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Tuesday 19 May 2020
Dominican National Sentenced, Facing Deportation for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national, one of more than two dozen individuals arrested in a wide-sweeping investigation in 2017 and 2018 dubbed “Operation Panamera” into the importation and trafficking of fentanyl and cocaine in three New England states, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Providence to approximately 26 months of incarceration, a time served sentence.
As part of a wiretap investigation, Raul Ocasio, 42, whose true name is Eladio Andres Puig Medina, was intercepted on numerous occasions communicating with the Ramon Delossantos, the admitted leader of a multi-state fentanyl and cocaine trafficking network.
According to information presented to the court, in early September 2017, communications between Ocasio and Delossantos indicated that Ocasio had obtained fentanyl from Delossantos and that it had a high purity level. By mid-September, communications indicated that Ocasio was making arrangements to purchase 500 grams of fentanyl from Delossantos.
Ocasio, arrested in March 2018 and ordered detained in federal custody, pleaded guilty on January 30, 2020, to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
At sentencing today, U.S District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., sentenced Ocasio to time served, which was approximately 26 months of incarceration. An immigration detainer has been lodged against Ocasio, who will face deportation proceedings.
Ocasio’s sentenced is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle, and Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Colonel James M. Manni.
Ramon Delossantos, 28, the admitted leader of the drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed cocaine and fentanyl in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2020.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Daly, Jr., and Milind M. Shah.
The matter was investigated by DEA and Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
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Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution, Firearm Possession and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national previously residing in Haverhill pleaded guilty today to fentanyl distribution and illegal firearm possession, among other charges.
Domingo Garcia Suero, 55, pleaded guilty during a videoconference to five counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance, specifically fentanyl, unlawful possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, two counts of Social Security fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22, 2020. Garcia Suero was arrested and charged in December 2017.
Garcia Suero filed applications with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to renew his driver’s license and with MassHealth to receive benefits. In both applications, Garcia Suero provided a name and Social Security number belonging to a United States citizen from Puerto Rico. On five occasions in 2017, Garcia Suero sold and possessed fentanyl for sale. During a search of Garcia Suero’s apartment following his arrest, law enforcement recovered a Colt, model Police Positive .38 caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number and six rounds of .38 caliber ammunition. Garcia Suero has two prior drug trafficking convictions and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl in excess of 40 grams provides for a minimum sentence of eight years and up to life in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of $8 million. The charge of felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of Social Security fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years to run consecutive to any other imposed sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Brian Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Office; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Hemani of Lelling’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty and Sentenced for Identity Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national previously residing in Hyde Park pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for misuse of a passport.
Yris Sanchez, 48, pleaded guilty during a videoconference hearing to one count of misuse of a passport. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock then sentenced Sanchez to 15 months in prison and one year of supervised release. Sanchez was arrested and charged on Jan. 10, 2020.
Sanchez used the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to apply for and use various U.S. passports and at least one Massachusetts REAL ID driver’s license. Sanchez also used this person’s identifiers to apply for and use accounts with various banks, including Citizens Bank and Santander. In addition, Sanchez also used a different identity to obtain another U.S. Passport. Sanchez has previously been arrested under multiple identities.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Chicago, Illinois, man who was arrested while driving through northern Missouri was sentenced in federal court today for possessing nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine to distribute.
Kevin M. Phyfiher, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 15 years in federal prison without parole.
On Oct. 29, 2019, Phyfiher pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper stopped the Dodge Caravan Phyfiher was driving on Interstate 29 in Andrew County, Missouri, on May 8, 2017. In addition to Phyfiher, co-defendant Donta Mosley, 27, of Chicago, was in the cargo area of the van, and there were two female passengers. Phyfiher was not identified as a lawful driver of the vehicle, which had been rented by his cousin (who was not present).
Officers directed Phyfiher and the passengers to get out of the van while they deployed a police support canine. Mosley, who had a handgun in his waistband, was arrested. The others were instructed to get on the ground during the search. Phyfiher then fled, running into the underbrush, and law enforcement officers were unable to find him. During a later search of the vehicle, officers found two plastic baggies that contained a total of 907 grams of methamphetamine.
The next day, a vehicle was reported as stolen from Jesse’s Last Stop Gas Station in Andrew County. At about 6:19 a.m., a state trooper saw Phyfiher driving the stolen vehicle on 36 Highway. The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle and Phyfiher attempted to evade the officer. After several miles of pursuit at high rates of speed, the stolen vehicle was stopped by spike strips that were deployed in the road by other law enforcement officers. Phyfiher, who surrendered and was arrested, told officers, “I should have stayed in the bushes.”
Investigators discovered several live stream video recordings taken by Phyfiher in the days before his arrest. The videos show Phyfiher on a road trip to Las Vegas and California. In one of the videos, Phyfiher and Mosley are holding large stacks of money. In another video, Phyfiher refers to getting some “Cali dope.”
Mosley was sentenced on Jan. 30, 2019, to five years and four months in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
California Man Convicted of Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor to Engage in SexRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A California man, Michael John Davidson, 31, was convicted today by a federal jury sitting in Frankfort of attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. The jury reached its verdict after approximately one hour of deliberations following a day and a half trial.
According to testimony at trial, on February 20, 2019, Davidson contacted an individual who self-identified as a 15-year-old female living in Franklin County, Kentucky, using the KiK messenger application over the Internet, on his cellular telephone. The person Davidson contacted was, in reality, an adult male investigator with the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General’s Cyber Crimes Branch (“the UC”). From February 20-22, 2019, a conversation between Davidson and the UC ensued over KiK. The Defendant turned the conversation sexual and transmitted several images of himself.
The conversation between the Davidson and the UC led to a planned meeting for sex on February 22, 2019. On February 22, 2019, Davidson drove from Jamestown, Kentucky, to Frankfort, Kentucky, in order to meet the UC and engage in criminal sexual activity. When the Davidson arrived at the agreed-upon meeting place in Franklin County, he was arrested by law enforcement.
Davidson was indicted in September 2019.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Daniel Cameron, Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Kentucky; and Ralph Gerds, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service and Kentucky Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Branch. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin M. Roth and Special Assistant United States Attorney James T. Chapman.
Davidson will appear for sentencing on September 17, 2020. He faces a sentence of not less than 10 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal statutes before imposing a sentence.
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Bullhead Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Bullhead, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner was sentenced on May 18, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Mario Crow Ghost, age 49, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Crow Ghost was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 13, 2019. He pled guilty on December 4, 2019.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on June 3, 2019, when Crow Ghost had been drinking and assaulted two individuals with a sharp object. The first victim was punctured in the neck with the sharp object, and the second victim received injuries to the back of her leg. Both victims received medical attention for their injuries.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Jasper prosecuted the case.
Crow Ghost was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Alexandria Man Arrested for Sexually Exploiting Two ChildrenRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was arrested today on charges related to his production and distribution of images of child sexual abuse.
According to court documents, Abel Ambrocio, 53, allegedly instructed an adult woman who he was communicating with over Facebook to take and send him over 100 images of herself engaging in specific sexual acts with an approximately 3-year-old boy and an approximately 8-year-old girl over the course of several months. Ambrocio also allegedly distributed some of these images of child sexual abuse to another individual.
Ambrocio is charged with production of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. If convicted of both charges, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kevin Vorndran, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Clayman is prosecuting the case.
This matter was investigated by the FBI, Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force which is charged with investigating violations involving the production, distribution, transportation and receipt of child pornography, enticement and both adult and child sex and labor trafficking violations. Tips can be provided to the task force at 202-278-2000.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No.1:20-mj-148.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Monday 18 May 2020
United States Files Civil Action to Forfeit Rare Cuneiform Tablet Bearing Portion of the Epic of GilgameshRead the Press Release
Earlier today, the United States filed a civil complaint to forfeit a rare cuneiform tablet bearing a portion of the epic of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian epic poem considered one the world’s oldest works of literature. Known as the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, it originated in the area of modern-day Iraq and entered the United States contrary to federal law. The tablet was later sold by an international auction house (the “Auction House”) to Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. (“Hobby Lobby”), a prominent arts-and-crafts retailer based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for display at the Museum of the Bible (the “Museum”). Despite inquiries from the Museum and Hobby Lobby, the Auction House withheld information about the tablet’s provenance. The tablet was seized from the Museum by law enforcement agents in September 2019.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), announced the civil action and stipulation.
“Whenever looted cultural property is found in this country, the United States government will do all it can to preserve heritage by returning such artifacts where they belong,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “In this case, a major auction house failed to meet its obligations by minimizing its concerns that the provenance of an important Iraqi artifact was fabricated, and withheld from the buyer information that undermined the provenance’s reliability.” Mr. Donoghue thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Section (MLARS) for their assistance.
“We are proud of our investigation that led to this reclaiming of a piece of Iraq’s cultural history. This rare tablet was pillaged from Iraq and years later sold at a major auction house, with a questionable and unsupported provenance,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh. “HSI New York’s Cultural Property, Arts and Antiquity Investigations program will continue to work with prosecutors to combat the looting of antiquities and ensure those who would attempt to profit from this crime are held accountable.”
The government’s investigation revealed that in 2003, a U.S. antiquities dealer (the “Antiquities Dealer”) purchased an encrusted cuneiform tablet from a Middle Eastern antiquities dealer in London. After the tablet was imported and cleaned, experts in cuneiform recognized it as a portion of the Gilgamesh epic in which the protagonist describes his dreams to his mother (hence, the “Gilgamesh Dream Tablet”). The protagonist’s mother interprets the dreams as foretelling the arrival of a new friend. She tells her son, “You will see him and your heart will laugh.”
As alleged in the complaint, in 2007, the Antiquities Dealer sold the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet with a false provenance letter that stated the tablet had been inside a box of miscellaneous bronze fragments purchased in a 1981 auction. This false provenance letter traveled with the tablet and was provided to the Auction House by a later owner. As part of its due diligence, the Auction House’s antiquities director spoke with the Antiquities Dealer. The Antiquities Dealer advised the Auction House that the provenance would not withstand scrutiny and should not be used in connection with a public sale. The Auction House nevertheless represented to Hobby Lobby that the tablet was purchased in the 1981 auction. Hobby Lobby purchased the tablet in a private sale in 2014. In response to Hobby Lobby’s request for more details in connection with the purchase and the Museum’s expression of discomfort with the provenance in 2017, the Auction House advised both that the Antiquities Dealer had confirmed the details of the provenance. However, the Auction House withheld the false provenance letter and the Antiquities Dealer’s name from Hobby Lobby and the Museum.
The Museum cooperated with the government’s investigation.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney and Cultural Property Coordinator Karin Orenstein of the Office’s Civil Division, with assistance from Trial Attorney Ann Brickley of MLARS and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zia Faruqui of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CV-2222 (AMD)
United States Attorney’s Office Increases Efforts to Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing During the COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – United States Attorney Nick Hanna is asking anyone who has witnessed or experienced sexual harassment by a landlord, property manager, maintenance worker, or anyone with control over housing to report that conduct to the Department of Justice.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the ability of many people to pay rent on time and has increased housing insecurity. The Department of Justice has received reports of housing providers trying to exploit the crisis to sexually harass tenants. Sexual harassment in housing is illegal, and the Department of Justice stands ready to investigate such allegations and pursue enforcement actions where appropriate.
“Sexual harassment in housing is reprehensible and contrary to the rule of law,” Mr. Hanna said. “My office works closely with state and local partners to identify incidents of sexual harassment in housing and will use all available enforcement tools against perpetrators.”
Sexual harassment in housing includes demands for sex or sexual acts in order to buy, rent or continue renting a home. It also includes other unwelcome sexual conduct that makes it hard to keep living in or feel comfortable in your home.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative (Iniciativa del DOJ para Combatir el Acoso Sexual en Vivienda) was launched in 2017 and has resulted in the filing of lawsuits across the nation alleging a pattern or practice of sexual harassment in housing. As part of the initiative, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit in January alleging that the property manager of two apartment buildings in Los Angeles violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants for more than a decade. The lawsuit alleged that the owners of the property are also responsible for his conduct.
The Department of Justice, through the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by the Act.
The Justice Department encourages anyone who has experienced sexual harassment in housing, or knows someone who has, to contact the Civil Rights Division by calling (844) 380-6178 or emailing [email protected]. Individuals may also report housing discrimination or other civil rights violations to the Civil Rights Section in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office by calling (213) 894-2879, emailing [email protected], or completing and submitting this form in English or Spanish.
Individuals may also file a complaint alleging harassment or discrimination in housing with the Department of Housing and Urban Development through its website or by calling (800) 669-9777.
U.S. Attorney William D. Hyslop Addresses Reports of Fraudulent Unemployment ClaimsRead the Press Release
Spokane – It has been reported that a potentially large number of fraudulent unemployment claims have been filed with and paid by the Washington State Department of Employment Security Department during the COVID-19 pandemic.
United States Attorney William Hyslop stated, “It is deeply troubling to see these reports of fraudulent unemployment claims being filed and allegedly paid by the State Employment Security Department. These are our public tax dollars. These funds are intended for those in need, and not for fraudsters. We are advised the State is attempting to fix vulnerabilities in their system. We encourage ESD to advise the public how to determine whether a fraudulent email address has been posted on their personal employment security file and to provide sufficient fraud reporting hotlines so that the public may report the misuse of their personal identity information when that is determined.”
Hyslop went on to say, “Prosecuting the fraudsters is our job if federal laws have been violated. I want to assure the public that whether it is wire fraud, identity theft, or otherwise, we will endeavor to identify and prosecute the fraudsters who prey upon our citizens. This, and all types of COVID-19 fraud, cannot and will not be tolerated.”
U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue Requests Public to Report Sexually Predatory Housing Practices Amid COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, today emphasized his Office’s commitment to fighting sexual harassment in housing during the current pandemic. In a letter sent to housing advocacy groups and other community organizations, Mr. Donoghue invited their assistance in identifying anyone who has witnessed or experienced sexual harassment by a landlord, property manager, maintenance worker or anyone with control over housing.
Mr. Donoghue makes this announcement in response to reports of landlords who have responded to requests to defer rent payments with demands for sexual favors and other acts of unwelcome sexual conduct. Such behavior is illegal under the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familiar status, national origin and disability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by the Fair Housing Act.
“Tenants who find themselves unemployed and in dire financial straits due to the COVID-19 crisis are protected from discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. No tenant should ever be expected to provide sexual favors in order to keep a roof over their head,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “We will use all available enforcement tools to protect tenants from such unscrupulous and predatory conduct.”
In coordination with the Attorney General, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country are investigating reports of housing-related sexual harassment resulting from the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Attorney General has reaffirmed the commitment that the Department of Justice made when it launched its Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative in October 2017. The goal of the Initiative is to address sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing.
Anyone who is aware of sexual harassment in housing on Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens or Staten Island is requested to contact this office, by email to [email protected] or by calling this office at 718-254-7000.
U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey Announces $41,405 Award to Address Covid-19 Pandemic in TennesseeRead the Press Release
Knoxville, Tenn. – U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey of the Eastern District of Tennessee today announced that Bradley County Sheriff’s office received $41,405 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
The grant is available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. Other jurisdictions can determine if they are eligible for funds and may apply immediately by visiting this website. The Justice Department is moving quickly, awarding grants on a rolling basis and aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.
“As this country continues to fight COVID-19, our office remains committed to deterring, investigating, and prosecuting those who seek to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will help many of the communities struggling in these trying times and provide some much-needed relief to our district,” said U.S. Attorney Overbey.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”
The law gives jurisdictions considerable latitude using these funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment, distributing resources to hard-hit areas and addressing inmates’ medical needs.
Agencies eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for the emergency funding. Local units of government and tribes will receive direct awards separately according to their jurisdictions’ allocations.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey Announces $349,956 Award to Address Covid-19 Pandemic in TennesseeRead the Press Release
Knoxville, Tenn. – U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey of the Eastern District of Tennessee today announced that the City of Knoxville received $349,956 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
The grant is available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. Other jurisdictions can determine if they are eligible for funds and may apply immediately by visiting this website. The Justice Department is moving quickly, awarding grants on a rolling basis and aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.
“As this country continues to fight COVID-19, our office remains committed to deterring, investigating, and prosecuting those who seek to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will help many of the communities struggling in these trying times and provide some much-needed relief to our district,” said U.S. Attorney Overbey.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”
The law gives jurisdictions considerable latitude using these funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment, distributing resources to hard-hit areas and addressing inmates’ medical needs.
Agencies eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for the emergency funding. Local units of government and tribes will receive direct awards separately according to their jurisdictions’ allocations.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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Two Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaint Alleging They Participated in Murderous Cross-Border Kidnapping ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former Colton resident and her boyfriend have been arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging they collected ransom money as part of a kidnapping conspiracy where California residents were kidnapped in Mexico and two of them were murdered, the Justice Department announced today.
Leslie Briana Matla, 20, a United States citizen who now is a resident of Mexico, was arrested Thursday in San Diego pursuant to a complaint that charges her and her boyfriend, Juan Carlos Montoya Sanchez, 25, of Tijuana, Mexico, with one count of money laundering conspiracy.
Sanchez was arrested in San Diego on Sunday and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles. Matla made her initial court appearance on Friday and remains in federal custody.
The complaint alleges that Matla crossed the border from Mexico into the United States to pick up ransom payments from kidnapped victims’ family members at locations predetermined by her co-conspirators.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on March 28, April 13 and April 22, three men – residents of San Diego, Norwalk and Pasadena – were kidnapped in Tijuana while on business or visiting family. The victims’ families were notified via a caller with a Mexican telephone number to deposit ransom money at a specific location.
Mexican authorities found the San Diego victim’s body on March 29 – one day after the victim’s adult son placed a bag containing $25,000 inside the women’s restroom of a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro. The body of the Norwalk victim was found in Mexico on April 14, one day after the victim’s family tried, but did not succeed, to pay a $25,000 ransom to a woman whom law enforcement believes was Matla, at a Lowe’s parking lot in Norwalk, according to court documents.
On April 22, a Pasadena woman called law enforcement to report a family member had been kidnapped in Mexico with a ransom demand of $20,000. One of the kidnappers, calling from a Mexican phone number, informed the victim’s family that a pregnant woman would pick up the ransom money at a Food 4 Less parking lot in Lynwood. That same day, law enforcement rescued the victim, who was being held hostage at the same Tijuana hotel as the first two kidnapping victims, according to cell phone records. Nine suspects were arrested by Mexican authorities at the hotel.
A review of U.S.-Mexico border crossing records, security camera videos from the various pickup locations, and social media led law enforcement to identify Matla, as the woman sent to San Ysidro, Norwalk, and Lynwood to pick up the ransom money on the dates in question, the affidavit states.
Records show that Sanchez received wire transfers from two of the kidnapping victims, the complaint alleges.
If convicted of this charge, Matla and Sanchez would face statutory maximum sentences of life in federal prison.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI investigated this matter.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky and Joseph D. Axelrad of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.
Stroudsburg Man Sentenced to 18 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on May 15, 2020, United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced Jason Rodriguez, age 25, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, to 18 months’ imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release, for drug trafficking.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, during June 2018 and February 2019, Rodriguez possessed with the intent to distribute cocaine, heroin and the synthetic opioid, fentanyl. After his initial June 2018 arrest by state authorities, Rodriguez returned to drug trafficking in February 2019, prompting the initiation of the instant federal case.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Stroud Area Regional Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The 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.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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Rosebud Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Tampering with a Witness was sentenced on May 18, 2020, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Clinton Haukaas, a/k/a Fuddy Haukaas, age 40, was sentenced to 138 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. Haukaas was also ordered to forfeit ownership of a rifle seized during the investigation.
Haukaas was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 11, 2018. Multiple superseding indictments were filed with the last being on December 10, 2019. He pled guilty on February 18, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from a methamphetamine conspiracy that began on or about January 1, 2014, and continued to December 10, 2018, where Haukaas conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Further, while in custody awaiting trial, Haukaas possessed a list containing the names of twenty-eight potential witnesses against him. He coordinated the publication of the list on a social media website in an attempt to intimidate the witnesses to prevent their testimony at trial.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services; the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; the City of Pierre, South Dakota, Police Department; the South Dakota Highway Patrol; and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Haukaas was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rhode Island Man with Ties to National Gang Sentenced for Narcotics and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man with ties to the Almighty Vice Lords, a national street gang, was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for drug and firearm offenses.
Antoine Mack, 37, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In January 2020, Mack pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute cocaine and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The charges against Mack arose from a drug and firearm investigation into the alleged leader of the Massachusetts chapter of the Almighty Vice Lords street gang and his associates. The investigation revealed that Mack delivered between 600-800 grams of powder cocaine and 200-300 grams of crack cocaine for the alleged gang leader from Worcester to Manchester, N.H., and transported cash payment for those drugs back to the alleged gang leader on several occasions. Law enforcement agents arrested Mack on May 25, 2019, in Worcester in possession of a loaded .380 caliber firearm.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ammunition, Boston Field Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg A. Friedholm and John T. Mulcahy of Lelling’s Worcester office prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rhode Island Chiropractor Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence chiropractor who failed to report to the IRS more than $1 million dollars in business revenue he diverted from his business for personal use was sentenced today to 3 years probation, the first year to be served in home confinement, and fined $75,000, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Kristina O'Connell.
Dr. Leonard Marino, 51, of Johnston, President of Chiropractic Associates in Providence, whose business relied mostly on money derived from insurance company payments for bodily injury claims submitted by law firms on behalf of many of his patients, devised various schemes to cash many of the law firms’ checks and divert the proceeds for his own personal use.
Marino previously admitted to the court that in 2017 he failed to report $531,408.38 in gross income, which would have resulted in tax due the IRS of approximately $236,945. He admitted that from 2016 through 2108, he failed to report income totaling $1,061,000.
According to court documents, Marino told the government that he spent unreported income at, among other places, Whole Foods and strip clubs, and that he used some of the funds to purchase drugs.
Marino also claimed that he paid approximately $2,000 per week in extortion money to an individual named M.B., a known associate of organized crime, and that he made between 10 and 20 payments per week to “runners” to bring him clients. Neither claim of payments could be corroborated by the government.
Marino pleaded guilty on February 6, 2020, to tax evasion. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to three years probation, the first year to be served in home confinement; pay a $75,000 fine; and to pay penalties and interest owed to the IRS. Back taxes owed by Marino to the IRS have been paid.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan.
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Previously Convicted Felon Arrested for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Prince William County man with 14 prior felony convictions has been arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, law enforcement was executing a search warrant on an apartment in Triangle, when they encountered Marc Allen Williams, 33, coming out of the back bedroom near the bathroom. Upon searching the bathroom, they found drugs floating in the toilet and a handgun hidden in the toilet’s flush tank.
Williams, who was arrested on Friday and made his initial appearance in court today, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kevin Vorndran, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and Barry M. Barnard, Chief of Prince William County Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Rumbaugh is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-mj-145.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Parent Sentenced in College Admissions CaseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chinese woman who resides in Canada was sentenced today for using bribery to facilitate her son’s admission to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) as a purported soccer recruit.
Xiaoning Sui, 48, of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, was sentenced during a videoconference hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to time served (approximately five months in prison) and is ordered to pay a fine of $250,000. Sui has agreed to forfeit the $400,000 that she paid to facilitate the crime. In February 2020, Sui agreed to plead guilty to one count of federal programs bribery, and Judge Woodlock accepted that plea during her sentencing. Sui was arrested in Spain on Sept. 16, 2019, and detained until she was extradited to Boston for the plea hearing.
Sui agreed with William “Rick” Singer to pay $400,000 to facilitate her son’s admission to UCLA as a purported soccer recruit, even though he did not play competitive soccer. During a phone call in August 2018, Singer explained to Sui that he would write Sui’s son's application in a “special way” that would guarantee his admission to UCLA, in exchange for $400,000.
On Oct. 24, 2018, Singer instructed Sui to wire Singer $100,000 which he told her would be “paid to the coach at UCLA” in exchange for a letter of intent from the coach recruiting Sui’s son onto the soccer team. Two days later, Sui wired the $100,000 to a bank account in Massachusetts in the name of Singer’s sham charitable organization, Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF). The head coach of men’s soccer at UCLA subsequently designated Sui’s son as a recruited soccer player, which also resulted in his receipt of a scholarship.
Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, and Kristen A. Kearney of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit are prosecuting the cases.
The details contained in the court documents are allegations and the remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Okmulgee Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kendall Brent Smith, age 50, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2; punishable by not less 10 years and not more than life imprisonment, a fine up to $10,000,000.00 fine or both.
On or about July 22, 2019, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant did knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Muskogee Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, many prominent agencies which are members of the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (“HIDTA”), contributed to this investigation, including: the Tulsa Police Department, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Miami Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the El Reno Police Department, the Yukon Police Department, the Duncan Police Department, the Norman Police Department, the Choctaw Police Department, the Edmond Police Department, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office, the Rogers County District Attorney’s Office, and the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation was coordinated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. OCDETF is an initiative led and coordinated by the Office of the United States Attorney.
The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States at the plea hearing.
Oil & Gas Office Manager to Serve Four Years in Prison for Embezzling over $1.2 Million from Employer and Signing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – CHRISTA DAWN JACKSON, 46, of Tuttle, has been sentenced to serve 48 months in federal prison for embezzling more than $1.2 million from her employer through wire fraud and 24 months for signing a false federal income tax return, with the sentences to be served concurrently, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
On October 15, 2019, Jackson pleaded guilty to wire fraud and signing a false federal income tax return. According to federal charges filed on September 26, 2019, Jackson worked as an office manager at AllPoints Pipe Service Inc., where she had access to company checks and accounting systems. The United States alleged that from February 2010 to June 2017, she made company checks out to herself and her husband and forged the signature of the company’s owner on those checks. It also alleged she initiated electronic transfers from company bank accounts to third parties for her own benefit and created false invoices to conceal her embezzlement. In addition to charging wire fraud, the government charged her with signing a false 2014 federal income tax return on which she reported that her income was only $96,496, when she knew her income was substantially higher.
Today, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Jackson to a term of 48 months in prison, followed by a term of 3 years of supervised release for committing wire fraud. Judge Wyrick also sentenced Jackson to a term of 24 months in prison and a term of 12 months of supervised release for signing a false tax return, with the terms of imprisonment and supervised release to be served concurrently. Jackson was also ordered to pay a total restitution of $1,477,872.10, including $223,808.00 to the IRS, $1,229,064.10 to the victim company, and $25,000 to an insurance company. Jackson was ordered to report to the Bureau of Prisons on July 21, 2020, to begin serving her sentence.
These charges are the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation–Oklahoma City Division, with assistance from the El Reno Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William E. Farrior.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
North Platte Woman Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Misty Mecham, 31, of North Platte, Nebraska, was sentenced May 18, 2020 to 60 months in prison by Senior United States District Judge Laurie Smith Camp for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system. Upon her release from prison, she will serve four years of supervised release.
On May 28, 2019, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on Mecham’s vehicle. During the contact, she produced a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue from her pants pocket. The officer searched the passenger compartment of the vehicle and found a small plastic bag containing what appeared to be methamphetamine. Inside a backpack, which was removed from the vehicle, were eight one-ounce plastic bags of methamphetamine. This same bag also contained a Heritage Rough Rider .22 revolver with ammunition. The total weight of the methamphetamine was about 267.4 grams.
This case was investigated by the North Platte Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
NYC Department of Education to Pay over $1.1 Million to Four Victims of Race Discrimination and Retaliation in Connection with Suit Brought by U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the United States has settled a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that the NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (the “DOE”) engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII. Specifically, as alleged in the Government’s complaint, the DOE and Superintendent Juan Mendez permitted Principal Minerva Zanca to discriminate against all three African American teachers who worked at Pan American International High School (“Pan American”) and retaliate against an assistant principal who spoke out against the discrimination. In connection with the settlement agreements, which were approved by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, the DOE agreed to pay a total of $1,187,500 to the four victims of DOE’s discrimination and retaliation, and provide training to all DOE superintendents regarding DOE’s anti-discrimination policies and procedures.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Title VII expressly prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of their race or retaliating against individuals who protest such discrimination. The discrimination in this case was invidious, unlawful, and counter to our core values. This Office will remain vigilant in ensuring that employers who do not comply with Title VII are held to account.”
According to the Complaint, in August 2012, Superintendent Mendez selected Minerva Zanca as Pan American’s new principal. During the 2012-2013 school year, Pan American employed 27 teachers, three of whom were African American. Throughout that school year, Principal Zanca purposely targeted John Flanagan and Heather Hightower, Pan American’s two untenured African American teachers, for unsatisfactory lesson ratings. Principal Zanca also made derogatory racial comments about Mr. Flanagan and Ms. Hightower to Assistant Principal Anthony Riccardo. Specifically, Principal Zanca asked whether Assistant Principal Riccardo had seen Mr. Flanagan’s “big lips quivering” during a meeting, that Ms. Hightower “looked like a gorilla in a sweater,” and that she could “never” have “fucking nappy hair” like Ms. Hightower. Principal Zanca also discriminated against Lisa-Erika James, a tenured African American teacher, by cutting the highly successful theater program Ms. James oversaw.
During the spring of 2013, when Assistant Principal Riccardo refused to give an unsatisfactory rating to a lesson taught by Ms. Hightower, Principal Zanca accused him of “sabotaging her plan,” and called school security to have him removed from the building. Subsequently, Principal Zanca initiated two complaints against Assistant Principal Riccardo with the DOE’s internal investigatory offices. Those offices determined that Principal Zanca’s allegations did not warrant any charges against Assistant Principal Riccardo. In June of 2013, Principal Zanca gave Assistant Principal Riccardo, Mr. Flanagan, and Ms. Hightower annual performance ratings of “unsatisfactory.” Principal Zanca’s misconduct was brought to the attention of Superintendent Mendez, but the DOE did not take any disciplinary action against Principal Zanca. Even after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) found reasonable cause to believe that the DOE had discriminated and retaliated against Ms. James, Mr. Riccardo, and Ms. Hightower, Principal Zanca was allowed to remain in charge of Pan American. Neither Ms. Hightower, Mr. Flanagan, Ms. James, nor Mr. Riccardo worked at Pan American after the 2012-2013 school year.
Title VII authorizes the Department of Justice to commence an action in the United States District Court against the DOE to remedy discrimination and retaliation for opposing discrimination. The Government’s lawsuit sought declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as compensatory damages on behalf of Mr. Flanagan, Ms. James, Ms. Hightower, and Assistant Principal Riccardo, all of whom also filed their own lawsuits regarding the discrimination and retaliation they suffered at the hands of DOE. Attorneys for the complainants, Erica L. Shnayder, Arcé Law Group, PC, and Noah A. Kinigstein, Law Office of Noah A. Kinigstein, assisted in the litigation and resolution of this matter.
The settlements, which resolve both the United States’ suit and the private lawsuits, require the DOE to pay the four victims a combined total of $1,187,500, and provide additional training for DOE superintendents to ensure that employment decisions are properly handled and that this type of discrimination and retaliation in New York City schools will not go unchecked.
More information on the obligations of employers with respect to discrimination and retaliation is available at www.eeoc.gov.
Mr. Berman thanked the EEOC for its initial investigation of the Complaint.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Christine S. Poscablo and Natasha Waglow Teleanu are in charge of the case.
Minneapolis Man Indicted on Fentanyl Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal indictment charging MOHAMED SALAH HUSSEIN, 25, with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. HUSSEIN was initially charged in a criminal complaint on February 13, 2020, and is currently in custody in the Sherburne County Jail pending further court proceedings.
According to the allegations in the indictment and documents filed in court, from November 2019 through February 11, 2020, HUSSEIN conspired with others to manufacture and distribute large amounts of fentanyl pills, known to buyers as “Mbox” pills. On February 11, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at HUSSEIN’s South Minneapolis townhome and recovered approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills and a total of $31,285 in cash. HUSSEIN was taken into custody.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David P. Steinkamp and Justin Wesley are prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
MOHAMED SALAH HUSSEIN, a/k/a “Cheese,” 25
Minneapolis, Minn.
Charges:
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, 1 count
- Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, 2 counts
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Lebanese National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Exporting Drone Parts and TechnologyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of USAMA DARWICH HAMADE, 55, for conspiring to illegally export goods and technology in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”), the Export Administration Regulations, the Arms Export Control Act, and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, from 2009 through 2011, HAMADE conspired with others to export goods and technology without obtaining the required export licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of State, in violation of IEEPA, the Export Administration Regulations, the Arms Export Control Act, and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. HAMADE caused the purchase and export of inertial measurement units (“IMUs”) suitable for use in unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”), a jet engine, piston engines, and recording binoculars.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Export Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorneys John Docherty and David MacLaughlin are prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
USAMA DARWICH HAMADE, 55
Citizen of Lebanon and South Africa
Convicted:
- Illegal export conspiracy, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Heroin Dealer Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold nearly 80 grams of heroin in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison.
Marcus Lamont Long, age 33, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 27, 2019 guilty plea to one count of use of a communications facility to commit a felony drug crime.
Evidence at a prior hearing showed that, in April 2019, Cedar Rapids first responders were called to a residence for a disturbance. When they arrived on the scene, the first responders found one person deceased from a suspected overdose and another who had overdosed, lost consciousness, and then woke up. After a short investigation, officers discovered the phone number for the individual who had sold the purported heroin to the two people who overdosed. The officers contacted the number and arranged to purchase heroin from Long, who had answered the phone. Long was arrested shortly thereafter, and admitted that he had used the phone to arrange the heroin transaction.
Long was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Long was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Long is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00056-CJW-MAR.
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Founder and CEO of Iranian Financial Services Firm Extradited on Money Laundering, Wire Fraud, and Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the unsealing of a six-count federal indictment against Seyed Sajjad Shahidian, 33, Vahid Vali, 33, and PAYMENT24 for conducting financial transactions in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran. The defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit offenses against and to defraud the United States, wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. Shahidian, who was arrested and extradited from the United Kingdom, made his initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Vali remains at large.
According to the allegations in the indictment, PAYMENT24 was an internet-based financial services company with approximately 40 employees and offices in Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan, Iran. The primary business of PAYMENT24 was helping Iranian citizens conduct prohibited financial transactions with businesses based in the United States, including the unlawful purchase and exportation of computer software, software licenses, and computer servers from United States companies. According to PAYMENT24’s website, the company charged a fee to circumvent “American sanctions,” and claimed to have brought in millions of dollars of foreign currency into Iran.
According to the allegations in the indictment, beginning in or before 2009 through November 2018, Shahidian, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of PAYMENT24, conspired with Vali, the Chief Operating Officer of PAYMENT24, and other individuals to commit offenses against the United States by violating the restrictions on trade and exports from the United States to Iran. On its website, PAYMENT24 sold a package to assist its Iranian clients with making online purchases from United States-based businesses, which included a PayPal account, a fraudulent “ID card and address receipt,” a remote IP address from the United Arab Emirates, and a Visa gift card. The PAYMENT24 website also offered its clients advice on how to create accounts with a foreign identity and how to avoid restrictions on foreign websites, including advising clients to “never attempt to log into those sites with an Iranian IP address.”
As part of the scheme, Shahidian and Vali made material misrepresentations and omissions to United States-based businesses regarding the destination of the United States-origin goods. In order to accomplish the transactions, Shahidian obtained payment processing accounts from United States-based companies using false residency information, fraudulent passport documents, and other false documents fabricated using the identity and personally identifiable information of another person.
Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), unauthorized exports of goods, technology or services to Iran, directly or indirectly from the United States or by a United States person are prohibited.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Division of the FBI. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs secured the extradition from the United Kingdom with significant assistance from law enforcement authorities in the United Kingdom.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Rank and Charles J. Kovats of the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney David Aaron of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Founder and CEO of Iranian Financial Services Firm Extradited on Money Laundering, Wire Fraud, and Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the unsealing of a six-count federal indictment against SEYED SAJJAD SHAHIDIAN, 33, VAHID VALI, 33, and PAYMENT24 for conducting financial transactions in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran. The defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit offenses against and to defraud the United States, wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. SHAHIDIAN, who was arrested and extradited from the United Kingdom, made his initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. VALI remains at large.
According to the allegations in the indictment, PAYMENT24 was an internet-based financial services company with approximately 40 employees and offices in Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan, Iran. The primary business of PAYMENT24 was helping Iranian citizens conduct prohibited financial transactions with businesses based in the United States, including the unlawful purchase and exportation of computer software, software licenses, and computer servers from United States companies. According to PAYMENT24’s website, the company charged a fee to circumvent “American sanctions,” and claimed to have brought in millions of dollars of foreign currency into Iran.
According to the allegations in the indictment, beginning in or before 2009 through November 2018, SHAHIDIAN, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of PAYMENT24, conspired with VALI, the Chief Operating Officer of PAYMENT24, and other individuals to commit offenses against the United States by violating the restrictions on trade and exports from the United States to Iran. On its website, PAYMENT24 sold a package to assist its Iranian clients with making online purchases from United States-based businesses, which included a PayPal account, a fraudulent “ID card and address receipt,” a remote IP address from the United Arab Emirates, and a Visa gift card. The PAYMENT24 website also offered its clients advice on how to create accounts with a foreign identity and how to avoid restrictions on foreign websites, including advising clients to “never attempt to log into those sites with an Iranian IP address.”
As part of the scheme, SHAHIDIAN and VALI made material misrepresentations and omissions to United States-based businesses regarding the destination of the United States-origin goods. In order to accomplish the transactions, SHAHIDIAN obtained payment processing accounts from United States-based companies using false residency information, fraudulent passport documents, and other false documents fabricated using the identity and personally identifiable information of another person.
Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), unauthorized exports of goods, technology or services to Iran, directly or indirectly from the United States or by a United States person are prohibited.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Division of the FBI. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs secured the extradition from the United Kingdom with significant assistance from law enforcement authorities in the United Kingdom.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Rank and Charles J. Kovats of the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney David Aaron of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
SEYED SAJJAD SHAHIDIAN, a/k/a “Soheil Shahidi,” 33
Shiraz, Iran
Charges:
- Conspiracy to Defraud and Commit Offenses against the United States, 1 count
- Wire Fraud, 2 counts
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 1 count
- Money Laundering Conspiracy, 1 count
- Aggravated Identity Theft, 1 count
VAHID VALI, 33
Tehran, Iran
Charges:
- Conspiracy to Defraud and Commit Offenses against the United States, 1 count
- Wire Fraud, 2 counts
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 1 count
- Money Laundering Conspiracy, 1 count
- Aggravated Identity Theft, 1 count
PAYMENT24
Shiraz, Iran
Charges:
- Conspiracy to Defraud and Commit Offenses against the United States, 1 count
- Wire Fraud, 2 counts
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 1 count
- Money Laundering Conspiracy, 1 count
- Aggravated Identity Theft, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Etters Man Sentenced to Seven Years’ Imprisonment for Robbing Camp Hill Bank with A KnifeRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brandon Black, age 35, formerly of Etters, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo to 84 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release for committing armed bank robbery.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Black previously pleaded guilty to robbing the S&T Bank in Camp Hill on August 31, 2018. Black used a knife during the robbery and took approximately $2,823.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Camp Hill Borough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli 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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Florida Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Cocaine to ConnecticutRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARIO LLANOS-AYALA, 45, of Deltona, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.
Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and New Haven Police Department revealed that Malbin Rubiera-Herrera, also known as “Chaca,” acquired fentanyl, heroin and cocaine from sources in Connecticut and New Jersey and distributed the drugs through a network of associates in the greater New Haven area. Between October and December 2018, investigators made controlled purchases of narcotics from Rubiera-Herrera. Subsequent court-authorized wiretaps revealed a widespread narcotics trafficking conspiracy that involved the trafficking of kilogram-quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine into Connecticut.
In March 2019, Llanos-Ayala, Rubiera-Herrera and William Claudio-Suarez were intercepted on a wiretap discussing the shipment of two kilograms of cocaine two Connecticut. On March 7, 2019, a series of intercepted calls revealed that Llanos-Ayala and an associate had just sold a kilogram of cocaine and were traveling in a car in New Jersey. Investigators alerted New Jersey law enforcement authorities who stopped and searched the car and recovered approximately one kilogram of cocaine, a loaded .45 caliber handgun and more than $2,500 in cash.
Llanos-Ayala was arrested on New Jersey state charges in March 22, 2019. He has been detained since his arrest.
On June 5, 2019, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Llanos-Ayala, Rubiera-Herrera, Claudio-Suarez and 11 other individuals with fentanyl, heroin and cocaine trafficking offenses.
On September 25, 2019, Llano-Ayala pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of heroin.
Rubiera-Herrera and Claudio-Suarez pleaded guilty to related charges. On February 25, 2020, Claudio-Suarez was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment. Rubiera-Herrera awaits sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the New Haven Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, East Haven Police Department, Easton Police Department, Orange Police Department, and the Cape May County (N.J.) Prosecutor's Office, Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Task Force.
The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and S. Dave Vatti.
Chino Real Estate Agent Pleads Guilty to Charge for Coordinating Multi-Million-Dollar Scheme that Funded Marijuana Grow HousesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Chino real estate agent pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for coordinating a scheme that used millions of dollars to purchase nine residential homes in San Bernardino County that were then converted into illegal marijuana grow houses.
Lin Li, a.k.a. Aaron Li, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, possess and distribute at least 1,000 marijuana plants.
Between May 2013 and September 2017, Li facilitated the purchase by Chinese investors of nine residential homes in Chino, Chino Hills and Ontario. While exercising control over these properties, Li converted or allowed the conversion of the houses to marijuana grow operations. Li also admitted in his plea agreement that the conspiracy trafficked marijuana, with most of the processed marijuana being sold to customers in California, Nevada and New York.
Between October 2016 and September 2018, Li also created and signed false lease documents naming straw tenants for seven of the homes so they could be used to grow marijuana without being traced back to him or the other marijuana growers, according to Li’s plea agreement. Some of the false leases contained clauses prohibiting marijuana cultivation.
The down payments for most of the grow houses were traced back to wire transfers from China. The titles for most of the homes were transferred, shortly after they were purchased, to limited liability companies associated with Li, who served as the homes’ property manager.
Li and his co-conspirators physically diverted electricity directly from power lines, thus stealing power from the electric companies, hiding the grow houses’ high power usage from law enforcement, and creating fire risks in neighborhoods, according to court documents.
In early 2018, a neighbor complained to law enforcement about the “overwhelming” smell of marijuana coming from one of the Chino Hills homes and how no one seemed to live there, court papers state.
Law enforcement officials executed search warrants in 2018 and 2019 at Li’s home and the nine marijuana grow houses in San Bernardino County. As a result of the searches, authorities seized approximately 4,342 marijuana plants and 91.72 kilograms of processed marijuana from the grow houses, as well as approximately $89,995 in drug proceeds from Li’s house.
The total purchase price for the seven homes, which were bought between July 2013 and September 2017, was $4,067,882, according to court documents.
Li also admitted in his plea agreement that these marijuana grows violated California law because they were not licensed to cultivate or sell marijuana, and all of the grow houses were in cities that prohibited commercial marijuana activity.
United States District Judge George H. Wu has scheduled a March 22, 2021 sentencing hearing. As a result of today’s guilty plea, Li faces a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
A second defendant in this case – Jimmy Yu, 45, of Pasadena, an alleged grow house caretaker – is scheduled to go to trial in this matter in February 2021.
Ben Chen, 43, of Alhambra, who also took care of the marijuana grows, pleaded guilty in May 2019 to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Chen is scheduled to be sentenced on August 17.
This matter was the result of an investigation initiated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, which later was joined by Homeland Security Investigations. This case is being prosecuted in conjunction with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys A. Carley Palmer of the Criminal Appeals Section and Jonathan S. Galatzan of the Asset Forfeiture Section.
Attorney General William P. Barr on the Nomination of Justin E. Herdman to Serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and the Designation of Timothy J. Shea to Serve as Acting Administrator for the DEARead the Press Release
The President today declared his intent to nominate Justin E. Herdman, who currently serves as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, to become the next United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Concurrent with that decision, Attorney General William P. Barr also announced a number of key leadership changes at the Department of Justice.
Timothy J. Shea, the current U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, will be designated Acting Administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). After almost two years of heading the DEA, Uttam Dhillon will assume a senior leadership role within the Department. Effective May 19, Michael Sherwin, who is currently the Principal Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, will serve as Acting United States Attorney, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 3345(a)(1). While Mr. Sherwin is the Acting U.S Attorney, Kenneth Kohl will perform the functions and duties of the Principal Assistant United States Attorney.
“I am pleased that the President has chosen Justin Herdman as the nominee to be the next United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Justin has taken an increasing role in the leadership of the Department, and this nomination is a reflection of his sharp intellect, sound judgment, and dedication to the mission of the Department of Justice,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Justin has proven himself to be a fair prosecutor, capable litigator, and excellent manager, and I look forward to his confirmation by the Senate for this important position. I would also like to express my gratitude to Tim Shea, who has served as the United States Attorney since February 2020. I look forward to working with him as he assumes the role of Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. I would also like to thank Uttam Dhillon for his service as the Acting Administrator. Throughout his tenure, Uttam has proven to be a great colleague and a dedicated and thoughtful leader. I look forward to working with him as he assumes a senior leadership role in the Department.”
Attorney General William P. Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray Announce Significant Developments in the Investigation of the Naval Air Station Pensacola ShootingRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General William P. Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray announced significant developments in the FBI’s investigation of the December 6, 2019 shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola that killed three U.S. sailors and severely wounded eight other Americans. On January 13, 2020, Attorney General Barr announced that the shooting was an act of terrorism and publicly asked Apple to help the FBI access the locked contents of two iPhones belonging to the deceased terrorist Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani. The company declined to do so.
Attorney General Barr announced that the FBI recently succeeded in unlocking the phones of Alshamrani, who had attempted to destroy them while launching his attack. The phones contained important, previously-unknown information that definitively established Alshamrani’s significant ties to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), not only before the attack, but before he even arrived in the United States. The FBI now has a clearer understanding of Alshamrani’s associations and activities in the years, months, and days leading up to the attack.
“Thanks to the great work of the FBI – and no thanks to Apple – we were able to unlock Alshamrani’s phones,” said Attorney General Barr. “The trove of information found on these phones has proven to be invaluable to this ongoing investigation and critical to the security of the American people. However, if not for our FBI’s ingenuity, some luck, and hours upon hours of time and resources, this information would have remained undiscovered. The bottom line: our national security cannot remain in the hands of big corporations who put dollars over lawful access and public safety. The time has come for a legislative solution.”
“I could not be prouder of the relentless dedication of the men and women at the FBI who worked for months under difficult conditions to access these devices,” said Director Wray. “Their skill and persistence, and the sustained investigative efforts by FBI Jacksonville, the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, and our many other federal, state, and local partners, have been nothing short of extraordinary in this case. As we continue to seek answers around the December 6th terrorist attack that killed three American service members and wounded others, I want their families, and all Americans, to know that protecting the United States from those who seek to do us harm remains the FBI’s foremost priority. Our work against the threat of terrorism never rests.”
Investigators sought and received court authorization to search the contents of Alshamrani’s iPhones within one day of the December 6, 2019 terrorist attack. Unable to unlock the phones because of their security features, and having exhausted all readily available options, the FBI approached Apple for its assistance in early January 2020. The company declined to assist. FBI technical experts succeeded in accessing the phones’ contents over four months after the attack, revealing highly-significant evidence, including:
- Alshamrani and his AQAP associates communicated using end-to-end encrypted apps, with warrant-proof encryption, deliberately in order to evade law enforcement.
- Alshamrani’s preparations for terror began years ago. He had been radicalized by 2015, and having connected and associated with AQAP operatives, joined the Royal Saudi Air Force in order to carry out a “special operation.”
- In the months before the December 6, 2019 attack, while in the United States, Alshamrani had specific conversations with overseas AQAP associates about plans and tactics. In fact, he was communicating with AQAP right up until the attack, and conferred with his associates until the night before he undertook the murders.
The evidence derived from Alshamrani’s unlocked phones has already proven useful in protecting the American people. In particular, a counterterrorism operation targeting AQAP operative Abdullah al-Maliki, one of Alshamrani’s overseas associates, was recently conducted in Yemen.
Attorney General William P. Barr Will Appoint Jeffrey Ragsdale to Head Office of Professional ResponsibilityRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr will appoint Jeffrey Ragsdale as the head of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). The appointment will be effective tomorrow. Mr. Ragsdale will replace Corey Amundson, who became Chief of the Public Integrity Section in September. Mr. Ragsdale has been serving as acting head of OPR since September.
As the head of the OPR, Mr. Ragsdale will lead a component of the U.S. Department of Justice that investigates misconduct allegations against Department attorneys, immigration judges, and law enforcement agents. He is the fifth permanent head since the office was founded.
“The Office of Professional Responsibilities is instrumental in ensuring that the Department of Justice conducts itself in accord with the highest professional standards,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “I am pleased to announce that Jeffrey Ragsdale will be its new Director and Chief Counsel. Jeff has shown throughout his career at the Department that he is a dedicated public servant who knows the importance of the rule of law as well as our ethical responsibilities as the attorneys representing the United States.”
Mr. Ragsdale has served as the Principal Deputy Director and Deputy Counsel for the Office of Professional since September 2016. He is currently the Acting Director and Chief Counsel. Prior to joining OPR, he served as an assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia for 29 years, during which time he tried a large number of cases, including homicides and complex narcotics case.
Mr. Ragsdale also served as a manager and supervised numerous litigation sections in both the Superior Court and Criminal Divisions, including serving as the chief of the Homicide Section for eight years. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he served as a state prosecutor in Virginia for five years.
Mr. Ragsdale has a B.A. from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the Virginia and District of Columbia bars
Friday 15 May 2020
United States Attorney’s Office Honors Law Enforcement Personnel for Exceptional ServiceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling recognized National Police Week by announcing the recipients of the Annual 2020 Law Enforcement Awards. Over 130 federal, state and local law enforcement personnel who contributed to the success of federal cases during the 2019 calendar year are being recognized for their commitment to pursuing justice and public safety.
These awards recognize the outstanding collaboration, investigative achievement and excellence, victim assistance, community engagement and bravery of agents, troopers, officers, investigators and others who work every day to keep the District of Massachusetts safe. Each year the U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts holds a formal ceremony during National Police Week to honor award recipients; however, due to ongoing pandemic, this year’s event has been postponed.
“The Annual Law Enforcement Awards are an opportunity to recognize and thank the law enforcement professionals who make it possible for cases to be investigated and prosecuted each year,” said U.S. Attorney Lelling. “These awards acknowledge those who take on tough cases – tackle the hardest problems – and do so with professionalism and integrity. Due to COVID-19, our ceremony will look a little different this year, but the sentiment remains the same and is amplified by our gratitude to the law enforcement officers risking their lives to keep us safe during this pandemic.”
The category of Investigative Excellence Award recognizes individuals whose actions led to the arrest of a dangerous subject or the exposure of a significant criminal conspiracy. Recipients in two cases also received the Victim Service Award for extraordinary assistance to victims of a federal crime. The following cases and agencies were honored:
U.S. v. Jean Leonard Teganya
Recipient: Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. v. John Nardozzi
Recipients: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigative Service
U.S. v. Michael Babich
*Victim Service Award
Recipients: Drug Enforcement Administration; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General
U.S. v. Reginald Abraham
*Victim Service Award
Recipients: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. v. Addison Choi
Recipient: Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Investigative Achievement Award is reserved for those who substantially contributed to the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice. Recipients in one case also received the Victim Service Award. The following cases and agencies were honored:
Co-Pay Investigations
Recipients: Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Office of Inspector General
U.S. v. Vinh Q. Huynh, et al.
Recipients: Boston Police Department; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Massachusetts State Police; Quincy Police Department
U.S. v. Michael Lee & U.S. v. Richard Silvestri
Recipient: Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. v. Christopher Roeder
*Victim Service Award
Recipient: Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. v. Michael Chapman
Recipients: Federal Bureau of Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; Worcester Police Department
The category of Exceptional Contributions to a Federal Investigation/Prosecution Award recognizes those whose actions significantly impacted law enforcement’s ability to arrest, apprehend and prosecute a subject of a federal investigation; rescue and respond to victims; develop cooperating witnesses; or identify critical intelligence. The following cases and agencies were honored:
U.S. v. Kenneth Brissette & U.S. v. Timothy Sullivan
Recipients: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of InvestigationU.S. v. Clarance Jones, et al.
Recipients: Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, Massachusetts State Police
U.S. v. Fathallah Mashali & U.S. v. Moustafa Aboshady
Recipients: Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations; Marshfield Police Department; Massachusetts State Police
U.S. v. Daniel Gibson
Recipients: Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Special Enforcement Programs
The Exceptional Bravery Award is reserved for those whose actions showed such concern for others that the recipient’s own safety was in jeopardy while assisting the victim of a federal crime or in the apprehension of a suspect of a federal investigation. The following case and agency was honored:
U.S. v. Dwayne Leaston-Brown
Recipient: Boston Police Department
The Outstanding Collaborative Award recognizes investigators from a multi-agency collaboration whose exceptional efforts to overcome significant challenges led to a successful conclusion. The following cases and agencies were honored:
Document Benefit Fraud Task Force’s Stolen Identity Initiative
Recipients: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service
U.S. v. Erasmo Alexis De Garcia Catillo, et al.
Recipients: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Framingham Police Department; Massachusetts State Police
U.S. v. Ludemis Bonculescu, et al.
Recipients: Braintree Police Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Chatham County (N.C.) Sheriff’s Department; Chicago Police Department; Connecticut State Police; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Greenwich (Conn.) Police Department; Houston (Texas) Police Department; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; Massachusetts State Police; Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office; Financial Crimes Task Force, New York Police Department; Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; U.S. Secret Service; Waltham Police Department
The category of Excellence in Community Outreach and Prevention Award recognizes individuals, or a team of individuals, who have shown outstanding commitment and/or innovation in the area of law enforcement and community outreach to include training, relationship building, prevention programs and other similar activities. The following programs and agencies were honored:
Project Safe Childhood
Recipients: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Longmeadow Police Department
Project Safe Neighborhood – Western Massachusetts
Recipients: Greater Holyoke YMCA; Hampden County Sheriff’s Office; Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; Westover Job Corps
Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative
Recipient: LIFT – Living in Freedom Together
U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Partner with AARP to Protect Alaskans from COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – On Monday, May 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI will participate in a statewide telephone town hall, hosted by AARP, to protect Alaskans from COVID-19 fraud. Together, the two offices will share resources and take questions to prevent Alaskans from falling victim to scams and other schemes attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic.
The panelists in the telephone town hall include Bryan Schroder, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska; Ryan Tansey, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska; and Chris Gonzalez, Special Agent with the FBI Anchorage Field Office. The discussion will focus on COVID-19 scams, fraud identification, and prevention. Event details:
- Date: Monday, May 18, 2020
- Time: 1:00 p.m. AKDT
- To participate:
- Register to be called at vekeo.com/aarpalaska, or
- Call (855) 286-0294.
- The event will also stream at facebook.com/aarpak.
- After the event, a recording will be available at vekeo.com/aarpalaska.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate any shameful exploitation of the global health pandemic, and will take swift action to bring these fraudsters to justice,” said Bryan Schroder, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska. “This joint effort highlights the importance of collaboration with our law enforcement partners and public service organizations, as we continue to protect Alaskans from these schemes.”
“Despite the challenging times we are all navigating, certain things remain the same, scammers are still doing everything they can to defraud people of their hard-earned money and the FBI is doing everything we can to ensure they don’t succeed,” said Robert Britt, Special Agent in Charge of FBI’s Anchorage Field Office. “We are proud to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the AARP to bring important information to the public in our effort to prevent members of our community from falling victim to these schemes.”
“For over 60 years, AARP has promoted the health and well-being of older Americans including their financial well-being. We’re pleased to be able to bring this empowering information to Alaskans so they can take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Teresa Holt, AARP Alaska State Director. “If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.”
From Jan. 1-April 15, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 18,000 COVID-19-related fraud reports, and people reported losing $13.44 million dollars.
Scammers have already devised numerous methods for defrauding people in connection with COVID-19. Scammers are setting up websites, contacting people by phone and email, and posting disinformation on social media platforms. In particular, U.S. Attorney Schroder and Special Agent in Charge Britt encourage Alaskans to be on the lookout for:
- Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.
- Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.
- Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.
- Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.
If you or someone you know have been the victim of COVID-19 related fraud, please report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling the National Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by via the NCDF Web Complaint Form. You can also report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov, or if it’s a cyber scam, you can submit your complaint to https://www.ic3.gov.
Unsure if something’s a scam? Alaskans can call AARP’s Fraud Watch Network toll-free, (877) 908-3360, to talk over questionable calls or emails. They can also find tip sheets and sign up for fraud alerts at the Fraud Watch Network site, aarp.org/fraud. The service is free and open to all; you don’t have to be an AARP member.
To find out more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit: www.justice.gov/coronavirus. AARP has resources and information at aarp.org/coronavirus, including on caregiving, tax tips, resources specifically for veterans and military families, and Community Connections, where Alaskans can create mutual aid groups and sign up to receive a call from a friendly voice.
U.S. Attorney: Public Can Listen by Phone to Sentencing in Atchison Chlorine Gas CaseRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A phone line will be in operation for the public to listen to the federal sentencing scheduled for May 27 in the Atchison Clean Air Act case, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said today.
During the hearing, a federal judge will sentence Harcros Chemicals, Inc., and MGP Ingredients Inc., both of which have pleaded guilty to violating the federal Clean Air Act when a cloud of toxic chlorine gas was released over Atchison, Kan., in 2016.
The hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. in room 401 of the Frank Carlson Federal Building at 444 S.E. Quincy St. in Topeka before U.S. District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree. Anyone affected by the gas release over Atchison, Kan., in 2016 who is planning to attend the sentencing in person should email [email protected] or call 913-551-6543 by 11:59 p.m., May 19, 2020.
To listen to the hearing by phone, call 1-888-363-4749 and enter access code 8354715#. The line will allow listening only and participants should mute their telephones. Rules of the court prohibit recording or rebroadcasting the proceedings.
More information about the case is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/victim-witness .
U.S. Attorney Trent Shores Announces $40,210 Award to Address COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Law Enforcement Needs in Broken ArrowRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma today announced that the Broken Arrow Police Department received $40,210 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
“The men and women of the Broken Arrow Police Department shoulder a great responsibility in carrying out their sworn duty to protect and serve. At no time has that been truer than during this public health crisis when BA police officers continue to answer the call whenever and wherever they are needed,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “I will do everything in my power as United States Attorney to protect and support America’s guardians of justice. I am hopeful this $40,000 from the Justice Department will help Broken Arrow police officers in their public safety duties while also ensuring their own health and safety. I also encourage all of our local law enforcement agencies to apply for these critical grants from the Department of Justice. I will support each and every application from a northeastern Oklahoma law enforcement agency.”
“This grant goes a long way to help protect our first responders. The support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office is greatly appreciated by the Broken Arrow Police Department,” said Broken Arrow Police Chief Brandon Berryhill. “This grant has made it possible for our department to purchase personal protective equipment to ensure the health and safety of those on the front lines. On behalf of the Broken Arrow Police Department and the citizens we serve, I thank you.”
The grant awarded to the Broken Arrow Police Department is available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Donald Trump. In addition, $3,866,386 has been allocated for local jurisdictions in Oklahoma. Those jurisdictions can find out if they are eligible and apply immediately by visiting this website. The Justice Department is moving quickly, awarding grants on a rolling basis and aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.
Also, in April 2020, the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council received a $7,752,847 grant from the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program. The grant to the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council will provide funding to assist eligible public safety/criminal justice state, county, local and tribal units of government as well as victim-services non-profit agencies. For further information about the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council grant, please visit here.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”
The law gives jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of these funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment, distributing resources to hard-hit areas and addressing inmates’ medical needs.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for the emergency funding. Local units of government and tribes will receive direct awards separately according to their jurisdictions’ allocations.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Law Enforcement Partners Host 2020 Mississippi Peace Officer’s Memorial Ceremony in JacksonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – United States Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi, joined by a representative from the Mississippi Sheriffs Association, the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, the Mississippi Prosecutors Association, and Federal Law Enforcement agencies, presented the 2020 Mississippi Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony this morning at the Mississippi Fallen Officers Memorial Wall in downtown Jackson.
The ceremony paid tribute to the sacrifice and service of all Mississippi law enforcement officers, while also honoring, remembering and revering those law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2019.
“Even in the midst of the current crisis, while our law enforcement remain on the front lines, it is so important that we continue to thank and honor them publicly for their sacrifice and their service. This ceremony was just one small act to show our gratitude to and love for them and their families for all that they do for us. I especially want the families who have lost love ones to know, we in law enforcement will never forget your love one’s devotion to duty and their commitment to service. You have our eternal thanks, and we forever have your back,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.
“I want to thank United States Attorney Mike Hurst for his leadership in deciding that, no matter what is going on, the people that we are here to commemorate their lives, it is worth the sacrifice," said Hinds County Sheriff Lee Vance.
“As we honor our Mississippi law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, we remember each of them and the sacrifices they made to serve their communities. They wanted to make their communities and this great state a better place. We are eternally grateful for the impact they made in the numerous lives that they touched,” said Chief John Neal, Ridgeland Police Department.
“These officers paid the ultimate price, serving and protecting us. Their families made the ultimate sacrifice. We pay tribute to those officers, we honor their families, and we salute all the law enforcement officers throughout the state of Mississippi who continue to serve and protect us on a daily basis. On behalf of all prosecutors across the state of Mississippi to our law enforcement family – we love you, we pray for you, we thank you, and God bless,” said John K. “Bubba” Bramlett, Jr., District Attorney for the Twentieth Circuit Court District.
Based on data collected and analyzed by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 89 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2019, including the following Mississippi law enforcement officers:
- Biloxi Police Department Officer Robert McKeithen
- Panola County Constable E. Raye Hawkins
- Chickasaw County Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Allen Voyles
- Lowndes County Constable Willie Houston “Hoot” West
U.S. Attorney Hurst was joined by a representative from the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, Mississippi Sheriffs Association, Mississippi Prosecutors Association, and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Secret Service.
U.S. Attorney McAllister Announces Kansas Covid-19 Fraud Task ForceRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister today announced the formation of the Kansas Covid Fraud Task Force.
Task force members from federal and state agencies will work together to investigate and prosecute scammers attempting to prey on Kansans during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“This pandemic is already a health crisis of staggering proportions – we will not let it become a field day for swindlers who seek to capitalize on confusion and fear,” McAllister said. “This task force brings together a team with broad resources to help keep the public safe.”
Members of the Kansas Covid-19 Fraud Task Force include:
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General
Department of Education – Office of Inspector General
Environmental Protection Agency
FBI
Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigation
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - Office of Inspector General
Federal Emergency Management Agency
General Services Administration - Office of Inspector General
Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General
Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector General
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations
Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation
Johnson County District Attorney’s Office
Kansas Attorney General’s Office
Postal Inspection Service
Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General
U.S. Secret Service
Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
Treasury – Office of Inspector General
U.S. Army - Criminal Investigation Division
Veteran’s Affairs - Office of Inspector General
Complaints can be submitted to the U.S. attorney’s office at [email protected], by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or filing a complaint online at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .
“I anticipate this task force will continue to exist as long as it is needed,” McAllister said.
U.S. Attorney Announces $250K in DOJ Grants to Virginia JurisdictionsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today announced that various jurisdictions across the Eastern District of Virginia have been awarded over $250,000 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
The grants, to the City of Alexandria, County of Hanover, and City of Suffolk, are available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. The Justice Department is moving quickly, awarding grants on a rolling basis and aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.
“Those on the front lines of the public safety response to the coronavirus have our support, gratitude, and utmost respect,” said Terwilliger. “The Department of Justice provides this funding with significant flexibility, so that state and local departments can use it in the ways that best benefit their officers and their community.”
The grants come on the heels of a separate DOJ grant of $10.8 million to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, and to the City of Petersburg, announced earlier this month.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”
The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program allows States, U.S. Territories, the District of Columbia, units of local government, and federally recognized tribal governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. Funded projects or initiatives may include, but are not limited to, overtime, equipment (including law enforcement and medical personal protective equipment), hiring, supplies (such as gloves, masks, sanitizer), training, travel expenses (particularly related to the distribution of resources to the most impacted areas), and addressing the medical needs of inmates in state, local, and tribal prisons, jails, and detention centers.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray Announces the Winners of the 4th Annual "Do the Write Thing" Essay Contest During Virtual Award CeremonyRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced the two winners of the 4th Annual “Do the Writing Thing” (DtWT) essay contest, during a virtual award ceremony livestreamed today via Facebook Live and Instagram.
The “Do the Write Thing” essay contest is a program of the National Campaign to Stop Violence. The core aim of the program is to empower middle school students to examine and write about the impact of violence in their lives, and to become catalysts for positive change.
A total of 1,567 essays written by middle school students attending Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools were submitted for consideration, and the essays of 12 students were selected as finalists. Of the 12 finalists, Caroline Burton, a 7th grader with Asheville Middle School, and Noah Graham, an 8th grader with North Buncombe Middle School, were announced as this year’s winners of the essay contest. Speaking at today’s virtual event, U.S. Attorney Murray congratulated the two winners and the 10 finalists for their accomplishment, and commended all the students who participated in the writing contest.
“Violence comes in many shapes and sizes,” said U.S. Attorney Murray, who chairs the DtWT committee in Asheville. “Violence can happen in schools, on social media, in homes, and in neighborhoods. Those of us in law enforcement know that prevention plays a crucial role in reducing violence. The Do the Write Thing essay challenge is an opportunity for students to use the written word to express the impact of any form of violence on their lives, to examine its causes and to offer solutions to help decrease violence in their communities. But, most importantly, it provides students with a voice and forum to be heard. The voices and ideas of our youth are critical in our preventive efforts and must be encouraged. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to be a part of this valuable program,” U.S. Attorney Murray added.
During today’s virtual ceremony, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the Asheville City Schools, the Buncombe County Schools, the Asheville Police Department, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the Asheville Housing Authority and Western North Carolina Rescue Mission for partnering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to form the DtWT committee and to implement the program in both school systems.
U.S. Attorney Murray also recognized the teachers, school administrators, counselors, parents, guardians, and caregivers for their dedication in this important endeavor, and thanked them for supporting the students’ efforts and for ensuring that, under these unprecedented circumstances, students continue to reach their full potential.
For more information on the national “Do the Write Thing” program please visit http://www.dtwt.org.
Tyndall Man and Rapid City Woman Indicted for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Tyndall, South Dakota, man and a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The man has further been indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Jose Eduardo Rodriguez, age 44, and Bonnie Jean Estes, age 24, were indicted on February 11, 2020. Rodriguez appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 14, 2020, and Estes appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 13, 2020. Both pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about December 26, 2019, Rodriguez and Estes knowingly possessed a weapon made from a rifle, with a barrel of less than sixteen inches in length, which was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The Indictment further alleges that on or about December 26, 2019, Rodriguez, having previously been convicted of a felony, did knowingly possess a firearm.
The charges are merely accusations and Rodriguez and Estes are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
The investigation is being conducted by the Murdo Police Department, the Lyman County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Rodriguez and Estes were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for July 21, 2020.
Two Rochester Residents Charged with Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Cesar Martinez, Jr., 30, and Milton Miranda, Jr., 30, both of Rochester, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and possessing with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie M. Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on May 12, 2020, postal inspectors intercepted a suspicious package mailed from Puerto Rico to a Rochester address. After obtaining a warrant to search the parcel, investigators discovered 1,055 grams of cocaine secreted in the package. On May 14, 2020, Martinez and Miranda arrived at the Lexington Station Post Office to pick up the package. Postal employees gave the package to Miranda, and as Miranda and Martinez were exiting the post office, they were arrested by police.
The defendants made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and were detained.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Joseph W. Cronin, Boston Division; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Top Officers of Subprime Auto Lender Indicted on Fraud Charges for Allegedly Misappropriating More Than $5 Million in Company FundsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Two top officers of a north suburban subprime auto lending company have been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly misappropriating at least $5.3 million in company funds.
JAMES COLLINS was the Chief Executive Officer of Evanston-based Honor Finance LLC, and ROBERT DIMEO was its Chief Operating Officer. From 2011 to 2018, Collins and DiMeo schemed with an accountant, MICHAEL WALSH, to divert money owed to Honor Finance to an outside entity the trio created and controlled, according to an indictment returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The defendants used the outside entity, Skokie-based LHS Solutions Ltd., to purchase GPS devices and then resell them to Honor Finance at a significant markup, the indictment alleges. Honor Finance required that GPS devices be installed in certain vehicles purchased with loans it financed, so that the vehicles could be located and repossessed if the borrowers defaulted.
The indictment alleges that the defendants fraudulently misappropriated approximately $5.3 million from Honor Finance. The trio transferred some of the misappropriated funds to themselves and their family members, the indictment states. They also used some of the fraud proceeds to pay for a down payment on a lake house in Dowagiac, Michigan, according to the indictment.
The indictment charges Collins, 50, of Evanston, DiMeo, 49, of Park Ridge, and Walsh, 62, of Evanston, with ten counts each of mail fraud. Arraignments via videoconference are set for May 20, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Getter.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Each count of mail fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Three Members of Burlington County Drug Trafficking Organization, Including Leader, Admit Roles in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – Three members of a Burlington County drug-trafficking organization have admitted their roles in a conspiracy to distribute a variety of illegal substances, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Jerrod Epps, 35, of Medford, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Senior District Judge Anne E. Thompson to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Teron Huggins, 42, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2020, to an information charging him with two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Talib Conway, 39, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty on May 8, 2020, to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of crack cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Between July 2019 and September 2019, the defendants engaged in a narcotics conspiracy that operated primarily in municipalities throughout Burlington County – including Willingboro, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Bordentown Township, Edgewater Park, Pemberton and Mount Laurel – and which sought to profit from the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. Through the interception of telephone calls and text messages pursuant to court-authorized wiretap orders, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that defendants obtained regular supplies of cocaine and other substances from conspirators in the Burlington County and Philadelphia areas and then redistributed cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, to other conspirators, distributors, sub-dealers, and end users. Law enforcement officers intercepted numerous communications by and between the conspirators regarding such issues as cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin quality and availability, pricing, packaging, quantity, and customer satisfaction.
The counts of conspiracy to distribute at least 28 grams of crack cocaine and conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin to which Conway pleaded guilty each carry a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million. The count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine to which Conway pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. The counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine to which Huggins pleaded guilty each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. The count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine to which Epps pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. Sentencing for all three defendants is scheduled for Sept. 30, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; special agents of ATF Newark Field Division, Trenton Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson; detectives of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Scott Coffina; officers of the Burlington Township Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Bruce Painter; officers of the Willingboro Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Kinamo Lomon; officers of the Burlington City Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Fine; officers of the Florence Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Brian Boldizar; officers of the Bordentown Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Brian Pesche; officers of the Edgewater Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Robert Hess; officers of the Mount Laurel Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Stephen Reidener; officers of the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Stemler; officers of the Westampton Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Stephen Ent; and officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Director Sheilah Coley with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha K. Nye of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Johns of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Shoreview Man Charged in 110 Pound Methamphetamine BustRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal criminal complaint charging OMAR DAMACIO RUIZ-PENALOZA, 30, with possession with intent to distribute more than 110 pounds of methamphetamine. RUIZ-PENALOZA made his initial appearance today, before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz, in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. RUIZ-PENALOZA was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint, on May 8, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at an apartment in Shoreview, Minnesota. Upon entry, the officers discovered RUIZ-PENALOZA in a bedroom wearing rubber gloves and appeared to be weighing and packaging suspected methamphetamine. Additionally, officers observed an open suitcase containing numerous bags of suspected methamphetamine lying on the floor and a digital scale. Officers discovered a second suitcase in the living room of the apartment which also contained suspected methamphetamine. In total, approximately 110 pounds of methamphetamine and more than three pounds of cocaine was seized.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crime Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
OMAR DAMACIO RUIZ-PENALOZA, 30
Shoreview, Minn.
Charges:
- Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sherburne County Jail Federal Inmate Charged with AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal indictment charging HAKEEM ALEXANDER COLES, 25, with assault of a person assisting federal law enforcement officers.1] COLES, who remains in custody, will make his initial appearance and be arraigned before a Magistrate Judge in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota at a later date.
According to the allegations in the indictment, on January 27, 2020, COLES physically assaulted a Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Officer at the jail. At the time of the assault, COLES was in the United States Marshal’s custody at the Sherburne County Jail awaiting trial on charges stemming from an armed robbery of the Cowboy Jacks Bar and Grill in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 17, 2019.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshal’s Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
HAKEEM ALEXANDER COLES, 25
Charges:
- Assault of a person assisting federal law enforcement officers, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Search of Concord Warehouse Leads to Re-Arrest of Dark Web VendorRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Jeremy Donagal was charged in a criminal complaint filed this morning with possession of equipment for producing counterfeit drugs as well as the manufacture and sale of counterfeit drugs in a scheme to distribute counterfeit generic alprazolam (the active ingredient in the brand-name anti-anxiety medication Xanax), announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King; and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter. In a separate filing, Donagal also is alleged to have violated the conditions of his supervised release from his 2015 conviction, where he was originally charged in the 2014 indictment as “Jeremy Donagal, a/k/a/ “Xanax King”, a/k/a “XK”.
According to the criminal complaint, Donagal, 41, of Martinez, Calif., signed a lease in December of 2018, for a warehouse in Concord, Calif. Donagal allegedly visited the warehouse on May 14, 2020, let himself into the building, and was detained shortly after stepping outside. As explained in the motion to revoke his supervised release, inside the building, were multiple pill presses, plastic trays with punches and dies in them, thousands of pressed tablets, packaging and shipping materials, and other equipment consistent with a mail-order business. The tablets had the same markings as are used by Sandoz Inc., a company that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized to manufacture and distribute generic alprazolam. Donagal is charged with possession of equipment to produce counterfeit drugs, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(a)(5), and the manufactured and sale of counterfeit drugs, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 331(i)(3).
Donagal already was on supervised release from a previous conviction. Donagal’s previous sentence included a three-year term of supervised release. Donagal was released on June 27, 2018, subject to the terms of a supervised release order that required Donagal to refrain from committing additional federal crimes and work regularly at a lawful occupation. In papers filed this morning, the government seeks to revoke Donagal’s release for violating these terms of his supervised release. The motion to revoke supervised release states as follows:
[A]lmost immediately after being released from prison to supervised release, DONAGAL began work setting up a new counterfeit drug operation. He set up a laboratory and pill press operation to manufacture the counterfeit pills, and he established a dark web vendor site to sell the pills nationwide. He also established vendor pages on dark web criminal marketplaces like Samsara and Empire. On May 14, 2020, agents executed search warrants at DONAGAL’s residence and warehouse and seized pill presses, punch-dies designed to produce counterfeit drugs, and that packaging materials in the same brand name he used on the dark web marketplaces. That same day, agents arrested him.
Donagal was made his initial federal court appearance on May 15, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu. Donagal is next scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse on May 18, 2020, at 10:30 AM for an attorney appointment hearing.
A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted of possessing equipment to produce counterfeit drugs, Donagal faces a maximum statutory penalty of four years in prison and one year of supervised release. If convicted of the counterfeit drug manufacturing and sale charge, Donagal faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and one year of supervised release. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, HSI, and IRS. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is assisting with the investigation.