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Monday 4 November 2019
Two Huntington Men Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – In two separate cases, Huntington men were sentenced to five years in prison for federal drug crimes, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.
“Week after week we are sending heroin and fentanyl dealers to federal prison,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “When I took office, I promised to get poison peddlers off of our streets and lock them up, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
George Gordon, 46, was sentenced for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Gordon previously admitted that on December 19, 2018, officers with the Huntington Police Department executed a search warrant at Gordon’s residence at 416 30th Street in Huntington. Officers recovered 67 grams of fentanyl from a jar in the kitchen. The Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.
David Bond, 38, previously pled guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. On three separate occasions between February 7, 2018, and February 20, 2018, Bond sold heroin and what he believed to be heroin, but in fact turned out to be fentanyl, to a confidential informant working with the DEA/HIDTA Task Force. The drugs sold on these dates were tested by the DEA Lab and confirmed to be heroin and fentanyl. The DEA/AHIDTA Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe handled the prosecution.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), an enforcement surge that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
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Texas Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that James Elmer Sneed IV, age 35, was sentenced last week to 84 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for one count of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Honorable Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.
According to court records, during the course of drug investigations in Clark County, Arkansas, in 2018, investigators of the Group 6 Narcotics Enforcement Unit received information that Sneed was involved in drug trafficking. Sneed is a convicted felon who investigators learned was wanted in Texas for parole violations. Group 6 was also warned that Sneed was in possession of multiple firearms and a bulletproof vest. In February 2018, while attempting to locate and arrest Sneed, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in Caddo Valley, Arkansas. Sneed was found in a bedroom inside. Within Sneed’s reach were a stolen AR-15, a loaded .380 caliber pistol, and evidence of drug distribution. In the residence, Group 6 investigators also found and seized two rifle magazines holding .223 caliber ammunition, a bulletproof vest, and several thousand dollars in cash.
Sneed was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2018, and he entered a guilty plea in April 2019.
This case was investigated by Group 6 Narcotics Enforcement Unit and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case for the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Texas Man Charged with Kidnapping and Stalking Appears in Massachusetts Federal CourtRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Texas man arrested and charged in September 2019, made his first appearance in federal court in Springfield today for kidnapping and stalking.
Sunil K. Akula, 30, was arraigned in federal court in Springfield today on charges of kidnapping and stalking. Akula was detained and transported to the District of Massachusetts after being arrested on Sept. 27, 2019.
According to charging documents, on Aug. 6, 2019, Akula traveled from his home in Texas to Agawam, Mass. to confront his wife, from whom he was living apart. A couple of days later, he physically assaulted his wife and forced her to leave her apartment, stating that he was taking her back to Texas. Akula held his wife’s phone, wallet, and computer, and forced her into his car with only the clothes she was wearing.
Akula allegedly then drove his wife south through many states, during which time he again assaulted her, forced her to send a resignation e-mail to her employer, and smashed her laptop and threw it on the side of the highway. Akula stopped at a Knox County, Tenn. hotel, where he again beat his wife. When Akula could not quiet his wife or stop her from crying loudly, Akula opened the door to leave the hotel room, where he was met and arrested by officers of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
The charge of kidnapping provides for a sentence of up to life prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of stalking provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Chicopee Police Chief William R. Jebb; Agawam Police Chief Eric Gillis; Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler; and Plano (Texas) Interim Police Chief Dan Curtis made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla, Chief of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Statement by United States Attorney William M. McSwain on the Shootings of 11 Month-Old Yazeem Jenkins and Two Year-Old Nikolette Rivera in PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
Philadelphians are shocked and outraged by two recent shootings of the most innocent among us: 11 month-old Yazeem Jenkins, who was shot four times on October 19 in Hunting Park while in a car with his father and stepmother, and two year-old Nikolette Rivera, who was shot in the head the next day while in her mother’s arms in her living room in Kensington. Nikolette has been buried and Yazeem is fighting for his life at Children’s Hospital.
The community is united in its condemnation of these heinous acts – but we must be honest about what enabled them to happen. It is the misguided policies of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner that led to these avoidable and heartbreaking tragedies. No amount of excuses or deflection can change this fact.
Francisco Ortiz has been charged with the attempted murder of Yazeem, and he is also alleged to have supplied one of the weapons that was used in the attack on Nikolette’s family. Ortiz never should have been on the street to begin with. He has a long rap sheet, which includes serving ten years in prison on gun charges. He finished serving that sentence in April and was released. Within three months of his release, he was arrested again in July on gun charges and his bail was originally set at $100,000. He was held for trial after a preliminary hearing, at which point his attorney asked for reduced bail.
That was the point at which a responsible prosecutor would have stepped in and fought tooth and nail against any reduction in bail. In fact, a responsible prosecutor would have asked for an increase in bail after the preliminary hearing, which had established probable cause for the crimes.
Krasner, however, is anything but a responsible prosecutor. Instead, he is a defense-oriented ideologue who is more interested in looking out for the likes of Francisco Ortiz than he is in protecting public safety. So his office consented to the court slashing Ortiz’s bail in half. At which point Ortiz made bail, was released, and returned to his life of crime. Soon, Nikolette would be dead and Yazeem would be clinging to life. For good measure, Ortiz is also a prime suspect in a September homicide in the City’s Lawncrest section.
It is not the job of the District Attorney to give Francisco Ortiz a helping hand. It is the job of the District Attorney to pursue justice and prosecute dangerous, violent felons like Ortiz to the fullest extent of the law.
There are real-world consequences to having a District Attorney who cares more about defendants than he does about victims and public safety. When it comes to dealing with violent criminals, the public doesn’t need a prosecutor whose overarching principle is decarceration. It needs robust enforcement of our criminal laws. That is what will make a difference in our community – and that is what Nikolette and Yazeem and their families deserve.
Southern Colorado Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Plotting to Blow up SynagogueRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division and Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn for the District of Colorado, and Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips for the FBI Denver Division announced today that a Colorado man has been charged with a federal hate crime for plotting to blow up the Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado.
Richard Holzer, 27, of Pueblo, Colorado, was charged by criminal complaint with intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs, through force and the attempted use of explosives and fire, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 247.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Holzer planned to destroy Temple Emanuel, a synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After visiting Temple Emanuel and observing Jewish congregants, Holzer, who self-identifies as a skinhead and a white supremacist, told undercover FBI agents that he wanted to do something that would tell Jewish people in the community that they are not welcome in Pueblo, and they should leave or they will die. The affidavit states that during a meeting with the undercover agents, Holzer repeatedly expressed his hatred of Jewish people and his support for RAHOWA, shorthand for a racial holy war. Holzer went on to suggest using explosive devices to destroy the Synagogue and “get that place off the map.” The affidavit notes that Holzer’s actions meet the federal definition of domestic terrorism in that his actions involve criminal acts dangerous to human life that are intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.
Holzer allegedly met with undercover agents posing as fellow white supremacists to discuss a plan to attack Temple Emanuel, then visited the Synagogue together. The affidavit alleges that Holzer then made additional trips on his own to inspect the Synagogue and coordinated with undercover agents to obtain explosives.
On the evening of Nov. 1, 2019, Holzer allegedly met with undercover agents, who provided Holzer with inert explosive devices that had been fabricated by the FBI, including two pipe bombs and 14 sticks of dynamite. According to the affidavit, Holzer planned to detonate the explosives several hours later, in the early hours of Saturday morning, Nov. 2, 2019.
Assistant United States Attorney Julia Martinez and Trial Attorney Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorney Erin Creegan of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Pueblo Police Department and Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
Holzer is currently in federal custody. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.
The charge in the complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Southern Colorado Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Plotting to Blow up SynagogueRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division and Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn for the District of Colorado, and Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips for the FBI Denver Division announced today that a Colorado man has been charged with a federal hate crime for plotting to blow up the Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado.
Richard Holzer, 27, of Pueblo, Colorado, was charged by criminal complaint with intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs, through force and the attempted use of explosives and fire, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 247.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Holzer planned to destroy Temple Emanuel, a synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After visiting Temple Emanuel and observing Jewish congregants, Holzer, who self-identifies as a skinhead and a white supremacist, told undercover FBI agents that he wanted to do something that would tell Jewish people in the community that they are not welcome in Pueblo, and they should leave or they will die. The affidavit states that during a meeting with the undercover agents, Holzer repeatedly expressed his hatred of Jewish people and his support for RAHOWA, shorthand for a racial holy war. Holzer went on to suggest using explosive devices to destroy the Synagogue and “get that place off the map.” The affidavit notes that Holzer’s actions meet the federal definition of domestic terrorism in that his actions involve criminal acts dangerous to human life that are intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.
Holzer allegedly met with undercover agents posing as fellow white supremacists to discuss a plan to attack Temple Emanuel, then visited the Synagogue together. The affidavit alleges that Holzer then made additional trips on his own to inspect the Synagogue and coordinated with undercover agents to obtain explosives.
On the evening of Nov. 1, 2019, Holzer allegedly met with undercover agents, who provided Holzer with inert explosive devices that had been fabricated by the FBI, including two pipe bombs and 14 sticks of dynamite. According to the affidavit, Holzer planned to detonate the explosives several hours later, in the early hours of Saturday morning, Nov. 2, 2019.
Assistant United States Attorney Julia Martinez and Trial Attorney Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorney Erin Creegan of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Pueblo Police Department and Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
Holzer is currently in federal custody. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.
The charge in the complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Ross Twp. Man Illegally Used the Internet and His Cell Phone in an Attempt to Meet a 14-Year-Old Boy for SexRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Ross Township, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Thomas Perry Stultz, age 37, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from February 6, 2019 until on or about April 5, 2019, Stultz used a facility or means of interstate commerce, specifically the Internet and over a cellular phone network, to communicate with an undercover agent, believing the agent to be a minor, to knowingly attempt to persuade, induce, entice and coerce the purported minor to engage in illegal sexual activity with him. Stultz believed the undercover agent to be a 14-year-old boy and, through his Internet and text communications, attempted to persuade the minor to meet him to engage in illegal sexual activity. Stultz made several arrangements to meet with the purported minor that fell through. Each time, Stultz reinitiated contact with the undercover agent. During one conversation, Stultz reassured the purported minor, texting: "This isn’t pretend at all. I’m actually very interested in meeting you." On April 5, 2019, through text messages, Stultz made plans to meet with the purported minor. The plan was to go back to Stultz’s residence to engage in sexual activity. Law enforcement arrested Stultz as he arrived at the predetermined meeting location.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for March 30, 2019. The law provides for a total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court revoked defendant’s bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Stultz.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Rochester Housing Authority Employee Charged with Defrauding Rochester Housing Charities and ObstructionRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a Janis White, 58, of Rochester, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with defrauding and conspiring to defraud the Rochester Housing Charities and with obstructing the government’s investigation. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Resnick, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the defendant is the Executive Secretary for the Director of the Rochester Housing Authority (RHA) and the previous Board Secretary for the Rochester Housing Charities (RHC). Previously, White also acted as a bookkeeper for RHC and recorded the minutes for the RHC board meetings.
The RHA, which has an annual contract with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides housing opportunities and services for the Rochester community. The RHA formed the RHC to assist in advancing the purposes of the RHA.
HJJ Property Development (HJJ Property) was a business started on March 9, 2018, with an address of 21 Bock Street in Rochester. The business is owned by Margaret and Howard Jones Jr., the defendant’s mother and stepfather, but White actually controlled HJJ Property.
According to the complaint, White, on behalf of HJJ Property, billed the RHC for worked never performed by HJJ Property. The defendant submitted false invoices on behalf of HJJ Property totaling approximately $87,069.00.
White is alleged to have prepared a fraudulent invoice from HJJ Property addressed to the RHC which made it appear that HJJ Property had provided services to the RHC. Despite HJJ Property providing no services to the RHC, the defendant caused the RHC to pay HJJ Property the amount contained on the fraudulent invoice.On other occasions, a contractor would provide the RHC with an estimate for services to be performed for the RHC. Both the person who approved the hiring of vendors for the RHC (RHC Agent) and the defendant would receive a copy of the invoice. White would then prepare a fraudulent invoice from HJJ Property addressed to the RHC, which made it falsely appear that HJJ Property would be providing the services to the RHC that were actually going to be performed by the contractor. The amount requested to be paid on the HJJ Property fraudulent invoice would be more than what the contractor had originally requested for such services. The defendant or the RHC Agent would then email HJJ Property’s fraudulent invoice to an RHC employee who would submit the invoice for payment to the RHC. The RHC Agent would authorize the RHC to pay HJJ Property the fraudulent amount. White, on behalf of HJJ Property, would then provide a cashier’s check made payable to the contractor in the amount that the contractor had originally estimated and requested for the services it performed for the RHC. The difference between what the RHC paid HJJ Property and what HJJ Property paid the contractor, was the amount that the defendant and others caused the RHC fraudulently to overpay. Between March and July 2018, that amount was approximately $48,698.00.
On December 14, 2018, HJJ Property was served a Federal Grand Jury subpoena requesting any and all records related to HJJ Property and any work HJJ Property purportedly performed on behalf of the RHC. On February 7, 2019, HJJ Property provided its response to the subpoena. Included in that response were three fraudulent documents which purported to be satisfaction surveys signed by various tenants from three apartment complexes owned by the RHC, pertaining to work performed at such sites by HJJ Property. Also included in the subpoena response was a fraudulent invoice. The surveys and invoice were fraudulent in that they were prepared after the subpoena was served on HJJ Property and were produced in response to the subpoena to make it appear to investigators that HJJ Property was a legitimate company which had performed services for the RHC.
“Janice White is the third defendant to be charged with scheming to defraud the Rochester Housing Authority and related organizations,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “The very purpose of a housing agency, funded with federal dollars, is to provide a stable housing environment for those in our community who need assistance. When individuals entrusted to operate and run such an agency divert funds away from the laudable purposes for which such monies were earmarked and into their own pockets, the entire community is forced to pay a heavy price. This prosecution demonstrates the commitment that my Office has to rooting out corruption, to eliminating those who place their own interests before those of the public whom they are supposed to serve, and, in the process, to restoring the public trust.”
Charges remain pending against George Moses, former Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Rochester Housing Authority. Former Rochester City Councilman Adam McFadden pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return for his role in scheming to defraud the Rochester Housing Authority, and is awaiting sentencing.
White made an initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and was released.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rochester Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Brad Geary; and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Jonathan D. Larsen, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Pella Man Sentenced to Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – On November 1, 2019, Mark Alan Blankespoor, of Pella, Iowa, was sentenced to 80 months in prison by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger for wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Blankespoor was ordered by the Court to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term. Additionally, he must pay $8,464,103 in restitution to over 100 victims.
The defendant pleaded guilty to wire fraud in June of 2019. According to court documents, Blankespoor was a health coach and consultant in Pella. He represented to others he was involved in developing medically-oriented gyms and licensed the program to fitness clinics across the United States. For more than four years, Blankespoor represented to investors they had an opportunity to make money by investing in the medically-oriented gym concept. At least 100 investors provided Blankespoor with approximately $15 million in investment funds. Blankespoor admitted he used the investors’ money for unauthorized purposes that were not for the benefit of the affected investors. Blankespoor used the investor money, unbeknownst to them, for his personal expenses and paying other investors to further the scheme.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this matter. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Pasco Man Pleads Guilty to Causing Series of Overdoses While Incarcerated at the Pasco County JailRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –Timothy CathCart (33, Pasco County) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing detectable amounts of fentanyl and norfentanyl, the use of which resulted in serious bodily injury to three individuals. CathCart faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the
plea agreement , CathCart was part of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that conspired to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the Middle District of Florida. In January 2019, CathCart was arrested for a traffic violation in Pasco County. Moments before his arrest, CathCart concealed approximately seven grams of fentanyl, which he had mixed with seven grams of gabapentin and methamphetamine. CathCart then smuggled the controlled substances into the Pasco County Jail.Between January 24 and January 25, 2019, CathCart distributed the fentanyl that he had smuggled into the jail to three inmates. All three inmates lost consciousness, overdosed, and suffered serious bodily injury. Deputies from Pasco County and emergency personnel successfully revived all three victims.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
North Texas Strike Force Arrests 10 Defendants Related to Collin County Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas - U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown announced today that 10 individuals have been arrested following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas.
On Oct. 30, 2019, a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement executed federal arrest warrants as the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force investigation in the North Texas Area. The investigation came about as a result of a Fairview, Texas overdose death in December, 2018.
The defendants are charged in the seven-count indictment with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances resulting in death and aiding and abetting; conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; accessory after the fact; misprision of a felony; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances and aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Those arrested and named in the indictment are:
Gary Collin Bussell, 50, of Dallas;
Ben Westin, 28, of Carrollton, Texas;
Scott Perras, 27, of McKinney, Texas;
Frank Eric Dockery, 45, of Blue Ridge, Texas;
William Grant Allbrook, 32, of The Colony, Texas;
Austin Seymour, 24, of Dallas;
Lisa Young, 32, of Dallas;
George Wagner, III, 46, of Garland, Texas;
Gina Corwin, 51, of Dallas; and
Todd Shewmake, 34, of McKinney, Texas.The defendants made initial appearances last week.
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s OCDETF Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The specific mission of the North Texas Strike Force is to target the region’s largest threats, with particular emphasis on heroin and synthetic opioids trafficking.
OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
This case is being investigated by the North Texas Strike Force. Strike Force members are the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Dallas Police Department; Garland Police Department; Grand Prairie Police Department; Grapevine Police Department; Lancaster Police Department; Plano Police Department; Sherman Police Department; and Texas Department of Public Safety. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
An indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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New York Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Edwin Martinez-Guzman, 37, of New York, was sentenced in federal court to 120 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, after law enforcement officers learned that Martinez-Guzman was preparing to conduct a drug transaction, they approached him in a parking lot in Manchester on November 28, 2018. Martinez-Guzman was arrested with over 150 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Martinez-Guzman previously pleaded guilty on June 12, 2019.
“Interstate drug traffickers have caused tremendous damage to the quality of life in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to ensure the safety of our citizens, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who bring dangerous drugs into the Granite State. Drug dealers should understand that if they sell methamphetamine in New Hampshire, they will find themselves in federal prison.”
“Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Martinez-Guzman accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are coming from out of state to distribute methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “DEA and its local, state and federal law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to keep this highly addictive drug out of the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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Nassau County Man Who Traded Methamphetamine for Guns Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Richard Earl Carroll (55, Hilliard) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Carroll had pleaded guilty on July 26, 2019.
According to court documents, multiple witnesses identified Carroll as a methamphetamine supplier in Nassau County. During the execution of two separate search warrants at Carroll’s home, state and federal law enforcement officers seized methamphetamine, assorted prescription pills (including hydrocodone and Xanax), marijuana plants and baggies containing marijuana, and 24 firearms. During a post-arrest interview, Carroll admitted to obtaining more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from a source to sell to his customers. He also admitted that, at times, he traded the drugs to his customers for firearms.
Carroll’s sentencing follows a series of related state and federal drug prosecutions involving the distribution of methamphetamine, including Billy Crayton Skinner (43, Hilliard) – sentenced to 37 months in federal prison on September 9, 2019; and Thomas A. Crews (45, Hilliard) – sentenced to 29 months in federal prison in 2017.
This case was investigated by the Nassau County Sherriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD- Brian Boucher, 41, of Nashua, pleaded guilty in federal court on November 1, 2019, to distributing fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on four separate occasions in February and March, 2019, Mr. Boucher sold fentanyl to an individual who was cooperating with Nashua Police detectives. He was arrested on March 8, 2019.
Boucher is scheduled to be sentenced on February 14, 2020.
“The distribution of fentanyl continues to be a menace to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to address this threat, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are distributing this deadly drug in the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Monongalia County physician sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG – Chad Poage, a Morgantown, West Virginia, physician, was sentenced today to five years’ probation and ordered to complete 500 hours of community service for obtaining controlled substances by fraudulently writing prescriptions using colleagues’ Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) numbers and presenting stolen driver’s licenses to pick up fraudulently prescribed controlled substances from Morgantown area pharmacies for his personal use, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia.
Poage, D.O., age 35, pleaded guilty to one count of “Acquiring or Obtaining Possession of a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge” in May 2019.Poage was an orthopedic surgeon who worked in a practice with locations in Morgantown and Fairmont, West Virginia. As part of his guilty plea, he admitted that, from November 2015 to March 2018, he wrote 30 fraudulent prescriptions for a total of approximately 1,330 50-milligram tablets of Tramadol, 420 5-milligram tablets of Diazepam, and 50 30-milligram tablets of acetaminophen-codeine no. 3, all for his own use. Poage further admitted that on each of the 30 prescriptions, he either wrote colleagues’ DEA registration numbers without their authorization or wrote the prescription out to a patient knowing that he would pick up the prescribed medication for his own use. Poage admitted that on multiple occasions, he presented stolen driver’s licenses when picking up fraudulent prescriptions from pharmacies.
“Physicians who breach the trust given them often find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Professionals are not immune from the power of addiction. This case provides a sad but powerful commentary on the depth of our opioid crisis. We thank our partners in the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Department of Justice, along with our law enforcement partners for the important work being done in this district,” said Powell.
The DEA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and West Virginia State Police investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force, under supervision by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia. Trial Attorney Patrick Mott of the Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner of the Northern District of West Virginia prosecuted the case.
The ARPO Strike Force is made up of prosecutors and data analysts with the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the region and special agents with the FBI, HHS-OIG and DEA. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force has charged 60 defendants in 11 districts. The Health Care Fraud Unit, in general, maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, and has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Money Laundering Conspirators Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A McKinney, Texas, man was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for conspiring to launder $200,000, which he believed was derived from the sale of narcotics, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
John Eckerd, 55, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Renee Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to launder money. Judge Bumb imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
Eckerd’s conspirator, Anthony Romano, 53, of Springfield, New Jersey, was sentenced by Judge Bumb on Sept. 26, 2019, to 54 months in prison for his role in conspiring to launder over $590,000 in United States currency.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between September 2017 and December 2017, Romano engaged in 10 separate money laundering transactions with an undercover agent. The agent and Romano met at various locations in Atlantic County, New Jersey, to discuss ways to conceal the origin of the money and to exchange the cash. Romano received bags of cash ranging in amounts of $10,000 to $60,000. The undercover agent represented to both Romano and Eckerd that the cash was derived from selling drugs on behalf of a South American drug cartel.
In exchange for the cash, Romano provided the agent with various business checks, less a fee that Romano charged for performing the illegal transaction. Several business checks were from shell companies that Romano formed in order to conceal and disguise the nature of the transaction.
Twenty days after Romano’s initial meeting with the undercover agent, Romano spoke to the agent about laundering larger sums of cash through an associate – Eckerd – in Texas. At the time, Eckerd was allegedly building a high-end underground residential bunker development outside of Dallas. The development project was marketed as a five-star doomsday escape for the wealthy with DEFCON 1 preparedness and allegedly capable of withstanding catastrophic events ranging from viral epidemics to nuclear war. Through this development project, it was represented to the undercover agent that Eckerd could launder larger amounts of cash without risking the scrutiny of law enforcement.
By January 2018, Romano and Eckerd were prepared to escalate the monetary amounts involved in the laundering activity. The first transaction of 2018 involving Romano, Eckerd and the undercover agent served as a test case to show the supposed members of the South American drug cartel that Romano and Eckerd could expeditiously launder larger sums of cash. In January 2018, the undercover agent handed Romano $100,000 in cash at a location in New Jersey. Instead of receiving a business check in return, the undercover agent agreed to receive the money, less the standard fee, in the form of a wire transaction originating from Eckerd.
The following month, the undercover agent met with Romano and Eckerd in Texas to engage in a second test case. The day after driving out to the site of the development project, the undercover agent turned over a backpack containing $100,000 in cash to Romano and Eckerd. In exchange, Eckerd handed the undercover agent a check, less their standard fee for laundering the alleged narcotics proceeds.
In addition to pleading guilty to the conspiracy to launder money charge, Romano also admitted his participation in planning a robbery of The Pawn Shop in Union, New Jersey on April 19, 2014. Romano acknowledged knowing that his conspirators in that case had access to a firearm when they committed the robbery.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Eckerd and Romano each to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, and detectives from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo, with the investigation leading to the sentencings.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Toscano, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Kearney of the U.S Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Mineral County man sentenced for role in a drug distribution operationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Nathan E. Carpenter, of Elk Garden, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 234 months incarceration for his involvement in a drug distribution conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Carpenter, age 29, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine” in April 2019. Carpenter admitted to working with others to distribute methamphetamine from August 2017 to June 2018 in Mineral, Hardy, and Hampshire Counties and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, The West Virginia State Police, and the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 141 Months in Federal Prison for Armed Business RobberyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN –Demarius Jones, 39, has been sentenced to 141 months in federal prison for committing robbery affecting interstate commerce and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on May 31, 2018, at 5:00pm, Jones entered O’Reilly Auto Parts on Lamar Ave., pretending to be a customer. Jones asked the store clerk for a brake caliper and rotors for a Dodge Avenger. When the clerk produced the parts, Jones tried to forcibly take the items without paying. He struggled with the employee and ran out of the store empty handed.
On the same day, about two hours later, Jones returned to the same O'Reilly Auto Parts location, this time armed with a firearm. Jones pointed the gun at the store employees and demanded cash from the registers as well as the brake caliper and rotors he attempted to steal earlier. In total, Jones received $569.55 in cash and auto parts. The robbery was captured on video surveillance.
On November 1, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Jones to 141 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. Jones previously pled guilty in federal court to both counts on July 30, 2019. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Business owners have a fundamental right to be safe from armed robbers who terrorize our communities with their lawlessness. The senselessness of gun violence has a long lasting effect on victims of armed robbery, and we will no longer allow gun crime to rule our streets. This 11-year sentence sends a clear message that there will always be a reckoning, a real and significant consequence, for the commission of violent crimes."
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Memphis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Mechanicsburg Man Charged with Product TamperingRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert K. Burns, age 58, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on October 30, 2019, by a federal grand jury on consumer product tampering charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Burns tampered and attempted to tamper with consumer products affecting interstate commerce, specifically Lansoprazole, with the labeling and container for such product by replacing the advertised product with other products not containing the active ingredient in the original product, between May and August 2019 in Cumberland County.
The case was investigated by the Silver Spring Township Police Department with assistance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy is prosecuting the case.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 10 years in prison, a period of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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McKees Rocks Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – Dennis Cercone was sentenced to four years and nine months (57 months) in prison for possessing a firearm after prior felony convictions, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Cercone, age 33, of McKees Rocks, was sentenced by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Cercone was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. The sentence was a result of Cercone’s arrest on October 13, 2018, by the McKees Rocks Police Department after he possessed and discharged a pistol inside a house in McKees Rocks. Cercone had prior state and federal gun and cocaine distribution felony convictions.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The McKees Rocks Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the conviction and sentence in this case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Maryland man sentenced to 10 years for child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Paul Glen Hamilton, Jr., of Bowie, Maryland and Melbourne, Florida, was sentenced today to 120 months incarceration for a child pornography charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Hamilton, age 24, pled guilty to one-count indictment, charging him with of “Possession of Child Pornography” in July 2019. Hamilton admitted to having child pornography that was transported by computer in September 2018 in Berkeley County.
Hamilton met a 13-year-old West Virginia girl on the app “Live Me” in December 2017. He began grooming her, enticing her to send him inappropriate pictures and videos over several months. Hamilton then met the young girl in Bowie, Maryland, where he allegedly committed additional offenses. Hamilton also allegedly committed additional crimes against the child in Suffolk County, Virginia. Those alleged crimes are currently under investigation in those jurisdictions. The U.S. Attorney’s office is cooperating with law enforcement.
“The defendant committed heinous crimes against a child. His actions were reprehensible in every corner of a civilized world. The court’s maximum sentence, including a lifetime of supervised release after his prison term, is totally justified. Our children are our most precious resource and we must do everything we can to protect them,” said Powell.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley D. Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Martinsburg man sentenced for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Levar Glenwood Crawford, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 51 months incarceration for distributing cocaine, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Crawford, age 42, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base” in July 2019. Crawford admitted to working with another to distribute cocaine base in November 2018 in Berkeley County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Martinsburg man sentenced for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Tywonne Crawford, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 48 months incarceration for distributing cocaine and heroin, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Crawford, age 40, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine Base” in July 2019. Crawford admitted to conspiring with others to distribute heroin and cocaine base from October to November 2018 in Berkeley County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Madera County Woman Sentenced to over 16 Years in Prison for Aiding and Abetting Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Madera County woman was sentenced today to 16 years and 8 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the production of child pornography, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott.
Ashley Maddox, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd, after pleading guilty on May 24 to one count of aiding and abetting the production of child pornography. Maddox came to the attention of law enforcement during an investigation of an offender in Fort Pierce, Florida. The investigation revealed that between Nov. 2015 and April 2016, Maddox had communicated with that offender, via the internet and on cellphone apps, about their mutual sexual interest in minors. Maddox requested that this individual send her images and video recordings in which he sexually abused a minor victim in his care. To encourage this individual to produce such images, Maddox requested that he commit specific acts, and indicated that the images she had received from him had aroused her. Maddox also created and sent him nude images of a minor to whom she had access.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, a federally and state-funded task force with agents from federal, state, and local agencies. The Central California ICAC investigates online child exploitation crimes, including child pornography, enticement, and sex trafficking. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Fresno, California and Fort Pierce, Florida investigated this case. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office assisted early in the investigation. Trial Attorney Nadia C. Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa of the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.
Louisiana felon guilty of gun violation in Corpus ChristiRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 23-year-old resident of Louisiana has admitted he unlawfully possessed a firearm following a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Blake Wain was previously convicted of multiple felony offenses out of Louisiana to include false imprisonment armed with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and possession with intent to distribute meth. Per federal law, he is prohibited from possession of a firearm due to these convictions.
Wain was on parole for these offenses July 12 when authorities found and arrested him for a violation of that parole. He was sitting in a vehicle’s passenger seat. At his feet was a Glock, model 33, .357 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
He admitted the weapon was his.
U.S. District Judge David Morales has set sentencing for Feb. 4, 2020. At that time, Wain faces a minimum of 15 years and up to life in federal prison.
Wain has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Popejoy is prosecuting the case.
Los Angeles Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Narcotics on AlphaBay, a Dark Web MarketplaceRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Christopher Michael Barnes, 36, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute narcotics, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Barnes distributed marijuana through the vendor account HumboldtFarms on the dark web marketplace AlphaBay from March 2015 through May 2017. HumboldtFarms was one of the largest vendors on AlphaBay, allegedly completing tens of thousands of orders for marijuana on the site to customers throughout the United States. Barnes’ co-conspirators, William James Farber, Bryan Anthony Lemons, Michael Angelo Palma, Richard Thomas Martinsen, and Faysal Alkhayat have all pleaded guilty in case 1:17‑cr‑188 LJO.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Bakersfield Police Department with assistance from the Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant B. Rabenn and Ross Pearson are prosecuting the case.
Barnes is scheduled to be sentenced on January 27, 2020. Barnes faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Justice Department Resolves Disability Discrimination Lawsuit against the Housing Authority of the City of BridgeportRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with the Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut (HACB), doing business as Park City Communities, to resolve allegations that the housing authority discriminated against persons with disabilities in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Fair Housing Act.
The Consent Order, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, requires HACB to institute broad reforms to safeguard the rights of individuals with disabilities, including revising its policies and processes for handling reasonable accommodation requests and developing an inventory of accessible units for tenants with mobility, vision, and hearing-related disabilities. The settlement also requires HACB to pay $1,500,000 to those hurt by its discriminatory practices and a $25,000 civil penalty to the United States.
“This settlement will ensure that tenants with disabilities have the same opportunity to use and enjoy their homes as everyone else,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Individuals who seek reasonable accommodations from the Housing Authority of Bridgeport will now have access to a process that is easier to navigate, provides timely responses, and includes all of the protections afforded by federal civil rights laws. In addition, by bringing its housing inventory into compliance with accessibility requirements for tenants with mobility, vision, and hearing-related impairments, the Housing Authority will be better able to meet the needs of its residents and community.”
“Our public housing authorities should be in the business of making life easier for people with disabilities, not harder,” said U.S. Attorney John H. Durham of the District of Connecticut. “We are pleased with this settlement and consent order, and we remain committed to pursuing violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act in Connecticut.”
HACB owns and manages more than 2,500 units of public housing and administers more than 2,800 vouchers under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. The lawsuit arose from a compliance review initiated by HUD. After issuing a determination of noncompliance and attempting resolution, HUD referred the case to the Justice Department.
The complaint, filed on Nov. 15, 2017, alleged that HACB failed to properly process, decide, and fulfill requests for reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities. Federal law requires HACB to provide reasonable accommodations, such as physical modifications to public housing units, changes to program rules, or transfers to appropriate housing, when requested to meet a tenant or applicant’s disability-related needs. The complaint also alleged that HACB failed to provide a sufficient number of public housing units that are accessible to tenants with mobility, vision, or hearing-related disabilities.
Individuals who may have been victims of discrimination by HACB or who have information relevant to this case are encouraged to contact the Civil Rights Division at 1-800-896-7743 (for English, press 1, then mailbox 992; for Spanish, press 2, then mailbox 2) or by email at [email protected]. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
Justice Department Resolves Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against the Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport, ConnecticutRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with the Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut (HACB), doing business as Park City Communities, to resolve allegations that the housing authority discriminated against persons with disabilities in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Fair Housing Act.
The Consent Order, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, requires HACB to institute broad reforms to safeguard the rights of individuals with disabilities, including revising its policies and processes for handling reasonable accommodation requests and developing an inventory of accessible units for tenants with mobility, vision, and hearing-related disabilities. The settlement also requires HACB to pay $1,500,000 to those hurt by its discriminatory practices and a $25,000 civil penalty to the United States.
“This settlement will ensure that tenants with disabilities have the same opportunity to use and enjoy their homes as everyone else,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Individuals who seek reasonable accommodations from the Housing Authority of Bridgeport will now have access to a process that is easier to navigate, provides timely responses, and includes all of the protections afforded by federal civil rights laws. In addition, by bringing its housing inventory into compliance with accessibility requirements for tenants with mobility, vision, and hearing-related impairments, the Housing Authority will be better able to meet the needs of its residents and community.”
“Our public housing authorities should be in the business of making life easier for people with disabilities, not harder,” said U.S. Attorney John H. Durham of the District of Connecticut. “We are pleased with this settlement and consent order, and we remain committed to pursuing violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act in Connecticut.”
HACB owns and manages more than 2,500 units of public housing and administers more than 2,800 vouchers under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. The lawsuit arose from a compliance review initiated by HUD. After issuing a determination of noncompliance and attempting resolution, HUD referred the case to the Justice Department.
The complaint, filed on Nov. 15, 2017, alleged that HACB failed to properly process, decide, and fulfill requests for reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities. Federal law requires HACB to provide reasonable accommodations, such as physical modifications to public housing units, changes to program rules, or transfers to appropriate housing, when requested to meet a tenant or applicant’s disability-related needs. The complaint also alleged that HACB failed to provide a sufficient number of public housing units that are accessible to tenants with mobility, vision, or hearing-related disabilities.
Individuals who may have been victims of discrimination by HACB or who have information relevant to this case are encouraged to contact the Civil Rights Division at 1-800-896-7743 (for English, press 1, then mailbox 992; for Spanish, press 2, then mailbox 2) or by email at [email protected]. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt
Jackson Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Brandy Kentia Steed, a/k/a "STEED," 40, has been sentenced to 180 months imprisonment on federal charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. Attorney, D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on August 24, 2017, during an undercover investigation, Jackson Police Department investigators arranged to purchase 1.63 grams of heroin from STEED. Later that same day, investigators executed a search warrant at STEED’s residence, in the Jackson area. During the search, STEED informed the investigators that the narcotics were hidden in a Chevrolet Suburban parked outside his residence. Recovered from the Suburban were multiple bags of suspected heroin and crack cocaine. However, lab analysis later determined that the bags contained 30.42 grams of fentanyl and 5.63 grams of crack cocaine. STEED provided a statement to investigators admitting that all the items in the vehicle belonged to him. STEED also had multiple prior arrests and convictions for evading arrest, resisting arrest and probation violations.
On November 1, 2019, U.S. District Court Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced STEED to 180 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Fentanyl is a deadly drug that destroys lives, and the quantity of fentanyl possessed by this defendant for resale could have caused multiple injuries and deaths. Under the new opioid strategy of this office and the Department of Justice, we will seek maximum sentencing penalties for any person distributing any amount of fentanyl in West Tennessee. If you are a drug dealer causing addiction, pain, and death for selfish personal gain, we will find you and hold you accountable."
This case was investigated by the Jackson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Houston, PA Felon who Possessed Fentanyl, Cocaine and Loaded Pistols Will Spend More than 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A former resident of Houston Borough, Washington County (Pennsylvania), has been sentenced in federal court to more than 10 years and 10 months (130 months) in prison on his conviction for violating the federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Vashaun Lasalle Wright, age 30, on his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine; possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon; and possession of firearms in furtherance of the charged drug trafficking crimes.
According to information presented to the Court, in March of 2018, investigators with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force made a series of controlled purchases of fentanyl from Wright and an alleged coconspirator. Thereafter, investigators executed a search warrant at their residence on Main Street in Houston Borough where agents seized approximately 50 grams of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance (which was packaged for distribution), several ounces of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance (which was packaged for distribution), approximately $24,000 in U.S. Currency, fentanyl packaging materials, and three loaded pistols. Wright, a convicted felon, was prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to his prior felony convictions from Washington County, Pennsylvania, involving his unlicensed possession of concealed firearms in 2008 and 2011.
The Court further ordered that the defendant’s federal sentence is to run consecutively to his June 27, 2019 sentence from the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), where Wright was sentenced to serve not less than 2 ½ to not more than 5 years of imprisonment in a state correctional facility for violating Pennsylvania’s firearms and narcotics laws. The Court further ordered that Wright be placed on a term of supervised release for four years following his release from incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation S.O.S. (Synthetic Opioid Surge), a Department of Justice enforcement initiative designed to dismantle deadly fentanyl distribution networks through cooperation with local, state and federal law enforcement, as well as local and state prosecutors. The Western District of Pennsylvania as one of 10 districts from across the country to implement the S.O.S. program.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Washington County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Wright.
Honduran National Charged with Illegal Re-entryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that EDWIN DAVID PONCE-MATAMOROS, age 34, a citizen of Honduras, was charged October 31, 2019 in a one-count indictment with illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of 8 U.S.C. ' 1326(a), (b)(1).
According to the indictment, federal agents encountered PONCE-MATAMOROS on or about October 10, 2019. PONCE-MATAMOROS was previously removed from the United States on March 17, 2017.
If convicted, PONCE-MATAMOROS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten 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 United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney David Howard Sinkman is in charge of the prosecution.
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Hardin CountyMan Sentenced to 140 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN –Terry Williams, 61, has been sentenced to 140 months imprisonment on federal charges of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, during undercover operations on October 24 and 29, 2018, the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force purchased a total of approximately 27 grams of actual methamphetamine from Williams. On October 31, 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at Williams’ residence in Hardin County. During the search, investigators located and seized several firearms, drug paraphernalia, drug scales, approximately 87 grams of actual methamphetamine, 21 grams of marijuana, and several alprazolam, soma, and hydrocodone pills. Investigators also seized $841 of drug money from Williams, as well as a Lexus that the defendant used during at least one of the undercover drug purchases.
On June 5, 2019, Williams entered a guilty plea to the one-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine.
On October 17, 2019, Senior U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Williams to 140 months’ imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Methamphetamine that is trafficked in and through West Tennessee is increasing in dangerous purity, and continues to destroy individuals, families, and communities. Drug dealers who profit from the pain, addiction, violence and death caused by these dangerous substances deserve proper punishment, and this sentence does just that."
This case was investigated by members of the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the United States Marshals Service, Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jerry Kitchen and Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Grant County residents sentenced for fentanyl and methamphetamine distributionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Melanie Lyn Outen, Ted Alexander Voss, and Michael Dean Smith, all of Petersburg, West Virginia, were sentenced today for their roles in a fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine distribution operation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Outen, age 47, was sentenced today to 125 months incarceration. She pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl” in July 2019. Outen admitted to distributing more than 64 grams of fentanyl and more than 69 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine from January to June 2019 in Grant County and elsewhere.
Voss, age 30, was sentenced today to 130 months incarceration. He pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl” in July 2019. Voss, age 29, admitted to distributing more than 64 grams of fentanyl and more than 69 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine from January to June 2019 in Grant County and elsewhere.
Smith, age 50, was sentenced today to 60 months incarceration. He pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” in July 2019. Smith admitted to distributing more than 69 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine in May 2019 in Berkeley County.
These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS)/Special Operations Division (SOD) Project Clean Sweep. This initiative seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in “hot spot” areas previously identified by the Attorney General of the United States, thereby reducing drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths, and identify wholesale distribution networks and sources of supply operating nationally and internationally.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Helman prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, West Virginia State Police, and the Charles Town Police Department investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 235 Months in Prison for Leading Methamphetamine Conspiracy from Virginia PrisonRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – Adrian Romero, the lead defendant in an interstate methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, was sentenced last week to 235 months in federal prison, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced.
Romero, 31, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Three other co-defendants, Veronica Martinez, 30, of Augusta, Ga., Alison Atkinson, 30, of Augusta, Ga., and Clayton Lee Tate, 39, of Austinville, Va., will be sentenced later this year and in early 2020 for their roles in the conspiracy.
“Unfortunately, crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive and potentially deadly drug, is too prevalent in far Southwest Virginia,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “We are committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to identify and dismantle distribution networks and send their members to federal prison.”
“Our communities continue to suffer from the effects of dangerous drugs, like crystal ice methamphetamine,” Attorney General Herring stated today. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who bring this drug into the Commonwealth and work with our law enforcement partners to keep the Commonwealth safe.”
According to documents filed with the court, from January 2017 to May 16, 2018, Romero led a conspiracy with at least five other individuals to distribute methamphetamine throughout the Western District of Virginia, and elsewhere. Specifically, Romero admitted to organizing and leading a network of individuals to distribute large amounts of “crystal ice” methamphetamine, a potent form of the drug, from sources in Georgia into southwest Virginia. Romero further admitted that he led this organization while he was incarcerated in a Virginia prison on other methamphetamine related charges. When his co-conspirators obtained the drug, Romero further directed its distribution in Georgia and southwest Virginia. Romero accepted responsibility for trafficking 1.5 kilograms of crystal ice during this conspiracy.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Twin County Drug Task Force (Virginia) and Richmond City Police Department and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia. Special Assistant United States Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Virginia Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Former Senior VP of Sales of Hudson County, New Jersey, Scrap Metal Company Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for 17-Year Conspiracy to Defraud CustomersRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The former senior vice president of sales at Cinelli Iron & Metal Co. (CIMCO) was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for participating in a 17-year conspiracy that defrauded customers out of millions of dollars, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Michael A. Valenti III, 45, of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
CIMCO, which was headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, purchased scrap metal for resale and operated three scrap metal recycling facilities in New Jersey. CIMCO trucks would deliver scrap metal containers to customer jobsites and remove them after they were filled. CIMCO then purportedly paid customers based on the type and net weight of the scrap material.
From 1999 through March of 2016, Valenti, Craig Cinelli, Joseph Cinelli Sr., David Barteck and others allegedly used a variety of fraudulent business practices to buy scrap metal from CIMCO’s customers for less than CIMCO should have paid. The company then resold the scrap metal at a profit.
Instead of paying the proper, agreed-upon amounts for the actual weight, members of the conspiracy used a variety of techniques to misrepresent the true weight and type of the scrap metal, including altering documents to reflect a lower weight, removing scrap metal from a haul before it was weighed and misrepresenting the types of scrap metal contained in a haul.In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Valenti to three years of supervised release. During his plea hearing, Valenti admitted that the loss caused by the conspiracy that was reasonably foreseeable to him was more than $9.5 million, but less than $25 million. Restitution will be determined at a hearing scheduled for Dec. 4, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Mikulka in New York; special agents with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Douglas Shoemaker in New York; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Shapiro, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel: Linda George Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey
Former Puerto Rico Police Officer and Associate Indicted and Arrested for Dealing in Firearms Without A LicenseRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On October 30, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against Puerto Rico Police Officer Indira Osorio-Ortiz and her associate Lester R. Vázquez-Cintrón for conspiracy to engage in firearms trafficking without a license, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.
The object of the conspiracy was to sell firearms unlawfully for pecuniary gain in the District of Puerto Rico. Beginning in or about the month of September 2019 in the District of Puerto Rico and the Middle District of Florida, the defendants engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without license. Indira Osorio-Ortiz abused her position as a police officer to gain access to firearms to sell unlawfully and subsequently she facilitated firearms transactions for Lester R. Vázquez-Cintrón by delivering, and coordinating the delivery of firearms to buyers on Vázquez-Cintrón’s behalf.
The indictment includes one conspiracy count, five counts for engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and two counts for obstruction of justice. On September 17, 2019, Osorio-Ortiz sold a Glock pistol to an individual (hereafter “Individual A”) for $1,500. On September 19, Vázquez-Cintrón offered to sell two fully automatic firearms to Individual A via telephone. On September 20, Osorio-Ortiz traveled to the parking lot of a Chili’s restaurant located in Humacao, PR for the purpose of finalizing the sale of the two fully automatic firearms that Vázquez-Cintrón agreed to sell to Individual A the day prior. This transaction was not completed because Vázquez-Cintrón demanded a last-minute change to the location where he and Osorio-Ortiz had agreed the transaction would take place.
On September 26, Osorio-Ortiz traveled to the parking lot of the Montehiedra Shopping Center in San Juan, PR, and sold to Individual A her POPR-issued firearm, a Smith and Wesson pistol for $2,500, and a second firearm that she stated she had removed from the POPR evidence room, a Glock pistol.
On September 27, Osorio-Ortiz filed a false police report, claiming that her POPR-issued weapon had been stolen from her residence. Thereafter, on October 10, Osorio-Ortiz filed another false police report claiming that the pistol she had taken out of the POPR evidence room and sold had been stolen from her locker. These two false reports constitute the two obstruction of justice charges.
On October 8, Osorio-Ortiz traveled to the parking lot of the Montehiedra Shopping Center to facilitate a firearm transaction between Vázquez-Cintrón and Individual A. Accompanied by Osorio-Ortiz, Individual A purchased a fully automatic rifle with no serial number for $2,500 from individuals unknown to the Grand Jury.
On October 10, Osorio-Ortiz traveled to the parking lot of the Montehiedra Shopping Center to facilitate a firearm transaction between Vázquez-Cintrón and Individual A. Osorio-Ortiz delivered to Individual A two Glock pistols and received $2,800 in return. Osorio-Ortiz agreed that she would deliver additional firearms to Individual A.
“Police officers have a critical public safety responsibility, and those who decide to cross the line and engage in criminal misconduct will be held accountable,” said United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “We will vigorously prosecute those involved in the illegal sale and trafficking of firearms, which are then used in the commission of violent crimes. We are committed to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals, who all too frequently endanger our community.”
“Law enforcement officers are invested with the crucial task of serving and protecting the people in their community. When instead of doing so, they engage in illegal activity, they put their communities and the entire justice system at risk. This is sad and unacceptable. Which is why today is a good day,” said Douglas A. Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI. “The FBI would like to thank Police of Puerto Rico for their continued support of the FBI mission and their participation in bringing down rotten apples in their midst. There are excellent men and women among the ranks POPR and these subjects do not represent them.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Alum is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count and each gun trafficking count, and Osorio-Ortiz faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 for the obstruction counts. An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Former Mississippi Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Beating InmateRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Sharalyn McClain, 29, pleaded guilty today to violating the civil rights of an inmate by unlawfully assaulting him while McClain was serving as a correctional officer at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF).
The plea was announced by Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Hurst Jr. for the Southern District of Mississippi, and FBI Jackson Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin.
With her guilty plea, McClain admitted that, on May 25, 2016, she entered the cell of L.H., an inmate at CMCF. Along with two other correctional officers, Reginald Brown and Shelly Griffith, McClain punched, kicked, and stomped on L.H., while he laid face down, barely moving, on a mattress on the floor of his cell. McClain and the other two officers wore boots while they did this. While punching, kicking, and stomping on L.H., McClain knew that he did not pose a threat.
“A correctional officer who unjustifiably assaults an inmate in his custody betrays the trust placed in those who hold positions of power and authority,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of every person and will continue to vigorously prosecute these violations.”
“Our agents and prosecutors should be commended for investigating and bringing these corrupt officials to justice,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Hurst Jr. for the Southern District of Mississippi. “Those who abuse their power will not escape the long arm of the law. Our office will continue to fight for and protect the civil rights of everyone.”
“Officers within our corrections facilities are critical to public safety and are sworn to uphold the safety of the inmates under their control,” said Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “In cases like this, the abuse of the authority given to them not only deteriorates the trust between inmates and the ethical corrections officers protecting them, but also that of the public overall. Civil rights investigations are a top priority for the FBI in Mississippi, and we will continue pursuing anyone that violates the rights of any Mississippian.”
Defendants Brown and Griffith previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the assault. Defendant Brown has already been sentenced to serve five years in prison. Defendant Griffith is still awaiting sentencing. Defendant McClain faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. A sentencing date has been set for Feb. 7, 2020.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Jackson, Mississippi, Field Office. Special Litigation Counsel Julia Gegenheimer, and Trial Attorneys Mary Hahn and Cameron Bell of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes of Southern District of Mississippi, are prosecuting the case.
Former Mississippi Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Beating InmateRead the Press Release
Sharalyn McClain, 29, pleaded guilty today to violating the civil rights of an inmate by unlawfully assaulting him while McClain was serving as a correctional officer at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF).
The plea was announced by Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Hurst, Jr. for the Southern District of Mississippi, and FBI Jackson Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin.
With her guilty plea, McClain admitted that, on May 25, 2016, she entered the cell of L.H., an inmate at CMCF. Along with two other correctional officers, Reginald Brown and Shelly Griffith, McClain punched, kicked, and stomped on L.H., while he laid face down, barely moving, on a mattress on the floor of his cell. McClain and the other two officers wore boots while they did this. While punching, kicking, and stomping on L.H., McClain knew that he did not pose a threat.
“A correctional officer who unjustifiably assaults an inmate in his custody betrays the trust placed in those who hold positions of power and authority,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of every person and will continue to vigorously prosecute these violations.”
“Our agents and prosecutors should be commended for investigating and bringing these corrupt officials to justice,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Hurst Jr. for the Southern District of Mississippi. “Those who abuse their power will not escape the long arm of the law. Our office will continue to fight for and protect the civil rights of everyone.”
“Officers within our corrections facilities are critical to public safety and are sworn to uphold the safety of the inmates under their control,” said Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “In cases like this, the abuse of the authority given to them not only deteriorates the trust between inmates and the ethical corrections officers protecting them, but also that of the public overall. Civil rights investigations are a top priority for the FBI in Mississippi, and we will continue pursuing anyone that violates the rights of any Mississippian.”
Defendants Brown and Griffith previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the assault. Defendant Brown has already been sentenced to serve five years in prison. Defendant Griffith is still awaiting sentencing. Defendant McClain faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. A sentencing date has been set for Feb. 7, 2020.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Jackson, Mississippi, Field Office. Special Litigation Counsel Julia Gegenheimer, and Trial Attorneys Mary Hahn and Cameron Bell of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes of Southern District of Mississippi, are prosecuting the case.
Former Hull Man Convicted by Jury of Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Hull man was convicted by a federal jury in Boston of felony drug and gun offenses on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019.
David Maglio, 39, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition following a one-week trial. The jury acquitted Maglio of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Jan. 24, 2020.
On March 17, 2016, a search warrant was executed at Maglio’s home in Hull, during which time investigators discovered a sophisticated indoor marijuana grow operation that included dozens of marijuana plants supported by irrigation, ventilation and lighting equipment. Investigators also discovered more than 15 pounds of marijuana packaged for sale. In Maglio’s bedroom, investigators found a loaded 5.56 caliber semi-automatic rifle with more than 390 rounds of ammunition, a loaded .32 caliber pistol, and more than $5,000 in cash. Maglio was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division; and Hull Police Chief John Dunn made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Casey and Jared C. Dolan of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Former Everton City Clerk Pleads Guilty to Money-Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The former city clerk in Everton, Missouri, has pleaded guilty to her role in a money-laundering conspiracy related to methamphetamine trafficking.
Kristy A. Conn, 35, of Everton, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush on Friday, Nov. 1, to a federal information that charges her with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
By pleading guilty, Conn admitted that she participated in the money-laundering conspiracy from June 20 to Dec. 6, 2017. During that time, Conn was the city clerk in Everton. Conn admitted that she directed Ginger L. Huerta, 39, of Halfway, Missouri, to send wire transfers of the proceeds from the distribution of methamphetamine to members of the drug-trafficking organization in California and Mexico.
The drug-trafficking organization was responsible for the distribution of more than 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Springfield, Missouri, area. Huerta pleaded guilty on Thursday, Oct. 31, in a separate but related case, to her role in both the drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies.
Under federal statutes, Conn is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan D. Nguyen and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Keller. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Dade County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department, and the Oldham County, Texas, Sheriff’s Department.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illicit drug supply.Former Delta Homes & Lending Inc. Employee Sentenced for Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, Senior United States District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced Manuel Herrera, 39, of Davis, to serve one year in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between October 2004 and May 2007, Herrera was an employee of Delta Homes and Lending Inc., a now-defunct Sacramento-based real estate and mortgage lending company that was founded by co-defendant Moctezuma “Mo” Tovar, 50, of Sacramento. Herrera, Tovar, and other Delta Homes employees and co-defendants agreed to commit fraud to obtain home loans from mortgage lenders. As part of the scheme, Herrera submitted fraudulent mortgage loan applications and supporting documents, which falsely represented the borrowers’ assets and income, liabilities and debts, employment status, citizenship status, and intent to occupy the property. Herrera also provided money to the borrowers in order to inflate their bank account balances. Once the loans were secured, the borrowers returned the money to Herrera. The aggregate sales price of the homes involved in the overall conspiracy was in excess of $10 million. As a result of the conspiracy, mortgage lenders and others suffered losses of at least $4 million.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Fogerty and Justin L. Lee prosecuted the case.
Herrera is the fifth defendant sentenced as part of the scheme. Co-defendant Tovar was sentenced to four and a half years in prison; Jun Jun Michael Dirain, 47, of Antelope, was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by six months of home detention; Sandra Hermosillo, 57, of Woodland, was sentenced to nine months of home detention; Christian Parada Renteria, 43, formerly of Sacramento, was sentenced to serve one year in prison.
Co-defendants Jaime Mayorga, 40, and Ruben Rodriguez, 42, both of Sacramento, were convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud at a jury trial. They are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Dec. 10. Each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Former City of Memphis Employee, Vendors, and Others Indicted for Million-Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Former City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development employee Leon Blackmon Sr. and eight other relatives or acquaintances were indicted for their roles in a government-contracting scheme that defrauded the City of Memphis (City) and taxpayers by causing the City to pay out at least $1.6 million to City vendors, of which at least 50% of said funds resulted from fraud. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the indictment today.
Those charged in the indictment include the following named defendants:
Leon Blackmon Sr., 70, Memphis, TN., former City of Memphis employee
Leon Blackmon Jr., 41, Memphis, TN.
Karl "Shun" Blackmon, 46, Memphis, TN.
Larry Donnell Banks Jr., 42, Memphis, TN., Banks Lawncare & Landscaping
Charles M. Bell, 33, Memphis, TN., Charles Bell’s Lawn Care
Shaunita Lacole Callicutt, 39, Arlington, TN., A Perfect Edge Lawn Service, L&S Lawn Maintenance, and Professional Mowers of Memphis
Sharon D. Taylor, 59, Memphis, TN., Sharon’s Lawn Service
Teressa Lynn Taylor, 61, Memphis, TN., TLT Beautiful Lawns
Henry J. Taylor, 68, Memphis, TN., Hank’s Lawn Service
Mendel L. Wade, 55, Memphis, TN., Lisdel Lawn Service
According to the indictment, from 2009 to 2016, Leon Blackmon Sr., an Analyst with the City of Memphis-Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD), maintained the City-owned lots and properties list and selected vendors to maintain those lots under the City HCD Maintenance Program. He received, reviewed, approved vendor invoices for the HCD Maintenance Program, then submitted check requests to the City requesting that those vendors be paid.
It was a part of the scheme that Leon Blackmon Sr., Leon Blackmon Jr., and Karl Blackmon recruited family, friends, associates or employees from their auto businesses to establish lawn companies and to become City vendors. The Blackmons directed these individuals to obtain business tax licenses, to apply for and obtain U.S. Post Office Boxes and to open business bank accounts. Some of the City-owned lots and properties were already maintained by City employees or neighboring property owners. Some of the City-owned lots and properties were inaccessible and could not be maintained. However, vendors still submitted fraudulent invoices to Leon Blackmon Sr.’s attention for alleged work conducted. In return, he submitted check requests to City officials for payment to vendors via U.S. Mail service.
As a part of the conspiracy, Leon Blackmon Sr., Leon Blackmon Jr. and Karl Blackmon received proceeds from the City checks sent to vendors via U.S. Mail. From 2009 and continuing through 2016, the City paid approximately $1.6 million under the HCD Maintenance Program to participating lawn care companies based on invoices those companies submitted to Leon Blackmon Sr. in his role as the HCD Analyst. At a minimum, approximately 50% of the City-owned lots and properties shown on those billed invoices were fraudulent. When federal agents asked Leon Blackmon Sr. whether he had personal or family relationships with City vendors and received any proceeds from City checks, he denied both.
All defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and multiple individual mail fraud charges. They face individual sentences of up to five years imprisonment for the conspiracy offense and up to twenty years for the mail fraud offense. Additionally, Leon Blackmon Sr. faces up to five years imprisonment for false statements to federal agents.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "This long-term fraudulent scheme had significant financial consequences to the public interests of the City of Memphis, and created unfair business advantages for vendors in the HCD Maintenance Program. This office is committed to the protection of the integrity of public services, and schemes to defraud programs or compromise public office will not be tolerated. This indictment demonstrates our commitment to protect taxpayer resources from such disturbing crimes of dishonesty, and to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in government programs."
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Damon Keith Griffin and Murre Foster are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Federal Jury Convicts Burlington Woman of Mailing Anthrax Threat to Sen. Susan CollinsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Burlington, Maine woman was convicted today of mailing a threatening communication to Sen. Susan Collins following a one-day jury trial, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to evidence presented at trial, Suzanne Muscara, 37, mailed a letter containing a white powder to Collins’ Bangor address in October 2018. The letter also contained a handwritten note indicating that the powder was anthrax. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted the letter at a mail sorting facility in Hampden, Maine. The FBI tested the white powder and found that it did not contain toxic substances. The FBI also matched a fingerprint found on the envelope with one of Muscara’s prints.
Muscara faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Maine Office of State Fire Marshal and the Maine State Police.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Lawyer and Accountant in Visa Fraud Scheme to Obtain LPR Status for South Korean NationalsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has indicted two men in a scheme to obtain lawful permanent resident status for South Korean nationals by submitting fraudulent visa applications that falsely claimed American businesses wanted to hire skilled foreign workers.
The indictment, returned on Nov. 1, alleges that the defendants exploited the EB-2(a) visa program by submitting bogus Alien Worker Petitions on behalf of companies – some legitimate, some created specifically for the scheme – that purportedly wanted to hire foreign nationals after exhausting attempts to find suitable workers in the United States. According to court documents, those South Korean visa applicants simply wanted to immigrate to the United States, and they paid between $30,000 and $70,000 to the defendants in the hopes of obtaining a visa.
The indictment charges the two defendants with conspiracy to commit visa fraud. The defendants are:
- Weon Keuk Lee, 49, a South Korean national, a licensed California attorney who previously operated an immigration law firm in Los Angeles; and
- Young Shin Kim, 59, a naturalized United States citizen, who previously operated an accounting firm in Diamond Bar and is now a farmer in Hesperia.
Kim was arrested in this case on October 3 pursuant to a criminal complaint. During a court hearing the next day, Kim was ordered released on a $50,000 bond and was ordered to appear for an arraignment on November 8. Lee, 50, is believed to be currently residing in Vietnam.
According to the indictment, between 2007 and 2015, Lee and Kim filed approximately 117 fraudulent Alien Worker Petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which resulted in the agency issuing more than 125 visas for alien workers, their spouses and their children.
The indictment alleges that Lee accepted payment from South Korean nationals who wanted to obtain EB-2(a) visas that would allow them to live and work in the United States. Kim allegedly identified United States businesses to act as the purported petitioner for the beneficiary, either by misappropriating information from his accounting firm’s clients or by forming shell corporations solely for the purpose of petitioning authorities for visas. The indictment also alleges that Kim fabricated documents – including bogus tax returns – for the domestic companies and that Lee used those documents to submit the fraudulent Alien Worker Petitions. Lee allegedly paid Kim nearly $300,000 for preparing the fraudulent documents used with the visa applications.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
This matter is being investigated by the Document Benefit Fraud Task Force, which includes representatives of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fraud Detection National Security Unit; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott D. Tenley of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
Federal Agent Cleared of Wrongdoing in Death of FugitiveRead the Press Release
In a civil damages trial that concluded today before U.S. District Judge Sean Cox, a member of the Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team (“DFAT”) was cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting death of a fugitive wanted for armed robbery, announced United States Attorney Matthew Schneider.
While the loss of life in this case was tragic, the evidence clearly established that Agent Quinn acted in self-defense,” said United States Attorney Matthew Schneider. “We are thankful that the jury carefully reviewed the evidence and agreed.”
After a two-week trial, an eight-member jury found defendant Mitchell Quinn, deputized at the time as a U.S. Marshals task force officer, did not violate the constitutional rights of Terrance Kellom, a felon who was wanted on an arrest warrant for armed robbery, among other offenses. The jury deliberated less than three hours before returning their verdict of no cause.
According to the evidence presented at trial, agent Quinn acted in self-defense when Terrence Kellom attacked him with a hammer during the attempted arrest of Mr. Kellom on April 27, 2015.
The defense was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Helms and Zak Toomey with the assistance of paralegal Leanna Mayberry.
Fayetteville Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that in federal court, United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced MARQUIS BERNARD MALLOY, 29, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, to 180 months’ imprisonment, followed by a 3 year term of supervised released.
On July 11, 2018, MALLOY was named in a three-count Indictment in which he was charged with: Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Heroin and a Quantity of Cocaine, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. On February 5, 2019, MALLOY pled guilty to all three Counts.
On March 28, 2018, Cumberland County Probation Officers conducted a search of MALLOY’S residence in Fayetteville, NC, due to prior failed drug screenings and new criminal conduct. During the search, officers found a Beretta 9mm pistol, a box of 9mm ammunition, 3 grams of cocaine, 2 grams of heroin, drug paraphernalia (including a cutting agent, digital scale, and packaging material), and approximately $1,200 in cash. The firearm and cocaine were in close proximity to each other.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017 the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices in those communities on a sustained basis to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. For more information about this initiative click here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.
The Cumberland County Probation Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation in this matter. Assistant United States Attorney and Bryan M. Stephany prosecuted the case for the government.
Erie Woman Gets Time Served for Drug Law ViolationRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to time served and 12 months home detention on her conviction of violating federal drugs laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Chardonna Lasha Goudy, 24.
According to information presented to the court, the FBI’s Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement (EAGLE), Safe Streets task force conducted an investigation into the drug dealing and violent crime activity of members of a local gang identifying itself as "1800". The court was advised that court authorized intercepts of telephone communications between members of the group and others revealed Goudy was using a cellular telephone in the commission of the drug conspiracy.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the EAGLE task force, which is comprised of members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and the Erie Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Goudy.
Erie '1800' Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Selling Crack and Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 6 years and 8 months (80 months) in jail on his conviction of violating federal drug and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Ravone Robert Deberry, 26.
According to information presented to the court, the FBI’s Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement (EAGLE), Safe Streets task force conducted an investigation into the drug dealing and violent crime activity of members of a local gang identifying itself as "1800". The court was advised that court authorized intercepts of telephone communications between members of the group and others revealed Deberry selling crack cocaine in the Erie area. Deberry pleaded guilty to conspiring with his co-defendants to possess with intent to distribute and distribute the crack cocaine. In a separate case, Deberry possessed a Smith & Wesson, model SW9F, 9mm handgun while being a convicted felon. According to information provided in court, Deberry used that handgun to shoot at rival gang members and the shooting incident was captured in the authorized intercepts of Deberry’s communications.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the EAGLE task force, which is comprised of members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and the Erie Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Deberry.
Eighth Reagor Dykes Defendant Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An eighth defendant in the Reagor Dykes Auto Group fraud case has pleaded guilty, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Brad William Fansler, 41, an RDAG Group Administrative Director, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before Magistrate Jude Lee Ann Reno in Amarillo Monday morning.
In plea papers, Mr. Fansler admitted that the auto group routinely sold vehicles “out of trust” – meaning that they failed to repay lenders within seven days of selling the vehicle financed by that lender.
Just before the lender conducted audits, Mr. Fansler admitted, the auto group would create what they called “dummy shucks,” falsifying vehicles sales dates on official paperwork to make it appear as though the vehicle had sold within the prior seven days and was not yet out of trust.
In order to make payments following these audits, the auto group would then engage in a process they called “dummy flooring,” digging through records for vehicle identification numbers (VIN) of cars Reagor Dykes had already sold, then submitting new loan applications to lenders using the old VINs – falsely indicating that the company was seeking a floor plan loan in order to repurchase the vehicle for resale. After acquiring new funding, instead of purchasing the cars, the company would use the money to pay off the old loans.
Eventually, Mr. Fansler acknowledged, dealers ran out of VINs to re-floor, and began using cars pledged as collateral to other lenders, a process they dubbed “double flooring.”
Mr. Fansler is the eighth defendant to admit involvement in the $50 million scheme. Admitted coconspirators include Reagor Dykes Chief Financial Officer Shane Andrew Smith and employees Sheila Miller, Lindsay Williams, Diana Urias, Paige Johnston, Pepper Rickman, and Sherri Lynn Wood.
Mr. Fansler faces up to five years in prison and may be required to pay at least $27 million in restitution.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Field Office and Internal Revenue Services - Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Frausto, Jeffrey Haag, and Sean Taylor are prosecuting the case.
Des Moines Police Department Special Enforcement Team Secures over 20 Federal Indictments, Seizes 71 GunsRead the Press Release
The Des Moines Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office announced the results of a summer enforcement effort, which took dozens of guns off the street and resulted in federal indictments against multiple violent criminals in Des Moines.
The Des Moines Police Department Special Enforcement Team operated from April to October 2019. During that time, the team’s investigations led to over 20 federal indictments for gun- and drug-related crimes, and the seizure of 71 guns from Des Moines’s streets. These prosecutions are part of a series of local, state, and federal efforts known as Project Safe Neighborhoods.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is more than just a concept,” said Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert. “In Des Moines, it has developed into a highly effective crime fighting strategy. United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum and his staff have taken a hardline stance on prosecuting our most violent criminals, particularly gun offenders, in an effort to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. To date, the effect has been dramatic, and this working relationship is poised to continue these efforts long into the future. In many larger cities across the country, efforts such as this may seem to have less of an impact on overall violent crime numbers. In Des Moines, the results are real and the crimes trends validate the impact.”
In announcing the results of this effort in Des Moines, United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum noted that, “What’s impressive about the work of the Special Enforcement Team is not just the volume of cases—which has been amazing—but also the quality of those cases. We’re arresting and charging the right people.”
One example is United States v. Xzavier Justin Lee Clark, case number 4:19-cr-138. In July 2019, Clark led Des Moines officers on a high-speed chase, during which he tossed a loaded handgun out of a car. He pleaded guilty to being a drug user in possession of a firearm. At a sentencing hearing scheduled for February 13, 2020, the government expects to present evidence linking Clark to multiple acts of violence in the Des Moines area.
Another case is United States v. Kaytjuan Tyrez Gibbs & Devon Laron Williams, case number 4:19-cr-103. Gibbs and Williams have pleaded guilty to being drug users in possession of firearms, and sentencing for both is scheduled for January 31, 2020. Between September 2018 and May 2019, Gibbs and Williams were involved in a series of gun-related crimes in Des Moines, including possession of at least six firearms, several of which were stolen, and one of which had an obliterated serial number to prevent it from being traced.
“In the past few years our office in Des Moines has substantially increased prosecutions of violent criminals, with a focus on those who illegally use and possess guns,” said United States Attorney Krickbaum. “That has been possible only because of our partnerships with law enforcement, which are as strong today as they have ever been.” Krickbaum added, “Des Moines PD has been front and center in this fight, joined by ATF, FBI, and other local, state, and federal agencies. Our united effort is making a difference in Des Moines.”
The public is reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless they are proven guilty.
These enforcement actions and partnerships are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.