Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
3 December 2019
Pittsburgh Felon Charged with Possession of Crack Cocaine and a GunRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal drug and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The three-count indictment named Dorian Montgomery, age 42, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about July 12, 2019, Montgomery possessed with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. Montgomery, a convicted felon, also possessed a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing a firearm.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of not less than 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $8,000,000, or both, for the narcotics charges; and not less than 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both, for the firearms charges. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Czarnecki is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Montgomery.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pascagoula Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Traffic MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Derek Erwin Graves, 52, of Pascagoula, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent-in-Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Graves is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on March 13, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 fine.
On December 30, 2018, the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team executed a search warrant on an apartment in Pascagoula. During the search, agents made contact with Derek Erwin Graves, who was found to be in possession of a plastic bag containing about 6 grams of methamphetamine. Agents also found methamphetamine in Grave’s bedroom and elsewhere in his apartment, along with a semi-automomatic .380 caliber pistol. Graves, who was a previously convicted felon, was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Adult Detention Center.
The methamphetamine seized in Graves’ apartment was determined to be actual methamphetamine with purity rates ranging from 96% to 100% pure methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Pascagoula Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris.
Owner of a Shreveport Medical Laboratory Service Admits Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Robert C. Poimboeuf, a Shreveport business owner, pleaded guilty today in federal court, to filing false tax returns, announced David C. Joseph, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to documents and information provided to the court, Robert C. Poimboeuf, 57, along with his wife, owned and operated D&G Holdings, LLC, (D&G) a local medical business operating as Doctors Lab, that provided laboratory and phlebotomy services. From 2011 through 2015, Poimboeuf filed false tax returns that underreported gross receipts earned from D&G. In particular, Poimboeuf provided false and misleading information to his tax return preparers – hiding income, failing to disclose bank accounts and falsely characterizing business receipts as non-taxable loans.
D&G maintained an operating account and two accounts that received revenue – one for electronic payments and the other for physical deposits of checks. For 2011 through 2014, Poimboeuf concealed the nature of deposits into D&G’s operating bank account by falsely reporting to his accountant that the deposits were transfers from a billing service. Although D&G used a billing service, these deposits were not transfers from the billing service, but from D&G’s revenue accounts that Poimboeuf did not disclose to his accountant.
The Poimboeufs hired a different accountant to prepare their 2015 tax return and provided information for the electronic deposit account in addition to the operating account, but continued to withhold information about the physical deposits account. When the accountant asked for additional information concerning a loan, Poimboeuf provided a document to support the deposit for the loan, when in fact it was actually a transfer from the undisclosed physical deposits account. In addition, Poimboeuf did not provide numerous Forms 1099 reflecting earnings for D&G.
Poimboeuf underreported earnings for D&G in order to understate taxes due for 2011 through 2015. As a result of Poimboeuf’s conduct, the filing of false federal income tax returns for the years 2011 through 2015 caused a tax loss of more than $1.9 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“Mr. Poimboeuf cheated on his taxes in order to lower his tax bill. In doing so, he committed a crime and failed in a duty we all owe as American citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph. “He now awaits sentencing for this crime.”
Sentencing is set for April 21, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., before Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. in Shreveport, Louisiana. Mr. Poimboeuf faces a statutory maximum sentence of six years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. Mr. Poimboeuf has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $1,904,477.
Special agents with the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook and Trial Attorney Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division, are prosecuting the case.
# # #
Owner of Medical Laboratory Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Shreveport, Louisiana, business owner pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana.
According to documents and information provided to the court, Robert C. Poimboeuf, 57, was a part owner of D&G Holdings, LLC, a medical laboratory in the Shreveport area. From 2011 through 2015, Poimboeuf filed false tax returns that underreported gross receipts earned from his business. In particular, Poimboeuf provided false information to his tax return preparers and concealed income from them by failing to disclose several bank accounts and falsely characterizing business receipts as non-taxable loans. Poimboeuf’s conduct caused a tax loss of more than $1.9 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
U.S. District Judge Maurice Hicks, Jr., scheduled sentencing for April 21, 2020. Mr. Poimboeuf faces a statutory maximum sentence of six years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. Mr. Poimboeuf has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $1,904,477.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Joseph thanked special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Van Hook and Trial Attorney Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
Ohio County man indicted on firearms chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Shawndale Davis, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Davis, age 36, was indicted on one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Davis, having been convicted of two prior felonies and prohibited from having firearms, is accused of having a .45 caliber revolver in October 2019 in Ohio County.
Davis faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
North Carolina Man Sentenced for Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Alexander M. Kingston, 27, formerly of Locust, North Carolina, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, to 10 years in prison by United States Senior District Judge Richard G. Kopf for enticement of a minor. In addition to his prison sentence, Kingston will also serve 10 years on supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender.
In March of 2019, Lincoln Police Department Task Force Officers learned that a 14-year-old female met Kingston on a chatting website for teenagers. The minor communicated with Kingston through this website and other social media accounts.
Kingston offered to drive to Lincoln, Nebraska to pick her up. Officers learned Kingston was also talking to the minor through her friend’s social media account. Officers were granted access to the friend’s account, and continued the conversation with Kingston in an undercover capacity. Kingston believed that he was communicating with a 14-year-old female.
Kingston told the undercover officer he would drive from Kentucky and pick up the minor and take her to another state where she would live with him. Kingston then negotiated a meeting place in Lincoln, Nebraska. Kingston indicated he wanted to meet with the minor in a hotel room in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Through several search warrants to social media sites, Kingston was identified and located as living in Monroe, North Carolina.
On April 19, 2019, Kingston arrived at the pre-determined meeting site located in Lincoln to meet with the minor and her friend. Kingston got out of a vehicle with North Carolina license plates and was approached and arrested by Lincoln Police Department Officers. Kingston was holding a cellphone at the time of his arrest. The cellphone was observed to be open to an Instagram conversation between Kingston and the undercover officers.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue minors. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
NDTX Round-Up December 3Read the Press Release
SENTENCING - LEONARDO MARROQUIN
On November 21, Leonardo Marroquin, 30, was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in federal custody for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. On February 23, 2017, Marroquin committed a traffic violation and was stopped by officers. During the traffic stop he was found to be in possess of 498 grams of methamphetamine. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Dallas Police Department and prosecuted by AUSA George Leal.
SENTENCING – DEBRA DAVIS THOMPSON
On November 21, Debra Davis Thompson, 47, was sentenced to 2 years in federal custody for tax evasion. In 2013, Thompson filed a false Income Tax Return Form and submitted it to the Internal Revenue Service. She underrepresented her income by $218,304, defrauding the American government of $69,064 in taxes. This case was prosecuted by AUSA Nick Bunch and investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the United States Secret Service.
SENTENCING – RICKY LOVELY
On November 21, Ricky Lovely, 31, was sentenced to 3 years and 5 months in federal custody for possession of stolen firearms and aiding and abetting. In May 2017, an ATF agent, acting on information provided to the agency, called and arranged a meeting with Lovely. The agent purchased three firearms from Lovely at a QuikTrip gas station, and confirmed through records checks that two of the pistols were stolen. Lovely was found to be in possession of another pistol that he intended to sell at the time of his arrest. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by AUSA Myria Boehm and AUSA Cara Pierce.
Monroeville Felon Charged with Multiple Federal Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The four-count Indictment named Davon Carter Williams, also known as “Big Boy”, age 31, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, from April 2018 until February 6, 2019, Williams conspired with others to possess with the intent to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance. The indictment further alleges that on February 6, 2019, Williams possessed with the intent to distribute and did distribute fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, and heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance. The indictment further alleges that from December 2016 until February 6, 2017, Williams conspired with others to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance. Further, Williams knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on two occasions. Federal law prohibits those convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year of possessing firearms.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $17,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Douglas C. Maloney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Monroeville Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Milford Man Involved in Marijuana Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Nearly 8 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Robert Capelli, 34, of Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 95 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a large-scale marijuana trafficking conspiracy. Judge Arterton also ordered Capelli to pay a $30,000 fine.
According to court documents and the evidence presented during Capelli’s trial, in 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration began investigating a Piper single-engine aircraft, owned by Donald Burns of Milford, that was making regular flights between Stratford, Connecticut, and northern California via the southwest United States. On June 28, 2017, Burns flew the aircraft from northern California to Lubbock, Texas. The next day, Burns flew the aircraft from Texas to Arkansas, and then to West Virginia and Connecticut, where he landed in the evening at Sikorsky Airport in Stratford. After it landed, a law enforcement search of the plane revealed approximately 400 pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed packages, and Burns was arrested. Investigators determined that the marijuana was intended for Capelli, Scott Bodnar, Terrell Givens and others to distribute in Connecticut.
The investigation revealed that, for more than two years, Capelli and his associates earned millions of dollars by trafficking nearly two tons of marijuana from California to Connecticut. Members of the conspiracy also laundered more than $6 million to purchase marijuana in California, maintain properties for distribution in Connecticut, pay Burns to transport the marijuana, and for other expenses related to the conspiracy.
On July 25, 2019, a jury found Capelli guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. Capelli was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and one count of money laundering.
As part of this case, Capelli also has forfeited $55,000.
Capelli, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on January 14, 2020.
On May 2, 2019, Bodnar, of Ansonia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. On September 4, 2019, he was sentenced to 55 months of imprisonment and ordered to forfeit his 2012 Toyota Camry.
On May 3, 2019, Givens, of Beacon Falls, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. On September 11, 2019, he was sentenced to 55 months of imprisonment and ordered to forfeit his 2009 Jaguar XF and jewelry valued at approximately $8,000.
On May 6, 2019, Burns, of Milford, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana. He also has agreed to forfeit the Piper aircraft. Burns awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP), the Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations Center, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Stratford, Derby and West Haven Police Departments, and the Second Judicial Drug Task Force in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Marc Silverman.
Mexican man admits role in substantial cocaine smugglingRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Mexican citizen has entered a guilty plea to conspiring to import more than 16 kilograms of cocaine into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
On Sept. 3, Jose Antonio Garza Gutierrez attempted entry into the United States at the World Trade Bridge Port of Entry in Laredo driving a semi-truck and trailer. During inspection, authorities observed an unusual compartment hidden within the sleeper area of the truck. They conducted a search and found 14 tightly-wrapped bundles of cocaine weighing more than 16.94 kilograms.
The cocaine has an estimated street value of nearly $407,000.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia-Marmolejo will impose sentencing March 18, 2020. At that time, Garza Gutierrez faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Harrison is prosecuting the case.
Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to more than three months in federal prison.
Diego Perez-Vasquez, age 26, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and living in Iowa received the prison term after an October 10, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
At the guilty plea, Perez-Vasquez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States on March 12, 2015, and March 18, 2015, and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Perez-Vasquez was found by immigration agents in August 2019 after two aliens under ICE supervision entered a car containing Perez-Vasquez in a parking lot near the Cedar Rapids ICE office. Perez-Vasquez was arrested after he presented the ICE agents with a fraudulent California driver’s license as a form of identification.
Perez-Vasquez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Perez-Vasquez was sentenced to 97 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Perez-Vasquez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-92.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 31 Years for Bank Robbery and CarjackingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Lorenzo Davis, 29, has been sentenced to 376 months in federal prison for armed bank robbery and carjacking. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on July 26, 2018, defendant Lorenzo Davis, 29, and two other males robbed a Memphis man at gunpoint. Davis then walked the victim two miles to an ATM machine and forced him to withdraw his last $40 at gunpoint. The next day, Lorenzo Davis committed a carjacking by shooting a Memphis man in the neck and taking his Toyota Solara.
On June 20, 2019, after a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted Davis of bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a bank robbery, carjacking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm during both incidents.
On December 2, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Norris sentenced Davis to 376 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "This is precisely the type of violent gun offender that threatens lives and public safety in Memphis. These federal bank robbery, carjacking, and firearms charges are evidence of the aggressive approach taken by this office to remove the worst of the worst offenders from our streets. This sentence confirms that there is a significant consequence for sowing lawlessness and violence in our communities, and Davis will now reap a long prison sentence for his brazen and recidivist behavior."
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department Violent Crimes Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Rogers and Neal Oldham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Maryland Announces New Nationwide FBI Tipline to Gather Information About Crimes Committed by the MS-13 GangRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Maryland is the first District to announce the new nationwide FBI tipline, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), to gather information about the criminal activities of the MS-13 gang. To help publicize the tipline and encourage people who may have information about the gang to call, a Spanish-language public service announcement was also debuted today.
The tipline was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore Office; Chief Edward G. Hargis of the Frederick Police Department; Chief Edward Jackson of the Annapolis Police Department; Chief Timothy J. Altomare of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Chief Amal Awad of the City of Hyattsville Police Department.
“This new tipline adds to our tool box in the fight against MS-13,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “MS-13 is terrorizing and preying upon entire communities. We want to help end the fear and violence, but we need the community’s help to fight back. Please, if you have information, call 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713). Federal, state, and local law enforcement are working together to find and bring to justice MS-13 members who commit heinous crimes—and your information will help us to do that. Your identity will be protected.”
“MS-13 uses violence to strike fear in our communities and they count on that fear resulting in silence,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Boone. “We must not allow fear and silence to be weapons MS-13 is allowed to use. Please call the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713). Use your voice to tell them, no more.”
The FBI tipline allows individuals to provide information about MS-13 activities to a central location and the FBI will then disseminate the information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for investigation. The Spanish-language public service announcement (PSA) features a mother who was extorted by MS-13 and whose child was murdered by the gang. In the PSA the victim encourages others to call the FBI so the FBI can help them. The PSA is available for download at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtCqeAA_LlY and has captions enabled for both English and Spanish. In addition, the video will be live in the videos section on the FBI’s website.
MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland. MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang, as well as against rival gang members. To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members and associates are expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who show disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence. MS-13 has mottos consistent with its rules, beliefs, expectations and reputation including “mata, viola, controla,” which translates as, “kill, rape, control,” and “ver, oir y callar,” which means, “see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing.”
# # #
Madison Man Sentenced to 67 Months on Crack Cocaine ChargeRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Daniel Norris, 32, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 67 months in federal prison for possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute. Norris pleaded guilty to this charge on September 4, 2019.
On January 7, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Norris’ residence in Madison. During the search, officers recovered 54 grams of crack cocaine, 82 grams of powder cocaine, a stolen Glock pistol, and $6,906 in cash. Norris was on supervision at the time of the search for a felony conviction for 3rd degree sexual assault in Dane County.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson was troubled by Norris’ lengthy criminal history and the fact that he was involved with dealing drugs while on supervision. Judge Peterson also noted that Norris’ possession of a stolen firearm was particularly alarming.
The charge against Norris was a result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Madison Police Department, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.
Long Island Felon Admits Possessing Loaded Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Hassan Raheem, age 43, of Uniondale, New York, pled guilty today to possessing and intending to distribute crack cocaine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and John B. Devito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Raheem, who has 6 prior felony convictions, admitted that on July 26, 2016, he possessed a loaded .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol and 17 grams of crack cocaine packaged for distribution at a motel in Colonie, New York. He further admitted that he intended to distribute the crack cocaine to others in exchange for cash, and that he possessed the pistol, which he obtained illegally, to protect his crack and drug proceeds from potential robbers. The pistol itself was reported stolen from a Mechanicsville, Virginia gun store in 2013.
Raheem faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and at least 3 years of post-release supervision, when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Fredrick J. Scullin, Jr. on June 9, 2020. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Colonie Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.
Laredoan pleads guilty to role in drug trafficking schemeRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 24-year-old Laredo resident has admitted he conspired to possess with intent to distribute a large quantity of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
On July 18, authorities observed six individuals carrying bundles near the Rio Grande River in Laredo. They quickly responded to that area and witnessed a pickup truck driving towards the river.
Jose Gonzalo Ojeda was the driver and fled on foot as law enforcement approached the vehicle. Authorities soon apprehended him and recovered 480 pounds of marijuana from his truck.
The drugs have an estimated street value of more than $380,000.
Ojeda has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing, which will be set at a later date before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana. At that time, he faces a minimum of five and up to 40 years in prison as well as a possible $5 million fine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day is prosecuting the case.
Laredo drug smuggler pleads guilty in marijuana conspiracyRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Laredo native has admitted to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than 135 kilograms of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
On Sept. 13, authorities observed a man - later identified as Jose Eduardo Flores – carrying a black bundle near an entrance to a ranch in Laredo. After he returned to his vehicle, authorities attempted to conduct a traffic stop. However, Flores quickly fled the scene.
Law enforcement found his abandoned vehicle at a nearby gas station. They conducted a search and removed four black bundles of marijuana weighing 135.8 kilograms.
The marijuana has an estimated street value of nearly $66,000.
Authorities were able to locate Flores and took him into custody. He admitted he knew he was illegally transporting a controlled substance.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia-Marmolejo will impose sentencing March 18, 2020. At that time, Flores faces a minimum of five and up to 40 years in federal prison and a possible $5 million maximum fine.
He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yoona Lim is prosecuting the case.
KC Man Guilty of $2.5 Million Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man has been convicted in federal court of a scheme to obtain more than $2.5 million in fraudulent federal income tax refunds, in part by stealing his children’s identities.
Michael A. Kheop, 52, was found guilty at the conclusion of a one-day bench trial before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Monday, Dec. 2, of three counts of making false claims, two counts of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to evidence introduced in the trial, Kheop created a fraudulent business entity in 2013. He then created fraudulent W-2 forms that contained false income and withholding in order to fraudulently claim refunds in his own name and using his three minor children’s names.
Kheop filed 12 fraudulent claims for refunds on behalf of his three minor children for tax years 2014 through 2017. He filed three fraudulent claims for refunds in his own name for tax years 2015 through 2017.
By filing the 15 fraudulent claims for refunds, Kheop attempted to defraud the government of $2,591,706. The U.S. Treasury actually paid Kheop $24,322.
The false claims convictions are specifically related to three tax returns Kheop filed in 2018, one in his own name and two in the names of his minor children. The mail fraud convictions are specifically related to refund checks mailed to Kheop’s post office box. The aggravated identity theft conviction is specifically related to the use of his minor child’s name and Social Security number on a federal income tax return.
Under federal statutes, Kheop is subject to a sentence of up to 55 years in federal prison without parole for the false claims and mail fraud convictions, plus a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in federal prison without parole for aggravated identity theft. 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. Attorneys Kathleen D. Mahoney and Bradley Cooper. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Justice Department honors rank-and-file law enforcement officers and deputies in third annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Attorney General William P. Barr and Justice Department leadership announced the recipients of the Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
“Honoring and supporting the work of law enforcement officers and deputies is a top priority for the Trump Administration, and today is an opportunity for me to personally express my gratitude and commitment to those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Attorney General Barr. “The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing honors exceptional police officers and the vital public service they provide. The brave men and women in law enforcement are engaged in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe each and every day. It is an honor to thank them for their service.”
“Our recognition of Officer Quick highlights his relentless commitment to the safety of the community and the well-being of the students he is involved with every day,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak.
Officer Troy Quick of the Conyers Police Department has been recognized for his dedication and service toward building trust between youth and law enforcement in Conyers, Georgia. Officer Quick is making a lasting impact on the youth within his community. As a School Resource Officer at Rockdale County High School, Officer Quick has been able to help a number of students leave gang life. Whether it is through the mentoring sessions he coordinates for students, donating items to families in need, or just taking an interest in student’s daily lives, Officer Quick is a true example of dedication and service.
President Donald J. Trump established clear directives for the Department of Justice – with three Executive Orders – demonstrating his strong support of the law enforcement community. These Executive Orders commit the Department to working in tandem with state and local law enforcement to restore the rule of law, reduce violent crime, dismantle criminal gangs, and combat the growing drug epidemic. Today the Department of Justice continues to support the President’s directive to honor law enforcement officers by announcing the third annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received 199 nominations for 414 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that troopers, officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues. The individuals recognized today include:
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Justice Department Honors Rank-and-File Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies in Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William P. Barr and Justice Department leadership today announced the recipients of the Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received 199 nominations for 414 individuals, ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that troopers, officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in and respond to crime and public safety issues.
Detective William Maldonado of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) is honored for his effort in leading the criminal investigation into La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, a transnational criminal organization. In January 2016, after the SCPD recognized an increase in MS-13-related crime, Detective Maldonado was assigned to assist in the investigation of the November 2015 disappearance of a 35-year-old man; gang involvement was suspected. During the next six months, there would be three cases of missing teenagers. Detective Maldonado gathered information that indicated the teens had been murdered by MS-13 gang members. Detective Maldonado was tasked with managing intelligence from numerous sources and engaging local police precincts to develop intelligence on targeted gang members of interest. During the course of the investigation, Detective Maldonado was battling cancer, but rarely missed work due to the illness. When he succumbed to his illness in 2018, all of the murder victims’ remains had been recovered, and multiple arrests had been made by law enforcement. As a result of the investigation, MS-13’s Sailor Clique in Suffolk County, which was responsible for most of the murders, was eliminated.
“Honoring and supporting the work of law enforcement officers and deputies is a top priority for the Trump Administration, and today is an opportunity for me to personally express my gratitude and commitment to those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Attorney General Barr. “The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing honors exceptional police officers and the vital public service they provide. The brave men and women in law enforcement are engaged in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe each and every day. It is an honor to thank them for their service.”
“Detective Maldonado’s shining legacy is built upon his unflagging commitment to protect the people of Suffolk County and do justice for the victims brutally killed by MS-13 gang members,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “His tenacious work remains an inspiration to all members of law enforcement who are working to eradicate MS-13.”
“This recognition encapsulates everything Detective Maldonado was, as a person and as a detective,” stated SCPD Commissioner Geraldine Hart. “Detective Maldonado worked tirelessly as a member of the FBI Long Island Gang Task Force, where he was instrumental in the fight against MS-13 in Suffolk County. He was proud to be a cop, and we were proud to have him as a member of our SCPD family. His absence is felt every day.”
Justice Department Honors Rank-and-File Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies in Third Annual Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William P. Barr and Justice Department leadership today announced the recipients of the Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
Officer Jesse Guardiola of the Tulsa Police Department was recognized for his community policing work. Guardiola developed a comprehensive outreach program to build relationships between the Tulsa Police Department and the Hispanic community. The program provides survival Spanish language training for officers and educates law enforcement and the community on the immigrant Hispanic culture. The program has received national recognition and is being promoted as a national model for Hispanic community outreach. Through his efforts, Officer Guardiola is building bridges and making a difference in Tulsa.
“Honoring and supporting the work of law enforcement officers and deputies is a top priority for the Trump Administration, and today is an opportunity for me to personally express my gratitude and commitment to those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Attorney General Barr. “The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing honors exceptional police officers and the vital public service they provide. The brave men and women in law enforcement are engaged in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe each and every day. It is an honor to thank them for their service.”
“Officer Guardiola is truly one of Tulsa’s finest. His Hispanic Outreach Program is a national model for community policing,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “His extraordinary passion to improve the status quo is most admirable. I’m thankful for the selfless service of Tulsa Police Officer Guardiola.”
President Donald J. Trump established clear directives for the Department of Justice – with three Executive Orders – demonstrating his strong support of the law enforcement community. These Executive Orders commit the Department to working in tandem with state and local law enforcement to restore the rule of law, reduce violent crime, dismantle criminal gangs, and combat the growing drug epidemic. Today the Department of Justice continues to support the President’s directive to honor law enforcement officers by announcing the third annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received 199 nominations for 414 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that troopers, officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues. The individuals recognized today also include:
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
Detective William Maldonado of the Suffolk County Police Department, New York:
Detective William Maldonado is being recognized posthumously for his effort in leading the criminal investigation into the violent transnational street gang MS-13. Detective Maldonado was assigned to assist in the investigation of the disappearance of a young man. Intelligence gathered by Detective Maldonado indicated the missing boy was a murder victim of MS-13. Without the detective’s work, along with his team, the murder spree would no doubt have continued. Instead, several dozen people were arrested, charged with 17 murders, the Suffolk County MS-13 Sailor Clique was eliminated, and several other cliques were disrupted. Maldonado accomplished this while battling cancer, and rarely missed work. He succumbed to his illness in 2018, but not before arrests were made in the cases.
Detectives George Duarte and Jeffrey Richards of the Providence Police Department, Rhode Island:
Detectives George Duarte and Jeffrey Richards are being recognized for their extraordinary investigative work in solving an abduction and sexual assault case of a 14-year-old girl. Their investigation not only solved that case, but also led to solving several other cases of sexual assault by the same suspect. Because of their work, the detectives were able to have this vicious predator removed from the community, victims of unreported crimes were helped, and justice was brought to a number of other victims.
Detectives Sandra Marquez and Kenneth Sealy of the Aventura Police Department, Florida:
Detectives Kenneth Sealy and Sandra Marquez are being recognized for their investigative work in solving several high-dollar fraud schemes targeting multiple businesses and retail stores. During an intense investigation involving a large credit card fraud ring operating in south Florida, the detectives identified approximately $194,000 in fraudulent transactions and seized another $218,000. Another case involved money laundering and widespread credit card fraud committed in multiple states, which included a loss of almost $4 million over three years. The detectives are continuing this important work in coordination with several federal agencies.
FIELD OPERATIONS
Officers Evan Jurgensen, Nicholas Kelly, Rachel Mynier, and John Yenchak of the Prince William County Police Department, Virginia:
In November 2018, the Prince William County Police Department received a call reporting an active shooter. Within minutes of responding to the scene, Officers Jurgensen, Kelly, Mynier and Yenchak had to take cover from gunfire. Officer Mynier noticed movement on the roof of a residence and transmitted a warning to incoming units, and in doing so saved lives. After the shooter ignored officers’ commands, he was eventually struck and fell to the ground. Although officers feared a possible second shooter, they exposed themselves to harm once again to extract the shooter for medical treatment, and also pulled an occupant from the residence to safety. The heroism demonstrated by each officer represents true courage.
Deputy Richard Hassna of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, California:
Deputy Richard Hassna is being recognized for his innovative use of small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for public safety operations. In 2018, during the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County, Deputy Hassna led more than 16 unmanned aerial vehicle teams, and conducted 517 flights in two days, taking more than 70,000 images. These images were stitched into a map that allowed residents to see the damage to their property, without being exposed to danger. This was likely the largest response of small UAS’s to a disaster scene in U.S. history. Deputy Hassna has also developed tactics and training for this technology that has redefined high-risk tactical operations and air support as we know it.
Deputy Ross Jessop of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Montana:
Deputy Jessop is being recognized for his action and dedication to duty in saving the life of a kidnapped baby. In July 2018, the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a man with a gun, who had fled in a vehicle with his girlfriend’s infant son. One hour later the suspect appeared back on the scene without the baby. The suspect said he killed and buried the baby; but his irrational statements led investigators to search for the missing child. During Deputy Jessop’s search in more than a million acres of forest, he heard a faint whimper, and found a baby boy lying face down. To his surprise, the baby was alive and uninjured. There is no question Deputy Jessop’s instincts, perseverance, and dedication saved the child’s life.
Officers Aaron Bates and Alexander Stotik of the Cohasset Police Department, Massachusetts:
Officers Bates and Stotik are being recognized for their courageous actions that saved the life of a woman who was being brutally attacked. The officers were dispatched to a home where neighbors complained of loud noises and a fight. After investigating, the officers heard a muffled scream, kicked in a locked door, and saw what they described as an “attempted murder in progress.” After a heated struggle, the officers were able to subdue the suspect, place him under arrest, and get medical attention for the victim. The officers exhibited extraordinary valor, bravery, courage, and professionalism in the face of extreme danger that would no doubt have resulted in the murder of the victim.
INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY POLICING
Officer Phalon McFate of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada:
Officer McFate developed Project Daybreak, an initiative used to address violent crime-hot spots in downtown Las Vegas neighborhoods. Since it started, Project Daybreak has significantly contributed to decreasing violent crime – down by 50 percent in these neighborhoods. Through positive police interactions, Officer McFate was able to create transparency and build trust in neighborhoods, where these previously did not exist. The success of Project Daybreak is a direct result of Officer McFate’s passion and commitment to her community.
Detective Anthony Roberson of the Providence Police Department, Rhode Island:
Detective Roberson is being recognized for his use of community policing initiatives that build partnerships between law enforcement and local businesses to support underserved families. The “Shop with a Cop” program has now served 300 children. The “Handshake Initiative” has grown from 40 to 200 mentors, and is benefiting families of all backgrounds, across the city. Through these programs, Detective Roberson is giving back to his community, increasing partnerships and building bridges between law enforcement, families and businesses.
Officer Jonathan Plunkett of the Irving Police Department, Texas:
In August 2016, after the murder of five police officers in Dallas, Officer Plunkett began working on an outreach initiative to bridge the gap between the African-American community and law enforcement. The idea was to connect with the community in places where residents would feel comfortable, and be open to sharing their concerns and engaging in dialogue. Officer Plunkett knew that barbershops would work. The initiative, which began with one shop, has now increased to 16 shops, and is known as ShopTalk. Through ShopTalk, Officer Plunkett has created a way to build mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and community members who had not been reached with traditional police outreach efforts.
Detective Kathleen Lucero of the Isleta Tribal Police Department, New Mexico:
Detective Lucero is being recognized for community policing initiatives that provide resources to impoverished youth, and build connections between law enforcement and the community. Through the annual Reaching for A Star initiative, Detective Lucero provides gifts and food to more than 150 children and their families during the holiday season. Through her Camp Courage program, 60 children participate in a youth camp every summer. Detective Lucero’s on-and off-duty dedication cannot be overstated and has made a true impact on the community.
Officer Troy Quick of the Conyers Police Department, Georgia:
Officer Quick is making a lasting impact on the youth within his community. As a School Resource Officer at Rockdale County High School, Officer Quick has been able to help a number of students leave gang life. Whether it is though the mentoring sessions he coordinates for students, donating items to families in need, or just taking an interest in student’s daily lives, Officer Quick is a true example of dedication and service.
Justice Department Honors Rank-and-File Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies in Third Annual Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William P. Barr and Justice Department leadership today announced the recipients of the Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
United States Attorney General William P. Barr honored Providence Police Detectives George Duarte, Jeff Richards, and Anthony Roberson during a ceremony in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Justice Department Building.
“Honoring and supporting the work of law enforcement officers and deputies is a top priority for the Trump Administration, and today is an opportunity for me to personally express my gratitude and commitment to those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Attorney General Barr. “The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing honors exceptional police officers and the vital public service they provide. The brave men and women in law enforcement are engaged in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe each and every day. It is an honor to thank them for their service.”
United States Attorney Aaron Weisman added, “Exemplary police investigations like those carried out by Providence Police detectives Jeffrey Richards and George Duarte are at the heart of the vital role served by urban law enforcers, day in and day out; investigations which do so much to make our communities safe and livable places. I also commend the truly outstanding and beyond-the-call-of-duty community activities of Providence Police Detective Anthony Roberson. While so many here in Providence are already aware of the really remarkable impact that Detective Roberson’s outreach programs have had, especially with the youth, on making Providence safer and more pleasant, I am gratified that his incredible outreach activities have come the attention of the Department of Justice.”
Providence Police Chief Hugh T. Clements, Jr., added, “The Providence Police Department is truly honored to win the Attorney General Award in two categories for ‘Distinguished Service in Policing’. Our Community Police foundation is built on a balanced focus of keeping our city safe and promoting positive interactions to engage with all of our citizens. Our comprehensive approach with our community partners has led to great success with continued reductions in violent crime and solid trust within the community. This recognition from the Attorney General validates our commitment.”
President Donald J. Trump established clear directives for the Department of Justice – with three Executive Orders – demonstrating his strong support of the law enforcement community. These Executive Orders commit the Department to working in tandem with state and local law enforcement to restore the rule of law, reduce violent crime, dismantle criminal gangs, and combat the growing drug epidemic. Today the Department of Justice continues to support the President’s directive to honor law enforcement officers by announcing the third annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received 199 nominations for 414 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that troopers, officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues.
Providence Police Department detectives George Duarte and Jeff Richards were honored for their outstanding work tracking down and arresting an individual who allegedly kidnapped, drugged, and sexually assaulted a high school student as she walked to school in February 2017. The detectives had limited information available to them because the victim had been drugged and was disoriented, and therefore able to provide only a few details of the kidnapping and attack.
In investigating the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of the high school student, Detectives Duarte and Richards painstakingly retraced the path the suspect took while in contact with the victim. This included canvassing any possible video camera footage that might have captured the suspect's vehicle while it was travelling around areas that the victim could recall. Several glimpses of the vehicle were found, and as the detectives followed the trail through video they were able to observe the suspect’s vehicle in a gas station; a license plate was revealed, giving them a break in the case. Following the arrest of the alleged perpetrator, a subsequent investigation by detectives Duarte and Richards resulted in the identification of two additional young women who were allegedly assaulted by the suspect, as seen on his cellphone video. Additionally, six other sexual assaults allegedly filmed by the same person had female victims whom the detectives were never able to identify. These victims were allegedly unconscious during the assaults.
Providence Police detective Anthony Roberson, a 17-year veteran of the Department, not only serves the community he grew up in while rising through the ranks but spends a large part of his personal time volunteering in many ways to further serve the community at large.
On many days when Detective Roberson’s shift is over, if he is not finishing up additional schooling, teaching driver's education, or volunteering at the Sojourner House, his innovative approach to community policing includes, among other programs, his "Shop with a Cop" program for kids. He encourages businesses big and small to donate dinners, items, and the like, which are raffled off to raise money to buy gift cards for use by kids who might otherwise not be able to purchase essentials and school supplies. To date, around 300 kids from around the city have participated this program, strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the community they serve and protect.
Additionally, Detective Roberson’s “Handshake Initiative” in Providence, Cumberland, and East Providence, brings nearly 200 successful adults from all walks of life, dressed in work uniform, to welcome students to school in the morning with encouragement, handshakes, and high-fives. The program emphasizes to students that they can pursue any career they choose. There is also the Bicycle Safety Initiative that Detective Roberson started with Walmart, along with grant money and volunteer police officers, providing dozens of kids a year with a bicycle and a helmet.
Justice Department Honors Rank-And-File Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies in Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
Two Detectives Recognized in the Southern District of Florida
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William P. Barr and Justice Department leadership today announced the recipients of the Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
Detectives Kenneth Sealy and Sandra Marquez of the Aventura Police Department, in the Southern District of Florida, are being recognized for their investigative work in solving several high-dollar fraud schemes targeting multiple businesses and retail stores. During an intense investigation involving a large credit card fraud ring operating in South Florida, the detectives identified approximately $194,000 in fraudulent transactions and seized another $218,000. Another case involved money laundering and widespread credit card fraud committed in multiple states, which included a loss of almost $4 million over three years. The detectives are continuing this important work in coordination with several federal agencies.
“Honoring and supporting the work of law enforcement officers and deputies is a top priority for the Trump Administration, and today is an opportunity for me to personally express my gratitude and commitment to those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Attorney General Barr. “The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing honors exceptional police officers and the vital public service they provide. The brave men and women in law enforcement are engaged in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe each and every day. It is an honor to thank them for their service.”
“We commend Aventura Police Department Detectives Kenneth Sealy and Sandra Marquez for their exceptional police work,” stated U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida. “By directly engaging with the community and carrying out proactive investigations, they are providing invaluable policing and are worthy of this special recognition. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Detectives Sealy and Marquez, and law enforcement officers throughout our country who work tirelessly to keep us safe from harm and protect our national interests.”
President Donald J. Trump established clear directives for the Department of Justice – with three Executive Orders – demonstrating his strong support of the law enforcement community. These Executive Orders commit the Department to working in tandem with state and local law enforcement to restore the rule of law, reduce violent crime, dismantle criminal gangs, and combat the growing drug epidemic. Today the Department of Justice continues to support the President’s directive to honor law enforcement officers by announcing the third annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing. The Department received 199 nominations for 414 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that troopers, officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues. The individuals recognized today also include:
- Detective William Maldonado of the Suffolk County Police Department, New York
- Detectives George Duarte and Jeffrey Richards of the Providence Police Department, Rhode Island
- Officers Evan Jurgensen, Nicholas Kelly, Rachel Mynier, and John Yenchak of the Prince William County Police Department, Virginia
- Deputy Richard Hassna of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, California
- Deputy Ross Jessop of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Montana
- Officers Aaron Bates and Alexander Stotik of the Cohasset Police Department, Massachusetts
- Officer Phalon McFate of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada
- Officer Jesse Guardiola of the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma
- Detective Anthony Roberson of the Providence Police Department, Rhode Island
- Officer Jonathan Plunkett of the Irving Police Department, Texas
- Detective Kathleen Lucero of the Isleta Tribal Police Department, New Mexico
- Officer Troy Quick of the Conyers Police Department, Georgia
Justice Department Honors Rank-And-File Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies in Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Attorney General William P. Barr and Justice Department leadership today announced the recipients of the Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Hassna was among those law enforcement officers recognized at the ceremony. Deputy Hassna received the award for his innovative use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) for public safety operations around the United States. Deputy Hassna has personally assisted hundreds of public safety agencies around the nation with establishing their own sUAS programs to provide close-air support to public safety agencies in dangerous situations. Deputy Hassna participated in the development of a general order, operations manual, and maintenance program, some of which are being used by agencies throughout the nation. Further, in 2018, Deputy Hassna assisted in the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County, which left 85 people dead and became the most deadly wildland fire in California history. Through Deputy Hassna’s leadership, more than 16 unmanned aerial vehicle teams conducted 517 flights in two days and took more than 70,000 images, which were later stitched into a map that allowed residents to see the damage to their property without being exposed to danger. This response was likely the largest response of small unmanned aerial vehicles to a disaster scene in U.S. history.
“Honoring and supporting the work of law enforcement of¬ficers and deputies is a top priority for the Trump Administration, and today is an opportunity for me to personally express my gratitude and commitment to those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Attorney General Barr. “The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing honors exceptional police officers and the vital public service they provide. The brave men and women in law enforcement are engaged in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe each and every day. It is an honor to thank them for their service.”
President Donald J. Trump established clear directives for the Department of Justice – with three Executive Orders – demonstrating his strong support of the law enforcement community. These Executive Orders commit the Department to working in tandem with state and local law enforcement to restore the rule of law, reduce violent crime, dismantle criminal gangs, and combat the growing drug epidemic. Today the Department of Justice continues to support the President’s directive to honor law enforcement officers by announcing the third annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received 199 nominations for 414 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that troopers, officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues.
Justice Department Honors Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies in Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr and Justice Department leadership today announced the recipients of the Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
“Honoring and supporting the work of law enforcement officers and deputies is a top priority for the Trump Administration, and today is an opportunity for me to personally express my gratitude and commitment to those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Attorney General Barr. “The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing honors exceptional police officers and the vital public service they provide. The brave men and women in law enforcement are engaged in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe each and every day. It is an honor to thank them for their service.”
President Donald J. Trump established clear directives for the Department of Justice – with three Executive Orders – demonstrating his strong support of the law enforcement community. These Executive Orders commit the Department to working in tandem with state and local law enforcement to restore the rule of law, reduce violent crime, dismantle criminal gangs, and combat the growing drug epidemic. Today the Department of Justice continues to support the President’s directive to honor law enforcement officers by announcing the third annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received 199 nominations for 414 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that troopers, officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues. The individuals recognized today include:
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
Detective William Maldonado of the Suffolk County Police Department, New York:
Detective William Maldonado is being recognized posthumously for his effort in leading the criminal investigation into the violent transnational street gang MS-13. Detective Maldonado was assigned to assist in the investigation of the disappearance of a young man. Intelligence gathered by Detective Maldonado indicated the missing boy was a murder victim of MS-13. Without the detective’s work, along with his team, the murder spree would no doubt have continued. Instead, several dozen people were arrested, charged with 17 murders, the Suffolk County MS-13 Sailor Clique was eliminated, and several other cliques were disrupted. Maldonado accomplished this while battling cancer, and rarely missed work. He succumbed to his illness in 2018, but not before arrests were made in the cases.
Detectives George Duarte and Jeffrey Richards of the Providence Police Department, Rhode Island:
Detectives George Duarte and Jeffrey Richards are being recognized for their extraordinary investigative work in solving an abduction and sexual assault case of a 14-year-old girl. Their investigation not only solved that case, but also led to solving several other cases of sexual assault by the same suspect. Because of their work, the detectives were able to have this vicious predator removed from the community, victims of unreported crimes were helped, and justice was brought to a number of other victims.
Detectives Sandra Marquez and Kenneth Sealy of the Aventura Police Department, Florida:
Detectives Kenneth Sealy and Sandra Marquez are being recognized for their investigative work in solving several high-dollar fraud schemes targeting multiple businesses and retail stores. During an intense investigation involving a large credit card fraud ring operating in south Florida, the detectives identified approximately $194,000 in fraudulent transactions and seized another $218,000. Another case involved money laundering and widespread credit card fraud committed in multiple states, which included a loss of almost $4 million over three years. The detectives are continuing this important work in coordination with several federal agencies.
FIELD OPERATIONS
Officers Evan Jurgensen, Nicholas Kelly, Rachel Mynier, and John Yenchak of the Prince William County Police Department, Virginia:
In November 2018, the Prince William County Police Department received a call reporting an active shooter. Within minutes of responding to the scene, Officers Jurgensen, Kelly, Mynier and Yenchak had to take cover from gunfire. Officer Mynier noticed movement on the roof of a residence and transmitted a warning to incoming units, and in doing so saved lives. After the shooter ignored officers’ commands, he was eventually struck and fell to the ground. Although officers feared a possible second shooter, they exposed themselves to harm once again to extract the shooter for medical treatment, and also pulled an occupant from the residence to safety. The heroism demonstrated by each officer represents true courage.
Deputy Richard Hassna of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, California:
Deputy Richard Hassna is being recognized for his innovative use of small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for public safety operations. In 2018, during the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County, Deputy Hassna led more than 16 unmanned aerial vehicle teams, and conducted 517 flights in two days, taking more than 70,000 images. These images were stitched into a map that allowed residents to see the damage to their property, without being exposed to danger. This was likely the largest response of small UAS’s to a disaster scene in U.S. history. Deputy Hassna has also developed tactics and training for this technology that has redefined high-risk tactical operations and air support as we know it.
Deputy Ross Jessop of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Montana:
Deputy Jessop is being recognized for his action and dedication to duty in saving the life of a kidnapped baby. In July 2018, the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a man with a gun, who had fled in a vehicle with his girlfriend’s infant son. One hour later the suspect appeared back on the scene without the baby. The suspect said he killed and buried the baby; but his irrational statements led investigators to search for the missing child. During Deputy Jessop’s search in more than a million acres of forest, he heard a faint whimper, and found a baby boy lying face down. To his surprise, the baby was alive and uninjured. There is no question Deputy Jessop’s instincts, perseverance, and dedication saved the child’s life.
Officers Aaron Bates and Alexander Stotik of the Cohasset Police Department, Massachusetts:
Officers Bates and Stotik are being recognized for their courageous actions that saved the life of a woman who was being brutally attacked. The officers were dispatched to a home where neighbors complained of loud noises and a fight. After investigating, the officers heard a muffled scream, kicked in a locked door, and saw what they described as an “attempted murder in progress.” After a heated struggle, the officers were able to subdue the suspect, place him under arrest, and get medical attention for the victim. The officers exhibited extraordinary valor, bravery, courage, and professionalism in the face of extreme danger that would no doubt have resulted in the murder of the victim.
INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY POLICING
Officer Phalon McFate of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada:
Officer McFate developed Project Daybreak, an initiative used to address violent crime-hot spots in downtown Las Vegas neighborhoods. Since it started, Project Daybreak has significantly contributed to decreasing violent crime – down by 50 percent in these neighborhoods. Through positive police interactions, Officer McFate was able to create transparency and build trust in neighborhoods, where these previously did not exist. The success of Project Daybreak is a direct result of Officer McFate’s passion and commitment to her community.
Officer Jesse Guardiola of the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma:
Officer Guardiola is being recognized for the Hispanic outreach program he has developed, which provides survival Spanish language training, and educates law enforcement and the community on the immigrant Hispanic culture. The program has received national recognition and is being promoted as a national model for Hispanic community outreach. Through his efforts, Officer Guardiola is building bridges and making a difference in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Detective Anthony Roberson of the Providence Police Department, Rhode Island:
Detective Roberson is being recognized for his use of community policing initiatives that build partnerships between law enforcement and local businesses to support underserved families. The “Shop with a Cop” program has now served 300 children. The “Handshake Initiative” has grown from 40 to 200 mentors, and is benefiting families of all backgrounds, across the city. Through these programs, Detective Roberson is giving back to his community, increasing partnerships and building bridges between law enforcement, families and businesses.
Officer Jonathan Plunkett of the Irving Police Department, Texas:
In August 2016, after the murder of five police officers in Dallas, Officer Plunkett began working on an outreach initiative to bridge the gap between the African-American community and law enforcement. The idea was to connect with the community in places where residents would feel comfortable, and be open to sharing their concerns and engaging in dialogue. Officer Plunkett knew that barbershops would work. The initiative, which began with one shop, has now increased to 16 shops, and is known as ShopTalk. Through ShopTalk, Officer Plunkett has created a way to build mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and community members who had not been reached with traditional police outreach efforts.
Detective Kathleen Lucero of the Isleta Tribal Police Department, New Mexico:
Detective Lucero is being recognized for community policing initiatives that provide resources to impoverished youth, and build connections between law enforcement and the community. Through the annual Reaching for A Star initiative, Detective Lucero provides gifts and food to more than 150 children and their families during the holiday season. Through her Camp Courage program, 60 children participate in a youth camp every summer. Detective Lucero’s on-and off-duty dedication cannot be overstated and has made a true impact on the community.
Officer Troy Quick of the Conyers Police Department, Georgia:
Officer Quick is making a lasting impact on the youth within his community. As a School Resource Officer at Rockdale County High School, Officer Quick has been able to help a number of students leave gang life. Whether it is though the mentoring sessions he coordinates for students, donating items to families in need, or just taking an interest in student’s daily lives, Officer Quick is a true example of dedication and service.
Justice Department Honors Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies in Third Annual Attorney General's Award Ceremony for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Attorney General William P. Barr and Department of Justice leadership today announced the recipients of the Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
Officer Phalon McFate of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department developed Project Daybreak, an initiative used to address violent crime-hot spots in downtown Las Vegas neighborhoods. Since it started, Project Daybreak has significantly contributed to decreasing violent crime – down by 50 percent in these neighborhoods. Through positive police interactions, Officer McFate was able to create and enhance transparency and build trust in these neighborhoods. The success of Project Daybreak is a direct result of Officer McFate’s passion and commitment to her community.
“Honoring and supporting the work of law enforcement officers and deputies is a top priority for the Trump Administration, and today is an opportunity for me to personally express my gratitude and commitment to those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Attorney General Barr. “The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing honors exceptional police officers and the vital public service they provide. The brave men and women in law enforcement are engaged in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe each and every day. It is an honor to thank them for their service.”
“This recognition supports the exceptional work and commitment displayed by law enforcement to serve and protect our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office fully supports and is grateful for strong partnerships with law enforcement as we continue to reduce violent crime, build trust in our communities, and make our communities safer places to live.”
President Donald J. Trump established clear directives for the Department of Justice – with three Executive Orders – demonstrating his strong support of the law enforcement community. These Executive Orders commit the Department to working in tandem with state and local law enforcement to restore the rule of law, reduce violent crime, dismantle criminal gangs, and combat the growing drug epidemic. Today the Department of Justice continues to support the President’s directive to honor law enforcement officers by announcing the third annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received nominations for 414 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that troopers, officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues.
# # #
Justice Department Announces Settlement with Liberty Tax ServiceRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a complaint with a U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, seeking entry of a court order requiring Franchise Group Intermediate L 1 LLC, (Liberty) the national franchisor and owner of Liberty Tax Service stores, to refrain from specific acts, enact enhanced internal compliance controls regarding the detection of false tax returns, and pay for an independent monitor to oversee Liberty’s compliance with the proposed court order. Separately, the United States and Liberty filed a joint motion and proposed order that, if adopted by the court, would resolve the matter.
Liberty is one of the largest tax preparation service providers in the United States, according to its public filings. Through its stores, Liberty filed approximately 1.3 to 1.9 million tax returns each year between 2015 and 2019, and for tax years 2012 to 2018, Liberty claimed over $28 billion in federal tax refunds on behalf of its customers, the complaint asserts. According to Liberty’s 2019 Annual Report filed with the SEC, and as reflected in the complaint, the Justice Department has been investigating Liberty’s policies, practices and procedures in connection with Liberty’s tax return preparation activities. Liberty has cooperated to resolve this matter.
The complaint alleges that Liberty directly controls its company-owned stores and that it maintains a substantial degree of control over franchisees. According to the complaint, returns prepared by franchisees and filed electronically with the IRS flow through Liberty before they are filed. The government claims Liberty failed to maintain adequate controls over tax returns prepared by its franchisees, and failed to take steps to prevent the filing of potentially false or fraudulent returns prepared by franchisees, despite having the capability to do so and despite notice of fraud at some of its franchisee stores.
Between 2013 and 2018 the Department of Justice filed 10 separate civil enforcement actions against Liberty Tax Service franchisees, or their owners, former owners or managers, some of whom Liberty designated as “Elite 18” franchisees because their “performance and attitude set the standard for the [Liberty Tax Service] organization.” The government contends its allegations in those lawsuits show common patterns across top Liberty franchisees of concocting fictitious income for customers to claim Earned Income Tax Credits, fabricating expenses to reduce customers’ reported income tax liability, claiming improper or false dependents, and falsifying education expenses to claim refundable education tax credits.
In their joint motion, the parties request relief that would:
- Permanently bar Liberty from engaging or employing certain individuals going forward, including the company’s founder and former CEO, John T. Hewitt;
and require Liberty to:
- Implement enhanced compliance measures, including training programs and additional resources to monitor, detect, and report non-compliance with federal laws and regulations, as well as to ensure effective quality control over tax return preparation throughout the Liberty Tax Service system;
- Conduct a minimum number of onsite compliance reviews of its stores, test its stores’ compliance with tax laws using mystery shoppers, and automatically prevent electronic transmission of tax returns to the IRS that report certain items with a high risk of fraud until the company independently verifies the accuracy of the tax return;
- Disclose to the United States any violations Liberty discovers from onsite reviews, mystery shoppers, and automatic holds of tax returns, as well as internal reviews Liberty previously conducted of its officers and employees who violated federal tax laws;
- Enact specific verification requirements at Liberty Tax Service stores for tax returns that claim itemized tax deductions or report certain forms of income to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit;
- Maintain a whistleblower program to encourage Liberty employees, franchisees, and franchisee employees to report suspected fraudulent activity; and
- Engage a third party, approved by the United States, to act as an independent monitor to review the company’s compliance with terms of the order, to assess the sufficiency of Liberty’s fraud prevention measures, and to report findings to a government official designated by the United States and, if necessary, to the court.
Return preparer fraud is one of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2019. The IRS has some tips on their website for choosing a tax preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Justice Department Honors Rank-And-File Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies in Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William P. Barr and Justice Department leadership today announced the recipients of the Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
Deputy Ross Jessop, of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, in Montana, was recognized for his action and dedication to duty in saving the life of a kidnapped baby. In July 2018, the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a man with a gun, who had fled in a vehicle with his girlfriend’s infant son. One hour later the suspect appeared back on the scene without the baby. The suspect said he killed and buried the baby; but his irrational statements led investigators to search for the missing child. During Deputy Jessop’s search in more than a million acres of forest, he heard a faint whimper, and found a baby boy lying face down. To his surprise, the baby was alive and uninjured. There is no question Deputy Jessop’s instincts, perseverance, and dedication saved the child’s life.
“Honoring and supporting the work of law enforcement officers and deputies is a top priority for the Trump Administration, and today is an opportunity for me to personally express my gratitude and commitment to those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Attorney General Barr. “The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing honors exceptional police officers and the vital public service they provide. The brave men and women in law enforcement are engaged in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe each and every day. It is an honor to thank them for their service.”
“I want to congratulate Deputy Jessop on receiving the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing and the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office team for its outstanding response to find this kidnapped baby. Because of Deputy Jessop’s determination and commitment to public safety, this baby boy is alive, despite being left for dead for about nine hours in 44-degree temperatures,” U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
President Donald J. Trump established clear directives for the Department of Justice – with three Executive Orders – demonstrating his strong support of the law enforcement community. These Executive Orders commit the Department to working in tandem with state and local law enforcement to restore the rule of law, reduce violent crime, dismantle criminal gangs, and combat the growing drug epidemic. Today the Department of Justice continues to support the President’s directive to honor law enforcement officers by announcing the third annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received 199 nominations for 414 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that troopers, officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues. The individuals recognized today include:
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
Detective William Maldonado of the Suffolk County Police Department, New York:
Detective William Maldonado is being recognized posthumously for his effort in leading the criminal investigation into the violent transnational street gang MS-13. Detective Maldonado was assigned to assist in the investigation of the disappearance of a young man. Intelligence gathered by Detective Maldonado indicated the missing boy was a murder victim of MS-13. Without the detective’s work, along with his team, the murder spree would no doubt have continued. Instead, several dozen people were arrested, charged with 17 murders, the Suffolk County MS-13 Sailor Clique was eliminated, and several other cliques were disrupted. Maldonado accomplished this while battling cancer, and rarely missed work. He succumbed to his illness in 2018, but not before arrests were made in the cases.
Detectives George Duarte and Jeffrey Richards of the Providence Police Department, Rhode Island:
Detectives George Duarte and Jeffrey Richards are being recognized for their extraordinary investigative work in solving an abduction and sexual assault case of a 14-year-old girl. Their investigation not only solved that case, but also led to solving several other cases of sexual assault by the same suspect. Because of their work, the detectives were able to have this vicious predator removed from the community, victims of unreported crimes were helped, and justice was brought to a number of other victims.
Detectives Sandra Marquez and Kenneth Sealy of the Aventura Police Department, Florida:
Detectives Kenneth Sealy and Sandra Marquez are being recognized for their investigative work in solving several high-dollar fraud schemes targeting multiple businesses and retail stores. During an intense investigation involving a large credit card fraud ring operating in south Florida, the detectives identified approximately $194,000 in fraudulent transactions and seized another $218,000. Another case involved money laundering and widespread credit card fraud committed in multiple states, which included a loss of almost $4 million over three years. The detectives are continuing this important work in coordination with several federal agencies.
FIELD OPERATIONS
Officers Evan Jurgensen, Nicholas Kelly, Rachel Mynier, and John Yenchak of the Prince William County Police Department, Virginia:
In November 2018, the Prince William County Police Department received a call reporting an active shooter. Within minutes of responding to the scene, Officers Jurgensen, Kelly, Mynier and Yenchak had to take cover from gunfire. Officer Mynier noticed movement on the roof of a residence and transmitted a warning to incoming units, and in doing so saved lives. After the shooter ignored officers’ commands, he was eventually struck and fell to the ground. Although officers feared a possible second shooter, they exposed themselves to harm once again to extract the shooter for medical treatment, and also pulled an occupant from the residence to safety. The heroism demonstrated by each officer represents true courage.
Deputy Richard Hassna of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, California:
Deputy Richard Hassna is being recognized for his innovative use of small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for public safety operations. In 2018, during the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County, Deputy Hassna led more than 16 unmanned aerial vehicle teams, and conducted 517 flights in two days, taking more than 70,000 images. These images were stitched into a map that allowed residents to see the damage to their property, without being exposed to danger. This was likely the largest response of small UAS’s to a disaster scene in U.S. history. Deputy Hassna has also developed tactics and training for this technology that has redefined high-risk tactical operations and air support as we know it.
Deputy Ross Jessop of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Montana:
Deputy Jessop is being recognized for his action and dedication to duty in saving the life of a kidnapped baby. In July 2018, the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a man with a gun, who had fled in a vehicle with his girlfriend’s infant son. One hour later the suspect appeared back on the scene without the baby. The suspect said he killed and buried the baby; but his irrational statements led investigators to search for the missing child. During Deputy Jessop’s search in more than a million acres of forest, he heard a faint whimper, and found a baby boy lying face down. To his surprise, the baby was alive and uninjured. There is no question Deputy Jessop’s instincts, perseverance, and dedication saved the child’s life.
Officers Aaron Bates and Alexander Stotik of the Cohasset Police Department, Massachusetts:
Officers Bates and Stotik are being recognized for their courageous actions that saved the life of a woman who was being brutally attacked. The officers were dispatched to a home where neighbors complained of loud noises and a fight. After investigating, the officers heard a muffled scream, kicked in a locked door, and saw what they described as an “attempted murder in progress.” After a heated struggle, the officers were able to subdue the suspect, place him under arrest, and get medical attention for the victim. The officers exhibited extraordinary valor, bravery, courage, and professionalism in the face of extreme danger that would no doubt have resulted in the murder of the victim.
INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY POLICING
Officer Phalon McFate of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada:
Officer McFate developed Project Daybreak, an initiative used to address violent crime-hot spots in downtown Las Vegas neighborhoods. Since it started, Project Daybreak has significantly contributed to decreasing violent crime – down by 50 percent in these neighborhoods. Through positive police interactions, Officer McFate was able to create transparency and build trust in neighborhoods, where these previously did not exist. The success of Project Daybreak is a direct result of Officer McFate’s passion and commitment to her community.
Officer Jesse Guardiola of the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma:
Officer Guardiola is being recognized for the Hispanic outreach program he has developed, which provides survival Spanish language training, and educates law enforcement and the community on the immigrant Hispanic culture. The program has received national recognition and is being promoted as a national model for Hispanic community outreach. Through his efforts, Officer Guardiola is building bridges and making a difference in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Detective Anthony Roberson of the Providence Police Department, Rhode Island:
Detective Roberson is being recognized for his use of community policing initiatives that build partnerships between law enforcement and local businesses to support underserved families. The “Shop with a Cop” program has now served 300 children. The “Handshake Initiative” has grown from 40 to 200 mentors, and is benefiting families of all backgrounds, across the city. Through these programs, Detective Roberson is giving back to his community, increasing partnerships and building bridges between law enforcement, families and businesses.
Officer Jonathan Plunkett of the Irving Police Department, Texas:
In August 2016, after the murder of five police officers in Dallas, Officer Plunkett began working on an outreach initiative to bridge the gap between the African-American community and law enforcement. The idea was to connect with the community in places where residents would feel comfortable, and be open to sharing their concerns and engaging in dialogue. Officer Plunkett knew that barbershops would work. The initiative, which began with one shop, has now increased to 16 shops, and is known as ShopTalk. Through ShopTalk, Officer Plunkett has created a way to build mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and community members who had not been reached with traditional police outreach efforts.
Detective Kathleen Lucero of the Isleta Tribal Police Department, New Mexico:
Detective Lucero is being recognized for community policing initiatives that provide resources to impoverished youth, and build connections between law enforcement and the community. Through the annual Reaching for A Star initiative, Detective Lucero provides gifts and food to more than 150 children and their families during the holiday season. Through her Camp Courage program, 60 children participate in a youth camp every summer. Detective Lucero’s on-and off-duty dedication cannot be overstated and has made a true impact on the community.
Officer Troy Quick of the Conyers Police Department, Georgia:
Officer Quick is making a lasting impact on the youth within his community. As a School Resource Officer at Rockdale County High School, Officer Quick has been able to help a number of students leave gang life. Whether it is though the mentoring sessions he coordinates for students, donating items to families in need, or just taking an interest in student’s daily lives, Officer Quick is a true example of dedication and service.
# # #
Iowa Woman Pleads Guilty to Supplying Fentanyl and Heroin to VirginiaRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – An Iowa woman pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin, one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and one count of distribution of heroin.
According to court documents, Latosha L. Prather, 36, of Des Moines, served as the out-of-state heroin and fentanyl supplier for convicted Hampton Roads regional supplier Michelle Best. In September 2017, Prather sold two kilograms of a substance containing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl for $125,000 to Best from Prather’s home-based day care service in Des Moines. Agents and analysts traced approximately $100,000 in cash deposits from Best to Prather. In January 2018, Prather travelled from Des Moines to Virginia Beach where she met with Best in a Wal-Mart parking lot to distribute another kilogram of heroin and fentanyl for $49,000. In March 2018, a Virginia SWAT team working in concert with the DEA executed a search warrant on Best’s Croatan home, and recovered nearly $42,000 in cash, approximately 352 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, significant quantities of other narcotics, a commercial money counter, and a number of firearms. Best was sentenced in March 2019 to 30 years in prison.
Prather pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. She faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on March 17, 2020. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Butler and Andrew C. Bosse are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-138. The case of United States v. Michelle Best, et al. can be found by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-147.
International Counterterrorism Officials Share Good Practices on Community-Oriented Policing for Countering Violent ExtremismRead the Press Release
International senior counterterrorism (CT) officials, academic experts, U.S. interagency representatives, and organizations dedicated to policing initiatives and extremism topics met in Washington, DC from Dec. 2 to 4, to openly discuss and address current knowledge on community-oriented policing for countering violent extremism (CVE) to further improve mutual exchanges and better connect multilateral cooperation and national implementation of CT and CVE practices.
The meeting, convened by the U.S. Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) of the Department’s Criminal Division, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, Hedayah, and the Global Center on Cooperative Security in cooperation with the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), provided the opportunity for senior officials to launch two joint publications of USIP and Hedayah funded by the Bureau of Counterterrorism, and also to further strengthen implementation of CT and CVE good practices and responses to terrorism and violent extremism.
In the meeting, USIP and Hedayah presented the results of two programs, Community-Oriented Policing for CVE Capacity and Positive Policing Messages: Countering Violent Extremism Narratives. These works, published by Hedayah, represent the efforts of various international partners along with the two organizations in order to establish a framework for policing for CVE and to emphasize the importance of systematic communication by law enforcement with the community.
The meeting also addressed topics of mutual interest, including the challenges of policing certain rural and urban areas, new trends in terrorism, women in policing, police academies, strategic communications by law enforcement as part of a strategy to counter violent extremism, and new methods of responding to potential terrorists, as well as probationary and corrections programs. In addition, ICITAP presented a toolkit based upon community-oriented policing and standardized incident management systems providing multiple examples of how law enforcement can engage the community to create resilience and prevent terrorism, respond to incidents effectively through pre-planning and communications, and dedicate resources to the community and police recovery after a traumatic incident, in addition to justice solutions for offenders.
“ICITAP is proud to partner with the Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism and other key members of the U.S. and international community to counter threats of violent extremism around the globe,” said Gregory Ducot, the Acting Director of ICITAP. “This three-day Policing for Countering Violent Extremism Symposium serves as a forum for ICITAP to bring theory to practice, analyze the drivers of violent extremism, and share field-tested tools that have been utilized effectively throughout the world. By bringing together experts committed to preventing and countering extremism, ICITAP anticipates that this symposium will lead to the assembly of a CVE community of interest, which will guide the interagency to more effectively combat the rise of violent extremism.”
The discussions in the meeting will inform upcoming international meetings on CVE, including one focused on women in policing.
To learn more about ICITAP, visit: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-icitap.
Indictment: Man Who Fired Lethal Shot Was Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man who said he killed another man in self-defense was indicted today on federal firearm and drug charges, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister
Dalton Patterson, 26, Wichita, Kan., was charged in a superseding indictment with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and two counts of unlawful possession of firearms by a user of controlled substances.
On October 18, 2019, Wichita police reported that Patterson shot and killed Charles Cunningham during a fight. Police said Cunningham physically attacked Patterson and Patterson shot him.
The federal charges allege that on the day of the shooting Patterson possessed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment also alleges that while Patterson was a user of controlled substances he unlawfully possessed a 9 mm Ruger handgun on Nov. 1, 2019, and a .380 caliber Cobra handgun on Nov. 8, 2019.
If convicted, he could face a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison on the drug charge, not less than five years on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and up to 10 years on each count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Jesus Lora-Ramirez, 21, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Nov. 22, 2019, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to two years in federal prison. Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE) investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Terry DeShawn Bennett, 32, Wichita, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances and one count possession of cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 29, 2018, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison on each of the firearm charges and up to a year on the drug charge. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind is prosecuting.
Jorge Contreras, 42, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found May 10, 2018, in Chase County, Kan.
If convicted, he could face up to two years in federal prison. Homeland Security Investigations (ICE) investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
##
Indictment charges Russians, Italians, others with attempting to evade security sanctionsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A newly unsealed superseding indictment has charged Russian and Italian nationals, a U.S. Citizen and various companies in a conspiracy to evade international trade sanctions.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia unsealed the superseding indictment on Monday, charging two Russian nationals, two Italian nationals, a U.S. citizen, and various companies with violating and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA), conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
The indictment, which was returned in October 2019 by a federal grand jury in Savannah, Ga., charges Oleg Vladislavovich Nikitin; Nikitin’s Russian-based company KS Engineering (KSE); KSE employee Anton Cheremukhin; Gabriele Villone; Villone’s Italian-based company GVA International Oil and Gas Services (GVA); and GVA employee Bruno Caparini, with violating and conspiring to violate IEEPA/ECRA. Additionally, the aforementioned defendants, Dali Bagrou, and Bagrou’s U.S.-based company World Mining and Oil Supply (WMO) are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Nikitin, Villone, and Bagrou were all arrested in Savannah, Ga., while attempting to complete the illegal transaction and are awaiting trial.
“This prosecution demonstrates the high priority the Department of Justice places on the enforcement of U.S. restrictions on exports to Russia’s oil and gas industry,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “The U.S. government imposed these restrictions following the Russian annexation of Crimea and its use of force in Ukraine. Russia continues to undermine democratic processes and institutions in that region and adversely affects our national security.”
“The defendants tried to defraud the United States by evading sanctions put in place to keep U.S. goods out of the hands of some of the world’s most dangerous actors,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We will continue to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who threaten our national security.”
“Detecting, preventing, and prosecuting those who conspire to illegally export U.S. origin commodities to Sanctioned and Entity Listed companies such as those involved in this case in Russia, remains a top priority for the Bureau of Industry and Security,” said Douglas R. Hassebrock, Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement. “We are committed to bringing lawbreakers who have willfully chosen to threaten our Nation’s security to justice. And, as always, we are very grateful to work jointly with our enforcement partners.”
“The defendants in this case went to great lengths to circumvent export control laws enacted to protect our nation’s security,” said Cynthia A. Bruce, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office. “The DCIS will aggressively support our law enforcement partners working to ensure protected items don’t fall into the wrong hands.”
“This brazen scheme to undermine United States sanctions was a direct threat to national security,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, Chris Hacker. “But because of the tireless efforts of federal law enforcement partners, the deception ends and the first steps in bringing these defendants to justice begins.”
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s collaboration with our fellow federal law enforcement agencies is critical to the successful enforcement of US import and export laws,” said Donald F. Yando, Director, Field Operations, Atlanta Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “These partnerships provide for the successful identification and destruction of these types of criminal enterprises.”
According to the indictment, an unnamed Russian government-controlled business contracted with Nikitin and KSE to purchase a Vectra 40G power turbine from a U.S.-based manufacturer for approximately $17.3 million. The Vectra 40G was designed and manufactured for integration with gas generators to enable direct drive of high-power gas compressors. Evidence in the case established the intent of the Russian company to use the Vectra on a Russian Arctic deepwater (greater than 500 feet) drilling platform. For reasons of national security, the U.S. Department of Commerce expressly prohibited any unlicensed shipment or transfer of the Vectra to the Russian company for that purpose.
In an attempt to evade U.S. export laws, the indictment alleges that Nikitin, Cheremukhin and KSE hired Villone, Caparini and GVA to obtain the Vectra on their behalf. Villone, Caprini and GVA then employed the services of Bagrou and WMO to procure the Vectra from a U.S.-based manufacturer and to have the Vectra shipped overseas. The parties conspired to conceal the true end user of the Vectra from both the U.S. manufacturer and the U.S. government by submitting false documentation that stated the Vectra would be used by a U.S. company in and around Atlanta.
Nikitin, Cheremukhin, Villone and Caparini face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the charge of violating IEEPA/ECRA and a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to violate IEEPA/ECRA and to defraud the United States. Bagrou and the aforementioned defendants also face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on the charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, as well as the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee are prosecuting the case with Trial Attorney William A. Mackie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Houston Resident Sentenced in Methamphetamine-Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ANGEL RENEE VIDAURE, age 39, of Houston, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic 500 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Louisiana. United States District Judge Susie Morgan sentenced VIDAURE to a term of imprisonment of (96) months and a period of supervised release of (3) years.
VIDAURE is one of eleven defendants charged in a 23-count federal indictment. Specifically, the indictment alleges that VIDAURE conspired to sell large quantities of methamphetamine with codefendants Stefen Daigle, Peter Giandalone, Paul Melancon, Julien Polk, James Hatch, Eulalio Torres-Cadenas, Jeffrey Clines, Delio Alfredo Lopez-Lopez, Lindsey Lopez, and Jacob Higginbotham. The indictment also alleges a number of individual acts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as firearm offenses for codefendants Hatch, VIDAURE, and Lopez-Lopez. Law enforcement developed evidence against this group of defendants using controlled purchases of methamphetamine, traffic stops and seizures, consensually recorded text messages and phone calls, search warrants, cooperator information, and self-incriminating statements.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Highway Patrol, Montgomery County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, AMTRAK Police, and the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Long is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
Hizballah Operative Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Covert Terrorist Activities on Behalf of Hizballah’s Islamic Jihad OrganizationRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced that Ali Kourani, 35, was sentenced to 40 years in prison based on terrorism, sanctions, and immigration convictions arising from Kourani’s illicit work as an operative for the Islamic Jihad Organization, Hizballah’s external attack-planning component.
“While living in the United States, Kourani served as an operative of Hizballah in order to help the foreign terrorist organization prepare for potential future attacks against the United States. With today’s sentence, he is being held accountable for his crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “The evidence at trial showed that Kourani searched for suppliers who could provide weapons for such attacks, identified people who could be recruited or targeted for violence, and gathered information about and conducted surveillance of potential targets within our country. Such covert activities conducted on U.S. soil are a clear threat to our national security and I applaud the agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this investigation and prosecution.”
“Ali Kourani was recruited, trained, and deployed by Hizballah’s Islamic Jihad Organization to plan and execute acts of terrorism around New York City. After spending years conducting surveillance on the City’s critical infrastructure, federal buildings, international airports, and even daycare centers, he is now the first Islamic Jihad Organization operative to be convicted and sentenced for his crimes against the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman for the Southern District of New York. “The lengthy prison term imposed today on Kourani sends an important message to Hizballah and the Islamic Jihad Organization: If you are caught planning harm against this City and its residents, you will face justice and be held accountable.”
“Ali Kourani’s arrest was a reminder to us all that New York City and its surrounding areas remain primary targets for those looking to conduct a violent attack against our way of life,” said FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. “His sentencing today, however, is also a reminder of the many successes of our FBI JTTFs nationwide, and their never-ending determination to disrupt the plans of those working to harm us.”
“This sentencing is an another example of the dedicated work of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and the close partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District, to combat terror and hold accountable those who seek to support and promote terrorist groups,” said Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea. “I thank the NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners whose hard work brought Mr. Kourani to justice.”
As reflected in the criminal Complaint, Indictment, court filings, and evidence presented at trial:
Hizballah is a Lebanon-based Shia Islamic organization with political, social, and terrorist components that was founded in the 1980s with support from Iran. Since Hizballah’s formation, the organization has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks that have killed hundreds, including United States citizens and military personnel. In 1997, the U.S. Department of State designated Hizballah a Foreign Terrorist Organization, pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and it remains so designated today. In 2010, State Department officials described Hizballah as the most technically capable terrorist group in the world, and a continued security threat to the United States.
The Islamic Jihad Organization (IJO), which is also known as the External Security Organization and “910,” is a highly compartmentalized component of Hizballah responsible for the planning, preparation, and execution of intelligence, counterintelligence, and terrorist activities on behalf of Hizballah outside of Lebanon. In July 2012, an IJO operative detonated explosives on a bus transporting Israeli tourists in the vicinity of an airport in Burgas, Bulgaria, killing six people and injuring 32 others. Law enforcement authorities have disrupted several other IJO attack-planning operations around the world, including the arrest of an IJO operative surveilling Israeli targets in Cyprus in 2012, the seizure of bomb-making precursor chemicals in Thailand in 2012, including chemicals manufactured by a medical devices company based in Guangzhou, China (Guangzhou Company-1), and a similar seizure of chemicals manufactured by Guangzhou Company-1 in Cyprus in May 2015 in connection with the arrest of another IJO operative.
Kourani, who was born in Lebanon, attended Hizballah-sponsored weapons training in Lebanon in 2000 when he was approximately 16 years old. After lawfully entering the United States in 2003, Kourani obtained a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering in 2009, and a Master of Business Administration in 2013.
Kourani and certain of his relatives were in Lebanon during the summer 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah, when a residence belonging to his family was destroyed. At some point by 2008, IJO recruited Kourani to its ranks. In August 2008, Kourani submitted an application for naturalization in the United States in which he falsely claimed, among other things, that he was not affiliated with a terrorist organization. In April 2009, Kourani became a naturalized citizen and was issued a United States passport. Despite claiming in his passport application that he had no travel plans, Kourani traveled to Guangzhou, China – the location of Guangzhou Company-1 – on May 3, 2009. The purpose of the trip was to develop relationships that the IJO could rely on to obtain ammonium nitrate to be used as an explosive precursor chemical.
IJO assigned Kourani an IJO handler, or mentor, responsible for providing him with taskings, debriefings, and arranging training. Kourani sometimes communicated with his handler using coded email communications, including messages sent by the handler that informed Kourani of the need to return to Lebanon. In order to establish contact with his handler when Kourani returned to Lebanon, Kourani called a telephone number associated with a pager (the IJO Pager) and provided a code that he understood was specific to him. After contacting the IJO Pager, the handler would contact Kourani to set up an in-person meeting by calling a phone belonging to one of Kourani’s relatives. The IJO also provided Kourani with additional training in tradecraft, weapons, and tactics. In 2011, for example, Kourani attended a weapons training camp in the vicinity of Birkat Jabrur, Lebanon, where he used a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, an AK-47 assault rifle, an MP5 submachine gun, a PKS machine gun (a Russian-made belt-fed weapon) and a Glock pistol.
Based on other taskings from IJO personnel, which IJO personnel conveyed during periodic in-person meetings when Kourani returned to Lebanon, Kourani conducted operations, which he understood to be aimed at preparing for potential future Hizballah attacks. These covert activities included searching for weapons suppliers in the United States who could provide firearms to support IJO operations; identifying individuals affiliated with the Israeli Defense Force whom the IJO could either recruit or target for violence; gathering information regarding operations and security at airports in the United States and elsewhere, including JFK International Airport in New York; and surveilling U.S. military and law enforcement facilities in New York City, including the federal building at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. Kourani transmitted some of the products of his surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts back to IJO personnel in Lebanon using digital storage media.
In addition to the prison term, Kourani was also sentenced to five years supervised release.
Assistant Attorney General Demers and Mr. Berman praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York City Police Department.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda L. Houle and Emil J. Bove III are in charge of the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Bridget Behling of the Counterterrorism Section.
Hizballah Operative Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Covert Terrorist Activities on Behalf of Hizballah’s Islamic Jihad OrganizationRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today that ALI KOURANI was sentenced to 40 years in prison based on terrorism, sanctions, and immigration convictions arising from KOURANI’s illicit work as an operative for the Islamic Jihad Organization, Hizballah’s external attack-planning component.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Ali Kourani was recruited, trained, and deployed by Hizballah’s Islamic Jihad Organization to plan and execute acts of terrorism around New York City. After spending years conducting surveillance on the City’s critical infrastructure, federal buildings, international airports, and even daycare centers, he is now the first Islamic Jihad Organization operative to be convicted and sentenced for his crimes against the United States. The lengthy prison term imposed today on Kourani sends an important message to Hizballah and the Islamic Jihad Organization: If you are caught planning harm against this City and its residents, you will face justice and be held accountable.”
Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers said: “While living in the United States, Kourani served as an operative of Hizballah in order to help the foreign terrorist organization prepare for potential future attacks against the United States. With today’s sentence, he is being held accountable for his crimes. The evidence at trial showed that Kourani searched for suppliers who could provide weapons for such attacks, identified people who could be recruited or targeted for violence, and gathered information about and conducted surveillance of potential targets within our country. Such covert activities conducted on U.S. soil are a clear threat to our national security and I applaud the agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this investigation and prosecution.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “Ali Kourani’s arrest was a reminder to us all that New York City and its surrounding areas remain primary targets for those looking to conduct a violent attack against our way of life. His sentencing today, however, is also a reminder of the many successes of our FBI JTTFs nationwide, and their never-ending determination to disrupt the plans of those working to harm us.”
Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea said: “This sentencing is an another example of the dedicated work of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and the close partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District, to combat terror and hold accountable those who seek to support and promote terrorist groups. I thank the NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners whose hard work brought Mr. Kourani to justice.”
As reflected in the criminal Complaint, Indictment, court filings, and evidence presented at trial:
Hizballah is a Lebanon-based Shia Islamic organization with political, social, and terrorist components that was founded in the 1980s with support from Iran. Since Hizballah’s formation, the organization has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks that have killed hundreds, including United States citizens and military personnel. In 1997, the U.S. Department of State designated Hizballah a Foreign Terrorist Organization, pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and it remains so designated today. In 2010, State Department officials described Hizballah as the most technically capable terrorist group in the world, and a continued security threat to the United States.
The Islamic Jihad Organization (IJO), which is also known as the External Security Organization and “910,” is a highly compartmentalized component of Hizballah responsible for the planning, preparation, and execution of intelligence, counterintelligence, and terrorist activities on behalf of Hizballah outside of Lebanon. In July 2012, an IJO operative detonated explosives on a bus transporting Israeli tourists in the vicinity of an airport in Burgas, Bulgaria, killing six people and injuring 32 others. Law enforcement authorities have disrupted several other IJO attack-planning operations around the world, including the arrest of an IJO operative surveilling Israeli targets in Cyprus in 2012, the seizure of bomb-making precursor chemicals in Thailand in 2012, including chemicals manufactured by a medical devices company based in Guangzhou, China (Guangzhou Company-1), and a similar seizure of chemicals manufactured by Guangzhou Company-1 in Cyprus in May 2015 in connection with the arrest of another IJO operative.
KOURANI, who was born in Lebanon, attended Hizballah-sponsored weapons training in Lebanon in 2000 when he was approximately 16 years old. After lawfully entering the United States in 2003, KOURANI obtained a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering in 2009, and a Master of Business Administration in 2013.
KOURANI and certain of his relatives were in Lebanon during the summer 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah, when a residence belonging to his family was destroyed. At some point by 2008, IJO recruited KOURANI to its ranks. In August 2008, KOURANI submitted an application for naturalization in the United States in which he falsely claimed, among other things, that he was not affiliated with a terrorist organization. In April 2009, KOURANI became a naturalized citizen and was issued a United States passport. Despite claiming in his passport application that he had no travel plans, KOURANI traveled to Guangzhou, China – the location of Guangzhou Company-1 – on May 3, 2009. The purpose of the trip was to develop relationships that the IJO could rely on to obtain ammonium nitrate to be used as an explosive precursor chemical.
IJO assigned KOURANI an IJO handler, or mentor, responsible for providing him with taskings, debriefings, and arranging training. KOURANI sometimes communicated with his handler using coded email communications, including messages sent by the handler that informed KOURANI of the need to return to Lebanon. In order to establish contact with his handler when KOURANI returned to Lebanon, KOURANI called a telephone number associated with a pager (the IJO Pager) and provided a code that he understood was specific to him. After contacting the IJO Pager, the handler would contact KOURANI to set up an in-person meeting by calling a phone belonging to one of KOURANI’s relatives. The IJO also provided KOURANI with additional training in tradecraft, weapons, and tactics. In 2011, for example, KOURANI attended a weapons training camp in the vicinity of Birkat Jabrur, Lebanon, where he used a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, an AK-47 assault rifle, an MP5 submachine gun, a PKS machine gun (a Russian-made belt-fed weapon) and a Glock pistol.
Based on other taskings from IJO personnel, which IJO personnel conveyed during periodic in-person meetings when KOURANI returned to Lebanon, KOURANI conducted operations, which he understood to be aimed at preparing for potential future Hizballah attacks. These covert activities included searching for weapons suppliers in the United States who could provide firearms to support IJO operations; identifying individuals affiliated with the Israeli Defense Force whom the IJO could either recruit or target for violence; gathering information regarding operations and security at airports in the United States and elsewhere, including JFK International Airport in New York; and surveilling U.S. military and law enforcement facilities in New York City, including the federal building at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. KOURANI transmitted some of the products of his surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts back to IJO personnel in Lebanon using digital storage media.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, KOURANI, 35, was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York City Police Department. Mr. Berman also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda L. Houle and Emil J. Bove III are in charge of the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Bridget Behling of the Counterterrorism Section.
Grand Junction Weapons Manufacturer CAPCO to Pay over $1 Million to Resolve Allegations of Fraud as to Grenade Launchers It Supplied to the U.S. ArmyRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Capco, LLC (Capco), a manufacturer based in Grand Junction, Colorado, will pay the United States over $1 million to resolve civil allegations that it defrauded the United States Army in connection with contracts to manufacture weapons.
The allegations relate to grenade launchers, known as M320s, that Capco manufactured in Grand Junction and shipped to the Army. The United States conducted a civil investigation, with Capco’s cooperation, into whether Capco supplied the Army with weapons that did not meet contract specifications.
According to the United States, Capco knowingly shipped M320s with barrels that did not meet the contract specifications. Despite this knowledge, Capco certified to the Army that each shipment conformed to contract specifications. Also, as to two shipments, Capco had reason to know that it had used the incorrect steel in manufacturing the firing pins for the M320s. While Capco conducted an internal investigation into the potential use of incorrect steel, this investigation was inadequate and Capco did not disclose this matter to the Army. The United States concluded that this conduct, which involved M320s shipments from July, 2016 through March, 2018, gave rise to civil liability under the False Claims Act.
The United States was alerted to the problems in Capco’s production process by James Cole, who formerly worked as a quality engineer at Capco. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens with knowledge of a fraud against the United States may present those allegations to the government by bringing a lawsuit on behalf of the United States under seal. If the government’s investigation substantiates those allegations and the United States obtains a monetary recovery under the False Claims Act, the private citizen may share in that monetary recovery. Mr. Cole filed such a lawsuit here under the False Claims Act. Of the $1,025,429 settlement amount from Capco, Mr. Cole will recover approximately $235,000.
“We entrust our defense contractors to manufacture equipment of the highest quality for the men and women who serve our country in the U.S. Armed Forces,” said United States Attorney Jason Dunn. “Any breakdown in the production process must be swiftly and honestly addressed, and we will hold contractors fully responsible for fraudulently covering up production problems.”
“Not conforming to contract requirements that ultimately have a direct impact on the success in combat of our brave men and women in uniform is incredibly unconscionable,” said Director Frank Robey of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command's Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “Thanks to the efforts of our special agents and our other law enforcement partners, today’s settlement is possible.”
“Identifying and investigating allegations of procurement fraud, specifically poor quality or non-conforming products, is at the heart of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s (DoDIG) mission,” said Michael Mentavlos, Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Southwest Field Office. “DCIS, along with or law enforcement partners will continue to identify and investigate those individuals and companies that attempt to defraud the Department of Defense and put our warfighters at risk.”
The claims settled by this civil agreement are allegations. In entering into this civil settlement, Capco did not admit to any liability.
The United States Attorney’s Office thanks the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and DCIS for their diligent work on this investigation. The United States was represented in this matter by Assistant United States Attorney Andrea Wang.
Georgia woman pleads guilty to stealing over $175,000 in government benefitsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Carmen Pearson has pleaded guilty to stealing over $175,000 from the federal government by concealing her father’s death from the Social Security Administration for nine years so that she could continue to receive his Social Security benefits.
“Stealing money from the federal government is stealing money from tax payers,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Pearson went the extra mile to steal by swearing annually that her father was alive and that she was taking care of him even though he had died.”
“For nearly a decade, Ms. Pearson’s deception caused Social Security to issue payments to her for her deceased father,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “This guilty plea should send a warning to those who perpetrate this kind of fraud that we will identify you and bring you to justice on behalf of the American people. I want to thank the United States Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schulman for prosecuting this case.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2007, Carmen Pearson applied to Social Security to be her father’s representative payee and receive his Social Security benefits on his behalf. Her father died in 2009. Instead of notifying Social Security of his death, the defendant submitted at least five annual reporting statements in which she claimed he was still alive and that she used all of the Social Security benefit monies she received for his care and support. Because Social Security believed that her father was still alive, it continued to pay monthly benefits to her for him until August 2018, for nearly nine years after his death. In total, Pearson stole $176,516 in federal money.
Sentencing for Carmen Pearson, 58, of Fairburn, Georgia, is scheduled for February 20, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
The Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General is investigating this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Four Gangster Disciples Sentenced Following Seven-Week Jury TrialRead the Press Release
Following a seven-week jury trial in U.S. District Court earlier this year, a federal jury convicted five members of the Gangster Disciples of multiple counts relating to a racketeering conspiracy and a drug distribution conspiracy, which plagued the Clarksville, Tennessee, area with violence and murders for more than a decade, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Marcus Termaine Darden, aka, “Tuff,” 41, and Elance Justin Lucas, aka, “Mac Luke,” 30, both of Guthrie, Kentucky; Derrick Lamar Kilgore, aka, “Smut,” 35, and DeCarlos Titington, aka, “Los,” 44, both of Clarksville, Tennessee, were convicted at trial.
Following sentencing hearings that began last week and concluded today, Chief U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr. sentenced Darden, Kilgore, Titington and Lucas to 40 years, 35 years, 22.5 years, and 20 years in prison, respectively.
Of the 12 individuals charged in this conspiracy, five previously pleaded guilty, including Rex Whitlock, aka “Stackhouse,” 34, of Clarksville, who was sentenced in January to 30 years in federal prison, and Lorenzo Brown, aka “Zo,” of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who was sentenced in November to 15 years in federal prison.
According to evidence and testimony at trial, the defendants are all members of the Gangster Disciples, a criminal organization that originated in Chicago and spread through the midwestern and eastern United States. During a portion of the conspiracy, Darden was the “regent” of the “615 region” of the Gangster Disciples, making him the highest-ranking member of the gang in the middle Tennessee area. In that role, Darden exercised control over Gangster Disciples activities in Clarksville, Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Gallatin, among other cities. Darden also reported to a statewide “governor” of the Gangster Disciples.
Members of the Gangster Disciples criminal enterprise engaged in acts of violence including murder, attempted murder, witness intimidation, and obstruction of justice. These members also sold powder cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and other controlled substances, and exercised control over certain territories in Clarksville. As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a member would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for the Gangster Disciples.
The evidence at trial proved that the defendants and other members of the Gangster Disciples murdered members of the rival Bloods gang in Clarksville, including Hairston, in September 2007. The evidence also showed that, in January 2006, and as part of the Gangster Disciples’ effort to consolidate power in Clarksville, Darden shot a rival Crips gang member, who was life-flighted to Vanderbilt Medical Center for treatment. In December 2007, Darden also shot an unarmed person in the parking lot of a nightclub because that individual had “disrespected” him. These defendants were also responsible for a drive-by shooting in Clarksville in August 2014, targeting members of the rival Vice Lords gang. During this shooting, members of the Gangster Disciples, including Kilgore, rode through a residential neighborhood and began firing AK-47 style assault weapons. During this incident, four innocent bystanders, including a 16-year-old, were struck by gunfire and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. One woman was shot three times in the abdomen and suffered serious, life threatening injuries.
Titington also attempted to shoot and kill two members of the rival Vice Lords gang after a brawl inside a convenience store in Clarksville in December 2014. During this incident, Titington fired 14 rounds from a Glock semi-automatic handgun, striking a vehicle occupied by rival Vice Lord gang members. Titington pleaded guilty to this conduct in state court, and although he was acquitted of federal attempted murder in aid of racketeering charges in connection with this conduct, he was convicted on a racketeering conspiracy charge which encompassed this conduct.
These violent acts were intended to further the gang’s activities and maintain and increase a member’s position within the organization. Evidence at trial also established that the defendants engaged in witness intimidation through violence or threats of violence, and prevented or deterred individuals from cooperating with law enforcement. Additionally, the government introduced evidence and testimony showing that law enforcement officers conducted undercover buys of cocaine and crack cocaine from Darden, Burks, Kilgore and Lucas between 2010 and 2015. During this investigation, law enforcement also seized numerous firearms, controlled substances, and other contraband.
This extensive investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office; the Clarksville Police Department; the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office; the Murfreesboro Police Department; the Gallatin Police Department; the Kentucky State Police; the 19th Judicial District Drug Task Force; and the Hopkinsville, Kentucky Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ben Schrader of the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Shauna Hale and Ivana Nizich of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, are prosecuting the case.
Four Gangster Disciples Sentenced Following Seven-Week Jury TrialRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn., – December 3, 2019 – Following a seven-week jury trial in U.S. District Court earlier this year, a federal jury convicted five members of the Gangster Disciples of multiple counts relating to a racketeering conspiracy and a drug distribution conspiracy, which plagued the Clarksville, Tennessee area with violence and murders for more than a decade, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Marcus Termaine Darden, aka, “Tuff,” 41, and Elance Justin Lucas, aka, “Mac Luke,” 30, both of Guthrie, Kentucky; Derrick Lamar Kilgore, aka, “Smut,” 35, and DeCarlos Titington, aka, “Los,” 44, both of Clarksville, Tennessee, were convicted at trial.
Following sentencing hearings that began last week and concluded today, Chief U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr. sentenced Darden, Kilgore, Titington and Lucas to 40 years, 35 years, 22.5 years, and 20 years in prison, respectively.
Of the 12 individuals charged in this conspiracy, five previously pleaded guilty, including Rex Whitlock, aka “Stackhouse,” 34, of Clarksville, who was sentenced in January to 30 years in federal prison, and Lorenzo Brown, aka “Zo,” of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who was sentenced in November to 15 years in federal prison. According to evidence and testimony at trial, the defendants are all members of the Gangster Disciples, a criminal organization that originated in Chicago and spread through the midwestern and eastern United States. During a portion of the conspiracy, Marcus Darden was the “regent” of the “615 region” of the Gangster Disciples, making him the highest-ranking member of the gang in the middle Tennessee area. In that role, Darden exercised control over Gangster Disciples activities in Clarksville, Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Gallatin, among other cities. Darden also reported to a statewide “governor” of the Gangster Disciples.
Members of the Gangster Disciples criminal enterprise engaged in acts of violence including murder, attempted murder, witness intimidation, and obstruction of justice. These members also sold powder cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and other controlled substances, and exercised control over certain territories in Clarksville. As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a member would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for the Gangster Disciples.
The evidence at trial proved that the defendants and other members of the Gangster Disciples murdered members of the rival Bloods gang in Clarksville, including Jessie Hairston in September 2007. The evidence also showed that, in January 2006, and as part of the Gangster Disciples’ effort to consolidate power in Clarksville, Marcus Darden shot a rival Crips gang member, who was life-flighted to Vanderbilt Medical Center for treatment. In December 2007 Darden also shot an unarmed person in the parking lot of a nightclub because that individual had “disrespected” him. These defendants were also responsible for a drive-by shooting in Clarksville in August 2014 targeting members of the rival Vice Lords gang. During this shooting, members of the Gangster Disciples, including Derrick Kilgore, rode through a residential neighborhood and began firing AK-47 style assault weapons. During this incident, four innocent bystanders, including a 16-year-old, were struck by gunfire and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. One woman was shot three times in the abdomen and suffered serious, lifethreatening injuries.
DeCarlos Titington also attempted to shoot and kill two members of the rival Vice Lords gang after a brawl inside a convenience store in Clarksville in December 2014. During this incident, Titington fired 14 rounds from a Glock semi-automatic handgun, striking a vehicle occupied by rival Vice Lord gang members. Titington pleaded guilty to this conduct in state court, and although he was acquitted of federal attempted murder in aid of racketeering charges in connection with this conduct, he was convicted on a racketeering conspiracy charge which encompassed this conduct.
These violent acts were intended to further the gang’s activities and maintain and increase a member’s position within the organization. Evidence at trial also established that the defendants engaged in witness intimidation through violence or threats of violence, and prevented or deterred individuals from cooperating with law enforcement. Additionally, the government introduced evidence and testimony showing that law enforcement officers conducted undercover buys of cocaine and crack cocaine from Darden, Burks, Kilgore and Lucas between 2010 and 2015. During this investigation, law enforcement also seized numerous firearms, controlled substances, and other contraband.
This extensive investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office; the Clarksville Police Department; the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office; the Murfreesboro Police Department; the Gallatin Police Department; the Kentucky State Police; the 19th Judicial District Drug Task Force; and the Hopkinsville, Kentucky Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ben Schrader of the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Shauna Hale and Ivana Nizich of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, are prosecuting the case.
# # # # #
Former Substitute Teacher Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead 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 Jeffrey Maciejewski, 26, of Penn Yan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a lifetime period of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Kyle Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2018, the Los Angeles office of the FBI executed a federal search warrant at a residence in Solvang, California. Special agents seized a number of electronic items containing child pornography. A resident at that address admitted to using social networking sites such as Kik and Live.me to trade child pornography with others via the Internet. Based on that information, investigators identified several individuals, including the defendant, who were actively involved in the child pornography trade.
The information was sent to the Corning Office of the FBI, who, with the assistance of the Penn Yan Police Department, identified Maciejewski as a substitute teacher for the Penn Yan Central School District. Special agents acted quickly to obtain search warrants and locate Maciejewski, who was ultimately interviewed at the school district’s offices. During the interview, the defendant confessed that he in fact traded child pornography using social networking sites, including a cloud storage service, “Mega,” which is located in New Zealand.
With the help of the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs, investigators obtained the contents of Maciejewski’s Mega account, which contained hundreds of images and videos of child pornography. The defendant’s electronic devices were also forensically examined. In total, Maciejewski possessed more than 600 images and videos of child pornography, some of which depicted the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Corning Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Penn Yan Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Dunham; and the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 21, 2020, at 10:00 am before Judge Geraci.
# # # #
Former KC Man, Linked to Homicide and Pawn Shop Burglary, Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking, 52 Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Kansas City-area man, who claimed self-defense after fatally shooting another man during a drug deal, pleaded guilty in federal court today to drug trafficking and to illegally possessing 52 firearms he stole from a local pawn shop.
Kameron M. Bynum, 24, of Wilson, North Carolina, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana M. Counts to conspiracy to distribute Xanax and marijuana, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, stealing firearms from a licensed firearm dealer, and being a felon in possession of firearms.
Smart Pawn, 6301 Troost Ave., Kansas City, reported a burglary on May 13, 2017. Bynum broke in through the roof of the business and stole 52 handguns valued at $19,725. Investigators used video surveillance and found clothing in an alley that was used during the burglary. A bloodstain was found on a glove used in the burglary and DNA analysis linked the bloodstain to Bynum.
Investigators also determined the vehicle used during the burglary was the same vehicle Bynum was in when he was arrested on Aug. 2, 2016. During that arrest, Bynum was in possession of 151 Xanax pills. The vehicle was also linked to the crime scene of a homicide that occurred on Aug. 6, 2016, in the 2900 block of East 35th Street. A phone that belonged to Bynum was found at the scene.
After his arrest, Bynum admitted to being involved in the homicide. Bynum told investigators he was attempting to buy Xanax pills from the victim, who drew a large firearm and attempted to rob him. Bynum was armed with a firearm and stated that he shot the victim one time in self-defense. A witness who was with Bynum on that date, interviewed separately, gave a statement consistent with Bynum’s account.
On May 26, 2017, officers with the Wilson, North Carolina, Police Department arrested Bynum for an outstanding state warrant. At the time of his arrest, Bynum was in possession of approximately 13 grams of marijuana, an electronic digital scale, clear plastic baggies, $921, and a cell phone. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the cell phone and recovered several messages and photos related to this investigation.
Bynum was charged in federal court on June 30, 2017, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest. Officers searched his North Carolina apartment and found 407 Xanax tablets, a loaded Glock 9mm handgun with an extended magazine that had been stolen from Smart Pawn, glass jars and individually wrapped bags of marijuana, and $550.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Bynum has a prior felony conviction for robbery.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the joint recommendation to the court is for Bynum to be sentenced to 16 years and three months in federal prison without parole. 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 Adam Caine. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Wilson, N.C., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Missouri. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that identifies the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.Former Erie Man Charged with Possessing Meth He Brought from ArizonaRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on a charge of violating federal drugs laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment named Willie C. Sanders III, 33, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment presented to the court, on or about July 20, 2019, Sanders possessed with the intent to distribute five hundred grams or more of methamphetamine which he had brought in a suitcase from Arizona through the Erie Airport.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life imprisonment, a fine of $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former CEO Convicted of Fixing Prices for Canned TunaRead the Press Release
The former President and Chief Executive Officer of Bumble Bee Foods LLC was convicted today in San Francisco, California, for his participation in an antitrust conspiracy to fix prices of canned tuna, the Justice Department announced.
Following a four-week trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco, a jury convicted Christopher Lischewski, the former CEO of Bumble Bee, for conspiring to fix prices of canned tuna sold in the United States from in or about November 2010 until in or about December 2013.
“Today’s verdict reaffirms the Division’s commitment to rooting out collusion that robs American consumers of the benefits of competition when they purchase household staples like canned tuna,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “The jury’s verdict is a reminder that no one, including members of the C-Suite, is above the law. Executives who conspire to cheat consumers for their own benefit will be held accountable for their illegal conduct.”
“This guilty verdict demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate price-fixing schemes that harm consumers,” said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. “A company’s senior leadership sets the example for how it should operate, and in this case a CEO prioritized his own greed at the expense of American consumers.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Lischewski participated in a conspiracy to fix prices of canned tuna that affected hundreds of millions of dollars in sales throughout the United States. He also authorized and supervised his subordinates’ participation in the conspiracy. Lischewski and his co-conspirators employed measures to conceal their conspiratorial conduct, including meeting at offsite locations, using third-party e-mail addresses, and discouraging retention of documents concerning the conspiracy.
Bumble Bee pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of at least $25 million. In September, StarKist Co. was sentenced to pay a $100 million criminal fine. In addition to Bumble Bee and StarKist, four individuals, including Lischewski, have been charged in the investigation. The other three individuals pled guilty and testified in Lischewski’s trial.
The Antitrust Division’s investigation of collusion in the market for packaged seafood is ongoing. The investigation in today’s case is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office. Anyone with information on price fixing, bid rigging or other anticompetitive conduct related to the packaged-seafood industry should contact the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office at 415-934-5300, visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html, or call the FBI tip line at 415-553-7400.
Fayetteville Men Sentenced More Than 10 Years for Drug Distribution and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announces that United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, sentenced JOSHUA AARON DAVIS, 40, of Fayetteville, NC, yesterday. Judge Dever sentenced co-defendant CORNELIUS THOMAS on October 9, 2019. THOMAS was sentenced to 132 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release. DAVIS was sentenced to 181 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release.
On February 15, 2019, THOMAS pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one hundred grams or more of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and twenty-eight grams or more of cocaine base (crack), and possession with intent to distribute one hundred grams or more of heroin, a quantity of marijuana, a quantity of cocaine, and twenty-eight grams or more of cocaine base (crack).
On August 19, 2019, DAVIS pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one hundred (100) grams or more of heroin, fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, twenty-eight grams or more of cocaine base (crack), and a quantity of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and twenty-eight grams or more of cocaine base (crack); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In June 2017, law enforcement began an investigation into JOSHUA DAVIS’s drug distribution activity in the Fayetteville area. Through the investigation, law enforcement identified some of DAVIS’s sources of supply, to include CORNELIUS THOMAS. In an investigation spanning over a year, law enforcement conducted numerous purchases of illegal controlled substances from both THOMAS and DAVIS.
In October 2018, THOMAS and DAVIS were both arrested federally, and search warrants of their residences were executed. Both men had significant quantities of a variety of controlled substances at their residences. In addition, DAVIS also possessed a firearm located in close proximity to evidence of controlled substance distribution.
This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. For additional information about this initiative, click here https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Fayetteville Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Lucy Brown prosecuted this case for the government.
FBI Investigation Leads to Indictment of 2 Pittsburgh Residents for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - Two residents of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Jermale Walker, 49, and Derek Reddix, 45, as codefendants. According to the Indictment, Walker possessed with the intent to distribute heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, and fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, while Reddix possessed with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $1,000,000, a term of supervised release of at least three years, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Disbarred Attorney Admitted He Embezzled Millions of Dollars from Charitable Trusts and Filed False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph J.M. Orabona (619) 546-7951
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – December 3, 2019
SAN DIEGO – Former trustee and disbarred attorney, Earl Nelson Feldman, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he used his position of trust to steal millions of dollars from several charitable trusts, which he spent on personal expenses rather than donating to charities. In executing his scheme to defraud, he covered his tracks by filing false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.
Feldman entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo. Feldman pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing false tax returns.
According to his plea agreement, Feldman was the trustee of several charitable trusts as early as 1996. He was also an attorney and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in the State of California. As early of January 2012 and continuing up to and including April 15, 2015, Feldman made more than $1.6 million in unauthorized wire transfers and withdrawals from the bank accounts of the charitable trusts under his control. To conceal his theft of trust funds, he filed false and fictitious tax returns with the IRS that inflated and falsely reported the amount of charitable gifts allegedly made by him as trustee of the charitable trusts. In lieu of making these authorized gifts, Feldman misappropriated trust assets for his own personal expenses, including but not limited to: paying his personal mortgages; paying taxes on properties he owned; making his personal federal and state tax payments; purchasing personal vehicles; paying contractors working on his personal residence; transferring funds from the charitable trust accounts to his personal brokerage account; and paying his personal credit cards.
In total, Feldman admitted he stole approximately $1,648,531.40 from the charitable trusts. Since his fraud was uncovered, Feldman has repaid approximately $1,547,444.16. As part of his plea agreement, Feldman agreed to repay the remaining balance of the restitution in the amount of $101,087.24 to over fifty individual charities. At the hearing, Feldman informed the court that he had written the check for the remaining amount of restitution and intended to deposit it today with the clerk of the court.
In addition to his embezzlement scheme, Feldman admitted in court that he also filed false tax returns. He failed to report the money he embezzled on his tax returns for tax years 2012 through 2014. Feldman admitted that he owes the IRS more than $575,000 in federal income taxes. At the hearing, Feldman informed the Court that he had written the check payable to the IRS for the total amount of taxes due, with interest, and that he intended to mail the check to the IRS today.
“As trustee and an attorney, Mr. Feldman had significant authority and control over the management of the charitable trusts’ assets,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “Rather than faithfully exercise this important duty, Mr. Feldman embezzled millions of dollars for his own personal benefit and filed false tax returns to conceal his crime. As he admitted in court today, Mr. Feldman violated the law, the canons of his profession, and the important trust of his clients.”
“Mr. Feldman violated his fiduciary responsibilities and abused his position as trustee by stealing over $1.6 million from charitable trusts, spending the funds to benefit himself, and then filing false tax returns on behalf of the trusts to mislead the IRS and conceal his fraud,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Mr. Feldman’s greed victimized dozens of charities because the funds he stole were designated to be gifts to numerous other charitable organizations. As a Certified Public Accountant, Mr. Feldman knew better, and IRS Criminal Investigation will use our forensic accounting expertise to ensure he is held accountable.”
“Earl Feldman had a license to practice law and accounting, but instead used these licenses to steal from those who trusted him,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Brunner. “Feldman abused his position and defrauded clients of over $1.6 million dollars. Fraud, particularly committed by those who hold positions of trust, will be investigated and brought to justice by the FBI.”
Feldman is scheduled to be sentenced February 28, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. by U.S. District Judge Cathy A. Bencivengo. At the conclusion of today’s hearing, Feldman was released on bond.
DEFENDANT Criminal Case No. 19CR4892-CAB
Earl Nelson Feldman Age: 76
SUMMARY OF CHARGES:
Count 1 – Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343)
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine
Count 2 – Making a False Tax Return (26 U.S.C. § 7206(1))
Maximum Penalties: Three years in prison; $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation
Department of Justice Announces Indictment Charging Russians, Italians and Others with Attempting to Evade Security SanctionsRead the Press Release
A newly unsealed superseding indictment has charged Russian and Italian nationals, a U.S. citizen and various companies in a conspiracy to evade international trade sanctions.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia unsealed the superseding indictment on Dec. 2, 2019, charging two Russian nationals, two Italian nationals, a U.S. citizen, and various companies with violating and conspiring the violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA), conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The indictment, which was returned in October 2019 by a federal grand jury in Savannah, Georgia, charges Oleg Vladislavovich Nikitin; Nikitin’s Russian-based company KS Engineering (KSE); KSE employee Anton Cheremukhin; Gabriele Villone; Villone’s Italian-based company GVA International Oil and Gas Services (GVA); and GVA employee Bruno Caparini, with violating and conspiring to violate IEEPA/ECRA. Additionally, the aforementioned defendants, Dali Bagrou, and Bagrou’s U.S.-based company World Mining and Oil Supply (WMO) are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Nikitin, Villone, and Bagrou were all arrested in Savannah, Georgia, while attempting to complete the illegal transaction and are awaiting trial.
“This prosecution demonstrates the high priority the Department of Justice places on the enforcement of U.S. restrictions on exports to Russia’s oil and gas industry,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “The U.S. government imposed these restrictions following the Russian annexation of Crimea and its use of force in Ukraine. Russia continues to undermine democratic processes and institutions in that region and adversely affects our national security.”
“The defendants tried to defraud the United States by evading sanctions put in place to keep U.S. goods out of the hands of some of the world’s most dangerous actors,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine for the Southern District of Georgia. “We will continue to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who threaten our national security.”
“Detecting, preventing, and prosecuting those who conspire to illegally export U.S. origin commodities to Sanctioned and Entity Listed companies, such as those involved in this case in Russia, remains a top priority for the Bureau of Industry and Security,” said Douglas R. Hassebrock, Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement. “We are committed to bringing lawbreakers, who have willfully chosen to threaten our nation’s security, to justice. And, as always, we are very grateful to work jointly with our enforcement partners.”
“The defendants in this case went to great lengths to circumvent export control laws enacted to protect our nation’s security,” said Cynthia A. Bruce, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office. “The DCIS will aggressively support our law enforcement partners working to ensure protected items don’t fall into the wrong hands.”
“This brazen scheme to undermine United States sanctions was a direct threat to national security,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, Chris Hacker. “But because of the tireless efforts of federal law enforcement partners, the deception ends and the first steps in bringing these defendants to justice begins.”
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s collaboration with our fellow federal law enforcement agencies is critical to the successful enforcement of U.S. import and export laws,” said Donald F. Yando, Director, Field Operations, Atlanta Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “These partnerships provide for the successful identification and destruction of these types of criminal enterprises.”
According to the indictment, an unnamed Russian government-controlled business contracted with Nikitin and KSE to purchase a Vectra 40G power turbine from a U.S.-based manufacturer for approximately $17.3 million. The Vectra 40G was designed and manufactured for integration with gas generators to enable direct drive of high-power gas compressors. Evidence in the case established the intent of the Russian company to use the Vectra on a Russian Arctic deepwater (greater than 500 feet) drilling platform. For reasons of national security, the U.S. Department of Commerce expressly prohibited any unlicensed shipment or transfer of the Vectra to the Russian company for that purpose.
In an attempt to evade U.S. export laws, the indictment alleges that Nikitin, Cheremukhin and KSE hired Villone, Caparini and GVA to obtain the Vectra on their behalf. Villone, Caprini and GVA then employed the services of Bagrou and WMO to procure the Vectra from a U.S.-based manufacturer and to have the Vectra shipped overseas. The parties conspired to conceal the true end user of the Vectra from both the U.S. manufacturer and the U.S. government by submitting false documentation that stated the Vectra would be used by a U.S. company in and around Atlanta.
Nikitin, Cheremukhin, Villone and Caparini face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the charge of violating IEEPA/ECRA and a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to violate IEEPA/ECRA and to defraud the United States. Bagrou and the aforementioned defendants also face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on the charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, as well as the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee are prosecuting the case with Trial Attorney William A. Mackie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Convicted Sex Offenders from Minnesota and Florida Indicted for Failing to Register as Sex Offenders in WisconsinRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on November 26, 2019, a federal grand jury returned one-count indictments in separate cases against two convicted sex offenders for failing to register in Wisconsin after they had moved to Wisconsin from other states, in violation of Title 18, United States Code § 2250(a).
In the first case, Breyon Cosey (age 28) of Milwaukee allegedly was convicted of a sex offense in Minnesota in 2017, namely Criminal Sex Conduct-2nd Degree-Significant Relationship-Victim under 16. According to the indictment, Cosey moved to Wisconsin in January 2019 and failed to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, which requires registered sex offenders to maintain information as to their current place of residency.
In the second case, Juan Muniz (age 42) of Milwaukee allegedly was convicted of a sex offense in Florida in 2003, namely Lewd-Lascivious Battery on a child committed upon or in the presence of persons less than 16 years old. According to the indictment, Muniz moved to Wisconsin in October 2014 and likewise failed to comply with the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act by indicating his current place of residency.
“Sex-offender registration requirements are an important tool in preventing child sexual abuse,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing sex-offender registration laws vigorously.”
If convicted of the charge, the defendants face a sentence of up to ten years imprisonment, a two hundred and fifty thousand dollar fine, and between five years and a lifetime of supervised release. Both cases were investigated by the United States Marshal Service. They are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan J. Paulson.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to fair trials at which the government must prove them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
# # # #
Congressman Duncan D. Hunter Pleads Guilty to Stealing Campaign FundsRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily W. Allen (619) 546-9738, W. Mark Conover (619) 546-6763 and Phillip L.B. Halpern (619) 546-6964
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – December 3, 2019
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Representative Duncan D. Hunter pleaded guilty in federal court today to the major count in his indictment, admitting that he knowingly and willfully stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds that he and his wife used to maintain their lifestyle.
According to the plea agreement, Hunter and his wife, Margaret, who pleaded guilty in June 2019, illegally converted more than $150,000 in campaign funds from 2010 through 2016 to purchase goods and services for their personal use and enjoyment, and engaged in 30 or more illegal transactions using campaign funds for personal use.
As detailed in the indictment, the Hunters stole money from the campaign for items as inconsequential as fast food, movie tickets and sneakers; as trivial as video games, Lego sets and Playdoh; as mundane as groceries, dog food, and utilities; and as self-indulgent as luxury hotels, overseas vacations and plane tickets for their family pet rabbits, Eggburt and Cadbury – all while their family was otherwise deeply in debt.
“Congressman Duncan D. Hunter violated the trust of his supporters by diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars they donated in good faith to his reelection campaign for personal expenditures,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney David Leshner. “This was not an accounting mistake by his campaign. This was a deliberate, years-long violation of the law. Congressman Hunter used the power of his position to fund a lifestyle out of his reach, unwittingly financed by those who put him there. His guilty plea entered today acknowledges and accepts responsibility for his conduct. Leshner praised prosecutors Phil Halpern, Emily Allen and Mark Conover as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their tireless pursuit of justice in this case.
“Our campaign finance laws are designed to promote transparency in our electoral process by, among other things, prohibiting the diversion of campaign contributions for personal use,” said Scott Brunner, Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego Division of the FBI. “The FBI will fully investigate any person who blatantly disregards these laws and abuses the trust of constituents and contributors by turning campaign coffers into a personal slush fund. Today, the comprehensive FBI investigation resulted in Duncan Hunter pleading guilty to a conspiracy with his wife to convert hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds for personal use.”
U.S. District Judge Thomas J. Whelan set Mr. Hunter’s sentencing for March 17, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
“Congressman Hunter was indicted—and he pled guilty today—because of his own misconduct, and no one else’s,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Allen. “This is not a case about mismanagement, or sloppy accounting, or ‘mistakes.’ Duncan Hunter intentionally took money that did not belong to him and used it for his own benefit. For that, he has been held accountable, and we are pleased that today he has taken this first step toward taking responsibility for his crime.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Halpern said: “The foundation of our legal system is based upon the proposition that no one individual is above the law, regardless of the heights they've reached, how much they've contributed, or what office they occupy. Today's disposition ensures that the rule of law remains pre-eminent in this country and that Mr. Hunter both acknowledges and is held accountable for his role in stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds.”
As detailed in the indictment, beginning no later than 2010 and continuing up to and including at least 2016, Duncan and Margaret Hunter agreed to use campaign funds for their own personal benefit and enjoyment—and to spend freely from Hunter’s campaign donors’ funds. Many of the Hunters’ personal outings with family or friends (which as detailed in the indictment included trips to the Del Mar racetrack, dinners or drinks with friends, family and “couples” vacations, golf outings, and a weekend-long bachelor party) should not have been paid for with campaign funds. Among their improper spending, the Hunters paid $2,448.27 in campaign funds in August 2011 for a “couples” vacation in Las Vegas, Nevada, which Hunter concealed by falsely reporting to the campaign treasurer that the expenses were all “campaign related.”
Similarly, later that same month, knowing that their family bank account had a negative balance, the Hunters improperly used $113.73 in campaign funds to pay their half of the bill during another couples’ “date night” out with good friends at Jake’s Del Mar; improperly used $156.22 in campaign funds during a “couples” day at the Del Mar Racetrack; and improperly used $511.03 in campaign funds at the Hotel del Coronado to celebrate their child’s birthday. Hunter once again falsely told the campaign treasurer that all these charges were “campaign related.”
Previously, Hunter’s wife, Margaret, publicly acknowledged that these types of improper expenses went on for years and included spending as flagrant as: (1) $100.69 on November 16, 2013 at Casa De Pico in La Mesa to take their family and close friends out to dinner in relation to a sporting event featuring one of the Hunters’ children; (2) $1,489 on June 28, 2014 to treat their good friends to dinner at the Studio restaurant in the Montage Laguna Beach resort, and for room service, drinks, and meals the next day for the Hunters by themselves; (3) a family trip to Disneyland on September 26, 2015, which included $229.44 at Disneyland’s Star Trader shop for Minnie Mouse ear headbands and Star Wars-themed clothes for the Hunters’ children; and (4) $669.07 on March 27, 2016 at the Hotel del Coronado for a family Easter Sunday brunch in the Crown Room that the Hunters recognized was well outside their budget.
In her plea agreement, Margaret Hunter specifically acknowledged that she and Duncan Hunter used campaign funds to secretly make thousands of dollars in improper personal purchases (including family vacations, household goods and groceries, restaurants and bar tabs, a bachelor party, gas, fast food, retail shopping, cash withdrawals, a garage door, and personal Uber rides, among others) which they continued to disguise as campaign-related expenses.
The indictment also details how Hunter aided his malversation by repeatedly providing his wife with a campaign credit card despite the advice from his treasurer that he not do so. Similarly, Hunter – against the advice of his campaign staff and congressional office staff – installed Margaret as his paid campaign manager on two separate occasions with full knowledge that she was misappropriating campaign funds in order to finance their personal lifestyle. When discussing her appointment as the salaried campaign manager for the second time in 2014, Margaret observed that Hunter “need[ed] the extra money as much as I do[.]”
According to documents previously made public, the Hunters used campaign funds improperly on a number of family vacations, including:
- A July 2014 vacation to Washington, D.C. and a resort in Pennsylvania (which included personal items and activities such as purchasing cigarettes, $399 for zip lining for Hunter and two of his children, and $250 in airline travel charges for Eggburt);
- A February 2015 family trip to Minnesota, during which they improperly paid for personal family expenses including $250 in airline travel charges for Eggburt, and $132 in Uber rides to take the Hunter family to the Mall of America;
- A June/July 2015 family vacation to Hunter’s cousin’s wedding in Boise, Idaho, and a stopover in Las Vegas, in which the Hunters, among other things, spent $205.62 in campaign funds for personal items at the North Face store;
- A November 2015 family vacation to Italy, in which the Hunters improperly used more than $14,000 in campaign funds, which Hunter justified by attempting to set up a one-day tour of a U.S. Navy facility in Italy (which never occurred);
- Similarly, Hunter used more than $1,000 in campaign funds to take one of his girlfriends on a 2010 winter ski trip to the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino.
The indictment also highlights how Hunter turned to campaign funds because his family’s finances were in constant disarray. During the course of the conspiracy, the Hunters overdrew their bank account more than 1,100 times in a seven-year period resulting in $37,761 in “overdraft” and “insufficient funds” bank fees. Their credit cards were frequently charged to the credit limit, often with five-figure balances, resulting in an additional $24,600 in finance charges, interest, and other fees related to late, over the limit, and returned payment fees.
According to the indictment and other publicly filed documents, Hunter and his wife both recognized that campaign funds were being spent on personal activities. For example, after returning home from their Boise and Las Vegas vacation, Duncan and Margaret Hunter discussed how the campaign card had been declined as the family had “racked up a $600 minibar…and more charges at Caesars…” as well as a $200 family breakfast, the “kids room service” and pool drinks, and gift shop purchases. And, despite falsely telling the campaign treasurer that the various charges related to their 2015 Italy vacation “were mostly military/defense meet related,” Margaret Hunter emailed a friend that “Italy was amazing. Truly our best family trip so far. Like that saying ‘if traveling was free you’d never see me again’!”
DEFENDANTS Case Number 18cr3677-W
Duncan D. Hunter Age: 42 Alpine, CA
Margaret E. Hunter Age: 44 La Mesa, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Conspiracy to Steal Campaign Funds – Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 371
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
- A July 2014 vacation to Washington, D.C. and a resort in Pennsylvania (which included personal items and activities such as purchasing cigarettes, $399 for zip lining for Hunter and two of his children, and $250 in airline travel charges for Eggburt);
Colorado man sentenced for drug chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Johnny L. Morgan, of Walsenburg, Colorado, was sentenced today to 210 months incarceration for drug charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Morgan, age 67, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Marijuana, Tetrahydrocannabinol, and Methamphetamine ,” one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” one count of “Distribution of Tetrahydrocannabinol,” and one count of “Distribution of Marijuana” in September 2018. Morgan admitted to distributing marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, and methamphetamine in June and July 2017 in Braxton County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration, The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.