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Friday 5 June 2020
Statement of United States Attorney Nick HannaRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, our country is now dealing with the traumatic aftermath of the brutal killing of George Floyd. That fatal encounter with police in Minneapolis was a horrifying incident that understandably caused outrage, sadness and pain. An untold number of people across the United States have taken to the streets to engage in peaceful protests, demand justice for Mr. Floyd and others who have died violently at the hands of law enforcement, and call for systemic change. As the U.S. Attorney sworn to uphold the constitutional rights of all 20 million residents of this district, I fully support the First Amendment rights of protestors to express these sentiments peacefully.
As we mourn with Mr. Floyd’s family and look forward to the day when justice is done, we send words of encouragement to the local Minnesota prosecutors who are pursuing the case and to our Justice Department colleagues investigating potential violations of federal civil rights law.
The killing of Mr. Floyd has brought to the fore painful memories of mistreatment, recent and historical, of the African American community by law enforcement and others. These memories are especially raw in Los Angeles, which has a very difficult history of police-community tensions that have erupted into violence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles has a long and proud history of fighting to protect civil rights and of aggressively pursuing allegations of misconduct by law enforcement. Over the years, we have convicted a string of corrupt law enforcement officials, including those who engaged in excessive force. This office played the lead role in the convictions of police officers who beat Rodney King. We convicted former Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona on corruption charges. We convicted 22 members of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, including Sheriff Lee Baca, who engaged in civil rights abuses or obstruction of justice. We continue to enforce a consent decree that has led to significant reforms at the L.A. County jails. And we are working with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to implement reforms to its policing of the Antelope Valley.
We will never shy away from confronting crimes committed by law enforcement officers. These are among the most difficult cases to prosecute, but we bring these important cases in pursuit of justice for the victims and to send a clear message that police misconduct and civil rights violations cannot be tolerated in a society based on laws.
As United States Attorney, it is my job to ensure that federal laws are enforced without fear or favor, regardless of the identity of the perpetrator. That includes cases against law enforcement officers who violate the trust we place in them, as there is no greater betrayal of that trust than when a citizen is killed by the unlawful actions of those sworn to protect and serve. Being a police officer is one of the most difficult jobs in America. It requires dedication to duty, courage and self-sacrifice. The few who cross the line tarnish the badge for the overwhelming majority of good and decent officers who work tirelessly to protect us.
The United States Attorney’s Office will continue its mission of protecting the public from violence and lawlessness. In doing so, we remain steadfast in our commitment to assisting our law enforcement partners to adopt and employ best policing practices, and to working with our community partners for the fair administration of justice. Together, we must use this moment to reaffirm our guiding principles and ensure equal justice for all.
Statement of U.S. Attorney KennedyRead the Press Release
Last night, after seeing the video of the incident occurring in front of City Hall, I was concerned and immediately contacted both BPD Commissioner Lockwood and FBI Acting SAC Guyton. The officers involved have been suspended pending further investigation. On behalf of the entire law enforcement community, I offer our sincere best wishes to the injured gentleman, as we hope and pray for his speedy and complete recovery.
As a community and as a nation, we must resist the urge to react impetuously. Rather, as we struggle with the disturbing events depicted on that video, I suggest that we reflect on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction…. The chain reaction of evil—hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars—must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”
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Statement of U.S. Attorney John H. DurhamRead the Press Release
No words are sufficient to express the sadness and outrage we feel about George Floyd’s death, or to address the history that has led to that horrific event. As to all persons who are charged with a crime, in our country, the officers involved have a right to a fair trial. At the same time, we are all fully aware of the fact that the death of Mr. Floyd was not the first completely unnecessary death of a black or brown person at the hands of law enforcement. We also need to fully recognize that the officers involved in his death are not the only officers in this country who pose a danger to the citizens they police.
Based on my many years of experience in the criminal justice system, I know that these officers in Minneapolis do not represent all law enforcement officers, the vast majority of whom honor their uniform, abide by their oath of service, and act decently and appropriately day in and day out. Attempting to console our communities and those who are sad, or angry, or disaffected with words and examples of all the progress made to this point, however, can ring hollow in troubled times.
While cities around America have experienced acts of violence, property damage and theft in the wake of Mr. Floyd’s death, I am encouraged, and we all should be encouraged, by the widespread peacefulness of demonstrations and thoughtful acts of civil disobedience that we have experienced here in Connecticut. I am heartened by images of police officers and state troopers across Connecticut engaging with those who are peacefully protesting, escorting them along demonstration routes and ensuring that the protesters are not only heard, but listened to, and understood.
We are fortunate that, to date, the worthy demonstrations in Connecticut have not been infected with out-of-state agitators and local opportunists. I like to believe that our state’s relative peace is primarily a reflection of the amount of work that Connecticut’s police departments and community leaders have invested in trying to make things better for all of our citizens.
George Floyd’s death is yet another, unfortunate example of how much we still need to improve. Hopefully, technology will help us get closer to where we need to be. The video recorded on May 25 in Minneapolis is both a tragic reminder of the work that still needs to be done, and how bad things were before technological advances provided needed sunshine to everyday policing in America. The prolific use of cellphone video, body cameras, dash cams and surveillance video now ensure that repugnant events are recorded and made known. When police officers fail in their jobs, video recordings now bring consequences that, in the past, officers have too rarely faced.
When police officers seriously fail and abuse their authority, our criminal justice system must hold them accountable. And if a police department’s leadership fosters a culture that permits this kind of abusive behavior, the Justice Department stands ready to step in and work to correct it. Our office has prosecuted bad cops who violated their sworn oath to protect and serve their community, and we have investigated and helped to repair broken police departments. We will not hesitate to continue to do so.
I am proud of the progress that, overall, has been made with policing in America generally and Connecticut in particular, but brutal police actions like those in Minneapolis erase years of goodwill established between law enforcement and community in an instant. It is natural to demand perfection in law enforcement. However, as no profession is devoid of wrongdoers, we cannot expect perfection in all instances. But having the authority to carry a weapon, a mandate to keep the peace, and a responsibility to protect the public separates the job of a police officer from any other and, more important, requires them to be held to a higher standard.
The eradication of centuries of racial bias, discrimination and profiling is an ongoing challenge not only for law enforcement, but for all Americans. Connecticut’s U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to finding and promoting ways to make change happen. Until all communities welcome the presence of a peace officer, not fear him or her, and we achieve perfection in law enforcement, we cannot rest.
U.S. Attorney John H. Durham
June 5, 2020Statement by U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn Regarding Recent UnrestRead the Press Release
“I have been following the events of the past two weeks closely and with a broken heart. It has been a difficult time for our state and our nation, triggered by the tragic and unnecessary death of George Floyd in Minnesota, and bringing to the surface much deeper problems that must be addressed. As I recently said in an interview, our office and the Department is, at its core, about the rule of law and ensuring due process. It is clear to me that Mr. Floyd was afforded neither. Yesterday, I listened to Attorney General Barr’s press conference announcing a federal civil rights investigation into the case. I know Minnesota U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald well, and I am confident she will handle that case appropriately and that justice will ultimately be served. Indeed, U.S. Attorney’s offices around the country, including mine, regularly work with the FBI to review law enforcement conduct. When those reviews show a violation of constitutional rights, we have not hesitated to prosecute the wrongdoers. In fact, just this past year, my office prosecuted a police officer who sexually assaulted a woman while in uniform and after a state plea deal resulted in a sentence of only 90 days.
“The rule of law, of course, is applicable not just to those who enforce the law, but to everyone. The lawless destruction of property, attacks on fellow citizens and police, and even the killing of a federal officer during the past two weeks, should not and will not be tolerated. Moreover, we cannot allow those intent on harm to interfere with the lawful conduct and message of those who peacefully protest. I want to commend the Denver Police Department, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the Denver Field Office of the FBI, the other members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and members of my staff that have all worked around the clock this past week to ensure that those who want to protest peacefully can do so and that those intent on harm are dealt with appropriately.
“Ultimately, every Coloradan and every American deserves a justice system that is fair and that holds everyone accountable for criminal acts. My office is committed to working with other law enforcement agencies, civic leaders, and members of the community to ensure that our justice system applies the rule of law equally to all Coloradans and guarantees that our justice system is, in a word, just.
“I look forward to a better Colorado, for everyone.”
Sioux Center Chiropractic Clinic to Pay $30,418 to Resolve Allegations Related to Claims Submitted to Medicaid for Treatment of Children for Constipation and Ear InfectionsRead the Press Release
A Sioux Center chiropractic clinic, Sioux Center Chiropractic Wellness Center, P.C., and the two chiropractors who operate the clinic – Tyler and Tiffany Armstrong – have agreed to pay $30,418 to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicaid for the treatment of conditions for which payment is not allowed, including constipation and ear infections. The settlement agreement resolves allegations related to the treatment of Medicaid beneficiaries seven and under from April 2014 to July 2019. The claims settled by the agreement are allegations only; there has been no admission or judicial determination of liability.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jacob Schunk and Melissa Carrington. The allegations resolved by the settlement arose from an investigation led by the State of Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. False Claims Act cases also arise under the qui tam, or whistleblower provisions, of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party may file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in any recovery.
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Shelby woman sentenced for handgun purchase for juvenileRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Shelby woman convicted of firearms crimes for lying while buying a handgun and then giving it to a juvenile was sentenced on June 4 to six months in prison, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
During a two-day trial in January, a jury found Susan Kaytlin Scott, 52, guilty of false statement during a firearms transaction and of transfer of a handgun to a juvenile, as charged in an indictment.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In evidence presented at trial, the prosecution said Scott bought a Taurus 9mm handgun for a 17-year-old boy on Nov. 21, 2018 at Scheels in Great Falls. In required background paperwork, Scott answered that she was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm. However, Scott bought the handgun for the boy as an early birthday present. The boy and his friend were present during the purchase, and Scott used the boy’s debit card for the purchase. Following the sale, the boy kept the handgun, and ammunition, at another residence.
A juvenile witness told investigators that the boy kept the handgun in a holster in his bedroom and had a magazine loaded in the pistol but not a round in the chamber. The boy and three friends would take out the handgun, point it at things in the room or at each other. The witness also reported that the boy pointed the handgun at Scott during an argument.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Great Falls Police Department and Toole County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
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Scranton Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that David Bomboy, age 60, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on May 29, 2020, before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Bomboy admitted to participating in a conspiracy to distribute between 350 and 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Scranton area between February and April 2019.
Judge Mariani ordered that a presentence report be completed. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
The investigation was conducted by the Scranton Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
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 charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison under federal law. The maximum penalty for the charge is up to forty years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $5,000,000 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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Richlands Man Faces Federal Charge of Lying to Federal Agents About Cause of Injuries, Possession of ExplosivesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – In a federal criminal complaint issued yesterday, a Richlands, Va. man, who appeared at a health clinic with severe injuries to his hands and fingers, is charged with lying to federal investigators about how he was injured and whether or not he possessed explosives. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen, David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police made the announcement today.
Cole Carini, 23, was arrested yesterday and is charged with one count of lying to federal agents. He will make his initial appearance in later today in U.S. District Court.
According to court documents, on June 3, 2020, Carini went to a health clinic in Richlands suffering from an amputated hand, amputated fingers on the opposite hand, and shrapnel wounds to the neck and throat. After being interviewed at the hospital by officers, Carini reported that his injuries were caused by a lawn mower accident at his home.
During a search of Carini’s home, agents found the lawn was overgrown and found no other evidence indicating a lawn mower had recently been used. They did, however, find evidence of an explosion, more consistent with the types of injuries Carini had suffered. Agents also discovered significant quantities of what is believed to be Triacetone Triperoxide, an explosive substance used in the creation of improvised explosive devices.
When questioned again, Carini insisted that he was injured when the lawn mower flipped over while he was mowing the grass. Carini also stated he had no explosives in his residence.
The investigation of the case is ongoing and is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Virginia State Police, the Richlands Police Department and the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary T. Lee and Whit Pierce are prosecuting the case for the United States.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Importation of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man who pleaded guilty to two counts of Importation of Controlled Substances, heroin and fentanyl, was sentenced on June 4, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.
Nathan Reuer, age 26, was sentenced to time served (approximately 16 months), 3 years of supervised release, restitution costs for drug testing, and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Beginning on or about February 2018 through early February 2019, the defendant utilized the internet and “darkweb” to order many types of both legal and controlled substances, including heroin and fentanyl. The packages were sent from outside the United States through the mail system.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and UNET (a Rapid City based drug task force comprised of members from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and SD National Guard). Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Raleigh Man Arrested for Attempting to Set Fire to Raleigh Police Department VehicleRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh man was arrested yesterday for attempting to set fire to a marked police vehicle in Raleigh after a demonstration over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced.
Jabari Devon Davis, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was arrested by special agents of the ATF and is charged by complaint with one count of attempting to damage or destroy by fire a vehicle owned or possessed by an institution receiving federal financial assistance. Davis will make his initial appearance June 5, 2020, by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers, II.
According to the complaint, On May 31, 2020, at approximately 12:30a.m., a fire was discovered coming from the fuel filler area of a marked Raleigh Police Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) at the Raleigh Police Southeast District Station located at 2800 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, North Carolina. Charring was also located in the landscaping behind the police vehicle. Video surveillance from the Southeast District Station was reviewed and showed a dark colored vehicle turn right on to New Birch Road. The vehicle proceeds on New Birch Road and stops behind the police vehicle that was damaged. The suspect vehicle was stopped for a short period of time and then proceeded east on New Birch Road. The vehicle proceeds to a roundabout and then heads back west on New Birch Road. The video surveillance then picks the vehicle back up turning left on Olde Birch Road. Within sixty seconds of the vehicle stopping on New Birch Road, a fire is observed coming from between two police vehicles.
A fingerprint had been lifted off of the Hennessey bottle recovered at the scene. A latent print examiner determined the print to be the left ring finger of Davis. Davis was interviewed at his residence where he admitted to being the subject who intentionally set the police vehicle at the Southeast District on fire. Davis stated that he is “pissed off with everything going on.”
The count charged in the criminal complaint carry a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Credited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W. Smith of the of the U.S. Attorney's Office’s Criminal Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Raleigh Gang Member Receives Multiple Life Sentences for Rico Charge and Gang Related MurderRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Knightdale man was sentenced today to three consecutive life sentences plus 240 months in prison for Conspiracy to Participate in a Pattern of Racketeering (RICO conspiracy), Murder in Aid of Racketeering, Murder with a Firearm During and in Relation to a crime of Violence, and Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, Brandon Jowan Mangum, 31, was a high-ranking member of the Black Mob Gangstas (BMG) and Donald Gee Family (DFG) organization led by Demetrice R. Devine[1]. Devine also led the Gangsta Killer Bloods (GKB). The BMG/DGF are sets of the “Bloods” gang whose members committed various crimes in the city of Raleigh and especially in the area of Haywood Street. BMG/DGF members committed acts of violence to maintain membership and discipline, both within the gang and against non-gang members. Members committed acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and assaults, in order to maintain their positions within the gang and to be promoted within the leadership structure of the gang.
BMG/DGF, including its leadership, members and associates, constituted an “enterprise” as defined by Title 18, United States Code, Section 1961(4), that is, a group of individuals’ associated-in-fact. The enterprise constituted an ongoing organization, whose members functioned as a continuing unit for a common purpose of achieving the objectives of the enterprise. The enterprise was engaged in, and its activities affected, interstate and foreign commerce. The purpose of the BMG/DGF enterprise included the following:
a. Preserving and protecting the power, territory, reputation, respect, and profits of the enterprise through the use of intimidation, violence, threats of violence, assaults, murder and attempted murder;
b. Promoting and enhancing the enterprise and its members’ and associates’ activities, including, but not limited to, murders, attempted murders, robberies, drug distribution and other criminal activities;
c. Keeping the community and rivals in fear of the enterprise and its members and associates through violence and threats of violence;
d. Providing financial support and information to gang members, including those incarcerated in the United States;
e. Providing assistance to other gang members who committed crimes for and on behalf of the gang; and,
f. Hindering, obstructing, and preventing law enforcement officers from identifying, apprehending, and successfully prosecuting and punishing members of the enterprise.
BMG/DGF also held gang meetings to communicate gang information, to recruit members, issue punishment and collect gang dues from each BMG/DGF member for the benefit of the BMG/DGF organization. A portion of the dues were saved and utilized locally in what was referred to as a “community rent box” (CRB) while another portion was sent up the chain of command to gang leadership in Virginia and New York. BMG/DGF members were permitted to earn their money for dues through various methods, including, but not limited to, robberies, fraud schemes, and drug distribution. The monies were used locally for loans to gang members, for drug purchases, for firearm purchases, for gifts, and cellular telephones for high-ranking members who were in jail. Devine ordered that individuals selling narcotics in and around Haywood Street who were not BMG/DGF members were also required to pay gang dues in order to continue their drug sales in territory controlled by BMG/DGF. Individuals who did not pay gang dues risked being robbed, assaulted, or murdered.
Mangum along with other gang members conspired to shoot an 18-year-old rival gang member, Rodriguez Burrell, because Burrell refused to pay money to BMG/DGF. Burrell was shot multiple times in the presence of his father and died of his wounds.
In his leadership position, Devine directed members of his gang to shoot a 16-year-old rival gang member, Adarius Fowler, who died from gunshot wounds. He also ordered a gang member to shoot a person who provided information to law enforcement regarding the murder of Fowler. While this person was recovering from those gunshot injuries in the hospital, Devine ordered that the person be killed. Devine presided over a “beat-in” gang initiation of a BMG/DGF gang member and personally assaulted another gang member whose loyalty he questioned. Devine conspired with other gang members to silence and threaten gang members that had been provided subpoenas to testify in a federal proceeding.
Devine and Mangum both sold drugs on behalf of BMG/ DGF. Specifically, the jury found Mangum guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and marijuana.
Devine was sentenced on April 22, 2020 to four consecutive life sentences, followed by 240 months imprisonment.
Mr. Higdon commented: “Today, finally, justice was served for Rodriguez Burrell and his family. Today, one of his murderers was sentenced to multiple life terms in prison. Brandon Mangum and the gang members he led, literally executed Mr. Burrell in cold blood on the front porch of his father’s house because he dared to refuse to follow the rules of the Bloods gang which controlled and terrorized his neighborhood. I want to thank and commend the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Raleigh Police Department because, as the Court pointed out, they have diligently and faithfully worked for ‘11 years and 11 days’ to bring Rodriguez Burrell’s murders to justice and to end the ‘decades of terror’ the Bloods brought to areas of southeast Raleigh. As the court pointed out, the ‘relentless pursuit of justice’ by these investigators has demonstrated just how much Rodriguez Burrell’s life mattered and the lengths our law enforcement will go to bring justice to him, his family, and to the ‘good and true people who live in that Raleigh community.’”
“Brandon Mangum will have the rest of his life to think about the damage he and his conspirators caused to innocent citizens of Raleigh. Today's sentence is another example of law enforcement partners working together to effectively hold criminals accountable," said John Strong, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina.
The prosecution of Devine and Mangum was a part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF) targeting violent gang members and drug traffickers in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Raleigh Police Department led the investigation with assistance from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, Raleigh/ Wake City-County Bureau of Identification, United States Marshal’s Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Assistant United States Attorneys Dena King and Scott Lemmon prosecuted this case with Christina Taylor with the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:16-cr-00012-D.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
[1] Devine was sentenced on April 22, 2020 to four consecutive life sentences plus 240 months imprisonment. See press release https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/godfather-north-carolina-united-blood-nation-sentenced-four-consecutive-life-sentences
Pulaski County Man Sentenced to 292 Months for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. - A Nancy, Kentucky man, Rex Doane, 35, was sentenced on Friday to 292 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for production of child pornography.
In his guilty plea agreement, Doane previously admitted that, on May 31, 2019, he engaged in an online conversation with a 15-year-old minor female, using Facebook Messenger. He also admitted to requesting explicit images from the minor victim. After she transmitted a sexually explicit photograph to him, he continued to send the victim sexually-explicit messages.
Doane pled guilty in December 2019.
Under federal law, Doane must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jerry Templet, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Commissioner Rodney Brewer, Kentucky State Police, jointly made the announcement.
The investigation was directed by 11HSI and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Reed.
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.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Plant City Man Indicted for Armed Robbery of Circle KRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Thomas Herbert Lewis, Jr. (41, Plant City) with robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of robbery, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Lewis faces a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to court documents, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on April 30, 2020, Lewis entered a Circle K store on Bloomingdale Avenue in Riverview and pointed a firearm at the clerk. He demanded money and told the clerk, “I know you have a family,” and “don’t make me kill you.” Lewis was later arrested and had a rifle and 16 rounds of ammunition in his possession. As a previously convicted felon, Lewis is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natalie Hirt Adams.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Operation Shutdown Corner Update: Two Defendants Appear in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – One defendant was sentenced to federal prison and another pled guilty today for their participation in a drug trafficking organization operating between California and Raleigh County, West Virginia, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.
“Dove and Howell were arrested and charged as a result of Operation Shutdown Corner, a long-term investigation that dismantled a significant drug trafficking organization,” United States Attorney Mike Stuart said. “I commend the cooperative efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for their work in shutting down this multi-state methamphetamine pipeline.”
David Dove, 49, of Scarbro, was sentenced to 75 months in prison, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Dove previously admitted that between June 2018 and September 17, 2019, he worked with other members of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Raleigh County, West Virginia to distribute methamphetamine. Dove admitted that during this time period he supplied other members of the drug trafficking organization with distribution quantities of methamphetamine knowing that it was the plan and purpose that the other members would resell the methamphetamine illegally. Dove admitted to now knowing he was participating in recorded conversations regarding drug activity and to meeting with other members of the DTO to distribute and exchange controlled substances. Dove also admitted that when he was arrested, law enforcement officers found two “eight-balls” of methamphetamine that he intended to distribute. Dove admitted that he was responsible for distributing between 1.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms of methamphetamine during this time period.
Clifford Howell, 31, of Eastpointe, Michigan, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin. Howell faces a mandatory minimum period of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5 million when he is sentenced on September 18, 2020. Howell admitted that between June 2018 and September 17, 2019, he worked with other members of the DTO to distribute heroin. During this time period, Howell admitted to traveling to Michigan to obtain heroin, then returning to the Southern District of West Virginia to supply other members of the DTO with the heroin. Howell admitted that during this time period he supplied other members of the DTO with more than 100 grams of heroin, knowing it was the plan and purpose of the other members to redistribute the drugs within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Operation Shutdown Corner was a joint investigative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, the Beckley Police Department and the West Virginia State Police.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Andrew Tessman are handling the prosecutions. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearings.
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North Dartmouth Woman Sentenced for Obtaining Cocaine from Puerto Rico Through the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A North Dartmouth woman was sentenced today in connection with her role in obtaining cocaine from Puerto Rico through the mail.
Cristina Lopez, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin to six years in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2019, Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Lopez has been in custody since her arrest in August of 2018.
Between March 2017 and August 2018, postal inspectors identified more than 40 suspicious parcels that had been sent through the mail from Puerto Rico to various addresses in Massachusetts, including residences in Quincy, North Dartmouth, Weymouth, and New Bedford. The suspicious parcels were often sent on the same day from Puerto Rico to two or more different addresses in Massachusetts. Agents executed search warrants on two of the parcels and seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine hidden in sealed coffee cans. Through surveillance, it was determined that Lopez and John Tavares, 31, of Weymouth, were receiving the majority of the parcels. It was also determined that Lopez and Tavares had been flying regularly from Massachusetts to Puerto Rico for trips lasting only 30 to 72 hours, and that the parcels suspected of containing cocaine were then typically sent to Massachusetts within one to three days after their return. At sentencing, Judge Sorokin found that Lopez and Tavares were responsible for distributing more than 44 kilograms of cocaine.
Multiple search warrants were executed on Aug. 18, 2018, including at three different residences in Weymouth, North Dartmouth and Boston. During those searches, more than three kilograms of cocaine, in excess of $100,000 in U.S. currency, two firearms and various drug paraphernalia was seized.
Tavares pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Sorokin on June 22, 2020.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Boston; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey; Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn, III; and Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson made the announcement today. Police Departments in Quincy, Weymouth, Braintree, North Dartmouth and Boston also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James E. Arnold and Nadine Pellegrini of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
New Boston Man Sentenced for East Texas Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
TEXARKANA, Texas – A 48-year-old New Boston, Texas, man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.
Armando Moya was found guilty on Oct. 18, 2019, of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Moya was sentenced to 320 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III. Moya was also ordered to submit to forfeiture of $4 million and an additional $198,184.00 which had been seized during this law enforcement operation.
According to information presented in court, on June 7, 2018, law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration and supporting law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at Moya’s home. During the search, law enforcement officers located $198,184.00 in rubber-banded bundles of cash hidden in boxes in Moya’s closet with a pistol. Moya then confessed to being part of an international drug-trafficking ring: smuggling large quantities of drugs from Mexico to cities across the United States and returning with large quantities of United States currency. Moya described how he received drugs from his brother, Jose Roberto Moya. He also explained that the bulk currency hidden in his house was drug proceeds from New York that was destined for Mexico. In addition to his brother, Armando Moya identified multiple people involved in their drug-trafficking conspiracy, including their boss in Mexico named Don Roberto. The defendant’s brother, Jose Roberto Moya, was arrested earlier on his way to Armando Moya’s New Boston residence with eight kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of fentanyl. Testimony and extensive digital evidence at trial established that Armando Moya was responsible for delivering as much as 150 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine from November 2017 through June 2018 to Illinois, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. Special Agents from the DEA also testified at trial regarding the deadly role that heroin and fentanyl are currently playing in the nation-wide opioid epidemic.
Armando Moya was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 21, 2018 and charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tyler, Corpus Christi, and Chicago offices and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan R. Hornok and D. Ryan Locker.
Meth trafficking and firearms crimes send Billings man to prison for 20 yearsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Billings man convicted of drug trafficking and firearms crimes after law enforcement found more than a pound of methamphetamine and loaded guns in his vehicle was sentenced today to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
After a two-day trial in December, a jury found Julian Tyler Baughman, 37, guilty of all three crimes as charged, including possession with intent to distribute meth, prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
At trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Montana Violent Offender Task Force officers got a tip about Baughman’s location and arrested him in a vehicle in a Billings neighborhood on April 10, 2019. Baughman admitted he had a gun on him. While searching Baughman, officers found in a belly band holster a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with 15 live rounds and a second magazine containing 11 live rounds of ammunition. Baughman also had $1,086 and a cell phone on his person.
Officers found in the vehicle a meth pipe, a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a loaded .357-caliber semi-automatic pistol, boxes of ammunition, an open U.S. Postal Service envelope containing about 1.6 pounds of meth and other items. The amount of meth found is the equivalent of about 5,800 doses.
After getting a search warrant for Baughman’s phone, investigators found multiple photos of the 9mm pistol that Baughman had sent to people, conversations in which Baughman admitted to shooting himself in the foot with the .357 pistol and multiple messages consistent with Baughman dealing drugs.
Baughman had prior felony convictions in 2016 and therefore, was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Godfrey and Karla Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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McLoud Man Arrested for Unlawfully Possessing a Fully Automatic Machinegun in Violation of Federal LawRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Christopher Steven Ledbetter, 29, of McLoud, Oklahoma, has been arrested and charged with unlawfully possessing a fully automatic machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint, in March 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learned that Ledbetter might be in possession of a fully automatic machinegun. The FBI then reviewed publicly available materials on the internet associated with Ledbetter that depicted Ledbetter on multiple occasions shooting what appeared to be a fully automatic machinegun. The affidavit further indicates yesterday the FBI encountered Ledbetter in Oklahoma City driving a 2017 Jeep Wrangler vehicle. In that vehicle, the FBI discovered a fully automatic AK-47 style carbine machinegun.
Federal law prohibits the possession, except under limited circumstances, of a fully automatic machinegun as defined in the National Firearms Act. The affidavit further indicates that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched its federal licensing system. That search determined that Ledbetter does not have the required licenses to possess a machinegun.
Today, Ledbetter made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell in Oklahoma City. Judge Mitchell ordered Ledbetter be detained pending further proceedings in the case.
If found guilty, Ledbetter faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000.00 fine.
This case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Oklahoma City Field Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Dallas Field Division, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, as referenced in the affidavit, along with other law enforcement partners. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Dillon and Jessica Perry are prosecuting the case.
The public is reminded that charges are merely allegations, and Ledbetter is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Reference is made to public filings for more information.
Man from Mescalero, New Mexico sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for assaulting federal officersRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Shawn J. Forte, 28, of Mescalero, New Mexico was sentenced in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico on June 4 to 10 months in prison for assaulting federal officers in the performance of their official duties.
Forte previously pleaded guilty to this charge on Nov. 4, 2019. He admitted committing this offense on May 17, 2019. According to his plea agreement and other public court documents, Forte was jumping in front of cars on a highway within the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Police officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs responded to the scene and tried to arrest Forte. Forte refused to put his hands behind his back. Forte resisted the officers for several minutes as they used tasers and pepper spray to stop him. During the struggle, Forte punched two officers in the head and kicked one of them in the head causing cuts, bruising and abrasions. Forte continued to resist while being transported to the hospital for medical treatment.
The Las Cruces office of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tilli McCarthy Villalobos prosecuted the case.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Multiple Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 21 years in prison for participating in armed robberies of a Lyft driver, a Papa John’s Pizza delivery person, and the clerk of a Sunoco gas station.
According to court documents, Darrell R. Pittman, 21, planned and executed a series of armed robberies in Hampton, Newport News and Richmond. During Pittman’s robbery spree, he pointed a firearm at each victim and made threats of violence. In the Hampton and Newport News robberies, Pittman stole vehicles at gunpoint and eventually led police on high speed pursuits through residential neighborhoods. Additionally, Pittman and four accomplices were involved in an accident following a shoplifting incident at a Kohl’s department store in Newport News. The crash resulted in the death of a 78-year-old woman. Pittman escaped from the accident scene and was the subject of a manhunt in Hampton Roads. With the assistance of the media and the public, Pittman was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service working in conjunction with ATF and the Newport News Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Nick Proffitt, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia; Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police; Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; Humberto I. Cardounel, Jr., Chief of Henrico County Police Division; and Terry L. Sult, Chief of Hampton Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Franker 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. 4:19-cr-035.
Milwaukee Man Charged with Federal Offenses for Throwing Molotov Cocktail into Boost Mobile StoreRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 4, 2020, his office filed a federal criminal complaint against Tyshaun T. Smith (age: 26) of Milwaukee. The complaint charges Smith with attempted arson of a Boost Mobile store at 949 North 27th Street in Milwaukee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i), and possession of destructive device, namely a Molotov cocktail, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Sections 5861(c), 5845(a), and 5845(f).
If convicted of the attempted arson, Smith would face a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. If convicted of possession of the destructive device, he would face up to ten years in prison. He also would face a fine of up to $250,000 for each count of conviction.
According to the criminal complaint, on May 31, 2020, at approximately 11:03 p.m., Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a 911 call regarding an entry into the Boost Mobile store. When officers arrived, Tyshaun Smith and two other individuals were standing outside of the store next to a broken window. Smith was holding what appeared to be a burning Molotov cocktail. An officer observed Smith throw the Molotov cocktail into the store. Smith and the others then ran from the scene. However, Smith fell and was arrested. When arrested, Smith’s sweatshirt and gloves were coated in gasoline, and he was in possession of a loaded 9 mm firearm. Police were able to extinguish the burning Molotov cocktail in the store and recover the device.
“As alleged in the complaint, Smith engaged in senseless violence, attempting to destroy an innocent business that serves Milwaukee residents,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “I commend the excellent work of the Milwaukee Police Department to prevent more damage to the store. The Justice Department, including the ATF and my office, is committed to working with state and local authorities to ensure public safety in Milwaukee.”
“ATF will continue to work in partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department to protect the community and property from these violent acts,” remarked Special Agent in Charge Kristen deTineo of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of the Chicago Field Division. “We appreciate the United States Attorney’s Office for their diligence in charging this case.”
Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales remarked “The Milwaukee Police Department continues to support the individuals that are exercising their right to peacefully protest. MPD is thankful of our Federal partners that are assisting in prosecuting the subjects that are participating in criminal behavior during these difficult times”.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Milwaukee Police Department investigated the case, which will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip Kovoor.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal method of charging an individual and does not constitute inference of his or her guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, that the government establishes his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Luzerne County Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearms and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bruce Redmond, age 31, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on June 2, 2020, before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to the illegal possession of firearms and methamphetamine trafficking.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Redmond admitted to being an illegal user of controlled substances in possession of firearms and to the possession of methamphetamine for further distribution. The charges stem from an incident in which law enforcement authorities served search warrants at Redmond’s residence in Dallas and business office in Kingston and seized approximately 58 firearms, 6,664 rounds of ammunition and a quantity of methamphetamine.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kingston Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime.
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 the drug offenses is twenty years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for the firearms offenses is ten years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release, 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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Lothian, Maryland Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Wayne Jenkins, age 41, of Lothian, Maryland was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment, and 3 years of supervised release for Possession Of Firearm In Furtherance Of Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Indictment alleged that on or about June 1, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Drug trafficking and violence go hand-in-hand. By working together to investigate and enforce federal gun and drug laws, federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies make our communities safer. That is a worthwhile partnership and a priority of the Department of Justice.”
“Mr. Jenkins carried a loaded firearm while transporting illegal drugs from Texas to Maryland,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “Thanks to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s commitment to safety, situational awareness and strong partnerships, he will travel our nation’s interstates on a Bureau of Prisons bus for the next five years.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.Latin Dragon Nation Member Sentenced to 420 Months Imprisonment Following Conviction for Racketeering Conspiracy Including Hammond MurderRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Manuel Diaz, 29, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Philip P. Simon to 420 months imprisonment following his guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity as a member of the Latin Dragon Nation street gang, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in the case, Manuel Diaz has been a member of the Latin Dragon Nation since 2007. As a member, Diaz participated in several shootings of suspected rival gang members and associates. On September 30, 2017, Diaz drove a vehicle, while accompanied by two other members, in pursuit of a person in another vehicle in Hammond, Indiana. Charles Berrios driving a separate vehicle attempted to interfere with Diaz’s pursuit. As Diaz drove past Berrios’s vehicle, Diaz fatally shot Berrios.
“Manuel Diaz has been a Latin Dragon since his teens and has participated in numerous criminal acts over many years. A lengthy, 35 year sentence is appropriate and should send a strong message that gang activity and associated criminal acts will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II. “Gang members should know that together with our law enforcement partners, my office will continue to investigate and prosecute criminal gang activity. I am grateful to the law enforcement officers and prosecutors that have worked very hard on this case for many years.”
“This lengthy sentence demonstrates how vital partnerships are among local, state and federal law enforcement in the successful investigation and prosecution of gang violence,” remarked Special Agent in Charge Kristen deTineo of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the Chicago Field Division. “We applaud the United States Attorney’s Office for their unwavering commitment to prosecute these violent offenders and sending the strong message that violence will not be tolerated in our communities.”
"Gang violence on our communities’ streets needlessly endangers innocent citizens, and today’s sentencing demonstrates that there are severe consequences for these crimes,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie, Jr. “This sentence is the result of the tireless efforts of a multitude of law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, and we will continue partnering to ensure that our neighborhoods remain a safe place for families to live and grow."
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Chicago Police Department Criminal Enterprise Unit; the Cook County Sheriff’s Office; the Bartlett Police Department; the Hammond Police Department; the East Chicago Police Department; the Merrillville Police Department; the Hobart Police Department; the Lake County Sheriff’s Department; and the Calumet City Police Department, with assistance from the Lake County, Indiana Prosecutor’s Office, the Cook County, Illinois State’s Attorney’s Office, the Indiana Department of Corrections, and the Illinois Department of Corrections. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph A. Cooley and Kevin F. Wolff and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Toth, with prior assistance from the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section Trial Attorneys Robert Tully, Andrew Creighton, and Hans Miller.
Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Fraudulent Chicagoland Tax Return BusinessRead the Press Release
The United States has filed a complaint seeking to permanently bar Markham, Illinois tax preparer Patricia Rivers, her daughter-in-law, Ki’esha M. Gary, and Rivers’s business, Alpha II Omega Tax, from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.
The complaint against Rivers, Gary, and Alpha II Omega Tax was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and alleges that those parties prepare false federal income tax returns on which they understate their customers’ tax liabilities by reporting false or exaggerated itemized deductions, sole proprietorship business expenses, and rental real estate losses.
According to the complaint, the Internal Revenue Service interviewed 38 customers of Alpha II Omega Tax, who allegedly stated that they were not self-employed or did not incur the business expenses reported on their income tax returns; had no rental real estate or never suffered the significant rental losses reflected on their tax returns; did not make the donations or expend funds for the employment expenses listed by the defendants; and did not give Rivers and Gary any reason to believe that such deductions were legitimate.
The complaint alleges that, by repeatedly understating their customers’ tax liabilities, the preparers at Alpha II Omega Tax have caused the United States to lose substantial tax revenue. The government contends in the complaint that Rivers and Gary prepared over 2,750 income tax returns between 2016 and 2019, and the returns of just the 38 customers the IRS interviewed reflect an actual tax loss to the IRS of $278,461. The complaint also asks the court to order the defendants to turn over the ill-gotten tax preparation fees they earned while engaging in this fraudulent conduct.
“The Tax Division will work with its IRS partners to shut down return preparers who claim improper or illegal deductions and credits for their customers” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman. “Taxpayers should be vigilant so they do not file tax returns claiming false deductions.”
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers.
In the past decade, the Department of Justice Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on June 1 was:
Wolfgang Alexander Lucas Vasquez, 27, of Rexford, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. If convicted of the most serious crime, Vasquez faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Vasquez was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Flathead County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-17.
Nicholas Steven Moskaloff, 19, of Kalispell, on charges of drug user and addict in possession of firearms and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Moskaloff faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Moskaloff was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Flathead County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-10.
Appearing on June 3 was:
Joshua James Chappa, 44, of Bozeman, on charges of conversion of secured property, false statements on loan application, wire fraud, theft of livestock and mail fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Chappa faces a maximum 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release. Chappa was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-5.
Appearing on June 4 was:
Russell Scott Wilkey, 50, of Three Forks, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Wilkey faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Wilkey was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office, Gallatin County Sheriff's Office and Glade's County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-5.
Joshua Jay Schroeder, 39, of Butte, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Schroeder faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Schroeder was detained pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration service investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-9.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Independence Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Daniel W. Pendergrass, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 14 years and one month in federal prison without parole.
On June 12, 2019, Pendergrass pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Pendergrass was an active participant in a methamphetamine distribution operation that distributed more than 40 kilograms of methamphetamine throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. He coordinated methamphetamine transactions, distributed methamphetamine to individuals, collected and counted the money received for the methamphetamine, and used his vehicle to distribute methamphetamine. When Pendergrass was arrested, he was in possession of 194 grams of methamphetamine.
Pendergrass is the second defendant to be sentenced in this case. Co-defendant Lynette Marie Roberts, 29, of Gladstone, Missouri, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Moeder. It was investigated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force.
Illinois Man Admits Role in $4.6 Million Health Care Fraud Related to Genetic TestingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Illinois man today admitted his role in a scheme to defraud the Medicare Program in connection with fraudulent orders for genetic tests, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Kyle D. McLean, 36, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with a scheme to commit health care fraud. McLean and five co-defendants were previously charged by indictment in September 2019 in connection with the conspiracy and a related scheme.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
McLean and certain of his conspirators operated Privy Health Inc., a company that acquired DNA samples and Medicare information from hundreds of patients through various methods, including offering $75 gift cards to patients, all without the involvement of a treating health care professional. Privy partnered with another company, Ark Laboratory Network LLC, which purported to operate a network of laboratories that facilitated genetic testing. Matthew S. Ellis, a physician based in Gainesville, Florida, and a co-defendant charged in the indictment, served as the ordering physician who authorized genetic testing for hundreds of patients across the country that he never saw, examined, or treated. These included patients from New Jersey and various other states where Ellis was not licensed to practice medicine. Through this process, Ellis, McLean, and others submitted and caused to be submitted fraudulent orders for genetic tests to numerous clinical laboratories. These orders falsely certified that Ellis was the patients’ treating physician and, in some cases, falsely indicated that a patient had a personal or family history of cancer. In 2018 alone, Medicare paid clinical laboratories at least approximately $4.6 million for genetic tests that Ellis ordered as part of this scheme.
The charge to which McLean pleadedguilty carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross grain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 9, 2020.
A co-defendant, Kacey C. Plaisance, of Altamonte Springs, Florida, previously pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott Lampert; and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Bernard J. Cooney of the Health Care Fraud Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
The charge and allegations against the remaining defendants are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Gustavo Hernandez-Gonzalez, 34, an illegal alien from Mexico, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., to possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Hernandez-Gonzalez will be sentenced by Judge Guirola on August 26, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He also faces being removed from the United States to his home nation of Mexico, following the completion of any prison sentence.
On November 19, 2019, an officer of the Gulfport Police Department was dispatched for a welfare check to the Inn Town Suites on Highway 49. A citizen reported that an unknown Hispanic male was passed out inside of a vehicle. The officer traveled to the hotel and made contact with Gustavo Hernandez-Gonzalez who was sitting in the driver’s seat of a pick-up truck. While attempting to wake up Hernandez-Gonzalez, the officer observed, in plain view, a black semi-automatic Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun and a magazine loaded with 7 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. The pistol was on top of the center console to the right side of Hernandez-Gonzalez. Later, upon running the serial number on the Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun through Gulfport Police dispatch, it was discovered that the firearm had been reported as stolen through a report from the Houston, Texas, Police Department.
After Hernandez-Gonzalez woke up, another officer observed, also in plain view, a black Titan Tiger .38 special revolver on the driver’s side floorboard where he was sitting. Hernandez-Gonzalez did not have a driver’s license, but did have what appeared to be a Mexican identification card. Hernandez-Gonzalez admitted he is not a United States citizen, and that he illegally entered the United States. He was placed under arrest and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) became the lead agency for the investigation.
A search warrant was obtained for Hernandez-Gonzalez’s cellphone which contained multiple photos of him together with both firearms found in his truck. ATF agents assisted HSI and determined that both firearms were manufactured outside the State of Mississippi, and had therefore moved in interstate commerce.
U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Gulfport Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.
Harrison County Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Benjamin Joseph Butler, 39, of Gulfport, entered a guilty plea yesterday before U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Butler will be sentenced by Judge Guirola on August 26, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. He faces a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of life in prison. He also faces fines up to $250,000 and 5 years of supervised release.
Between August and October 2019, Butler sold marijuana to an individual on four separate occasions. Agents executed a search warrant on Butler’s residence where they found marijuana, LSD, THC oil, Psilocybin mushroom, methamphetamine, 17 firearms, multi rounds of ammunition and two silencers.
The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
Guilty Pleas and SentencesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Last week, several defendants pled guilty and others were sentenced in the District Court of Puerto Rico, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
- On May 26, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced Isander Quiñones-Herrera to 51 months in prison for three counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence. The charges were based on defendant’s three separate robberies of Burger King restaurants in January and February 2018. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Juan C. Reyes.
- On May 26, 2020, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced David Morales-Zenquis to 11 years in prison and 20 years of supervised release after pleading guilty earlier this year to charges of coercing a minor female into sending him sexually explicit images and videos via two popular internet instant messaging applications. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and was prosecuted by AUSA Ginette Milanes.
- On May 26, 2020, Cresencio Olmo-Cruz was charged and pled guilty to one count of reentry of a removed alien whose removal was subsequent to a conviction for an aggravated felony. Olmo-Cruz reentered while he was on supervised release from his previous conviction and as such, his term of supervised release was also revoked. The case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and prosecuted by AUSA Linet Suárez.
- On May 26, 2020, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced José Parra Gutiérrez to 44 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in a conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment charged two Colombian citizens and three American citizens with conspiracy to launder drug proceeds. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and prosecuted by AUSA Maritza González.
- On May 26, 2020, US District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced Jason Osorio-Nieves to time served, approximately 12 months, for a firearm violation. On May 27, 2019, Osorio-Nieves illegally possessed a pistol while being an illegal alien. The case was investigated by ATF and prosecuted by AUSA Jeanette Collazo.
- On May 26, 2020, US District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced Stephanie Herrera-Montañez to 57 months’ imprisonment for violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and committing bank robbery and burglary. Herrera-Montañez was a member of an organization that was responsible for the commission of multiple robberies and violent acts. Specifically, Herrera-Montañez served as a lookout for the organization. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by AUSA Kelly Zenón.
- On May 26, 2020, Alexis Alexander-Montas Valenzuela pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The defendant could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by AUSA Corinne Cordero.
- On May 26, 2020, Victor M. Valcarcel-Delgado pled guilty to one count of impersonating an officer before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López. Defendant was pretending to be an officer or an employee of the United States, and in that capacity obtained money from several individuals. The term of imprisonment per the applicable statute is not more than three years. AUSA Myriam Fernández is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Dalvin Trinidad-Santana to time served, approximately five months, and one year of supervised release for one count of reentry of a removed alien. On November 20, 2019, CBP Office of Air and Marine assets stopped a vessel carrying defendant and 31 others approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. Defendant was transferred to the Coast Guard and then to Border Patrol, and ultimately pled guilty to the charges as filed. Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) Seth Tremble was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Michael J. Oquendo-Carrión to 37 months’ imprisonment for possession of a machinegun. The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by SAUSA Michele Colón.
- On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced José R. López Rosario to 96 months’ imprisonment for his participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The case was investigated by HSI and the US Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by AUSA Marc Chattah.
- On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Ángel O. Rivera Ferrer to 130 months’ imprisonment for his participation in two separate drug trafficking conspiracies. The cases were investigated by HSI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by AUSA Marc Chattah.
- On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Eric R. Piñero to 130 months’ imprisonment for his participation in two separate drug trafficking conspiracies. The cases were investigated by HSI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by AUSA Marc Chattah.
- On May 28, 2020, Senior District Court Judge Daniel R. Domínguez sentenced Luis Cataño Landan to 14 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in a large-scale drug conspiracy, and to 60 months as to a firearms violations count, to be served consecutively with each other for a total term of 74 months, this combined with a sentence of 43 months for a previous case, for a total sentence of 117 months. Cataño Landan had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charged drug conspiracy included 44 defendants involved in the distribution of cocaine base (crack), heroin, cocaine, marihuana, Oxycodone (Percocet), and Alprazolam (Xanax) in Caguas and surrounding areas. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), Caguas Strike Force Unit, with the collaboration of DEA and the U.S. Marshals. AUSA Corinne Cordero Romo was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 28, 2020, Senior District Court Judge Daniel R. Domínguez sentenced Kenneth Cedeño to 87 months’ imprisonment and eight years of supervised release for his involvement in a large-scale drug conspiracy. Cedeño had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics. The charged drug conspiracy included 44 defendants involved in the distribution of crack, heroin, cocaine, marihuana, Percocet, and Xanax in Caguas and surrounding areas. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), Caguas Strike Force Unit, with the collaboration of DEA and the U.S. Marshals. AUSA Corinne Cordero Romo was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 28, 2020, Ricardo Keith Edwin pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine before U.S. District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa. The defendant traveled from Tortola, British Virgin Islands with his co-conspirator in order to exchange kilograms of cocaine for U.S. Currency. The applicable penalties are a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, and a supervised release term of not less than 5 years. AUSA Vanessa Bonhomme is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
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Grand Rapids Dentist to Pay $200,000 to Resolve Allegations of Illegitimate Controlled Substance PrescribingRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Scott T. Singstock, D.D.S., has agreed to pay $200,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act by writing illegitimate prescriptions for controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Birge announced today. Dr. Singstock, who during the course of the investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) surrendered his DEA registration that allowed him to prescribe controlled substances, also has agreed to a five-year restriction on his ability to apply for a new registration.
This settlement resolves allegations that Dr. Singstock, a Grand Rapids dentist, wrote numerous prescriptions for controlled substances, most of which were for opioids, without a legitimate medical purpose and outside of the usual course of professional practice. The United States alleges that many of these prescriptions were written for individuals with whom Dr. Singstock had no bona fide doctor-patient relationship and no medical records.
"The DEA entrusts physicians like Dr. Singstock with a privilege to prescribe controlled substances—a privilege that requires compliance with laws and regulations designed to protect against the diversion of prescription drugs that fuels the ongoing opioid epidemic," said U.S. Attorney Birge. "If you break that trust by bending the rules, the consequences will be swift and significant. As we continue to fight the opioid epidemic in Michigan, my office is committed to working with the DEA and other law enforcement to ensure compliance."
"Everyone, including the patient, the prescriber, and the manufacturer, plays an important role in utilizing opioids correctly," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin, Detroit Field Division. "In this instance, the prescriber chose to operate outside of the law, and this is the consequence for that choice."
This case was investigated by the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Hull represented the United States.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
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Gouldsboro Man Sentenced to 36 Months’ Imprisonment for Robbing Jefferson Township Bank with BB GunRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Petr Kostenetskiy, age 21, of Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on June 2, 2020, by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to thirty-six months’ imprisonment to be followed by two years of supervised release for armed bank robbery.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, on July 22, 2019, Kostenetskiy entered a bank in Jefferson Township armed with what was later determined to be a BB gun, pointed the weapon at a teller, demanded money and ultimately stole $7,537. Kostenetskiy was located and arrested shortly thereafter and the stolen funds were recovered.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
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Front Royal Man Sentenced for Role in Baltimore-Front Royal Heroin Pipeline Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – Nikolai Hall-Andujar, of Front Royal, Virginia, was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison for his role in a heroin distribution conspiracy that brought hundreds of grams of the drug from Baltimore to Front Royal between 2015 and 2018. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Field Division made the announcement today.
“The scourge of heroin and other illicit drugs entering the Northern Shenandoah County community has caused pain, addiction, and death for years,” First Assistant United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar said today. “Eradicating these potentially lethal substances remains a top priority for law enforcement and I am grateful to the Drug Enforcement Administration and all the agencies involved in the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force for continuing to embrace the challenge.”
“The effect that heroin has had on our communities and families across the DMV has been devastating. The sentencing in this case, along with the help of local and federal agencies across the DMV, is to be commended for the impact it’s had on communities across Maryland, DC, and Virginia,” Special Agent in Charge Fong said today. “The DEA Washington Division is dedicated to continuing combatting this deadly problem for our area by taking dangerous criminals and organizations like this off our streets and combatting drug trafficking across our area.”
According to court documents, Hall-Andujar, who previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, was part of the “Chris” heroin distribution organization based out of Baltimore. Between summer 2015 and spring 2018, Hall-Andujar was responsible for distributing no less than 400 grams of heroin to individuals in Front Royal and Winchester.
Hall-Andujar obtained quantities of heroin ranging from 4 to 5 grams at a time, every other day, and sometimes up to 10 grams, from the “Chris” pipeline in Baltimore. Once the purchase was complete, Hall-Andujar returned to Front Royal and Winchester to use and redistribute the heroin he obtained.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Winchester Office, the Front Royal Office of the Virginia State Police Northwest Regional Drug and Gang Task Force, the Baltimore City Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Frederick, Maryland Sheriff’s Office, the Loudoun County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office and the Howard County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Huber prosecuted the case for the United States.
Four Florida Men Charged for Their Roles in a $54 Million Compound Pharmacy Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Four Florida men were charged in an indictment unsealed Thursday for their alleged participation in a compound pharmacy kickback scheme.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the Middle District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Cyndy Bruce of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Southeast Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Michael F. McPherson of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Omar Aybar Perez of the U.S. Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office and Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) Southeast Field Office, made the announcement.
James Wesley Moss, 57, of Zephyrhills, Florida, Edward Christopher White, 38, of Panama City Beach, Florida, David Byron Copeland, 52, of Tallahassee, Florida, and Michael Alton Gordon, 56, of Ft. Myers, Florida, were each charged in an indictment filed in the Middle District of Florida with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay or receive health care kickbacks.
In addition, Moss was charged with six counts of offering or paying health care kickbacks and one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, ketamine;
White was charged with four counts of soliciting or receiving health care kickbacks; Copeland was charged with two counts of soliciting or receiving health care kickbacks and three counts of offering or paying health care kickbacks; and Gordon was charged with three counts of soliciting or receiving health care kickbacks. The defendants will be arraigned in the Middle District of Florida at a later date.The allegations stem from the defendants’ participation in a multi-million dollar conspiracy to defraud TRICARE, a federal health care benefit program. TRICARE is the health care benefit program of the U.S. Department of Defense that provides health care coverage for active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, their families and survivors. The indictment alleges that Moss and others owned and operated Florida Pharmacy Solutions Inc. (FPS) for the purpose of targeting TRICARE beneficiaries and causing the submission to TRICARE of claims for expensive prescription compounded drugs that were not legitimately prescribed because they were induced and procured by the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes. The indictment alleges that between approximately November 2012 and September 2015, the defendants caused the submission to TRICARE of more than $54 million in claims for prescription compounded drugs and that TRICARE paid approximately $41 million to FPS on those claims.
The indictment further alleges that Moss paid more than $20 million in health care kickbacks to White, Copeland and Gordon in return for their procuring and referring prescriptions for compounded drugs for TRICARE beneficiaries to be filled by FPS. FPS allegedly submitted claims for payment to TRICARE for providing prescription compounded drugs to TRICARE beneficiaries living in approximately 30 states and several foreign countries.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the DCIS Tampa Resident Agency, assisted by the FBI, the HHS/OIG and the VA/OIG. Trial Attorney John A. Michelich of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, National Health Care Fraud Strike Force, is prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in 12 cities across the country, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Former Florida Prepaid College Program Contractor Indicted for Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jamilla Ciar Hall, 30, of Tallahassee, Florida, was arrested yesterday after
a federal grand jury in Tallahassee returned an indictment charging Hall with conspiracy to commit
mail fraud, 5 counts of mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The offenses are alleged to have
been committed in the Northern District of Florida. The indictment was announced by Lawrence Keefe,
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.The indictment alleges that the Florida Prepaid College Board, which administers the Florida
Prepaid College Program (“Florida Prepaid”), contracted with Intuition College Savings Solutions
(“ICSS”) to provide customer service and records administration services for Florida Prepaid
College Program. The indictment further alleges that Hall was an employee of ICSS and that between
on or about July 1, 2018, and on or about December 31, 2018, Hall accessed and viewed the personal
identification information of Florida Prepaid account owners and beneficiaries, and then
fraudulently changed mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses associated with existing
Florida Prepaid plans. The indictment further alleges that Hall fraudulently completed cancellation
forms using the personal identification information of Florida Prepaid account owners and
beneficiaries. In doing so, Hall fraudulently caused Florida Prepaid refund checks to be mailed and
delivered by the United States Postal Service, which she personally cashed or which she gave to
others to fraudulently cash. In total, it is alleged that Hall fraudulently obtained and attempted
to obtain approximately $42,000 in funds to which she was not entitled.Hall faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit mail fraud
and mail fraud, and a 2-year mandatory minimum prison sentence consecutive to any other sentence
imposed for aggravated identity theft.
This case resulted from an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the
United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the
case.The jury trial for Hall is scheduled for July 29, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. before the Honorable Judge
Alan Winsor at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of
federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and
entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt at trial.The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access
public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States Attor ey’s Office, Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.Five Defendants Receive Federal Prison Sentences; Two Enter Guilty Pleas in Connection with Federal Gun Crimes and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced the resolution of several cases this week involving federal gun crimes and drug offenses, all of which are separately noted. The firearms cases were brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) initiative. U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over each hearing on June 3, 2020.
SENTENCING – BRADLEY KEITH CULP
Bradley Keith Culp, 55, of Monroe, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison and three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On August 31, 2018, Louisiana Probation and Parole agents and Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies performed a residence check at the defendant’s home in Winnfield, Louisiana. Inside they found the defendant, a multiple-time convicted felon, in possession of approximately 14 firearms. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony to possess firearms or ammunition.
At Culp’s guilty plea on January 21, 2020, he admitted that he knew his status as a convicted felon prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition. Culp’s prior felony convictions included distribution of methamphetamine (2006 and 2008), and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2008).
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Louisiana Probation and Parole, and the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon prosecuted the case.
SENTENCING – MARTHONY MILLER
Marthony Miller, 24, of Rayville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release following his prison term, for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Miller pled guilty on January 8, 2020.
On April 2, 2019, an investigator with the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted a suspicious package at the Shreveport Processing and Distribution Center that contained approximately 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. The package had been mailed from Compton, California, addressed to a residence in Rayville, Louisiana. A controlled delivery of the package was made to Miller’s residence in Rayville on April 3, 2019. Following the delivery of the package, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant and found a vial of methamphetamine inside a toilet, which contained some of the methamphetamine. They also found a digital scale, a ledger with information about quantities and profits, and wire transfer receipts to a person in California.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten prosecuted the case.
SENTENCING – NANDERRIOUS THOMAS
Nanderrious Thomas, 23, of Monroe, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Thomas pled guilty on December 13, 2019.
On November 16, 2018, Monroe Police Department officers were conducting an active warrant canvas when they spotted Nanderrious Thomas, who had outstanding felony warrants. Thomas fled when he saw the officers and crawled under an abandoned house. Immediately after he was apprehended, a detective recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson, Model SD.40 VE, semi-automatic handgun from underneath the house. The pistol contained 14 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, with one round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine. Thomas has a prior felony conviction in Ouachita Parish for aggravated battery.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshal’s Service, and Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Thompson prosecuted the case.
SENTENCING – RODRIGUEZ DEWAYNE COBBS
Rodriguez Dewayne Cobbs, 27, of Monroe, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release following his prison term, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Cobbs pled guilty on December 13, 2019.
On January 21, 2019, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cobbs following a traffic stop of his vehicle. During the course of the traffic stop, Cobbs informed the officer that he had a gun in his right front jacket pocket. Officers retrieved a Smith & Wesson, Model SD.40 VE, semi-automatic handgun loaded with one round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine, and a Glock .9mm magazine lying on the front passenger seat, loaded with two rounds.
Cobbs has prior felony convictions in Ouachita and Caddo Parishes for simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Thompson prosecuted the case.
SENTENCING – DUSTIN McMILLIAN
Dustin McMillian, 27, of Monroe, was sentenced to four years in federal prison and three years of supervised release following his prison term, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. McMillian pled guilty on January 8, 2020.
On April 12, 2019, agents with the Monroe Metro Narcotics Unit arrested McMillian for active FBI warrants for methamphetamine distribution. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a Ruger 9mm handgun under the driver’s seat where McMillian was sitting, and a backpack containing a digital scale and multiple baggies. Officers also found $1,169 in cash in McMillian’s shorts pocket. McMillian told officers that the money came from selling a chainsaw. McMillian admitted that the gun, baggies, and digital scale belonged to him. McMillian also admitted that he knew he should not have a gun because he had just been released from jail for the same charge, but he needed the firearm for protection.
McMillian has multiple felony convictions that include unauthorized entry into an inhabited dwelling (2013), possession of methamphetamine (2015), aggravated flight from an officer (2018), and possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance (2018).
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Monroe Metro Narcotics Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
GUILTY PLEA – JERRY DAKOTA JOHNSON
Jerry Dakota Johnston, 35, of West Monroe, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
On September 2, 2019, Union Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies observed Johnston, a non-resident, illegally dumping trash at a parish dumpsite adjacent to Camp T.L. James on Highway 15. While speaking with Johnston, the deputies observed in plain view a 9mm handgun, loaded with a 30-round extended magazine, stuffed between the driver’s seat and center console. The defendant claimed that the weapon was only a “BB gun,” but then, unprovoked, fled the scene on foot down the highway. After a brief chase, the deputies apprehended Johnston and placed him in custody. During a search of the vehicle, officers found approximately 12 grams of methamphetamine packaged for sale.
Prior to his arrest on September 2, 2019, Johnston, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing firearms because of convictions for drug offenses and domestic violence. At the time of his arrest, Johnston knew his status as a convicted felon.
Johnston faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for the firearms charge, and up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine for the drug charge. Sentencing is scheduled for September 2, 2020.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Union Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon is prosecuting the case.
GUILTY PLEA – CEDRIC DEWAYNE COLEMAN
Cedric Dewayne Coleman, 35, of Monroe, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On November 7, 2019, detectives with the Monroe Police Department were conducting a follow-up investigation of a domestic dispute involving Coleman. While speaking with Coleman in his bedroom, officers found a Colt pistol, Model 22, caliber: 22 at the head of the bed. Coleman admitted that the firearm belonged to him.
Coleman has a prior felony conviction from 2006 for possession of cocaine. At the time he possessed the firearm, he knew that as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
At sentencing on September 2, 2020, Coleman faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy is prosecuting the case.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN plays a major role in the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Final Defendant in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. - A Mt. Vernon, Kentucky man, Brice Hubbard, 47, pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday, before Magistrate Judge Hanly A. Ingram, to conspiring with others to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.
Hubbard admitted that, from February 2019 to May 2019, he conspired with Dallas Clifford, Dustin Hurley, and Jordan Moore to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Hubbard admitted to supplying pound level quantities of methamphetamine to co-conspirators, who would then sell the methamphetamine to middlemen and end-users. Hubbard also admitted to arranging the sale of a pound of methamphetamine in Berea, Ky.
Clifford and Hurley pleaded guilty in February 2020, and are scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2020 and June 12, 2020, respectively. Moore pleaded guilty in May 2020 and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17, 2020.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Jeffrey Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Reed.
Hubbard is scheduled to be sentenced on a date yet to be determined by the court. He faces up to life in prison. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
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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Eagle Butte Man Sentenced on Wildlife ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Violating the Lacey Act was sentenced on June 4, 2020, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.
Dugan Traversie, age 39, was sentenced to 1 year probation, loss of his hunting privileges for one year, ordered to pay $9,000 restitution to Timberlake Elk Ranch, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25.
Traversie was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 12, 2020. He pled guilty on June 4, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred sometime between October 28, 2019, and November 4, 2019, when Traversie harvested a white-tailed deer outside of the tribal hunting season, in violation of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe hunting laws and regulations. After Traversie shot the deer, he left and returned the next day to remove the head and left the carcass behind.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Game, Fish and Parks Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Dubuque Man Who Possessed over 25,000 Images of Child Pornography Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Dubuque man who possessed over 25,000 images of child pornography was sentenced today to 139 months in prison.
Mark Curtis, Jr., age 37, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography.
Information disclosed at his court hearing today showed that between August 2017 and August 2018, Curtis, Jr. used terms commonly associated with child pornography to search for images and videos of child pornography on the internet. Curtis, Jr. downloaded a number of images and videos to his cellular telephone. Curtis, Jr. then moved some of these images and videos to a Dropbox account. In total, Curtis possessed over 25,800 images. The images depicted minors that ranged in age from infants to pre-teens. Some videos and images involved infants and toddlers engaged in sexual acts. Curtis, Jr. has no criminal history.
Curtis, Jr. was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Curtis, Jr. was sentenced to 139 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $200 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-1046.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Department of Justice Awards Almost $2 Million for Community Policing in Northern FloridaRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of
Florida, today announced that three local law enforcement agencies in the district will share in
almost $2 million in federal grants to fund additional deputies and officers to keep their
communities safe. The grants, through the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP), will provide additional personnel in
Jefferson and Walton counties and the City of Fort Walton Beach.The three agencies are among 26 in Florida and 596 around the nation to receive funding awards,
part of are a portion of $51 million in grants announced in May as part of the Department of
Justice’s Operation Relentless Pursuit.“Sheriff’s offices and police departments across the Northern District of Florida are at the heart
of keeping our communities safe, and these grants will make a meaningful difference in helping them
protect and serve the good people of their cities and counties,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said.The grants announced by Keefe are:
• $329,595 to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department to fund 3 law enforcement positions
• $118,838 to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to fund 1 law enforcement position
• $1,500,000 to the Walton County Sheriff's Department to fund12 law enforcement positions“The Department of Justice is committed to providing the police chiefs and sheriffs of our great
nation with needed resources, tools, and support. The funding announced today will bolster their
ranks and contribute to expanding community policing efforts nationwide,” said Attorney General
William P. Barr. “A law enforcement agency’s most valuable assets are the men and women who put
their lives on the line every day in the name of protecting and serving their
communities.”The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public
safety through community policing by providing direct funding for the hiring of career law
enforcement officers. In addition to providing financial support for hiring, the program provides
funding to state and local law enforcement to enhance local community policing strategies and
tactics. In a changing economic climate, this funding helps law enforcement agencies maintain
sufficient sworn personnel levels to promote safe communities. Funding through this program had
been on hold since the spring of 2018 due to a nationwide injunction that was lifted earlier this
year.COPS Hiring Program applicants were required to identify a specific crime and disorder problem
focus area and explain how the funding will be used to implement community policing approaches to
that problem focus area. Of the awards announced today, 43% will focus on violent crime, while the
remainder of the awards will focus on a variety of issues including school-based policing to fund
school resource officer positions, building trust and respect, and opioid education, prevention,
and intervention. The COPS Office received nearly 1,100 applications requesting more than 4,000 law
enforcement positions.The complete list of awards can be found here. To learn more about the program, please visit
https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp. For additional information about the COPS Office, please
visit www.cops.usdoj.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.The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access
available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office,
Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.Denver Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Being Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Jalonni Alexander Moore, of Denver, was sentenced yesterday to serve 16 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years on supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges were filed after Moore was involved in a shootout near downtown Denver where one individual was killed. The Denver Field Division of the ATF joined in today’s announcement.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on March 10, 2019, Denver Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of 15th and Market Street on a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found a large crowd and learned that multiple people had been shot, including Moore, who had been taken to a hospital in a personal vehicle. At the hospital, officers interviewed both the driver and his passenger and looked into their vehicle. Where Moore had been sitting was a loaded handgun that did not belong to the vehicle's other occupants, nor was it present before the defendant entered the vehicle. The defendant later admitted to firing the weapon at the original scene.
“This is a perfect example of how our close partnership with local law enforcement results in a safer community,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. “This arguably would have been a complex case for the state to prosecute. But our straight-forward federal felon-in-possession law allows us to prosecute these cases quickly and remove dangerous felons from the street for substantial periods of time.”
“It is unlawful for convicted felons to possess firearms and ammunition,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge David Booth. “ATF will continue to work with the Denver Police Department and all of our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our communities.”
This case was investigated by the ATF, with substantial assistance from the Denver Police Department’s Homicide Unit. The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Celeste Rangel.
Delta County Bank President Guilty of Bank Fraud and Arson ViolationsRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A 57-year-old former bank president has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.
Anita Gail Moody, of Cooper, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and arson today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine A. Nowak.
According to information presented in court, Moody was President of Enloe State Bank in Cooper, Texas. On May 11, 2019, the bank had a fire that was determined to be arson. The fire was contained to the bank’s boardroom, but the entire bank suffered smoke damage. Several files had been stacked on the boardroom table, all of which were burned in the fire. Coincidentally, the bank was scheduled for a review by the Texas Department of Banking the next day. Further investigation into the fire and the bank revealed that Moody had been creating false nominee loans in the names of several people, including some actual bank customers. Moody eventually admitted to setting the fire in the boardroom to cover up the criminal activity concerning the false loans. She also admitted to using the fraudulently obtained money to fund her boyfriend’s business, other businesses of friends, and her own lifestyle. The fraudulent activity, which began in 2012, resulted in a loss to the bank of approximately $11 million.
Moody has agreed to a sentence of 84 months in federal prison and will pay restitution in the amount of $11,136,241.82 A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the FDIC-OIG and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen Smith and Wes Wynne.
Community Leaders and Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Call for Justice, Unity and PeaceRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Community leaders and federal, state and local law enforcement partners join together to condemn the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and to call for justice, unity and peace,
U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan, Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, Sacramento Chief of Police Daniel Hahn, and the following community leaders announced.Sacramento NAACP
President Betty WilliamsVallejo NAACP
President Jimmie JacksonMadera NAACP
President Gloria BrownKings County, Hanford Unit, NAACP
Dr. Crystal JacksonThe 100 Black Men of Sacramento
President Richard CorneliusMLK Celebration Committee
President Toni GreenwellOrganization of Chinese Americans Sacramento
President Jinky DolarChurch of Scientology of Sacramento
President Mike KlagenbergSacramento Afghan Community
President Abdul Karim YusufzaiWest Sacramento Gurdwara
Public Relations Officer Darshan MundyRacial Healing Project
President Jan MerrillShasta County Citizens Advocating Respect
Chair Susan Morris-WilsonCenter for Interfaith Studies in America
CEO Jon FishInterfaith Council of Sacramento
President Edrine Ddungu
Public Relations Officer Akram KevalInterfaith Council of Elk Grove
President Dr. Richard ShankarIslamic Center of Vallejo
Secretary Najim KhanSikh Community of Fresno
Ike GrewalJapanese American Citizens League
President Janice LuszczakInternational Faith Based Coalition
Bishop Ron AllenSacramento Regional Coalition for Tolerance
President Susie WongGethsemane Lutheran Church of Sacramento
Reverend Jason BenseTwin Rivers Unified School District
Trustee Ramona LanderosGreater Solomon Temple Community Church
Pastor Bishop Ron AllenLutheran Church of our Redeemer
Reverend Jason BenseCalifornia Council of Churches
Policy Advocate Libby SholesJewish Federation of Sacramento CEO Willie Recht
President Deborah GonzalezJewish Community Relations Council Chair Bruce Pomer
Benito Juarez Association of North Sacramento
Founder Ramona LandarosMi Familia Vota
Calif. State Director Samuel MolinaLa Raza Lawyers Foundation President Michael Terhorst
Sacramento Valley Family Federation for World Peace
Pastor Charles de WattevilleLeonard M. Friedman Bar Association
President Misha IgraNorth State Relief
Secretary Joshua CookInterfaith Explorers
President Rachel Lyman and Reverend Dave LymanYeshua Helping Hands, Inc.
Pastor Elizabeth MassWestminster Presbyterian Church of Sacramento
Pastor Wes NordmanKutchi Cultural Association
Akram Keval and Aslam AhmePeaceful protest is a time-honored tradition in our country that is protected by the First Amendment. The peaceful protests in Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, and around our country are addressing real and legitimate concerns about what happened to Mr. Floyd. Law enforcement supports the community’s right to peacefully protest and strives to protect this important right. But violence and destruction are not acceptable in our community nor in any other city in our country. It endangers our community, including those exercising their right to protest peacefully and those protecting that right.
“In this difficult time for our country, we stand together as one community to call for unity and peace, not division,” said U.S. Attorney Scott. “We stand together to call for justice, not violence and lawlessness. We call on our community to model peaceful protests like the one Chief Hahn and other community leaders joined in Sacramento on June 3.”
“Our mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Ragan. “The FBI respects the First Amendment right to peacefully protest and be heard. Our investigative focus is on those who sow seeds of violence and destruction. These acts interfere with the rights of protestors and harm the community.”
On June 1, U.S. Attorney Scott convened the U.S. Attorney’s Hate Crimes Task Force, including community leaders, the FBI, and local law enforcement, to hear the concerns of community leaders and to identify positive steps to take going forward. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, Sacramento Police Department, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement are committed to safeguarding the constitutionally protected right to peaceful protest and continuing to work together with our community leaders to promote justice, unity, and peace for all.
Chinese Manufacturer Charged with Exporting Misbranded and Defective Masks Falsely Purporting to be N95 RespiratorsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Chinese manufacturer was charged today with producing and exporting to the United States in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly half a million misbranded and defective masks that falsely purported to be N95 respirators, U.S. Attorneys Craig Carpenito, District of New Jersey, and Richard P. Donoghue, Eastern District of New York, announced.
King Year Packaging and Printing Co. Ltd. (King Year) is charged by complaint with three counts of violating the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) for causing misbranded and substandard respirators that falsely purported to meet the N95 standard to be imported into the United States. The complaint also charges the defendant with one felony count of making a false statement by filing misleading registration documents with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The criminal complaint was filed in Brooklyn federal court.
“These charges demonstrate the continued commitment of the Department of Justice and our partners to aggressively pursue those who sell misbranded and defective personal protective equipment, whether they are located here or abroad,” Carpenito said. “We will aggressively investigate and charge manufacturers that put our medical professionals and first responders at risk in fighting this crisis.”
“The charges alleged in this complaint show a blatant disregard for the safety of American citizens,” Acting FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski said. “Had it not been for the actions of the investigative team, this defendant would have put first responders, hospital employees, and other front line workers directly in harm’s way with faulty equipment just to make a buck. The defendant tried to bypass the government's regulations by misbranding the quality of the equipment being peddled. The FBI remains vigilant in the pursuit of criminals trying to exploit the current crisis.”
Attorney General William P. Barr created the COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force, led by U.S. Attorney Carpenito, who is coordinating efforts with the Antitrust Division and U.S. Attorneys across the country wherever illegal activity involving protective personal equipment occurs. The Secretary of Health and Human Services has issued a notice designating categories of health and medical supplies that must not be hoarded or sold for exorbitant prices.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is proud of the expertise we bring to support and assist investigations by our law enforcement partners,” Troy Miller, Director, CBP New York Field Office, said. “It is through interagency partnerships and collaborative efforts, like the one leading to today’s charges that we send a message to foreign manufacturers on the importance of understanding and complying with US health, safety, and import laws.”
“The FDA is actively monitoring the marketplace for fraudulent products related to our battle against COVID-19. The agency will continue to collaborate with our fellow law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who place profits above the public health during this pandemic,” Jeffrey J. Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ New York Field Office, said. “Today’s announcement should serve as a reminder that we will take appropriate action against those who jeopardize the health of Americans while taking advantage of a crisis.”
According to the complaint:
From April 6, 2020, to April 21, 2020, King Year manufactured 495,200 defective and misbranded masks that claimed to be N95 respirators, and caused those defective products to be imported into the United States. King Year stamped the NIOSH and FDA logos on the packaging for its respirators, appealing directly to healthcare personnel, when in fact, its respirators were not NIOSH-approved, nor were they approved, cleared, or otherwise authorized by the FDA. King Year’s respirators also were embroidered with “N95,” even though they fell well below the minimum 95 percent filtration standard.
King Year’s misbranded and defective products had the potential to deceive U.S. consumers, including healthcare workers and first responders, into believing they were purchasing authentic N95 respirators, and put them at risk. To cover up the poor quality of its respirators, King Year disseminated false documents attesting to their authenticity and filed a fraudulent registration statement with the FDA.
Each charge carries a maximum fine of $500,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss from the offense.
Please report COVID-19 fraud, hoarding or price-gouging to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s National Hotline at (866) 720-5721, or e-mail: [email protected].
The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Fayer of the Economic Crimes Unit for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
The charges in the complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Champaign, Ill., Man Arrested in Mississippi, Charged in Federal Complaint with Using Internet to Incite Rioting in ChampaignRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill.–U.S. Marshals Service deputies arrested a Champaign, Ill., man, Shamar N. Betts, 19, early this morning in Tchula, Miss., on a state burglary warrant issued by Champaign county. Betts has also been charged in a federal criminal complaint with using the internet to incite rioting in Champaign, Ill., on May 31 to June 1, 2020. Betts will make his initial appearance in federal court in the Southern District of Mississippi, in Jackson, on a date to be determined by the court.
“The defendant, as alleged, used the peaceful demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, as cover to plan and carry out criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney John Milhiser. “He incited riots and damage to businesses, and as a result of good police work by the Champaign Police Department and coordination with the FBI, he will be held accountable for his actions.”
“Champaign Police is committed to supporting and protecting lawful and peaceful protests, but rioting, looting and criminal activity that puts residents, visitors and businesses at risk will not be tolerated,” said Champaign Police Chief Anthony Cobb. “On behalf of the entire Champaign Police Department, I’d like to thank all of the law enforcement agencies who have supported us, both during the rioting and with the investigation that followed, so those responsible may be brought to justice.”
“As afforded under the 1st Amendment of the Constitution it is the right of all Americans to gather and peacefully protest. However, when any individual commits acts of violence in our communities under the guise of a protest, that type of activity is not a protected expression,” said Sean M. Cox, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Springfield Division. “The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure those rights and our communities are protected. I want to commend and thank the Champaign Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with whom we have worked in this instance, to hold this individual accountable for his alleged actions.”
According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, on May 31, 2020, Champaign police officers observed a Facebook post made by Shamar Betts at 10:31 a.m. The post included the statement, “We gotta put Champaign/Urbana on the map – expletive – gone hear and fear us too. Slide let’s get busy Justice for George – expletive.” The post was accompanied by a flyer of a stock image of a burning vehicle overlaid with a date and time, “Riot @ MarketPlace Mall” 3:00 p.m., and listed items to bring, including “friends, family, posters, bricks, bookbags, etc.” The flyer also said “After the mall we hitting the whole PROSPECT & NEIL.”
Champaign Police Department officers responded to the area at approximately 2:36 p.m., when a group of approximately 50 to 75 people were reported to be gathering at the mall. The group continued to grow in size, and at approximately 3:12 p.m., the group began breaking out windows at businesses located in the mall and looting merchandise from within.
The indictment alleges that during this time period, Facebook user Shamar Betts posted a Facebook Live video in which he repeatedly states, “Look what a … just started…” and “We out here…”
Additional law enforcement resources were deployed to the Market Place Mall to respond to the riot and attempt to control the group, which continued to grow in size and began vandalizing and / or looting other businesses in the area including Gordman’s, Kohls and TJ Maxx. The group then moved to the shopping portion of N. Prospect Ave., and continued vandalizing and / or looting numerous stores including Meijer (grocery store), Best Buy, Shoe Carnival and Walmart. This activity continued throughout the night and into the early morning hours of June 1, 2020. By the end of the night, approximately 50 businesses in the area had been vandalized and / or looted.
According to the complaint affidavit, Champaign Police Department investigators subsequently identified Betts as the same individual who allegedly made the Facebook posts and appeared in video footage of the riot activity that was recorded live and also was available later online.
The Champaign Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, are conducting the investigation in coordination with the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is representing the government in the prosecution.
If convicted for the offense of inciting a riot, the statutory penalty is up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release following imprisonment.
Members of the public are reminded that a complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Centralia Man Who Threatened to Shoot Police Charged with Unlawful Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
A Centralia man who allegedly threatened to shoot local police officers is behind bars this
evening. Lashawn L. Wilks, 31, has been charged by federal complaint with unlawful possession of a
firearm by a prohibited person. United States Magistrate Judge Gilbert C. Sison issued the warrant
for Wilks’s arrest immediately after the complaint was filed. Wilks is expected to make his initial
appearance in federal court early next week.According to the complaint, at 2:55 a.m. on May 23, Centralia police officers responded to
complaints of loud noise at a house party on North Maple Street. When officers approached to
address the noise and multiple cars blocking the road, Wilks reportedly stood in front of a crowd
of roughly 70 people and threatened the officers with physical violence if they came onto his
property without a warrant. Wilks allegedly told one of the officers, “You all come up on my
property there is going to be a shooting. I know my rights. You can’t come anywhere on my property
and do a damn thing, or I will shoot a cop’s [expletive] ass.” Wilks also allegedly told police
that if they tried to arrest him, they would have to shoot him. Officers were reportedly able to
maintain calm with the crowd and avoid a violent incident.The complaint alleges that in the days following, law enforcement received information from
numerous sources that Wilks had several guns in the house during the party and that he had said he
was going to “kill a cop” and have a shootout with police if the officers attempted to break up the
party.On May 25, George Floyd died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after a police officer knelt on his neck
for almost nine minutes while Floyd lay handcuffed face down in the street. This incident has led
to widespread public outrage and ongoing protests across America.On May 26, Wilks allegedly posted on Facebook, “This is exactly why I told them bitches Friday
night I’ma put a shotgun shell in they ass if they step on my property [without] a warrant or some
form of probable cause....” Officers also allegedly observed other recent posts where
Wilks appeared to threaten violence to police.On June 2, law enforcement officers were advised that Wilks and others were discussing plans to
organize a protest and then cause a riot in Centralia. Wilks reportedly discussed shooting police
officers and the individuals allegedly created a list of specific officers they planned to shoot.On June 4, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at the residence on North Maple Street
and found a 9mm pistol, a rifle, and a 12 gauge shotgun. According to the complaint, someone had
attempted to obliterate the serial number on the shotgun, but it was still visible. The complaint
alleges that Wilks and one other adult were present at the home during the execution of the search
warrant. Wilks allegedly has a prior conviction for domestic battery in Marion County. Federal law
prohibits a person who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
from knowingly possessing a firearm.“The complaint underscores the complexities faced when responding to civil protests,” said
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Most people gather at these events to exercise their
constitutional rights and demand that America live up to its promise of equal protection under law.
Those voices need to be heard. At the same time, however, there are those who misuse the protests
and deepen social divisions by engaging in acts of violence.” Weinhoeft continued, “The right of
the people peaceably to assemble is one of America’s most sacred civil liberties, and it must be
protected from those who would corrupt that freedom with violence.”If convicted of the charge, Wilks faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, three years of
supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.A complaint is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed
to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a
jury.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the
Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to
be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together
to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive
solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most
violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting
reductions in crime.The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Centralia Police
Department, with assistance from the Wamac Police Department.Camden County Felon Admits Unlawfully Possessing Fraudulent Law Enforcement Credentials and FirearmRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man previously convicted of multiple felony offenses including robbery, burglary, and aggravated assault today admitted possessing fraudulent law enforcement credentials and unlawfully possessing a handgun, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Warren E. Shelton, 54, of Chesilhurst, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez to an indictment charging him with one count of unlawful possession of imitation badges, identification cards, and other insignia prescribed for use by officers of a department or agency of the United States and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In 2018, Shelton designed, ordered, and acquired counterfeit Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service (FPS) credentials, business identification cards, and a badge falsely representing that he was employed as a special agent with FPS and authorized to carry a weapon and enforce federal laws. During a court-authorized search of Shelton’s home in May 2019, investigators located and seized these counterfeit items and also located and seized a Colt .45 caliber handgun and ammunition along with two blank guns that resembled real firearms. As a previously convicted felon, Shelton is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Shelton faces a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearm offense. He also faces up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 for possession of the counterfeit FPS credentials, business cards, and badge. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), under the direction of Assistant Special Agent in Charge Julio Santana; special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Services (FPS), under the direction of Supervisory Special Agent Anthony Fuscellaro; special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina; special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, Philadelphia Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Henry; and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked officers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan, the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki, and the Chesilhurst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Wendell Smith for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabriel J. Vidoni and Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Bozeman bookkeeper admits embezzling more than $400,000 from businessesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA–A Bozeman woman who worked as a bookkeeper for several businesses admitted this week to embezzling about $433,018 from the companies, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Anna Michelle Niles, 47, pleaded guilty on June 3 to wire fraud. Niles faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Niles was released pending further proceedings.
The prosecution said in court documents that from 2009 until 2018, Niles embezzled from Cresent Cross, LLP, Clair W. Daines, Inc., Genesis Partners, LLC, Bitterroot Turf Farm, Inc., and other related business entities while performing bookkeeping and accounting services. Niles defrauded the firms by diverting funds through checks, stealing cash, claiming leave she was not entitled to obtain, receiving unauthorized 401(k) loan payments and using business credit cards on personal expenses, none of which was authorized. The investigation found that Niles embezzled about $433,018 from the businesses. When interviewed by the FBI, Niles admitted to stealing from Cresent Cross, LLP, and writing checks from other businesses to cover up the fraud.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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Bend Man Pleads Guilty for Placing Hoax Bomb at Deschutes County CourthouseRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Bend, Oregon man pleaded guilty today for placing a hoax bomb at the Deschutes County Courthouse on July 29, 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.
Jonathan Tyler Allen, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiring to use a telephone to make a threat to destroy a building with an explosive.
According to court documents, on or about July 28 to July 29, 2019, Allen and co-conspirator Kellie Cameron, 31, also of Bend, conspired with one another to shut down the Deschutes County Courthouse in Bend by planting a fake bomb and calling in a bomb threat. Around the same time, Cameron constructed a fake bomb using batteries, wiring, a circuit board, and a fuel filter, among other materials.
On July 29, 2019, Allen and Cameron drove to the courthouse and placed the hoax device on a ramp near the building. At approximately 7:18am the same day, Cameron, who was with Allen, used a cell phone to call 911. He told the operator, “I just want to let you know that there are two bombs, one’s in the courthouse and good luck finding the other one.” Less than an hour later, with Allen again present, Cameron called 911 a second time to repeat his threat. Allen later threw one of the phones used into a canal to avoid being caught.
On August 7, 2019, Allen and Cameron were charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to make a threat regarding explosive materials and conveying false information and hoaxes.
Allen faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on September 6, 2020 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will recommend Allen be sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
Cameron made his first appearance in federal court on August 21, 2019. He entered a not guilty plea and was detained pending trial. Judge McShane continued the detention order pending sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Bend Police Department and is being prosecuted by Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
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.