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Monday 23 September 2019
Carroll County Felon Sentenced Today to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Witness Retaliation and Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Jason Kiser, age 40, of Taneytown, Maryland, to eight years in federal prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, for witness retaliation and illegal possession of firearms. Kiser admitted that he burned the vehicle of an individual in retaliation for that person providing information to law enforcement concerning Kiser’s illegal possession of firearms.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Carroll County Sheriff James T. DeWees; and Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci.
“We take witness tampering and witness retaliation very seriously,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Those who tamper with or retaliate against a witness will face federal prosecution and federal prison, where there is no parole—ever.”
According to his plea agreement, on May 8, 2018, Kiser went to a gunsmithing store in Taneytown, Maryland, which was located in a building next to the owner’s home. The store was in the process of moving to a new location on West Baltimore Street in Taneytown. Kiser asked the owner if he could take the parts from a firearm that Kiser had brought into the store with him, and place them on a stripped receiver that Kiser planned to obtain from another store. The owner of the store knew Kiser and believed that Kiser had previously been convicted of theft of a motor vehicle and possibly other crimes and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. On May 9, 2018, an ATF investigator conducted a compliance check at the gunsmithing store and the owner advised the investigator of Kiser’s request. The ATF investigator opened a criminal investigation of Kiser.
On May 10, 2018, Kiser arrived at the gunsmithing store’s new location on West Baltimore Street in Taneytown, and provided the owner with an AR-556 rifle; a PWA, Model Commando receiver; and a Model A-15 receiver. Kiser asked the owner to place a forward grip on the AR-556 rifle and take the parts off of the PWA Commando and place them on the A-15 receiver. In coordination with investigators, on May 11, 2018, the owner advised Kiser that the firearms were ready. Law enforcement arrested Kiser as he walked towards the store. Kiser was charged in the Circuit Court for Carroll County with illegal possession of firearms. In the charging documents, the officer identified the store owner as a witness.
In the early morning hours of July 17, 2018, the store owner awoke at his house to the sound of a car horn. The store owner looked out of his bedroom window and saw his vehicle, which was parked in the carport adjacent to his residence, on fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire and called Maryland State Fire Marshals to determine the cause of the fire. Investigators located a glove from behind the carport and recovered a plastic can cover and bolt cutters from next to the driveway. They also recovered pieces of burned debris from the vehicle. DNA evidence recovered from the glove and bolt cutters revealed a high stringency match to Kiser’s DNA, which was submitted to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) during Kiser’s previous arrests. Investigators categorized the fire as an arson, based on the DNA evidence.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended ATF, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia C. McLane and Mark Gurzo, formerly a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in Maryland and now an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Pennsylvania, who prosecuted the case.
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California Landlord and Las Vegas Contractor Indicted for Clean Air Act Violations After Federal EPA InvestigationRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – On September 18, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against a California-based landlord who buys, sells and rents buildings in Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas-based contractor who was working for the landlord. The criminal indictment charges the two men with violating the Clean Air Act by failing to remediate and remove asbestos from a downtown Las Vegas apartment complex before renovating it, endangering the health and welfare of the tenants living there at the time.
California real estate owner Bobby Babak Khalili, 52, and the Las Vegas contractor were charged with six-counts of Clean Air Act violations. Khalili, who is known by a number of aliases, was arrested in Los Angeles and arraigned on the indictment in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California on September 19, 2019. He was released on a $50,000 bond.
“Landlords must maintain their rental properties in a habitable condition and provide a safe place for tenants to reside–free from dangerous environmental toxins,” said United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “The indictment demonstrates our office’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of the environment in vulnerable communities in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada.”
“Exposure to asbestos is associated with lung cancer and other serious respiratory diseases,” said Special Agent in Charge Jay Green of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division. “The indictment sends a clear signal that EPA and its law enforcement partners are committed to enforcing environmental laws that help protect our communities from illegal asbestos abatement.”
The Clean Air Act authorized the EPA to establish “work practice standards” that must be followed to ensure the safe and proper handling and removal of asbestos during renovations. Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals made up of microscopic bundles of fibers. Asbestos can cause life-threatening illnesses, and has been defined by Congress as a hazardous air pollutant.
In 2016, Khalili and his family owned the 16-unit “11th & Bonneville Apartments” in downtown Las Vegas. On March 30, 2016, air quality specialists with the Clark County Department of Air Quality saw a 40-cubic yard dumpster containing regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) at the apartment building. They documented RACM debris and residue in the dumpster, in several apartment units, and in common areas. From March 2016 through April 11, 2016, the defendants failed to inspect the apartments and failed to remove and remediate RACM prior to starting renovation. During the renovation, half of the building’s 16 units were occupied. The indictment alleges that the defendants failed to provide written notice to EPA and Clark County Department of Air Quality before starting removal and renovation work. After removal of the RACM, they failed to properly handle the RACM.
An indictment is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The maximum penalty the defendants face on each count is five years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by the EPA.
To report a possible violation of environmental laws and regulations, make a report to the EPA at https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations.
Butler County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Portersville, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Raymond Chrzanowski, age 51, pleaded guilty to three counts before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration initiated a wiretap investigation, primarily targeting the GBK street gang and drug trafficking in and around an area known as the Greenway Projects, located in the West End of the City of Pittsburgh. The wiretap investigation revealed that from in and around November 2017 through in and around June 2018, Raymond Chrzanowski and his co-conspirators cooked powder cocaine into crack cocaine and conspired to distribute quantities of crack cocaine and heroin.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for February 27, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued the defendant’s bond.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tonya Sulia Goodman and Yvonne M. Saadi are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration jointly led the multi-agency investigation, which also included the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Robinson Township Police Department, Stowe Township Police Department, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Wilkinsburg Borough Police Department, and the McKees Rocks Police Department, that led to the prosecution of Raymond Chrzanowski.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Berkeley County man sentenced for fentanyl distributionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Nicholas Wayne Deminds, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 57 months incarceration for distributing fentanyl, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Deminds, age 31, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl” in May 2019. Deminds admitted to distributing more than 25 grams of fentanyl in December 2018 in Berkeley County.Deminds also agreed to forfeit a box of 20 rounds of ammunition and $4,523.00.
This case is the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS)/Special Operations Division (SOD) Project Clean Sweep. This initiative seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in “hot spot” areas previously identified by the Attorney General of the United States, thereby reducing drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths, and identify wholesale distribution networks and sources of supply operating nationally and internationally.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced today that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Raul Burden, a 27-year-old resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 60 months in federal prison following his conviction of possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. The Court further sentenced Burden to 3 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearm involved be forfeited.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on December 24, 2018, EMS dispatchers received three 911 calls reporting shots being fired outside of an apartment complex located on Manson Drive in Baton Rouge. East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene. Upon arrival, deputies identified Burden from the emergency calls and ordered him to remove his hands from his pockets and place them on his head. Burden did not comply. When deputies again ordered Burden to remove his hands, he threw the firearm away from himself. The firearm, a Charter Arms “Off Duty” .38 special caliber revolver, was recovered at the scene.
Prior to possessing the firearm, Burden was convicted of intimidating, impeding, or injuring witnesses in May 2009, in East Baton Rouge Parish and attempted introduction of contraband at a municipal or parish prison or jail in October 2015, in Ouachita Parish.
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “This office remains committed to upholding the rule of law by investigating and prosecuting convicted felons, such as this defendant, who illegally possess firearms. I want to commend the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Officers whose rapid response to an unsafe situation resulted in a dangerous criminal being disarmed. I also want to thank my prosecutor, as well as the ATF, and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office for their work in this case. Notably, I would like to recognize the members of the community who had the courage to dial 911 and report the incident which allowed first responders to quickly respond and make a lawful arrest.”
“This individual disregarded both the law and the safety of others,” stated ATF New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “The sentence imposed today sends a strong message to criminals that they will be held accountable for their actions.”
“The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office is committed to working with all of our local, state and federal counterparts to get dangerous criminals with weapons off the streets of our community,” Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said. “We are grateful for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to prosecute these cases on the federal level to ensure the continued safety of our community.”
This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Craig.
Bangor Man Sentenced to Four Years for Heroin and Crack ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Eric Tracy, 30, of Bangor, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to four years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.” He pled guilty on July 19, 2018.
According to court records, between January 2016 and February 2017, Tracy conspired with others to acquire heroin and crack in Waterbury, Connecticut and to distribute it in Penobscot County. The defendant distributed the drugs in the Bangor area and facilitated the drug dealing activities of other conspirators.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Baltimore man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Cordario Artez Crowder, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced today to 60 months incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Crowder, also known as “Tony,” age 28, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Commit False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm” in June 2019. Crowder admitted to conspiring with another, asking him to make a false statement to purchase a 9mm pistol for Crowder, who was previously convicted of a felony and prohibited from purchasing or having a firearm. The crime took place in October 2018 in Mineral County.
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 Kimberley D. Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Attorney General William Barr Appoints U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald to Serve on Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney General William P. Barr announced the appointment of the following nine U.S. Attorneys to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC): Erica H. MacDonald, District of Minnesota; David Anderson, Northern District of California; Scott Brady, Western District of Pennsylvania; Maria Chapa Lopez, Middle District of Florida; Halsey Frank, District of Maine; Christina Nolan, District of Vermont; Zach Terwilliger, Eastern District of Virginia; Tom Kirsch, Northern District of Indiana; and Nicholas Trutanich, District of Nevada.
“I am pleased to appoint these nine outstanding U.S. Attorneys to this key advisory committee. I am confident that they will serve with distinction,” Attorney General William P. Barr said. “The U.S. Attorneys who comprise the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee play a critical role in carrying out the Department of Justice’s important work, including its efforts to reduce violent crime, combat the opioid crisis, protect the most vulnerable, and enforce the rule of law.”
U.S. Attorney MacDonald said, “I am honored to have been chosen to serve on this important Committee, which helps guide programs and policies for the Department of Justice. The work of the AGAC is vital to furthering our priorities of reducing violent crime, confronting our drug epidemics, and protecting public safety for all Minnesotans and Americans. I want to thank the Attorney General for this opportunity and responsibility to serve the Department and the Attorney General in this capacity.”
The Attorney General also thanked the following U.S. Attorneys who have completed their terms and are rotating off the committee: Louis Franklin, Middle District of Alabama; Robert Higdon, Eastern District of North Carolina; John Huber, District of Utah; Rob Hur, District of Maryland; Jeff Jensen, Eastern District of Missouri; Andrew Lelling, District of Massachusetts; Joshua Minkler, Southern District of Indiana; Richard Moore, Southern District of Alabama; Bryan Schroder, District of Alaska; and David Weiss, District of Delaware.
Chaired by U.S Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jessie K. Liu, the AGAC represents the voice of the U.S. Attorneys and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on policy, management, and operational issues impacting U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.
Attorney General Barr also announced that U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox, a current member, will replace U.S. Attorney John Huber as the Vice Chair of the AGAC.
The bios of all U.S. Attorneys are available here.
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Friday 20 September 2019
Wichita Man Sentenced for Four Commercial RobberiesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison for robberies at four local stores, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Kenneth W. Cade, 29, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and one count of carrying a firearm during a robbery. In his plea, he admitted committing the following robberies:
- Dollar General Store, 915 S. Glendale in Wichita, Nov. 22, 2017. Cade admitted pointing a gun at an employee and demanding money.
- C-Store, 837 S. Oliver in Wichita, Feb. 7, 2018. Cade admitted serving as a lookout while a co-defendant pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money.
- Arby’s, 4308 E. Harry in Wichita, Feb. 14, 2018. Cade admitted pointing a firearm at an employee and demanding money.
- Circle K Store, 515 N. Seneca in Wichita, Feb. 14, 2018. Cade admitted grabbing cash from a register after a co-defendant pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money.
Co-defendant Savannah Cole, 22, Wichita, Kan., is set for sentencing Oct. 4, 2019.
McAllister commended the FBI, the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case, which was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative targeting violent crime.
Warr Acres Doctor Indicted on Opioid and Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal grand jury has charged DAVID QUY, D.O., 62, an Oklahoma City resident who practiced medicine in Warr Acres, with dispensing opioids illegally and identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
According to the indictment, Quy saw patients at Family Medicine Center, 5500 N.W. Expressway, in Warr Acres. It is alleged that from November 2014 until May 8, 2019, he conspired to dispense Schedule II prescription opioids, including Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, outside the usual course of professional medical practice and without legitimate medical purpose when he wrote prescriptions for certain of his employees and then directed those employees to fill the prescriptions and bring the pills back to him. He is also charged with 55 counts of illegally dispensing Schedule II opioids on specific dates from November 2014 to April 2019.
In two separate counts, he is charged with identity theft based on allegations that he wrote prescriptions for Hydrocodone-Homatropine Syrup, a Schedule II opioid, in the names of minor children of employees when he intended that those prescriptions be used by someone else.
On May 14, 2019, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs issued an emergency suspension of Quy’s license to prescribe controlled substances.
If found guilty of conspiracy or any of the 55 substantive counts of dispensing opioids illegally, Quy faces up to twenty years in prison, not less than three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. If found guilty of identity theft, he could be imprisoned up to five years, serve an additional three years on supervised release, and be subject to a $250,000 fine.
This case is a result of an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott E. Williams is prosecuting the case.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to public filings for more information.
Virgin Islands Police Officer Indicted for Bank Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging V.I.P.D. Officer Yomont King with a variety of offenses, including bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and forgery. King made his initial appearance in federal court today in St. Croix.
According to the indictment, King defrauded one bank by depositing a $10,990 loan check intended for a third party into his own personal bank account on multiple occasions. In another instance, according to the charging document, King forged checks totaling $2,800 and deposited them into his own personal bank account.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Virgin Islands Police Department Economic Crimes Unit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Brooks.
An indictment is merely a formal charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Valliant Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that John David Sanders, age 41, of Valliant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Failure To Register As Sex Offender, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2250(a)(1), 2250(a)(2)(B) and 2250(a)(3), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.
The Indictment alleges that from in or about March 2019, the exact date being unknown to the Grand Jury, until on or about July 16, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and elsewhere, the defendant, an individual required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, after having received a felony conviction from the State of Texas, in Hopkins County, on or about August 9, 1999, for Indecency with a Child - Sexual Contact, traveled in interstate and foreign commerce and knowingly failed to register and update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Sarah McAmis represented the United States.
U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox Named Vice Chair of Attorney General’s Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr has named U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox Vice Chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced today.
The AGAC – chaired by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie Liu – represents the voice of federal prosecutors across the nation and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on policy, management and operational issues impacting the Offices of U.S. Attorneys. The AGAC priorities include combating the opioid crisis, reducing violent crime, protecting the most vulnerable and enforcing the rule of law.
U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox is replacing outgoing AGAC Vice Chair John Huber, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah, who is rotating off the AGAC after several years of service.
“John’s departure leaves me with big shoes to fill,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “I’m passionate about serving the Department of Justice and enforcing the rule of law in this country. I am honored by General Barr’s request to continue to serve the AGAC, now as Vice Chair.”
The Hon. Nealy Cox also chairs the AGAC’s Domestic Violence Working Group and sits on its White Collar Fraud and Cyber Crime Subcommittees.
She looks forward to joining U.S. Attorney Liu in presiding over the AGAC’s United States Attorneys, including the nine U.S. Attorneys just appointed to the AGAC today.
Two Reagor Dykes Employees Plead Guilty to Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Two Reagor Dykes Auto Group employees pleaded guilty today for their role a $23 million “check kiting” scheme, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Sheila Evans Miller, 52, and Diana Herrera Urias, 53, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud before Magistrate Judge Lee Ann Reno in Amarillo Friday morning.
Their CFO, Shane Andrew Smith, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in the check kiting scheme and a related floor plan fraud scheme.
In plea papers, Ms. Miller, an RDAG group controller, and Ms. Urias, an RDAG office manager, admitted that the auto group – which was struggling with ballooning expenses due to aggressive growth, above market compensation and unnecessary overhead – engaged in widespread, systematic check kiting, a ploy that involves concealing fraud by cross-depositing checks across several banks.
In fact, the company had an entire team at its headquarters specifically designated to kite checks, both women admitted.
Due to the kiting, RDAG checks that should have bounced instead cleared during banks’ float time, the period between the deposit in the recipient account and the deduction from the payer’s account, according to their plea papers.
At the instruction of RDAG Chief Financial Officer Shane Smith, Ms. Miller, Ms. Urias, and others would make up random amounts for each check to total the amount that needed to be kited for the day, often discussing the calculus over email, they said.
Ms. Miller and Ms. Urias each face up to five years in federal prison and may be required to pay at least $23 million in restitution. Mr. Smith faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and will be required to pay a mandatory restitution of more than $50 million, equal to the total amount of loss suffered by FMCC and victim banks.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Frausto, Jeffrey Haag, and Sean Taylor are prosecuting the case.
Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Firearms ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two Washington, D.C. area men were sentenced to nearly four years in prison combined for their roles in a firearm trafficking conspiracy.
“Giles and Pearce went to extraordinary lengths to illegally traffic dozens of firearms from Virginia to Maryland and Washington, D.C.,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “EDVA has made a commitment to do all we can to attack straw purchasing and firearms trafficking across the Commonwealth and in the National Capital Region. This case is proof positive of the resources we have dedicated and will continue to surge to fight this dangerous conduct.”
According to court documents, Darius Antonio Giles, 22, and his half-brother Daryl Antonio Pearce, 22, conspired together to travel from Maryland and Washington, D.C.—where they resided—to Virginia to acquire firearms with the intent to engage in the business of dealing firearms. During the course of this conspiracy, Pearce and Giles purchased well over 33 firearms within the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere. After they purchased these firearms, they transported them from Virginia to Maryland and Washington, D.C., where Pearce and Giles resold the firearms to various individuals for profit. Seventeen of the firearms have been recovered by law enforcement in Washington, D.C. and Maryland, including from a convicted felon. Giles was arrested in February following a controlled firearm buy with undercover ATF agents.
“Those who buy guns to sell them illegally in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere, as Giles and Pearce did here, are not simply committing paperwork violations. These criminals are providing an iron pipeline of potentially lethal weapons to individuals who are prohibited under the law from possessing firearms,” said Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division. “We will therefore continue to vigorously pursue and arrest anyone involved in the illegal trafficking of firearms to protect our communities.”
Giles was sentenced to more than two and half years in prison, and Pearce was sentenced to more than a year in prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel H. Feil and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas U. Murphy II prosecuted 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. 1:19-cr-139.
Three Men Sentenced for Transporting Large Amount Marijuana over State LinesRead the Press Release
Lexington, KY- Two Mexican Nationals, illegally residing in the U.S., and one Nicholasville, Ky., man, who previously admitted to transporting more than 100 kilograms of marijuana from Phoenix, Az., to Nicholasville, Ky., were sentenced on Thursday.
U.S. District Court Judge Karen Caldwell sentenced, Fabian Zavala-Romero, 42, Jonathan Mendoza-Ricardo, 30, and Jesus Sabino Castro-Quinones, 38, to 68 months, 68 months, and 60 months respectively. Another defendant involved in the case, Fabian Noperi, 35, is scheduled for sentencing in October.
According to plea agreements, Zavala, Castro, Noperi, and Mendoza, admitted that they conspired to transport marijuana from Phoenix to Nicholasville for the purpose of distributing the marijuana in Kentucky. The amount of marijuana they intended to distribute was more than 100 kilograms.
Under federal law, Zavala, Castro, and Mendoza must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Steven L. Igyarto, Resident Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, and Todd Justice, Chief of Police for Nicholasville Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Nicholasville Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Tanner Bradley.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
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Three Members of Modesto Hells Angels, Including Vice President and Secretary, Indicted for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Three members of the Modesto Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, including the Club's Vice President and Secretary, were charged yesterday in four separate indictments, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Hell's Angels Vice President Michael Shafer, 31, of Modesto, was charged with conspiring to distribute marijuana, conspiring to distribute heroin, distribution of marijuana, and two counts of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Hells Angels Secretary Patrick Gonzales, 31, of Modesto, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition. Hells Angels member Ricky Blackwell was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm after suffering a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.
In conjunction with the charges, officers executed search warrants at the residences of Shafer and Gonzales, along with other locations. According to court documents, at Gonzales’s residence officers found the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club World Rules, the rulebook that governs all Hells Angels Motorcycle Clubs. Officers also found the rules for the Modesto Charter of the Hells Angels, minutes of club meetings, membership information, and membership agreements.
This case was the result of a months-long investigation into the Modesto Hells Angels Chapter. Earlier this year, Modesto Hells Angels President Randy Picchi was charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine for leading a drug conspiracy that involved his wife, Tina Picchi, Michael Mize, and Hell's Angels member Michael Pack. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, Modesto Police Department, Turlock Police Department, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Ross Pearson and Laurel Montoya are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Shafer faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison, a mandatory minimum 5 years in prison, and a $5,000,000 fine. Gonzales faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Blackwell faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum 5 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Three Individuals Plead Guilty to Conspiracy, Embezzlement ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lucinda Lindsey, age 44, of Earlsboro, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1163, punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both, and that Charlene Devoanna Cloud, age 48, of Seminole, Oklahoma, and Aletha Ann Wise, age 36, of Earlsboro, Oklahoma, entered guilty pleas to Embezzlement And Theft From Indian Tribal Organization, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1163, punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.
The Indictment alleges that beginning on or about January 2, 2013, and continuing thereafter until on or about February 16, 2016, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, Lucinda Lindsey, knowingly and willfully conspired with others, unknown and known to the grand jury, to commit an offense against the United States, that is, Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.
The Indictment further alleges that from on or about June 11, 2014, to on or about February 16, 2016, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendants, Charlene Devoanna Cloud and Aletha Ann Wise, being employees of an Indian tribal organization, that is, the Seminole Nation Business, Commerce, and Regulatory Commission, did steal, embezzle and willfully and knowingly convert to their own use moneys, funds and credits with a value of more than $1,000.00 belonging to the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1163 and 2.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Criminal Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Steven P. Shreder and Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judges in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the guilty pleas of Cloud and Lindsey respectively. The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the guilty plea of Wise. Completion of presentence investigation reports were ordered for all defendants.
First Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Wilson represented the United States.
Three Canyon County Residents Sentenced for Check Forgery SchemeRead the Press Release
BOISE – This week, Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge sentenced three of five defendants in a long-term check forgery scheme, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. On September 18, 2019, Chul Gibbs, 33, of Canyon County, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for his role in organizing the scheme. Also on September 18, 2019, Tiffany Junge, 29, of Canyon County, was sentenced to 21 months in prison. On September 19, 2019, Alexandra Boyd, 31, of Nampa, was sentenced to 21 months in prison. All defendants sentenced this week will serve three years of supervised release upon their release from custody.
On August 22, 2019, their co-defendant, Jimmy Marley, 49, of Lubbock, Texas, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
The final defendant, Angelina Robles, 46, of Meridian, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 22, 2019 in front of U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.
All defendants except for Robles pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. Robles pleaded guilty to bank fraud only. According to the defendants’ plea agreements, over a substantial portion of 2018, the group stole checks that residents and business had placed in the mail. The defendants then forged the checks so that they were made payable to themselves, often in higher amounts. The defendants then attempted to cash the checks at banks. Over the course of their scheme, the defendants’ collectively caused a loss of approximately $32,000.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Nampa, Caldwell, Boise, and Meridian Police Departments, and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
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Tampa Woman Charged with Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl, Causing DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Heidi Kalous (39, Dunedin) with conspiring to distribute a substance that contained a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, and distributing a substance that contained a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, causing death. If convicted, Kalous faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.
According to court documents, beginning no later than June 5, 2019, and continuing through June 28, 2019, Kalous conspired with others to possess and distribute heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl.
On June 5, 2019, Kalous distributed two bags containing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl to an individual. The individual injected himself with the substance from the bags and died. A medical autopsy revealed that the cause of death was an accidental overdose caused by fentanyl toxicity.
Between June 5 and June 27, 2019, Kalous continued to distribute narcotics, including crack cocaine, fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl and heroin, out of a motel in Dunedin.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse. This case was investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
Teamwork Between State and Federal Agents Nets Substantial Sentneces for Exploitation of Children CrimesRead the Press Release
On September 20, 2019, in the District of Wyoming, JUSTIN DAVID BROWN, age 27 of Riverton, Wyoming was sentenced to seven hundred twenty months in prison followed by lifetime-supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of Production of Child Pornography. On January 4, 2019, the US Department Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Casper, Wyoming office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Lander, Wyoming office and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Riverton and Casper, Wyoming offices arrested Justin David Brown, a registered sex offender, for federal violations of Production and Distribution of Child Pornography in Riverton, Wyoming.
On January 4, 2019, FBI Lander requested the assistance of HSI and DCI on an investigative lead they received from another FBI Field Office. Initial information indicated that Brown had produced and distributed child pornography to at least one suspect on the east coast. Within hours of receiving the initial lead information, Agents from HSI, FBI and DCI worked collaboratively to rescue a victim and apprehend Brown. During a post arrest interview, Brown admitted to sexually abusing a young toddler, producing images and videos of the abuse, and distributing those to others with an interest in the sexual exploitation of children. In addition, Brown admitted to seeking out and communicating with numerous other individuals about the sexual abuse of children.
Brown consented to law enforcement assuming his online identity and as a result, Agents identified offenders within Wyoming and other jurisdictions who committed crimes against children and were charged and sentenced in U.S. District Court, including:
ROBERT WILLIAM COTTER, 35, of Casper, Wyoming, who was sentenced on July 17, 2019, for Production of Child Pornography. Cotter was sentenced to two hundred ten months of imprisonment, to be followed by lifetime-supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,500, a $100 special assessment and $500 special assessment pursuant to the Victims of Sex Trafficking Act.
DAVID THOMAS WILLIAMS, 36, of Laurel, Montana, who was sentenced on August 13, 2019, for Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor. Williams was sentenced to one hundred fifty months of imprisonment, to be followed by 120 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $138 and a $100 special assessment.
WILLIS STEVEN SMITH, 24, formerly of Lyman, Wyoming, who was sentenced on September 18, 2019 for Aiding and Abetting the Production of Child Pornography. Smith was sentenced to one hundred eighty months of imprisonment, to be followed by one hundred twenty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $138.00, a $100.00 special assessment, and a $400 special assessment pursuant to the Victims of Sex Trafficking Act.
Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie A. Hambrick and Timothy J. Forwood and the United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming, Mark A. Klaassen, prosecuted these cases. In regards to the investigation and sentences Klaassen stated, “My office remains committed to protecting our communities from individuals like these, who are involved in the production and sharing of child pornography. Their conduct victimizes innocent children, the most vulnerable among us, and we must do all we can to prevent and deter this crime.”
DCI and HSI, along with law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Wyoming, work together as part of the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation an abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
St. Paul, Arkansas Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug PossessionRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Rachael Shackelford, age 30, of St. Paul, Arkansas was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,500.00 in fines for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, beginning around November of 2018, law enforcement officers received information that Shackelford was distributing methamphetamine from her residence in St. Paul, Arkansas. During the investigation, deputies with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office applied for and executed a search warrant on Shackelford's residence on January 9, 2019. Inside the residence, deputies located Shackelford along with syringes, digital scales, drug packaging materials, approximately 238 grams of methamphetamine and several firearms.
The DEA crime lab tested the seized methamphetamine and determined that it contained 190.89 grams of actual methamphetamine.
A federal grand jury indicted Shackelford in March 2018, and she entered a guilty plea in April 2019.
This case was investigated by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Arkansas State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Denis Dean prosecuted the case for the United States.
St. Louis Man Indicted for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A St. Louis, Missouri, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking and illegally possessing and discharging a firearm in Newton County, Missouri.
E.F. Fitchpatrick, Jr., 46, was charged in a four-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Missouri, on Aug. 20, 2019. That indictment has been unsealed and made public.
The federal indictment alleges that Fitchpatrick participated in a conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine from Feb. 18 to March 1, 2017. Fitchpatrick is also charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Fitchpatrick is charged with discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. According to the indictment, Fitchpatrick discharged a Hi-Point .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun on March 1, 2017. Fitchpatrick is also charged with being a felon and an unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance while in possession of that firearm.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Fitchpatrick has two prior felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm; two prior felony convictions for the distribution, delivery, or manufacture of a controlled substance; three prior felony convictions for forgery; two prior felony convictions for possession of an illegal weapon; one prior felony conviction for using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of heroin; one prior felony conviction for burglary; and one prior felony conviction for tampering with a motor vehicle.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Keller. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, and the Joplin, Mo., 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.St. Croix Man Sentenced to 36 Months for Possession of a Firearm While Under Indictment for Assault Third Degree and Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Sergio Rijo-Feliz, 27, of St. Croix, was sentenced to 36 months of incarceration for possession of a firearm while under indictment by District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis on September 19, 2019. Judge Lewis also ordered Rijo-Feliz to pay a fine in the amount of $1,000.00, to supervised release for three years and to pay a special assessment of $100.00.
According to a plea agreement, and documents filed with the court, on October 2, 2018 Rijo-Feliz’ mother entered the Marshal Command Police Station, Christiansted, St. Croix, and reported that she found a firearm in his backpack which was in her car. She had just dropped Rijo-Feliz off at the Superior Court in Kingshill to sign in with the Probation Office. After discovering the firearm, she drove away while Rijo-Feliz was still at the courthouse. A subsequent search of the backpack revealed a 9mm Sturm Ruger handgun with one live round in the chamber and twenty live rounds in the attached magazine. An extended magazine with thirty 9mm live cartridges was also found inside the backpack along with a black ski mask, black wallet with a driver’s license and other ID’s belonging to Rijo-Feliz. Subsequent to his arrest, Rijo-Feliz admitted ownership and possession of the firearm.
At the time of the search, Rijo-Feliz was facing charges of Assault Third Degree and Possession of a Firearm During a Violent Crime in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. He had no license to possess a firearm in the Virgin Islands.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews, Jr.
Springdale Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Weapons and Drug PossessionRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Enrique Ramirez, age 27, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,300.00 in fines for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a firearm. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, In February 2019, Ramirez was encountered and arrested on an unrelated warrant by law enforcement in Springdale, Arkansas. During the arrest, officers located several individual baggies of suspected methamphetamine and a firearm that was located in Ramirez’s waistband. The firearm was examined by ATF and determined that it had been manufactured outside of the State of Arkansas, therefore had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. The DEA crime lab tested the seized methamphetamine and determined that it contained 30.6 grams of actual methamphetamine.
A federal grand jury indicted Ramirez in March 2019, and he entered a guilty plea in May 2019.
This case was investigated by the Springdale Police Department and ATF. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Carter prosecuted the case for the United States.
Spirit Lake Man Pleads Guilty to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury of a ChildRead the Press Release
FARGO – First Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Chase, District of North Dakota, announced that on September 17, 2019, Jonathan James Hill, age 22, an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe and the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Peter D. Welte, Fargo, ND, to an Indictment charging him with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
At the plea hearing, Hill admitted that between December 26, 2018, and January 1, 2019, he assaulted a baby by hitting the baby with his fists and shoving the child into walls.
On January 1, 2019, emergency medical technicians responded to a residence in Fort Totten, ND, within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation, for a report of an unresponsive baby. Medical providers described the 20-month-old baby as “noticeably bruised to face & entire body.” The baby was diagnosed with multiple acute and chronic injuries to the brain and body. The injuries were characterized by medical providers as “non-accidental” and were determined to be consistent with abusive head trauma and child physical abuse. The baby’s injuries required air transport for medical treatment, surgical intervention, and months-long hospitalization.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2019, at 9:00 AM before Judge Peter D. Welte. A 10-year minimum prison sentence applies given the nature of the injuries and the age of the victim.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lori H. Conroy.
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Seiling Man Sentenced to Five Years for Domestic Violence in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JAMES DEAN LAMAR LaFOUNTAIN, 25, of Seiling, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for wounding his wife and later calling her from jail to instruct her not to testify against him, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
According to a two-count superseding indictment, LaFountain assaulted his wife with a knife with the intent to do bodily harm and also attempted to strangle and suffocate her, all on November 25, 2018. The case was charged in federal court because LaFountain is an Indian and the alleged crimes took place in Indian Country. Originally arrested on tribal charges, LaFountain has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since January 3, 2019.
On April 25, 2019, LaFountain pleaded guilty to a two-count superseding information. At his plea hearing, he admitted he held his wife down and wounded her in Indian Country on November 25, 2018. He also admitted he committed the crime of tampering with a witness by calling his wife from jail in an attempt to get her not to testify against him.
At sentencing today, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced LaFountain to five years in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The court took into account reports that LaFountain, while intoxicated, put a knife to his wife’s throat, attempted to strangle her, and threatened their children. The court also considered episodes of LaFountain’s escalating physical violence toward his wife, as well as his having placed numerous phone calls to her in early 2019 with instructions not to testify against him.
This sentence is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with assistance from the Dewey County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Cárdenas.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
Scottsbluff Man Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Cody Metter, 31, formerly of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, to 87 months in prison by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for receipt of child pornography. There is no parole in the federal prison system. In addition to his prison term, Metter will be required to serve 12 years on supervised release and register as a sex offender. Metter was also ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution.
In March of 2018 the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reviewed a CyberTip submitted by Snapchat, regarding a child pornography video uploaded on their platform. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation were able to identify Metter as the account holder of the originating IP address that uploaded the video.
A federal search warrant was executed on Metter’s home in Scottsbluff in August of 2018, and computer equipment was seized. Forensic examination of the computer equipment located approximately 1,700 videos and more than 25,000 images of child pornography. Metter admitted that he had been receiving and downloading child pornography since he was 11 years old.
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 victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Omaha FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Sacramento Man Charged with Being A Felon in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment yesterday against Dave Perkins Jr., 58, of Sacramento, charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Perkins was found in possession of a semi-automatic pistol and a revolver. Perkins is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael W. Redding is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Perkins faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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.
Rush County Special Sheriff’s Deputy and Rushville fireman charged with sexual exploitation of a childRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Philip Michael Harr, 29, Rushville, Indiana, was charged by criminal complaint with Sexual Exploitation of a Child, and Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography. Harr had his initial appearance in the United States District Court on Thursday, September 19, 2019.
“Public officials are entrusted to perform their work duties and to serve the community without committing criminal conduct on the job,” said Minkler. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to identifying and prosecuting individuals who utilize social media and other vehicles to exploit innocent children.”
According to the allegations in the court documents, Harr used a social media application to pose as a teenage girl, and solicit images and videos depicting at least two minor victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The alleged victims were from Mississippi and Indiana. Harr used the same media application to allegedly distribute, receive, and possess images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Harr allegedly engaged in much of this alleged criminal conduct while on duty as a Rush County Special Sherriff’s Deputy and a Rushville, Indiana fireman. Harr was also employed by the Rush County Government as a courtroom security officer and dispatcher. Harr is alleged to have misused his position of public trust by using a law enforcement database to conduct searches for one of his minor victims.
This investigation was jointly conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rush County Sheriff’s Department.
A spokesperson for the Rush County Sheriff’s Department said, “Our department would like to thank everyone involved in this investigation. Officers worked tirelessly to bring charges against Mr. Harr and seek justice for his victims.”
According to Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston who is prosecuting this case for the government, Harr faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment if convicted on all counts.
A criminal complaint is merely a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.
If you believe you have been a victim of Philip Michael Harr, please contact the Indianapolis FBI Office at https://tips.fbi.gov/ or call 317-595-4000 to make a report.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to utilize and partner with law enforcement agencies to prosecute individuals engaged in the sexual exploitation of children. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 4.1.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of LORENZO EUGENE HEARD JR., 38, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. HEARD entered his guilty plea on September 19, 2019, before Judge David S. Doty, in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, on May 1, 2018, while driving in Rochester, HEARD crashed his vehicle and fled the scene, leaving a loaded Cobra semiautomatic .380 caliber pistol in the vehicle. HEARD has been previously convicted of multiple violent offenses, including armed robbery, assault and drug charges, which prohibit him, under federal law, from owning or possessing a firearm.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Rochester Police Department and the ATF.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat violent crime.
Assistant United States Attorney Bradley M. Endicott is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
LORENZO EUGENE HEARD JR., 38
Rochester, Minn.
Convicted:
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Rochester Man Charged with Sex Trafficking of A Minor and 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 Peter R. Kiwitt, 61, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking of a minor using force, fraud, and coercion, and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in June 2017, the defendant was convicted in Monroe County, NY, of Possession of a Sexual Performance by a Child, and sentenced to serve 10 years’ probation, and designated as a Level 1 Sex Offender.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, on December 10, 2018, a vehicle the defendant was driving was pulled over by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Also in the vehicle were two females, Adult Victim 1 (AV1) and Minor Victim 1 (MV1). The three individuals were questioned about drug related activity but released and later followed to a room at a motel in Penfield, NY. Officers went to the room and knocked on the door. Kiwitt indicated that he was dating AV1 but knew her to be a prostitute who belonged to another pimp known to law enforcement. He denied any involvement in prostitution at that time. Officers did not make any arrests at the time.
On January 23, 2019, Rochester Police Department officers responded to a residence in the City of Rochester for the report of a fatal overdose involving MV1. The owner of the apartment found MV1 deceased on his living room floor and called 911. He told officers he met MV1 through AV1, and that the night before, he brought MV1 back to his residence to engage in commercial sex acts with her.
Subsequent cell phone and Facebook searches uncovered conversations between the defendant, AV1, and MV1 regarding prostitution activities. Investigators also uncovered naked photos, some of which depicted child pornography.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan W. Feldman and was detained. Kiwitt is due back in court on September 25, 2019, at 9:30 a.m.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Pottawattamie County Man Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on September 19, 2019, Travis Wright Scott, age 31, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Carrying a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime. Wright was sentenced to prison for a total of 160 months. He was sentenced to 100 months of imprisonment on the drug charge and 60 months of imprisonment for the gun charge. The sentences will run consecutively. Following Scott’s prison term, he will serve five years of supervised release.
In 2018, detectives with the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force conducted controlled buys of narcotics with Scott. Following the issuance of an arrest warrant, when Scott was located, he possessed a small amount of methamphetamine, a digital scale, serialized money from the controlled buys, and a loaded Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm handgun that was reported stolen. Scott pleaded guilty to these charges in April 2019.
This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Police Officer Arrested and Charged with Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Matthew Enhoffer (34, St. Petersburg) has been arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint with distribution and possession of child pornography. If convicted, Enhoffer faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison. Federal agents arrested Enhoffer, a police officer with the St. Petersburg Police Department, yesterday without incident.
According to the
complaint , an individual using the screen name “thehoff727” distributed child pornography on Snapchat, a mobile web-based communications application. Further investigation revealed that the Internet Protocol (IP) address and subscriber information associated with that account was linked to Enhoffer’s residence.On September 11, 2019, agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Enhoffer’s home and seized several electronic devices. An examination of Enhoffer’s cellphone revealed a collection of child-pornographic images and videos, including multiple images and videos involving children under the age of 12 in bondage, being raped, and forced to perform sex acts.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Phoenix Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Stealing His Clients’ Tax RefundsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa sentenced Erik Allen Ketelaar, 35, of Phoenix, Ariz., to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The Court also ordered Ketelaar to pay $573,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, third party processors, and individual taxpayers. Ketelaar had previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
In 2013 and 2014, Ketelaar owned and operated a tax preparation business called Tio Sams (“Uncle Sam”) Taxes, with five offices in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona. He hired and trained Spanish-speaking staff, and marketed his tax services to nonresident and resident aliens living in Hispanic communities in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Ketelaar controlled how all tax returns were completed, and had most of the client tax refunds directed to bank accounts or addresses he owned and managed. After he gained control of these tax refunds, he stole more than a half million dollars in refunds from many of his tax clients.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Fred Battista and Peter Sexton, Assistant United States Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Pasco Woman Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Cyberstalking and Making Online ThreatsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sentenced Tammy Marie Steffen (37, Holiday) to four years and nine months in federal prison for cyberstalking and sending threatening communications online.
Steffen had pleaded guilty on December 21, 2018.
According to the plea agreement, from at least August 2016 and continuing through July 2018, Steffen engaged in a course of conduct with the intent to harass or intimidate six victims. Specifically, Steffen cyberstalked, harassed, and threatened several of her former colleagues and associates through repeated emails, phone calls, text messages, and social media messages using numerous phone numbers and accounts. To date, the FBI has identified at least 369 Instagram accounts and 18 email accounts that Steffen had created and used to cyberstalk, harass, and threaten the victims. For example, Steffen threatened to “slice [the victim] up into little pieces” and told another victim that “all hell is gonna rain fire down on your world like never seen before” and then sent a picture of a female holding two knives, with a caption that read, “I’m coming.” In addition to the threatening messages online, Steffen made countless “spoofed” phone calls to the victims. She used voice-disguising software to mask her identity when she repeatedly called the victims at their homes and businesses.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Rachel K. Jones.
Park Hill Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Guy Coleston McDonald, age 32, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Drug Conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, punishable by not less than 10 years and not more than life imprisonment, a fine up to $10,000,000.00, or both.
The Superseding Indictment alleges that beginning in or about September 2017, the exact date being unknown to the Grand Jury, and continuing up to and including the date of the Superseding Indictment, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the Defendant, did knowingly and intentionally conspire, confederate and agree with others, known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Henson represented the United States.
Okmulgee Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ethan Cole Endres, age 28, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Felon In Possession Of Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.
The Indictment alleges that on or about April 11, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and knowing of said conviction, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, a firearm which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Trails Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.
North Suburban Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Enticing Underage Girls into SexRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A north suburban man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for enticing underage girls to engage in sex acts with him.
CASEY IRELAND, 36, of Antioch, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, and one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. U.S. District Chief Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer imposed the 15-year sentence Thursday in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Leo Lamont, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Resident Agency Great Lakes. Valuable assistance was provided by the Antioch Police Department and law enforcement authorities in Wisconsin. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Dixon.
Ireland admitted in a plea agreement that in the spring of 2017 he had sex with two 15-year-old girls from Wisconsin. Ireland began communicating with the girls via online messaging applications.
On May 18, 2017, and June 1, 2017, Ireland drove to Wisconsin to pick up the first victim at her high school, and then drove her back to his home in Antioch to engage in sex acts. On May 31, 2017, Ireland arranged to pick up the second victim at a park near her home in Wisconsin, and then drove her to his home to engage in sex acts.
After the second victim informed law enforcement about her encounter with Ireland, authorities took control of her messaging account and reestablished communication with him. During subsequent messages, Ireland and law enforcement – posing as the victim – arranged for Ireland to pick up the victim at the same park near her home to engage in another sexual encounter. When Ireland drove to the park on June 7, 2017, he was arrested.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, or log on to http://www.missingkids.com. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Ryan Burns, 39, of Nashua, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 4, 2018, Burns purchased a .45 caliber firearm from an undercover federal enforcement officer for $100 cash, a box of .22 caliber ammunition, and an antique firearm. As explained in court documents and stated during the hearing, Ryan’s possession of the gun was unlawful due a previous involuntary commitment to a mental health facility.
Burns will be sentenced on January 14, 2020.
“In order to maintain public safety, we are striving to prevent gun crime in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who seek to obtain guns unlawfully.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manchester Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.
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Member of Violent “Trained to Go” Gang Convicted at Trial Sentenced Today to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Federal Racketeering and Drug Conspiracies and Related Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Dennis Pulley, a/k/a Denmo, age 31, of Baltimore, to 35 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to participate in a drug distribution conspiracy and a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go (TTG), as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The racketeering conspiracy included eight murders, as well as drug trafficking and witness intimidation. Pulley and his co-defendants were also convicted of a drug distribution conspiracy involving heroin, marijuana, and cocaine. The TTG gang operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
“Dennis Pulley and his fellow gang members brought violence and misery to West Baltimore, in the form of murders, shootings, armed robbery, witness intimidation, and drug dealing. Now, Pulley will spend 35 years in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Hopefully criminals who are not deterred from terrorizing our neighborhoods by the threat of prison can be deterred by the reality of years spent in a federal prison far from home—where there is no parole. Ever.”
According to the evidence presented at their 24-day trial, Pulley and his co-defendants are all members or associates of TTG, a criminal organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore, whose members engaged in drug distribution and acts of violence including murder, armed robbery, and witness intimidation. As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for TTG.
The evidence at trial showed that members and associates of TTG sold heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, and worked to defend their exclusive right to control who sold narcotics in TTG territory. Pulley served as one of TTG’s primary suppliers of heroin and marijuana. TTG members routinely sold “packs” of heroin and gram quantities of marijuana from multiple locations in Sandtown. Typically, a “pack” contained between 25 and 50 gel capsules of heroin. In addition, the evidence proved that between May 20, 2010 and January 9, 2017, Pulley, his co-defendants, and other members of TTG committed acts of violence, including murders, shootings, armed robbery, and witness intimidation. Murders were committed in retaliation for individuals robbing TTG members of drugs and drug proceeds, or while TTG members robbed others of their drugs and drug proceeds, as well as in murder-for-hire schemes. Further, the defendants engaged in witness intimidation through violence or threats of violence, to prevent individuals from cooperating with law enforcement.
For example, in the summer of 2016, a feud developed between Pulley and Chris Pennington, a/k/a “Magic.” Pennington and several other individuals robbed a marijuana distributor that Pulley supplied. When Pulley learned that Pennington was offering money for information concerning Pulley’s location, Pulley solicited members of TTG and others to murder Pennington. On January 9, 2017, Pennington was shot multiple times and died. Search warrants were subsequently executed at Pulley’s home and the home of a co-defendant, Brandon Wilson. Law enforcement recovered the gun used to murder Pennington at Wilson’s home and recovered a .22-caliber pistol, one pound of marijuana, and $32,758 in cash from Pulley’s home. On October 18, 2018, a witness was on the stand testifying about Pulley during the trial. While counsel were participating in a bench conference with the presiding judge, Pulley mouthed the words “I’ll kill you” to the witness, which was seen by a Deputy U.S. Marshal.
The leader of the gang, Montana Barronette, a/k/a Tana and Tanner, age 23, and his brother, Terrell Sivells, a/k/a Rell, age 27, both of Baltimore, were each sentenced to life in prison on February 15 and April 26, 2019, respectively. Timothy Floyd, a/k/a Tim Rod, age 28, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on July 19, 2019. Co-defendants Brandon Wilson, a/k/a Ali, age 24, and Taurus Tillman, a/k/a Tash, age 30, both of Baltimore, were each sentenced to 25 years in prison on March 1 and May 21, 2019, respectively. Two other co-defendants, John Harrison, a/k/a Binkie, age 28, and Linton Broughton, a/k/a Marty, age 25, both from Baltimore, were sentenced to life in prison and to 30 years in prison, respectively, on March 15, 2019. Three other TTG members previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison.
Another defendant, Roger Taylor, a/k/a Milk, age 28, of Baltimore, a fugitive since July 2017, was arrested on June 30, 2019, and is now awaiting trial. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, which includes FBI special agents and task force officers from the Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County Police Departments. FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force is responsible for identifying and targeting the most violent gangs in the Baltimore metropolitan area, to address gang violence and the associated homicides in Baltimore. The vision of the program is to use federal racketeering statutes to disrupt and dismantle significant violent criminal threats and criminal enterprises affecting the safety and well-being of our citizens and our communities.
This case was advanced by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the ATF, the DEA, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano, Daniel C. Gardner, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley formerly of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Maryland Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for His Part in Three Separate KidnappingsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON- Jesse Nunn, 24, of Maryland, was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison for his part in three separate kidnappings over the course of three weeks in Northwest Washington.
U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division, and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) made the announcement.
Nunn pled guilty on May 10, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to three counts of kidnapping. The Honorable Trevor N. McFadden sentenced Nunn on September 19, 2019, to a 10-year prison term, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 15, 2018, Nunn and his co-defendant lured Complaining Witness (“CW”) #1 into his car in the 1300 block of U Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., with the promise of selling him narcotics. When CW #1 entered the car, Nunn produced a handgun and pointed it at CW #1, demanding the victim’s debit/credit card, cellphone, and U.S. Currency. During the course of the kidnapping, the defendants drove to various financial institutions and other store locations, crossing state lines, in an attempt to use CW #1’s debit/credit cards to obtain U.S. Currency. At one point, Nunn also punched CW #1, causing minor injuries. CW #1 was eventually able to escape from the vehicle and flag-down a passing driver.
On July 27, 2018, in the 600 block of U Street, N.W., Nunn and two co-defendants lured CW #2 into their car with the promise of selling him narcotics. CW #2 willingly got into the defendants’ vehicle so that the defendants could take him to an ATM to get money for the purchase of the narcotics. The defendants drove CW #2 to a 7-Eleven ATM located in Bladensburg, MD, so that CW #2 could use the ATM machine to withdraw U.S. currency to purchase narcotics from the defendants. When CW #2 and one of the co-defendants returned to the vehicle, Nunn produced a handgun and pointed the weapon at CW #2. The defendants demanded CW #2’s debit/credit card, cellphone, and U.S. currency. The defendants forcibly took CW #2 to various locations, including locations outside of the District of Columbia, to use or attempt to use CW #2’s debit/credit cards for money or other personal property. CW #2 was eventually able to escape from the vehicle in Virginia.
On August 4, 2018, at approximately 2:30 am, CW #3 left a nightclub located in the 1300 block of U Street, N.W. to catch an Uber home. Believing Nunn’s vehicle to be his Uber, CW #3 entered the vehicle, in which Nunn was seated in the rear seat. Within minutes of CW #3 getting into the vehicle for his ride home, Nunn demanded CW #3’s phone and wallet and then produced and pointed a handgun at CW #3. Nunn and his co-defendant drove CW #3 around and demanded that CW #3 give them his PIN number for his debit/credit card. CW #3 was eventually able to escape from the vehicle in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Dunham, and Chief Newsham praised the work of the FBI Violent Crime Safe Streets Task Force, which is charged with investigating the most egregious acts of violent crime impacting the Capital Region Task Force, which involved members from the FBI and MPD. They also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Teesha Tobias, former Paralegal Specialist Jeannette Litz, and Victim/Witness Specialist Yvonne Bryant. Finally, they commended the outstanding work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole, who indicted and prosecuted the case.
MS-13 Gang Member and Associate Sentenced for Violent AssaultRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two Falls Church men were sentenced today to a combined six years in prison for their roles and participation in a violent gang-related assault of a victim with multiple bats.
“Barrera and Melendez both participated in a violent assault whose reasons were as senseless as the brutality of the crime itself,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “MS-13 follows a warped code of violence to enforce the gang’s rules, and seeks to instill fear in those who would dare cross them. The involvement of Barrera and Melendez demonstrate their contempt for the law and their total disregard for the safety of the people who make up this community. I want to thank our investigative partners for their terrific work on this case, working to bring these violent criminals to justice. Hopefully, this lengthy sentence will achieve some measure of justice for the victim and his family, who have suffered the awful consequences of MS-13’s violent ideology and practice.”
According to court documents, in October 2018, Kevin Barrera Barrera, 20, a paro to the Silvas clique of MS-13, and Denis Oklides Martinez Melendez, 20, a member of the Chilangueras clique of MS-13, conspired with several other members and associates of MS-13 to lure the victim to James Lee Park, in Falls Church, so that they could assault the victim. Barrera, Melendez, and other members and associates of MS-13 believed the victim was cooperating with law enforcement, falsely representing himself as a member of MS-13, and disparaging the Silvas clique of MS-13. After luring the victim to the park under false pretenses, Barrera, Melendez, and approximately 10 other members and associates of MS-13 beat the victim with bats, fists, and feet for approximately three minutes. As a result of the beating, the victim suffered multiple broken limbs and was hospitalized for several days.
“Today’s sentencing demonstrates that the FBI and the Department of Justice will work to ensure that our message is clear: We will not tolerate this brutal and pointless violence in our community,” said Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division. “The FBI, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively disrupt gang activity to prevent other acts of violence at the hands of MS-13.”
Martinez Melendez was sentenced to more than three years in prison, and Barrera was sentenced to three years in prison.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas U. Murphy II and Cristina Stam prosecuted the case.
This matter was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Safe Streets/HIDTA Task Force which is composed of FBI Agents, Agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, along with task force officers from the Fairfax County Police, the Prince William County Police, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department, the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Department, the Leesburg Police Department, the Alexandria City Police Department, the Vienna Police Department, the Fairfax City Police Department, and the Herndon Police Department. The task force further coordinates its efforts with ATF, USMS and DEA, FBI-Baltimore, along with law enforcement officers from Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, Maryland The task forces is charged with identifying, disrupting and dismantling the most egregious gangs operating in the Capital Region which includes MS-13, a transnational violent gang.
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. 1:19-cr-129.
Long-Time Private Investigator Sentenced for Practice of Making Pretextual Phone CallsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On September 9, 2019, Keven Lawrence Cody McCleve, 61, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to three years’ probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. McCleve was also ordered to give up all professional licenses and not acquire any professional license while on probation.
McCleve worked as a licensed private investigator for over 30 years. During this time period, he developed a practice of making phone calls to banks and other financial institutions and lying about his identity. He made pretextual calls in an attempt to obtain personal banking information about individuals he was investigating. McCleve often provided a bank with an individual’s social security number, date of birth, and other personally identifiable information in an effort to convince the bank McCleve was that particular individual. In response, banks then frequently provided personal information about the individual’s bank accounts, including account balances, and recent withdrawals and deposits.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Andy Stone, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix
Liberation Way Doctor Involved in Addiction-Treatment Health Care Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 3+ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – First Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Domenick Braccia, 58, of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 37 months’ incarceration, one year supervised release, 150 hours of community service, a $15,000 fine and ordered to pay $2,484,864 in restitution by United States District Judge Wendy Beetlestone. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in May 2019, arising from his role in a scheme to overbill health care benefit programs for treatment and testing of drug-addicted patients at outpatient facilities owned by Liberation Way.
Domenick Braccia was the so-called “medical director” and the only medical doctor on staff at Liberation Way’s three locations in Yardley, Bala Cynwyd, and Fort Washington. In violation of his oath as a doctor, and as part of a multi-state scheme to defraud insurers, Braccia signed blank prescription forms and patient orders, averred to the medical necessity of testing for patients whom he never saw, and prescribed for patients he did not see.
“We have consistently said that this case should send a message to those attempting to profit from fraud and the despair of individuals battling addiction,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Williams. “With this sentence, that message has been delivered in a powerful and concrete way. Dominick Braccia is through practicing medicine and is going to prison. We have been proud to work with the Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General Shapiro and our other federal agency partners to bring all of the defendants in this case to justice.”
“The operators of Liberation Way shamelessly took advantage of people suffering from substance use disorder to line their own pockets,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “As Medical Director, Dr. Braccia played a significant role in this fraud and betrayed the patients he was supposed to be helping. I’m proud that through collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners, we held him accountable for his despicable actions today, and we will continue to do the same with the remaining Liberation Way defendants.”
The case was investigated with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Labor. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Beam Winter and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Kristy Christ and Robert Labar of the AG’s Office.
Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in a Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Nathanael Peguero, 27, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to conspiracy to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between November and December of 2016, a DEA Task Force Officer (“TFO”) made arrangements with Peguero to purchase fentanyl. The undercover officer made a series of five undercover purchases of fentanyl from Peguero or members of Peguero’s drug trafficking organization.
Peguero is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2020.
“Interstate fentanyl trafficking endangers the health and safety of the citizens of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect our community, we will aggressively prosecute those who are responsible for distributing this deadly drug in the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Hampton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Davis.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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Kalispell man, two California residents charged with methamphetamine traffickingRead the Press Release
MISSOULA--The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that a Kalispell man and two persons from California appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on criminal complaints charging them with methamphetamine trafficking crimes.
John Patrick Figueroa Araujo, 53, of Kalispell, Kristal Patricia Leonard, 34, of Huntington Beach, CA, and John Murray Barry, 39, of Palmdale, CA, are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and with possession with intent to distribute. If convicted of the most serious crime, the defendants face a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release. All defendants were detained pending further proceedings.
The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Court documents filed in the case said investigators arrested the defendants on Sept. 18 as they were driving separately and that search warrants executed on their vehicles revealed approximately 31.5 pounds of methamphetamine, which is the equivalent of about 114,156 doses.
The case was investigated by the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Polson Police Department, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Police Department, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Kalispell Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Border Patrol and Two Bear Air. Pacer case reference. 19-61.
If this case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of it through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Jury Convicts Tulsa Man of Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
On Thursday, a federal jury convicted Ira Lee Wilkins, 38, of Tulsa, for being a felon in possession of a Hi-Point C9 9 mm pistol and associated ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
“Felons who possess firearms pose a threat to the safety and security of our community. This prosecution was a part of our Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. I am thankful for the service of the jurors. They rendered their verdict, and Mr. Wilkins was found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “The evidence in this case was strong, including a Tulsa Police officer’s body-worn camera. I commend the work of the investigative agencies and federal prosecutors who pursued justice in this case.”
In May 2019, a local business contacted authorities after a disturbance involving the defendant. Officers from the Tulsa Police Department answered the call and discovered that Wilkins had outstanding warrants and was previously convicted of multiple felonies. Upon his arrest, officers found the loaded pistol in his front pants’ pocket.
The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Proctor and Shannon Cozzoni prosecuted the case.
Jacksonville Brothers Sentenced for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Allen Pernell Branch (32, Jacksonville) to five years and six months in federal prison for distributing crack cocaine. Branch’s brother, Brian Nathaniel Branch (33, Jacksonville), was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for distributing crack cocaine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Allen Branch had pleaded guilty on April 23, 2019, and Brian Branch had pleaded guilty on June 10, 2019.
According to court documents, Allen and Brian Branch, both previously convicted felons, were associated with a drug house on West 22nd Street in Jacksonville. On two occasions, Allen Branch cooked powder cocaine into crack cocaine and then sold it to a confidential informant who was working at the direction of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). On another occasion, Brian Branch sold crack cocaine to the confidential informant at an apartment in Arlington. During that transaction, Brian Branch displayed a pistol to the confidential informant. The pistol was recovered when ATF raided the apartment. Brian Branch’s previous felony convictions include possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, aggravated assault, possession of cocaine (four times), and attempted robbery. As a previously convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Sept. 16 was:
Lisa Marie Skunkcap, 36, of Browning, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Skunkcap faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Skunkcap was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI. Pacer case reference. 19-60.
If the above case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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