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10 May 2020
U.S. Attorney Duncan Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr., joins U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr in recognizing the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Sunday, May 10 through Saturday, May 16, 2020.
“There is no more noble profession than serving as a police officer,” said Attorney General Barr. “The men and women who protect our communities each day have not just devoted their lives to public service, they’ve taken an oath to give their lives in order to ensure our safety. And they do so not only in the face of hostility from those who reject our nation’s commitment to the rule of law, but also in the face of evolving adversity – such as an unprecedented global health pandemic. This week, I ask all Americans to join me in saying ‘thank you’ to our nation’s federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. Their devotion and sacrifice to our peace and security will not be taken for granted.”
“When someone agrees to ‘protect and serve,’ they are making a significant commitment to the communities on behalf of themselves and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “It can be very difficult work but they selflessly perform it, making themselves available to people in need and working tirelessly to enforce the law and protect us all. This week, please join us in paying tribute to our police officers, by thanking the brave men and women who carry a badge and dedicate themselves to protecting and serving, even when their job puts them in harm’s way every day.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities they swore to serve.
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 two officers here in the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing most of the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2019.
The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, during a Virtual Annual Candlelight Vigil. Because public events have been suspended as a result of COVID-19, the vigil will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm (EDT). To register to view this free online event, please www.LawMemorial.org/webcast.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
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U.S. Attorney Bill Powell salutes law enforcement during National Police WeekRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Sunday, May 10 through Saturday, May 16, 2020.
“There is no more noble profession than serving as a police officer,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The men and women who protect our communities each day have not just devoted their lives to public service, they’ve taken an oath to give their lives in order to ensure our safety. And they do so not only in the face of hostility from those who reject our nation’s commitment to the rule of law, but also in the face of evolving adversity – such as an unprecedented global health pandemic. This week, I ask all Americans to join me in saying ‘thank you’ to our nation’s federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. Their devotion and sacrifice to our peace and security will not be taken for granted.”
“It is often during a crisis that we see how much we depend upon those who serve the public. During National Police Week we take some time to recognize and honor those in blue who protect us every day, during a pandemic and every other crisis. Our office has the great privilege to work with law enforcement every day. While they will never get all the thanks they deserve, we reserve this week to remind everyone of their importance in our lives and our communities,” said Powell.
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities they swore to serve.
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.
Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing most of the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2019.The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, during a Virtual Annual Candlelight Vigil. Because public events have been suspended as a result of COVID-19, the vigil will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 PM (EDT). To register to view this free online event, please www.LawMemorial.org/webcast.
U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis Commends Law Enforcement Partners During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
BOISE – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Sunday, May 10 through Saturday, May 16, 2020.
“There is no more noble profession than serving as a police officer,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The men and women who protect our communities each day have not just devoted their lives to public service, they’ve taken an oath to give their lives in order to ensure our safety. And they do so not only in the face of hostility from those who reject our nation’s commitment to the rule of law, but also in the face of evolving adversity – such as an unprecedented global health pandemic. This week, I ask all Americans to join me in saying ‘thank you’ to our nation’s federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. Their devotion and sacrifice to our peace and security will not be taken for granted.”
“I am grateful for the professionalism, dedication and quiet courage our law enforcement partners continually demonstrate under demanding and often dangerous circumstances,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “My office sees firsthand how brave men and women of law enforcement fulfill their sworn duty to uphold justice every day without question and without expectation of thanks. We want them to know they have our unwavering support and appreciation. This week, and every day, we have their backs and they have our thanks.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities they swore to serve.
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. Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing most of the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2019.
In Idaho, there have been a total of 72 fallen officers since 1883. Each of these officers are remembered for their brave service to our state at the Idaho Peace Officers’ Memorial. For more information about the memorial and for a list of these honored Idaho heroes please visit idahopeaceofficersmemorial.com.
The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, during a Virtual Annual Candlelight Vigil. Because public events have been suspended as a result of COVID-19, the vigil will be livestreamed to the public at 6:00 pm (MDT). The online event can be viewed at www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
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Op Ed: U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald Warns of A Potential Heightened Risk of Child Exploitation Due to Increased Time Spent OnlineRead the Press Release
In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, schools across Minnesota have switched to distance learning for the time being. As a result, children of all ages have access to and are using electronic devices at an unprecedented rate. This dramatic increase in time our children spend online creates a target rich environment for child predators who use various online methods to sexually exploit our children.
The sexual exploitation and abuse of a child is a despicable crime affecting some of the most vulnerable members of our community. No child should ever have to suffer the pain of such vile acts. Regrettably, the ever growing use of technology has provided child predators with more tools and opportunities than ever to perpetrate their insidious crimes.
The online sexual exploitation of children is a massive problem. During March 2020, the onset of new distance learning methods driven by COVID-19, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 2,027,520 reports of online child sexual exploitation, a 106 percent increase over March 2019. This is not just a national problem. It is a problem right here in Minnesota. In 2019, my office received a 43 percent increase in the number of online child exploitation case referrals over 2018. Thus far, our 2020 numbers remain equally and disturbingly high.
There is no specific profile for victims; rather, children across all demographics can be targeted. The only commonality is youth, as the average age of a victim is only fifteen years old.
This type of crime causes very real harm and has a lasting impact, especially on young victims. Images and videos do not easily disappear from the Internet and the long-term effects on victims and their families can be devastating.
There is also one commonality among predators: their willingness to target some of the most vulnerable members of our society to satisfy their prurient interests. Predators seek to take advantage of the trusting nature of young people and to prey on their youth and the vulnerability that comes with growing up. They set up fake profiles on social medial apps, gaming sites and other social networking tools. They scour social media to find children willing to befriend someone they do not know. They falsely represent themselves as someone else, such as a famous person, a new kid in town, a friend of a friend, another high school student and even modeling agents. They then cultivate an online relationship with their victims, building trust to solicit the sexually explicit images. This can happen quickly. In one case, it took only thirty minutes from the time the predator met the child on Facebook messenger to when the minor victim was producing sexually explicit images and videos for the perpetrator to exploit.
I write today to raise our collective awareness of this issue as we all adjust to the rhythms of life during COVID-19. This type of exploitation thrives in secret. The more we talk about it the more effective we are at combatting these heinous crimes.
With the fact that children are spending more time online comes the need for vigilance regarding our children’s online social interaction. The threat from online child predators is both real and unobtrusive but can be mitigated by teaching our children how to use the internet safely and responsibly and by monitoring their use as appropriate for their age.
Preventing children from becoming victims is an important priority for federal law enforcement officials in Minnesota. In my office, we have a team of prosecutors who are specially trained to investigate and prosecute online child exploitation cases and work with law enforcement not only solve these crimes but to provide education and training to prevent the crimes from occurring. FBI Special Agent in Charge Rainer Drohshagen and I penned a joint letter to the Minnesota Department of Education explaining the heightened risk of online exploitation due to kids’ increased online presence and emphasizing the need for vigilance.
I encourage parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, and all caregivers to review the library of resources deployed by our partners at the FBI regarding child exploitation and other crimes related to COVID-19 at https://www.fbi.gov/coronavirus. Additional resources and data are available from NCMEC at www.missingkids.org.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota has engaged and continues to engage parents, teachers, community leaders and law enforcement on this issue to offer practical resources, tips and case examples, and we will continue to do so. Now more than ever, however, we need everyone to join us in the fight for our children’s safety. This is an issue that cannot be spoken about enough. The predators are relentless; therefore, we too must be relentless. Look for red flags, talk to your children, and know where to report.
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Attorney General William P. Barr Honors Nation’s Law Enforcement During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
In honor of National Police Week, Attorney General William P. Barr recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Sunday, May 10, through Saturday, May 16, 2020.
“There is no more noble profession than serving as a police officer,” said Attorney General Barr. “The men and women who protect our communities each day have not just devoted their lives to public service, they’ve taken an oath to give their lives in order to ensure our safety. And they do so not only in the face of hostility from those who reject our nation’s commitment to the rule of law, but also in the face of evolving adversity – such as an unprecedented global health pandemic. This week, I ask all Americans to join me in saying ‘thank you’ to our nation’s federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. Their devotion and sacrifice to our peace and security will not be taken for granted.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. National Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment in keeping our communities safe. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities they swore to serve.
Based on data collected and analyzed by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 89 law enforcement officers nationwide were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2019.
Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2019, released by the FBI on May 4, 2020.
The names of all fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, during a Virtual Annual Candlelight Vigil. Because public events have been suspended as a result of COVID-19, the vigil will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 p.m. EDT. To view this free online event, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF.
9 May 2020
Broome County Repeat Offender Sentenced to over 18 Years in Prison for Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – James W. O’Brien, age 64, of Binghamton, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 220 months in prison for transporting, receiving, and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett.
In connection with his guilty plea on October 23, 2019, O’Brien admitted to uploading image files depicting child pornography on three separate occasions in June and July 2017. Search warrants executed on O’Brien’s electronic devices on May 31, 2018, revealed 650 images and 8 video files depicting the sexual exploitation of children. These files included eight nude images of a female victim, whose identity is known to law enforcement, which O’Brien received through a text exchange with the victim.
The defendant was previously convicted in 2008 in Chenango County (New York) Court of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child less than 16 years of age, in violation of New York State Penal Law Section 263.16, and was sentenced to six (6) months in jail, to be followed by 10- year term of probation.
Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy also imposed a 15-year term of supervised release, which will start after O’Brien is released from prison, and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $3,000 per victim for each of the three identified minors depicted in the images and videos that O’Brien transported, received, and possessed. As a result of his conviction, O’Brien will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sahar L. Amandolare.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
8 May 2020
Waterloo Felon Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Loaded .357 Magnum in a CarRead the Press Release
A Waterloo felon who was found with a gun in a car just four months after he was arrested for possessing a different gun in a car was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.
Columbus Tre Lawrence, age 27, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 4, 2019 guilty plea to one count of possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.
At the guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Lawrence admitted that, on August 28, 2018, he possessed a loaded .357 magnum caliber pistol while a passenger in a car. Lawrence is a felon and has been prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition for many years.
At the time of his arrest in August 2018, Lawrence was on pretrial release in state court on pending firearms-related charges. In April 2018, Lawrence was found in a car with a handgun, arrested, and released pending trial. That handgun had an obliterated serial number. Lawrence later pled guilty in state court to possessing the firearm in April 2018, and then he was indicted in federal court for the possessing a firearm in August 2018.
Lawrence was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Lawrence was sentenced to 85 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Lawrence is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-2058.
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U.S. Attorney’s Letter to Norman City Mayor – Allow Places of Worship to OpenRead the Press Release
A unified message emanates today from the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Western District of Oklahoma and the chief law officer of the State of Oklahoma. Places of worship in Norman, if they so choose, should be allowed to meet this Mother’s Day Sunday.
On April 27, 2020, United States Attorney General William P. Barr issued a memorandum directing United States Attorneys to monitor state and local directives that could violate the constitutional rights and the civil liberties of citizens, including discrimination against religious institutions and those with religious beliefs. To this end, U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing today sent a letter to convey the concern of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with a proclamation issued by the Mayor of Norman. In that letter, U.S. Attorney Downing urged the Mayor to consider amending the proclamation to include the opening of places of worship. Indeed, places of worship should be trusted to honor social distancing and sanitation guidelines to the same extent as secular institutions.
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter has also expressed his concerns on behalf of the State.
Attached hereto is a copy of U.S. Attorney Downing’s
Letter to Norman Mayor .U.S. Attorney Seeks Reporting of Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in Housing Resulting from COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams is asking anyone who has witnessed or experienced discrimination or sexual harassment by a landlord, property manager, maintenance worker, or anyone with control over housing to report this conduct.
The COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergency has impacted many Americans’ ability to pay their rent and has increased housing insecurity. It is violation of the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) for housing providers to exploit this crisis by sexually harassing tenants in exchange for rent or other housing needs.
“Nobody should feel unsafe in their own apartment or home—particularly in the midst of a global pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Our office stands ready to investigate allegations of sexual harassment by anyone in control of housing and, where appropriate, we will pursue enforcement action. We will work closely with our enforcement partners to investigate any federal violations of Oregonians’ civil rights. The first step is reporting of such discrimination.”
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division in coordination with U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. The initiative’s goal is to address sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing.
Last fall the U.S. Attorney’s Office hosted two roundtables to bring awareness to this type of predatory discrimination. Now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Williams asks for the community to be even more vigilant given the increased vulnerability of individuals.
The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits across the country where a pattern or practice of sexual harassment in housing is alleged. Investigations frequently uncover sexual harassment that has been ongoing for years. Many individuals do not know that being sexually harassed by a housing provider can violate federal law or that the Department of Justice may be able to help.
Discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, and other protected classes is unlawful under several federal laws, including FHA, and may result in criminal or civil liability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by FHA. Further, violent acts of hate based upon these and other protected classes violate federal hate crimes statutes. Discrimination can arise in many different contexts in addition to housing, including education, employment, health and safety, and places of public accommodation.
“It is important that we all work together to address unlawful discrimination, including violent acts or threats based upon protected classes,” U.S. Attorney Williams emphasized. “As in all emergencies, the COVID-19 outbreak has affected people of many different races, religions, and ethnicities, as well as those with disabilities. Laws prohibiting unlawful discriminatory behavior must and will be vigorously enforced.”
If you believe you are a victim of discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or other protected classes, you can find information about how to file a complaint at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint and https://www.justice.gov/crt/fcs. Anyone who has experienced sexual harassment in housing, or knows someone who has, can also email [email protected]. The U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Coordinator can be reached by calling (503) 727-1000.
U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey Announces $33,541 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 Shelbyville Police department received $33,541 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 Waterloo Men Who Possessed Guns Near an Area Where Shots Were Fired Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Two Waterloo men who were located near handguns in an area where shots were fired were sentenced on May 7, 2020, to federal prison.
Chaston Fox, age 27, and Jayontae Gates, age 19, both from Waterloo, Iowa, received prison terms after pleading guilty on January 15, 2020. Chaston Fox pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and received a sentence of
47 months in prison. Jayontae Gates pled guilty to being a drug user in possession of firearm and ammunition and received a sentence of 18 months in prison.
In plea agreements, both Fox and Gates admitted they were found in an area where gunfire had been heard. Fox was located walking near a bag containing marijuana, a digital scale and baggies, and a Ruger .22 caliber revolver. Fox was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior felony conviction for theft in the first degree. Gates was located in the area of the gunfire entering a nearby apartment. Inside the apartment, law enforcement recovered a Ruger .22 caliber pistol. Gates had live .22 caliber ammunition in his pockets. Gates was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was a user of illegal drugs.
Fox and Gates were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Fox was sentenced to 47 months’ imprisonment. He must serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Gates was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-2077-CJW.
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Three Illegal Aliens admit to reentry chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Mexican citizens and a Guatemalan citizen have admitted to reentry charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Pedro Celestino Lunez-Gomez, citizen of Mexico, age 38, Jose Luis Lunez-Gomez, a citizen of Mexico, age 25, and Fredy Evaristo Cortez-Cahuec, a citizen of Guatemala, age 30, each pled guilty to one count of “reentry of a Removed Alien.” The four were found in January 2020 in Lewis County.
Each man was sentenced to time served today.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security Immigrations and Customs Enforcement investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Ten Defendants Indicted in Federal Investigation That Dismantled Mexico-To-Chicago Cocaine PipelineRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Ten individuals are facing criminal charges as part of a federal investigation that disrupted a Mexico-to-Chicago cocaine pipeline.
During the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 18 kilograms of cocaine and more than $300,000 in suspected illicit drug proceeds. The alleged drug trafficking occurred in the South Loop and Streeterville neighborhoods of Chicago, as well as suburban locations.
The indictments were returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Two of the defendants remain at large, and warrants have been issued for their arrests. Arraignments for the other eight defendants have not yet been scheduled.
The charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Robert J. Bell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Substantial assistance was provided by the Milwaukee, Wisc., Field Division of the DEA, Calumet City Police Department, Chicago Police Department, Evergreen Park Police Department, Gurnee Police Department, Oak Park Police Department, Palos Heights Police Department, Peoria Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys A.J. Dixon and Ashley A. Chung represent the government.
According to the indictments and criminal complaints previously filed in the case, ANDRES VILLEGAS, 30, of Berwyn, worked with suppliers in Mexico to transport cocaine into the United States. Villegas conspired with a network of traffickers to distribute the drugs in the Chicago area, the charges allege.
The charges describe several drug transactions last year in Chicago and the suburbs. One of the deals occurred in a high-rise parking garage in the Streeterville neighborhood on Chicago’s Near North Side, while another occurred in a parking garage in the South Loop neighborhood on the city’s Near South Side, according to the charges. Other transactions cited in the charges occurred in Plainfield and Bolingbrook.
Charged in four separate indictments with drug conspiracy are Villegas; GUSTAVO AVILA, 23, of Plainfield; AARON ADAMS, 41, of Peoria; ADRIAN CURTIS, 42, of Peoria; DAVID PALM, 50, of Chicago; ALVIN BROWN, 51, of Chicago; SANTIAGO MERAZ, 35, of Milwaukee, Wisc.; JORGE VALDEZ, 33, of Milwaukee, Wisc.; ISIDRO MOYA, 59, of Chicago; and EDUARDO CARRIZALES, 45, of Laredo, Texas.
Moya and Meraz are currently at large.
The public is reminded that indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Ten 'Most Wanted' Fugitives At-Large in Middle GeorgiaRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia is urging citizens to report the whereabouts of ten wanted fugitives to authorities.
In March, Macon Regional Crimestoppers, a community-run organization dedicated to increasing the safety of citizens, publicized a list of the top 15 Most Wanted fugitives in the Macon regional area. To date, five of 15 wanted persons have been captured, all as a direct result of citizen tips leading to their capture. The remaining fugitives at-large are wanted for violent crimes in Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Monroe and Peach counties, including aggravated assault, armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. To view the list of wanted persons, please visit www.crimestop.us. Citizens can safely and anonymously report tips at 1-877-68CRIME. Crimestoppers provides rewards up to $1,000 for tips leading to the arrest of wanted fugitives. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“We are asking citizens to safely report the whereabouts of these wanted fugitives to Crimestoppers or their local authorities,” said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney. “We are proud to support Macon Regional Crimestoppers and our law enforcement partners. Creating safer neighborhoods is a community-wide effort, and we are fortunate to live in a region where law enforcement and citizens work together to achieve this common goal law.”
“In the midst of a pandemic, Macon Regional Crimestoppers remains committed to removing criminals from our streets,” said Warren Selby, Jr., Macon Regional Crimestoppers Chairman. “Our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and all our law enforcement partners, continues to be successful due to the engagement of our citizens. Please help us continue our success by Making the Call!”
In February 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office made a public commitment with Macon Regional Crimestoppers to release a quarterly list throughout 2019 of the Most Wanted violent offenders. 41 of the 45 Top 15 Most Wanted fugitives in 2019 were captured. Macon Regional Crimestoppers is a local non-profit serving Bibb, Baldwin, Houston, Jones, Twiggs, Crawford, Monroe, and Peach counties. The organization partners with law enforcement agencies and community groups to provide anonymous rewards for tips that lead to criminal arrests. To learn more about Macon Regional Crimestoppers, please visit www.crimestop.us.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office partnership with Macon Regional Crimestoppers is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders 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 partnership is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/archives/projectguardian.
Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
St. Louis City Man Sentenced for Striking a Guard at the Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
St. Louis, Missouri – After having served approximately 26 months in pretrial detention, Slaven Nedic, 28, of St. Louis, was sentenced to three years of probation. Nedic appeared today before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross.
According to court documents, on March 9, 2018, Nedic entered the lobby of the Crestwood office of the Social Security Administration and punched an armed guard in the face. He also attempted to obtain control of the guard’s firearm during the ensuing physical confrontation. An unarmed employee of the administrative agency heard the altercation, and came to the guard’s aid. The two were able to restrain Nedic until local law enforcement officials arrived. Nedic has been in custody since his arrest on March 9, 2018.
The case was handled by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Santa Monica Man Admits Orchestrating Online Romance Scam that Conned Four Women into Investing in His Bogus CompaniesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Santa Monica man has agreed to plead guilty to a federal fraud charge for a romance scam in which he deceived women he met online and elsewhere into investing tens of thousands of dollars into his sham sound design and software companies, only to take the money and spend it on himself.
Antonio Mariot Wilson, a.k.a. “Dr. Tony Mariot” and “Brice Carrington,” 57, agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud, according to a plea agreement filed today in United States District Court.
Between May 2015 and October 2018, Wilson met four women, including on Bumble and other dating apps, and convinced them to engage in romantic relationships with him before conning them into giving him hundreds of thousands of dollars for his purported businesses, according to his plea agreement. One of Wilson’s victims, whom he met at a gym where he worked as a manager, was actress Jenifer Lewis, whose credits include the television series, “Black-ish.”
To create a false impression of legitimacy and prestige, Wilson falsely claimed to be a Navy SEAL, an Oxford University graduate, and an Oxford professor teaching biblical antiquities at UCLA.
Relying on the intimacy he created in his victims through these false impressions, Wilson induced his victims to invest in one of his two companies: Ultimate FX, which he claimed was a sound design company, and 2nd Life, a purported software business designed to provide animated instruction on applying for government benefits.
Wilson conned the victims to invest in these companies by making false statements, such as claiming that the ABC television network and EA Sports video game developer had used Ultimate FX for their shows and games. Wilson also falsely claimed that investors – real people whose identities he used without authorization – had valued 2nd Life at more than $30 million and wanted to invest in the company. Wilson also falsely stated that 2nd Life had a present valuation of $3.2 million, court documents state.
But in reality, Wilson stole the victims’ money and used it to fund his own lifestyle and pay his own personal expenses, concealing the fact that he previously pleaded guilty to carrying out a very similar scheme to defraud Ultimate FX investors. Wilson served a four-year term in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2009 to wire fraud and tax evasion charges in the Northern District of California.
Wilson also admitted that he sold unregistered 2nd Life securities by distributing “shareholder agreements” and “stock purchase agreements” to the victims. After accepting his victims’ funds, Wilson used the money to pay off his credit card debt, pay his rent and buy luxury items.
Through this scheme, Wilson received a total of $387,000 from his victims.
Wilson will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison upon entering his guilty plea, which will occur at a hearing to be set in the coming weeks.
The FBI investigated this matter.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander C.K. Wyman of the Major Frauds Section.
San Francisco Resident Arrested for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Chad Andrew Carter was arrested for possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King.
According to a criminal complaint filed on April 30, 2020, Carter, 44, of San Francisco, Calif., is alleged to have knowingly possessed child pornography. As detailed in the complaint, an individual using the handle “TopRod” was observed in a Zoom chat room displaying and streaming child pornography videos. Zoom is a video-conferencing and photo and video-sharing platform. The user “TopRod” was traced to an IP address and email account in defendant’s name. On January 4, 2018, HSI agents executed a search warrant on defendant’s residence and seized various electronic devices. In a review of those devices, agents identified approximately 3,077 image files and 469 video files containing child pornography, including images and videos of victims as young as three-to-five years old.
The complaint charges Carter with possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a)(4)(B).
Carter’s detention hearing occurred on May 7, 2020, before the Honorable Susan van Keulen, U.S. Magistrate Judge. Carter was released with conditions, including monitoring of his computer and electronics use and prohibiting contact with minors. Carter’s next appearance is scheduled for May 27, 2020, at 10:30 a.m.
Criminal complaints merely allege that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted on the possession of child pornography charge, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, five years to a life term supervised release, a fine of $250,000, a special assessment of $5,000, criminal forfeiture, and restitution. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ward is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Margoth Turcios and Llessica Chan Fierro. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI.
Salt Lake City Man Charged with Armed Robberies of Convenience Stores in Three CitiesRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – A federal complaint filed Wednesday charges Hector Fernando De La Rosa, age 22, of Salt Lake City with brandishing a firearm during three convenience store robberies in Murray, Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake City in late January.
The complaint alleges De La Rosa brandished a firearm during a Jan. 21, 2020, robbery of a Maverik convenience store at 4800 South 530 West in Murray, a Jan. 22 robbery of a 7-Eleven at 1157 West California Avenue in Salt Lake City, and a Jan. 28, 2020, robbery of a 7-Eleven at 2700 South 420 East in South Salt Lake City.
De La Rosa is charged with three counts of robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm during each of the robberies. He is also charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition following a felony conviction.
According to the complaint, two individuals went into the Maverik in Murray and the 7- Eleven in Salt Lake City. One of the suspects, wearing a gray Puma hoodie, has been identified as De La Rosa. The second individual has not been identified. Cigarettes were taken from the Maverik and a firearm was brandished to get the cashier to open cash registers. The complaint alleges the suspects told the cashier he would be shot if he did not open the cash register. The defendants stole $246 from the store.
De La Rosa and the second suspect used similar tactics in the robbery the next day at 7- Eleven in Salt Lake City, the complaint alleges. As they approached the register, the cashier saw one suspect pull out a handgun and pull the slide back. The second suspect, De La Rosa, also pointed a handgun at the cashier. The cashier ran to a backroom and called the police. One suspect immediately fled the store. The suspect wearing the gray hoodie, De La Rosa, tried to grab the cash register before fleeing as well.
De La Rosa is charged with the Jan. 28 robbery at the 7-11 in South Salt Lake City. Cigarettes and cash were stolen from the store along with the cashier’s cell phone.
Using store surveillance video, law enforcement officers were able to identify a white 1992 Toyota Camry and determined it had been stolen in West Valley City. A day later, West Valley City police officers were involved in a vehicle pursuit involving a different stolen car, the complaint alleges. The driver crashed into several parked cars. Officers ultimately spiked the tires, but the driver kept driving. He later left the car and fled from police officers. He was ultimately tackled and arrested.
The suspect was identified as Hector De La Rosa. He was wearing the same clothing worn in the South Salt Lake City robbery. A black revolver was also located in the stolen vehicle De La Rosa had been driving just prior to his arrest.
The potential maximum penalty for each of the three robberies is 20 years in federal prison. The potential penalty for possession of a firearm following a felony conviction is 10 years in prison. Each count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence has a potential life sentence with a seven-year minimum mandatory sentence. Penalties imposed for each brandishing count run consecutive to any sentence imposed for the robberies.
De La Rosa is currently in state custody. An initial appearance will be set for him.
Complaints are not findings of guilt. Individuals charged in a complaint are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.
FBI special agents and Salt Lake City police officers are investigating the case with assistance with the West Valley City Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Salem Man Drug Dealer Arrested, Charged in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that a Salem, Oregon man faces federal drug and firearm charges after large quantities of methamphetamine, eight firearms, and approximately $400,000 in cash were found in his residence and nearby storage locker.
Joshua McGuire, 42, has been charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, the Salem Police Department Street Crimes Unit (SCU) began investigating McGuire in April 2020 after they learned he was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine throughout the Salem area. On May 7, 2020, SCU investigators applied for and obtained warrants to search McGuire’s home, vehicle, and storage locker. SCU investigators, working in cooperation with the FBI, executed the warrants the same day.
In McGuire’s storage locker, investigators found more than seven pounds of methamphetamine, a Sig Sauer handgun, digital scales, and drug packaging material. In his home, they found an additional 395 grams of methamphetamine, seven firearms, and approximately $400,000 in cash. McGuire was arrested at his residence without incident.
McGuire made his first appearance in federal court today and was ordered detained pending a follow-up hearing on May 11, 2020. If convicted, McGuire faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison with a 10-year mandatory minimum, five years’ supervised release, and a $10 million fine.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Salem Police Department Street Crimes Unit with assistance from the FBI and is being prosecuted by the Ashley Cadotte, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Ronan woman sentenced to prison for embezzling from company, evading taxesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Ronan woman who admitted stealing more than $300,000 from her employer and evading paying income taxes was sentenced today to 25 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Kerry Snow Yeager, 48, pleaded guilty in October to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and tax evasion.
U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen presided. Judge Christensen ordered $252,740 in restitution, with $216,231 to the victim owner and $36,509 to the IRS.
The prosecution said in court documents that Yeager had worked for a company in Ronan for several years and embezzled $316,231 from the firm beginning in 2015 until August 2017. Yeager used various methods to steal the money including unauthorized cash withdrawals at ATMs, unauthorized use of a company debit card and cashing and depositing checks written on the company's account with a forged signature of the victim owner. Yeager also failed to pay taxes on the embezzled money in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The victim owner discovered Yeager was stealing in August 2017. When confronted, Yeager admitted to the fraud. After the fraud was discovered, a relative of Yeager's paid the victim owner $100,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation Division.
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President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice Holds Hearing on Juvenile Justice via Series of TeleconferencesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – This week, the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice held a hearing on juvenile justice over three days via teleconference. Each teleconference featured expert witnesses who provided testimony and, subsequently, answered questions from the Commissioners.
On Tuesday, May 5, the Commission received testimony from Tim Irwin, Juvenile Judge, Knox County, Tenn.; Brett Kyker, Juvenile Division Chief, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and; John F. Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Testimony and discussions focused on framing the issue and the need for accountability. Judge Irwin stated that juvenile court is “not an independent kingdom.” It needs to work with all the other pieces of juvenile justice - especially social services - in rehabilitating children and keeping them, as well as entire communities, safe. Chief Kyker recommended to the Commission that law enforcement assess juveniles when they first encounter them and provide them with tailored services to steer them away from the criminal justice system. President Clark testified that NCMEC provides age-appropriate safety and prevention resources on topics of online and real-world safety. He emphasized that prevention education and awareness is especially essential in times of unpredictability for children, such as this current time-frame when COVID19 stay-at-home orders are in place.
On Wednesday, May 6, the Commission heard testimony from Mo Canady, Executive Director of the National Association of School Resource Officers; Tarrant County (Texas) Sheriff Bill E. Waybourn; Thomas Lemmer, Member, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7, Deputy Chief, Chicago Police Department, and; Addison Davis, School Superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida. Superintendent Davis was joined by John Newman, Chief of Security and Emergency Management for Hillsborough County Public Schools for the Q and A portion of the hearing.
Testimony and discussion focused on how law enforcement addresses juveniles involved in crime. Executive Director Canady told the Commission that the number one goal of any successful school resource officer must be to “bridge the gap” between law enforcement and youth. He argued that positive relationships between students and school resource officers lay a powerful foundation for the exchange of information and the protective support of students. Sheriff Waybourn stated: “If we could take dollars that are spent on the juvenile justice system and spend those dollars on the front end while also reexamining our foster care program, we could focus on the forgotten children that we later call delinquents.” Deputy Chief Lemmer urged the Commission to acknowledge the core role of the juvenile court structure. He believes that a "multi-layer community response [to juvenile justice] is needed," including robust prevention measures and effective child welfare monitoring. Superintendent Davis urged the Commission to consider initiating a standardized threat assessment instrument that is accessible to all school districts in our nation.
On Thursday, May 7, the Commission completed its hearing on juvenile justice with testimony from Pam Iorio, President and Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Steve Salem, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation; Wintley Phipps, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Dream Academy Inc., and; Jim Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Testimony and discussion focused on youth mentorship. President Iorio discussed the benefits of the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ one-to-one mentoring programs and the impact it has on keeping children out of the juvenile justice system. President Clark discussed how the COVID19 pandemic is presenting new challenges to juvenile justice… “The risk factors that kids face at home and in their communities are magnified – putting them at even higher risk than ever before." Clark believes that "prioritizing prevention and early intervention with youth will reduce the potential impacts of community violence, gang activity and engagement in high-risk activity." President Phipps testified that “intergenerational incarceration fuels the normalization of incarceration… Mentoring is the last great hope when the family disintegrates.” President Salem recommends that police executives encourage and reward officers that engage in youth development programs to provide positive interactions between police and youth.
For more information on the Commission, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/ag/presidential-commission-law-enforcement-and-administration-justice
Audio recordings and transcripts of the hearings will be posted online once available.
Portsmouth Man Sentenced to 51 Months for Wire Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - John Foster, 56, of Portsmouth, was sentenced on Thursday to 51 months in federal prison for wire fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2014 to sometime in May of 2018, Foster owned multiple limited liability corporations (LLCs) which he used in his schemes. In each of the schemes, Foster defrauded victims to obtain money that he claimed would be used for business projects, but actually used the money for his own personal benefit.
In 2018, Foster owned J.O. Foods, a company that facilitated the purchase and shipment of food to foreign countries. He agreed to send several thousand pounds of lobster to Vietnam. A customer agreed to pay J.O Foods a total of $145,500 for the delivery of the lobster. Foster falsely assured the company that the lobster was being shipped and induced the customer to send him over $100,000.
In 2014, Foster owned JM Application, Design and Technologies, LLC, which purportedly developed and sold mobile computer applications. Foster used false representations to persuade seven individuals to invest $250,000 in the business and falsely claimed that the money was being used to further business development when Foster actually used the money for his personal benefit.
In 2015, Foster promised to investors that he would develop an app called “Rocket Dog” to assist a business. Foster convinced an individual to invest over $156,000 to develop the app. During the next several months, Foster provided misleading information and material about the development of the Rocket Dog app and used most of the money for personal expenses.
In 2015, Foster also offered to create an app for another business and falsely claimed to have secured a patent for the app. He used false representations to persuade individuals to provide over $120,000 that he falsely claimed would be used to develop the app. Foster actually used most of the money for his personal benefit.
Foster previously pleaded guilty on January 8, 2020.
“Fraud schemes exploit the trust of victims and steal their money,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This defendant’s repeated use of fraudulent schemes to obtain large sums of money was reprehensible. This substantial sentence demonstrates that white collar crime will not be tolerated and those who commit these crimes will go to prison.”
“John Foster repeatedly took advantage of those who trusted him, by cheating them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, using a variety of fraudulent schemes,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence should make it crystal clear the FBI will not hesitate to go after criminals like him who take advantage of unsuspecting victims for their own personal gain.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Davis. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Kinsella previously participated in the prosecution of this case.
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Pinson Man Sentenced to 115 Months in Prison for Federal Gun Charge Stemming from Events in Chilton CountyRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Thursday, May 7, 2020, Johnathan Scott Kelley, a 31-year-old man from Pinson, Alabama, was sentenced to 115 months in prison for the illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr. Following his prison sentence, Kelley will be on supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on September 11, 2019, Kelley was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a .22 caliber pistol. Having a previous felony conviction, he was prohibited by federal law from possessing the firearm. The allegation in the indictment was based on encounters Kelley had on June 29, 2018 and July 5, 2018 with law enforcement in Chilton County. Kelley pleaded guilty to the charge on January 21, 2020.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Jemison Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Bates prosecuted the case.
Physician to Pay $50,000 and Permanently Cease Prescribing Opioids to Resolve Allegations of Improperly Prescribing OxycodoneRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that Dr. Eric Heffelfinger, a pulmonologist who previously practiced in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, will pay $50,000 and permanently lose his ability to prescribe opioids to resolve allegations that he improperly prescribed oxycodone and split the pills with a patient for his own personal use.
The settlement resolves allegations that between February 2014 and August 2016, Heffelfinger, who had a registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe controlled substances, prescribed oxycodone to one patient on several occasions at least partially for the purpose of using some of the pills himself. The United States contends that such prescriptions were not written for a legitimate medical purpose and in the usual course of professional practice and were therefore illegal.
Heffelfinger has agreed to pay $50,000 to resolve the allegations. The settlement also permanently prevents Heffelfinger, as a physician, from ever purchasing, prescribing, distributing, or dispensing opioid controlled substances in the future and imposes a number of other accountability measures through an administrative agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“An important component of our strategy to combat the opioid epidemic is always to hold healthcare providers accountable if they abuse their prescribing privileges,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “We will use every tool at our disposal, including civil penalties and permanent revocation of opioid prescribing, to hold providers accountable and prevent abuse.”
“Healthcare providers who have the privilege to prescribe controlled substances must understand that misusing that privilege will have serious consequences,” said Jonathan A. Wilson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Philadelphia Field Division. “We will continue to work together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to identify all healthcare providers who violate the law and hold them responsible.”
This investigation was conducted with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Philadelphia Field Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For the United States Attorney’s Office, Assistant United States Attorney Anthony D. Scicchitano handled the investigation and settlement.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Oxford Man Sentenced to Prison for PerjuryRead the Press Release
An Oxford man who testified falsely at the federal firearms trial of a Cedar Rapids man in 2019 was sentenced May 8, 2020, to more than two years in federal prison.
Blayze Harding, age 27, from Oxford, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 14, 2020 guilty plea to one count of making a false statement before a federal court.
In a plea agreement, Harding admitted that on May 14, 2019, he testified as a witness in at trial in the case titled United States of America v. Carl McArthur, was placed under oath, and answered some of the questions posed to him falsely. Harding agreed his false testimony substantially interfered with the administration of justice.
Harding was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Harding was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment, which was ordered to be served consecutive to the sentences imposed in the Iowa District Court for Johnson County and Fayette County. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Harding is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery and Patrick Reinert and was investigated by Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from its Project Guardian partners. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00131.
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Omaha Man Sentenced for Drugs and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that William Birdhead, age 42, was sentenced today to 132 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. for Possession with Intent Distribute at least 50 grams of Methamphetamine (mixture) and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. There is no parole in the federal system. Following his release from prison, Birdhead will serve 5 years of supervised release.
On May 24, 2019, officers with the Omaha Police Department made contact with Birdhead while he was in his vehicle in the area of 48th and Martha Streets in Omaha, Nebraska. Birdhead was in the driver’s seat and was reaching back into the trunk. When Birdhead saw the officers, it appeared like he shoved something between the driver’s seat and the console. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a loaded semiautomatic handgun between the driver’s seat and the center console. In the trunk of the vehicle, the officers located an AK47-style rifle, loaded magazine, two muzzle breaks, and ammunition. Both of these firearms had been reported stolen. Behind the vehicle’s license plate, the officers located 63.254 grams of methamphetamine salt with 55% purity. During a search of Birdhead’s residence, officer’s located another AK47-style rifle and a revolver. Birdhead has two prior convictions for felony firearms offenses and a prior felony conviction for a crime of violence.
Marino Vidoli, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division said, “This case is yet another example of how ATF’s seamless partnership with the Omaha Police Department continues to remove violent criminals and armed drug traffickers from the streets of our community. This case, and cases like it, make our neighborhoods safer places to live and play and should serve as a reminder to would-be criminals that there will be consequences for their actions.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a national initiative of the Department of Justice that was announced in 2001 to reduce and prevent violent crime and make the nation’s neighborhoods safer.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Newark Man Charged with Possession of Machine GunRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man will make his initial appearance today on charges stemming from his arrest for illegally possessing a machine gun, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Anthony Reynolds, 26, is charged by federal criminal complaint with one count of possession of a machine gun, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a machine gun not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. He is scheduled to appear by video conference this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On May 2, 2020, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Newark Police Officers were conducting surveillance in marked patrol cars in the area of Summer Avenue and May Street in Newark, with the specific purpose of minimizing social gathering of citizens in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
One of the officers observed several individuals congregating on the sidewalk within close proximity to each other. The officers stopped their patrol cars and exited their vehicles. As they did so, one of the officers observed Reynolds remove a black handgun from the front of his waistband and place it underneath a parked vehicle. An officer looked underneath the vehicle and observed a .40 caliber Glock 23 semiautomatic handgun, which was loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition.
Law enforcement officials determined that the firearm was fitted with a Glock conversion device commonly referred to as “Glock Switch,” which has the effect of converting a semiautomatic Glock pistol into a machinegun.
Reynolds was then placed under arrest. A search of Reynolds incidental to his arrest revealed a small clear sandwich bag containing suspected marijuana and $655.25 in United States currency.
Each of the three charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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 ensured 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
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson; and the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan W. Romankow of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Man Charged in Criminal ComplaintRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Jarron Price, 27, was charged in a criminal complaint with possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
The criminal complaint alleges that on May 7, 2020, at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Calumet Avenue in Hammond, police observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, swerving around vehicles and almost striking them. After stopping the vehicle, police observed the front seat passenger, later identified as Jarron Price, reaching toward his left side area. Police ordered Price out of the vehicle and observed a firearm on top of the passenger seat where he had been sitting. Price has a prior felony conviction for armed violence.
“We continue to remain focused on reducing gun crime in the Northern District of Indiana,” said United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II. “Our law enforcement partners are in constant coordination with my office to investigate and prosecute prohibited persons from having firearms.”
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being investigated by the ATF HIDTA Task Force and Hammond Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin M. Padula.
Lexington Man Sentenced to 128 Months for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Rakim Moberly, 31, of Lexington, was sentenced today, to 128 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In April 2019, officers with the Lexington Police Department, responded to a disorder call involving Rakim Moberly. During the investigation, officers located a loaded 9mm handgun in Moberly’s pocket. While under arrest at the Fayette County Detention Center, Moberly attempted to conceal several bags of narcotics. Officers retrieved the bags and located 9.62 grams of fentanyl, 37.415 grams of methamphetamine, and .475 grams of cocaine.
Under federal law, Moberly must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for five years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Tommy Estevan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Field Division; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of the Lexington Police Department, jointly made the announcement.
The ATF and the Lexington Police Department conducted the investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia T. Rieker.
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 PSN program was reinvigorated 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.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Justice Department files statement of interest to protect rights of military and overseas voters in GeorgiaRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a Statement of Interest in the Northern District of Georgia to help ensure that uniformed service members serving their country away from home, their family members absent with them, and American citizens living overseas have the opportunity to participate fully in Georgia’s 2020 federal elections. The Statement of Interest is part of the Department of Justice’s continued efforts to enforce the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).
“The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak. “My office will continue to devote resources to ensure that this fundamental right is protected for all citizens, especially the men and women serving in our military overseas.”
“Our filing today reflects the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that military and overseas voters are afforded a meaningful opportunity to participate in federal elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to ensure that the ability of our brave men and women serving in the military and our citizens residing overseas to participate fully in all federal elections is not infringed, and we will also continue to closely monitor challenges to voting practices to ensure that those challenges do not result in a violation of federal law.”
The lawsuit in question, brought by private plaintiffs, involves constitutional challenges to several aspects of Georgia’s upcoming federal primary election, including the Secretary of State’s decision to hold the state’s 2020 primary election on June 9. Among other possible relief relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the plaintiffs have asked the court to postpone Georgia’s primary election until June 30.
The Statement of Interest explains that UOCAVA requires states to transmit absentee ballots to military and overseas voters who have requested them at least 45 days before any federal election, including federal runoff elections. Under the plaintiffs’ proposed schedule, Georgia would not be able to transmit ballots for any federal runoff election by June 27, the 45-day deadline for the state’s August 11 primary runoff election, which the plaintiffs did not seek to reschedule. The Statement of Interest does not take a position on whether the court should grant a request to adjust the election calendar, or on the merits of any of the private plaintiffs’ claims. But the Statement notes that if the court does change the election dates, any new election schedule should comply with UOCAVA to avoid the real possibility of disenfranchising military and overseas voters.
UOCAVA requires states to allow uniformed service voters serving away from home (those serving both overseas and within the United States) and their families who are absent with them and American citizens residing overseas to register to vote and to vote absentee for all elections for federal office. In 2009, Congress enacted the MOVE Act, which made significant amendments to UOCAVA. Among those changes was a requirement that states transmit absentee ballots to UOCAVA voters who have timely requested ballots, by mail or electronically at the voter’s option, no later than 45 days before federal elections.
More information about UOCAVA and other federal voting rights laws is available on the Department of Justice website at https://www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws may be reported to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aileen Bell Hughes, Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator, is handing this matter for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Justice Department Files Statement of Interest to Protect the Rights of Military and Overseas Voters in GeorgiaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today filed a Statement of Interest in a Georgia federal court to help ensure that uniformed service members serving their country away from home, their family members absent with them, and American citizens living overseas have the opportunity to participate fully in Georgia’s 2020 federal elections. The Statement of Interest is part of the Department of Justice’s continued efforts to enforce the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).
“Our filing today reflects the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that military and overseas voters are afforded a meaningful opportunity to participate in federal elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to ensure that the ability of our brave men and women serving in the military and our citizens residing overseas to participate fully in all federal elections is not infringed, and we will also continue to closely monitor challenges to voting practices to ensure that those challenges do not result in a violation of federal law.”
“The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy,” said Byung J. Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “My office will continue to devote resources to ensure that this fundamental right is protected for all citizens, especially the men and women serving in our military overseas.”
The lawsuit in question, brought by private plaintiffs, involves constitutional challenges to several aspects of Georgia’s upcoming federal primary election, including the Secretary of State’s decision to hold the state’s 2020 primary election on June 9. Among other possible relief relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the plaintiffs have asked the court to postpone Georgia’s primary election until June 30.
The Statement of Interest explains that UOCAVA requires states to transmit absentee ballots to military and overseas voters who have requested them at least 45 days before any federal election, including federal runoff elections. Under the plaintiffs’ proposed schedule, Georgia would not be able to transmit ballots for any federal runoff election by June 27, the 45-day deadline for the state’s August 11 primary runoff election, which the plaintiffs did not seek to reschedule. The Statement of Interest does not take a position on whether the court should grant a request to adjust the election calendar, or on the merits of any of the private plaintiffs’ claims. But the Statement notes that if the court does change the election dates, any new election schedule should comply with UOCAVA to avoid the real possibility of disenfranchising military and overseas voters.
UOCAVA requires states to allow uniformed service voters serving away from home (those serving both overseas and within the United States) and their families who are absent with them and American citizens residing overseas to register to vote and to vote absentee for all elections for federal office. In 2009, Congress enacted the MOVE Act, which made significant amendments to UOCAVA. Among those changes was a requirement that states transmit absentee ballots to UOCAVA voters who have timely requested ballots, by mail or electronically at the voter’s option, no later than 45 days before federal elections.
More information about UOCAVA and other federal voting rights laws is available on the Department of Justice website at https://www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws may be reported to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.
Johnstown Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to five years’ (60 months’) imprisonment and four years supervised release on his conviction of conspiracy for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Leroy George, 51.
According to information presented to the court, the charges resulted from a 12-month investigation by the FBI Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force (GPSSTF), which targeted a large scale Drug Trafficking Organization operating in Butler, Beaver and Allegheny Counties. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that the defendant was distributing fentanyl in the Pittsburgh area. Intercepted communications over a federal wiretap ultimately led to the seizure of $12,200 in drug proceeds from the defendant, $10,000 of which were seized during a traffic stop after communications indicated that the defendant intended to meet with a coconspirator in the parking lot of a Chili’s in Ross Township. The court was further informed that as a condition of his guilty plea, George accepted responsibility for the distribution of between 40 and 160 grams of fentanyl.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Schupansky prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The FBI’s Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force (GPSSTF) led the mulit-agency investigation that led to the successful prosecution of George. The GPSSTF is comprised of dedicated law enforcement professionals from the Wilkinsburg Police Department, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the FBI. Additionally, the GPSSTF and the United Sates Attorney’s Office for theWestern District of Pennsylvania, would like to recognize the significant contributions made to this investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police, United Sates Postal Inspection Service, Cranberry Township Police Department and the New Brighton Police Department.
Inland Empire Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Charge that He Produced Dozens of Sexually Explicit Images and Videos of ChildrenRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A San Bernardino County man has agreed to plead guilty to a federal criminal charge that he produced dozens of sexually explicit images and videos of children, including of one victim who was 3 years old at the time, the Justice Department announced today.
Chaunta A. Bashir, a.k.a. “taytheonly,” 26, of Chino, agreed to plead guilty to one count of production of child pornography, according to a plea agreement filed Monday in United States District Court. A hearing where Bashir will enter his guilty plea is expected to be set in the coming weeks.
In his plea agreement, Bashir admitted that from June 2015 to October 2018, he produced multiple images and videos of child pornography. Bashir admitted that in October and November 2017, he took sexually exploitative images and videos of a 3-year-old child, including of himself sexually abusing the child.
From April to September 2018, Bashir produced additional sexually explicit images and videos of children ranging in age from 4 years old to 14 years of age, according to the plea agreement. Some of those videos were recorded on his Snapchat and Facebook social media accounts.
During a search of Bashir’s home in October 2018, law enforcement officials recovered more than 600 images and videos from his electronic devices that depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Upon entering his guilty plea, Bashir will face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Chino Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tritia L. Yuen of the Riverside Branch Office.
Improvised bomb possession sends West Yellowstone man to prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A West Yellowstone man who admitted having unregistered improvised bombs after officers found three small devices in his truck was sentenced today to 40 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Charles Gibson Bailey, 33, pleaded guilty in January to possession of unregistered explosive devices.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said that on Feb. 26, 2019, the West Yellowstone City Court issued a protection order against Bailey. On March 27, 2019, in connection with an investigation into Bailey’s violation of the protection order, law enforcement officers searched Bailey’s truck.
During the search, officers seized three small destructive devices. A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives expert examined the devices and concluded they were designed as weapons and were properly identified as improvised explosive devices. Bailey did not register the devices with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the ATF, West Yellowstone Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, National Park Service and Forest Service.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
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Gloucester County Man Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison for Using Fraudulent Invoices to Steal from Hospitals, Clinics and Doctors’ Offices Across United StatesRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 65 months in prison for mailing thousands of fraudulent invoices to hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices throughout the United States, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Robert S. Armstrong, 49, of Turnersville, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of mail fraud. Judge Hillman imposed the sentence today.
This is Armstrong’s second mail fraud scheme. On Nov. 19, 2015, Armstrong was sentenced to 57 months in prison for committing a similar mail fraud scheme in the name of his company, Scholastic Book Supply. In that case, Armstrong caused the mailing of thousands of fraudulent invoices to schools throughout the United States billing them for books that the schools did not order or receive. He was sentenced today to 41 months on the Pinnacle Medical Supply case, which was committed while he was on supervised release for the Scholastic Book Supply case. He pleaded guilty to three violations of his supervised release from prison in the Scholastic Book Supply case, and was sentenced to an additional 24 months in prison, for a total prison sentence imposed today of 65 months.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Operating under the name of Pinnacle Medical Supplies, Armstrong prepared and caused to be prepared fraudulent invoices billing hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices across the United States for medical supplies such as diabetic test strips, EpiPens® and sanitizing wipes that the medical providers never ordered or received. In addition to billing for medical supplies never ordered or received, the invoices included fraudulent shipping information and a fraudulent address.
Armstrong then contracted with a legitimate bulk mailing company to mail more than 10,000 invoices to medical providers across the United States. Each invoice included a payment envelope preaddressed to Pinnacle Medical Supply at mail boxes Armstrong had set up with commercial mail receiving agents in Florida and Texas.
In response to the phony invoices, at least 943 medical providers sent $214,495 to Pinnacle Medical Supply. Armstrong deposited many of the checks from the victim medical providers into a bank account he opened in the name of Pinnacle Medical Supply.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Hillman sentenced Armstrong to an additional three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay full restitution.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited law enforcement officers of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Damon Wood in Philadelphia, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Washington Township Police Department in Gloucester County, the Woolwich Township Police Department and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Carrig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
Fort Dodge Woman to Federal Prison for Meth and Firearms ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while possessing firearms was sentenced May 7, 2020, to 10 years in federal prison.
Traci Guthrie, 41, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 26, 2019, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At the guilty plea, Guthrie admitted that from January 2019 through April 16, 2019, she and others distributed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area. On three separate occasions Guthrie and others in the conspiracy distributed a total of more than 100 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. During a later search of Guthrie’s residence and vehicle, law enforcement seized four guns (two of which were loaded), methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, scales, a drug ledger, and other items indicative of drug distribution. Law enforcement later seized two more guns in a consent search.
Guthrie was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Guthrie was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Guthrie is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project Guardian partners: Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Drug Task Force, Carroll County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminalistics Laboratory. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Drug Task Force, Carroll County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminalistics Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-3019. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Florida Man Sentenced in Rhode Island in Bank Fraud, Mail Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Stacy Moore, 48, of Miami Beach, FL, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Providence Thursday to 36 months in federal prison for executing an identity theft, bank fraud, and mail theft scheme. One of his victims wrote the court that Moore engaged in a “systematic thought out plan of doing the unconscionable act of stealing” when he used individuals’ stolen identities to order and then steal debit cards and PINs from mailboxes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He subsequently used those cards at ATMs in both states to steal funds from bank accounts.
Another of Moore’s victims wrote the court, “Moore thinks that he can be a lazy person and just take from people who work hard, live right and do the right thing. It's obvious that he thinks these rules [don’t] apply to him. He may think that he’s smarter than we fools who get up, sacrifice and go to work every day!”
Moore previously admitted to the court that as part of the scheme, replacement debit cards were ordered from banks using stolen personal identifying information. New debit cards and PINs were sent to the actual bank account holders, then stolen from the account holders’ mailboxes upon delivery by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). An Informed Delivery account through the USPS website was established for account holder’s address, allowing for notification when the replacement debit cards and PINs would be delivered.
Moore admitted that among his fraudulent activities were 17 unauthorized ATM withdrawals totaling $9,600 at ATMs in Boston in December 2018, and 10 unauthorized withdrawals totaling $6,000 in 2019 from ATMs in Middletown and Newport. Moore admitted to making multiple withdrawals from at least six individuals’ personal bank accounts.
According to information presented to the court, Moore made unauthorized withdrawals totaling $36,000, and attempted to withdraw an additional $4,800.
Moore pleaded guilty on February 5, 2020, to two counts of bank fraud and one count each of aggravated identity theft and theft of mail. He was sentenced on Thursday to a total of 36 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
Moore’s sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith, is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division Joseph W. Cronin, and Craig A. Marech, Resident Agent in Charge of the Providence Office of the United States Secret Service.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman thanks the East Greenwich, West Warwick, Barrington and Middletown Police Departments, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.
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Dubuque Woman Pleads Guilty to Helping A Man Obtain Dose of Heroin and Fentanyl that Caused His DeathRead the Press Release
A woman who helped a man obtain a fatal quantity of opioids pled guilty on May 7, 2020, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Jacqueline Margarett Birch, age 23, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of aiding and abetting the distribution of a controlled substance.
At the plea hearing, Birch admitted that, in May 2019, she knew that another person was going to illegally distribute a drug, and she acted to help that distribution occur. Evidence at a prior hearing showed that Birch drove her boyfriend Mateusz Syryjczyk and another individual to a residence in Dubuque, Iowa, during the early morning of May 27, 2019. Birch and the other individual went into the residence, and returned a short time later with purported heroin they had purchased from a dealer inside the residence. The three then drove to a hotel in Dubuque, where they all used the purported heroin. The other individual began to overdose in the room. Birch and Syryjczyk did not immediately call 911, but, over the course of multiple hours, Birch would occasionally perform CPR on the individual to restore some breathing function, though the person never regained consciousness. Eventually, Birch and Syryjczyk decided they needed to call 911, and Syryjczyk took the remaining drug paraphernalia from the room to prevent law enforcement from finding it. Birch and Syryjczyk also made false statements to the responding police officers about the cause of the individual’s condition. That individual was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later determined the cause of death was use of heroin, fentanyl, and valeryl fentanyl. Syryjczyk previously pled guilty to misprision of a felony for his role in the incident, and is pending sentencing.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Birch remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Birch faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and is being 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-1041-CJW-MAR.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Dominican National Sentenced for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national previously residing in Lawrence pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday for distributing fentanyl.
Steven de Jesus de Leon Trinidad, 22, pleaded guilty during a videoconference hearing to distribution of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin then sentenced de Leon Trinidad to time served (approximately 11 months in prison) and three years of supervised release. De Leon Trinidad will face deportation proceedings.
On June 11, 2019, de Leon Trinidad sold fentanyl to an undercover agent in Lawrence. Law enforcement officers arrested de Leon Trinidad immediately following the sale, and he has been in custody since. A federal grand jury indicted de Leon Trinidad in July 2019.
This case is part of a coordinated enforcement operation in the Merrimack Valley called “Devil’s Highway.” The operation targeted the distribution of opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, and resulted in charges against a total of 40 people for federal drug offenses, with at least a dozen more individuals facing state charges.
United States Attorney Andrew Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Sun of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to False Identity CrimesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national who previously resided in Lawrence pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to fraudulently applying for a Social Security number.
Robely Eladio De Jesus Guerrero, 32, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of false representation of a Social Security number. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
On Jan. 4, 2016, De Jesus Guerrero used the Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to submit a renewal application for a Massachusetts driver’s license under the victim’s name.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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; and Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Office; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Boston Field Office; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Boston; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Massachusetts Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Deitch of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Convicted Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A previously convicted felon was arrested today on charges of illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents, in December 2019, the U.S. Marshals Service, Richmond Police, and Chesterfield County Police executed arrest warrants for Elijah Lamar Cupitt, 37, of Chesterfield, and another individual who is a homicide suspect at a Chesterfield residence. When executing the warrants, the U.S. Marshals recovered a firearm belonging to Cupitt.
Cupitt is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 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 Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Simon, Jr. 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. 3:20-mj-59.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Co-Owner of Statesville Trucking Company Is Sentenced to Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nathaniel Brad Moffitt, 40, of Statesville, N.C., was sentenced to 15 months in prison late yesterday for fraudulently obtaining more than $500,000 in business loans, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell also ordered Moffitt serve two years of supervised release, and to pay approximately $114,000 as restitution.
John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina joins U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and information introduced at the sentencing hearing, Moffitt co-owned a trucking company in Statesville with another individual, identified in court documents as B.S. Court records show that from September 2015 to April 2018, Moffitt stole B.S’s name and personal information, and used it to obtain more than $500,000 in fraudulent business loans. To further the fraud, Moffitt made telephone calls and sent emails to apply for and execute the loans, and on at least one telephone call he impersonated B.S. Moffitt used the loan proceeds to pay for legitimate business expenses and for his own personal benefit. At the time the fraud was discovered, the outstanding balance on the loans was more than $100,000. According to court records, as a result of the Moffitt’s fraud, the trucking company had to declare bankruptcy. On November 18, 2019, Moffitt pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the FBI, for their investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Cassville High School Teacher Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A southern Missouri high school teacher has been charged in federal court with the sexual exploitation of a minor after he blackmailed a 14-year-old victim in New Jersey to force her to send him sexually explicit photos and videos.
Brandon Lane McCullough, 31, of Branson, Missouri, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Missouri, on Thursday, May 7. McCullough, formerly a business teacher at Cassville High School, had accepted a position at Hollister High School for next year.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, McCullough originally portrayed himself as a 15-year-old boy when he began chatting via Kik with the child victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, in May 2019.
McCullough allegedly threatened to send the sexually explicit images and videos to the victim’s family and friends. McCullough became more aggressive, the affidavit says, demanding additional images and videos. Jane Doe repeatedly pleaded with McCullough to stop, according to the affidavit, telling him “can you please (just) leave me alone now,” and “can you just stop” and “I … don’t wanna do that.” McCullough allegedly threatened to “post everything.”
McCullough allegedly continued to coerce the victim and demanded images and videos of her engaged in sexual acts with other people. Jane Doe told McCullough she was considering killing herself. She told McCullough that she had taken half a bottle of her mother’s pills.
Jane Doe also engaged in a Kik conversation with another user, who was actually McCullough portraying himself as a 17-year-old boy. When Jane Doe told this false persona that she was being blackmailed, the affidavit says, he told her to continue meeting his demands.
The federal investigation began on Feb. 14, 2020, when a police detective in New Jersey contacted federal agents in Missouri. On May 7, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at McCullough’s residence. They seized an external hard drive that was concealed beneath a basket under a bathroom sink in the basement. According to the affidavit, the hard drive contained dozens of Kik folders, which contained chats as well as images and videos of child pornography that were self-produced by the child victims. McCullough told officers he could not recall how many minors he had chatted with or how often he had done it, because he was engaging in the conduct so frequently.
The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Florham Park Borough, New Jersey, Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."Cheyenne Carjacking Suspects in Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
Two suspects have been arrested after a carjacking that occurred in Cheyenne on April 21, 2020. Both arrests were made in Cheyenne at a local residence. The suspects allegedly used force and threats with a weapon against a Cheyenne resident to steal the victim’s vehicle. This incident occurred in the late evening hours in the southwest area of Cheyenne. Both suspects have been charged by complaint in the U.S. District Court for Wyoming. The names of the suspects are not being released at this time pending presentation of the case to a federal grand jury later in May.
The victim reported encountering two males on the roadway while driving in southwest Cheyenne. After he stopped to offer assistance, one male pulled out a rifle and demanded the victim turn over control of the vehicle. The second suspect allegedly pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded he empty his pockets. The suspects then fled in the victim’s vehicle.
“Carjacking is a brazen and violent crime that is thankfully rare in our communities. I appreciate the efforts of the Cheyenne and Longmont, Colorado police departments and the FBI in responding and investigating these matters as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Klaassen.
"Thanks to the combined efforts of our FBI task force and excellent relationships with local law enforcement partners, two individuals were recently apprehended on charges of carjacking and federal firearms offenses," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael H. Schneider. "Joint investigations such as this help to ensure our communities and children are safe from harm's way."
Both suspects have been charged with carjacking, which carries the potential penalty of up to fifteen years imprisonment, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which has a potential penalty of seven years to life imprisonment. Persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until when and if they are found guilty. The case continues to be under investigation by the Cheyenne Police Department, F.B.I., the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and Longmont Police Department in Colorado.
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. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions 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.
Brownsville Men Charged with Smuggling Semi-Automatic Firearms to MexicoRead the Press Release
Two Brownsville men have been charged with smuggling guns from Texas to Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
A federal grand jury in Amarillo on Wednesday indicted Jose Celby Hernandez, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen, and Rene Rangel-Manjarrez, a 33-year-old legal permanent resident, on one count each of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States and one count each of smuggling goods from the United States.
According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly purchased multiple firearms – through private sales, from a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL), and from an ATF undercover agent – for the purpose of exporting the guns to Mexico.
In order to avoid attracting undue suspicion, Mr. Hernandez allegedly recruited other individuals, including Mr. Rangel-Manjarrez, to purchase firearms on his behalf.
The straw purchasers, including Mr. Rangel-Manjarrez, allegedly lied on their ATF form 4473s, stating that they were the actual purchasers of the firearms, when they knew they intended to turn the guns over to Mr. Hernandez to be exported to Mexico.
Over a two month period, the pair allegedly purchased at least half a dozen .50 caliber Barrett rifles, a weapon of choice for International Firearms Trafficking Organizations. These firearms are highly sought after by organizations like the Gulf Cartel for their ability to penetrate armored vehicles, aircraft, concrete shelters, and bullet-resisting targets. Barrett rifles are capable of engaging targets at ranges of over one mile.
“These defendants subverted important gun laws and smuggled lethal weapons across our borders,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “This prosecution is a public safety win for communities in the United States and in Mexico.”
“Preventing and disrupting firearms trafficking is a Dallas Field Division priority,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “These arrests highlight the ATF and Department of Justice’s combined focus on combatting gun crime under Project Guardian.”
The defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations, the Irving Police Department and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phelesa Guy is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought under Project Guardian, the Justice Department’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence using federal firearm laws.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Austin Wenger, age 26, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 262 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for one count of being a Felon In Possession of a Firearm. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, on September 6, 2019, detectives with the Fayetteville Police Department were attempting to locate and arrest Wenger on a warrant related to a shooting he was involved in on September 5, 2019.
During the early morning hours on September 6, 2019, investigators received a tip that Wenger was located at a residence on North Club Drive in Fayetteville. At approximately 7:53 a.m. investigators, confirmed Wenger was inside the residence. Until approximately 3:40 p.m. on September 6, Wenger barricaded himself inside the residence and refused surrender to law enforcement. During this period, Wenger spoke with crisis negotiators who informed him that he was under arrest and directed him to release three children from inside the residence. Investigators spent hours attempting to negotiate with Wenger to release the children inside the residence, but were unsuccessful. Eventually the three children were released from a back window.
During the standoff, Wenger posted a live stream video on Facebook wherein he brandished a firearm, which he subsequently discharged on at least two occasions from inside the residence. One projectile from the gun nearly struck a uniformed police officer stationed outside the home.
During the standoff, Emergency Response Team members used multiple gas canisters and had to breach the door to force Wenger’s surrender, which eventually took place around 3:40 p.m. Subsequent to his arrest, a search warrant was executed and the firearm Wenger possessed and discharged was located. In addition, investigators located 6 spent shell casings of .40 caliber inside the residence.
Wenger has been previously convicted of multiple felonies in state court and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. Under federal law, Wenger is considered an Armed Career Criminal and subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years because he has three prior convictions for violent felony offenses.
Wenger was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2019, and entered a guilty plea in February of 2020.
This case was prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice=s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, which is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of firearms and improving the safety of residents in the Western District of Arkansas. Participants in the initiative include federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
This case was investigated by the Fayetteville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.
7 May 2020
“SCO” Gang Member Sentenced to 10 Years’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Braddock, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years imprisonment and eight years supervised release on his conviction of narcotics trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on James Wells, age 32.
According to information presented to the Court, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force conducted a long-term investigation of drug trafficking occurring in and around the Braddock section of Pittsburgh. Wells and other individuals were identified as members or associates of a neighborhood based street gang, self-titled "SCO", which illegally distributed controlled substances in the Greater Pittsburgh Region.
In January of 2019, investigators obtained authorization to conduct a federal wire investigation, which continued through May of 2019. Wells, along with 32 others were indicted in June of 2019 by a federal grand jury in three separate, but related, Indictments.
As to Wells, the Court was informed that intercepted communications confirmed that he was conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as crack. Wells admitted, in conjunction with his guilty plea, that he is a higher level member of "SCO" and was responsible for distributing controlled substances to a number of regular customers and partnered with co-conspirator and SCO’s leader, Howard McFadden to conduct larger drug transactions.
On June 12, 2019, law enforcement arrested a majority of the defendants, however, Wells, after seeing law enforcement at his residence, fled the scene and remained a fugitive until July 3, 2019, when he was arrested in Monroeville, PA. Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant, on June 12, 2019, at Wells’ residence and seized, in addition to suspected controlled substances and other indicia of drug trafficking, a Glock 9mm firearm and ammunition, which Wells was prohibited from possessing based upon his prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the multi-agency team, which was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Wolford. Partners in this investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Other assisting agencies included the Monroeville Police Department, Penn Hills Police Department, Wilkinsburg Police Department, and Allegheny County Adult Probation.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Vanderburgh County and City of Evansville receive COVID-19 funding from the Department of JusticeRead the Press Release
Evansville – U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that the City of Evansville received $218,478 and Vanderburgh County received $58,008 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
The funds are to help public safety agencies respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump, allowed eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs said the funds may be used to hire personnel, pay overtime costs, cover protective equipment and supplies, address correctional inmates’ medical needs and defray expenses related to the distribution of resources to hard-hit areas, among other activities.
“These local law enforcement officers and first responders have done an outstanding job keeping us all safe and upholding the rule of law during these challenging times.” said United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler. “The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Department and the Evansville Police Department deserve our notice and appreciation for their efforts. This grant is money well spent on those who continue to serve during this unprecedented time.”
Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding stated, “Our Office is grateful to the Bureau of Justice Assistance for streamlining the grant application process in order to make this essential funding available for use quickly. The costs we incur due to COVID-19 continue to mount. This funding will be used to defray our equipment and overtime expenses as we combat the epidemic locally.”
“We’re grateful to U.S. Attorney Minkler and the Department of Justice for this grant,” said Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. “These funds will help us continue to invest in making our neighborhoods safe throughout the COVID-19 crisis.”
Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin expressed his appreciation stating, “With additional funding to support the safety and welfare of our officers, this grant will ensure we can continue to serve the needs of the community throughout the COVID-19 crisis.”
For information about the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-18553 .
If you receive any forms of suspicious communication related to the COVID-19 crisis, or become aware of family and friends that have received suspicious communications, don’t respond directly but instead report the activity to the Evansville Police Department, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Department, or the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 1-866-720-5721, or Justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm
U.S. Postal Service Carrier Charged with Stealing Veterans Administration-Issued Prescriptions from MailRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) carrier will make his initial appearance today on charges that he stole from the mail prescription drugs issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Christopher F. Donohue, 60, of Leonardo, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with theft of mail containing prescription drugs. Donohue is expected to make his initial appearance by video conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton.
According to the complaint and statements made in court:
Donohue was employed as a mail carrier at the USPS Post Office in Belford, New Jersey. On March 2, 2020, Donohue stole an envelope containing prescription medication that was destined for delivery to a military veteran. This theft was consistent with a series of other mail packages containing prescription medication issued by the VA, which had gone missing from the Belford Post Office without reaching their intended recipients. On May 6, 2020, Donohue attempted to steal another package from the Belford Post Office, which law enforcement had outfitted with a prescription bottle and inert pills as part of the investigation. Donohue was arrested and law enforcement recovered the pill bottle and envelope from him incidental to his arrest.
The charge of theft of mail by postal employee carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Eastern Area Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kenneth Cleevely; the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri; and the Middletown Township Police Department under the direction of Chief Craig Weber with the investigation leading to today’s charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Department of Justice awards $6 million grant to New Mexico Department of Public Safety as part of Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding ProgramRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The United States Department of Justice has awarded $6,059,069 to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus across the state.
“The COVID-19 pandemic presents many urgent public safety challenges for New Mexico and its citizens,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson. “I am thankful to the Office of Justice Programs for making these grant funds available to our state during these challenging times.”
“As the State Administering Agency we have been working diligently to reach out to all eligible agencies to apply for funding under this grant,” said Mark R. Shea, Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. “We anticipate the review and approval of applications will be completed by the end of next week. We look forward to working closely with the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney Anderson to efficiently distribute these funds to meet the critical needs of New Mexico agencies working to keep their communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the grant on May 6. The funds are available for projects and initiatives involving law enforcement and medical personnel, including overtime, equipment, hiring, supplies, training, travel expenses, and addressing medical needs at prisons, jails, and other detention centers. The grant is part of the nationwide Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program designed to assist states, local governments, and tribes in managing COVID-19 in their communities.