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Wednesday 11 December 2019
Two Reagor Dykes Employees Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy, 11 Pleas TotalRead the Press Release
Two Reagor Dykes Auto Group employees pleaded guilty this week to participating in the auto group’s floor plan fraud scheme, following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Elaina Marie Cabral, a 30-year-old Reagor Dykes office manager who worked at RDAG’s Toyota store in Plainview, and Whitney Erin Maldonado, a 44-year-old Reagor Dykes office manager who worked at RDAG’s Mitsubishi store in Lubbock, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before Magistrate Judge Lee Ann Reno in Amarillo.
Their colleague, executive assistant to the CEO Ashely Nicole Dunn, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a related Reagor Dykes check kiting scheme last Wednesday.
They are three of eleven employees who have confirmed their roles in the $50 million Reagor Dykes scam. Admitted coconspirators include Reagor Dykes Chief Financial Officer Shane Andrew Smith and employees Sheila Miller, Lindsay Williams, Diana Urias, Paige Johnston, Pepper Rickman, Sherri Wood, and Brad Fansler.
In plea papers, Ms. Cabral and Ms. Maldonado admitted the company engaged in a practice they called “dummy flooring.”
Employees routinely dug through records for vehicle identification numbers (VIN) of cars Reagor Dykes had already sold, then submitted new loan applications to Ford Motor Credit Company using the old VINs – falsely indicating that the company was seeking a loan in order to repurchase the vehicle for resale, the pair admitted. After acquiring the new floor plan funding, instead of re-buying the car, Reagor Dykes used the ensuing loan to cover other expenses.
Ms. Dunn admitted in her plea papers that Reagor Dykes also engaged in systematic check kiting, a ploy that involves concealing fraud by cross-depositing checks across several banks.
Ms. Cabral and Ms. Maldonado each face up to five years in federal prison and may be required to pay approximately $27 million in restitution. Ms. Dunn also faces up to five years in prison and may be required to pay approximately $23 million in restitution.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Frausto, Jeffrey Haag, and Sean Taylor are prosecuting the case.
Two Ocean County Men Charged in Scheme to Distribute Cocaine, Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two Ocean County, New Jersey, men were charged with possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute; one defendant was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Mario Galli III, 27, and Jason Vella, 37, both of Toms River, New Jersey, are each charged by complaint with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Galli is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Sept. 19, 2019, investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office executed search warrants on each of the defendants’ residences and recovered in excess of 150 grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia, including digital scales, glassine envelopes, a money counter, baking soda, grinders, and $2,295 in cash. Also recovered from Galli’s residence was a FEG 9mm Model PGK-9HP gun loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Galli was on supervised release from a 2016 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute in excess of 500 grams of cocaine.
The charge of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any sentence on the drug count and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited the members of the FBI’s Organized Crime Task Force under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; and investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O’Malley of the U.S. Attorney=s Office’s Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Brothers Convicted of Shooting A U.S. Postal Carrier Are Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced that two brothers convicted of shooting a U.S. Postal Carrier were sentenced to prison today. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. sentenced Rashawn Donnell Williams, 31, of Charlotte to 28 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $$3,396 as restitution. Judge Conrad ordered Dion Lamar Williams, 28, also of Charlotte, to serve 15 years in prison, and three years of supervised release. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder of a federal employee. Rashawn Williams also pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence.
David M. McGinnis, Inspector in Charge of the Charlotte Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) joins U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
“The Williams brothers knowingly and intentionally attempted to kill an innocent U.S. postal carrier while he was performing his official duties. This was a reprehensible crime and the punishment reflects the severity of the violent act. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their thorough investigation of this case, which has led to the federal convictions,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.
"Protecting the employees of the Postal Service is a top priority of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. When someone attempts to take the life of one of our employees, we stop at nothing to identify those responsible,” stated Inspector in Charge McGinnis. We extend our appreciation to all our law enforcement partners for their assistance and would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued support in the prosecution of those who assault postal employees.”
According to filed court documents, on August 31, 2017, Rashawn Williams and Dion Williams conspired to kill a U.S. Postal Carrier. As part of the conspiracy, Dion Williams picked up Rashawn Williams at a location on Executive Street in Charlotte. The two men traveled to the Days Inn located at 4924 Sunset Road in Charlotte, where Rashawn Williams obtained a firearm. Then, the defendants traveled to Archer Avenue in Charlotte, where they located the victim, and attempted to kill the victim while he was delivering mail on his mail route.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray commended USPIS for their investigation of the case. U.S. Attorney Murray and Inspector McGinnis thanked the FBI, ATF, the U.S. Probation Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for their invaluable assistance with this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Dillon, of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Tuba City Man Sentenced to Prison for Sexually Abusing Minor and Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. On December 9, 2019, Andrew Al Littleman, 39, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Steven P. Logan to 57 months in prison. The defendant previously pleaded guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The defendant will also be required to register as a sex offender, and will be on supervised release for the remainder of his life.
The defendant, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, sexually abused the minor in 2014-2015 while both were living on the reservation. In 2018, the defendant also possessed between 40 and 50 grams of methamphetamine for the purpose of distributing the drugs on the reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christine D. Keller and Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Three North Bay Defendants Charged in Fentanyl Overdose Death CaseRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged Leanna Zamora, Lindsay Williams, and Shane Cratty with distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William “Curt” Fallin. The charges were made in a complaint filed today.
The complaint, described by U.S. Attorney Anderson in a press conference today, describes how Zamora, 29, Williams, 32, and Cratty, 26, all from Santa Rosa, each are alleged to have played a role in supplying the fentanyl that resulted in the death of a 13-month-old boy and his father in Santa Rosa.
“Drug dealers sometimes justify themselves by claiming that their conduct is ‘harmless’ or ‘victimless,’” said U.S. Attorney Anderson. “As this case demonstrates, these claims are false. The dark reality for many opioid drug users is that their lives are short and miserable, and their deaths are horrible. Street drugs are not ‘medicine,’ and drug dealers are not ‘doctors.’ The day-to-day work of a drug dealer consists of pushing his victim-customers into a downward spiral of dependency and despair.”
“This case involves fentanyl and a $125 drug transaction that led to the untimely deaths of a father and his 13-month old son,” stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Fallin. “The circumstances surrounding this investigation are arguably the most tragic we have seen. It not only serves as a reminder, but also underscores our commitment to do everything in our power to prevent these bold criminals from destroying any more lives.”
According to the complaint, Cratty drove Williams to meet with Zamora. Zamora sold the fentanyl to Williams, and Williams gave it to Cratty. Cratty then delivered it to the baby’s father. Late that night or early the next morning, the father and the baby ingested some of the drug and died. According to the complaint, the fentanyl that ultimately found its way to the victims’ house was obtained by Zamora in the open-air drug markets of the Tenderloin in San Francisco.
Zamora, Williams, and Cratty each are charged with distribution of controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A term of supervised release, fines, forfeitures, and restitution also may be ordered, however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The complaint contains allegations only and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Zamora and Williams are in state custody. Shane Cratty is in custody on a federal arrest warrant. Appearances for the defendants in federal court have not yet been scheduled.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Santa Rosa Police Department, with assistance from the DEA.
Three Defendants Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Charleston, W.Va. – Three defendants were sentenced to federal prison today for gun crimes, announced in United States Attorney Mike Stuart.
“We are prosecuting record numbers of gun crimes aimed at keeping guns out of the wrong hands,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “If you violate federal gun laws, whether you are a prohibited person, a gun-toting drug dealer, you steal firearms or possess illegal weapons, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
Jeffery Turley, 31, of Lincoln County, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for using an unregistered sawed off shotgun when he stole a car. Turley previously admitted that he possessed a sawed off shotgun that was not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Turley had a long history of prior convictions and was prohibited from being in possession of a gun. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the West Virginia State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Irene Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Arthur handled the prosecution.
Joseph Keith Abshire, 33, of Dunbar was sentenced to 16 months in prison for being felon in possession of a firearm. Abshire previously admitted that on March 18, 2018, he was pulled over for his reckless driving in St. Albans, while following members of the Last Rebels Motorcycle Club. A St. Albans Police Officer smelled alcohol on his breath. With permission, the officer began to conduct a field sobriety test. Pursuant to the officer’s request, Abshire acknowledged that he had a knife on his belt. When the officer lifted Abshire’s shirt to take possession of the knife, a handgun in his waistband was observed. A loaded Para Ordnance, model p12-45, semi-automatic pistol was recovered. In addition to the knife and gun, the officer removed a sharpened deer antler from Abshire’s boot. Inside of Abshire’s truck, the officer found a magazine and holster to a separate firearm, as well as a denim cut typical of a prospect in the Last Rebels Motorcycle Club. Abshire had previously been convicted of a misdemeanor offense of domestic battery in Kanawha County Circuit Court and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the St. Albans Police Department conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner handled the prosecution.
Keanna Carter, of Charleston, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Carter previously admitted that she possessed 251 oxycodone pills at her house to be distributed for money. She further admitted that she possessed firearms in the house for the purpose of assisting her with drug trafficking. The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Arthur handled the prosecution.
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Texas personal assistant imprisoned for stealing from elderly clientRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 41-year-old Richmond resident has been ordered to federal prison after admitting she committed fraud and made false statements regarding her participation in a scheme to defraud her 94-year-old client, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Amy Anglin pleaded guilty Sept. 25.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas handed Anglin a 36-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from the victim, now 95 and blind, that detailed the extent of his losses and how the Anglin preyed on his trust. In handing down the sentence, the court concurred with the government in describing the defendant as a “predator whose version of blood in the water is human kindness and trust.” Judge Atlas further ordered Anglin to pay restitution of at least $249,000.
“Amy Anglin preyed on the trust of a 94-year-old, legally blind man. She should be punished for her actions,” said Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen. “Families should always thoroughly vet people working for our elderly.”
Anglin began working for a successful real estate developer in Houston in approximately 2015 when he 91 years old and his eyesight was beginning to fail. Anglin admitted she took advantage of the victim’s poor health and began to steal money from his bank accounts and misused his credit cards to purchase, among other things, Hawaiian vacations and airline tickets for herself and her family. Anglin would get her elderly victim to sign checks he believed were legitimate and authorized expenditures. She would then have the funds deposited into her personal bank account.
Anglin would also convert the victim’s assets by use of both his bank account and his credit cards. In addition to using her access to the victim’s banking accounts and business credit cards, Anglin wired herself large amounts of money and used Western Union to transfer the victim’s money to her friends and acquaintances. Anglin transferred funds from the victim’s accounts to pay for vacations in Las Vegas, resorts in Hawaii and trips to her hometown. Anglin also used the stolen money to pay for country club memberships, golf lessons, overdue child support payments and major home improvements, including a hot tub.
At the time of her plea, Anglin admitted she was not authorized to make these transfers or payments.
Anglin’s scheme was uncovered when the victim’s family began to question certain payments associated with his accounts. With the help of a Houston-based attorney, the family has estimated the total amount of fraud associated with Anglin’s scheme to be more than $249,000.
The scheme continued until approximately December 2018.
Previously released on bond, Anglin was taken into custody following the sentencing today where she will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The case is the result of a renewed law enforcement effort to protect America’s older citizens from elder abuse.
The FBI and Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heyward Carter and Steve Mellin are prosecuting the case.
Tampa Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Producing Child Pornography of 7-Year-Old BoyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Ronald Manns Seaman, Jr. (50, Tampa) to 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. Seaman had pleaded guilty on November 28, 2018.
According to court records and proceedings, Seaman produced sexually explicit images of a 7-year-old boy who was under his supervision. The investigation began when Seaman distributed child pornography over the internet to an undercover FBI agent. Further investigation revealed that Seaman ran an online trading site for child pornography with more than 400 members, who traded “extreme” child pornography. Seaman advertised on the site that he had 10,000 child pornography files to trade. Seaman’s computer was found to contain more than 500 images and 40 videos of child pornography—many of which depicted babies and toddlers—including seven explicit images that he had produced of the 7-year-old victim.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Francis Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 10, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Steven William Emery, age 48, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, forfeiture of a firearm, ammunition, and firearm accessories, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Emery was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 11, 2018. He pled guilty on August 13, 2019.
Beginning in June 2016 and continuing to May 2018, Emery knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota, in and around the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Emery admitted that over 50 grams of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of the conspiracy. During a vehicle and residence search, several drug paraphernalia items were found, in addition to a loaded firearm, ammunition and firearm accessories.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case.
Emery was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Social Worker Convicted of Defrauding Program for Developmentally Delayed ChildrenRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Brooklyn yesterday returned a guilty verdict for public benefits theft and healthcare fraud against Enock Mensah, a social worker participating in the New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP) that provides remedial services to developmentally delayed children. When sentenced by United States District Judge Sterling Johnson, Jr., the defendant faces up to 10 years in prison.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Margaret Garnett, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the verdict.
“Mensah was more interested in lining his pockets than serving the developmentally delayed children and their families who depend on social work services,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “With today’s verdict, the defendant faces the consequences for abusing the trust placed in him, which should also serve as a deterrent to those who would attempt to defraud public benefit programs.”
“Early intervention therapies are essential to the progress of young developmentally disabled and delayed children. The defendant, convicted today of fraud and other charges, chose greed over honesty – accepting public money as if he had provided these crucial services and pocketing those funds for himself, denying children and their families care that would help them reach important developmental milestones. DOI thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for its prosecution of and partnership in this important investigation,” stated DOI Commissioner Garnett.
From August 2013 to October 2018, Mensah fraudulently billed Medicaid and EIP for more than 1,700 therapy sessions that never occurred, resulting in the theft of more than $145,000 in Medicaid funds and more than $29,000 in New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene funds. At trial, several parents of special needs children testified that Mensah did not provide therapy sessions to their children. This was despite documents showing that he claimed to have done so and submitted claims forms for payment to the health care agencies. One parent testified that she was in the Dominican Republic with her autistic child when Mensah billed for two purported therapy sessions with them. In some cases, Mensah forged the parents’ signatures on these claims forms; in others, he persuaded them to sign blank forms.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Harris, Anthony Bagnuola, Oren Gleich and Erin Reid are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ENOCK MENSAH
Age: 60
Fort Lee, New JerseyE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-60 (S-1) (SJ)
Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Robert Kirk, age 36, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty yesterday to sexually exploiting a child, and to distributing and possessing child pornography.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Kirk admitted that on two occasions in July 2018, he used a sleeping, minor child to create sexually explicit images and videos on his cellular telephone. Kirk also admitted to distributing child pornography over a group messaging application and possessing hundreds of images of child pornography.
Kirk is scheduled to be sentenced on April 10, 2020 by Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue. Kirk faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison on the sexual exploitation counts, at least 5 and up to 20 years in prison on the distribution count, and up to 20 years in prison on each of the child pornography counts. Sentences of imprisonment may be concurrent or consecutive at the discretion of the Court. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The Court also will impose a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of between 5 years and life.
This case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Giglio Suarez.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Saugus Woman Charged with Wire FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Saugus woman was arrested and charged yesterday in connection with a scheme to defraud her elderly uncle of his life’s savings.
Jayne Carbone, 52, was charged with one count of wire fraud. Carbone was arrested and appeared in federal court in Boston.
Between approximately December 2016 and September 2018, Carbone allegedly stole at least $400,000 from her elderly uncle, whose personal finances she managed. Carbone fraudulently withdraw funds from his brokerage account and transferred those funds into bank accounts held by Carbone and members of her immediate family for personal use. To further and conceal the scheme, Carbone allegedly provided her uncle with falsified statements for his accounts reflecting inflated balances.
The charge of wire fraud carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. 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 Office; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie A. Wright of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Romanian Man Sentenced in Capital Region ATM Card Skimming ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK - Gheorghe Cirstea, age 33, and a citizen of Romania, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for conspiring to steal bank customers’ account information and personal identification numbers (PINs) by using skimming devices that he secretly installed on bank ATMs in the Capital Region from August through October 2015.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On March 30, 2018, Cirstea was arrested on an international arrest warrant while travelling through Bogota, Colombia. On October 19, 2018, Cirstea was formally extradited by Colombian authorities to the Northern District of New York, and he has remained in custody since then.
As part of his guilty plea on August 8, 2019, Cirstea admitted that from August 30, 2015 through October 24, 2015, he and co-conspirator Ilie Sitariu used skimming devices and pinhole cameras to secretly capture the account numbers and PINs of customers who used ATMs at First Niagara Bank, Trustco Bank, and Berkshire Bank branches in Chatham, New York, Delmar, New York, and Great Barrington, Massachusetts, respectively. The skimming devices captured the information encoded on the magnetic strips of customers’ bank debit cards, while the pinhole cameras allowed the defendants to record the PINs used by the customers. The conspirators then used the information to steal approximately $127,000 from the customers’ accounts by making withdrawals at ATMs in New York City.
Sitariu, who was arrested in September 2015, pled guilty on November 22, 2016, and was sentenced to 48 months in prison by Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn.
Judge Kahn also ordered that Cirstea pay $127,389 in restitution to the three banks whose customers’ account information was skimmed and used to make unauthorized withdrawals.
This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and the New York State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 6, 2019, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.
Nicholas Perry, age 31, was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
From May 2017 through August 2017, co-conspirator Dana Faulkner transported and arranged transportation of 15-45 kilograms of methamphetamine to South Dakota from Colorado. Perry was one of the multiple sub-distributors who dealt Faulkner’s methamphetamine in the Rapid City area. Faulkner was previously sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Multiple co-conspirators have already been sentenced.
Perry was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on December 9, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Eugene Leon Featherman, age 31, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Featherman was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 14, 2018. He pled guilty on October 9, 2019.
Featherman was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in January 2012. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender for a period of 25 years. Between August 25, 2018, and November 14, 2018, Featherman failed to properly update his registration.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case.
Featherman was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Failure to RegisterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on December 10, 2019, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Cody Grass, age 35, was sentenced to 8 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction stemmed from Grass, who is a person required to register for a period of 25 years under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, knowingly failing to register and update his registration from July 2018 until the time of his apprehension in June 2019.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman prosecuted the case.
Grass was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pittsburgh Woman Facing Theft ChargeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge relating to theft of Social Security funds, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment named Kristie Marraccini, age 40, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from in and around August 2016, to in and around December 2017, Marraccini knowingly received and converted Supplemental Security Income benefits to which she knew she was not entitled, in an amount exceeding $1,000.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 5 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Czarnecki is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pierre Woman Indicted for Theft of Federal FundsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today a Pierre, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds.
Dawn R. Seaboy Block, age 52, was indicted on November 13, 2019. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 6, 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 $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between October 2018 and May 2019, while she was employed as an agent of the United Sioux Tribes of South Dakota Development Corporation (USTDC), Block did embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud, and intentionally misapply property of USTDC, an organization receiving Federal funds.
The charge is merely an accusation and Block is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of The Guardians Project, a federal law enforcement initiative to coordinate efforts between participating agencies, to promote citizen disclosure of public corruption, fraud, and embezzlement involving federal program funds, contracts, and grants, and to hold accountable those who are responsible for adversely affecting those living in South Dakota’s Indian country communities. The Guardians Project is another step of federal law enforcement’s on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and positive action on behalf of tribal communities. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the participating agencies include: Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Agriculture, Transportation, Education, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspector Service; U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.
For additional information about The Guardians Project, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400. To report a suspected crime, please contact law enforcement at the federal agency’s locally listed telephone number.
Philadelphia Man Convicted of Two North Philadelphia Cell Phone Store Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Darius Carter, 40, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was convicted today at trial of two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery (i.e., robbery which interferes with interstate commerce) arising from the robbery of two cell phone stores on the same block in the Fairhill section of North Philadelphia, both within one week in October 2018.
During the first incident, two men entered a Boost Mobile store on the 2700 block of North Fifth Street -- one of whom was the defendant, who brandished what appeared to be a Glock-style pistol, took $600 and fled. During the second incident five days later, the defendant entered a second store alone, a Metro PCS on the same block, and took $500 while once again displaying what appeared to be a handgun.
“The complete disregard that Carter displayed for the safety of others is appalling,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “The employees of these stores were simply doing their jobs, while the defendant terrorized them in a very short span of time. The streets of Philadelphia are safer now that Carter has been convicted and is facing significant prison time.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Harrell and Nancy Winter.
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A New Cumberland, Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Bangor to attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, Aaron Dyer, 34, using the multimedia messaging application Snapchat, sent images of his genitalia to the internet connected device of a 10-year-old girl living in Maine. Dyer requested in a message accompanying the images that the girl send back nude images of herself. The defendant admitted that he was aware that the intended recipient of his Snapchat message was 10 years old. The images were intercepted by the girl’s mother before they were viewed by the girl.
Dyer faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police investigated the case.
Pennsylvania Man Indicted in “SIM Swapping” Scheme to Steal CryptocurrencyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury indicted Anthony Francis Faulk with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and extortion, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge John Bennett.
The indictment, unsealed today, alleges that Faulk, 23, of Latrobe, Penn., engaged in a scheme to obtain cryptocurrencies and other money and property by fraud and extortion. According to the indictment, Faulk targeted assets owned and controlled by executives of cryptocurrency-related companies and cryptocurrency investors. The indictment alleges Faulk and others engaged in a “SIM swapping” scheme. A SIM card—short for Subscriber Identity Module or Subscriber Identification Module—is a technology used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobile phone devices. According to the indictment, Faulk and others used fraud, deception, and social engineering techniques to induce representatives of cellphone service providers to transfer or port cellphone numbers from SIM cards in the devices possessed by victims to SIM cards in devices possessed by the conspirators, a practice known as SIM swapping. The indictment further alleges that after Faulk and his co-conspirators gained control of victims’ cellphone numbers, the conspirators used additional deceptive techniques to gain access to email, electronic storage, and other accounts of victims and ultimately to cryptocurrency accounts of victims. Faulk and his co-conspirators also allegedly extorted victims of the SIM swapping scheme.
The indictment charges Faulk with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, and one count of interstate communications with intent to extort, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(d).
In addition, the indictment alleges that Faulk used the proceeds of the SIM swapping scheme to obtain real and personal property for his own use and benefit, including a house, a Ferrari and three other cars, jewelry, a Rolex watch, and royalty rights in twenty songs. According to the indictment, the property obtained with the proceeds of the SIM swapping scheme is subject to criminal forfeiture.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted of the conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge, Faulk faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine in the amount of $250,000. If convicted of the extortion charge, Faulk faces a maximum statutory sentence of 2 years in prison and a fine in the amount of $250,000. The court also may order an additional term of supervised release, fines or other assessments, restitution, and forfeiture, if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Faulk was arrested today in Latrobe, Penn., and made his initial appearance in the Western District of Pennsylvania on December 11, 2019. He was released on a $250,000 bond. His next scheduled appearance is at 10:30 a.m. on January 9, 2020, before the Honorable Sallie Kim, U.S. Magistrate Judge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Leach is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Mimi Lam, Rebecca Shelton, and Kimberly Richardson. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Pair of Drug Conspirators Convicted Following Jury Trial in AbingdonRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – A pair of men charged with distributing crystal methamphetamine were convicted by a jury in Abingdon earlier this week following a four-day jury trial, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Special Agent in Charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives [ATF] Washington Field Division Ashan M. Benedict announced today.
“Methamphetamine use and distribution are among the greatest threats to public safety in far Southwest Virginia,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated. “We will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local partners to identify the individuals and organizations responsible for dealing this deadly drug in our communities and put them in federal prison.”
“The combination of firearms and illegal drugs is not only a dangerous one, it is a criminal one, and that’s what you see in this case. These men brought meth into Virginia neighborhoods knowing the harm it causes to people’s lives, and one used a firearm to helped them do it,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Benedict. “ATF will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to stop violent crime and trafficking in our communities.”
Earlier this week, following a four-day trial, a jury sitting in U.S. District Court in Abingdon convicted Omar Kareem Banks, 44, of Coeburn, Va. and Jimmy Shupe Jr., 37, of Pennington Gap, Va., of Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. Banks was also convicted of possession of 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to evidence presented at trial, Banks and Shupe were indicted in May 2019, along with 19 others, as part of a large-scale methamphetamine distribution organization that operated in the counties of Lee, Wise, and Scott.
During trial, the jury heard testimony and received documentary evidence, including messages from social media accounts, that established that Banks and Shupe were associated with and acquired significant quantities of methamphetamine from other members of the conspiracy for several years prior to May 2019.
At sentencing, Banks faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years imprisonment on the conspiracy charge and an additional consecutive term of five years on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Shupe faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years imprisonment on the conspiracy charge.
To date, 18 of the 21 defendants have pleaded guilty and two were convicted after a jury trial. The one remaining defendant is scheduled for trial in April.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau or Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Norton Police Department and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony P. Giorno, Jonathan Jones, and Lena Busscher prosecuted the case for the United States.
Omaha Man Convicted for Trafficking Drugs and GunsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Gatruol Puol, 20, of Omaha, was sentenced today in federal court for two counts of using and/or carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and distributing marijuana. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Puol to 10 years’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Puol will begin a four-year term of supervised release after the completion of his prison term.
On November 14, 2018, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to purchase marijuana and a Savage model 64, .22 cal. rifle from Puol. On December 28, 2018, Puol sold marijuana and an AMT.45 cal. handgun to the confidential informant.
This case was part of a Project Safe Neighborhood initiative and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Omaha Police Department.
New Mexico Man Is Sentenced to 15 Years for Transporting A Minor with Intent to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Late yesterday, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced an Albuquerque, New Mexico man to 180 months in prison for transporting a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Reidinger also ordered Jacob Gardea, 24, to serve 10 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and yesterday’s sentencing hearing, beginning in August 2018, Gardea met the minor on the internet. Court records show that Gardea, who knew the victim was a 13-year-old female residing in Rutherford County, initially told the victim he was 16 years old. Also according to court records, in November 2018, Gardea traveled 1,500 miles, from New Mexico to North Carolina, picked up the minor, and traveled west toward New Mexico with her. Following an intense four-day search by law enforcement, Gardea was arrested by the FBI in Oklahoma.
Gardea is currently in federal custody. He 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.
The FBI, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service led the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
New Haven Crack Dealer Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HUSAIN REDMOND, also known as “Pullie,” 39, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 63 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a New Haven drug trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2017, the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force initiated an investigation into a New Haven drug trafficking organization headed by Jermayne Butler. The investigation, which included physical surveillance, 13 controlled purchases of narcotics, and court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, revealed that members of the organization were distributing crack cocaine and oxycodone in the New Haven area.
Redmond was intercepted on a wiretap communicating with Butler. The conversations confirmed that Butler supplied crack cocaine to Redmond, who sold the drug to customers in and around New Haven.
Butler, Redmond and several other members of the organization were arrested on federal criminal complaints on February 6, 2018. On February 8, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned a 30-count indictment charging 19 individuals with various offenses.
Redmond has been detained since his arrest. On August 5, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, cocaine base. (“crack”).
Butler pleaded guilty to the same offense on August 9, 2019. He awaits sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, which includes members from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, West Haven Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick F. Caruso and David C. Nelson.
NIBIN “Hit” Links Gang Member to Drive-By Shooting, Charged with Firearms Violations in Project Guardian CaseRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – A complaint signed by a federal magistrate judge Monday morning charges Edward Jose Peralta-Moran, age 19, of Taylorsville with possessing a firearm following a felony conviction and possession of a stolen firearm. Ramon Avila, age 22, of Salt Lake City is charged with possession of a stolen firearm.
Based on an analysis of the ballistic evidence using the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN), Utah Bureau of Forensic Services analysts linked casings recovered from a drive-by shooting in Taylorsville on Sept. 3, 2019, to a .45 caliber Smith and Wesson firearm recovered from Peralta-Moran. The U.S. Department of Justice Project Guardian initiative emphasizes the importance of using all modern technologies available to law enforcement to promote gun crime intelligence.
NIBIN is a database system that captures, stores, and correlates digital images of spent cartridge casings recovered from crime scenes and test-fired firearms. The Utah Crime Gun Intelligence Center uses NIBIN technology to assist law enforcement agencies in solving firearms crimes. So far this year, 1,644 NIBIN entries have been entered in Utah. This figure includes 1,100 firearms and 544 casings from shooting scenes submitted by 38 different Utah law enforcement agencies. The entries have resulted in 69 “hits” involving 170 cases.
According to the complaint, Unified Police Department (UPD) officers responded to a drive-by shooting at a home in Taylorsville, on Sept. 1, 2019. Officers observed bullet entry points on the exterior of the home and collected six 9 mm shell casings. They were unable to identify anyone involved in the shooting.
Two days later, on Sept. 3, 2019, a UPD officer heard what sounded like gunfire in the area of 4700 South and 2700 West and observed a car leaving the area and entering I-215. According to the complaint, about the same time dispatch started receiving emergency calls reporting shots fired at the same residence as the Sept. 1, 2019, incident. Responding officers observed numerous new bullet entry points on the exterior of the home and collected six expended .45 caliber shell casings and a .223 projectile, but were unable to locate any suspects.
One occupant of the home told officers he had been in a recent confrontation with an individual. He identified the individual for the officer. The information pointed officers to Peralta-Moran, a known Sureno-affiliated convicted felon. Peralta-Moran was on state probation and had an outstanding arrest warrant.
On Sept. 4, Sandy City police officers responded to a report of firearms thefts at The Amory Firearms and Shooting Range, a Federal Firearms Licensee. The manager told them three males entered the business and stole three handguns while he was speaking to another customer. According to the store manager, the individuals took a Glock 17 handgun with a green slide from behind the sales counter and a Glock 19 handgun from the manager’s office. (Only two of the three stolen firearms are related to charges included in this case.)
Viewing store surveillance video, officers observed the three males enter The Armory and go to different areas in the store. The video shows them taking guns from behind the counter and from the store manager’s office. The three left in a vehicle described by the store manager as a silver or blue Lexus with “In God We Trust” on the license plate. The store manager was able to provide the officers with a partial plate number, according to the complaint.
UPD officers looking for Peralta-Moran on Sept. 5, 2019, observed a Lexus sedan similar to the description of the passenger car leaving the scene of the Sept. 3, 2019, drive-by shooting. Officers executed a traffic stop. According to the complaint, as the vehicle pulled into a residential driveway, officers heard the distinctive sound of a metal object hitting the pavement.
Avila was driving the car and Peralta-Moran was a passenger in the front seat. Officers located a .45 Smith and Wesson handgun on the ground adjacent to the passenger side of the vehicle and found a Glock 17 handgun with a green slide under the front portion of the driver’s seat, similar in description to one of the guns stolen from The Armory. The license plate on the car matched the description given by the store manager.
According to the complaint, Peralta-Moran told officers he paid someone to shoot up the house on Sept. 3, 2019. He also admitted the Lexus was used in the Sept. 3 shooting and the .45 Smith and Wesson officers found on the pavement on the passenger side of the Lexus was used in the drive-by shooting. Officers executed a search warrant at Peralta-Moran’s residence and found a Glock 19 handgun concealed in his bed – one of the handguns stolen from The Armory.
Peralta-Moran is appearing Wednesday morning on the charges in the complaint. A warrant is pending for Avila. Both defendants face a potential 10-year statutory sentence, a fine of $250,000, and a three-year term of supervised release if convicted of the charges in the complaint. Defendants charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case. Officers from the UPD and Sandy City Police Department and special agents from the ATF are investigating the case. The Utah Crime Gun Intelligence Center is also contributing to the investigation.
Muskogee Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Firearm from Licensed DealerRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Neil Dunn a/k/a David Neil Dunn, Jr., age 20, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Stealing A Firearm From A Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(m), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.
The Indictment alleged that from on or about July 12, 2019, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, did knowingly steal from Mike’s Outdoors, a federal firearms licensed dealer, a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(m).
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.
Multi-Agency Investigation and Prosecution of Eleven Drug Conspirators Concludes with Final SentencingsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced the sentencing of eleven defendants as a result of a multi-agency investigation referred to as “Operation Cesar’s Palace.” They were indicted on March 22, 2018, and were sentenced on various dates from April 2019 to October 2019 following their guilty pleas or jury verdicts and the completion of pre-sentence reports for each.
Those sentenced were: Waylon Lee Williams, age 38, of Stilwell; Chassidy Dawn Burke, age 38, of Stilwell; Jesse Ryan Catron, age 39, of Stilwell; Evonnie Marie Simmons, age 38, of Stilwell; Josh Caleb Simmons, age 39, of Stilwell; Amber Rae Kirk, age 38, of Lincoln, Arkansas; Carl Alvin Cushing, age 61, of Westville; Megan Charise Watkins, age 27, of Stilwell; Kris Lee Hall, age 41, of Stilwell; Sharon Eloise Davis, age 53, of Bunch; and Donnie Dean Burke, age 36, of Westville. A twelfth individual named in the indictment, Brianna Deanyae Smith, age 49, of Westville, was acquitted at a jury trial of the charge of Drug Conspiracy, on January 25, 2019.
Each defendant was sentenced for Drug Conspiracy pursuant to 21 United States Code Section 846. Williams was sentenced on October 8, 2019 to 125 months in prison and 5 years’ supervised release. Chassidy Dawn Burke was sentenced on June 26, 2019 to 21 months in prison and 3 years’ supervised release. Catron was sentenced on October 8, 2019 to 46 months in prison and 5 years’ supervised release. Evonnie Marie Simmons was sentenced on October 10, 2019 to 51 months in prison and 5 years’ supervised release. Josh Caleb Simmons was sentenced on August 14, 2019 to 51 months in prison and 5 years’ supervised release. Kirk was sentenced on May 15, 2019 to 21 months in prison and 3 years’ supervised release. Cushing was sentenced on October 9, 2019 to 180 months in prison and 10 years’ supervised release. Watkins was sentenced on June 27, 2019 to 33 months in prison and 3 years’ supervised release. Hall was sentenced on October 9, 2019 to 121 months in prison and 5 years’ supervised release. Davis was sentenced on April 17, 2019 to 15 months in prison and 3 years’ supervised release. Donnie Dean Burke was sentenced on May 15, 2019 to 18 months in prison and 3 years’ supervised release.
The law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation were the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (“OBN”), the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the District 27 District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Stilwell Police Department, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Tulsa Police Department., and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The investigation was coordinated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. OCDETF is an initiative led and coordinated by the Office of the United States Attorney.
“An investigation and prosecution of this magnitude cannot be accomplished without many cooperating law enforcement agencies. Much of the work by investigators and prosecutors alike did not happen during normal business hours. They worked late nights and weekends for months on end. Their dedication to this investigation and prosecution for the benefit of rural Oklahoma was inspiring,” said United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester. “We cannot lose sight of the fact that every year hundreds of Oklahomans die as a result of methamphetamine overdose. Drug trafficking organizations profit while communities deal with tragic outcomes caused by addiction. That is why investigations like this are so important.”
John Scott, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Oklahoma City District Office said, “The remote location of targets and lack of law enforcement assets in rural Eastern Oklahoma allowed the Waylon Williams DTO to operate with impunity for many years. The combined efforts of federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement resulted in the dismantlement of this organization, significantly impacting the distribution of methamphetamine in rural Eastern Oklahoma. Let this case serve as a reminder to the criminals in our community, your illegal activity will be brought to light and justice will be served.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over each of the sentencing hearings. The defendants will remain in custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which the non-parolable sentences will be served. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States.
Michigan man sentenced to more than 24 years for drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Terrence D. Marsh, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 295 months incarceration for drug distribution and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
After a four-day trial in August 2019, a jury deliberated for 35 minutes before finding Marsh, age 38, guilty of one count of “Conspiracy to Possess With the Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances,” one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession With the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine within 1000 Feet of a Protected Location,” one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession With the Intent to Distribute Heroin within 1000 Feet of a Protected Location,” one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession With the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl within 1000 Feet of a Protected Location,” and one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime.”
Marsh conspired with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in Marion County and elsewhere from the fall of 2018 to January 2019. Some of the drug dealing took place near West Fairmont Middle School, and included the presence of firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Traci M. Cook and Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Three Rivers Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Michigan Falconer Pleads Guilty to Violating Lacey ActRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Edward Taylor, 64, Fruitport, Michigan, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Madison to conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. This charge carries maximum penalties of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
The information filed against Taylor alleges that in late 2016 through August 2017, Taylor and a Wisconsin falconer arranged to barter a northern goshawk taken from the wild in Vilas County, Wisconsin, in exchange for a captive-bred Finnish goshawk, and then cover up the receipt and transport of the northern goshawk from Wisconsin to Michigan in violation of the Migratory Bird Act and the Lacey Act.
According to the information, on May 26, 2018, Taylor’s conspirator took from the wild a female northern goshawk from a nest located on state land in Vilas County. The co-conspirator traded the northern goshawk for a Finnish goshawk from Taylor. The information alleged that both Taylor and his coconspirator filled out false reports with the Michigan and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources to cover up their actions. The information also alleged that the conspirator told his associates to “keep it hush-hush and not tell anybody” that the conspirator was giving the female goshawk nestling to Taylor.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen L. Crocker scheduled Taylor’s sentencing for February 25, 2020, at 3:00 p.m.
The charges against Taylor were the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Law Enforcement, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Graber.
Mexican Citizen Convicted After Trial for Immigration Document FraudRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – A jury voted yesterday to convict Alfredo Carballo Nava, age 26, a citizen of Mexico staying in Homer, New York, of one count of immigration fraud for using a counterfeit permanent resident card. The jury acquitted the defendant of one count of social security fraud.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Buffalo Field Office Director of Operations Thomas Feeley.
Evidence presented during the two-day trial established that, in 2008, Carballo Nava unlawfully entered the United States and obtained a counterfeit permanent resident card. This document contained obvious errors including an incorrect date of birth, incorrect date of entry into the U.S., and a fingerprint that did not belong to Carballo Nava. In 2019, after arrest on another matter, an investigation revealed that Carballo Nava used the counterfeit permanent resident card in 2017 to obtain employment in Cortland County.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2020, at which time Carballo Nava faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant may also face immigration proceedings that could result in his removal from the United States[1].A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General, United States Citizenship and Immigrations Services, and the City of Cortland Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristen Grabowski and Tamara Thomson.
[1] Immigration proceedings are civil in nature and are adjudicated separately in Immigration Court.
McLaughlin Woman Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, woman convicted of assault of a federal officer was sentenced on December 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Claudette Mae Has Horns, age 32, was sentenced to time served, which was 10 months in federal custody and over 3 months in tribal custody, totaling over 13 months. She was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
According to court documents, on October 10, 2018, Has Horns forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with a federal officer, with such assault involving physical contact and with the intent to commit another felony. At the time of the assault, the victim was employed as a federal law enforcement officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Interior, assigned to perform law enforcement functions and while he was engaged in the performance of his official duties.
In the afternoon of October 10, Has Horns and a third-party approached a residence in McLaughlin, South Dakota, seeking a ride from the homeowner. Has Horns and the third-party appeared intoxicated, and they subsequently engaged in a physical altercation on the front lawn. Law enforcement was then summoned, and the assault occurred.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services and the Corson County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
At the time of her sentencing, Has Horns had served the entirety of her sentence and was released to begin supervised release.
McLaughlin Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of a Person Incapable of ConsentRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse of a Person Incapable of Consent.
Verl Janis, a/k/a “Bumpy”, age 38, was indicted on November 13, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on December 5, 2019, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of five years, and up to life, of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on September 1, 2019 Janis knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in a sexual act with an individual who was physically incapable of declining participation or communicating an unwillingness to engage in the sexual act.
The charge is merely an accusation and Janis is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Jasper is prosecuting the case.
Janis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Man Who Stole His Brother’s Truck and Violated an Order of Protection by Forcing His Family to Travel Across State Lines with Him Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who abused his wife for years, eventually forcing her to leave Iowa with their children was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.
Frank Young, age 32, from Anamosa, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 20, 2019, guilty plea to interstate violation of a protection order, causing travel of a victim and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.
Evidence during the case established that between 2016 and 2018, Young engaged in repeated acts of domestic violence against his wife. Young was convicted of domestic abuse assault, trespass, burglary, and child endangerment, as well as multiple violations of the no contact order prohibiting Young from contacting his wife and children. In February 2018, and despite protection orders prohibiting Young from contacting his wife or children, Young stole his brother’s truck and forced his family to leave Iowa in the stolen vehicle. The State of Iowa issued an Amber alert and police arrested Young in Wichita, Kansas.
Young was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Young was sentenced to 77 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Williams noted that Young subjected his wife to a “reign of terror” and commented that it was hard to understand “the horror of what she lived through.”
Young is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and the Exploited and Missing Child Unit which is a task force composed of the State of Kansas D.C.F., the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wichita Police DepartmentCourt file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-0015.
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Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Suffolk man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for producing images of child sexual abuse.
“These crimes are vile and display the kind of manipulation and vindictiveness Quinton Myrick is capable of,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Production of child pornography is one of the most offensive and serious crimes in the entire criminal code; it involves a real-life child, real-life abuse, and causes incalculable and unknowable harm to victims.”
According to court documents, Quinton Thomas Myrick, 26, met an 11-year-old girl from Ohio online in December 2018. Myrick convinced the girl to produce child pornography and send it to him, and she complied. When Myrick suspected the 11-year-old was talking to other boys, he posted the child pornography on the girl’s social media account. Myrick also produced child pornography with a second minor victim, a 17-year-old girl. When Myrick became angry with her, Myrick also posted her videos on social media.
“HSI will continue to target sexual predators who use the internet to prey on young victims,” said Jim Stitzel, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk. “Let this case serve as a lesson to predators who think they can hide behind a screen name. If you target minors, we will target you for arrest.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jim Stitzel, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk; and Robert Porti, Deputy Chief of Franklin Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi prosecuted the case.
The Columbus Police Department provided significant assistance during this investigation.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-91.
Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Philadelphia Police Captain During Demonstration at Independence National Historical ParkRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Brian Glantz, 24, of Glenside, PA entered a plea of guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Lynne A. Sitarski to one count of simple assault arising from an incident in which he punched a Philadelphia Police Officer.
On November 17, 2018, a demonstration was held at Independence National Historic Park under a permit granted to a group identified as “We the People.” As National Park Service rangers and other law enforcement officers engaged in crowd control duties to disperse the crowd at the end of the rally, members of a counter-demonstration, including the defendant, pushed themselves against the officers and sought to physically confront the permitted group. During the confrontation, and while still on federal park property, officers sought to arrest Glantz, when he assaulted a Philadelphia Police Captain by punching him in the face. The defendant continued to resist the officers’ efforts to arrest him, kicking his legs and wrestling with the officers, until he was ultimately subdued and taken into custody.
“The right to peaceful demonstration is a dearly held freedom in our country, with the operative word being ‘peaceful,’” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “In order to safeguard that right, law enforcement officers are routinely called upon to monitor and provide security at large public gatherings. Punching a police officer when that officer is working to protect our freedoms is a vile and cowardly act. And when it happens on federal property, it is also a federal crime, and will be treated as such.”
The defendant faces a total maximum sentence of 1 year imprisonment, 5 years’ probation and $100,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the National Park Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Diviny.
Little Eagle Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation and Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender was sentenced on December 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Arthur Taken Alive, Jr., age 52, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Taken Alive was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 14, 2019. He pled guilty on August 27, 2019.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on October 10, 2018, when Taken Alive got into an argument with the victim and assaulted her by placing his hand over her mouth, making it difficult for the victim to breath.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Jasper prosecuted the case.
Taken Alive was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Joint U.S-EU Statement Following the U.S.-EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial MeetingRead the Press Release
On December 11, the U.S.-EU Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs took place in Washington D.C. The United States of America was represented by Attorney General William P. Barr and Acting Secretary for Homeland Security Chad Wolf. The Ministerial – which is held twice a year -- aims to oversee transatlantic cooperation in the area of Justice and Home affairs and address common security threats.
The European Union was represented by the Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, as well as by Finnish Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson, Finnish Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior Ilkka Salmi, Croatian Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović, and Croatian Minister of Justice Dražen Bošnjaković, on behalf of the current and incoming Presidencies of the Council of the European Union. The meeting was also attended by Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers, the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove, the Deputy Secretary General of the EEAS Christian Leffler, the Deputy Executive Director of Europol Jürgen Ebner, and the Vice President of Eurojust Klaus Meyer-Cabri.
As the EU begins a new political cycle, the United States and the EU reaffirmed their strong commitment to foster the Transatlantic Partnership and pursue their dialogue on Justice and Home Affairs, building on the existing operational cooperation and best-practice exchanges on matters of common interest.
Fighting terrorism in all its forms remains our top common priority. We concurred on the importance of continuing and expanding our efforts to identify and hold accountable all those who support or engage in terrorist activity, with a particular emphasis on the sharing of information gathered in zones of combat for use in criminal proceedings as admissible evidence. The importance of using this type of information to improve the security of our borders was also highlighted, especially in the context of returning foreign terrorist fighters. We welcomed achievements in this domain, in particular the U.S. efforts to share information on foreign terrorist fighters with EU Member States and Europol. We called for continued engagement and ongoing operational cooperation between relevant agencies, building on the conclusions of the meeting on these subjects held in Brussels on July 10. We further discussed various forms of violent extremism, including ethnically- and racially-motivated violent extremism, and we supported further expert exchanges to examine the international linkages among these groups.
The U.S.-EU agreement on Passenger Name Records (PNR) remains an important instrument for enhancing the security of our citizens. In that context, we look forward to the final report following the joint evaluation. We reaffirmed our shared interest in establishing ICAO standards to encourage rapid and effective implementation of UNSCR 2396 for the use of PNR to combat terrorist travel, with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Together we acknowledge that threats to security take on increasingly different forms, challenging our collective resilience. We discussed means to enhance cooperation on countering hybrid threats -- including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons, as well as explosives – and welcomed the U.S.-EU experts seminar on that issue held in Brussels in September 2019. We also recognized the challenges to security presented by drones. We further discussed challenges to cybersecurity and updated each other on our respective efforts to assess and address 5G security challenges, including those impacting the security of our supply chain. In particular, we discussed the need to work with industry to establish trusted markets for 5G and other telecommunications equipment and services. We will continue to keep each other informed of developments in this area and commit to approaching emerging technologies through a risk-informed perspective.
The United States and the European Union reaffirmed the importance of enhancing judicial cooperation in cyberspace, in particular with regard to cross-border access to electronic evidence. In this context, we welcome the negotiations for an U.S.-EU agreement facilitating access to e-evidence for the purpose of judicial cooperation in criminal matters. We agreed to review progress in the negotiations at the next Ministerial Meeting in 2020. Furthermore, we exchanged views on the ongoing negotiations for the Second Additional Protocol of the Budapest Convention and discussed the importance of making swift progress, in view of our joint and strong commitment to the Budapest Convention, which remains the instrument of choice for international cooperation on cybercrimes for both the EU and the United States.
We also acknowledged that the use of warrant-proof encryption by terrorists and other criminals – including those who engage in online child sexual exploitation – compromises the ability of law enforcement agencies to protect victims and the public at large. At the same time, encryption is an important technical measure to ensure cybersecurity and the exercise of fundamental rights, including privacy, which requires that any access to encrypted data be via legal procedures that protect privacy and security. Within this framework, we discussed the critical importance of working towards ensuring lawful access for law enforcement and other law enforcement authorities to digital evidence, including when encrypted or hosted on servers located in another jurisdiction.
We reiterated a common commitment to enhance the resilience of our electoral systems and to combat any form of interference in electoral processes. In this context we welcomed the outcome of the November 26 first experts’ meeting on resilience of electoral systems. The event brought together specialists from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss respective approaches and share best practices; we look forward to continuing dialogues on this issue.
Finally, we welcomed Poland’s designation for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which underscores the usefulness of the tripartite process and the encouraging progress made by four other Member States towards reciprocal visa free travel under our respective legal frameworks. We are committed to continue working together, in the appropriate frameworks, to support the remaining four EU Member States in their efforts towards designation in the Visa Waiver Program.
Reaffirming our joint commitment to advance together towards common solutions in all these areas, we agreed to meet again in the first half of 2020 in Croatia.
Jackson Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Kelvin Roy Thompson a/k/a “HOT” a/k/a “OLD SCHOOL,” 61, of Jackson, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III to 75 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for distribution of actual methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Director John Dowdy with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
On or about January 19, 2018, in Jackson, Mississippi, Thompson sold methamphetamine to an individual for $200. The DEA lab confirmed the purchase to be 13.2 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride with 98% purity.
On or about January 31, 2018, Thompson again sold methamphetamine in Jackson to an individual for $425. The DEA lab confirmed the purchase to be 26.9 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride with 98% purity. Later that day, agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics executed a search warrant at the Jackson residence of Thompson and recovered multiple bags of methamphetamine, a bag of heroin, and 3 digital scales. Agents also recovered a loaded Marlin bolt action rifle and Smith & Wesson revolver.
The case was the result of an investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Jackson Police Department and the Ridgeland Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keesha Middleton.
Jackson County Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Jackson County man pled guilty to a firearm offense, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. James Evans, 19, of Ravenswood, pled guilty to stealing firearms from a licensed firearms dealer.
“Stolen firearms too often end up in the hands of those who commit violent crimes - risking law enforcement and the public,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “24 firearms - the potential for harm was significant. Great work by the Ravenswood Police Department and ATF.”
Evans admitted that on April 7, 2019, he and three other individuals broke into the Old and New Sports store located in Ravenswood and stole approximately 24 firearms. Rebecca Ann Sellers, 18, and Destiny Moore, 19, were also charged in the case. A juvenile was prosecuted in Jackson County Circuit Court. The trial for Sellers and Moore is set for January 27, 2020.
Evans faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on April 15, 2020.
The Ravenswood Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. United States District Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks handled the prosecution.
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Indictment Charges 2 Men with Offenses Stemming from 2015 Shooting at New Haven RestaurantRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging TYTHRONE FORD, 26, of Bridgeport, and TREIZY LOPEZ, 23, of New Haven, with robbery and firearm offenses stemming from the attempted robbery of a New Haven restaurant, during which an employee was shot, in April 2015.
This matter stems from a “cold case” investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department. It is alleged that, on April 11, 2015, Ford and Lopez entered the Smokin’ Wings restaurant, located on Congress Avenue in New Haven, and demanded money at gunpoint. Lopez subsequently discharged a firearm, shooting a female employee in the stomach.
The indictment charges Ford and Lopez with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. In addition, Lopez is charged with carrying, using, brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Ford is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Ford was arrested yesterday and is detained. Lopez is currently incarcerated in state custody after being convicted of offenses related to a violent robbery in Bridgeport in April 2015.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter D. Markle, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, and Nathaniel J. Gentile.
Illegal Alien Indicted for Unlawful Reentry into the United States After Deportation and Illegal Possession of a Firearm Used in Fatal Shooting of His Minor ChildRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A man charged in state court with fatally shooting his minor son was indicted on federal charges of illegally re-entering the United States after removal and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the indictment today.
According to the two-count federal indictment, on September 30, 2018, Argel Hernandez-Escobar, 32, was found to be unlawfully in the United States after deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. 1326(a), and unlawfully possessed a Romarm-Cugir, Model Mini Draco, 7.62X39mm caliber pistol as a prohibited person, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(5). Hernandez-Escobar also has pending state charges in Shelby County Criminal Court for reckless homicide and aggravated child abuse.
If convicted, Hernandez-Escobar faces up to ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Border Enforcement Security Task Force, in conjunction with the Memphis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hall is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Hudson Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brian Northup, age 28, of Hudson, New York, pled guilty today to accessing a child pornography web site available only through an anonymous Internet network.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his plea, Northup admitted that in 2015, he accessed Playpen, an online forum through which registered users advertised, viewed, and distributed child pornography. Images and videos shared through the site were highly categorized according to victim age and gender, and type of sexual activity depicted.
Before the FBI seized the Playpen web site and shut it down, it was available only through an anonymous Internet network, which allowed users to access websites including Playpen without revealing their actual internet protocol address, geographic location, or other identifying information. Northup admitted that he logged into Playpen in order to access its child pornography content.
Northup faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on April 6, 2020. He also faces a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/
Heroin smuggler ordered to federal prisonRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 29-year-old Austin woman has been sentenced for smuggling heroin through the local port of entry, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Lorena Garcia pleaded guilty May 8 to possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin.
Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered Garcia to serve a total of 72 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
On Feb. 25, Garcia attempted to make entry into the United States from Mexico driving a Jeep Cherokee at the Brownsville Veterans International Bridge. Authorities referred the vehicle to secondary inspection where they discovered packages wrapped in black electrical tape in the vehicle’s firewall.
Law enforcement extracted a total of eight packages which all tested positive for the properties of heroin. The narcotics had a total weight of 7.04 kilograms and an approximate value of $253,440.
She has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Coronado prosecuted the case.
Harrisburg Woman Charged with Credit Union TheftRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brooke Shaeffer, age 24, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information with theft of funds on December 9, 2019.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the information alleges that in March 2017, Shaeffer stole approximately $19,599 from the Members 1st Federal Credit Union while employed as a teller.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli is prosecuting the case.
Criminal informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is imprisonment for ten years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Grand Jury Returns Three IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Brodhead Man Charged with Drug Crimes Involving Methamphetamine
Darrin Demrow, 43, Brodhead, Wisconsin, is charged with attempting to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that he attempted to possess methamphetamine on August 8, 2019, and that he possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on November 21, 2019.
If convicted, Demrow faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the charge of attempting to possess methamphetamine, and a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years on the charge of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Green County Sheriff’s Office, and Rock County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.
Madison Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm & Ammunition
Collin C. Tubbs, 30, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that he possessed a loaded .45 caliber handgun and ammunition on November 28, 2019.
If convicted, Tubbs faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution.
The indictment charging Tubbs has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, and violent crimes and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Woman Charged with Escape
Roxie Boling, 37, Kansas City, Missouri, is charged with escape. The indictment alleges that on December 2, 2019, she escaped from the Rock Valley Community Programs Center in Janesville, Wisconsin, where she was in custody by virtue of a conviction for a felony offense.
If convicted, Boling faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The charge against her is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson is handling the prosecution.
Getaway Driver for Downtown Pittsburgh Bank Heist Sentenced to 3 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA- A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court on his conviction of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Mark Hammond, 55, who received a total of 36 months’ imprisonment followed by 36 months’ supervised release at both counts one and two of the Indictment, to run concurrently. In addition to the 36 months’ for the robbery, Hammond was sentenced to an additional 24 months’ imprisonment, to be served concurrently, as he was on supervised release for a prior bank robbery conviction at the time of the offense.
According to information presented to the court, on January 10, 2018, Hammond served as the getaway driver for his codefendant, Alonzo Dunbar, who robbed the Huntington Bank located at 650 Smithfield Street in Pittsburgh of $1,678.00. The court was further informed that prior to the robbery, Hammond parked his vehicle on Smithfield Street and went into the bank to make change for $5.00, when, in reality, he was surveilling the bank. Hammond’s vehicle was identified in video surveillance footage, circling the area around the bank, stopping across from the bank, and leaving the bank following the robbery with Dunbar as a passenger. Hammond later received a portion of the proceeds from the robbery from Dunbar for his participation in the conspiracy.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Hammond.
Georgia Men Sentenced for Check Cashing SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Two Georgia men have been sentenced to prison for creating counterfeit checks and then cashing them at banks in Saratoga and Warren Counties.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett.
Alphonso L. Howard, Jr., age 29, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and to pay $119,077.54 in restitution. Howard also forfeited $16,660 in cash that he possessed at the time of his arrest by New York State Police. Howard additionally faces a parole violation proceeding in Wisconsin, where he was previously convicted of participating in a prior, similar check cashing scheme.
Javonte J. Johnson, age 23, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced on December 5 to 30 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, and to pay $119,077.54 in restitution. Johnson also forfeited $2,391 in cash that he possessed at the time of his arrest by New York State Police. Johnson has additionally agreed to plead guilty to grand larceny charges in Jefferson County Court, New York, arising from a similar check cashing scheme he committed there.
Each man pled guilty in federal court to 1 count of conspiring to commit bank fraud and 1 count of aggravated identity theft.
They admitted that they defrauded financial institutions by intercepting and stealing checks sent through the U.S. Mail; using information from these legitimate checks to create counterfeit checks drawn on the same financial accounts as the stolen, legitimate checks; and then cashing and attempting to cash the counterfeit checks at financial institutions in Saratoga and Warren Counties.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the New York State Police-Troop G, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett. Other agencies have assisted in the investigation and prosecution, including the District Attorney’s Offices in Jefferson, Saratoga and Warren Counties, the Glens Falls Police Department, the Burlington Police Department (Vt.), Vermont State Police, and the Stowe Police Department (Vt.).
GBK Gang Member Admits Selling Cocaine, Crack and Heroin in Pittsburgh’s West End NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of McKees Rocks, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, cocaine, and heroin, and a charge of distribution of heroin, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Monta Banks, age 29, pleaded guilty to four counts before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration initiated a wiretap investigation, primarily targeting the Greenway Boy Killas (GBK) street gang and drug trafficking in and around an area known as the Greenway Projects, located in the West End of the City of Pittsburgh. On January 29, 2018, agents made a controlled purchase of heroin from Banks. The wiretap interceptions began shortly thereafter, in February 2018, and continued through June 2018. The investigation revealed that from in and around November 2017 through in and around June 2018, gang member Monta Banks and his co-conspirators distributed cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin in and around the area of the Greenway Projects.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for May 20, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued the defendant’s detention.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tonya Sulia Goodman and Yvonne Saadi are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration jointly led the multi-agency investigation, which also included the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Robinson Township Police Department, Stowe Township Police Department, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Wilkinsburg Borough Police Department, and the McKees Rocks Police Department, that led to the prosecution of Monta Banks.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Four Oaks Man Found Guilty of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of A Firearm While Subject to Domestic Violence OrderRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, DWAYNE SHANNON REARDON, of Four Oaks, North Carolina, was convicted following a two-day trial before United States District Judge James C. Dever III. The jury found REARDON guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm while subject to a domestic violence order.
On February 21, 2018, officers with the Johnston County Sherriff’s Office responded to 114 Pine Tree Lane in Four Oaks, North Carolina, to arrest REARDON for violating a domestic violence protective order. When REARDON was searched in his backyard, officers found a bag of methamphetamine and a bag of cocaine in his pants pocket. Another bag of methamphetamine was seen in his truck, and a large amount of cash was found in the center console.
A search warrant was executed on REARDON’S house, where officers found a digital scale with methamphetamine residue, as well as other drug paraphernalia on his nightstand. Moreover, a handgun was found in an unscrewed vent beside REARDON’S bed.
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Donald Pender and Felice Corpening represented the government.