space. The purpose was to consolidate multiple FBI data centers from across the country and improve efficiency and cyber-security. In 2017, the FBI employee became the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for the Pocatello Data Center project. In that position, the FBI employee had management and oversight responsibilities over the construction of the Pocatello Data Center.
According to court records, in 2016 through 2018, Bailey and L-1 made payments, and gave items of value, to the FBI employee. These payments included 18 deposits totaling $120,000 into a bank account controlled by the FBI employee. From this account, the FBI employee made payments on a personal loan, home mortgage, car, credit card, and vacation travel costs, among other personal expenditures at retail stores, such as a pair of diamond earrings that cost $5,300. In addition, Bailey and L-1 provided the following items of value to the FBI employee: a fiftieth birthday party in Dallas, Texas, including first-class airfare, hotel accommodations, and tickets to a Dallas Cowboys football game; a beach house rental in Nags Head, North Carolina; first-class Amtrak train tickets; invitations to a L-1 company holiday party; and tickets to a Washington Nationals baseball game, among other gratuities. The total value of the payments and gratuities was $128,128.
According to court records, Bailey and L-1 made these payments, and gave these items of value, to the FBI employee with the intent to influence the FBI employee in performing official acts at FBI to benefit L-1 on the Pocatello Data Center project. These official acts included the following: the FBI employee seeking and receiving authorization for approximately $16,000 monthly per diem payments from the FBI to Bailey for L-1 employees who stayed at Bailey’s house instead of a hotel; the FBI employee soliciting and including Bailey’s edits in the statement of work to a $12.2 million construction and services bridge contract (related to the Pocatello Data Center project) that the FBI later awarded to S-1 (as general contractor) and L-1 (as subcontractor); and the FBI employee convincing his FBI superiors to pay L-1 for its work on the bridge contract at higher Washington, D.C. metropolitan-area labor rates, rather than lower Idaho labor rates.
“Public officials who are responsible for administering government contracts bear a great responsibility to do so fairly and with integrity,” U.S. Attorney Davis stated. “Individuals who seek to entice these public officials to reap an unfair advantage in the contracting process will be held accountable and prosecuted to fullest extent of the law.”
“Bailey sought to bribe an FBI official – with direct deposits, sports tickets, travel, and gifts – in order to personally benefit from the FBI’s contracting process. Bailey, like all others who try to undermine the integrity of government contracting, will be held accountable for his selfish actions,” said Douglas B. Bruce, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Denver Field Office.
The charge of paying a bribe to a public official is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or not more than three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value, whichever is greater, disqualification from any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States, and up to three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.
# # #
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.
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, will next appear in federal court in Alexandria tomorrow.
Both defendants will appear via video link for their respective detention hearings at 11:30 a.m. EST. The hearings are open to the public and will occur in courtroom 1000 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan. The hearings will also be available via public teleconference. The call-in information is below.
Public Teleconference Access Information for U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan:
Teleconference #: 1-877-336-1829
Access Code: 7800850
Later tomorrow afternoon, both defendants will appear via video link for their respective arraignment hearings at 2 p.m. EST. The hearings are open to the public and will occur in courtroom 900 before Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. The hearings will also be available via public teleconference. The call-in information is below.
Public Teleconference Access Information for Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III:
Teleconference #: 1-888-398-2342
Access Code: 8324646
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, Crimestoppers Announce the Top 15 Most Wanted FugitivesRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, is urging citizens to report the whereabouts of fifteen of the most wanted fugitives to authorities.
U.S. Attorney Peeler, together with Macon Regional Crimestoppers (MRCS) and its law enforcement partners, announced the new list of the Top 15 Most Wanted Fugitives in Middle Georgia during a press conference in Macon today. The fugitives are wanted for charges ranging from conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. To view the list of wanted persons, please visit www.crimestop.us. Citizens can safely and anonymously report tips at 1-877-68CRIME. Crimestoppers provides automatic rewards of $1,000 minimum payout on the Top 15 Fugitive List and up to $2,000 for tips leading to the arrest of wanted fugitives.
All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“It takes law abiding citizens willing to team up with law enforcement to collectively make our communities safer places to live, work and raise our families. Crimestoppers plays an important role in helping bring our community members together, focused on a shared goal—safer neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to commend the outstanding efforts of Crimestoppers, our law enforcement partners and the public for the continued commitment to curbing violence and building safer communities for us all.”
In addition to today’s announcement of the new Top 15 Most Wanted Fugitives in Middle Georgia, MRCS is launching new social media platforms via TikTok and Instagram, adding to its online network on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and the MRCS website at crimestop.us. MRCS will begin running announcements on these social media websites with photos and videos of wanted fugitives and information for the public to quickly and safely report a fugitive’s whereabouts. To find MRCS on social media, please visit https://crimestop.us/about/social-media/ for links to our social media channels.
“Thanks to a 2019 grant from the Peyton Anderson Foundation, Macon Regional Crimestoppers is able to publish our Top 15 Most Wanted Fugitives List to a broader audience, and we are able to create new social media platforms. These new tools will better involve the public in helping law enforcement capture wanted fugitives and make our communities safer, which is the goal of Crimestoppers,” said Warren Selby, Chairman of Macon Regional Crimestoppers. “I want to thank the Peyton Anderson Foundation for making these advancements possible and our law enforcement partners for their extraordinary support of our mission to increase the safety of citizens.”
In February 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office made a public commitment with MRCS to release a quarterly list throughout 2019 of the Most Wanted violent offenders. 41 of the 45 Top 15 Most Wanted fugitives in 2019 were captured. Macon Regional Crimestoppers is a local non-profit dedicated to increasing the safety of citizens, serving Bibb, Baldwin, Houston, Jones, Twiggs, Crawford, Monroe and Peach counties. The organization partners with law enforcement agencies and community groups to provide anonymous rewards for tips that lead to criminal arrests. To learn more about Macon Regional Crimestoppers, please visit www.crimestop.us.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office partnership with Macon Regional Crimestoppers is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The partnership is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/archives/projectguardian.
Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
U.S. Attorney Weisman Announces $208,000 Grant to Help Track Sex OffendersRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE - United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman today announced an award of $208,803 to the RI Public Safety Grant Administration Office in Department of Justice grants to develop and improve systems to register and track sex offenders in Rhode Island. Awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, these grants help states, U.S. territories and tribal communities register and track sex offenders and enable them to meet the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Funds also help maintain the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website.
“Citizens are better protected from sexual violence when jurisdictions follow SORNA’s standards,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is committed to giving state, territory and tribal officials the resources they need to register and track sex offenders and prevent known threats in one community from posing new dangers to others.”
OJP’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART Office) is awarding approximately $16 million to jurisdictions across the country to develop and enhance programs designed to implement the provisions of SORNA. The SMART Office is awarding almost $800,000 to provide training and technical assistance to jurisdictions implementing SORNA standards. The U.S. Center for SafeSport will receive the $2.3 million Keep Young Athletes Safe grant to continue developing a comprehensive training and prevention program to prevent abuse in the athletic programs of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and related sports organizations. The SMART Office will award nearly $1 million to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research to support maintenance, operations and technological improvements for the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website, NSOPW.gov, which links state, territorial and tribal public registry websites and allows the public to search for registered sex offenders on a national scale.
“Our mission at the SMART Office is to help our state, tribal and territorial partners register and provide notification to the public of sex offenders within their jurisdictions,” said Kendel Ehrlich, Director of the SMART Office. “We will continue to provide both law enforcement and the public with the tools they need to better inform and protect their communities and themselves.”
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
###
U.S. Attorney Trutanich Announces $886,256 in Grants to Help the District of Nevada Track Sex Offenders and Protect Young AthletesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich today announced $886,256 in Department of Justice grants to develop and improve systems to register and track sex offenders in the District of Nevada. Awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, these grants help states, U.S. territories, and tribal communities register and track sex offenders and enable them to meet the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Funds will also help maintain the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website.
“Citizens are better protected from sexual violence when jurisdictions follow SORNA’s standards,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is committed to giving state, territory and tribal officials the resources they need to register and track sex offenders and prevent known threats in one community from posing new dangers to others.”
“These new grants will improve public safety in our district and across the country, helping law enforcement track sex offenders as they move into and out of Nevada,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “Our office and our law enforcement partners are grateful to the Office of Justice Programs for continuing to provide resources for us to better serve our communities.”
OJP’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART Office) is awarding approximately $16 million to jurisdictions across the country to develop and enhance programs designed to implement the provisions of SORNA. The SMART Office is awarding almost $800,000 to provide training and technical assistance to jurisdictions implementing SORNA standards. The U.S. Center for SafeSport will receive the $2.3 million Keep Young Athletes Safe grant to continue developing a comprehensive training and prevention program to prevent abuse in the athletic programs of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and related sports organizations. The SMART Office will award nearly $1 million to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research to support maintenance, operations and technological improvements for the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website, NSOPW.gov, which links state, territorial and tribal public registry websites and allows the public to search for registered sex offenders on a national scale.
“Our mission at the SMART Office is to help our state, tribal and territorial partners register and provide notification to the public of sex offenders within their jurisdictions,” said Kendel Ehrlich, Director of the SMART Office. “We will continue to provide both law enforcement and the public with the tools they need to better inform and protect their communities and themselves.”
The following organizations received funding:
• Nevada Department of Public Safety received $345,681
• Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation received $390,575
• Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone received $150,000
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
# # #
U.S. Attorney Terwilliger Announces $8.6 Million in Awards to Combat Human Trafficking in VirginiaRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today announced that the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), through its Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), has awarded over $8.6 million to fund efforts that combat human trafficking and provide vital services to trafficking victims throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
“The scourge of human trafficking is the modern-day equivalent of slavery, brutally depriving victims of basic human rights and essential physical needs as it erodes their sense of dignity and self-worth,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice is relentless in its fight against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Working with state and local law enforcement and community victim service providers, we will continue to bring these criminals to justice and deliver critical aid to survivors.”
“Human trafficking is modern day slavery,” said Terwilliger. “As a former human trafficking prosecutor myself, I know firsthand that there is no more just prosecution than holding accountable those who would sell, sexually and physically exploit, and ultimately discard a human being. Thank you to the Department of Justice for supporting efforts here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to our critical partners in this all important fight to protect vulnerable individuals and hold traffickers accountable.”
Nationally, OVC awarded over $97.4 million to state, local and tribal jurisdictions, service providers and task forces all over the country, while OJP’s National Institute of Justice awarded the remaining $3.5 million to support research and evaluation on human trafficking.
The below awards were issued to organizations here in Virginia:
Awardee
Program
Amount of Award
Office of Attorney General of Virginia
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
$525,352
Transitions Family Violence Services
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
$588,868
ICF Incorporated, LLC
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
$1,499,911
International Association of Chiefs of Police:
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
$2,500,000
National White Collar Crime Center
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
$1,000,000
Survivor Ventures
Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking
$498,546
Transitions Family Violence Services
Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking
$368,130
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice
Services for Minor Victims of Sex Trafficking
$1,684,000
“Human trafficking is a massive global enterprise with roots in cities and communities here in America and across the world,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is using all the resources at its disposal to help our state, local and tribal partners uncover and eradicate trafficking operations and help victims open the door to a new life.”
Grants awarded under fiscal year (FY) 2020 OVC programs aim to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to survivors of human trafficking. Specific programs:
- The Enhanced Collaborative Model Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking program awards over $22.7 million total. OVC awards over $17.7 million to 27 programs to support the effectiveness of collaborative and multidisciplinary task forces to combat human trafficking. The purpose of this program is to develop and strengthen programs for victims of human trafficking, including enhancing the capacity of law enforcement and other stakeholders to identify victims and provide justice for those victims through the investigation and prosecution of their traffickers. OVC also awards nearly $5 million in grants to three organizations for training and technical assistance for the task forces.
- The Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking program awards over $35.1 million total to 73 organizations to provide six to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for trafficking victims, including rental, utilities or related expenses, such as security deposits and relocation costs. The grants will also provide funding to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment and receive occupational training and counseling.
- The Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking program awards over $4.2 million total to four recipients to integrate human trafficking policy and programming at the state or tribal level. This program will enhance coordinated, multidisciplinary and statewide approaches to at-risk populations to improve outcomes for children and youth who are victims of human trafficking.
- The Preventing Trafficking of Girls program awards $1.8 million total to four organizations, including a training and technical assistance provider, to support prevention and early intervention services, including mentoring and other direct support services for girls who are at risk of or are victims of sex trafficking.
- The Services for Minor Victims of Sex Trafficking program gives over $6.8 million to four recipients to develop, expand and strengthen assistance programs for minor victims of sex trafficking. Under this program, the funded states, tribes, and units of local government will provide (directly and through partnerships) an array of services that minor victims of human trafficking often require to address their need for safety, security, and healing.
- The Services for Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking program awards nearly $2 million total to three organizations to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs for minor victims of labor trafficking whose victimization occurred when they were under the age of 18.
- The Services for Victims of Human Trafficking program awards more than $23.6 million to 43 organizations to support services specific to victims of human trafficking.
- The Specialized Training and Technical Assistance on Housing for Victims of Human Trafficking program awards $643,163 total to deliver specialized training and technical assistance to victim service organizations to enhance their ability to provide appropriate housing for victims of human trafficking.
- OVC awards the Promoting Employment Opportunities for Survivors of Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Project continuation funding in the amount of $300,000 to increase access to quality educational and employment opportunities for survivors of human trafficking.
Grants awarded under FY 2020 NIJ programs aim to understand law enforcement practices with regard to preventing and responding to victims of trafficking. Specific programs:
- The Research and Evaluation of Trafficking in Persons program awards over $2.5 million total to four organizations to build upon research and evaluation efforts to better understand, prevent and respond to trafficking in persons in the United States.
- The Research on Law Enforcement Responses to Sex Trafficking of Minors program awards nearly $1 million to understand how law enforcement practices with regard to preventing and responding to the sex trafficking of minors have evolved since passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000. NIJ was specifically interested in understanding how widely law enforcement agencies have adopted practices based on the perspective that the minor is a victim rather than a delinquent and the challenges that agencies have faced in adopting such practices.
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/ovchumantraffickingfactsheet.pdf. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey Announces over $1.6 Million to Help Arizona Track Sex Offenders and Protect Young AthletesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey today announced awards of over $1.6 million in Department of Justice grants to develop and improve systems to register and track sex offenders in Arizona. Awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, these grants help states, U.S. territories, and tribal communities register and track sex offenders and enable them to meet the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Funds also help maintain the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website.
“Citizens are better protected from sexual violence when jurisdictions follow SORNA’s standards,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is committed to giving state, territory and tribal officials the resources they need to register and track sex offenders and prevent known threats in one community from posing new dangers to others.”
OJP’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART Office) is awarding approximately $16 million to jurisdictions across the country to develop and enhance programs designed to implement the provisions of SORNA. The SMART Office is awarding almost $800,000 to provide training and technical assistance to jurisdictions implementing SORNA standards. The U.S. Center for SafeSport will receive the $2.3 million Keep Young Athletes Safe grant to continue developing a comprehensive training and prevention program to prevent abuse in the athletic programs of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and related sports organizations. The SMART Office will award nearly $1 million to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research to support maintenance, operations and technological improvements for the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website, NSOPW.gov, which links state, territorial and tribal public registry websites and allows the public to search for registered sex offenders on a national scale.
“Our mission at the SMART Office is to help our state, tribal and territorial partners register and provide notification to the public of sex offenders within their jurisdictions,” said Kendel Ehrlich, Director of the SMART Office. “We will continue to provide both law enforcement and the public with the tools they need to better inform and protect their communities and themselves.”
The following organizations in Arizona received funding:
- The Havasupai Tribe - $100,000.00
- Yavapai-Apache Nation - $150,000.00
- Colorado River Indian Tribes - $360,978.00
- The Hopi Tribe - $279,601.00
- Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community - $391,501.00
-
White Mountain Apache Tribe - $385,208.00
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2020-084_SMART Grants
# # #
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.U.S. Attorney McCoy Announces More Than $1.3 Million to Improve Public Safety, Serve Crime Victims in Tribal Communities in District of South CarolinaRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr., today announced more than $1.3 million in Department of Justice grants to improve public safety, serve victims of crime and support youth programs in tribal communities in the District of South Carolina.
“American Indian and Alaska Native communities experience rates of violent crime and domestic abuse that are among the highest in the nation,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The awards announced today underscore the Department of Justice’s deep commitment to improving public safety in tribal communities throughout the United States. This administration will continue to work closely with our tribal partners to guarantee that they have the resources they need to combat violence and bring criminals to justice.”
“All those within the District of South Carolina deserve to be safe in their communities,” said U.S. Attorney McCoy. “These awards will go directly to the tribal communities within South Carolina to provide critical resources to this end. Further, this office remains at the ready to assist these communities as needed.”
A total of more than $103 million is being awarded to tribes across the country under the Justice Department’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation. CTAS supports activities that enhance law enforcement and tribal justice practices, expand victim services and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts. CTAS grants are administered by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs ($41.5 million), Office on Violence Against Women ($39.1 million) and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services ($22.5 million).
An additional $113 million is being awarded to 133 applicants nationwide under the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program. This program, managed by OJP’s Office for Victims of Crime, is designed to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime and promote other public safety initiatives.
“Public safety officials and victim service providers in Indian country face exceptional challenges, but they bring to their work an extraordinary array of skills and resources that enable them to meet and overcome any obstacle,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is proud to help fulfill Attorney General Barr's strong commitment – and the federal government's long-standing responsibility – to our tribal partners in the matter of their citizens' safety and wellbeing.”
In addition to the CTAS and Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside awards, the Office on Violence Against Women is making additional tribal awards of more than $31 million to support a wide range of efforts to address the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.
“OVW’s funding supports Native American and Alaska Native communities as they work across their communities to prevent and respond to gender based violence,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Laura L. Rogers. “These awards represent the strong commitment that OVW has made to help protect the most vulnerable members of tribal communities.”
Additional awards to support tribal public safety efforts are being made by OJP and the COPS Office. These grants will provide community policing training and other training and technical assistance. Awards will also address the needs of tribal youth, fund tribal reentry efforts, help tribes combat substance abuse and manage sex offenders, and support tribal research. In addition, funds support efforts in 17 tribal communities to address the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
“Ensuring our nation’s tribal communities have the resources they need is paramount for the COPS Office and the Department of Justice,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “These awards are a critical component to the overall public safety strategy for tribal law enforcement and the COPS Office is honored to provide vital resources to hire more sworn officer positions, advance tribal training and procure equipment needed to keep communities safe.”
The following organizations in the District of South Carolina received funding:
- Catawba Indian Nation: $898,003.00
- Catawba Indian Nation Tribal Youth Program: $416,030
A full listing of all the announced CTAS awards is available here. A full listing of all Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program awards is available here.
#####
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 McCoy Announces $33 Million to Assist Victims in the District of South CarolinaRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr., announced today announced more than $33 million in Department of Justice grants to assist victims in the District of South Carolina. 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. 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 organizations in the District of South Carolina will support local 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 departments.
“It is a top priority of this office to take care of victims,” said U.S. Attorney McCoy. “These funds help ensure that those who provide direct support to crime victims are able to continue their critical work. Although we can never undo what has happened to victims of criminal activity, we can work with our partners to provide services and compensation for victims to rebuild, refocus, and recover.”
State victim compensation programs 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. Additional information about FY 2020 grant awards made by OVC can be found online at the OVC Awards Listing webpage.
#####
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 John C. Anderson announces $399,499 to help Pueblo of Acoma track sex offenders and protect young athletesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson today announced an award of $399,499 in Department of Justice grants to develop and improve systems to register and track sex offenders in Pueblo of Acoma. Awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, these grants help states, U.S. territories and tribal communities register and track sex offenders and enable them to meet the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Funds also help maintain the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website.
“One of the most important resources to keep our communities safe is information,” said Anderson. “It is vital that we are able to update and coordinate information so that it is easy to access and use. I am very pleased to have this award coming to the Pueblo of Acoma to help enhance public safety here in the District of New Mexico.”
“Citizens are better protected from sexual violence when jurisdictions follow SORNA’s standards,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is committed to giving state, territory and tribal officials the resources they need to register and track sex offenders and prevent known threats in one community from posing new dangers to others.”
OJP’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART Office) is awarding approximately $16 million to jurisdictions across the country to develop and enhance programs designed to implement the provisions of SORNA. The SMART Office is awarding almost $800,000 to provide training and technical assistance to jurisdictions implementing SORNA standards. The U.S. Center for SafeSport will receive the $2.3 million Keep Young Athletes Safe grant to continue developing a comprehensive training and prevention program to prevent abuse in the athletic programs of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and related sports organizations. The SMART Office will award nearly $1 million to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research to support maintenance, operations and technological improvements for the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website, NSOPW.gov, which links state, territorial and tribal public registry websites and allows the public to search for registered sex offenders on a national scale.
“Our mission at the SMART Office is to help our state, tribal and territorial partners register and provide notification to the public of sex offenders within their jurisdictions,” said Kendel Ehrlich, Director of the SMART Office. “We will continue to provide both law enforcement and the public with the tools they need to better inform and protect their communities and themselves.”
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Two Former Ebay Employees Plead Guilty to Aggressive Cyberstalking Campaign Targeting Natick CoupleRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two former employees of eBay, Inc. pleaded guilty today to their roles in a cyberstalking campaign targeting the editor and publisher of a newsletter that eBay executives viewed as critical of the company.
Stephanie Popp, 32, of San Jose, Calif., eBay’s former Senior Manager of Global Intelligence, and Veronica Zea, 26, of San Jose, Calif., a former eBay contractor who worked as an intelligence analyst in eBay’s Global Intelligence Center (GIC), pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Feb. 25, 2021.
Popp and Zea were charged along with co-defendants Brian Gilbert, 51, of San Jose, Calif., a former Senior Manager of Special Operations for eBay’s Global Security Team and Stephanie Stockwell, 26, of Redwood City, Calif., the former manager of eBay’s GIC. Gilbert and Stockwell are scheduled to plead guilty on Oct. 29, 2020.
Former eBay executives, James Baugh and David Harville, were charged on June 15, 2020. Phil Cooke, another former member of eBay’s Global Security Team, was also charged and is scheduled to plead guilty on Oct. 27, 2020
According to the charging documents, the victims of the cyberstalking campaign were a Natick couple who are the editor and publisher of an online newsletter that covers ecommerce companies, including eBay. Members of the executive leadership team at eBay followed the newsletter’s posts, often taking issue with its content and the anonymous comments underneath the editor’s stories.
It is alleged that in August 2019, after the newsletter published an article about litigation involving eBay, two members of eBay’s executive leadership team sent or forwarded text messages suggesting that it was time to “take down” the newsletter’s editor.
In response, Popp and Zea, and allegedly Baugh, Harville, Gilbert and Stockwell, executed a three-part harassment campaign. Among other things, several of the defendants allegedly ordered anonymous and disturbing deliveries to the victims’ home, including a preserved fetal pig, a bloody pig Halloween mask, a funeral wreath, a book on surviving the loss of a spouse, and pornography addressed to the victims but delivered to their neighbor’s homes. Zea used cash to purchase prepaid debit cards for use in the campaign and ordered insects to the victims’ home.
As part of the second phase of the campaign, Popp sent private Twitter messages and public tweets, drafted or approved by Baugh, Gilbert, or Cooke, criticizing the newsletter’s content and threatening to travel to the victims in Natick. The charging documents allege that Baugh, Gilbert, Popp and Cooke planned for these messages to become increasingly disturbing, culminating with “doxing” the victims (i.e., publishing their home address). It is alleged that the very same group intended to then have Gilbert, a former Santa Clara police captain, approach the victims with an offer to help stop the harassment that the defendants were secretly causing, in an effort to promote good will towards eBay, generate more favorable coverage in the newsletter, and identify the individuals behind the anonymous comments.
The third phase of the campaign allegedly involved covertly surveilling the victims in their home and community. According to the complaint, Harville and Zea registered for a software development conference to explain their trip to Boston on Aug. 15, 2019. Baugh, Harville, and Zea (and later Popp) drove to the victims’ home in Natick several times, with Harville and Baugh allegedly intending to break into the victims’ garage and install a GPS tracking device on their car. As protection in the event if they were stopped by police, Baugh and Harville allegedly carried false documents purporting to show that they were investigating the victims as “Persons of Interest” who had threatened eBay executives. The victims spotted this surveillance, and notified the Natick Police Department who began investigating.
Aware that the police were investigating, the defendants allegedly sought to interfere with the investigation by lying about eBay’s involvement while pretending to offer the company’s assistance with the harassment. They also allegedly lied to eBay’s lawyers and deleted digital evidence that showed their involvement.
The charges of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses each carry a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Natick Chief of Police James G. Hicks made the announcement today. eBay provided valuable assistance and cooperation with the federal investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto of Lelling’s Securities, Financial and Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Bossier City Men Sentenced for Federal CrimesRead the Press Release
Joshua B. Kimes, 36, of Bossier City, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Kimes pled guilty to the charge on October 30, 2019.
While conducting a narcotics investigation in 2018, law enforcement agents set up surveillance of Joshua B. Kimes and others who were known to be distributing large amounts of methamphetamine in the Shreveport/Bossier City area. Kimes and other co-conspirators were found to be arranging transactions to sell methamphetamine in various quantities. Between April and May 2018, agents observed Kimes traveling from the Western District of Louisiana to Waskom, Texas to purchase methamphetamine. According to information presented to the court, Kimes arranged purchases of methamphetamine from a co-defendant for eventual resale.
On May 9, 2018, law enforcement agents intercepted phone communications wherein Kimes and a co-defendant made arrangements to travel from the Western District of Louisiana to Waskom, Texas to purchase methamphetamine. The next day, agents observed Kimes and the co-defendant travel from Shreveport to Waskom, Texas. Shortly after crossing the Louisiana state line back into the Western District of Louisiana, the vehicle driven by Kimes was stopped for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, agents located and seized approximately 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine and Kimes and his co-defendant were arrested. The North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory confirmed the substance to be methamphetamine.
The DEA and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.
Illegal Possession of Firearm Leads to Federal Prison Sentence for Bossier City Man
Laterreon Daron Morrison, 24, of Bossier City, was sentenced to 78 months (6 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Morrison pled guilty to the charge on February 4, 2020.
According to documents filed with the court, Morrison was involved in a hit and run accident at Hearne Avenue and Hilry Huckaby Boulevard in Shreveport on May 1, 2018. When Morrison fled the scene of the accident, the vehicle that he struck began to follow him. Shreveport Police officers were able to get behind Morrison’s vehicle with lights and sirens activated and he eventually stopped in the middle of Hilry Huckaby Boulevard, exited the vehicle and officers ordered him to the back of the car. While officers attempted to conduct a pat down, Morrison fled on foot. He was subdued and taken into custody. Officers found a pistol inside the vehicle while inventorying it for impound. Morrison, who was previously convicted of a felony charge of aggravated battery in Bossier Parish in 2014, is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Morrison also has prior state arrests for aggravated second degree battery and attempted armed robbery.
The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.
# # #
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.
St. Thomas Man Who Mailed Drugs Concealed in Candy Bar Wrappers Sentenced to Prison for Mailing a Package Containing CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney, Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Kemo Riley, 43, of St. Thomas was sentenced for mailing a package containing cocaine.
According to court documents filed in this case, Riley mailed a package to an individual in New York containing more than 250 grams of cocaine concealed in candy bar wrappers. The package was mailed from the Ottley post office in St. Thomas, V.I. and it was seized on May 28, 2019 by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in San Juan, P.R. who discovered the cocaine inside the candy wrappers. Surveillance video from the Ottley post office showed Riley mailing the package. Riley had been previously convicted for unauthorized possession of a firearm in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
United States District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy sentenced Riley to fifteen (15) months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Homeland Security, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Juan Albino and Nathan Brooks.
St. Thomas Man Apprehended in Hospital Ground Sentenced to Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Aubrey Frett, 31, was sentenced today on his conviction for possession of marijuana and crack cocaine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy, sentenced Frett to 18 months incarceration, three years supervised release, $1,000 fine, and ordered him to pay $200 as a special assessment.
According to the trial record, members of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) were seeking to execute an arrest warrant on Frett when they spotted him under a car port in the area of Hospital Ground. A chase ensued and officers noticed Frett discard an object over a fence. A search of the area discovered a firearm linked to Frett. Officers apprehended Frett and discovered baggies of marijuana and a vile containing crack cocaine.
On January 24, 2020, a St. Thomas federal jury convicted Frett of the marijuana and crack cocaine offenses.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Six Arrested on Federal Charge of Conspiracy to Kidnap the Governor of MichiganRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced that six men have been arrested and charged federally with conspiring to kidnap the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. According to a complaint filed Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta conspired to kidnap the Governor from her vacation home in the Western District of Michigan. Under federal law, each faces any term of years up to life in prison if convicted. Fox, Garbin, Franks, Harris, and Caserta are residents of Michigan. Croft is a resident of Delaware.
U.S. Attorney Birge said that “Federal and state law enforcement are committed to working together to make sure violent extremists never succeed with their plans, particularly when they target our duly elected leaders.”
The federal complaint in this case alleges that the FBI began an investigation earlier this year after becoming aware through social media that a group of individuals was discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law enforcement components. Through confidential sources, undercover agents, and clandestine recordings, law enforcement learned particular individuals were planning to kidnap the Governor and acting in furtherance of that plan. This group used operational security measures, including communicating by encrypted messaging platforms and used code words and phrases in an attempt to avoid detection by law enforcement. On two occasions, members of the alleged conspiracy conducted coordinated surveillance on the Governor’s vacation home. Fox and Croft discussed detonating explosive devices to divert police from the area of the vacation home and Fox even inspected the underside of an M-31 highway bridge for places to seat an explosive, according to the complaint. Among other activities, the complaint alleges Fox purchased a taser for use in the kidnapping and that the group successfully detonated an improvised explosive device wrapped with shrapnel to test its anti-personnel capabilities. The FBI and Michigan State Police executed arrests as multiple conspirators met to pool funds for explosives and exchange tactical gear.
“All of us can disagree about politics, but those disagreements should never, ever result in violence,” stated U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider. “The allegations in this complaint are deeply disturbing. We owe our thanks to the men and women of law enforcement who uncovered this plot and have worked so hard to protect Governor Whitmer.”
“These alleged extremists undertook a plot to kidnap a sitting governor,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Josh P. Hauxhurst. “Whenever extremists move into the realm of actually planning violent acts, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force stands ready to identify, disrupt and dismantle their operations, preventing them from following through on those plans.”
The investigation is ongoing. Agents of the Detroit Field Office of the FBI and other members of their Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the Michigan State Police, are conducting the investigation. FBI Agents and JTTF members in the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI, which covers Delaware, are also involved. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan is prosecuting the federal charges. U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Michigan and Delaware have assisted.
Based on information developed in the investigation, State of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the simultaneous arrest of seven other individuals on state charges of providing material support of terroristic activities and of possessing a firearm in the course of that offense.
The charges in a complaint are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Six Arrested on Federal Charge of Conspiracy to Kidnap the Governor of MichiganRead the Press Release
The Michigan Attorney General Charged Seven Additional Individuals Following a Coordinated Disruption of the Plan
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — United States Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that six men have been arrested and charged federally with conspiring to kidnap the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. According to a
complaint filed Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta conspired to kidnap the Governor from her vacation home in the Western District of Michigan. Under federal law, each faces any term of years up to life in prison if convicted. Fox, Garbin, Franks, Harris, and Caserta are residents of Michigan. Croft is a resident of Delaware.U.S. Attorney Birge said that “Federal and state law enforcement are committed to working together to make sure violent extremists never succeed with their plans, particularly when they target our duly elected leaders.”
The federal
complaint in this case alleges that the FBI began an investigation earlier this year after becoming aware through social media that a group of individuals was discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law enforcement components. Through confidential sources, undercover agents, and clandestine recordings, law enforcement learned particular individuals were planning to kidnap the Governor and acting in furtherance of that plan. This group used operational security measures, including communicating by encrypted messaging platforms and used code words and phrases in an attempt to avoid detection by law enforcement. On two occasions, members of the alleged conspiracy conducted coordinated surveillance on the Governor’s vacation home. Fox and Croft discussed detonating explosive devices to divert police from the area of the vacation home and Fox even inspected the underside of an M-31 highway bridge for places to seat an explosive, according to the complaint. Among other activities, the complaint alleges Fox purchased a taser for use in the kidnapping and that the group successfully detonated an improvised explosive device wrapped with shrapnel to test its anti-personnel capabilities. The FBI and Michigan State Police executed arrests as multiple conspirators met to pool funds for explosives and exchange tactical gear.“All of us can disagree about politics, but those disagreements should never, ever result in violence,” stated U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider, Eastern District of Michigan. “The allegations in this
complaint are deeply disturbing. We owe our thanks to the men and women of law enforcement who uncovered this plot and have worked so hard to protect Governor Whitmer.”“These alleged extremists undertook a plot to kidnap a sitting governor,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Josh P. Hauxhurst. “Whenever extremists move into the realm of actually planning violent acts, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force stands ready to identify, disrupt and dismantle their operations, preventing them from following through on those plans.”
The investigation is ongoing. Agents of the Detroit Field Office of the FBI and other members of their Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the Michigan State Police, are conducting the investigation. FBI Agents and JTTF members in the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI, which covers Delaware, are also involved. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan is prosecuting the federal charges. U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Michigan and Delaware have assisted.
This case falls with the purview of the Attorney General’s Task Force to Combat Violent Anti-Government Extremism. Launched in June 2020, the Task Force is dedicated to supporting the investigation and prosecution of any person or group who commits violence in the name of an anti-government ideology.
Based on information developed in the investigation, State of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the simultaneous arrest of seven other individuals on state charges of providing material support of terroristic activities and of possessing a firearm in the course of that offense.
The charges in a
complaint are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.###
Sioux City Man Selling Meth, Cocaine, and Heroin Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man selling methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin from his home was sentenced October 8, 2020 to more than 32 years in federal prison.
Monee Yodprasit, age 42, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 18, 2020, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In a plea agreement, Yodprasit admitted that between June of 2019 and November 2019, he conspired to sell more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. On November 7, 2019, after law enforcement intercepted over 9 pounds of methamphetamine on its way to Yodrapsit’s home, officers executed a search warrant on Yodprasit’s residence where they seized more than 2 pounds of cocaine, approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 55.8 grams of heroin, two loaded handguns in the vicinity of the drugs, and approximately $24,000 in cash. Yodprasit’s criminal history includes a conviction from the United States District Court for South Dakota, Southern Division, Case No. 98-CR-40170-1, for conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and distribution of a controlled substance. In that case, between May 1998 and November 1998, Yodprasit and codefendant, were distributing drugs, including multiple pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. Both carried firearms during drug buys; and Yodprasit owned at least three firearms, including an AK-47 and two handguns. Yodprasit and the codefendant repeatedly traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and sold drugs out of hotel rooms.
Yodprasit was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Yodprasit was sentenced to 387 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Yodprasit was a major source of deadly methamphetamine in our community - but not anymore,” said United States Attorney Peter Deegan. “Today’s sentence brings to justice an armed and dangerous predator who caused untold damage to so many, including those suffering from addiction, their families, and their loved ones. Through the outstanding work of our tireless law enforcement partners he is done poisoning others and threatening our community and will spend the next 32 years behind bars. I want to thank the DEA, the Postal Inspection Service, the Sioux City Police Department and all other members of the Tri-State Drug Task Force for continuing to take the fight to methamphetamine traffickers. Today is a victory in our continuing battle against the plague of methamphetamine.”
DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Salter Jr. stated, “The DEA is fully committed to the unrelenting support of our state, local and tribal law enforcement partners in holding the line between decent citizens and families and those who traffic drugs and firearms and have no regard for civility,” DEA Special Agent in Charge Richard Salter Jr., said. “This case represents what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies and prosecutors combine and focus intelligence, technical and enforcement resources toward a common threat. Our collective missions are to protect our communities and prevent illegal drugs and drug traffickers from stealing the futures of our citizens.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Yodprasit is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4088.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sex Offender Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced John Wright III, age 36, of Edgewood, Maryland, to 30 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for production of child pornography. Judge Chasanow also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Wright must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Harford County State’s Attorney Albert Peisinger.
According to his guilty plea, between December 2016 and January 2018, Wright sexually abused two minor female victims and was convicted in Harford County Circuit Court for two counts of sex abuse of a minor. The investigation also revealed that Wright produced sexually explicit images of one of the victims, who was nine-years-old at the time. In addition, Wright distributed at least one such visual depiction to another person in exchange for other child pornography. The investigation showed that Wright possessed and stored numerous images of child pornography on two cell phones and in cloud storage via the Internet.
As detailed in his plea agreement, between May and December 2017, Wright posted ads on an Internet marketplace requesting sexual services and referencing children, including ads looking for “pics/vids” of children. On December 3, 2017, Wright was contacted by Keith Taylor in reference to one of his ads. The communication between the two men was conducted through a mobile messaging application. During their conversations Wright offered to “pay for good links” of “kids or infant.” Taylor responded that he liked to trade. Taylor and Wright exchanged videos and Wright offered to send a sexually explicit image Wright had produced of the nine-year-old victim to Taylor, which he did. Over the course of several conversations, Taylor requested pornographic videos of the victim and requested that Wright have the victim “strip.” Wright agreed to try but requested “better” images from Taylor. Taylor sent Wright multiple links to child pornography stored on one of Taylor’s cloud storage accounts.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on two of Wright’s cloud storage accounts, which revealed that Wright had saved 124 child pornography videos and numerous still images of child pornography.
In a separate case, on December 10, 2018, Judge Chasanow sentenced Keith Edward Taylor, age 33, of Kingsville, Maryland, to 27 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for production of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI-Baltimore, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police, and the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and thanked the Harford County Child Advocacy Center for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Maddox, who prosecuted the federal case.
# # #
Sex Offender Arrested in Menands for Attempting to Entice a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Matthew Peters, a 45 year old sex offender from Schenectady, New York, was arrested yesterday and charged with attempting to entice or coerce a child.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The criminal complaint alleges that between October 2 and October 7, 2020, Peters initiated and exchanged sexually explicit text messages with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a 14-year-old child named “Brandon” on a popular online social networking site. After learning “Brandon” was 14 years old, Peters repeatedly asked “Brandon” for “nudes” and “live” pictures. Peters also asked “Brandon” to meet him on multiple occasions and discussed engaging in oral and anal sex with “Brandon” when they met. On October 6, Peters arranged to meet “Brandon” the following day in Menands, NY. On October 7, Peters arrived at the prearranged meeting location in Menands, where he was encountered by law enforcement officers and arrested.
Peters appeared in court today for an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Christian Hummel. Judge Hummel scheduled a detention hearing for Friday October 9, 2020. Peters will remain detained pending that hearing.
Due to Peters’ status as a convicted sex offender, the charge against Peters could carry a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. 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.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Williams.