Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Friday 13 December 2019
St. Francis Man Indicted on Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Richard Charles Young, a/k/a RC Young, age 45, was indicted on August 13, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 12, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life in prison and/or a $10,000,000 fine, at least 5 years, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each Count. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that no later than on or about the 1st day of January 2015, and continuing to on or about August 13, 2019, Young knowingly and intentionally, combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed with persons known and unknown, to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Indian Reservation.
The charge is merely an accusation and Young is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Young was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
South L.A. Man Gets More Than 5 Years in Prison for Multiple Credit Union Robberies, Including While He Awaited Trial for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A South Los Angeles man was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for robbing more than half a dozen credit unions – including two additional credit union robberies he committed while he was out on bond awaiting trial on federal bank robbery charges.
Trayvon McNutt, 33, of the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood of South Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr., who also ordered McNutt to pay $24,930 in restitution to the victim credit unions. McNutt pleaded guilty on August 30 to six counts of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery.
On six separate occasions between June and September 2018, McNutt walked into local credit unions, approached a teller and presented a note demanding money. Several of the notes stated, “I have a gun,” and “I am armed.” During a July 17, 2018 robbery of a California Credit Union in Carson, McNutt passed the teller a note that read, “This is a robbery. I am armed. Give me your cash or someone will get shot.”
The victim lenders were located in Lynwood, Gardena, Carson, Torrance and Hawthorne. On two separate occasions, McNutt returned to credit unions in Gardena and Carson that he previously robbed, and he robbed them again.
In October 2018, law enforcement arrested McNutt on a federal criminal complaint alleging bank robbery, and a federal grand jury indicted him during the following month. A search warrant executed at McNutt’s residence resulted in the seizure of bait bills, which banks use to trace bank robbers.
While he was out on bond in this bank robbery case, McNutt – this time, unlike the previous robberies, wearing a long dreadlocks hairstyle wig – robbed two additional credit unions in Hawthorne during a five-day span in May 2019. Later that month, McNutt again was arrested and has been in federal custody since that time.
In total, McNutt collected $24,930 in cash from the robberies, of which $2,115 was collected while he was awaiting trial.
The FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter. The Torrance Police Department and the Gardena Police Department provided assistance to the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lucy B. Jennings of the General Crimes Section.
Six Defendants Receive Federal Prison Sentences This Week for Drug Distribution and Federal Firearms Offenses; Two Plead Guilty for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced six defendants from Shreveport and the surrounding area were sentenced this week and two Monroe residents pleaded guilty for drug distribution and federal firearms offenses. The firearms cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Three Men Sentenced in Methamphetamine-Trafficking Conspiracy
SHREVEPORT, La. – David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana announced that three men responsible for trafficking methamphetamine in the Caddo Parish area have been sentenced to serve time in federal prison.
George Alan Highsmith, 48, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2019, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Jeffrey Scott Holder, 52, of Stonewall, Louisiana, and David Tilden Byrd, 45, of Doyline, Louisiana, admitted their guilt on July 2, 2019 and July 22, 2019, respectively. Both men acknowledged their roles in the conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Today, Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. sentenced Highsmith to serve 11 years in prison, to be followed by a five-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. On December 9, 2019, Judge Hicks ordered Holder to serve 115 months (9 years, 7 months) in prison, and on December 10, 2019, sentenced Byrd to five years in prison. Both received five years of supervised release.
The sentencings were the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after learning that Byrd, Highsmith and Holder were distributors of methamphetamine in the Caddo Parish area. Holder was supplied by Highsmith; Byrd and Highsmith often collaborated to distribute the meth. On November 6, 2018, the DEA and Louisiana State Police organized a controlled telephone call between Byrd and Highsmith, during which Highsmith agreed to purchase seven ounces of methamphetamine from Byrd at the Horseshoe Casino Hotel parking garage. When Highsmith arrived to meet Byrd, he was taken into custody.
After Highsmith’s arrest, he consented to a search of his hotel room where agents found 29.8 grams of pure methamphetamine, a drug scale, a Sig Saur 9mm semi-automatic handgun with one round of ammunition in the chamber and 12 additional rounds in the magazine, an additional 9mm magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition found inside an open safe located in the hotel room closet, and $1,970 in drug proceed money. Highsmith admitted that the 29.8 grams of meth was what remained of five ounces of meth he received from Byrd on November 5, 2018. The investigation revealed that Highsmith and Byrd’s source of supply was an individual in the Dallas, Texas, area.
On November 6, 2018, Louisiana State Police initiated a stop on Byrd’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Byrd consented to a search of his vehicle and troopers found approximately 475 grams of pure methamphetamine, syringes, two metal bowls, and a drug scale hidden above the rear fender of the pickup truck. Byrd admitted to purchasing one kilogram of methamphetamine from his north Texas supplier on November 5, 2018 for $7,600 and that he had purchased approximately three kilograms of methamphetamine from the same supplier from August 2018 until his arrest.
Holder was arrested on October 23, 2018, by a DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop of his vehicle that produced 122.69 grams of pure methamphetamine found in a black bag on the back floorboard.
The DEA, Louisiana State Police, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Shreveport Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.
Two Shreveport Felons Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearms
SHREVEPORT, La. – Lequinton Jerry, 25, and Omar Williams, 28, both of Shreveport, were sentenced on December 12, 2019, for illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney David C. Joseph.
According to information presented to the court, on June 7, 2018, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s deputies stopped Omar Williams’ vehicle for a traffic violation. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a Pioneer Arms, Model PPS43C, 9x19-caliber pistol in the trunk of the car and a Glock, Model 23, .40-caliber pistol underneath the front passenger seat. Williams told officers, “I know I am a convicted felon and not supposed to be in possession of a firearm,” and “I own the gun that was found in the trunk. I don’t own the other gun they found in the car.” The other gun was owned by Lequinton Jerry, the sole passenger sitting in the front seat, who was also in possession of matching .40-caliber ammunition inside his pants pocket.
At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. ordered Lequinton Jerry to 21 months in prison, and Omar Williams to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for each. Both defendants pleaded guilty to these charges on August 26, 2019.
It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition. Omar Williams previously pleaded guilty on June 16, 2014, to attempted illegal possession of weapons while in possession of controlled dangerous substances. Lequinton Jerry previously pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled dangerous substance (Alprazolam) on September 28, 2016.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper prosecuted the case.
Shreveport Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution, Federal Firearms Offense
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Roger W. Shepard, 32, of Shreveport, was sentenced December 10, 2019, by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr., to two years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and five years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, to run consecutively. Judge Hicks also sentenced Roger Shepard to three years of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Shepard pleaded guilty to these charges on July 31, 2019.
According to information presented to the court, on November 19, 2018, a Shreveport police officer responded to a complaint at the Sportran/Greyhound bus terminal. When the officer arrived, he saw Shepard in an argument with another individual and discovered that he was in possession of a Hi-Point .40-caliber pistol tucked into his waistband, a loaded magazine in his front pocket, and 43 individually wrapped packages of cocaine, totaling approximately 10 grams, which he intended to deliver to a third party.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.
Two Monroe Felons Plead Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge
Nanderrious Thomas
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Nanderrious Thomas, 22, of Monroe, pleaded guilty today, before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to felon in possession of a firearm.
According to documents filed with the court, Monroe Police Department officers were conducting an active warrant canvas on November 16, 2018, when they spotted Nanderrious Thomas, who had outstanding felony warrants. Thomas fled when he saw the officers and crawled under an abandoned house. Immediately after he was apprehended, a detective recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson, Model SD.40 VE, semi-automatic handgun from underneath the house, and 14 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition - one round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine.
Thomas has a prior felony conviction in Ouachita Parish for aggravated battery. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
Nanderrious Thomas will be sentenced by Judge Doughty on April 1, 2020, and faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshal’s Service, and Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Thompson is prosecuting the case.
Rodriguez Dewayne Cobbs
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Rodriguez Dewayne Cobbs, 27, of Monroe, pleaded guilty today, before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to felon in possession of a firearm.
According to documents filed with the court, on January 21, 2019, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cobbs following a traffic stop of his vehicle. During the course of the traffic stop, Cobbs informed the officer that he had a gun in his right front jacket pocket. Officers retrieved a Smith & Wesson, Model SD.40 VE, semi-automatic handgun loaded with one round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine, and a Glock .9mm magazine lying on the front passenger seat, loaded with two rounds.
Cobbs has prior felony convictions in Ouachita and Caddo Parishes for attempted possession of codeine, simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition.
Rodriguez Cobbs will be sentenced by Judge Doughty on April 1, 2020, and faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Thompson is prosecuting the case.
# # #
Sioux Falls Woman Charged with Theft of Government Funds and Concealment of Information from Federal ProgramRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Theft of Government Funds and Concealment of Information from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program. The SSI program is administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration.
Nikona Jeffries, age 36, was indicted on December 3, 2019. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on December 12, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or between June 2017 and February 2019, Jeffries willfully and knowingly embezzled, stole, and purloined money from Tittle XVI program benefits payments made to her.
The Indictment also alleges that during that same period of time, Jeffries had knowledge of the occurrence of an event affecting her initial and continued right to receive payment of Title XVI SSI benefits. Specifically, Jeffries knowingly failed to report her income and employment, in order to continue receiving and spending SSI benefits.
The charges are merely accusations and Jeffries is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration Cooperative Disability Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Jeffries was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Sex Offender Is Sentenced to 30 YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. –U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. sentenced today April Nicole Pitchford, 31, of Mint Hill, N.C., to 30 years in prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release for producing child pornography, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Pitchford was also ordered to register as a sex offender after she is released from prison.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, between October 18 and October 19, 2016, Pitchford sexually abused a four-year-old victim. Court records show that Pitchford created a video depicting sexually explicit conduct with the minor, and sent it via text message to another individual.
On November 27, 2018, Pitchford pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. She is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. All federal sentencings are served without the possibility of parole.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mint Hill Police Department for investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cortney Randall of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Saudi Arabian national and UNM engineering student arrested for being an alien in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Hassan Alqahtani, 28, of Saudi Arabia, made an initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque today on a criminal complaint charging him with illegal possession of a firearm by an alien admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa.
According to a criminal complaint, Alqahtani allegedly possessed a .380 caliber firearm at his residence when the FBI searched the property on December 12, 2019. Alqahtani is a citizen of Saudi Arabia. He was lawfully admitted into the United States on a student visa. Alqahtani is currently enrolled at the University of New Mexico School of Engineering.
Alqahtani is currently in custody pending a detention hearing on December 16. He faces up to ten years in prison if convicted of the charged offense. A criminal complaint is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Albuquerque office of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Kraehe is prosecuting the case.
Saint Paul Armed Career Criminal Charged with Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced the unsealing of a federal indictment charging DEMETRICE DEVON MILLER, 29, with being a felon in possession of two firearms.[1] On December 12, 2019, MILLER made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Katherine M. Menendez in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to the indictment, on November 23, 2019, MILLER was found to be in possession of two firearms, namely, a Hi-Point, model JHP, .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol, and a Taurus, model G2C, 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol. Because MILLER has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. If convicted of the charge, MILLER faces a mandatory-minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison based on his prior convictions.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat violent crime. This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
DEMETRICE DEVON MILLER, 29
St. Paul, Minn.
Charges:
- Felon in possession of firearms- Armed career criminal, 1 count
###
Additional news available on our website.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Safety Harbor Man Charged with Distributing Fentanyl, Causing Death to One Individual and Serious Injury to AnotherRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of a superseding indictment charging David Burkes (51, Safety Harbor) with conspiring to distribute a substance that contained a mixture of fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, causing the death of one individual, and the serious injury to another. If convicted, Burkes faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.
According to court documents and information presented in court, beginning on August 12, 2019, Burkes distributed fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, to two individuals. The two individuals snorted the substance. A short time later, one of the individuals lost control of the vehicle the two were riding in, veered into a Walgreens parking lot, and overdosed. Medical personnel found the two individuals on the ground in the parking lot. They successfully revived one of the individuals, while the other died.
Between August 13, 2019, and August 15, 2019, after the fatal overdose, Burkes continued to distribute narcotics to undercover officers in Safety Harbor.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse. This case was investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diego F. Novaes and Kaitlin O’Donnell.
Rapid City Man Found Guilty of Attempting to Entice a Minor Using the InternetRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Japher Rajab, 42, of Rapid City, South Dakota, was convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet following a three-day federal jury trial held in U.S. District Court in Rapid City. The guilty verdict was returned on December 11, 2019.
Rajab was one of eleven men who were arrested and federally indicted as a result of an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2019 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting internet predators. Following multiple chats and text messages with a person Rajab believed to be a 15 year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent, he proceeded to negotiate the time and place he would meet the minor to engage in unlawful sex acts. When Rajab went to the pre-determined location to meet the minor, he was instead met by law enforcement agents and placed under arrest.
The undercover operation and arrests were a joint effort between the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins prosecuted and tried the case.
A sentencing date has not been set. Rajab was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Distribution of Marijuana, Money Laundering, and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Portland resident Isaiah Holt, 31, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine, money laundering, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Holt is a licensed electrician, motivational speaker, and fitness coach.
According to court documents, beginning in July 2016 and continuing until his arrest in April 2018, Holt used his association with a licensed marijuana producer in Portland to divert state-legal marijuana into the black market. Holt sold marijuana in-person to out-of-state customers traveling to Oregon and by mail to remote customers using the U.S. Postal Service.
Holt recruited two individuals to use their bank accounts to receive and launder proceeds of his marijuana sales. Out-of-state customers would send Holt mailing addresses and deposit payments into bank accounts in the names of various third-party associates. Holt would then direct these associates to withdraw the money from their accounts on his behalf. He used the cash to purchase multiple vehicles that he registered in his girlfriend and co-defendant’s name, Marjorie Livington. Holt also directed Livingston, 39, of Portland, to purchase and register firearms for him using her name.
On April 4, 2018, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) obtained and executed a search warrant on Holt and Livingston’s Northeast Portland residence. Agents found 11.5 grams of cocaine and nearly $2,000 in cash on Holt’s person and drug packaging materials, shipping labels, 14 pounds of marijuana, three firearms, and $46,100 in cash in the residence.
After his arrest and federal indictment, Holt continued to distribute cocaine. From April to August 2019, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of cocaine from Holt. While on his way to a fourth pre-arranged buy, Holt eluded a marked police car and later fled on foot, discarding approximately two ounces of cocaine along the way. In total, law enforcement purchased or recovered from Holt approximately 158 grams of cocaine during these purchases.
Conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and three years’ supervised release. Money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine or twice the value of property involved, and three years’ supervised release. Illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release.
Holt will be sentenced on March 9, 2020 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Michael W. Mosman.
As part of his plea agreement, Holt has agreed to forfeit one Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, one Ruger AR-556 5.56 caliber rifle, one Taurus 9mm pistol, all seized ammunition, and $46,100 in cash. He has also agreed to pay $32,600 to satisfy a forfeiture money judgement.
Livingston was indicted alongside Holt for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. She is scheduled to plead guilty to the firearms charge on December 16, 2019.
The case was investigated by ATF, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Portland Police Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Julia Jarrett and Leah Bolstad, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
The 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.
Plant City Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Mario Brooks (30, Plant City) to five years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Brooks to forfeit the firearm and ammunition.
Brooks had pleaded guilty on August 12, 2019.
According to court documents, on March 9, 2019, an officer from the Plant City Police Department located Brooks, who had violated the terms of his probation, at a residence in Plant City. When the officer arrived at the home, Brooks fled. The officer gave chase and yelled at Brooks to stop. The officer noticed that Brooks was holding a firearm in his right hand that appeared to be equipped with an extended magazine. Eventually, officers were able to catch Brooks and arrest him. Brooks later admitted that he had possessed a firearm—a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine—and 35 rounds of ammunition.
Brooks, who had previously been convicted of several felonies, including possession of cocaine, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault involving the discharge of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and robbery involving the possession of a firearm, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Plant City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.
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. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violations of federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Derrick Jones, 34, pleaded guilty to four counts before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in July of 2017, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police had been surveilling Jones for suspected narcotics distribution out of his residence at 720 Hampshire Avenue in Pittsburgh. Successive trash pulls revealed packaging and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking and items with cocaine and crack cocaine residue. On July 21, 2017, Pittsburgh Police executed a search warrant at the residence and discovered a hanging basket in the dining room containing powder cocaine, baking soda, and drug packaging supplies. In various locations throughout the house, police recovered six firearms including an AK style assault rifle, additional powder cocaine and crack, and $4,578.00 in United States currency, as well as supplies for making crack cocaine. The defendant was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The court was further informed that Jones has a prior drug felony conviction and, as such, he is subject to enhanced penalties.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for April 30, 2020, at 9:00 am. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of $3,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Jones remains in custody pending the sentencing hearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Christy C. Wiegand is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jones.
Pierce County Resident Sentenced to 12 Years for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Eric Kurrelmeyer, 32, Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 12 years in federal prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for distributing child pornography. Kurrelmeyer pleaded guilty to this charge on October 3, 2019.
On December 28, 2018, an individual using the mobile messaging application Kik sent several pictures of child pornography to an undercover task force officer (TFO) from the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force in Washington, D.C. Officers identified Kurrelmeyer as the Kik user and executed a search warrant at his residence. As a result of the search, officers found evidence that Kurrelmeyer distributed the sexually-explicit images to the undercover TFO.
At sentencing, Judge Conley expressed concern about the defendant’s risk to the community, noting that Kurrelmeyer was both “boastful and transparent” about his sexual interest in children while chatting with the undercover TFO.
The charge against Kurrelmeyer was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Picayune Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison under Project EJECT for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Dewayne Yates, 28, of Picayune, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 96 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $1,500 fine, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Yates was previously convicted of felonious aggravated assault with a gun in Hinds County and was sentenced to serve twenty years in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections with ten of those years suspended. On March 31, 2017, Yates was found in possession of a firearm during an administrative checkpoint in Jackson, Mississippi.
In deciding Yates’ sentence, Judge Wingate varied upward from the Sentencing Guideline range, citing Yates’ prior criminal history and propensity for violence.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Jackson Police Department investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is 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.
Phoenix Man Sentenced to Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On November 25, 2019, Melvin Woods, 26, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 84 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. Woods previously pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
On August 1, 2018, Woods sold blue “M-30” pills that looked like oxycodone to a customer at a pool store in Phoenix. Shortly after smoking one of these pills, the customer died from a fentanyl overdose.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by D.J. Pashayan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Pharmacist Admits Tampering with Infusion NarcoticsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced CARL MANCINI, 43, of Wolcott, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to one count of tampering with a consumer product.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Mancini was employed as a licensed pharmacist by a Connecticut company that prepared home or hospice care intravenous infusions for a variety of medical conditions, including pain management. As part of his duties, Mancini was responsible for formulating infusions of the correct concentration for specific patients pursuant to the orders of their physician. Between approximately January and June 2019, Mancini accessed a secure area of his workplace and took vials of hydromorphone hydrochloride and morphine sulfate pentahydrate that were intended to be used to formulate infusion for patients. He used a syringe to withdraw the narcotics from the vials and reinjected saline into the vial so that it would appear as if the narcotics were not missing. In order to hide his tampering, Mancini used specialized crimping tools to reseal the vials. He then returned the vials to the secure area at his workplace.
Mancini tampered with dozens of vials through this scheme. Laboratory testing of a sample of vials Mancini tampered with revealed that virtually all of the active drug had been removed and replaced with saline.
Mancini is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on March 11, 2020, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Mancini is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, the Cromwell Police Department and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
Pennsylvania Woman Who Stole from Mother Pleads Guilty to Failing to File Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that JENNIFER O’BRIEN, 51, of South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to failing to file federal tax returns.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2012 and 2014, O’Brien served as Power of Attorney for her mother and had control over funds intended for her mother’s benefit. At the time, O’Brien was known as Jennifer Brokaw and resided with her mother in Hebron, Connecticut. While O’Brien used some of her mother’s money for her mother’s benefit, she misappropriated more than $510,000 for her own use. She also failed to file federal income tax returns for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 tax years, resulting in a loss of $139,007 to the IRS.
O’Brien pleaded guilty to three counts of willful failure to file tax returns, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year on each count. O’Brien also will be required to cooperate with the IRS to pay all back taxes, interest and penalties.
O’Brien is released pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Laraia.
Ocala Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison on Federal Firearms and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Anthony David Diehlman (41, Ocala) to six years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Diehlman had pleaded guilty on July 9, 2019.
According to court documents, on March 8, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Diehlman’s Ocala residence as part of an investigation into illegal drug distribution. Inside the home, agents recovered more than 100 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, four loaded firearms, ammunition, and a taser. Three of the firearms were locked in a safe, along with Diehlman’s lease for the residence, identification documents, and cash. Following his arrest, Diehlman made a call describing the exact location of a hidden AR-15 rifle.
Diehlman is a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. He had posted photographs of himself with the recovered firearms on social media prior to the search warrant.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Ocala Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, and FentanylRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – U.S. Senior District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Deandre Amaad Williams (29, Ocala) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Williams had pleaded guilty on July 19, 2019.
According to court documents, between January 2012 and May 2019, Williams was a member of a conspiracy that distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin through a network of stash houses in Marion County. Large quantities of the heroin were also laced with fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ocala Police Department, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Attempted Possession of Radioactive MaterialRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. ordered today Bryant Riyanto Budi, 28, of Matthews, North Carolina, to serve 78 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, for attempted possession of radioactive material with intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to another person.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina, John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Charlotte Division, and Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and the Carolinas made the announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from April 22, 2018, to June 1, 2018, Budi attempted to possess radioactive material, and did so with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to another person. Court documents show that Budi contacted an FBI online covert employee via the internet to purchase a lethal dose of a radioactive substance. In his communications with the covert employee, Budi expressed his intent to use the radioactive substance to kill an unnamed individual. On May 31, 2018, a package containing an inert substitute for the radioactive material ordered by Budi was delivered to an address in Charlotte as instructed by Budi. Budi was arrested on June 1, 2018, after he came into possession of the package, and pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2018. Separately, Budi also contacted an HSI undercover agent (UCA) via the internet and hired the UCA to murder a specified victim.
In making today’s announcement Assistant Attorney General Demers and U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the FBI in Charlotte and supporting FBI field offices; the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate in Washington, D.C.; HSI in Buffalo, New York and Charlotte; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Attempted Possession of Radioactive MaterialRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. ordered today Bryant Riyanto Budi, 28, of Matthews, North Carolina, to serve 78 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, for attempted possession of radioactive material with intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to another person.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina, John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Charlotte Division, and Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and the Carolinas made the announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from April 22, 2018, to June 1, 2018, Budi attempted to possess radioactive material, and did so with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to another person. Court documents show that Budi contacted an FBI online covert employee via the internet to purchase a lethal dose of a radioactive substance. In his communications with the covert employee, Budi expressed his intent to use the radioactive substance to kill an unnamed individual. On May 31, 2018, a package containing an inert substitute for the radioactive material ordered by Budi was delivered to an address in Charlotte as instructed by Budi. Budi was arrested on June 1, 2018, after he came into possession of the package, and pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2018. Separately, Budi also contacted an HSI undercover agent (UCA) via the internet and hired the UCA to murder a specified victim.
In making today’s announcement Assistant Attorney General Demers and U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the FBI in Charlotte and supporting FBI field offices; the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate in Washington, D.C.; HSI in Buffalo, New York and Charlotte; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Gleason of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution, assisted by Trial Attorney Bridget Behling, of the National Security Division.
Niagara Falls Man Sentenced on Drug Charge After Officers Find 5 Kilograms of Cocaine in His CarRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jose Garcia-Santiago, 61, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Adler, who handled the case, stated that in September 2017, the U.S. Postal Service intercepted packages arriving from Puerto Rico and addressed to various residences in Niagara Falls, NY. Postal inspectors seized approximately five kilograms of cocaine that were intended for Santiago and his co-conspirators. One of the packages was addressed directly to the defendant’s home address. Another was addressed to the home of Katherine Dejesus-Gonzalez.
Thereafter, beginning on May 8, 2018, investigators intercepted numerous conversations involving the defendant discussing cocaine trafficking and the associated proceeds. Many of those conversations were with co-conspirator Edgar Joel Jimenez-Rodriguez.
On May 26, 2018, the New York State Police stopped the vehicle the defendant was driving. Co-conspirator Katherine Dejesus-Gonzalez was a passenger. Troopers seized five kilograms of cocaine from the vehicle.
All three defendants have been convicted.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent
Thomas Licata, and the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Lieutenant Kevin Reyes and Major Mary Clark.
# # # #
New York Parolee Pleads Guilty to Possession of Credit Card Manufacturing EquipmentRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Changa Bush (41, New York) has pleaded guilty to possession of credit card manufacturing equipment. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison, plus an additional penalty for violating his parole. Bush is currently on parole out of New York for assault causing serious physical injury; he has been detained since his arrest on September 6, 2019. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, on April 12, 2019, a deputy from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office began following a stolen vehicle being driven by Bush. Bush eventually pulled the car into a gas station, parked, and the deputies made contact with him. During his subsequent arrest, law enforcement seized credit cards from Bush that were in the names of various individuals, along with counterfeit forms of identification matching the names on the credit cards. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered a magnetic stripe card writer and reader, two laptops, three thumb drives, a long-range wireless adapter, and nine cell phones.
A subsequent forensic examination of the seized items by the United States Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force located 37 credit card account numbers, software used to encode and decode the magnetic strips of credit cards, and evidence of the installation of printers designed for printing identification cards.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service (Jacksonville Field Office) and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
New York City man who made false statements involving terrorism sentenced 57 months in prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A New York City man who admitted lying to federal agents about wanting to fight for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham or “ISIS” and to conduct an attack in the United States was sentenced today to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Fabjan Alameti, 21, from the Bronx, in New York City, NY, pleaded guilty in August to two counts of false statements to a federal officer in a matter involving terrorism.
Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
“Because of the vigilance of the FBI, and the good work and coordination among the FBI, our Anti-Terrorism Unit, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section, the people of Montana were never in any real danger. Stopping acts of terrorism is the top priority of the DOJ, and we will prosecute all who would commit them to the full extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
“This case highlights the real threat posed by homegrown violent extremists, people who self-radicalize at home and are prone to attack with little to no warning,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Haertel, of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office. “Preventing terrorist attacks is the FBI’s number one priority and the mission of our Joint Terrorism Task Forces. We will use every investigative tool available to us and continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, assess and disrupt threats to keep our communities safe."
Prosecution documents filed in the case said Alameti had been part of a terrorism investigation by the FBI in 2018. Alameti became an ISIS supporter, watching ISIS videos online and making pro-ISIS posts on a Facebook account. The FBI questioned him about his fascination with ISIS, and Alameti denied any affiliation or support for the designated foreign terrorist organization. The investigation also involved an FBI confidential source who Alameti encountered while posting messages on a pro-ISIS social media page. Alameti believed the confidential source was an ISIS supporter who lived in the Middle East.
In March, Alameti boarded a bus and traveled from New York to Bozeman, where he agreed to speak with an FBI agent. During that interview, Alameti said he had never talked about traveling overseas to fight for ISIS and that he had never wanted to hurt any Americans or anyone in the military.
However, Alameti had used a Facebook account and communicated with others that he wanted to travel overseas and fight for ISIS because he wanted to die a martyr’s death. Alameti also communicated with others about targeting people in the United States and identified targets as gay night clubs, a federal building and an Army recruiting center. Alameti admitted making statements to an individual that he wanted to “shoot people or something,” “I will attack random people to avenge the blood,” and “I’m going to Montana and gonna (sic) buy a gun since all they need is a background check and ID.”
Agents ultimately arrested Alameti in April at a Bozeman shooting range where he attempted to rent a semi-automatic rifle. The FBI arrested him on charges of possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
The prosecution also presented evidence at sentencing that while in custody at the Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby, Mt., Alameti is suspected asking another inmate in October about getting guns and explosives. During a facility-wide sweep of inmate housing units in November, officers found a razor blade tucked between pages in a book found in Alameti’s cell and pro-ISIS and anti-United States messages written on Alameti’s cell wall.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes and Trial Attorney Rebecca Magnone, from the Counterterrorism Section of U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division, prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
XXX
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin ChargeRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Peter Oliver Henry, 63, of New Orleans, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to possession with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Mississippi Field Office.
Henry will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on March 20, 2020, and faces a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison for the drug charge and a minimum of 5 years of supervised release. He also faces maximum fines of $5,000,000.
On June 4, 2019, agents with the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force in Jackson County covertly purchased 4 ounces of heroin from Henry for $10,000. Henry came to the parking lot of a local Gulf Coast shopping mall and exchanged 5 bags of heroin for the cash. Henry was subsequently arrested walking into the mall, and the money used to purchase the heroin was recovered from his car.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
Neshoba County Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Daniel S. Dixon, Jr. Tubby, 39, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, was sentenced Friday by Chief United States District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 33 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for sexual abuse of a minor within the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and FBI Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin. Tubby was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender.
On January 17, 2018, the Choctaw Police Department responded to a call for assistance in the Pearl River Community. The 14 year old victim was taken to Choctaw Health Center for treatment. Tubby admitted to sexually abusing the minor. Tubby pled guilty before Judge Jordan in September.
This case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie.
Nampa Man Sentenced to Prison on Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BOISE – Harley Wayne Batchelor, 28, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. A federal grand jury indicted Batchelor on March 12, 2019.
According to court records, in February 2019, parole agents and Nampa police officers arrested Batchelor on an outstanding parole warrant at a Nampa motel. Agents located a semi-automatic pistol underneath where Batchelor was lying on a bed. Batchelor has a violent criminal history that includes a felony conviction for aggravated battery, which prohibits him from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Nampa Police Department, and Idaho Department of Correction.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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.
# # #
Moss Point Man Pleads Guilty under Project EJECT to Illegally Possessing Sawed-Off ShotgunRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Paul Leon Heathcoe, 53, of Moss Point, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Heathcoe will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on March 19, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
On July 21, 2018, a woman arrived at the emergency room of a hospital in Jackson County and informed law enforcement that Heathcoe had assaulted her and was in possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Heathcoe is a convicted felon and therefore prohibited from legally possessing a firearm. As a result, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Heathcoe and a search warrant for his residence.
Upon executing the search warrant, deputies discovered a shotgun with a barrel measuring a little over 12 inches and an overall length of approximately 19 inches. Both the stock and the barrel had been cut off. Law enforcement also found a modified holster that Heathcoe used to wear the shotgun around the house according to the victim.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is 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.
Mission Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Edward Zane Roubideaux, Jr., age 29, was indicted on December 10, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 12, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Roubideaux was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in November 2011. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. It is alleged that between August 15, 2019, and September 19, 2019, Roubideaux, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of conviction under Federal Law, failed to properly register as a sex offender and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Roubideaux is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Roubideaux was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Minnesota Sex Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to Register as A Sex Offender While on the Run in FloridaRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida,
today announced the sentencing of Michael Gilbert Brown, 40, of Minnesota, after he pled guilty to
one count of failing to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and
Notification Act (SORNA). Brown was sentenced to 2½ years in federal prison by the U.S. District
Court in Tallahassee.Brown, who was convicted in 2012 of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a 14-year- old
teen, entered a halfway house after he was released from a Minnesota prison in 2018. Within a month
of his release, Brown fled from the halfway house and was considered a fugitive. Brown was
subsequently located in Tallahassee, Florida, where he was arrested in July 2018. An investigation
revealed that Brown left Minnesota with his girlfriend and her child using a bus ticket issued
under a false name. It was also determined that Brown knowingly failed to notify the State of
Minnesota of his intent to relocate to Florida, and that he failed to register as a sex offender
with the State of Florida upon his arrival in Tallahassee.In addition to the sentence of 30 months of incarceration in federal prison, Brown was ordered to
serve five years of supervised release and to participate in and successfully complete a sex
offender treatment program.Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the
United States Marshals Service with assistance from Ramsey County (Minnesota) Community
Corrections, Predatory Offender Unit. Don Ladner, United States Marshal for the Northern District
of Florida, stated “the U.S. Marshals are deeply committed to protecting our society from sex
offenders who fail to register as required by law.”The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access
public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.Mexican National Sentenced to 5 Years’ Prison for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for ProfitRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On December 9, 2019, Yohan Humberto Castro-Reyes, 33, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 60 months’ imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. Castro-Reyes previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens for profit.
On May 14, 2019, Castro-Reyes was arrested for conspiring to harbor and transport between 25-99 illegal aliens. Castro-Reyes concealed the aliens in a residence and involuntarily detained them through coercion or threat while demanding payment. Castro-Reyes possessed and brandished a 9mm firearm while harboring the aliens in the residence.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and United States Customs and Border Protection. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Raquel Arellano and Stuart J. Zander, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Metairie Man Indicted for Capital One Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser announced today that LEVI HERMAN (HERMAN), age 33, was charged in a one-count Indictment for bank robbery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a).
According to the Indictment, HERMAN robbed the Capital One Bank located in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 4, 2019.
If convicted, HERMAN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of three years, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that an Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Retaining Classified National Defense Information Regarding U.S. Military ProgramsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Sharon man pleaded guilty today to illegally retaining national defense information.
Ahmedelhadi Yassin Serageldin, 66, an Egyptian-born nationalized U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty today to one count of willfully retaining national defense information. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for April 24, 2020. Serageldin was initially indicted in November 2018 on one count of misleading conduct with intent to hinder, delay, or prevent communications to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission or possible commission of a federal offense.
Serageldin admitted to having unauthorized possession of numerous classified documents, writings, and notes relating to the national defense,. During the execution of a search warrant at Serageldin’s house, agents found thousands of paper documents and electronic files belonging to Raytheon or the Department of Defense, and that many of them were marked as containing classified information. Court documents list five specific documents, all of which pertain to U.S. military programs involving missile defense and are classified at the SECRET level.
Serageldin was a systems engineer at Raytheon Company in Massachusetts from August 1997 until he was terminated in May 2017. Serageldin had a secret-level security clearance in order to complete his assignments on several defense contracts for the U.S. government involving military radar technology.
In 2017, Raytheon investigated Serageldin for time-card fraud. The time-card fraud investigation led Raytheon to uncover evidence that Serageldin had downloaded a substantial number of files from Raytheon’s computer network and had connected his personal removable electronic storage devices to the network in violation of Raytheon’s security policy. During the company’s internal investigation Serageldin engaged in misleading conduct to hinder, delay, or prevent Raytheon employees from communicating with law enforcement about his time-card fraud and his potential mishandling and retention of classified and national defense information.
The charge of willfully retaining documents relating to the national defense and failing to deliver them to the United States provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greatest, restitution and forfeiture. According to a plea agreement filed in the case, the original charge of obstruction of justice will be dismissed at the time of sentencing. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers; Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Leo Lamont, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston. Raytheon Company has cooperated with the investigation, which was launched after they notified federal authorities about the suspicious conduct. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott L. Garland, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s National Security Unit and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the Justice Department’s National Security Division are prosecuting the case.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Retaining Classified National Defense Information Regarding U.S. Military ProgramsRead the Press Release
A Sharon, Massachusetts, man pleaded guilty today to willfully retaining national defense information.
Ahmedelhadi Yassin Serageldin, 66, an Egyptian-born nationalized U.S. citizen, admitted to removing classified national defense information from his workplace at a defense contractor without authorization and keeping it unsecured within his home. Serageldin was originally indicted and arrested in November 2018 on one count of misleading conduct with intent to hinder, delay, or prevent communications to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission or possible commission of a federal offense.
The original indictment alleged that Serageldin was a systems engineer at Raytheon Company in Massachusetts from August 1997 until he was terminated in May 2017. Serageldin had a secret-level security clearance in order to complete his assignments on several defense contracts for the U.S. government involving military radar technology.
According to court documents, in 2017, Raytheon investigated Serageldin for time-card fraud. The time-card fraud investigation allegedly led Raytheon to uncover evidence that Serageldin had downloaded a substantial number of files from Raytheon’s computer network and had connected removable electronic storage devices to the network in violation of Raytheon’s security policy. During the company’s internal investigation, the indictment alleges, Serageldin engaged in misleading conduct to hinder, delay, or prevent Raytheon employees from communicating with law enforcement about his time-card fraud and his potential mishandling and retention of classified information and national defense information.
Today, Serageldin pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Judge Patti B. Saris to a Superseding Information charging him with having unauthorized possession of, access to, and control over numerous classified documents, writings, and notes relating to the national defense, and then willfully retaining the same and failing to deliver them to the United States. At the plea hearing, the prosecutor noted that while executing a search warrant at Serageldin’s house, federal agents found thousands of paper documents and electronic files belonging to Raytheon or the U.S. Department of Defense, and that many of them were marked as containing classified information. The Superseding Information lists five specific documents, all of which pertain to U.S. military programs involving missile defense and are classified at the SECRET level.
According to a plea agreement filed in the case, the original charge of obstruction of justice will be dismissed at the time of sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for April 14, 2020.
The charge of willfully retaining documents relating to the national defense and failing to deliver them to the United States provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greatest, restitution, and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Boston Field Division; and Leo Lamont Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistance with the investigation was provided by Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston. Raytheon Company has cooperated with the investigation, which was launched after they notified federal authorities about the suspicious conduct. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott L. Garland, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s National Security Unit, is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the Justice Department’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division.
Man Who Was Arrested in Connection with the Murder of Shreveport Police Officer Chateri' Payne Sentenced to 12+ Years in Federal Prison for Firearms and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Glenn Frierson, 39, of Shreveport, was sentenced this morning by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr., to 151 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Local authorities arrested Frierson on January 15, 2019, in connection with the death of Shreveport Police Officer Chateri’ Payne.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, Frierson’s federal charges are the result of an investigation by the Shreveport Police Department after learning that narcotic transactions were occurring at Frierson’s place of business. After several controlled buys were made with undercover law enforcement, officers with the Shreveport Police Department executed a state search warrant at his place of business on May 3, 2018. As officers entered the business, Frierson placed a Smith & Wesson, Model SD40, .40-caliber pistol, loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition, on the floor of the bathroom next to his barber stall. Further investigation revealed that Frierson owned the pistol and carried it for protection when selling illegal drugs. During the search warrant, officers discovered 28 grams of methamphetamine inside his backpack and inside a false beverage container, along with a scale to weigh drugs. Frierson pleaded guilty to the federal charges on August 16, 2019.
“This case demonstrates the dangers presented by armed drug dealers in Shreveport and throughout the Western District of Louisiana,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph. “We will continue to make every effort at the federal level to eliminate this senseless violence and support our men and women in law enforcement.”
Glenn Frierson was a convicted felon at the time he possessed the pistol. He pleaded guilty on May 4, 2009, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Shreveport Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell prosecuted the case.
# # #
Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Federal Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that in federal court yesterday, United States District Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced HOWARD DAVIS, 41, of Holly Springs, North Carolina, to 420 months’ imprisonment, followed by an 8 year term of supervised released.
On June 7, 2017, DAVIS was named in an Indictment in which he was charged with possession with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (crack), and a quantity of cocaine, both Schedule II controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On September 11, 2018, DAVIS was convicted in federal court following a day and a half jury trial.
On March 1, 2017, Holly Springs Police officers pulled DAVIS over for a window tint violation and while the officer was verifying DAVIS’s information, he fled the scene. This resulted in a high-speed chase within a residential neighborhood until DAVIS exited his car and fled on foot into a swamp. The investigation resulted in the seizure of over 28 grams of cocaine base (crack) and 178 grams of cocaine, $67,288.00 and a firearm. This was DAVIS’s third federal conviction.
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. Since 2017 the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted 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.
That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices in those communities on a sustained basis to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. For more information about this initiative click here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Holly Springs Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Gabriel Diaz and Jason Kellhofer prosecuted the case for the government.
Man Sentenced for Illegally Using Social Security Number to Obtain EmploymentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ALVARO JOSE MEZA-GONZALEZ ( MEZA-GONZALEZ), age 39, a native of Nicaragua, was sentenced on December 12, 2019 after previously pleading guilty to illegally using a Social Security number to obtain employment, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).
United States District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced MEZA-GONZALEZ, to time served and a $100 special assessment fee. The defendant shall be surrendered to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.
According to court documents, on or about August 14, 2019, MEZA-GONZALEZ presented a false Social Security card when attending a pre-employment safety class at the Gulf Coast Safety Council in St. Rose, Louisiana. MEZA-GONZALEZ falsely represented that a social security number was assigned to him when in fact; the social security number had been assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security to another individual.
U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Border Patrol and the Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Julia K. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.
Man Pleads Guilty to Two CarjackingsRead the Press Release
A man arrested for two carjackings in June pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
Kameron Todd Myers, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking; two counts of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
“Gun crimes mean hard time in the federal system. This guilty plea gets us one step closer to a sentencing hearing. This carjacker was prosecuted as a part of our Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “PSN is the Justice Department’s flagship program to reduce violent crime, and it’s making a difference in Tulsa.”
In his plea agreement, Myers admitted that on June 2 and June 4, 2019, he used force, fear and intimidation during two carjackings. Myers stated that he brandished a pistol and threatened to harm the owners of the vehicles during the crimes. On June 10, Tulsa Police officers found a Glock .45 caliber pistol in the car driven by Myers at the time of his arrest. Because he was previously convicted of a felony, Myers is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition
The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric O. Johnston and Mark R. Morgan are prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide federal initiative to disrupt gun violence strategically and comprehensively, using all available enforcement and prosecutive tools. The initiative involves a partnership of federal, state, and local authorities, uniting their efforts and leveraging existing and new resources. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners tailor their efforts to meet their own district’s unique needs, helping ensure the safety of communities in the Northern District of Oklahoma.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and HeroinRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that on December 13, 2019, Jeremiah Joseph Burkhart, 39, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced to 18 years (216 months) in prison by Chief United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and a mixture or substance containing heroin. There is no parole in the federal system. Burkhart will serve five years on supervised release after the prison term.
Information obtained by law enforcement indicated that Burkhart was responsible for the distribution of at least 1.5 kilograms (approximately three pounds) of methamphetamine and at least 10 grams of heroin in the Lincoln area between January 30, 2019, and April 2, 2019. Between January 30, 2019, and March 25, 2019, an undercover officer made 12 purchases of methamphetamine and/or heroin from Burkhart’s co-defendant, Anna Chernyy. During those purchases, Chernyy told the officer that her source got the drugs in Colorado. Chernyy’s statements led to the identification of Burkhart as her source. On April 2, 2019, Burkhart was stopped in Grand Island on his way back to Lincoln from a trip to Colorado. Methamphetamine and a 9mm handgun were found in his car. Search warrants were then executed at Burkhart’s and Chernyy’s residences in Lincoln. During those searches, officers found a total of more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and 11.5 grams of heroin.
In October of 2019, Chernyy pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and to being a felon in possession of a firearm. She is scheduled for sentencing in January of 2020.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, consisting of the Lincoln Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol.
Leader of large gang-related drug trafficking group sentenced to 15 years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – The leader of a large drug trafficking organization, moving drugs from southern California to Washington and Illinois, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 15 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. CHARLES ROLAND CHEATHAM, 43, of Fife, Washington, was arrested June 6, 2018, along with some 38 other members of his drug distribution ring. On August 30, 2019, CHEATHAM pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
“This defendant and his gang were responsible for huge amounts of illegal drugs damaging our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “Building a case against a large number of defendants is difficult work for investigators and for the attorneys who work alongside them. I commend the tremendous effort by the investigators and Assistant United States Attorneys who worked tirelessly to take this group of armed criminals off our streets.”
According to records filed in the case, conspirators trafficked cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, illegal marijuana, and fentanyl. Some of the co-conspirators, had been linked to violence – including shootings – in Seattle and south King County. On the wiretap, law enforcement heard conspirators talk about various shootings after they occurred, including the September 4, 2017, shooting outside a Renton hookah lounge. Among other things, conspirators discussed getting firearms after being shot at by rival gangs.
Leading up to the takedown, law enforcement seized 12 pounds of heroin, more than 2 kilograms of cocaine, a pound of methamphetamine, 124 pounds of marijuana, 41 firearms, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.
At CHEATHAM’s Fife residence, law enforcement seized cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, as well as four firearms, more than $300,000 in cash, and jewelry, including a gem-encrusted necklace bearing CHEATHAM’s moniker “da Mayor.” Because of his criminal history, CHEATHAM had been prohibited from possessing firearms. However, at the same time he was dealing significant quantities of drugs, he successfully petitioned a court to have his gun rights restored.
In all, 43 defendants have pleaded guilty in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy. The most significant sentences in the case to date range from 5 years in prison to 11.5 years in prison. Also today a mid-level drug distributor, MICHAEL D. SAFFORD was sentenced to 5 years in prison for his role in the scheme.
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. DOJ reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved. This investigation was led by the Seattle Police Department Gang and Narcotics Units, FBI Seattle Safe Streets Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Other agencies providing investigative assistance include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshal Service (USMS), and the U.S Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vince Lombardi, Erin H. Becker and Nicholas Manheim.
Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution and Possession of FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with selling fentanyl.
John Mena, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl before U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young, who scheduled sentencing for April 6, 2020.
According to court documents, Mena sold approximately 13g of fentanyl in a transaction that an undercover agent witnessed. Mena was arrested in Lawrence on July 16, 2019, as part of a 10-week 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.
The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; and Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Brazier of Lelling’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Justice Department awards more than $333 million to fight opioid crisisRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs today announced awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. Nearly $6.1 million will help public safety and public health professionals in the Southern District of Ohio combat substance abuse and respond effectively to overdoses.
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities—from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
“The opioid epidemic has ravaged countless communities and tragically shattered too many lives. While we have seen some progress, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorneys’ community remain fully committed to working with our state and local partners to combat this complex and evolving challenge,” said U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers. “The awards announced today support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs.”
DeVillers explained the grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts. Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs and support opioid-related research.
The following awards were made to organizations in the Southern District of Ohio:
BJA’s Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to state, local and tribal jurisdictions to reduce opioid abuse and fatalities, and mitigate impacts on crime victims.
Authorized by the 2016 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, this program offers grant awards across three focus areas.
Category 1 is designed to encourage and support the development of comprehensive, locally driven responses to the opioid epidemic that expand access to supervision, treatment and recovery support services across the criminal justice system; support law enforcement and other first responder diversion programs for non-violent drug offenders; promote education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by the opioid epidemic. All projects are expected to involve multiple agencies and partners. These awards include:
Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program: Category 1
Awardee
State:
Awardee:
Amount Awarded:
Ohio
County of Hocking
$600,000
Ohio
Adams County
$600,000
Ohio
Hancock Co Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction Mental Health Services
$600,000
Ohio
City of Hamilton
$600,000
Category 3 awards may be used to establish or enhance a prescription drug monitoring system; facilitate the exchange of information and collection of data on prescriptions and other scheduled chemical products among states; develop a training program for system users; produce and disseminate educational materials; support collaborations between law enforcement, prosecutors, public health officials, treatment providers and drug courts; facilitate electronic information sharing among states in compliance with the Prescription Monitoring Information Exchange National Architecture; expand monitoring to Schedules II, III, IV and V; improve the quality and accuracy of Prescription Drug Monitoring Program data; develop or enhance the capacity to provide unsolicited reports of controlled substance prescribing to authorized individuals or entities; and assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the PDMP program or specific PDMP initiatives. These awards include:
Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program: Category 3
Awardee State:
Awardee:
Amount Awarded:
Ohio
Ohio State Board of Pharmacy
$1,726,497
BJA’s Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to facilitate collaborations between criminal justice, mental health and substance abuse treatment systems to serve individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues.
Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
Awardee State:
Awardee:
Amount Awarded:
Ohio
Mental Health Recovery Board of Union County
$595,318
Office for Victims of Crime’s Enhancing Community Responses to the Opioid Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims. This program expands programs to provide services to children and youth who are victimized as a result of the opioid crisis.
Enhancing Community Responses to the Opioid Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims
Awardee State:
Awardee:
Amount Awarded:
Ohio
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc.
$448,222
BJA’s Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to states, state courts, local courts, units of local government and tribal governments to develop, implement and enhance drug courts and Veterans Treatment Courts.
Category 2 includes enhancement of fully operational drug courts that incorporate the evidence-based principles included in the National Association of Drug Court Professionals’ Adult Drug Courts Best Practice Standards.
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program: Category 2
Awardee State:
Awardee:
Amount Awarded:
Ohio
Fairfield Co. Municipal Court
$500,000
OJJDP’s Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program awarded grants to provide resources to state, local and tribal governments to create and enhance juvenile drug treatment court programs for youth in the justice system who have substance abuse issues, with a specific focus on opioid abuse.
Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program
Awardee State:
Awardee:
Amount Awarded:
Ohio
Montgomery County Common Pleas Juvenile Division
$400,000
NIJ Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program, which addresses the extreme shortage of board-certified forensic pathologists in the United States and aims to improve medical examiner-coroner services by supporting efforts toward agency accreditation.
Awardee State:
Awardee:
Amount Awarded:
Ohio
Butler County Coroner’s Office
$13,751
Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and 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.
# # #
Justice Department Awards More than $333 Million to Fight Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. The funds support families, children and crime victims dealing with the impact of substance abuse, along with first responders whose actions can often mean the difference between life and death for those who have overdosed.
“The opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis this country has ever faced,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice is committed to using all means available to bring drug traffickers to justice, disrupt the supply chain, support our law enforcement officers, and help the victims.”
“The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “This epidemic — the most deadly in our nation’s history — is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. OJP is here to support them through this unprecedented and extremely challenging time.”
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related drug overdoses per day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids – including heroin and fentanyl – a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities – from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research – to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
Funding was awarded under the following programs.
- The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Programs ($163 million) will help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims and will provide training and technical assistance.
- The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($23.8 million) will address the treatment needs of people using opioids.
- The Enhancing Community Responses to the Opioid Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims ($15.8 million) program will help service providers ensure children and youth are supported as they heal from the impact of crime and substance abuse.
- The Opioid Affected Youth Initiative ($7.9 million) will develop effective programs for children, youth and their families who have been affected by the opioid crisis and drug addiction.
- The Drug Courts Program ($83.5 million) will provide financial and technical assistance to states and federally recognized tribes to develop and implement drug courts to help adults, youth and veterans suffering from substance abuse issues.
- The Child Abuse Training for Judicial Personnel program ($1 million) will provide specialized training for juvenile and family court judges on serving families affected by opioids.
- The Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative ($15 million) will support mentoring programs that address the issues experienced by youth affected by opioids.
- The Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime Program ($6 million) will support research on criminal investigation, prosecution, drug intelligence and community surveillance to reduce violent and other crimes related to fentanyl and its analogues.
- The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 million) is being made available to address the impact of the opioid crisis on forensic laboratory operations.
The more than $333 million in awards will be distributed to jurisdictions throughout the U.S. in order to maximize the effectiveness of the funding. Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
In addition to providing unprecedented funding to combat the opioid crisis, the Trump Administration also created the Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand Initiative, which prevents over-prescription, reduces the demand for drugs through education and awareness and cuts off the flow of illicit drugs across our borders. President Trump also signed the bipartisan Substance Use – Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, or the SUPPORT Act, the largest legislative effort ever to address a single drug crisis in our nation’s history. This law expands access to evidence-based treatment, protects communities from drugs, invests more in sustained recovery, brings those in treatment and recovery back into the workforce and raises awareness of the dangers of illicitly imported synthetic opioids.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and 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.
Justice Department Awards More Than 333 Million to Fight Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY – The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs today announced awards of more than $333,000,000 to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. $1,261,995 will help public safety and public health professionals in Niagara, Erie, and Monroe Counties in the Western District of New York to combat substance abuse and respond effectively to overdoses. An additional $13,000,000 will fund related efforts across New York State.
“Opioids have taken the lives of far too many of our loved ones,” said United States Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. “In the Western District of New York, partners across the community, including our Office, have joined forces to tackle this deadly epidemic head on and, while we have seen success in our fight, even one death is too many. This funding will assist us as we continue to innovate and find new ways to eradicate these deadly drugs—and the destruction they wreak with them—from our community.”
“The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless,” said PDAAG Sullivan. “This epidemic—the most deadly in our nation’s history—is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice is here to support them during this unprecedented and extremely challenging time.”
The Western District of New York recipients include:
• Niagara County which will receive $898,887 to expand access to supervision, treatment and recovery support services across the criminal justice system; support law enforcement and other first responder diversion programs for non-violent drug offenders; promote education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by the opioid epidemic;
• The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office will receive $183,108 under the Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program, which addresses the extreme shortage of board-certified forensic pathologists and aims to improve medical examiner-coroner services by supporting efforts toward agency accreditation;
• The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office Toxicology Laboratory will receive $180,000 to be used, in part, to address the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis; and
• New York State will receive a total of $13,513,000 for various opiate related efforts and programs.
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities—from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.The awards announced today support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs. Grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts. Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs and support opioid-related research.
Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and 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.
# # # #
Justice Department Awards More Than $333 Million to Fight Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
Kelly Thornton (619) 546-9726
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – December 13, 2019
SAN DIEGO – The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs today announced awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis, including $750,000 to Alpine-based Southern Indian Health Council, Inc. The grants are intended to help public safety and public health professionals combat substance abuse and respond effectively to overdoses.
OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan made the announcement during a visit with local, state and federal officials in West Virginia, one of the states hardest hit by the epidemic.
“The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless,” said PDAAG Sullivan. “This epidemic—the most deadly in our nation’s history—is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice is here to support them during this unprecedented and extremely challenging time.”
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities—from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
“This crisis demands all the attention and resources we can muster, and these grants will bolster our efforts significantly,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “Opioids – and fentanyl in particular – are destroying lives and communities and we are working hard to stop the devastation through interdiction, prosecution and education.”
The awards announced today support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs. Grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts. Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs and support opioid-related research.
Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and 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.
Justice Department Awards More Than $333 Million to Fight Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs and United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler today announced awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. $2,446,664 will help public safety and public health professionals in the Southern District of Indiana combat substance abuse and respond effectively to overdoses. OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan made the announcement during a visit with local, state and federal officials in West Virginia, one of the states hardest hit by the epidemic.
"The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless," said PDAAG Sullivan. "This epidemic—the most deadly in our nation’s history—is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice is here to support them during this unprecedented and extremely challenging time."
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities—from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance,
forensic science services and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
"The U.S. Attorney’s Office is pleased to provide support to agencies in the Southern District of Indiana through the Department’s Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program," said Minkler. "This grant supports the Department’s criminal justice priorities of reducing opioid abuse and opioid overdose-related deaths."
The awards announced today support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs. Grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts. Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs and support opioid-related research.
The following awards were made to organizations in the Southern District of Indiana:
The City of Indianapolis and Marion County were awarded $500,000 and $653,408, respectively, under the BJA’s Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to facilitate collaborations between criminal justice, mental health and substance abuse treatment systems to serve individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues.
The City of Evansville was awarded $1,000,000 under the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative, which helps states, local governments and tribal jurisdictions develop data-driven responses to opioid abuse.
Hancock County Community Corrections was awarded $231,544 under the Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to states, state courts, local courts, units of local government and tribal governments to develop, implement and enhance drug courts and Veterans Treatment Courts.
The Marion County, Indiana Coroner’s Office was awarded $61,712 under the National Institute of Justice Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program, which addresses the extreme shortage of board-certified forensic pathologists in the United States and aims to improve medical examiner-coroner services by supporting efforts toward agency accreditation.
Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and 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.
Justice Department Awards More Than $333 Million to Fight Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. The funds support families, children and crime victims dealing with the impact of substance abuse, along with first responders whose actions can often mean the difference between life and death for those who have overdosed.
In Oklahoma, state, tribal and local partners will receive $5,279,379 toward the fight against opioid addiction.
“The opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis this country has ever faced,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice is committed to using all means available to bring drug traffickers to justice, disrupt the supply chain, support our law enforcement officers, and help the victims.”
“The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “This epidemic — the most deadly in our nation’s history — is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. OJP is here to support them through this unprecedented and extremely challenging time.”
“Oklahomans are committed to the fight for our families and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The opioid crisis must be fought on multiple fronts, including prevention, recovery and enforcement. This more than $5.2 million will aid Oklahoma’s state, tribal and community partners to battle addiction and perform the necessary, on-the-ground work to save lives.”
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related drug overdoses per day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids – including heroin and fentanyl – a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities – from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research – to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
Funding was awarded under the following programs.
• The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Programs ($163 million) will help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims and will provide training and technical assistance.
• The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($23.8 million) will address the treatment needs of people using opioids.
• The Enhancing Community Responses to the Opioid Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims ($15.8 million) program will help service providers ensure children and youth are supported as they heal from the impact of crime and substance abuse.
• The Opioid Affected Youth Initiative ($7.9 million) will develop effective programs for children, youth and their families who have been affected by the opioid crisis and drug addiction.
• The Drug Courts Program ($83.5 million) will provide financial and technical assistance to states and federally recognized tribes to develop and implement drug courts to help adults, youth and veterans suffering from substance abuse issues.
• The Child Abuse Training for Judicial Personnel program ($1 million) will provide specialized training for juvenile and family court judges on serving families affected by opioids.
• The Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative ($15 million) will support mentoring programs that address the issues experienced by youth affected by opioids.
• The Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime Program ($6 million) will support research on criminal investigation, prosecution, drug intelligence and community surveillance to reduce violent and other crimes related to fentanyl and its analogues.
• The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 million) is being made available to address the impact of the opioid crisis on forensic laboratory operations.
In Oklahoma, the following partners will receive funding:
Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program
Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs: $2 million
Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
Oklahoma City, County Health Department: $249,543
Enhancing Community Responses to the Opioid Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims
Comanche Nation: $749,985
Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma: $500,000
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse $569,100 and $313,800
Family Drug Court Program
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse $646,951
Coverdell Competitive Grant Program
Oklahoma District Attorney’s Council: $250,000
The more than $333 million in awards will be distributed to jurisdictions throughout the U.S. in order to maximize the effectiveness of the funding. Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
In addition to providing unprecedented funding to combat the opioid crisis, the Trump Administration also created the Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand Initiative, which prevents over-prescription, reduces the demand for drugs through education and awareness and cuts off the flow of illicit drugs across our borders. President Trump also signed the bipartisan Substance Use – Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, or the SUPPORT Act, the largest legislative effort ever to address a single drug crisis in our nation’s history. This law expands access to evidence-based treatment, protects communities from drugs, invests more in sustained recovery, brings those in treatment and recovery back into the workforce and raises awareness of the dangers of illicitly imported synthetic opioids.
Justice Department Awards More Than $333 Million to Fight Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs today announced awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. $1,268,795 will help public safety and public health professionals in the Northern District of Indiana combat substance abuse and respond effectively to overdoses. OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan made the announcement during a visit with local, state and federal officials in West Virginia, one of the states hardest hit by the epidemic.
“The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless,” said PDAAG Sullivan. “This epidemic—the most deadly in our nation’s history—is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice is here to support them during this unprecedented and extremely challenging time.”
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities—from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
“In Northern Indiana, my Office’s efforts to reduce opioid abuse and combat the opioid crisis are ongoing,” said U.S. Attorney Kirsch. “Today I am pleased to announce that Lake, LaPorte and Grant Counties, within the District, applied for and will receive a combined total of $1,268,795 in funding from the Department of Justice to fight opioid abuse.”
The awards announced today support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs. Grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts. Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs and support opioid-related research.
The following awards were made to organizations in the Northern District of Indiana:
Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program
LaPorte, Indiana Circuit Court $555,424
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program
Lake County Municipal Court- Gary $219,649
Family Drug Court Program
Grant County Family Recovery Court $493,722
Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and 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.
###
Justice Department Awards More Than $333 Million to Fight Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
$4,096,482 Will Support Efforts in or including the Western District of Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs today announced awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. $4,096,482 will help public safety and public health professionals in the Western District of Michigan combat substance abuse and respond effectively to overdoses. OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan made the announcement during a visit with local, state and federal officials in West Virginia, one of the states hardest hit by the epidemic.
"The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless," said PDAAG Sullivan. "This epidemic—the most deadly in our nation’s history—is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice is here to support them during this unprecedented and extremely challenging time."
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities— from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
The awards announced today support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs. Grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts. Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs and support opioid-related research.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge commented that: "The opioid crisis is a public health crisis and not just a law enforcement problem. The Department of Justice recognizes that reality with this financial support for important Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Programs and affected youth initiatives in West Michigan."
The following awards were made to organizations in the Western District of Michigan through the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to facilitate collaborations between criminal justice, mental health and substance abuse treatment systems to serve individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues. While not all awards made under the JMHCP program are focused explicitly on addressing the opioids epidemic, these Michigan efforts focus specifically on opioid-related issues.
Van Buren County $750,000
County of Muskegon $750,000
City of Muskegon $100,000
City of Battle Creek $750,000
In addition, the Michigan Department of State Police received $1,000,000 under the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative. This program helps recipients develop data-driven responses to opioid abuse.
In addition, Cass County received $746,482 under the Family Drug Court Program. This program helps build the capacity of those who receive funds to sustain existing family drug courts or establish new ones.
Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and 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.
###
Justice Department Awards More Than $333 Million to Fight Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs announced today awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. $1,282,324 will help public safety and public health professionals in the District of Nevada combat substance abuse and respond effectively to opioid-related overdoses. OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan made the announcement during a visit with local, state and federal officials in West Virginia, one of the states hardest hit by the epidemic.
“The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless,” said PDAAG Sullivan. “This epidemic—the most deadly in our nation’s history—is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice is here to support them during this unprecedented and extremely challenging time.”
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities—from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
“On behalf of the District of Nevada, we are thankful for the additional resources provided by the Department of Justice to combat drugs and crime in our communities. Along with our local partners, we will use these resources to help stem the opioid abuse epidemic,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
The awards announced today support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs. Grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals across the country coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts. Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs and support opioid-related research
The following awards were made to organizations in the District of Nevada:
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program
More than $44 million is being awarded nationwide to jurisdictions, academic institutions, and training and technical assistance providers to establish, expand, assist, and research the effectiveness of adult drug courts, including veterans treatment courts. The Las Vegas Township Justice Court received a $651,324 grant under this program.
Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program awarded $3 million nationwide to provide resources to state, local and tribal governments to create and enhance juvenile drug treatment court programs for youth in the justice system who have substance abuse issues, with a specific focus on opioid abuse. The County of Elko received a $400,000 grant under this program.
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program
The Office of Justice Programs is making up to $17 million available to support forensic activities related to opioids under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program. The National Institute of Justice expects Coverdell grant funds to be used, in part, by medical examiners/coroners and forensic laboratories to address the dramatic increase in deaths and the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis. Laboratories are overwhelmed with drug seizures and requests for toxicological analysis in opioid-related crimes and deaths, which in turn puts pressure on other laboratory sections. Also, medical examiners and coroners are required to conduct unprecedented numbers of autopsies and expend other resources in dealing with opioid deaths. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received a $231,000 grant under this program.
Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, please visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and 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. Additional information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
###