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13 December 2019
Woburn Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Woburn man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Vasily Hardy, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Rya W. Zobel to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2019, Hardy pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and has been in custody since his arrest in January 2019.
On Nov. 14, 2018, a police officer conducted a vehicle stop after observing the driver make multiple traffic violations. The officer was informed over the radio that there was an active warrant for Hardy’s arrest and he was subsequently arrested and his vehicle was searched. During the search, a Sig Sauer, semi-automatic pistol loaded with an eight-round magazine of .45 caliber ammunition as well as a second eight-round magazine were recovered. During an interview with law enforcement, Hardy confirmed that the handgun belonged to him and that he did not have a license to carry a firearm in Massachusetts. Further investigation revealed that Hardy was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a previous conviction of larceny from a person in 2013, which is punishable by more than a year in jail.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Wellesley Police Department, Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Waxahachie Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Extorting Women for Sexually Explicit Photographs and VideosRead the Press Release
In El Paso, a federal judge sentenced 32–year-old James Alger of Waxahachie, TX, to four years in federal prison for his scheme to extort females into sending him sexually explicit photos and videos, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Luis Quesada, El Paso Division.
On December 6, 2019, Senior U.S. District Judge David Briones sentenced Alger to two years imprisonment for wire fraud, cyberstalking, and interstate communications with intent to extort followed by two years imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. Judge Briones also ordered that Alger be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.
On April 2, 2019, Alger pleaded guilty to all four charges. By pleading guilty, Alger admitted that from 2016 to 2018, he messaged over 1,000 women he found through social media in an effort to obtain sexually explicit videos and pictures of them. Alger admitted that he would pretend to be one of several wealthy, famous individuals who would then offer to pay a large sum of money to have sex with the women he targeted. He managed to convince over 100 women to send him nude photos and videos, then subsequently demanded his victims continue sending him more sexually explicit videos and photos or he would release the explicit material in his possession to the victim’s friends and family.
The FBI conducted this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Hanna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Virginia Tax Lobbyist Sentenced to Prison for Filing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
An Alexandria, Virginia, tax lobbyist was sentenced to one year in prison today for willfully filing a false tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger for the Eastern District of Virginia.
According to court documents, attorney James F. Miller, 67, underreported his gross income on his 2010 through 2014 tax returns by more than $2.2 million. Miller, a tax policy lobbyist and former employee of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, filed multiple false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These returns omitted partnership income he received from two law firms and the gross receipts he received from his own lobbying firm. The total tax loss resulting from Miller’s fraudulent conduct was more than $730,000.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema, ordered Miller to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution to the United States in the amount of $735,933.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Terwilliger commended agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant United State Attorney Ryan S. Faulconer from the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Terri-Lei O’Malley of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division’s enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.
Vandalia Man Sentenced for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
On December 11, 2019, Wade Garrett McWhorter, 26, of Vandalia, Illinois, was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment for distributing methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today.
Court documents established that McWhorter, who pled guilty in August of 2019, was a felon who possessed and sold three firearms, one of which was stolen, and distributed methamphetamine on multiple occasions. The offenses occurred in Bond, Clinton and Fayette Counties. McWhorter has been in custody since his arrest on March 5, 2019.
A federal grand jury charged McWhorter and Aeron Michael Davis in the same indictment. In November, a federal judge sentenced Davis to 50 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in one of the methamphetamine sales and one of the firearm sales.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the charges against McWhorter and Davis.
U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami Hosts Reentry SimulationRead the Press Release
“A Day in the Life”
MIAMI, FL - U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida announced the successful completion of a Reentry Simulation yesterday at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami. More than 40 community members, officials and stakeholders attended the event, which simulates the struggles and challenges faced by individuals who are transitioning from incarceration back into society. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and its dedicated partners continue to take significant steps to reduce recidivism and help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully contribute to their communities.
The Reentry Simulation is just one of many initiatives that support Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. Locally, PSN is carried out by the Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), a holistic, three-pronged approach to violence reduction – one focused not only on enforcement, but also on prevention and reentry. Utilizing this multi-faceted approach, the VRP aims to reduce crime and promote safer and more resilient communities.
Each year, more than 600,000 citizens return to our neighborhoods after serving time in federal and state prisons, and another 11.4 million individuals cycle through local jails. The long-term impact of a criminal record prevents many returning citizens from obtaining employment, housing, a quality education, adequate health care, personal identification and even financial credit. These often-crippling barriers can contribute to a cycle of incarceration that makes it difficult for even the most well intentioned individuals to continue on the right path and avoid reentering the criminal justice system. Within the Southern District of Florida, comprehensive reentry initiatives promote the successful reintegration of returning citizens and strive to reduce recidivism. The goal is to help those who have paid their debt to society best prepare for substantive opportunities beyond the prison gates, promote family unity, contribute to the health of our economy, advance public safety, and sustain the strength of our local communities.
Participants in today’s VRP Reentry Simulation gained an understanding of the significant obstacles faced by men and women, upon their release from incarceration. Employment opportunities, social services, and resources are needed in order to support the returning citizens’ successful transition back into our local community.
In addition to the Reentry Simulations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners support other invaluable reentry initiatives.
In 2016, the Southern District of Florida launched its first ever Reentry Court, known as the Court-Assisted Reentry (CARE) Initiative. The CARE Initiative is a problem-solving, collaborative effort between U.S. District Court, the U.S. Probation Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Federal Public Defender representatives, and a Department of Justice Re-Entry Specialist. The CARE Team’s mission is to: help those returning from prison to become productive members of society by providing coordination for job training and placement, housing assistance, educational support, and the medical, substance abuse and mental health referrals; promote community safety by reducing recidivism and victimization; and reduce taxpayer spending on incarceration. Through bi-weekly court sessions, the CARE Team assesses each participants’ progress, addresses any issues with his or her reentry, decides whether wrap-around services can be provided, and determines appropriate rewards and/or sanctions. To date, six individuals have successfully graduated from the program.
To further support our returning citizens, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, alongside the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Probation and non-profit service providers have conducted Reentry and Resource (“in-reach”) Meetings at both the Federal Detention Center and the Federal Correctional Institution located in the Southern District. The meetings provide inmates preparing to be released from incarceration with the tools and information they need to navigate their successful re-entry into society and reduce their risk of recidivism. Since 2013, more than 300 individuals have attended the meetings and received a Reentry Resource Guide.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our community partners also continue to support the South Florida Reentry Center Hub, a traveling one-stop service center for returning citizens and their families. The Reentry Center Hub provides returning citizens with easy, centralized access to a variety of reentry services within their local communities. Since 2014, Reentry Center Hub events, held in Fort Pierce, Miami Gardens, Liberty City and Goulds, Florida, have reached more than 500 returning citizens and their families.
The success of these initiatives and today’s simulation would not have been possible without community support.
Additional information regarding the CARE and VRP initiatives is available at [email protected] (link sends e-mail) or by calling (305) 961-9134.
U.S. Attorney: Federal Grant will Support Drug Court in Ellis CountyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A grant from the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs will support the drug court program in Ellis County, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said today.
Ellis County will receive $406,366 as part of more than $333 million in Justice Department grants announced today to fight the opioid crisis across the nation.
“Drug courts are proven to reduce recidivism and increase the likelihood of rehabilitation,” McAllister said.
Funding for the grant to Ellis County comes from the Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program, Category 2. The grant supports enhancement of fully operational drug courts that incorporate the evidence-based principles included in the National Association of Drug Court Professionals’ Adult Drug Courts Best Practice Standards.
Kansas received a total of $30.9 million in grant awards from OJP in fiscal year 2019.
Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage .
U.S. Attorney Murray Announces That the Justice Department Has Awarded More Than $333 Million to Fight the Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs today announced awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis, of which more than $3.5 million will help public safety and public health professionals in the Western District of North Carolina to combat substance abuse and respond effectively to overdoses. OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan and U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray made the announcement.
“The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless,” said PDAAG Sullivan. “This epidemic—the most deadly in our nation’s history—is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice is here to support them during this unprecedented and extremely challenging time.”
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities—from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
“Opioid abuse and addiction are rampant nationwide, and unfortunately, Western North Carolina is not immune from this national epidemic. Federal funding provided by the Justice Department to counties in this district will go a long way toward providing much-needed services to the communities hardest hit by the widespread abuse of opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.
The awards announced today support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs. Grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts. Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs and support opioid-related research.
The following awards, totaling $3,555,478, were made to agencies and counties in the Western District of North Carolina, to support comprehensive abuse site-based programs, and/or adult drug court and treatment court for veterans.
- Buncombe County Health and Human Services - $878,803.
- Rutherford County - $600,000.
- Burke County - $600,000.
- Appalachian District Health Department - $551,257.
- Catawba County - $500,000.
- Cleveland County Health Department - $425,418
Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Two convicted of stealing from labor unionRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - Two 67-year-old Houston women pleaded guilty today for their roles in an embezzlement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Beverly Davis and Evelyn Smith were each employed with the Communications Workers of America Local 6222 in Houston. Davis was employed from 2010 to 2017, while Smith served as secretary/treasurer from 2005 to 2018.
At the plea today, Davis admitted she used union funds to pay for personal expenses and other unauthorized charges. By the time she ceased doing so in 2017, she had embezzled union funds in the amount of $85,536.77.
Smith began using union funds to pay for personal expenses in 2011. She stopped in 2018, but had taken $50,967.76 during that time.
According to the plea agreement, Davis administered a fund intended to help union members in financial hardships. As part of the scheme, she falsified reports to hide her activity. Smith had control over the general fund at the time she made the unauthorized transactions.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison accepted the pleas today and set sentencing for Feb. 28, 2020. At that time, each woman faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $10,000 maximum fine.
They were permitted to remain on bond pending those hearings.
The U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Labor Management Standards conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez is prosecuting the case.
Two New York Men Charged with Manipulating Publicly Traded StockRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – First Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that defendants Joseph Fabiilli, 58, of Middle Village, New York, and Christopher Knight, 55, of Forest Hills, New York, were charged by Indictment and arrested for conspiracy to commit securities fraud and securities fraud, related to their manipulation of the securities of Mainstream Entertainment, Inc., n/k/a Volt Solar Systems, Inc.
The Indictment alleges that Fabiilli, Knight and others manipulated the stock of Mainstream Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded security, through fraudulent press releases, a fraudulent securities disclosure filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and other fraudulent communications, and through manipulative stock trading. The defendants and others were thus able to fraudulently inflate the price of Mainstream Entertainment stock, and then sell their own shares at inflated prices, reaping illicit proceeds – a scheme which is commonly referred to as a “pump and dump”.
“The United States’ securities laws exist to safeguard the integrity of the markets and to protect individual investors who play by the rules. Accordingly, they must be vigorously enforced,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Williams. “These defendants allegedly violated these laws and will be held accountable if convicted. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the substantial assistance provided by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in investigating this case.”
“Fraudsters use ‘pump and dump’ schemes to enrich themselves, at the expense of innocent investors,” said Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. “The FBI is committed to cracking down on such harmful market manipulation, to protect both the public and our financial system.”
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of 50 years imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, a 3-year period of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Rinaldi.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two New Haven Residents Charged with Trafficking Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an eight-count indictment charging JAMES COOPER, also known as “Jimi” and “Bamboo,”48, and MINISHA SUMLER, also known as “Mish,” 30, both of New Haven, with narcotics trafficking offenses.
The indictment was returned on December 10, and both defendants were arrested yesterday. Cooper is detained, and Sumler was released today on a $25,000 bond.
As alleged in court documents, between August and November 2019, law enforcement made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of heroin and fentanyl from Cooper and Sumler.
The indictment charges Cooper and Sumler with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and with additional counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin and fentanyl. If convicted, Cooper and Sumler face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count of conviction.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Hamden Police Department. The Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.
Two Men Sentenced for Their Roles in Identity Theft ScamsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jeriel Slay, 29, of Brooklyn, NY, and co-defendant Sirr Wright, 44, of Norfolk, VA, who were each convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, were sentenced to serve 112 months and 48 months in prison respectively by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Cantil, who handled the case, stated that between December 2016 and September 2018, the defendants conspired with Angela Slay, Michael Wright, and others to defraud multiple victims.
As a part of their scheme, Jeriel and Angela Slay, who are siblings, stole the identities of unsuspecting individuals and created fictitious Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), with company names indicating ownership by the victims. The defendants then opened bank accounts under the names of the LLCs and fraudulently transferred money from a victim’s actual bank account to the LLC bank account.
Specifically, on December 14, 2016, Jeriel Slay fraudulently obtained Victim 1’s personally identifying information from the internet and opened a bank account in Victim 1’s name. Jeriel Slay then contacted Victim 1’s legitimate financial institution and transferred money via wire transfer from Victim 1’s legitimate account to the fraudulent bank account. Jeriel Slay, using device-making equipment, then created fraudulent driver’s licenses, fraudulent utility bills, and other identification documents in the name of Victim 1. The fraudulent driver’s license had Victim 1’s information but Sirr Wright’s image on the card. Using these fraudulent identification documents, Wright went to the bank that serviced the fraudulent Victim 1 bank account and withdrew the funds from that fraudulent account, totaling $65,960.
All defendants have been convicted in this case.
The sentencings are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.
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Two Florida Men Facing Federal Indictment in Maryland for Allegedly Scamming Elderly Victims of More Than $1.5 MillionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted David James Green, age 24, of Miami Gardens, Florida, and McArnold Charlemagne, age 32, of Miramar, Florida, on federal charges of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in connection with a scheme in which they allegedly defrauded more than 65 elderly victims of more than $1.5 million. The indictment was returned on December 3, 2019, and was unsealed on December 12, 2019.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the seven-count indictment, from January 2018 through August 2019, the defendants were part of a conspiracy to defraud elderly victims by persuading them to send thousands of dollars in cash to members of the conspiracy by falsely stating that the money would be used to help the victims’ relatives pay legal or other expenses in connection with crimes and other incidents that had not occurred. Charlemagne and Green’s co-conspirators allegedly telephoned elderly victims throughout the United States, posing as a police officer, lawyer, or other individual, falsely telling the victim that a relative, typically the victim’s grandchild, had been incarcerated in connection with a car accident or traffic stop involving a crime, and needed money—often tens of thousands of dollars—for bail, legal fees, and other expenses.
As stated in the indictment, during the telephone calls, the co-conspirators directed victims to send cash to a particular address via an overnight delivery service. The co-conspirators allegedly even posed as the victims’ relatives to further induce them to send the cash. Once the victims did send money, the co-conspirators called the victims asking for more cash, regularly obtaining tens of thousands of dollars from the retirement savings of victims. To prevent the victims from sharing the information with anyone, the co-conspirators allegedly told the victims that a “gag order” had been placed on the case requiring secrecy, or that the situation was embarrassing for the grandchild and they didn’t want anyone else to know about it.
The indictment further alleges that in order to conceal the crime, Charlemagne, Green, and other co-conspirators identified residential locations across the country where the cash should be sent, including in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Florida. Charlemagne and Green allegedly identified locations that were either vacant or for sale, so that no one would be at those locations at the time of the deliveries, then retrieved the packages of cash when they were delivered. Charlemagne, Green and other co-conspirators recruited and instructed additional people to assist in retrieving packages of cash from specified locations.
If convicted, Charlemagne and Green each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for mail fraud conspiracy and for each of three counts of mail fraud. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Charlemagne had his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner ordered Charlemagne to be released to a third party custodian, with the condition that he post a $100,000 bond. An arrest warrant has been issued for Green.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
The Department of Justice has an interactive tool for elders who have been financially exploited to help determine to which agency they should report their incident, and also a senior scam alert website. Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean R. Delaney and Matthew J. Maddox, who are prosecuting the case.
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Two Dallas Men Plead Guilty to Hate Crimes After Using Dating App to Target Gay Men for Violent CrimesRead the Press Release
Daryl Henry, 24, and Pablo Ceniceros-Deleon, 19, pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal hate crime and other charges in connection with their involvement in a scheme to target gay men for violent crimes.
Daryl Henry pleaded guilty to one count of 18 U.S.C. § 249 (hate crime act) and one count of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (conspiracy to commit hate crimes, kidnapping, and carjacking). Pablo Ceniceros-Deleon pleaded guilty to one count of 18 U.S.C. § 249 (hate crime act), one count of 18 U.S.C. § 2119 (carjacking), and one count of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence).
“Kidnappings, carjackings, thefts, sexual assaults, and armed, violent attacks against innocent people are heinous crimes, and when perpetrators commit those crimes against victims because of their sexual orientation, the U.S. Department of Justice will continue zealously to seek justice for the victims and to punish the perpetrators to the full extent of the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Prosecuting those who commit such monstrous acts because of victims’ sexual orientation is a priority of the Department of Justice, and we will continue to bring to justice anyone who commits such hateful, violent crimes.”
“These defendants used Grindr to single out their victim based on sexual orientation – something the Northern District of Texas simply will not tolerate,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox for the Northern District of Texas. “Unfortunately, this is not the first time a dating app user has fallen victim to a violent crime. I’m urging the public to be vigilant about the dangers lurking online.”
“One of the FBI’s top priorities is to defend the civil rights of the communities we serve. We actively work with our law enforcement partners to investigate hate crimes and achieve justice for the victims impacted by these violent crimes,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “The victims in this case were specifically targeted because of their sexual orientation. The FBI wants to reassure the public that we will pursue individuals who commit violent hate acts against any member of our community.”
According to court documents filed in connection with their guilty pleas, both Henry and Ceniceros-Deleon admitted Grindr was used, a social media dating platform primarily used by gay men, to lure gay men to a vacant apartment and other areas in and around Dallas for robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and hate crimes. Henry admitted that he and others held the victims against their will in the vacant apartment. Ceniceros-Deleon admitted that he and others traveled to local ATMs to withdraw cash from the victims’ accounts. Both Henry and Ceniceros-Deleon admitted that while the victims were being held captive they were subjected to taunts based upon the co-conspirators’ perception of the men’s sexual orientation.
In addition, Ceniceros-Deleon admitted to being the gunman in a Dec. 7, 2017, carjacking where he and others used Grindr to lure a man to a location and then forced the man, at gunpoint, to drive the conspirators to local ATMs to withdraw cash from the man’s account.
In March of 2019, Michael Atkinson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and kidnapping charges in connection with this case. Atkinson will be sentenced in February of 2020. Sentencing for Ceniceros-Deleon is set for April 1, 2020. The court has not set a sentencing hearing for Henry.
The FBI’s Dallas Field Office conducted the federal investigation; a separate criminal investigation is being conducted by the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Dana of the Northern District of Texas along with Special Litigation Counsel Rose E. Gibson and Trial Attorney Kathryn Gilbert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Two Computer Programmers Plead Guilty in Connection with Operating Two of the Biggest Illegal Movie and Television Show Streaming Services in the United StatesRead the Press Release
A resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, pleaded guilty yesterday to multiple criminal copyright and money laundering charges related to his running of iStreamItAll, one of the biggest illegal television show and movie streaming services in the United States, and to his working as a computer programmer with co-defendants to help build Jetflicks, a similarly large illegal television show streaming service. Today, a second defendant, who also resides in Las Vegas, pleaded guilty in the same court to a criminal copyright charge for his work as a computer programmer for Jetflicks.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Timothy R. Slater of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement today.
Darryl Julius Polo, aka djppimp, 36, pleaded guilty yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to one count of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement, one count of criminal copyright infringement by distributing a copyrighted work being prepared for commercial distribution, one count of copyright infringement by reproduction or distribution, one count of copyright infringement by public performance and one count of money laundering. In a separate proceeding today, co-defendant Luis Angel Villarino, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement. Sentencing for both defendants will be before U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III of the Eastern District of Virginia, with Polo’s on March 13, 2020, and Villarino’s on March 20, 2020.
According to Polo’s plea agreement, Polo ran a site called iStreamItAll (ISIA), an online, subscription-based service headquartered in Las Vegas that permitted users to stream and download copyrighted television programs and movies without the permission of the relevant copyright owners. Polo admitted that he reproduced tens of thousands of copyrighted television episodes and movies without authorization, and streamed and distributed the infringing programs to thousands of paid subscribers located throughout the U.S. Specifically, Polo admitted that ISIA offered more than 118,479 different television episodes and 10,980 individual movies. In fact, according to the plea agreement, ISIA had more content than Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and Amazon Prime, and Polo sent out emails to potential subscribers highlighting ISIA’s huge catalog of works and urging them to cancel those licensed services and subscribe to ISIA instead.
According to Polo’s plea agreement, Polo obtained infringing television programs and movies from pirate sites around the world—including some of the globe’s biggest torrent and Usenet NZB sites specializing in infringing content—using various automated computer scripts that ran 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Specifically, Polo used sophisticated computer programming to scour global pirate sites for new illegal content; to download, process, and store these works; and then make the shows and movies available on servers in Canada to ISIA subscribers for streaming and downloading. Polo also admitted to running several other piracy services—including a Usenet NZB indexing site called SmackDownOnYou—and earning over $1 million from his piracy operations.
In addition, in Polo’s and Villarino’s plea agreements, they each admitted that they separately worked as computer programmers at Jetflicks, another online, subscription-based service headquartered in Las Vegas that permitted users to stream and, at times, download copyrighted television programs without the permission of the relevant copyright owners. According to both plea agreements, Polo, Villarino and their co-conspirators at Jetflicks reproduced tens of thousands of copyrighted television episodes without authorization, and streamed and distributed the infringing programs to tens of thousands of paid subscribers located throughout the U.S.
Both Polo and Villarino also admitted that at Jetflicks they and their co-conspirators used automated software programs and other tools to locate, download, process and store illegal content, and then quickly make those television programs available on servers in the U.S. and Canada to Jetflicks subscribers for streaming and/or downloading.
In addition, as set forth in Polo’s and Villarino’s plea agreements, both Jetflicks and ISIA were not only available to subscribers over the internet but were specifically designed to work on many different types of devices, platforms and software including myriad varieties of computer operating systems, smartphones, tablets, smart televisions, video game consoles, digital media players, set-top boxes and web browsers.
The other defendants in the case are scheduled to go to trial starting on Feb. 3, 2020.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office conducted the investigation. Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Berrang of the Eastern District of Virginia and are prosecuting the case. The CCIPS Cybercrime Lab provided significant assistance.
Truck Driver Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegally Dumping 3,000 Gallons of Diesel FuelRead the Press Release
Albany, Ga. – The driver of a diesel fuel truck who dumped thousands of gallons of diesel fuel onto land draining into a Thomasville, Georgia creek in 2018, shutting down a school and causing a federally-led clean-up, was sentenced for his crime on Thursday, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Jaron Coleman, 40, of Oakville, Georgia, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on December 12, 2019 by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands. Defendant Coleman previously pleaded guilty to one count of Unauthorized Discharge of Oil in the Waters of the United States on Tuesday, September 10, 2019. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to the Statement of Fact entered in Court, on April 19, 2018, Mr. Coleman admitted that he dumped approximately 3,000 gallons of fuel on the ground near a gas station in Thomasville, Georgia after he realized he had loaded the wrong product for a delivery in Pelham, Georgia. Mr. Coleman, who was working for Eco Energy, did not have any permit or authorization to discharge the diesel fuel. The diesel fuel dumped on the ground migrated into an adjacent storm water drainage system that flows directly into a creek. The unnamed creek is a tributary of Good Water Creek which flows into Oquina Creek and then into the Ochlockonee River, a traditionally navigable water of the United States, and protected by the Clean Water Act. Under the Clean Water Act, diesel fuel is considered “oil” and the amount discharged was a harmful quantity. The discharge caused the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to engage in a costly clean-up and caused the evacuation of Garrison Pilcher Elementary School in Thomasville, Georgia on the same day as the incident, after school officials discovered a large amount of diesel fuel had swelled in ditches around the school.
“This defendant harmed the environment, endangered children at a nearby school and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in cleanup costs when he selfishly dumped fuel into the waterways of the United States. Our office is committed to enforcing federal laws protecting our natural resources, especially when the health and safety of our citizens are jeopardized. As reflected in this case, the consequences for violating environmental laws can include significant prison time,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to thank the EPA for their rapid response cleaning up our waterways and investigating this incident.”
“The defendant’s disregard for the law resulted in an oil spill that contaminated a local stream and triggered the evacuation of an elementary school,” said Special Agent in Charge Andy Castro of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Georgia. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that EPA and our law enforcement partners are committed to enforcing laws designed to protect the health of our communities and our natural resources.”
The case was investigated by the EPA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers prosecuted the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Three Men Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Three men, Syed Hoque, 24, of Brooklyn, New York, Tharushan Nirmalachandran, 30, of Ile-Bizard, Quebec, and Aijtharan Raveendran, 29, of Toronto, Ontario, have pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2019, Hoque, Nirmalachandran, and Raveendran, conspired with others to withdraw money from other persons’ bank accounts by using cloned debit cards at ATMs. A “cloned” debit card is a gift card or other type of card that has been re-encoded to contain other persons’ debit card information. Blank credit and debit or gift cards can be encoded with stolen credit and debit card information using an “MSR” or “Magnetic Stripe Reader” machine. An MSR machine can read and write the information stored in the magnetic stripe on the back of credit and debit cards.
On Friday, April 26, 2019, a witness reported to the Hudson Police Department that a man later identified as Hoque drove his car through an ATM in Hudson, New Hampshire, several times to make withdrawals. The Hudson Police responded and found Hoque in his car at the ATM. The officer saw that Hoque was holding a cell phone that was displaying several sets of numbers on the screen and saw a large amount of cash on the front passenger seat of his car and several ATM or credit cards on the center console.
A search of Hoque’s phone revealed text messages in an application called “WhatsApp” from the weekend of April 24 through 26, 2019. One group message chain from April 26, 2019, showed members of the conspiracy coordinating their activities as they withdrew money from ATMs with the cloned debit cards.
The trio was operating out of a hotel room in Methuen, Massachusetts. Hotel surveillance video showed that, early in the morning on April 27, 2019, Nirmalachandran and Raveendran carried large duffle bags out of their hotel room. Investigators later found duffle bags during a search of Nirmalachandran’s car that contained (i) a portable MSR machine; (ii) 103 Visa, American Express, and MasterCard gift cards, 96 of which contained cloned debit card information; (iii) $51,610 United States currency; and (iv) a Hewlett Packard laptop computer. A later search of the computer revealed text files that contained over 170 debit card numbers.
In total, from April 25, 2019, through April 27, 2019, members of the conspiracy successfully withdrew at least $43,980.00 and attempted to withdraw an additional $69,900.00 from other people’s bank accounts using cloned debit cards.
Hoque pleaded guilty today and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 1, 2020.
Nirmalachandran pleaded guilty on November 4, 2019 and will be sentenced on February 14, 2020.
Raveendran pleaded guilty on November 14, 2019 and will be sentenced on February 28, 2020.
“Fraudsters like these defendants cause serious damage by stealing money from their victim’s bank accounts,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “They also drive up business costs and undermine confidence in our banking system. In order to protect the citizens of New Hampshire, we will not hesitate to file federal charges against those who attempt to steal hard-earned money from innocent victims. I am grateful to the law enforcement officers whose hard work led to this successful prosecution.”
“The United States Secret Service is committed to investigating financial crimes including the unauthorized use of debit cards,” said Timothy Benitez, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Manchester Resident Office. “The success of this investigation is a result of the cooperation between federal and local law enforcement partners.”
This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service, with assistance from the Hudson and Methuen Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter.
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Thirteen Indicted on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Thirteen men were indicted on Dec. 4, 2019, and charged in federal court in Boston with various drug trafficking offenses and money laundering.
The following individuals were indicted:
- Yuen Liu-Torres, a/k/a “Chino,” 36, of New Bedford, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;
- Victor Alejandro-Carrillo, 28, of New Bedford, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
- Elvis Garcia, 37, of New Bedford, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;
- Jose Rodriguez-Garcia, a/k/a Pina, 35, of New Bedford, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;
- Jose L. Diaz Fontanez, 45, of New Bedford, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;
- Keon Green, 34, of New Bedford, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;
- Ricardo Correa-Perez, 44, of New Bedford, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;
- Caly Juan Montanez Agosto, a/k/a “Cali,” 38, of Puerto Rico, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;
- Manuel Colon, 48, of New Bedford, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin and 50 grams or more of fentanyl;
- Jaime Torres, 45, of Fall River, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine;
- Ricardo Torres, a/k/a “Louis Torres,” a/k/a “Angel Manzano,” a/k/a “Richie,” 46, of Chicopee, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;
- Alexander Santiago Medina, a/k/a “Flaco,” 32, of Fall River, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and
- Vicente Gonzalez, a/k/a/ “Viejo,” 46, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
The charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, as well as the charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and five grams or more of methamphetamine, each provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000. 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; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Joseph Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
Texas Woman Found Guilty for Role in $5.5 Million Federal Worker’s Compensation Overbilling SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury found a Texas woman guilty today for her role in a $5.5 million scheme to overbill the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Program for physical therapy and other services.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Robert Bourbon of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General’s (DOJ-OIG) Dallas Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Steven Grell of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General’s (DOL-OIG) Dallas Regional Office, Special Agent in Charge Chris Cave of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General’s (USPS-OIG) Southern Area Field Office and Special Agent in Charge James Ross of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s (VA-OIG) Criminal Investigations Division—South Central Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Ray Rayos of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Major Procurement Fraud Unit (MPFU), Southwest Fraud Field Office made the announcement.
After a five-day trial, before U.S. District Judge Karen G. Scholer of the Northern District of Texas, Melissa Sumerour, 48, of Lorena, Texas, was found guilty of six counts of health care fraud. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
According to evidence presented at trial, from approximately January 2011 to March 2017, Sumerour engaged in a scheme to defraud the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Program by overbilling for physical therapy. The evidence established that the fraud, in which Sumerour billed for more physical therapy than was provided, cost the Office of Workers’ Compensation Program in excess of $5.5 million.
One other defendant has been charged in this matter. Latosha Morgan, 42, of Grand Prairie, Texas, pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing in March 2020.
This case was investigated by DOJ-OIG, DOL-OIG, USPS-OIG, VA-OIG, and Army CID-MPFU. Trial Attorney Brynn Schiess and Counsel Amy Markopoulos of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
St. Francis Man Indicted on Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Richard Charles Young, a/k/a RC Young, age 45, was indicted on August 13, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 12, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life in prison and/or a $10,000,000 fine, at least 5 years, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each Count. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that no later than on or about the 1st day of January 2015, and continuing to on or about August 13, 2019, Young knowingly and intentionally, combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed with persons known and unknown, to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Indian Reservation.
The charge is merely an accusation and Young is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Young was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
South L.A. Man Gets More Than 5 Years in Prison for Multiple Credit Union Robberies, Including While He Awaited Trial for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A South Los Angeles man was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for robbing more than half a dozen credit unions – including two additional credit union robberies he committed while he was out on bond awaiting trial on federal bank robbery charges.
Trayvon McNutt, 33, of the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood of South Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr., who also ordered McNutt to pay $24,930 in restitution to the victim credit unions. McNutt pleaded guilty on August 30 to six counts of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery.
On six separate occasions between June and September 2018, McNutt walked into local credit unions, approached a teller and presented a note demanding money. Several of the notes stated, “I have a gun,” and “I am armed.” During a July 17, 2018 robbery of a California Credit Union in Carson, McNutt passed the teller a note that read, “This is a robbery. I am armed. Give me your cash or someone will get shot.”
The victim lenders were located in Lynwood, Gardena, Carson, Torrance and Hawthorne. On two separate occasions, McNutt returned to credit unions in Gardena and Carson that he previously robbed, and he robbed them again.
In October 2018, law enforcement arrested McNutt on a federal criminal complaint alleging bank robbery, and a federal grand jury indicted him during the following month. A search warrant executed at McNutt’s residence resulted in the seizure of bait bills, which banks use to trace bank robbers.
While he was out on bond in this bank robbery case, McNutt – this time, unlike the previous robberies, wearing a long dreadlocks hairstyle wig – robbed two additional credit unions in Hawthorne during a five-day span in May 2019. Later that month, McNutt again was arrested and has been in federal custody since that time.
In total, McNutt collected $24,930 in cash from the robberies, of which $2,115 was collected while he was awaiting trial.
The FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter. The Torrance Police Department and the Gardena Police Department provided assistance to the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lucy B. Jennings of the General Crimes Section.
Six Defendants Receive Federal Prison Sentences This Week for Drug Distribution and Federal Firearms Offenses; Two Plead Guilty for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced six defendants from Shreveport and the surrounding area were sentenced this week and two Monroe residents pleaded guilty for drug distribution and federal firearms offenses. The firearms cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Three Men Sentenced in Methamphetamine-Trafficking Conspiracy
SHREVEPORT, La. – David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana announced that three men responsible for trafficking methamphetamine in the Caddo Parish area have been sentenced to serve time in federal prison.
George Alan Highsmith, 48, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2019, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Jeffrey Scott Holder, 52, of Stonewall, Louisiana, and David Tilden Byrd, 45, of Doyline, Louisiana, admitted their guilt on July 2, 2019 and July 22, 2019, respectively. Both men acknowledged their roles in the conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Today, Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. sentenced Highsmith to serve 11 years in prison, to be followed by a five-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. On December 9, 2019, Judge Hicks ordered Holder to serve 115 months (9 years, 7 months) in prison, and on December 10, 2019, sentenced Byrd to five years in prison. Both received five years of supervised release.
The sentencings were the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after learning that Byrd, Highsmith and Holder were distributors of methamphetamine in the Caddo Parish area. Holder was supplied by Highsmith; Byrd and Highsmith often collaborated to distribute the meth. On November 6, 2018, the DEA and Louisiana State Police organized a controlled telephone call between Byrd and Highsmith, during which Highsmith agreed to purchase seven ounces of methamphetamine from Byrd at the Horseshoe Casino Hotel parking garage. When Highsmith arrived to meet Byrd, he was taken into custody.
After Highsmith’s arrest, he consented to a search of his hotel room where agents found 29.8 grams of pure methamphetamine, a drug scale, a Sig Saur 9mm semi-automatic handgun with one round of ammunition in the chamber and 12 additional rounds in the magazine, an additional 9mm magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition found inside an open safe located in the hotel room closet, and $1,970 in drug proceed money. Highsmith admitted that the 29.8 grams of meth was what remained of five ounces of meth he received from Byrd on November 5, 2018. The investigation revealed that Highsmith and Byrd’s source of supply was an individual in the Dallas, Texas, area.
On November 6, 2018, Louisiana State Police initiated a stop on Byrd’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Byrd consented to a search of his vehicle and troopers found approximately 475 grams of pure methamphetamine, syringes, two metal bowls, and a drug scale hidden above the rear fender of the pickup truck. Byrd admitted to purchasing one kilogram of methamphetamine from his north Texas supplier on November 5, 2018 for $7,600 and that he had purchased approximately three kilograms of methamphetamine from the same supplier from August 2018 until his arrest.
Holder was arrested on October 23, 2018, by a DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop of his vehicle that produced 122.69 grams of pure methamphetamine found in a black bag on the back floorboard.
The DEA, Louisiana State Police, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Shreveport Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.
Two Shreveport Felons Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearms
SHREVEPORT, La. – Lequinton Jerry, 25, and Omar Williams, 28, both of Shreveport, were sentenced on December 12, 2019, for illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney David C. Joseph.
According to information presented to the court, on June 7, 2018, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s deputies stopped Omar Williams’ vehicle for a traffic violation. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a Pioneer Arms, Model PPS43C, 9x19-caliber pistol in the trunk of the car and a Glock, Model 23, .40-caliber pistol underneath the front passenger seat. Williams told officers, “I know I am a convicted felon and not supposed to be in possession of a firearm,” and “I own the gun that was found in the trunk. I don’t own the other gun they found in the car.” The other gun was owned by Lequinton Jerry, the sole passenger sitting in the front seat, who was also in possession of matching .40-caliber ammunition inside his pants pocket.
At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. ordered Lequinton Jerry to 21 months in prison, and Omar Williams to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for each. Both defendants pleaded guilty to these charges on August 26, 2019.
It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition. Omar Williams previously pleaded guilty on June 16, 2014, to attempted illegal possession of weapons while in possession of controlled dangerous substances. Lequinton Jerry previously pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled dangerous substance (Alprazolam) on September 28, 2016.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper prosecuted the case.
Shreveport Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution, Federal Firearms Offense
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Roger W. Shepard, 32, of Shreveport, was sentenced December 10, 2019, by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr., to two years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and five years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, to run consecutively. Judge Hicks also sentenced Roger Shepard to three years of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Shepard pleaded guilty to these charges on July 31, 2019.
According to information presented to the court, on November 19, 2018, a Shreveport police officer responded to a complaint at the Sportran/Greyhound bus terminal. When the officer arrived, he saw Shepard in an argument with another individual and discovered that he was in possession of a Hi-Point .40-caliber pistol tucked into his waistband, a loaded magazine in his front pocket, and 43 individually wrapped packages of cocaine, totaling approximately 10 grams, which he intended to deliver to a third party.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.
Two Monroe Felons Plead Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge
Nanderrious Thomas
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Nanderrious Thomas, 22, of Monroe, pleaded guilty today, before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to felon in possession of a firearm.
According to documents filed with the court, Monroe Police Department officers were conducting an active warrant canvas on November 16, 2018, when they spotted Nanderrious Thomas, who had outstanding felony warrants. Thomas fled when he saw the officers and crawled under an abandoned house. Immediately after he was apprehended, a detective recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson, Model SD.40 VE, semi-automatic handgun from underneath the house, and 14 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition - one round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine.
Thomas has a prior felony conviction in Ouachita Parish for aggravated battery. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
Nanderrious Thomas will be sentenced by Judge Doughty on April 1, 2020, and faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshal’s Service, and Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Thompson is prosecuting the case.
Rodriguez Dewayne Cobbs
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Rodriguez Dewayne Cobbs, 27, of Monroe, pleaded guilty today, before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to felon in possession of a firearm.
According to documents filed with the court, on January 21, 2019, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cobbs following a traffic stop of his vehicle. During the course of the traffic stop, Cobbs informed the officer that he had a gun in his right front jacket pocket. Officers retrieved a Smith & Wesson, Model SD.40 VE, semi-automatic handgun loaded with one round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine, and a Glock .9mm magazine lying on the front passenger seat, loaded with two rounds.
Cobbs has prior felony convictions in Ouachita and Caddo Parishes for attempted possession of codeine, simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition.
Rodriguez Cobbs will be sentenced by Judge Doughty on April 1, 2020, and faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Thompson is prosecuting the case.
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Sioux Falls Woman Charged with Theft of Government Funds and Concealment of Information from Federal ProgramRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Theft of Government Funds and Concealment of Information from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program. The SSI program is administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration.
Nikona Jeffries, age 36, was indicted on December 3, 2019. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on December 12, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or between June 2017 and February 2019, Jeffries willfully and knowingly embezzled, stole, and purloined money from Tittle XVI program benefits payments made to her.
The Indictment also alleges that during that same period of time, Jeffries had knowledge of the occurrence of an event affecting her initial and continued right to receive payment of Title XVI SSI benefits. Specifically, Jeffries knowingly failed to report her income and employment, in order to continue receiving and spending SSI benefits.
The charges are merely accusations and Jeffries is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration Cooperative Disability Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Jeffries was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Sex Offender Is Sentenced to 30 YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. –U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. sentenced today April Nicole Pitchford, 31, of Mint Hill, N.C., to 30 years in prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release for producing child pornography, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Pitchford was also ordered to register as a sex offender after she is released from prison.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, between October 18 and October 19, 2016, Pitchford sexually abused a four-year-old victim. Court records show that Pitchford created a video depicting sexually explicit conduct with the minor, and sent it via text message to another individual.
On November 27, 2018, Pitchford pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. She is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. All federal sentencings are served without the possibility of parole.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mint Hill Police Department for investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cortney Randall of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Saudi Arabian national and UNM engineering student arrested for being an alien in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Hassan Alqahtani, 28, of Saudi Arabia, made an initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque today on a criminal complaint charging him with illegal possession of a firearm by an alien admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa.
According to a criminal complaint, Alqahtani allegedly possessed a .380 caliber firearm at his residence when the FBI searched the property on December 12, 2019. Alqahtani is a citizen of Saudi Arabia. He was lawfully admitted into the United States on a student visa. Alqahtani is currently enrolled at the University of New Mexico School of Engineering.
Alqahtani is currently in custody pending a detention hearing on December 16. He faces up to ten years in prison if convicted of the charged offense. A criminal complaint is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Albuquerque office of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Kraehe is prosecuting the case.
Saint Paul Armed Career Criminal Charged with Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced the unsealing of a federal indictment charging DEMETRICE DEVON MILLER, 29, with being a felon in possession of two firearms.[1] On December 12, 2019, MILLER made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Katherine M. Menendez in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to the indictment, on November 23, 2019, MILLER was found to be in possession of two firearms, namely, a Hi-Point, model JHP, .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol, and a Taurus, model G2C, 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol. Because MILLER has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. If convicted of the charge, MILLER faces a mandatory-minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison based on his prior convictions.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat violent crime. This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
DEMETRICE DEVON MILLER, 29
St. Paul, Minn.
Charges:
- Felon in possession of firearms- Armed career criminal, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Safety Harbor Man Charged with Distributing Fentanyl, Causing Death to One Individual and Serious Injury to AnotherRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of a superseding indictment charging David Burkes (51, Safety Harbor) with conspiring to distribute a substance that contained a mixture of fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, causing the death of one individual, and the serious injury to another. If convicted, Burkes faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.
According to court documents and information presented in court, beginning on August 12, 2019, Burkes distributed fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, to two individuals. The two individuals snorted the substance. A short time later, one of the individuals lost control of the vehicle the two were riding in, veered into a Walgreens parking lot, and overdosed. Medical personnel found the two individuals on the ground in the parking lot. They successfully revived one of the individuals, while the other died.
Between August 13, 2019, and August 15, 2019, after the fatal overdose, Burkes continued to distribute narcotics to undercover officers in Safety Harbor.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse. This case was investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diego F. Novaes and Kaitlin O’Donnell.
Rapid City Man Found Guilty of Attempting to Entice a Minor Using the InternetRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Japher Rajab, 42, of Rapid City, South Dakota, was convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet following a three-day federal jury trial held in U.S. District Court in Rapid City. The guilty verdict was returned on December 11, 2019.
Rajab was one of eleven men who were arrested and federally indicted as a result of an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2019 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting internet predators. Following multiple chats and text messages with a person Rajab believed to be a 15 year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent, he proceeded to negotiate the time and place he would meet the minor to engage in unlawful sex acts. When Rajab went to the pre-determined location to meet the minor, he was instead met by law enforcement agents and placed under arrest.
The undercover operation and arrests were a joint effort between the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins prosecuted and tried the case.
A sentencing date has not been set. Rajab was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Distribution of Marijuana, Money Laundering, and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Portland resident Isaiah Holt, 31, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine, money laundering, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Holt is a licensed electrician, motivational speaker, and fitness coach.
According to court documents, beginning in July 2016 and continuing until his arrest in April 2018, Holt used his association with a licensed marijuana producer in Portland to divert state-legal marijuana into the black market. Holt sold marijuana in-person to out-of-state customers traveling to Oregon and by mail to remote customers using the U.S. Postal Service.
Holt recruited two individuals to use their bank accounts to receive and launder proceeds of his marijuana sales. Out-of-state customers would send Holt mailing addresses and deposit payments into bank accounts in the names of various third-party associates. Holt would then direct these associates to withdraw the money from their accounts on his behalf. He used the cash to purchase multiple vehicles that he registered in his girlfriend and co-defendant’s name, Marjorie Livington. Holt also directed Livingston, 39, of Portland, to purchase and register firearms for him using her name.
On April 4, 2018, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) obtained and executed a search warrant on Holt and Livingston’s Northeast Portland residence. Agents found 11.5 grams of cocaine and nearly $2,000 in cash on Holt’s person and drug packaging materials, shipping labels, 14 pounds of marijuana, three firearms, and $46,100 in cash in the residence.
After his arrest and federal indictment, Holt continued to distribute cocaine. From April to August 2019, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of cocaine from Holt. While on his way to a fourth pre-arranged buy, Holt eluded a marked police car and later fled on foot, discarding approximately two ounces of cocaine along the way. In total, law enforcement purchased or recovered from Holt approximately 158 grams of cocaine during these purchases.
Conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and three years’ supervised release. Money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine or twice the value of property involved, and three years’ supervised release. Illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release.
Holt will be sentenced on March 9, 2020 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Michael W. Mosman.
As part of his plea agreement, Holt has agreed to forfeit one Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, one Ruger AR-556 5.56 caliber rifle, one Taurus 9mm pistol, all seized ammunition, and $46,100 in cash. He has also agreed to pay $32,600 to satisfy a forfeiture money judgement.
Livingston was indicted alongside Holt for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. She is scheduled to plead guilty to the firearms charge on December 16, 2019.
The case was investigated by ATF, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Portland Police Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Julia Jarrett and Leah Bolstad, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Plant City Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Mario Brooks (30, Plant City) to five years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Brooks to forfeit the firearm and ammunition.
Brooks had pleaded guilty on August 12, 2019.
According to court documents, on March 9, 2019, an officer from the Plant City Police Department located Brooks, who had violated the terms of his probation, at a residence in Plant City. When the officer arrived at the home, Brooks fled. The officer gave chase and yelled at Brooks to stop. The officer noticed that Brooks was holding a firearm in his right hand that appeared to be equipped with an extended magazine. Eventually, officers were able to catch Brooks and arrest him. Brooks later admitted that he had possessed a firearm—a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine—and 35 rounds of ammunition.
Brooks, who had previously been convicted of several felonies, including possession of cocaine, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault involving the discharge of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and robbery involving the possession of a firearm, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Plant City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violations of federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Derrick Jones, 34, pleaded guilty to four counts before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in July of 2017, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police had been surveilling Jones for suspected narcotics distribution out of his residence at 720 Hampshire Avenue in Pittsburgh. Successive trash pulls revealed packaging and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking and items with cocaine and crack cocaine residue. On July 21, 2017, Pittsburgh Police executed a search warrant at the residence and discovered a hanging basket in the dining room containing powder cocaine, baking soda, and drug packaging supplies. In various locations throughout the house, police recovered six firearms including an AK style assault rifle, additional powder cocaine and crack, and $4,578.00 in United States currency, as well as supplies for making crack cocaine. The defendant was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The court was further informed that Jones has a prior drug felony conviction and, as such, he is subject to enhanced penalties.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for April 30, 2020, at 9:00 am. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of $3,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Jones remains in custody pending the sentencing hearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Christy C. Wiegand is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jones.
Pierce County Resident Sentenced to 12 Years for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Eric Kurrelmeyer, 32, Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 12 years in federal prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for distributing child pornography. Kurrelmeyer pleaded guilty to this charge on October 3, 2019.
On December 28, 2018, an individual using the mobile messaging application Kik sent several pictures of child pornography to an undercover task force officer (TFO) from the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force in Washington, D.C. Officers identified Kurrelmeyer as the Kik user and executed a search warrant at his residence. As a result of the search, officers found evidence that Kurrelmeyer distributed the sexually-explicit images to the undercover TFO.
At sentencing, Judge Conley expressed concern about the defendant’s risk to the community, noting that Kurrelmeyer was both “boastful and transparent” about his sexual interest in children while chatting with the undercover TFO.
The charge against Kurrelmeyer was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Picayune Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison under Project EJECT for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Dewayne Yates, 28, of Picayune, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate to 96 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $1,500 fine, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Yates was previously convicted of felonious aggravated assault with a gun in Hinds County and was sentenced to serve twenty years in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections with ten of those years suspended. On March 31, 2017, Yates was found in possession of a firearm during an administrative checkpoint in Jackson, Mississippi.
In deciding Yates’ sentence, Judge Wingate varied upward from the Sentencing Guideline range, citing Yates’ prior criminal history and propensity for violence.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Jackson Police Department investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Phoenix Man Sentenced to Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On November 25, 2019, Melvin Woods, 26, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 84 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. Woods previously pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
On August 1, 2018, Woods sold blue “M-30” pills that looked like oxycodone to a customer at a pool store in Phoenix. Shortly after smoking one of these pills, the customer died from a fentanyl overdose.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by D.J. Pashayan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Pharmacist Admits Tampering with Infusion NarcoticsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced CARL MANCINI, 43, of Wolcott, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to one count of tampering with a consumer product.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Mancini was employed as a licensed pharmacist by a Connecticut company that prepared home or hospice care intravenous infusions for a variety of medical conditions, including pain management. As part of his duties, Mancini was responsible for formulating infusions of the correct concentration for specific patients pursuant to the orders of their physician. Between approximately January and June 2019, Mancini accessed a secure area of his workplace and took vials of hydromorphone hydrochloride and morphine sulfate pentahydrate that were intended to be used to formulate infusion for patients. He used a syringe to withdraw the narcotics from the vials and reinjected saline into the vial so that it would appear as if the narcotics were not missing. In order to hide his tampering, Mancini used specialized crimping tools to reseal the vials. He then returned the vials to the secure area at his workplace.
Mancini tampered with dozens of vials through this scheme. Laboratory testing of a sample of vials Mancini tampered with revealed that virtually all of the active drug had been removed and replaced with saline.
Mancini is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on March 11, 2020, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Mancini is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, the Cromwell Police Department and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
Pennsylvania Woman Who Stole from Mother Pleads Guilty to Failing to File Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that JENNIFER O’BRIEN, 51, of South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to failing to file federal tax returns.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2012 and 2014, O’Brien served as Power of Attorney for her mother and had control over funds intended for her mother’s benefit. At the time, O’Brien was known as Jennifer Brokaw and resided with her mother in Hebron, Connecticut. While O’Brien used some of her mother’s money for her mother’s benefit, she misappropriated more than $510,000 for her own use. She also failed to file federal income tax returns for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 tax years, resulting in a loss of $139,007 to the IRS.
O’Brien pleaded guilty to three counts of willful failure to file tax returns, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year on each count. O’Brien also will be required to cooperate with the IRS to pay all back taxes, interest and penalties.
O’Brien is released pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Laraia.
Ocala Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison on Federal Firearms and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Anthony David Diehlman (41, Ocala) to six years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Diehlman had pleaded guilty on July 9, 2019.
According to court documents, on March 8, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Diehlman’s Ocala residence as part of an investigation into illegal drug distribution. Inside the home, agents recovered more than 100 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, four loaded firearms, ammunition, and a taser. Three of the firearms were locked in a safe, along with Diehlman’s lease for the residence, identification documents, and cash. Following his arrest, Diehlman made a call describing the exact location of a hidden AR-15 rifle.
Diehlman is a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. He had posted photographs of himself with the recovered firearms on social media prior to the search warrant.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Ocala Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, and FentanylRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – U.S. Senior District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Deandre Amaad Williams (29, Ocala) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Williams had pleaded guilty on July 19, 2019.
According to court documents, between January 2012 and May 2019, Williams was a member of a conspiracy that distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin through a network of stash houses in Marion County. Large quantities of the heroin were also laced with fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ocala Police Department, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Attempted Possession of Radioactive MaterialRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. ordered today Bryant Riyanto Budi, 28, of Matthews, North Carolina, to serve 78 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, for attempted possession of radioactive material with intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to another person.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina, John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Charlotte Division, and Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and the Carolinas made the announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from April 22, 2018, to June 1, 2018, Budi attempted to possess radioactive material, and did so with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to another person. Court documents show that Budi contacted an FBI online covert employee via the internet to purchase a lethal dose of a radioactive substance. In his communications with the covert employee, Budi expressed his intent to use the radioactive substance to kill an unnamed individual. On May 31, 2018, a package containing an inert substitute for the radioactive material ordered by Budi was delivered to an address in Charlotte as instructed by Budi. Budi was arrested on June 1, 2018, after he came into possession of the package, and pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2018. Separately, Budi also contacted an HSI undercover agent (UCA) via the internet and hired the UCA to murder a specified victim.
In making today’s announcement Assistant Attorney General Demers and U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the FBI in Charlotte and supporting FBI field offices; the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate in Washington, D.C.; HSI in Buffalo, New York and Charlotte; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Attempted Possession of Radioactive MaterialRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. ordered today Bryant Riyanto Budi, 28, of Matthews, North Carolina, to serve 78 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, for attempted possession of radioactive material with intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to another person.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina, John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Charlotte Division, and Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and the Carolinas made the announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from April 22, 2018, to June 1, 2018, Budi attempted to possess radioactive material, and did so with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to another person. Court documents show that Budi contacted an FBI online covert employee via the internet to purchase a lethal dose of a radioactive substance. In his communications with the covert employee, Budi expressed his intent to use the radioactive substance to kill an unnamed individual. On May 31, 2018, a package containing an inert substitute for the radioactive material ordered by Budi was delivered to an address in Charlotte as instructed by Budi. Budi was arrested on June 1, 2018, after he came into possession of the package, and pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2018. Separately, Budi also contacted an HSI undercover agent (UCA) via the internet and hired the UCA to murder a specified victim.
In making today’s announcement Assistant Attorney General Demers and U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the FBI in Charlotte and supporting FBI field offices; the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate in Washington, D.C.; HSI in Buffalo, New York and Charlotte; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Gleason of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution, assisted by Trial Attorney Bridget Behling, of the National Security Division.
Niagara Falls Man Sentenced on Drug Charge After Officers Find 5 Kilograms of Cocaine in His CarRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jose Garcia-Santiago, 61, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Adler, who handled the case, stated that in September 2017, the U.S. Postal Service intercepted packages arriving from Puerto Rico and addressed to various residences in Niagara Falls, NY. Postal inspectors seized approximately five kilograms of cocaine that were intended for Santiago and his co-conspirators. One of the packages was addressed directly to the defendant’s home address. Another was addressed to the home of Katherine Dejesus-Gonzalez.
Thereafter, beginning on May 8, 2018, investigators intercepted numerous conversations involving the defendant discussing cocaine trafficking and the associated proceeds. Many of those conversations were with co-conspirator Edgar Joel Jimenez-Rodriguez.
On May 26, 2018, the New York State Police stopped the vehicle the defendant was driving. Co-conspirator Katherine Dejesus-Gonzalez was a passenger. Troopers seized five kilograms of cocaine from the vehicle.
All three defendants have been convicted.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent
Thomas Licata, and the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Lieutenant Kevin Reyes and Major Mary Clark.
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New York Parolee Pleads Guilty to Possession of Credit Card Manufacturing EquipmentRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Changa Bush (41, New York) has pleaded guilty to possession of credit card manufacturing equipment. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison, plus an additional penalty for violating his parole. Bush is currently on parole out of New York for assault causing serious physical injury; he has been detained since his arrest on September 6, 2019. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, on April 12, 2019, a deputy from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office began following a stolen vehicle being driven by Bush. Bush eventually pulled the car into a gas station, parked, and the deputies made contact with him. During his subsequent arrest, law enforcement seized credit cards from Bush that were in the names of various individuals, along with counterfeit forms of identification matching the names on the credit cards. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered a magnetic stripe card writer and reader, two laptops, three thumb drives, a long-range wireless adapter, and nine cell phones.
A subsequent forensic examination of the seized items by the United States Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force located 37 credit card account numbers, software used to encode and decode the magnetic strips of credit cards, and evidence of the installation of printers designed for printing identification cards.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service (Jacksonville Field Office) and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
New York City man who made false statements involving terrorism sentenced 57 months in prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A New York City man who admitted lying to federal agents about wanting to fight for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham or “ISIS” and to conduct an attack in the United States was sentenced today to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Fabjan Alameti, 21, from the Bronx, in New York City, NY, pleaded guilty in August to two counts of false statements to a federal officer in a matter involving terrorism.
Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
“Because of the vigilance of the FBI, and the good work and coordination among the FBI, our Anti-Terrorism Unit, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section, the people of Montana were never in any real danger. Stopping acts of terrorism is the top priority of the DOJ, and we will prosecute all who would commit them to the full extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
“This case highlights the real threat posed by homegrown violent extremists, people who self-radicalize at home and are prone to attack with little to no warning,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Haertel, of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office. “Preventing terrorist attacks is the FBI’s number one priority and the mission of our Joint Terrorism Task Forces. We will use every investigative tool available to us and continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, assess and disrupt threats to keep our communities safe."
Prosecution documents filed in the case said Alameti had been part of a terrorism investigation by the FBI in 2018. Alameti became an ISIS supporter, watching ISIS videos online and making pro-ISIS posts on a Facebook account. The FBI questioned him about his fascination with ISIS, and Alameti denied any affiliation or support for the designated foreign terrorist organization. The investigation also involved an FBI confidential source who Alameti encountered while posting messages on a pro-ISIS social media page. Alameti believed the confidential source was an ISIS supporter who lived in the Middle East.
In March, Alameti boarded a bus and traveled from New York to Bozeman, where he agreed to speak with an FBI agent. During that interview, Alameti said he had never talked about traveling overseas to fight for ISIS and that he had never wanted to hurt any Americans or anyone in the military.
However, Alameti had used a Facebook account and communicated with others that he wanted to travel overseas and fight for ISIS because he wanted to die a martyr’s death. Alameti also communicated with others about targeting people in the United States and identified targets as gay night clubs, a federal building and an Army recruiting center. Alameti admitted making statements to an individual that he wanted to “shoot people or something,” “I will attack random people to avenge the blood,” and “I’m going to Montana and gonna (sic) buy a gun since all they need is a background check and ID.”
Agents ultimately arrested Alameti in April at a Bozeman shooting range where he attempted to rent a semi-automatic rifle. The FBI arrested him on charges of possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
The prosecution also presented evidence at sentencing that while in custody at the Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby, Mt., Alameti is suspected asking another inmate in October about getting guns and explosives. During a facility-wide sweep of inmate housing units in November, officers found a razor blade tucked between pages in a book found in Alameti’s cell and pro-ISIS and anti-United States messages written on Alameti’s cell wall.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes and Trial Attorney Rebecca Magnone, from the Counterterrorism Section of U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division, prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin ChargeRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Peter Oliver Henry, 63, of New Orleans, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to possession with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Mississippi Field Office.
Henry will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on March 20, 2020, and faces a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison for the drug charge and a minimum of 5 years of supervised release. He also faces maximum fines of $5,000,000.
On June 4, 2019, agents with the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force in Jackson County covertly purchased 4 ounces of heroin from Henry for $10,000. Henry came to the parking lot of a local Gulf Coast shopping mall and exchanged 5 bags of heroin for the cash. Henry was subsequently arrested walking into the mall, and the money used to purchase the heroin was recovered from his car.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
Neshoba County Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Daniel S. Dixon, Jr. Tubby, 39, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, was sentenced Friday by Chief United States District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to 33 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for sexual abuse of a minor within the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and FBI Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin. Tubby was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender.
On January 17, 2018, the Choctaw Police Department responded to a call for assistance in the Pearl River Community. The 14 year old victim was taken to Choctaw Health Center for treatment. Tubby admitted to sexually abusing the minor. Tubby pled guilty before Judge Jordan in September.
This case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie.
Nampa Man Sentenced to Prison on Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BOISE – Harley Wayne Batchelor, 28, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. A federal grand jury indicted Batchelor on March 12, 2019.
According to court records, in February 2019, parole agents and Nampa police officers arrested Batchelor on an outstanding parole warrant at a Nampa motel. Agents located a semi-automatic pistol underneath where Batchelor was lying on a bed. Batchelor has a violent criminal history that includes a felony conviction for aggravated battery, which prohibits him from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Nampa Police Department, and Idaho Department of Correction.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice's signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department's past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
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Moss Point Man Pleads Guilty under Project EJECT to Illegally Possessing Sawed-Off ShotgunRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Paul Leon Heathcoe, 53, of Moss Point, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Heathcoe will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on March 19, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
On July 21, 2018, a woman arrived at the emergency room of a hospital in Jackson County and informed law enforcement that Heathcoe had assaulted her and was in possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Heathcoe is a convicted felon and therefore prohibited from legally possessing a firearm. As a result, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Heathcoe and a search warrant for his residence.
Upon executing the search warrant, deputies discovered a shotgun with a barrel measuring a little over 12 inches and an overall length of approximately 19 inches. Both the stock and the barrel had been cut off. Law enforcement also found a modified holster that Heathcoe used to wear the shotgun around the house according to the victim.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Mission Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Edward Zane Roubideaux, Jr., age 29, was indicted on December 10, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 12, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Roubideaux was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in November 2011. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. It is alleged that between August 15, 2019, and September 19, 2019, Roubideaux, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of conviction under Federal Law, failed to properly register as a sex offender and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Roubideaux is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Roubideaux was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Minnesota Sex Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to Register as A Sex Offender While on the Run in FloridaRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced the sentencing of Michael Gilbert Brown, 40, of Minnesota, after he pled guilty to one count of failing to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and
Notification Act (SORNA). Brown was sentenced to 2½ years in federal prison by the U.S. District
Court in Tallahassee.Brown, who was convicted in 2012 of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a 14-year- old teen, entered a halfway house after he was released from a Minnesota prison in 2018. Within a month of his release, Brown fled from the halfway house and was considered a fugitive. Brown was subsequently located in Tallahassee, Florida, where he was arrested in July 2018. An investigation revealed that Brown left Minnesota with his girlfriend and her child using a bus ticket issued under a false name. It was also determined that Brown knowingly failed to notify the State of
Minnesota of his intent to relocate to Florida, and that he failed to register as a sex offender with the State of Florida upon his arrival in Tallahassee.In addition to the sentence of 30 months of incarceration in federal prison, Brown was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and to participate in and successfully complete a sex offender treatment program.
Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the
United States Marshals Service with assistance from Ramsey County (Minnesota) Community
Corrections, Predatory Offender Unit. Don Ladner, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Florida, stated “the U.S. Marshals are deeply committed to protecting our society from sex offenders who fail to register as required by law.”The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.Mexican National Sentenced to 5 Years’ Prison for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for ProfitRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On December 9, 2019, Yohan Humberto Castro-Reyes, 33, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 60 months’ imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. Castro-Reyes previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens for profit.
On May 14, 2019, Castro-Reyes was arrested for conspiring to harbor and transport between 25-99 illegal aliens. Castro-Reyes concealed the aliens in a residence and involuntarily detained them through coercion or threat while demanding payment. Castro-Reyes possessed and brandished a 9mm firearm while harboring the aliens in the residence.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and United States Customs and Border Protection. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Raquel Arellano and Stuart J. Zander, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Metairie Man Indicted for Capital One Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser announced today that LEVI HERMAN (HERMAN), age 33, was charged in a one-count Indictment for bank robbery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a).
According to the Indictment, HERMAN robbed the Capital One Bank located in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 4, 2019.
If convicted, HERMAN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of three years, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that an Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is in charge of the prosecution.
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