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Tuesday 4 August 2020
Pasadena Man Indicted by Grand Jury in Cyberstalking Case Alleging Online and Mailed Threats to Injure, Rape and Kill 10 VictimsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury this afternoon returned a 26-count indictment that charges a Pasadena man with making a series of detailed threats to harm, rape and kill 10 victims he met in various social and business settings.
Samuel Trelawney Hughes, 31, who is a citizen of the United Kingdom, was charged with seven counts of stalking, nine counts of making online threats, three counts of mailing threatening communications, and seven counts of witness tampering.
The indictment alleges that Hughes – sometimes using his real name, and other times using aliases or social media accounts designed to conceal his true identity – sent his victims communications in which he expressed hope they would die or in which he made specific threats to harm them. For example, in October 2019, after one victim reported prior threats from Hughes to law enforcement authorities, Hughes allegedly sent the victim an email stating in part: “someone I can guarantee will come out and first bash you head in, rape you slash your throat and burn your car and house.” Hughes allegedly sent another threat that read in part: “I will rip your f****** throat out and stab you in the eyes and put gasoline over your half mutilated body.”
Court documents state that Hughes used online aliases and handles that included xavier.herrera666, parsonstheo38, theoparsons4, tony.hawk.exskater, tony.flavelle450, byword.photography, julius.caesar411, charlotte.massey400, and a.total.wanker400.
The FBI began investigating Hughes in May 2019 after one victim filed a complaint with the Internet Crimes Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov). “After being contacted by both the FBI and state law enforcement officers on multiple occasions regarding the threatening communications, Hughes continued to send electronic communications and letters threatening to injure, rape, or kill at least three of the victims who had reported his threats to the police,” according to a criminal complaint previously filed in this case. “In his communications to some victims, Hughes threatened that contacting the police would lead to the injury or death of the victim or the victims’ loved ones.”
As a result of separate investigations, Hughes was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Pasadena Police Department on two occasions in June, which resulted in charges being filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Pasadena City Attorney’s Office. Federal prosecutors filed a criminal complaint against Hughes on July 10, and he was taken into custody from state authorities on July 24. Hughes has been in federal custody since that time.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The stalking counts and the charges stemming from the alleged threats all carry a statutory maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The witness tampering counts each carry a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison.
Hughes is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment in United States District Court on August 13.
The FBI is investigating this case. Anyone who thinks they may have received threats from Hughes is encouraged to call the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Restrepo of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section.
North Dakota Man Sentenced for Domestic Assault by an Habitual OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Fort Yates, North Dakota, man convicted of Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender was sentenced on July 27, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Vincent Carry Moccasin, Jr., age 53, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Carry Moccasin was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 16, 2019. He pled guilty on April 16, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on August 3, 2019, in McLaughlin, when Carry Moccasin assaulted his fiancé. At the time of the assault, Carry Moccasin had a final conviction on at least two separate prior occasions of assaulting a spouse or intimate partner.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Jasper prosecuted the case.
Carry Moccasin was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
North County Lifeline Awarded $500,000 to Assist Victims of Human Trafficking in San DiegoRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 4, 2020
SAN DIEGO – Today, Attorney General William P. Barr and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump announced that the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), has awarded $35,104,338 in grant funding to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking. U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer revealed that San Diego’s North County Lifeline, Inc. was selected as one of 73 grant awardees in 34 states. The organization will receive $500,000 in grant funds 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 for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment, as well as occupational training and counseling. This is the largest federal investment of its kind.
“Eradicating the horrific crime of human trafficking and helping its victims are top priorities for the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “We are working relentlessly to bring human traffickers to justice and to deliver critical aid to trafficking survivors, who often have nowhere to go once they are freed from trafficking. We cannot allow the trauma of trafficking to give way to new dangers caused by homelessness, which often leads to re-victimization by predators. These funds will provide San Diego victims the shelter and support they need to turn the corner and begin a new life.”
North County Lifeline, Inc., a 24 hour on-call victim services organization, works in collaboration with San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force to ensure that every victim of human trafficking is provided with individualized resources and services. Lifeline’s transitional housing program utilizes a Housing First model, which ensures that factors that often preclude trafficking victims from qualifying for long-term housing programs (substance use/abuse, untreated mental health issues, prior criminal record) are not an issue. According to the DOJ award, this type of unrestricted housing for trafficking victims, in addition to being in short supply in San Diego, is considered most conducive to providing trafficking victims with the safety and stability they need to shift out of a crisis mindset and begin working toward self-sufficiency. Lifeline plans to serve approximately 75 trafficking victims over the project period. In addition to housing, clients may elect to participate in supportive services including, but not limited to, ongoing case management, medical and dental care, (limited) legal assistance, literacy/GED/education assistance, LGBTQ services, substance abuse treatment, trauma counseling, life skills training, and employment and financial coaching.
The grant funds announced today will support multiple forms of short-term housing assistance, including helping survivors make rent payments, cover utility bills or security deposits, or pay moving expenses. The grants are the first-ever federal program dedicated exclusively to providing housing for survivors of human trafficking. It represents part of approximately 100 million dollars in total grants that the Department of Justice anticipates awarding this year to combat human trafficking.
“In addition to the considerable financial support announced today, the Department of Justice and this office will continue to use the full force of our law enforcement resources to investigate, prosecute, and punish the people behind the cruel crime of human trafficking,” Brewer added.
Neopit Man Receives Prison Sentence for Illegal Firearm Possession on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that an individual received a 15-month sentence following a conviction for illegal firearm possession on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The man, Ryan M. Hill (age: 26), formerly lived in Neopit, which is a community on the Menominee Indian Reservation.
The sentence, imposed on August 3, 2020, by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, was the result of a guilty plea entered by the defendant on February 7, 2020. Hill pleaded guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Griesbach imposed 36 months of supervised release.
The investigation revealed that on September 13, 2019, Hill brandished a small-caliber semiautomatic handgun while at a business in Neopit on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Hill later admitted he possessed the handgun.
In sentencing the defendant, Judge Griesbach noted the seriousness of the crime the defendant committed. Judge Griesbach also remarked upon the need to enforce law related to firearm possession and to deter those would might consider similar actions.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Nashville Woman Is Second to Face Federal Arson Charges in Connection with Metro Courthouse FireRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – August 4, 2020 - A criminal complaint unsealed today charged Shelby Ligons, 22, of Nashville Tennessee, with malicious destruction of property using fire or explosives, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.
Wesley Somers, 25, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, was previously charged on June 3, 2020, and his case is pending in U.S. District Court.
The criminal complaint alleges that on the afternoon of May 30, 2020, protesters gathered in downtown Nashville following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Later in the evening, a number of persons gathered in front of the Nashville City Hall, also known as the Metro Courthouse. Using various tools, including crowbars and other objects, they began smashing the windows of the premises and spraying graffiti on the Courthouse facade. One or more fires were also set inside of the Courthouse at this time.
Numerous video clips and photographs of the destruction at City Hall were posted on social media websites, on the websites for news outlets, and on other Internet sites. Ligons is depicted in video clips and photographs from that afternoon and evening wearing blue jeans, a black-colored shirt, a medical mask, and a white-colored bandana on her head. In those video clips and photographs, Ligons is depicted holding a white-colored poster board with the words “F--k The Police” and “We Will Not Be Silent” written on it. In several video clips, Ligons is depicted setting fire to the poster and placing it inside a window located on the exterior structure of City Hall.
Ligons was arrested this morning by FBI agents and will make an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge later this afternoon.
If convicted, Ligons faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI; the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department; and the Nashville Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Schrader and Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Minneapolis Man Charged with Armed Robbery Spree of Twin Cities BusinessesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a criminal complaint charging DERRICK LEE SPILLMAN, 39, with four counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. SPILLMAN will make his initial appearance today before Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit, on July 30, 2020, between 6:56 a.m. and 3:53 p.m., SPILLMAN used force, violence, and fear of injury to commit four armed robberies of businesses located throughout the Twin Cities, including two Holiday gas stations, a Speedway store, and a Subway store. At all four robbery locations SPILLMAN brandished a firearm to compel employees to relinquish cash belonging to the business. After reviewing surveillance video footage from all four businesses, investigators were able to identify SPILLMAN based on distinctive tattoos.
The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, allows federal prosecutors to prosecute individuals who commit armed robberies of businesses engaged in interstate commerce.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Fridley Police Department, the Brooklyn Center Police Department, the New Hope Police Department, and the St. Paul Police Department. This case was brought as part of the Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force, a multi-agency effort that brings together additional federal and state resources to assist local law enforcement to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals responsible for gun violence in the Twin Cities. For more information about the Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/united-states-attorney-announces-new-twin-cities-violent-crime-task-force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin A. Wesley is prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant Information:
DERRICK LEE SPILLMAN, 39
Minneapolis, Minn.
Charges:
- Hobbs Act robbery, 4 counts
- Using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robberies and Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced on August 3, 2020 that Rickey Austin of Milwaukee, after having served approximately 18 months since his arrest, was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Lynn Adelman to an additional 246 months’ imprisonment for armed robberies and unlawful possession of firearms.
Austin had previously pleaded guilty to committing armed robberies at two banks and a convenience store in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, and Fox Point between December 3, 2018, and January 15, 2019. On each occasion, Austin brandished handguns and placed others in fear for their lives. Austin, 65, has previously served 26 years in state prison as a result of 1989 convictions for a series of armed robberies and felony murder.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crime Task Force, Milwaukee Police Department, Wauwatosa Police Department, and Fox Point Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Farris Martini and Elizabeth Monfils.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Middle District of Florida Receives Nearly $1 Million to Provide Housing to Human Trafficking VictimsRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez today announced that the Middle District of Florida received $998,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Office for Victims of Crime, to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a barbaric criminal enterprise that subjects its victims to unspeakable cruelty and deprives them of the most basic of human needs, none more essential than a safe place to live,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Throughout this Administration, the Department of Justice has fought aggressively to bring human traffickers to justice and to deliver critical aid to trafficking survivors. These new resources, announced today, expand on our efforts to offer those who have suffered the shelter and support they need to begin a new and better life.”
“Our Office is committed to aggressively pursuing and prosecuting those who commit these heinous crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “We are equally determined to the rescue, recovery, and assistance of those who have been traumatized by these unspeakable experiences. The awards announced today will provide our partners with much needed resources that will place trafficking victims on the road to restoration and hope.
The grant, awarded to the United Way of Pasco County, Inc. and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. will provide 6 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 grant will also provide funding for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment, as well as occupational training and counseling. The above grant recipients are among 73 organizations receiving more than $35 million in OVC grants to support housing services for human trafficking survivors.
“Human traffickers dangle the threat of homelessness over those they have entrapped, playing a ruthless game of psychological manipulation that victims are never in a position to win,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will empower survivors on their path to independence and a life of self-sufficiency and hope.”
Human trafficking offenses are among the most difficult crimes to identify, and the scope of human trafficking victimization may be much greater than the limited data reflect. A new report issued by the National Institute of Justice, another component of the Office of Justice Programs, found that the number of human trafficking cases captured in police reports may represent only a fraction of all such cases. Expanding housing and other services to trafficking victims remains a top Justice Department priority.
The Office for Victims of Crime, for example, hosted listening sessions and roundtable discussions with stakeholders in the field in 2018 and launched the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center. From July 2018 through June 2019, 118 OVC human trafficking grantees reported serving 8,375 total clients including confirmed trafficking victims and individuals showing strong indicators of trafficking victimization.
For a complete list of individual award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/htvictimsfactheet.pdf
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.
Mexican man charged with attempting to illegally export 92 gun magazines at Laredo bridgeRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 68-year-old Mexican man for smuggling goods from the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Juan Jose Jimenez-Guerra is charged with attempting to smuggle a total of 92 firearm magazines into Mexico, 48 of which were 7.62 caliber designed for an AK-47 type rifle. The remaining magazines were 5.56 caliber for an AR-15 rifle.
He was originally charged by criminal complaint and has remained in custody pending further proceedings. He is expected to appear for his arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.
On July 3, Jimenez-Guerra was attempting to leave the United States at the Lincoln Juarez Port of Entry Bridge in Laredo, according to the allegations. There, authorities allegedly observed two firearm magazines fall from his pickup truck. They conducted a more thorough inspection of his vehicle and discovered the nearly 100 magazines located in the bed of the truck, according to the charges.
If convicted, Jimenez-Guerra face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is 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.Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Months for Timeshare Telemarketing ScamRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS –JESUS ADRIAN LEDESMA BERNAL, a/k/a JSS, age 32, a resident and citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today to 18 months in the Bureau of Prisons after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo of the Eastern District of Louisiana, announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser.
As detailed in the factual basis and superseding bill of information, the defendants, from at least January 1, 2016, to the present, conspired together and with others to commit wire fraud in connection with a telemarketing scheme that targeted and victimized persons in the United States, Canada and South America. As part of the elaborate scheme, the conspirators made unsolicited phone calls to owners of resort timeshare properties to induce them into paying fees associated with the bogus sale of their property. The defendants misrepresented the existence of a buyer for their timeshare and solicited money from the victims to facilitate the sale. They solicited the timeshare owners to enter into agreements to sell their timeshares and pay for alleged “closing costs” with electronic wire transfers from banking institutions within the United States to Mexican banks. There were no interested buyers, the closings did not occur, and the timeshares were not resold. Instead, the conspirators simply pocketed the advanced fees. Of the U.S. victims, 40 were age 60 and older and the total estimated loss is at least $10,000,000.
The defendants, who are all based in Mexico, operated under the business names Planet Travel and Newport International Investments, and at other times used the following business names: Advance Travel INC, All American Real Estate, American International Investment Group, Bear Claw Travel, Best Investment Services, Champion Properties, Closing Source LLC, Equity Closing Services Group, Global Offshore Services, NSC Holding, Peach Title, Sandia Title, Travel and Acquisitions, Travel Innovations, Travel Plus Acquisitions, Travel Right, and World Travelers, Inc. All of these domain websites have been seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice.
BERNAL, who worked as a telemarketer, was ordered to pay restitution of $127,000 USD, a fee of $100.00, and he is subject to deportation after serving 18 months.
This case is the product of an extensive and ongoing investigation by special agents of Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Edward J. Rivera and Paige O’Hale are prosecuting the case.
Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 1-877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime at www.ovc.gov. Additional elder justice resources, training, and outreach materials can be found at the Elder Justice Website at www.elderjustice.gov.
Mescalero Apache man sentenced on federal child sexual abuse chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Pasqual Francis Ortega, 35, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Nation who resides in Mescalero, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, yesterday in a case involving sexual abuse of a minor.
Ortega was arrested on Aug. 14, 2019, on a criminal complaint charging him with sexual abuse of a minor, to which he pled guilty on November 25, 2019. In entering the guilty plea, Ortega admitted that on July 6, 2019, when he was 34 years old, he knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a child who was 13 years old, and that he committed the crime on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.
Ortega has been sentenced to 41 months in prison with 5 years of supervised release. Ortega will be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Las Cruces Resident Agency with assistance from the Mescalero Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services. The Case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearmin Furtherance of Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jason Smith, 36, has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug distribution. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on November 5, 2017, homicide officers followed up on a Crime Stoppers tip regarding a Memphis Police Department homicide investigation involving Jason Smith. Officers went to a residence on Douglas Avenue where they saw Smith standing by and bending down near the rear passenger side of a silver Volvo. Smith then walked away from the officers who saw him toss something small behind a nearby house. Officers detained Smith and recovered a gun from under the vehicle where they had observed him bend down. A bag with 5.6 grams of crack was located which Smith had thrown and large amounts of cash from his pockets. Smith told officers that the gun belonged to his girlfriend but she was not there, and that he threw marijuana, not crack.
Later, homicide officers interviewed Smith’s girlfriend who said the gun was hers, but struggled to describe the weapon. The girlfriend could not tell officers the type or caliber of gun. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted an interstate nexus search on the multi-caliber Diamondback pistol and verified that the firearm was manufactured outside of the State of Tennessee.
Prior to the November 5, 2017 arrest, the defendant had been convicted of felony drug and gun offenses. As a result, he is prohibited by federal law from possession of firearms or ammunition. On September 26, 2019, a federal grand jury in Memphis indicted Smith for possession for a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony; and possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute.
On July 28, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Smith to 60 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "This offender presented a triple threat of serious bodily injury and death: a prior convicted felon in possession of a loaded firearm while distributing a highly addictive substance on the streets. Felon+gun+drugs=a federal prison sentence that protects the community by incapacitating a repeat dangerous offender, and achieves justice by providing proper punishment without the sanctuary of parole."
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force. The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is 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. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Justice Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal Oldham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Man faces federal charges after allegedly trying to smuggle meth inside shoesRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned a two-count indictment against a 20-year-old Haltom City man for conspiring with others to import approximately 438.99 grams of meth from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Cesar Augusto Berlanga Jr. is charged with importing meth into the United States and one count of conspiracy. Originally charged by criminal complaint, he has remained in custody pending further criminal proceedings. He is expected to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge on the indictment in the near future.
On July 9, Berlanga applied for admission as a pedestrian into the United States from Mexico at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge in Laredo, according to the charges. During primary inspection, an officer allegedly noticed Berlanga’s shoes appeared to be larger than normal. The charges allege that while being escorted for further inspection, Berlanga ran towards the streets of Laredo. Authorities quickly apprehended him approximately two blocks away after a brief foot chase, according to the allegations.
An inspection of Berlanga’s shoes allegedly revealed two plastic bags containing a substance that field tested positive for meth. The drugs weighed approximately 438.99 grams and have an estimated street value of $3073, according to the charges.
If convicted, Berlanga face a minimum of 10 years in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yoona Lim is 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.Man Charged with Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that RONALD EUGENE MOSLEY, age 46, was charged on July 31, 2020 in a one-count bill of information with bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2113(a).
According to the bill of information, on July 6, 2020, MOSLEY robbed First Bank & Trust in New Orleans and obtained $10,850.00. Mosley handed the bank teller a note demanding money. He did not have a weapon.
If convicted, MOSLEY faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, five years supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment.
U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González is in charge of the prosecution.
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Madison Business Owner and Company Plead Guilty to Immigration CrimesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Rui Ping Lin, and his company, Red Samurai Sushi, Inc., of Madison, Mississippi, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge David M. Bramlette III to harboring illegal aliens at the Red Samurai restaurant, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Gilbert Trill and U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Rafiq Ahmad. As part of its guilty plea, Red Samurai agreed to two years' probation and an immigration compliance program, in addition to forfeiture and a $100,000 fine.
The Defendants will be sentenced by Judge Bramlette on October 27, 2020 at 10 a.m.
From March 2014 through February 2017, Rui Ping Lin was the owner of a restaurant in Madison named Red Samurai Sushi, Inc. During this time, the Defendant hired and employed illegal aliens, whose initials were “A.D.S.,” “D.G.P.,” “J.C.P.,” “J.S.L.,” knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that these illegal aliens had come to, entered and remained in the United States in violation of law.
On February 22, 2017, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Red Samurai and encountered these illegal aliens. The investigation revealed that none of these illegal aliens had been required to complete any paperwork or show any documents or identification when they were hired as employees, nor had they been asked about their immigration status. The investigation further revealed that Defendant managed the restaurant, hired these employees without valid documentation, housed many of the illegal alien employees at a home in Madison, made the schedules for these illegal alien employees, and transported these illegal alien employees to and from the restaurant. When interviewed by HSI agents, Defendant admitted to paying these employees in cash. The Defendants also failed to withhold and pay federal income taxes on these illegal aliens, failed to prepare I-9 Forms, and failed to report wages to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security or the Internal Revenue Service.
By not requiring such illegal alien employees to fill out employment applications, not requiring illegal alien employees to submit valid identification, not paying illegal alien employees via check, not withholding taxes from such gross income, allowing illegal alien employees to live in company-provided housing, and transporting illegal alien employees to and from the restaurant, the Defendants harbored these illegal aliens and substantially facilitated their remaining in the U.S. illegally.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Glenda Haynes and Dave Fulcher and United States Attorney Mike Hurst.
Local organizations receive combined $1 million to assist trafficking victimsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Santa Maria Hostel and Family Time Crisis Center have been awarded $500,000 each to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
“Human trafficking is a scourge,” said Patrick. “Prosecuting the pimps and enablers is sometimes not the hardest part. The support services for the victims can be difficult to find, fund and maintain. Grants like these take care of the victims with a safe space where they can begin to put their life back together.”
The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and its component, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), have issued the grants to provide six to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for trafficking victims. This includes rental, utilities or related expenses such as security deposits and relocation costs. The grants will also provide funding for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment and occupational training and counseling. Family Time in Humble and Santa Maria Hostel in Houston are among 73 organizations receiving more than a combined $35 million to support housing services for human trafficking survivors.
Human trafficking offenses are among the most difficult crimes to identify, and the scope of human trafficking victimization may be much greater than the limited data reflects. The National Institute of Justice issued a new report that found the number of human trafficking cases captured in police reports may represent only a fraction of all such cases. Expanding housing and other services to trafficking victims remains a top Justice Department priority.
OVC hosted listening sessions and roundtable discussions with stakeholders in the field in 2018 and launched the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center. From July 2018 through June 2019, 118 OVC human trafficking grantees reported serving 8,375 total clients including confirmed trafficking victims and individuals showing strong indicators of trafficking victimization.
A complete list of individual award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive funding is located HERE.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan directs OJP which 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 ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Local man sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing firearm as convicted felonRead the Press Release
DAYTON – A Huber Heights man was sentenced in federal court to the statutory maximum 10 years in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
William Prigmore, 37, was convicted by a jury in July 2019 of one count of illegally possessing a firearm and two counts of illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, law enforcement throughout Ohio and in West Virginia encountered Prigmore throughout 2016 and 2017 at various incidents involving controlled substances and firearms.
Law enforcement responded to a complaint on Deer Creek Drive in Xenia in October 2017, where Prigmore was located in a vehicle with a handgun. The handgun was loaded with seven rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.
Due to multiple past drug convictions, Prigmore is prohibited from possessing firearms. Prigmore was on parole with the State of Ohio when he committed the federal offense.
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Xenia Police Chief Donald R. Person announced the sentence imposed on July 31 by U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorneys Brent G. Tabacchi and Rob Painter represented the United States in this case.
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KC Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm After Being Involved in ShootoutRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Grandview, Missouri, man who was involved in a shoot-out on Troost Avenue and subsequently convicted in a separate murder case was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.
Malliek D. Haynes, 27, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to five years in federal prison without parole. The court ordered today’s federal sentence to be served consecutively to his 22-year sentence on an unrelated Jackson County, Mo., conviction for murder and armed criminal action for fatally stabbing a victim without provocation on the street in front of numerous witnesses.
On Feb. 11, 2020, Haynes pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Haynes admitted that he possessed a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber pistol when he engaged in a shootout on Troost Avenue on April 2, 2017.
According to court documents, Haynes was the instigator of the incident that began with a verbal altercation between Haynes and a group of people at the Troost Market, 8001 Troost Avenue in Kansas City. Haynes loudly proclaimed that he was “a gangster” and lifted up his shirt in a threatening manner, exposing the firearm in his waistband. After the group left the store, Haynes continued to make loud comments to other patrons and again lifted his shirt to show that he was carrying the firearm.
When Haynes left the store and walked to his car, he again engaged in a verbal altercation with the same group of individuals from before, who were now in their vehicles across the gas station parking lot. He took the firearm out of his waistband and they began to shoot at Haynes from their vehicle. Haynes began to wildly return fire, falling to the ground. During the shootout, Haynes was shot in the upper thigh.
The group drove away; Haynes got into the passenger side of his vehicle and a female companion drove him to the hospital. Officers seized the firearm from his vehicle.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Haynes has prior felony convictions for robbery and unlawful use of a weapon.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Missouri. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that identifies the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.Judge Sentences Pittsburgh Cocaine Dealer and Money Launderer to Prison for 12 YearsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 years' imprisonment and five years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws and money laundering conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Garfield Campbell, also known as "Sean Grant", age 45.
According to information presented to the court, Campbell participated in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance from in and April 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around April 2019, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Campbell also pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering, from in and April 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around April 2019. Specifically, Campbell was part of a conspiracy in which individuals, many of whom were born in Jamaica, mailed kilograms of cocaine from California to individuals in the Western District of Pennsylvania, including Campbell, who then arranged for its further distribution. The conspiracy also involved Campbell and others mailing packages containing currency back to the California cocaine suppliers, also through the mail. Federal agents obtained Court authorization and intercepted the communications of members of the conspiracy, including Campbell, and they also executed numerous search warrants. As part of his guilty plea, Campbell acknowledged that he was responsible for between 15 and 50 kilograms of cocaine.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Marnie Sheehan-Balcon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Campbell. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Borough of Baldwin Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. In this case, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force and the New Castle Police Department also participated in the investigation.
OCDETF was established in 1982 to support comprehensive investigations and prosecutions of major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. It is the keystone of the drug reduction strategy of the Department of Justice. By combining the resources and expertise of federal agencies and their state and local law enforcement partners, OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations.
Jamestown Woman Pleads Guilty to Selling MethRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Tracey Wynn, 38, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between September 2018 and January 2019, the defendant was a drug trafficking associate of Douglas Beardsley and sold methamphetamine supplied by Beardsley. Wynn typically received methamphetamine from Beardsley to sell two or three times a week. During the conspiracy, the defendant and Beardsley would communicate often about the operation, including through their Facebook accounts.
On four separate occasions, Wynn sold methamphetamine to an individual working with the Drug Enforcement Administration. On August 7, 2017, investigators executed a New York search warrant at the defendant’s residence and recovered a quantity of methamphetamine, approximately $347 in cash, drug paraphernalia, and mail. Also inside the residence, investigators identified items indicating children lived at the residence.
On October 23, 2019, Wynn committed a moving traffic violation and was stopped by a Jamestown Police officer. During the stop, the officer asked the defendant exit the vehicle. A search of the driver side area yielded two digital scales, one of which had crystal methamphetamine on it. Wynn was arrested at the scene for driving with a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia. At the jail, a bag of marijuana was found in the defendant’s sweatshirt pocket, and plastic bags of methamphetamine were found on her person.
Charges remain pending against Douglas Beardsley. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Timothy Jackson; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, 2020, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.# # # #
International Firearms Trafficker Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Vladimir Volgaev (69, Sarasota) to two years and nine months in federal prison for theft of government property and smuggling goods from the United States, in violation of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The court also ordered Volgaev to forfeit $6,835, which is traceable to proceeds of the offense.
Volgaev had pleaded guilty on August 19, 2019.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, between 2011 and 2018, Volgaev shipped more than 1,600 firearm components—including barrels, slides, receivers, and frames—from the United States to Ukraine. These components were used to construct fully functional firearms, including handguns and rifles. While engaged in this conduct, Volgaev lived in housing subsidized by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”). In periodic renewal applications, Volgaev lied to HUD about his personal finances, including the income he had gained from illicit firearm trafficking.
“Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) special agents are committed to combating the illegal smuggling of firearm parts that fuel violence both domestically and abroad,” said HSI Tampa acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Indictment Charges Former Kankakee Wastewater Utilities' Official of $2 Million FraudRead the Press Release
Springfield, Ill. – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment that charges Richard G. Simms, 73, currently of Marietta, Ohio, with defrauding Kankakee’s wastewater utilities, Kankakee River Metropolitan Agency (KRMA) and the city’s Environmental Service Utility (ESU), of more than $2 million.
According to the indictment, during the time of the alleged fraud, from 2014 through 2018, Simms served as executive director of KRMA, which was responsible for treating wastewater from its member municipalities, namely, Kankakee, Bradley, Bourbonnais, and Aroma Park, Ill. KRMA also treated wastewater from Manteno and Chebanse, Ill., by intergovernmental agreement. During this period, Simms was also the Superintendent of ESU that serves as Kankakee’s public works and sewer system. At the same time, Simms owned and operated Simms Engineering, LTD.
From 2014 through 2018, Simms received more than $2.5 million in salary and legitimate payments: approximately $1,124,288 from KRMA and approximately $1,594,585 from ESU. In addition, and independent of his salary and payments, the indictment alleges that Simms fraudulently received approximately $2.2 million - $768,000 from KRMA and $1,257,000 from ESU - as payment to Simms Engineering for software development by Plum Flower International. Simms and his daughter registered Plum Flower International with the State of Illinois in March 2014 purportedly to develop a software application for medical companies to track medical records.
The indictment alleges that although Simms did not have board approval or contracts with his engineering firm to develop software, he submitted fraudulent and inflated invoices to KRMA and ESU for software development. Simms allegedly circumvented KRMA’s invoice payment procedure by submitting invoices directly to its accounting firm. As a result, KRMA’s superintendent and administrative assistant did not approve and were unaware of the invoices.
From May 2014 through September 2018, Simms Engineering allegedly transferred more than $2 million to Plum Flower International, which represented more than 95% of its revenue during this time frame. Plum Flower International allegedly used approximately $161,000 of the funds to pay another company to create a software application which they attempted to sell on the open market. The remaining funds were allegedly used for the personal benefit of Simms and his daughter, the owners of Plum Flower International.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is representing the government in the case prosecution.
The U.S. Clerk of the Court will set the date for Simms to appear in federal court in Urbana for arraignment.
If convicted, the offense of federal program fraud carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Indian National Sentenced for International Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Indian national was sentenced today to over a year in prison for his role in defrauding hundreds of people of at least $150,000.
“Anikkhan Yusufkhan Pathan participated in an international fraud scheme that victimized 200 hard-working Americans,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Pathan’s conspirators located in India exploited victims who were trying to pay mortgages and apply for loans. Individuals should not have to be worried about being scammed when trying to complete basic, and essential, financial tasks. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those individuals who commit fraud and seek to profit from the financial hardship they cause their victims.”
According to court documents, Pathan, 29, while in this country on a student visa, conspired with individuals in India to defraud approximately 200 people located throughout the United States. In many cases, the conspirators identified people who had recently applied for a loan from a bank. In other cases, the conspirators learned which mortgage company held the deed to a victim’s home or claimed to represent a company the victim had recently done business with. In every case, the conspirators then tricked their victims into sending money to fictitious identities using money transfer services like MoneyGram and Western Union. Pathan used at least 67 fake IDs, each bearing the name of a different fictitious identity and his photograph, to collect the victim’s money from money transfer services throughout northern Virginia.
“The Office of the Inspector General continues its commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate criminal schemes aimed at taking advantage of American Taxpayers,” said Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
As part of the scheme, Pathan kept a portion of the victim’s money for himself and deposited the balance into bank accounts of unknown individuals or wire transferred the money to conspirators located in India. From April to September 2017, during the course of over 200 transactions, Pathan collected $150,000 sent by hundreds of victims located around the country.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael C. Tucker and Assistant U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick 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. 1:20-cr-20.
Imperial Pacific International and MCC International Saipan Executives Indicted on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
Three executives from Imperial Pacific International (IPI) and MCC International Saipan have been indicted on federal criminal charges, including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) conspiracy, harboring illegal aliens, unlawful employment of aliens, and international promotional money laundering announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Shawn N. Anderson for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
On Aug. 1, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a 71-count superseding indictment against Liwen Wu, aka Peter Wu, Jianmin Xu, and Yan Shi. The charges were unsealed today. The indictment alleges that these individuals committed criminal acts while holding executive positions with IPI and MCC International Saipan. The defendants are accused of utilizing criminal labor practices during ongoing construction of the Grand Mariana Casino Hotel and Resort on the island of Saipan. The defendants are further alleged to have transferred over $24 million into the United States to promote their illegal activity.
All three defendants are foreign nationals who currently reside outside of the United States. Upon returning to the United States, the individuals will be arrested, arraigned, and brought to trial in federal court.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Labor – Wage & Hour Division. Leshia Lee-Dixon of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O’Malley are prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anyone with further information regarding this matter is urged to call the FBI’s Saipan Office at 670-322-6934.
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.
Houston man indicted for exploiting toddlerRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old resident of Houston is in custody for charges relating to sexual exploitation of a child, otherwise known as producing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment against Richard Reyes Trigo today for sexual exploitation of children as well as distribution and possession of child pornography. He is expected to make an appearance on the indictment in the near future.
He was originally charged by criminal complaint following suspicion he actively engaged in the sexual exploitation of a minor female under the age of two. He was taken into federal custody July 15 and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray, at which time he was ordered detained pending further criminal proceedings.
The charges allege Trigo engaged in conversations via a social media forum that individuals who have a sexual interest in children allegedly frequent. Trigo saw a post that contained terms commonly associated with the sexual exploitation of children and responded, according to the charges. During the course of the chats, Trigo allegedly claimed he was sexually active with a minor female and claimed he performed sexual acts on her. Trigo later sent four images he claimed were of the minor, some of which focused on her vagina, according to the charges.
If convicted of producing child pornography, Trigo faces a minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison, while the distribution and possession charges carry additional penalties up to 20 and 10 years, respectively. Each charge also carries a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri Zack and Sherin Daniel are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood(PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Houston entrepreneur charged with spending COVID relief funds on improper expenses including Lamborghini and strip clubRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Houston man has been taken into custody on allegations he fraudulently obtained more than $1.6 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Lee Price III, 29, spent the money on luxury items, real estate and personal entertainment, according to the complaint unsealed today upon his arrest. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam S. Sheldon in Houston at 2:00 p.m. today.
Price is charged with making false statements to a financial institution, wire fraud, bank fraud and engaging in unlawful monetary transactions.
The complaint alleges Price was involved in a scheme to submit fraudulent PPP loan applications to federally insured banks and other lenders. The Small Business Administration (SBA) guarantees the loans for COVID-19 relief through the PPP under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Two fraudulent applications received funding, according to the complaint. Price Enterprises Holdings allegedly received more than $900,000, while a loan application listing 713 Construction was approved for over $700,000. The loan applications allegedly asserted both entities each had numerous employees and significant payroll expenses. According to the charges, however, neither entity has employees nor pays wages consistent with the amounts claimed in the loan applications. Further, the individual listed as CEO on the 713 Construction loan application died in April 2020, a month before the application was submitted, according to the complaint.
Price allegedly used the loan proceeds not for payroll expenses, but for lavish personal purchases, such as loan money on a Lamborghini Urus, a Rolex watch and real estate transactions. He also allegedly spent thousands at strip clubs and other Houston night clubs. The complaint further alleges Price used a portion of the loan money to buy a 2020 Ford F-350 pickup truck.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted March 29. 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 the CARES Act provides 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 loan towards payroll expenses.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General (OIG), SBA-OIG and U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Houston Division conducted the investigation. Trial Attorneys Timothy A. Duree, James Alexander and Matthew Grisier are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney James McAlister.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Half-Million Dollar Grant to Provide Housing for Victims of Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE –U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman today announced that the state of Rhode Island received $499,998 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Office for Victims of Crime, to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a barbaric criminal enterprise that subjects its victims to unspeakable cruelty and deprives them of the most basic of human needs, none more essential than a safe place to live,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Throughout this Administration, the Department of Justice has fought aggressively to bring human traffickers to justice and to deliver critical aid to trafficking survivors. These new resources, announced today, expand on our efforts to offer those who have suffered the shelter and support they need to begin a new and better life.”
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman added, “Protecting and empowering human trafficking victims is among the most important societal responsibilities. With this substantial award-grant to Sojourner House, a true leader in the fight to end domestic and sexual violence, Rhode Island’s battle to end the scourge of human trafficking will be aided immeasurably.”
The grant, awarded to the Sojourner House, will 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 grant will also provide funding for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment, as well as occupational training and counseling. The Sojourner House is among 73 organizations receiving more than $35 million in OVC grants to support housing services for human trafficking survivors.
“Human traffickers dangle the threat of homelessness over those they have entrapped, playing a ruthless game of psychological manipulation that victims are never in a position to win,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kathrine T. Sullivan. “These grants will empower survivors on their path to independence and a life of self-sufficiency and hope.”
Human trafficking offenses are among the most difficult crimes to identify, and the scope of human trafficking victimization may be much greater than the limited data reflect. A new report issued by the National Institute of Justice, another component of the Office of Justice Programs, found that the number of human trafficking cases captured in police reports may represent only a fraction of all such cases. Expanding housing and other services to trafficking victims remains a top Justice Department priority.
The Office for Victims of Crime, for example, hosted listening sessions and roundtable discussions with stakeholders in the field in 2018 and launched the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center. From July 2018 through June 2019, 118 OVC human trafficking grantees reported serving 8,375 total clients including confirmed trafficking victims and individuals showing strong indicators of trafficking victimization.
For a complete list of individual award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/htvictimsfactheet.pdf
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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.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Grand Jury Charges Ed Buck with Four Additional Felonies, Including that He Enticed Victims to Travel Interstate to Engage in ProstitutionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today returned a superseding indictment charging Edward Buck with four additional felonies, including that he allegedly enticed victims – including a man who died at his West Hollywood apartment after he administered drugs to him – to travel interstate to engage in prostitution.
Buck, 65, was arrested in September 2019 after being charged in United States District Court with providing methamphetamine to a man who died after receiving the drug intravenously. Since that time, federal authorities have continued to investigate Buck for additional crimes.
The four additional counts charged today – bringing the total number of charges in this case to nine counts – include one count alleging that Buck knowingly enticed 26-year-old Gemmel Moore to travel to the Los Angeles area to engage in prostitution. Buck allegedly provided methamphetamine to Moore, who overdosed on the drug and died on July 27, 2017.
Buck also is charged with another count of enticing another man to travel with the intent of engaging in prostitution.
The superseding indictment also charges Buck with one count of knowingly and intentionally distributing methamphetamine, and one count of using his residence for the purpose of distributing narcotics such as methamphetamine, and the sedatives gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and clonazepam.
Last year, a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging that Buck “engaged in a pattern of soliciting men to consume drugs that Buck provided and perform sexual acts at Buck’s apartment,” which is a practice described as “party and play.” Buck allegedly solicited victims on social media platforms, including a gay dating website, and used a recruiter to scout and proposition men.
Once the men were at his apartment, Buck allegedly prepared syringes containing methamphetamine, sometimes personally injecting the victims with or without their consent, according to the indictment. Buck also allegedly injected victims with more narcotics than they expected and sometimes injected victims while they were unconscious.
Another victim, Timothy Dean also suffered a fatal overdose in Buck’s apartment, on January 7, 2019, the indictment alleges.
Buck is scheduled to go to trial in this matter on January 19, 2021. His arraignment on the first superseding indictment is expected in the coming weeks.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.
Each of the charges alleging the distribution of narcotics resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life without parole. The four new charges carry a statutory maximum sentence of 60 years in federal prison.
Buck also faces charges, including operating a drug house, that were filed last year by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Buck is currently being held in federal custody without bond, and the federal case is expected to proceed first.
The federal case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI. The investigation is being conducted with the support of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea Norell and Brittney M. Harris of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section.
Georgia Man Caught with Drugs Who Absconded from the Territory Sentenced for Illegally Bringing Marijuana Through the Cyril E. King AirportRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Keenan Powell-Ryder, 24, was sentenced today following his guilty plea for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy, sentenced Powell-Ryder to 21 months incarceration, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $100 as a special assessment.
According to court documents, on April 19, 2016, Powell-Ryder travelled on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to St. Thomas with secreted bundles of marijuana in his checked luggage. After the flight landed at the Cyril E. King Airport, a Customs and Border Protection canine alerted to a bag belonging to Powell-Ryder. Officers opened the bag and discovered approximately 15 kilograms of marijuana wrapped in cellophane plastic. Powell-Ryder ultimately admitted to transporting the marijuana.
The Court released Powell-Ryder pending a November 3, 2016 sentencing hearing. Powell-Ryder absconded, and the Court issued a warrant for his arrest. The United States Marshals Service located Powell-Ryder in Detroit, Michigan in December of 2019, and returned him to the Virgin Islands for sentencing.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Four admit to conspiracy involving 31 kilograms of cocaineRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Three Mexican men and one U.S. citizen have entered guilty pleas for their part in a conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to deliver a large amount of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Aaron Hervey Esparza Villarreal, 27, of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, pleaded guilty today, admitting he was part of a conspiracy that involved smuggling cocaine hidden in a semi-truck. Mexican citizens Jose Contreras Rodriguez, 58, and Ernesto Yadir Martinez Campos, 39, and, Viviano Hernandez, 41, a U.S. citizen residing in Mexico, pleaded guilty last month.
On Jan. 17, law enforcement observed two men, later identified as Rodriguez and Hernandez, working on the vehicle. They then got into a sedan, left the area and met up with an SUV. At that time, Hernandez handed over trash bags to Villarreal in the SUV.
Authorities attempted to stop the SUV, but Villarreal led them on a high-speed pursuit before crashing into the Evelyn Motel on San Bernardo Avenue. Inside the vehicle were 31 kilograms of cocaine in the trash bags.
Law enforcement also apprehended Hernandez and Rodriguez as they attempted to enter Mexico.
Campos was the driver of the semi and brought the drugs into the United States from Mexico. He was also taken into custody.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing for Rodriguez, Hernandez and Campos Oct. 28, while Villarreal is set for Dec. 1. At the time of their sentencing hearings, all men face up to life in prison. They have been and will remain in custody.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Fawcett is prosecuting the case.
Four More Arrested in Connection with Nationwide Gas Station Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Four more people have been arrested in Florida and Pennsylvania in connection with an access device fraud and money laundering scheme, for stealing credit and debit card numbers of gas station customers across the country, including in Albany, Broome and Montgomery Counties in the Northern District of New York.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Inspector in Charge Joseph Cronin, Boston Division, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
The four defendants arrested today are:
- Yudiel Ceballos, age 33, of Miami, Florida, charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud;
- Arley Gonzalez, age 34, of Miami, charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud;
- Marlon Palacios, age 36, of Miami and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft; and
- Yuny Hurtado Rodriguez, age 33, of Miami, charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
An initial indictment in this case, unsealed in October 2019, resulted in the arrests of:
- Joan Jesus Manso Dieguez, age 33, of Miami, charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud and money laundering;
- Atnetys Ferreira, age 40, of Miami, charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering; and
- Hugo Hernandez, age 32, of Miami Lakes, Florida, charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud and money laundering.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
According to the indictment, from April 2016 through approximately December 2018, certain defendants – those charged with conspiring to commit access device fraud – built gas station skimming devices and installed those devices inside gas pumps so that they could steal credit and debit card data of customers who used the “pay at the pump” function to purchase gasoline. The defendants then used that data to create fraudulent debit and credit cards, which they or co-conspirators used to obtain money orders, gift cards, cash, and other merchandise. The indictment also alleges that certain defendants – those charged with conspiring to launder money – engaged in financial transactions with money orders and gift cards obtained through the scheme, to conceal the source of the funds and transfer money to bank accounts controlled by the members of the conspiracy.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Albany Field Office and USPIS Boston Division, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in Miami and Pittsburgh, the USPIS Miami Division, and the United States Secret Service Miami Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Belliss and Emily C. Powers.
Four Individuals Indicted for Smuggling Contraband into Dauphin County PrisonRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on July 31, 2020, Danny Cruz, age 42 of Harrisburg, PA, Aida Rosado, age 60 of Harrisburg, and Lizarah Matthews, age 28 of York, PA, were indicted for their role in smuggling cellular telephones and contraband into Dauphin County Prison (DCP) in late 2015 and early 2016. At the time, Cruz was an inmate in the prison. Matthews was a paramour of another inmate in the prison.
Separately, Alice Martinez, age 41, of Chambersburg, was also indicted by a federal grand jury for her role in a conspiracy to smuggle cellular telephones and contraband into Dauphin County Prison in 2015. Her brother was an inmate in the prison facing federal charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictments allege that Cruz and other inmates bribed corrections officers and staff to smuggle cellular telephones into the prison. They arranged for people outside of the prison to get the phones and pay the bribes to DCP staff. Lizarah Matthews was the girlfriend of an inmate in the prison. Aida Rosado is the mother of Cruz. Alice Martinez is the sister of an inmate at the prison. The bribe payments and smuggling were facilitated by transferring money through Western Union and MoneyGram.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of Dauphin County Prison and the Dauphin County Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Consiglio and Chelsea Schinnour are prosecuting the case.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Former Uber Executive Sentenced to 18 Months in Jail for Trade Secret Theft from GoogleRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Anthony Scott Levandowski pleaded guilty and was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for trade secret theft related to Google’s self-driving car program, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and John F. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Levandowski was also ordered to pay a $95,000 fine and $756,499.22 in restitution.
As part of a plea agreement, Levandowski, 40, of Marin County, pleaded guilty to one of the 33 counts of trade secrets theft originally filed against him in 2019. In pleading guilty, Levandowski admitted that from 2009 to 2016 he worked in Google’s self-driving car program, known then as Project Chauffer. Levandowski admitted that during this time, he was aware his employment agreement required him to keep Google’s valuable non-public information confidential. He also admitted knowing that the non-public information related to Project Chauffeur was sensitive and subject to the confidentiality requirement. Nevertheless, Levandowski admitted that in 2016, as he was preparing to leave Google, he downloaded thousands of Project Chauffer files onto his personal laptop. He also admitted downloading a variety of files from a corporate Google Drive repository. Among these files was an internal tracking document entitled “Chauffeur TL weekly updates – Q4 2015.” The update contained a variety of confidential details regarding the status of Project Chauffer. Levandowski admitted he downloaded this file with the intent to use it to benefit himself and Uber Technologies, Inc. As part of his plea agreement, Levandowski admitted that the stolen document was Google’s trade secret, and that a reasonable estimate of the loss attributable to his theft was up to $1,500,000.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining 32 charges against Levandowski. However, prosecutors presented evidence to the court of Levandowski’s broader course of conduct, including downloading thousands of files from an internal, password-protected Google server, describing Levandowski’s overall conduct as “brazen and shocking.” In papers, they argued Levandowski “did the exact thing that Congress criminalized: he took a trade secret on his way out the door.”
The sentence was handed down by the Honorable William H. Alsup, U.S. District Judge. In sentencing Levandowski, Judge Alsup observed “this is the biggest trade secret crime I have ever seen. This was not small. This was massive in scale.” Judge Alsup also sentenced Levandowski to a fine of $95,000 and ordered him to pay $756,499.22 in restitution to Waymo LLC, as Google’s self-driving program is now known. Levandowski was also sentenced to a 3-year period of supervised release. The defendant will begin serving the sentence on a date to be assigned in the future, when risks from the COVID-19 have subsided.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California’s Corporate Fraud Strike Force and is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Former Pharmacy Owner Admits Role in Large-Scale Illegal Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, pharmacist today admitted participating in a conspiracy to pay bribes and kickbacks for compounded pain creams, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Robert Fazzini, 53, of Succasunna, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to violate the anti-kickback statute.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Fazzini was a licensed pharmacist and owner of the now-closed White’s Pharmacy in Morristown, New Jersey. In the summer and fall of 2015, Fazzini participated in a bribe and kickback conspiracy stemming from a scheme to obtain millions of dollars in health benefits from the federal workers’ compensation program by prescribing and dispensing expensive compound pain creams. A Jersey City doctor prescribed compound pain creams for his patients, and a conspirator helped steer those prescriptions to White’s Pharmacy. In exchange for this arrangement, Fazzini routinely paid the conspirator bribes and kickbacks of approximately 50 percent of the reimbursement income White’s Pharmacy received for the pain cream prescriptions. Fazzini and the conspirator attempted to conceal some of these payments by having Fazzini write checks to a relative and different entities associated with the conspirator.
As part of his plea agreement, Fazzini agreed that the improper benefit conferred was between $500,000 and $1.5 million for the charged conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute.
The count of conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss derived from the offense, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 8, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Denahan in Newark; the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area Field Office Matthew M. Modafferi; the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael C. Mikulka; and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua L. Haber and Nicole F. Mastropieri of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the Criminal Division, Newark.
Former Correctional Officer Charged with Smuggling Cellphones into Dauphin County PrisonRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on July 31, 2020, Kyle Bower, age 31, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was charged with smuggling contraband into Dauphin County Prison.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the information alleges that Bower worked as a correctional officer in the Dauphin County Prison from September 2014 through May 2016. It is alleged that during his employment, he smuggled cellphones inside of the Dauphin County Prison at the behest of inmates between October 2015 and January 2016. The information also alleges that Bower received monetary compensation for providing phones to inmates.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dauphin County Criminal Investigation Division in partnership with the Warden of the Dauphin County Prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea Schinnour and Michael Consiglio are prosecuting the case.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Former Aramark Employee Charged with Smuggling Cellphones into Dauphin County PrisonRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on July 31, 2020, Kamilah Lewis, age 32, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information with smuggling contraband into Dauphin County Prison.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the information alleges that Lewis worked as a member of the kitchen staff in the Dauphin County Prison from May 2013 through September 2016. It is alleged that during her employment, she smuggled cellphones inside of the Dauphin County Prison at the behest of inmates between April and May 2015. The information also alleges that Lewis received monetary compensation for providing phones to inmates.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dauphin County Criminal Investigation Division in partnership with the Warden of the Dauphin County Prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Consiglio and Chelsea Schinnour are prosecuting the case.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Florida Man Charged with Child Sex Offenses in New JerseyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Florida man was arrested today and charged with seeking sex with a minor and inducing her to send him sexual explicit images, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Andrew Drechsel, 31, of Saint Cloud, Florida, is charged by complaint with manufacture of child pornography, enticement of a minor to travel for illicit sexual conduct, travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and use of interstate commerce to entice a minor. He made his initial appearance today in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, prior to his transfer to the District of New Jersey.
According to the complaint:
Drechsel sought to have sex with a minor girl and traveled to New Jersey with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with that minor. He also enticed and coerced a minor to travel to Connecticut to engage in illicit sexual conduct and engaged in online sexual communications with a minor and induced her to manufacture sexually explicit images of herself and send them to Drechsel.
The count of use of interstate commerce to entice carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; the count of enticement to travel for illicit sexual conduct carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; the count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; and the count of manufacture of child pornography carries a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison. All of the counts also carry a maximum fine of $250,000 per count.
This case was investigated by agents with the FBI South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Driscoll in Philadelphia; with assistance from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Scott A. Coffina; the Cherry Hill Police Department under the direction of Chief William P. Monaghan; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, under the direction of U.S. Attorney John H. Durham; agents of the FBI New Haven Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg; the Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut, state’s attorney’s offices; the Windsor, Connecticut, Police Department under the direction of Chief Donald Melanson; and the Hamden, Connecticut, Police Department under the direction of Chief John F. Cappiello; and agents of the FBI Tampa, Orlando Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael F. McPherson.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisa Shver of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
If you have information regarding the pending prosecution, or you believe you or someone you know may have been victimized by the defendant, the FBI requests that you contact them at 1-800-CALL-FBI or report it at tips.fbi.gov. Identified victims may be eligible for certain services and rights under federal and/or state law.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Fifteenth person charged with theft in ongoing Social Security benefits fraud investigationRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Napoleon Crawford, 52, of Mason, was arrested and appeared in U.S. District Court here on July 30 to face charges in a two-count indictment alleging that Crawford has stolen more than $80,000 in Social Security and Department of Defense benefits earned by his father, a retired Navy officer who died in 2016.
Crawford is the fifteenth person charged this year in the 48-county Southern District of Ohio based on results of a large audit conducted by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, which found that dozens of Ohioans are illegally collecting a deceased relative’s federal retirement, Social Security or Veterans’ Administration benefits.
Ten of the fifteen people have pleaded guilty to charges of theft of public funds, a felony that is punishable by up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The fifteen charged allegedly received more than $898,000 in benefits.
One person has been sentenced so far. Debra Edwards, 57, of South Lebanon was sentenced July 28. Edwards was ordered to repay $49,575 in benefits she received illegally and serve three years’ probation with the first 90 days to be served in home detention.
“We will prosecute people who stick their hands in the pockets of taxpayers to steal benefits earned by their relatives,” said David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “The investigation is continuing and others could be charged.”
In addition to Crawford and Edwards, the following individuals have been charged:
Name Age City Amount Status
Lori Barker
51
Hamilton
$53,406
Awaiting sentencing
Kinnard Asher
60
South Lebanon
$33,308
Awaiting sentencing
Billy Gray
44
Mt. Orab
$43,998
Awaiting sentencing
Laverne Harrison
60
Cincinnati
$40,079
Awaiting sentencing
Linda Daniels
62
Mt. Orab
$62,336
Awaiting sentencing
Wayne Coulter II
33
Cincinnati
$28,742
Charges pending
Ronald Lewis
43
Hamilton
$55,508
Awaiting sentencing
Douglas Dible
68
Richwood
$153,962
Awaiting sentencing
Gloria Funk
65
New Lexington
$55,920
Awaiting sentencing
Victor Warren
52
Marietta
$36,090
Charges pending
Donald Hawkins Jr.
47
Columbus
$27,120
Charges pending
Christina Saldana
41
West Carrollton
$103,042
Charges pending
Nathaniel Carruth
64
Dayton
$75,077
Awaiting sentencing
The cases are part of the national Social Security Administration (SSA) Fraud Prosecution Project, a collaboration with SSA’s Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Justice.
For more information on SSA’s Fraud Prosecution Project and the agency’s other anti-fraud efforts, please visit https://www.ssa.gov/antifraudfacts/.
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, along with the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, Office of Audit; the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General; The Veterans’ Administration Office of Inspector General; the United States Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service announced the results of the ongoing initiative. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this initiative.
Statements contained in indictments or bills of information are allegations only. Defendants should be presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.
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Federal investigation dismantles drug trafficking organizationRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, eight individuals were indicted on federal drug charges, including Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances. The Indictments were unsealed in federal court today.
"During these challenging times, the last things we need in our neighborhoods are more crime guns, more fentanyl, more methamphetamine, more cocaine, more heroin, and more drug money," said Minkler. "I commend the hard work of the FBI, the IRS and the IMPD who combined their limited law enforcement resources in order to remove a criminal organization that sought to financially profit by infesting our city’s streets with more guns, more drugs and more blood money. The deliberate actions of our local and federal law enforcement partners have immediately made Indianapolis a safer place to live, work and raise a family."
Those charged include:
Christopher Shelton a/k/a Horse, Indianapolis, 41
Scot Nelson, Indianapolis, 37
Joshua Douglas, Muncie, 38
Marguerite Collins, Indianapolis, 45
Jarrad Cooney, Indianapolis, 32
Jason Corey, Indianapolis, 47
Antonio Turner a/k/a Trapper a/k/a Tone, Indianapolis, 32
Stephen Cole, Indianapolis, 43
According to the indictments, the above individuals were engaging in trafficking methamphetamine and other illegal drugs in Indianapolis. On Monday morning, sixteen search warrants and federal arrest warrants were executed by federal agents and officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department in the Indianapolis area. As a result of those search warrants, 31 illegally possessed firearms, 4 ½ pounds of methamphetamine; ½ kilogram of cocaine; 1 kilogram of fentanyl, and approximately $272,000 in U.S. currency that represented the proceeds of drug trafficking were seized and taken off city streets.
Beginning in the fall of 2019, federal agents began investigating a number of individuals for their suspected drug trafficking activities.
As the investigation progressed, it led investigators to the Muncie, Indiana area where meetings would take place and methamphetamine would be transported back to Vans Auto Repair in Indianapolis to be distributed.
On one of the occasions traveling back to Indianapolis, the Fishers Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle which Joshua Douglas was a passenger and Douglas’s girlfriend was the driver. As the vehicle was coming to a stop, Douglas threw out a bag containing methamphetamine and heroin.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, DEA Indianapolis District Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
“Federal task forces are taking note of the increasing incidents of violence in Indianapolis”, said Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office. “These search and arrest warrants have taken guns, drugs, and violent offenders off the streets of Indianapolis. IRS Criminal Investigation understands the importance of committing our resources to these task forces and will continue to provide assistance to make our communities safer.”
“These indictments demonstrate our commitment to eradicating violent criminal enterprises. Even during the COVID shutdown, the FBI and our law enforcement partners were still engaged in investigations to reduce violent crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, FBI Indianapolis. “What you saw Monday was the result of the dedicated work of multiple agencies with one shared goal - to make the community safer for residents who shouldn’t have to live in fear.”
IMPD Chief Randal Taylor said, “Through strategic partnership with our federal law enforcement partners, IMPD remains committed to addressing the violence in our community too often associated with the trade of illicit drugs.”
According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle P. Brady, who will prosecute this case for the government, the defendants face up to life imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proved otherwise in federal court.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to prosecute organizations and individuals distributing methamphetamine, heroin, opioids, and synthetic opioids. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 3.3)
Federal Bureau of Investigation Arrests Oklahoma City Bank Robbery SuspectRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – KIWANIS YOMONE ROBERTS, 23, of Oklahoma City, has been charged and arrested for robbing the Focus Federal Credit Union (FFCU), announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
On July 21, 2020, a federal grand jury in the Western District of Oklahoma indicted Roberts for the FFCU robbery. The indictment alleges that on March 13, 2020, Roberts knowingly took by force, violence, and intimidation money that belonged to the FFCU branch located at 13325 N. MacArthur Blvd. The indictment further alleges the deposits of the FFCU were federally insured at the time of the robbery.
Yesterday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell arraigned Roberts on the indictment in Oklahoma City. If convicted, Roberts faces up to twenty years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and mandatory restitution.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wilson D. McGarry is prosecuting the case.
The public is reminded that this charge is merely an allegation and that Roberts is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Reference is made to court filings for further information. To download a photo of U.S. Attorney Downing, click here.
Elkins woman admits to methamphetamine distributionRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Courtney Marie Zirkle, of Elkins, West Virginia, has admitted to methamphetamine distribution, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Zirkle, age 36, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Zirkle admitted to having methamphetamine in January 2019 in Randolph County. Zirkle, who is prohibited from having a firearm, also admitted to having a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Zirkle faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the drug count and faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Dominican National Sentenced for Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
A Dominican national who previously resided in Lynn was sentenced today in connection with using the identity of a U.S. citizen.
Yohnny Peguero Villalona, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to two years and one day in prison, one year of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $17,220. In March 2020, Peguero Villalona pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of making a false statement relating to a health care benefit program. Peguero Villalona was arrested in December 2019 and has been detained since that time.
Peguero Villalona used the name and identifiers of a U.S. citizen for at least 13 years, including to obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license and to apply for MassHealth benefits. When he was arrested on unrelated charges, Peguero Villalona used the identity of this U.S. citizen. Fingerprints taken during the booking process following the prior arrest of Peguero Villalona matched fingerprints showing him to be a citizen of the Dominican Republic. During a search of Peguero Villalona’s residence, a Massachusetts driver’s license and a MassHealth card under the name of the U.S. citizen whose identity Peguero Villalona had fraudulently assumed, were recovered.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.
Department of Justice Awards over $35 Million to Provide Housing to Victims of Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General William P. Barr and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump announced that the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), has awarded $35,104,338 in grant funding to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a barbaric criminal enterprise that subjects its victims to unspeakable cruelty and deprives them of the most basic of human needs, none more essential than a safe place to live,” said Attorney General Barr. “Throughout this Administration, the Department of Justice has fought aggressively to bring human traffickers to justice and to deliver critical aid to trafficking survivors. These new resources, announced today, expand on our efforts to offer those who have suffered the shelter and support they need to begin a new and better life.”
“In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, combating human trafficking in the U.S. and abroad is critical work. DOJ’s grant recipients are on the frontlines of this fight, ensuring that survivors across our country are afforded safe and stable housing and empowered with the support and resources they need to rebuild their lives,” said Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump. “I am incredibly honored to join Attorney General Barr to highlight these organizations and their tireless and vital work.”
The grants will go 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 for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment, as well as occupational training and counseling.
“Human traffickers dangle the threat of homelessness over those they have entrapped, playing a ruthless game of psychological manipulation that victims are never in a position to win,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will empower survivors on their path to independence and a life of self-sufficiency and hope.”
OVC works to enhance the nation’s capacity to assist crime victims and to provide leadership in changing attitudes, policies and practices in ways that will promote justice and healing for all victims. OVC strives to uphold the intent of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its subsequent authorizations to ensure that all trafficking victims receive support in accessing the services they need.
OVC provides grant funding and training and technical assistance in an effort to develop, expand and strengthen programs for victims of human trafficking. In 2018, OVC hosted listening sessions and roundtable discussions with stakeholders in the field and launched the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center. From July 2018 through June 2019, 118 OVC human trafficking grantees reported serving 8,375 total clients including confirmed trafficking victims and individuals showing strong indicators of trafficking victimization.
Human trafficking offenses are among the most difficult crimes to identify, and the scope of human trafficking victimization may be much greater than the limited data reflect. A new report issued by the Department’s National Institute of Justice found that the number of human trafficking cases captured in police reports may represent only a fraction of all such cases. Expanding housing and other services to trafficking victims remains a top Justice Department priority.
For a complete list of individual award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive funding, please visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/htvictimsfactheet.pdf.
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.
Department of Justice Awards $500,000 to Oklahoma City to Provide Housing to Victims of Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, the Department of Justice announced that the City of Oklahoma City received $500,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Office for Victims of Crime, to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking.
"Human trafficking is a barbaric criminal enterprise that subjects its victims to unspeakable cruelty and deprives them of the most basic of human needs, none more essential than a safe place to live," said Attorney General William P. Barr. "Throughout this Administration, the Department of Justice has fought aggressively to bring human traffickers to justice and to deliver critical aid to trafficking survivors. These new resources, announced today, expand on our efforts to offer those who have suffered the shelter and support they need to begin a new and better life."
"Human trafficking is one of the most abhorrent crimes ever contemplated by mankind," said U.S. Attorney Downing. "The funds provided by the Department to the City of Oklahoma City will serve as a force multiplier to assist human trafficking efforts in the Western District of Oklahoma, and it will hopefully provide some comfort and solace to its victims."
The grant, awarded to the City of Oklahoma City, will 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 grant will also provide funding for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment, as well as occupational training and counseling. The City of Oklahoma City is among 73 organizations receiving more than $35 million in OVC grants to support housing services for human trafficking survivors.
"Human traffickers dangle the threat of homelessness over those they have entrapped, playing a ruthless game of psychological manipulation that victims are never in a position to win," said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katherine T. Sullivan. "These grants will empower survivors on their path to independence and a life of self-sufficiency and hope."
Human trafficking offenses are among the most difficult crimes to identify, and the scope of human trafficking victimization may be much greater than the limited data reflect. A new report issued by the National Institute of Justice, another component of the Office of Justice Programs, found that the number of human trafficking cases captured in police reports may represent only a fraction of all such cases. Expanding housing and other services to trafficking victims remains a top Justice Department priority.
The Office for Victims of Crime, for example, hosted listening sessions and roundtable discussions with stakeholders in the field in 2018 and launched the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center. From July 2018 through June 2019, 118 OVC human trafficking grantees reported serving 8,375 total clients, including confirmed trafficking victims and individuals showing strong indicators of trafficking victimization.
For a complete list of individual award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/htvictimsfactheet.pdf. For the national Department of Justice press release, visit: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-awards-over-35-million-provide-housing-victims-human-trafficking.
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.
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. To download a photo of U.S. Attorney Downing, click here.
Defendant Recorded Making Threats Against Federal Official from Jail Cell Sentenced to 151 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A defendant recorded from jail making threats against a federal official involved in his case was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
Jonathan Dunlap, 30, of Pine Mountain, Harris County, Georgia was sentenced on Monday, August 3 by U.S. District Judge Clay Land to a combined 151 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and threatening a federal official. There is no parole in the federal system.
On July 24, 2019, federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the defendant’s home. Dunlap was present and was found to be in possession of eight individually wrapped bags of cocaine. Dunlap was arrested and taken to the Harris County Jail. While awaiting trial in the Harris County Jail, Dunlap placed several recorded telephone calls to his associates, making threats against a DEA agent associated with his case, including threats against the agent’s children. In one call, Dunlap attempted to ascertain the agent’s home address.
“Threats against law enforcement officers are taken extremely seriously, and for good reason. These officers make tremendous sacrifices protecting all of us. The last thing they deserve is to be threatened for simply doing their job. To all federal, state and local law enforcement officers: Thank you for protecting us by getting dangerous drug dealers, like this defendant, off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to commend the Harris County Sherriff’s Office and the DEA for their work in this case removing dangerous drugs from our community and for promptly responding to the threats made against a law enforcement officer performing his duty.”
“A threat to a DEA Agent anywhere is a threat to an agent everywhere,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “Special Agents and Task Force Officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our country from the perils of drug abuse. Every law enforcement officer takes a solemn oath to protect and serve with honesty and integrity, as was the case in this investigation. This sentencing should serve as a reminder to other criminals who seek to threaten a DEA agent that if you are brazen enough to commit such a criminal act, a long prison term awaits you.”
The case was investigated by the DEA and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melvin Hyde prosecuted the case for the Government. 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.
Corning Man Going to Prison for More Than 12 Years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Robert W. Wood, 50, of Corning, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography and violation of supervised release, was sentenced to serve 154 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that in 2011, the defendant was convicted of possession of child pornography and sentenced to 24 months in prison and 15 years supervised release. While on supervised release, members of the U.S. Probation Department made an unannounced visit to Wood’s residence and found an unauthorized smart phone in his possession. A search of the phone revealed that the defendant was in possession of over 2,300 images and over 20 videos of child pornography, some of which depicted the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the U.S. Probation Department, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Anthony SanGiacomo.
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Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Purchase Chemical Weapon on the Dark WebRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to attempting to purchase a chemical weapon, capable of killing hundreds of people, on the dark web with Bitcoin.
Jason William Siesser, 45, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. to one count of attempting to acquire a chemical weapon and one count of aggravated identity theft.
By pleading guilty today, Siesser admitted that he attempted to acquire a chemical weapon on two occasions between June 14 and Aug. 23, 2018, and that he did not attempt to acquire that chemical weapon for a peaceful or protective purpose. He provided a shipping address in the name of a juvenile, whose identity he used without authorization, to place the orders for a highly toxic chemical in amounts capable of killing many people. Siesser paid for the chemical weapon with the digital crypto currency known as Bitcoin.
Siesser ordered two 10ml units of the chemical on July 4, 2018, and paid with Bitcoin. The seller did not ship the chemical weapon at that time. Siesser continued to contact the seller. On July 19, 2018, Siesser told the seller that, “I plan to use it soon after I receive it.”
Siesser ordered three 10ml units of the chemical weapon on Aug 5, 2018. Siesser again paid for the order with Bitcoin (the equivalent of $150) and provided a shipping address in the name of a juvenile. This quantity of the chemical weapon has the capacity to kill approximately 300 people.
A controlled delivery of a package that contained an inert substance was made to Siesser’s residence on Aug. 23, 2018. Siesser believed the package contained the chemical weapon he had ordered, signed for the package, and took it inside the residence.
Law enforcement officers then executed a search warrant at Siesser’s residence. On top of a shelf in the garage, officers located the inert substance Siesser believed to be a chemical weapon. Officers also located two separate and seemingly unopened shipping boxes on the shelf next to it. They contained approximately 10 grams of cadmium arsenide, a toxic compound, which
can be deadly if ingested or inhaled; approximately 100 grams of cadmium metal;
and approximately 500 ml of hydrochloric acid. An invoice for these products
showed they had been ordered together on March 30, 2018.Writings located within the home articulated Siesser’s heartache, anger, and resentment over
a breakup, and a desire for the person who caused the heartache to die.Under federal statutes, Siesser is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Casey. It was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Columbia, Mo., Police Department.
Chico Man Pleads Guilty to Burglary of 10 Post Offices in the Counties of Butte, Glenn, Shasta, Sutter and TehamaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jeremy Elguez, 32, of Chico, pleaded guilty today to burglarizing 10 post offices, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between Aug. 23, 2019 and March 1, 2020, Elguez burglarized the Butte City Post Office twice, the Glenn Post Office twice, the Vina Post Office, the Bangor Post Office, the Stirling City Post Office, the Meridian Post Office, the Artois Post Office, and the Cassel Post Office. Items reported stolen during these burglaries included mail, postal money orders, cameras, and a check for $80,000. On Aug. 1, 2019, Elguez also attempted to cash a $350,000 check stolen from the mail.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya B. Syed is prosecuting the case.
Elguez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Nov. 10. Elguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 134 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Gemico Childress, age 45, of Chicago, Illinois was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge James T. Moody for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Mr. Childress was sentenced to 134 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $181,835.77 in restitution to various financial institutions and retailers.
“The sentence that Childress received today reflects the seriousness of his crimes,” said United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II. “Childress left his victims scrambling to clean up their credit and fix their financial reputation. My team of law enforcement officials will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute identity theft schemes. ”
According to documents in this case, this scheme involved the theft of the personal identifying information of victims in more than 10 states and Canada. Childress and co-defendants stole some of the victims’ information from a hospital in Arizona. The stolen records included birth dates, social security numbers, addresses, telephone numbers, employment information, insurance carriers, treating physicians, and information about the people the victims listed as emergency contacts. Childress and others opened fraudulent credit cards, bank accounts, and retail credit accounts on-line. In some instances, Childress added himself as an authorized user on “real” accounts held by victims.
The case was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Denise Houston.
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Chamberlain Woman Indicted on Witness Tampering ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Chamberlain, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Tampering With a Witness and Conspiracy to Tamper With a Witness.
Dale Lynn James, age 33, was indicted on July 16, 2020. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 31, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about March 3, 2019, James did knowingly and intentionally, combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with persons known and unknown, and did intimidate, threaten, and corruptly persuade twenty-eight potential witnesses with intent to influence, delay, and prevent the testimony of said witnesses in an official criminal proceeding.
The charges are merely accusation and James is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
James was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.