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Monday 26 August 2019
Morgan County man sentenced for failing to update sex offender registryRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Justin David Peters, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 18 months incarceration for failing to update his sex offender registry, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Peters, age 26, pled guilty to one count of “Failure to Register” in April 2019. Peters, having previously been convicted of possession of child pornography in Berkeley County Circuit Court, admitted to traveling to Florida without updating his sex offender registration as required by law. The crime occurred from June to September 2018.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Finucane prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshal Service investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Mineral County woman sentenced for role in a drug distribution operationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Gypsy Rene Winkler, of Keyser, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 months incarceration for her involvement in a drug distribution conspiracy, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Winkler, age 26, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” in June 2019. Winkler admitted to distributing methamphetamine fin March 2018 in Hampshire County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, The West Virginia State Police, and the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Mineral County man sentenced for methamphetamine distributionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Dwayne Cosner, of Elk Garden, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 15 months incarceration for drug distribution, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Cosner, age 40, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” in April 2019. Cosner admitted to distributing methamphetamine in March 2018 in Mineral County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, and the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
The investigation was funded 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.
Michigan man sentenced to more than 16 years for drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Nicholas J. Mathis, of Warren, Michigan, was sentenced today to 195 months incarceration for drug distribution and firearms charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Mathis, age 24, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess With the Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances,” one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession With the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine within 1000 Feet of a Protected Location,” one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession With the Intent to Distribute Heroin within 1000 Feet of a Protected Location,” one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession With the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl within 1000 Feet of a Protected Location,” and one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime” in May 2019.
Mathis admitted to conspiring with others to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, sometimes near West Fairmont Middle School, in Marion County and elsewhere from the fall of 2018 to January 2019. He also admitted to having a .45 caliber pistol, a 9mm pistol and a .22 caliber rifle during the crimes.
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 Traci M. Cook prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Three Rivers Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
McAlester Man Sentenced to 77 Months for Possession of Firearm, AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ronnie Lee Faulconer, age 54, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 77 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for Felon In Possession Of Firearm And Ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 992(g)(1), 924(a)(2) and 924(e). The charges arose from an investigation by the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI Safe Trails Task Force.
The Indictment alleges that on or about December 9, 2018, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed in and affecting commerce, a firearm and ammunition which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Combatting violent crime is a top Department of Justice priority. The FBI’s Safe Trails Task Force maximizes those efforts by partnering state, local, tribal, and federal agencies together. This investigation and prosecution is a result of the collaborative approach to law enforcement and public service the Task Force utilizes.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah McAmis represented the United States.
McAlester Man Sentenced to 21 Months for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gary Don Hicks, Sr., age 51, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for Felon In Possession Of Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). The charges arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Indictment alleges that in on or about January 8, 2019, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed in and affecting commerce, a firearm which had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.
Maryland man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Desmon Johnson, of Parkville, Maryland, was sentenced today to 78 months incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Johnson, age 35, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” in April 2019. Johnson, having previously been convicted of a felony, admitted to having five firearms in his possession in September 2016 in Preston 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 Traci M. Cook prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Preston County Sheriff's Office investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Marshall County woman sentenced for drug distributionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA –Samantha J. Simmons, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 46 months incarceration for methamphetamine distribution, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Simmons, age 28, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine” in March 2019. Simmons admitted to selling methamphetamine in June 2018 in Marshall County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Marianna Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Marcus Broadway, age 29, was sentenced last week to 100 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, detectives received information that Broadway was distributing methamphetamine in the northwest Arkansas area. As a result of the investigation, Broadway sold detectives methamphetamine during controlled purchases in January 2018. When he was later arrested, he was found to be in possession of a firearm.
Broadway was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2018, and he entered a guilty plea in March 2019.
This case was investigated by the 4th Judicial Drug Task Force and the DEA. Assistant United States Attorney David A. Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Extradition of Kosovar Man for Securities Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ruth M. Mendonça, Acting Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the extradition of YMER SHAHINI in connection with alleged securities fraud offenses relating to a scheme to defraud shareholders of a publicly traded company and the investing public. SHAHINI was taken into custody by Kosovar authorities in Pristina, Kosovo, on June 11, 2019, and extradited to the United States pursuant to the extradition treaty between the United States and the Republic of Kosovo, which went into effect on June 13, 2019. SHAHINI arrived in the United States on Friday, August 23, 2019, was presented that same day before United States Magistrate Gabriel W. Gorenstein, and was ordered detained. An arraignment and initial conference are scheduled before United States District Judge P. Kevin Castel on September 10, 2019, at 11:00 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged, Ymer Shahini played a vital role in a multimillion-dollar fraud, knowingly serving as a straw man to conceal beneficial ownership of stock. Now, with the invaluable assistance of the Kosovo Ministry of Justice and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Shahini is in the U.S. and facing justice in federal court in our District.”
Acting Postal Inspector-in-Charge Ruth M. Mendonça said: “Mr. Shahini’s extradition to the United States is a testament to the collaboration amongst the international law enforcement community. Mr. Shahini’s alleged participation in this investment fraud scheme was uncovered and now he faces the same fate of his co-conspirators.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “Ymer Shahini allegedly assisted others in a scheme to manipulate the stock of a publicly traded company, thereby defrauding shareholders and the public. Now, Shahini will finally face justice for his allegedly deliberate acts.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:[1]
From 2009 to 2011, YMER SHAHINI, along with co-defendants Jason Galanis, John Galanis, Derek Galanis, Gary Hirst, and Gavin Hamels, engaged in a scheme to defraud the shareholders of a publicly traded company called Gerova Financial Group, Ltd. (“Gerova”), and the investing public, by obtaining secret control over millions of shares of Gerova stock and then manipulating the market for the stock as the defendants caused their secretly held shares to be sold. As part of the scheme, the defendants fraudulently generated demand for Gerova stock by bribing investment advisers to purchase for client accounts the Gerova stock that was sold by the defendants, thereby enabling the defendants to cash out from the scheme and make millions in illegal profits.
As a part of the scheme to defraud, Jason Galanis obtained such control over Gerova so as to be able to cause Gerova to enter into transactions of his design, and for his benefit, including the issuance of Gerova stock. Jason Galanis obtained this control without identifying himself as an officer or director of Gerova to avoid the SEC-imposed bar that prohibited him from holding such positions at publicly traded companies. Among other means and methods, Jason Galanis, with the assistance of Gary Hirst, caused more than five million shares of Gerova stock, which represented nearly half the company’s shares held by public investors, and which were intended for Jason Galanis’s ultimate benefit, to be issued to and held in the name of YMER SHAHINI, who knowingly served as a foreign nominee for Jason Galanis. SHAHINI, Jason Galanis, John Galanis, Derek Galanis, and Hirst understood that the purpose of the stock grant to SHAHINI was to disguise Jason Galanis’s ownership interest in the stock, and to evade the SEC’s regulations for issuing unregistered shares of stock.
At the same time, and as a further part of the scheme to defraud, John Galanis and Derek Galanis, among others, with the knowledge and approval of YMER SHAHINI and Jason Galanis, opened and managed brokerage accounts in the name of SHAHINI (the “SHAHINI Accounts”), effected the sale of Gerova stock from the SHAHINI Accounts, and received and concealed the proceeds, knowing that this activity was designed to conceal from the investing public Jason Galanis’s ownership of and control over the Gerova stock.
Jason Galanis also fraudulently induced investment advisers, including Gavin Hamels and others, to purchase shares of Gerova stock in the investment advisers’ client accounts by offering compensation and/or other benefits to the respective investment adviser. By causing the purchase of Gerova stock at the time, quantity, and/or price of their choosing, Jason Galanis was able to, among other things, effectuate the sale of large quantities of Gerova stock from the SHAHINI Accounts that Jason Galanis controlled while artificially maintaining the price of Gerova stock through coordinated match trading. Such coordinated trading served to manipulate the market for Gerova stock and deceive the investing public. As a result, Jason Galanis and his co-conspirators reaped nearly $20 million in profits.
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The Indictment charges SHAHINI, 49, a citizen of Kosovo, in four counts: (1) conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, (2) securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, (3) conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and (4) wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
The cases against YMER SHAHINI’s co-defendants have all been resolved, as follows:
Jason Galanis pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of securities fraud, and one count of investment adviser fraud, and received a term of imprisonment of 135 months.
John Galanis pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and one count of securities fraud, and received a term of imprisonment of 72 months.
Derek Galanis pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and one count of securities fraud, and received a term of imprisonment of 72 months.
Gary Hirst was found guilty by a jury after a 3-week trial of one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of wire fraud, and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 78 months.
Gavin Hamels pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of securities fraud, and one count of investment adviser fraud, and received a sentence of time served.
Mr. Berman praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance. With respect to the extradition, Mr. Berman also thanked the Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the United States Marshals Service, and the Kosovo Ministry of Justice.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Blais, Rebecca Mermelstein, and Elizabeth Espinosa are in charge of the prosecution.
The allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below, with respect to Ymer Shahini, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
MS-13 Defendant Pleads Guilty to Murder in Aid of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant in the MS-13 racketeering case pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today and accepted responsibility for his involvement in a homicide.
Erasmo Humberto Lima-Martinez, 32, of Columbus, pleaded guilty today to one count of murder in aid of racketeering.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Todd A. Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Rebecca Adducci, Detroit Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Interim Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan announced the plea entered into today before Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
Lima-Martinez, also known as “Tun Tun,” is one of 23 individuals charged in a second superseding indictment in February 2018 who are alleged to be members and associates of MS-13 in Columbus.
The defendants are charged in a racketeering conspiracy, which includes five murders as well as attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, assault, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, weapons offenses and immigration-related violations.
The second superseding indictment alleges that the defendants committed a host of overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including: 1) the December 2006 murder of Jose Mendez, a confidential informant, in Perry County; 2) the November 2008 murder of Ramon Ramos on Lockbourne Road in Columbus; 3) the mid-2015 murder of Carlos Serrano-Ramos, a suspected rival gang member, near Innis Road in Columbus; 4) the November 2015 murder of Wilson Villeda near Innis Road in Columbus; and 5) the December 2016 murder of Salvador Martinez-Diaz, a suspected rival gang member, on Melroy Avenue in Columbus.
As part of his plea, Lima-Martinez accepted responsibility for his role in the Wilson Villeda homicide in 2015. Villeda was a 17-year-old high school student at the time of his murder, and had been deemed to be affiliated with a rival gang. MS-13 leadership in El Salvador authorized Villeda’s murder, and in November 2015, MS-13 members took Villeda to Innis Park, where they attacked and killed him with a machete and other bladed weapons before burying his body in a shallow grave in the woods in the park.
Lima-Martinez also took part in drug trafficking cocaine, marijuana and heroin on behalf of the criminal enterprise.
Lima-Martinez faces up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, ICE, Columbus Division of Police and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the assistance of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Brian J. Martinez and Jessica H. Kim, who are prosecuting the case.
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Leader of Bronx Drug Distribution Organization Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MIGUEL RAMIREZ was sentenced today to 218 months in prison for leading a drug trafficking conspiracy that operated in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. RAMIREZ pled guilty on October 22, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods, who imposed today’s sentence.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Miguel Ramirez led a violent street gang in the Bronx for years, supervising its day-to-day sales of heroin and crack cocaine. Now, Ramirez will spend more than 18 years in prison for his ‘leadership’ skills.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, and statements made in court filings and during court proceedings:
Between approximately 2014 and 2017, RAMIREZ was one of the leaders of a violent drug trafficking organization that controlled the distribution of large amounts of crack cocaine and heroin in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. RAMIREZ managed all aspects of the organization, from obtaining supply and arranging for the preparation of drugs for resale, to the supervision of individuals who conducted hand-to-hand sales of narcotics. RAMIREZ possessed firearms and ammunition, and also engaged in violence and directed others to commit violence, in connection with the drug trafficking organization.
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In addition to his prison sentence, RAMIREZ, 30, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Berman praised the excellent work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the New York City Police Department. Mr. Berman also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Krissoff is in charge of the prosecution.
Kansas Man Admits He Crashed Car into Cabela’s to Steal GunsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to crashing a car into a Cabela’s store in hopes of stealing guns, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Kyle Mendez, 30, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal guns from a licensed firearms dealer and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In his plea, Mendez admitted he crashed a car into an exterior door of a Cabela’s store in Kansas City, Kan. He and co-defendant Brenda Tosh, 27, Kansas City, Kan., took rifles from a firearms section and loaded them into a shopping cart. When police arrived, Mendez fled from the store while police arrested Tosh.
Mendez admitted he had a .45-caliber Taurus handgun in his car during the break-in. He was prohibited from having a gun because of a prior felony conviction.
Mendez is set for sentencing Nov. 26. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of four years in prison.
Co-defendant Tosh pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing Sept. 30.
McAllister commended the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
Jury Convicts Self-Proclaimed "Professor of Pot"Read the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — After a four-day trial, a jury convicted Daniel Dario Trevino, age 47, of Lansing, Michigan, on ten federal marijuana trafficking-related charges. The federal charges and convictions resulted from Trevino’s operation of marijuana dispensaries across the state of Michigan.
Trevino was the owner of Hydro World, a marijuana dispensary that operated with storefronts in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Mount Pleasant, and Flint between 2010 and 2017. Trevino’s Hydro World operated far outside the boundaries of not only federal law but also the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act. Trevino had prior drug felony convictions involving cocaine and marijuana. As a previously convicted drug felon, Trevino was only qualified to be a patient under state law, which allowed him under state law (but not federal law) to cultivate up to 12 marijuana plants and possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for his own use. Instead, Trevino cultivated thousands of marijuana plants and sold hundreds of kilograms of marijuana, generating sales of at least $2.9 million.
Trevino’s Hydro World also provided a delivery service, where customers could call Hydro World in either Lansing or Jackson and have marijuana delivered to them at a place of their choosing. Trevino also leased space at his storefronts for other growers to sell marijuana, effectively creating a marijuana farmers’ market. Trevino’s storefronts and grow locations were searched by law enforcement at least sixteen times between 2010 and 2016. Despite having ample notice that what he was doing was illegal, Trevino always resumed his operations shortly after each search.
“Marijuana remains illegal under federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge. “Although Trevino has long claimed that what he was doing was legal under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, he was not even close to being legal and made a mockery of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act in the process. Trevino had ample opportunity to realize the illegal nature of his business under both federal and state law, given the number of times his operations were searched. He would not stop. Perhaps he will get a better understanding of the law behind bars,” stated Birge.
Marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. As such, it is illegal for any purpose under federal law. Due to the quantity of marijuana Trevino dealt, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a statutory maximum of 40 years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney will sentence him later this year. Trevino’s closest associates at Hydro World, Dolores Lopez, Daniel Corbin, and Daniel Bachelder, pled guilty before trial and have already been sentenced.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel S. Fauson and Daniel T. McGraw tried the case. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tri-County Metro Narcotics Team (TCM), Jackson Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (KANET), Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (BAYANET), Lansing Police Department and Flint Police Department.
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Johnstown Drug Dealer Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pa. has been sentenced in federal court in Johnstown to two years (24 months) in prison and three years’ supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Michael Flemmings-Smith, 30.
According to information presented to the court, from Mar. 6, 2018, through Apr. 2, 2018, Flemmings-Smith and a co-defendant conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl. On Mar. 12, 2018, Flemmings-Smith and a co-defendant distributed a quantity of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base; and on Apr. 2, 2018, Flemmings-Smith possessed with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base. Cocaine base is commonly known as "crack."
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Brady commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cambria County Drug Task Force for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Flemmings-Smith.
Iowa Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – United States Attorney Mark Krickbaum announced on August 22, 2019, Robert Milton Kimber II, age 46, was sentenced by United States District Senior Judge James E. Gritzner for Possession of Child Pornography. Kimber was sentenced to 189 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of seven years. Kimber was ordered to pay $2,000 to each victim seeking restitution.
The investigation began in 2018 when multiple online service providers sent the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children multiple Cyber Tip Line reports indicating Kimber was sending child pornography to other persons using the internet. A subsequent law enforcement investigation showed in early 2018 Kimber sent and received child pornography on multiple internet platforms and engaged in a sexually explicit chat online with a person who indicated she was only 13 years old. Kimber solicited and received a sexually explicit picture from that person. Later in 2018, police seized a cellular phone that stored videos and images of child pornography from the defendant. Kimber is a registered sex offender since his conviction in the Iowa District Court for Polk County in 1993 for assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.
This case was investigated by the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office, West Des Moines Police Department, and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Individual Arrested for Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – United States Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll authorized a criminal complaint against Christopher Quiñones-Prieto charging him with unlawful possession of a machinegun, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to thank the PR Police Department, prosecutors Mario Rivera, Miguel García, and their supervisor Jorge Carrión, from the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, District of Carolina, for their prompt response and efforts during this investigation. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.
According to the information contained in the affidavit, during the evening of August 24, 2019, in Jardines de Canovanas, Canovanas, PR at the intersection of 185/ Autonomía Road and Pepita Albandoz Road, there was a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting. The shootout occurred in front of a local business. Video camera surveillance footage retrieved from the business shows Vehicle 1 driving northbound on 185/ Autonomía Road and Vehicle 2 following close behind it. Vehicle 2 stopped in front of the local business, at which point a male, later identified as Christopher Quiñones-Prieto, got out of Vehicle 2 holding a pistol. Quiñones-Prieto appeared to be under gunfire. Quiñones-Prieto struggled but managed to point his pistol in the direction of where the previous gunfire had come from and discharged his weapon, which was fully automatic.
After the shooting ceased, Quiñones-Prieto was seen limping away, heading north on 185/ Autonomia Road. Later on, he was taken to the Centro Médico emergency room in San Juan, PR, and was treated for a gunshot wound to the right thigh/femur. Quiñones-Prieto was then released under stable condition.
Quiñones-Prieto recorded a video and posted it to his Instagram account. In the video Quiñones-Prieto stated, “Se van a quedar con las ganas cabrones. Los voy a reventar.” (“You’re going to have to wait motherfuckers. I’m going to blow you up.”). While stating the above, Quiñones-Prieto pointed his camera towards his pelvis, which was severely wounded.
This arrest is part of the Trigger Puller Initiative, the Carolina Strike Force, and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief, Gang Unit, and Assistant US Attorney Corinne Cordero. If convicted, the defendant could face up to 10 years in prison. A criminal complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Houston Heroin Distributor Convicted after Taking over Family Drug Trafficking BusinessRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Victor Manuel Morales-Moreno pleaded guilty Oct. 2, 2018, admitting to conspiring to distribute heroin to street level dealers and users for more than two years.
Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen handed Morales-Moreno a 210-month sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the prison term. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Moreno was the leader of a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and heroin imported from Mexico.
Morales had relocated to Houston from California to take over a heroin trafficking ring following the arrests and incarceration of his relatives Jose Herrera-Alvarado and Pedro Herrera-Alvarado. The Herrera-Alvarado brothers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and were later sentenced to life in federal prison.
Erasto Aguirre-Suarez, 52, a Mexican national, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. He admitted he moved to Texas with Morales-Moreno to assist him in the daily operations of the heroin business. A third co-defendant, Valentin Anthony Cardenas, 35, of Houston, previously entered his plea possession with intent to distribute heroin.
Aguirre-Suarez and Cardenas previously received respective terms of 114 and 84 months.
They all have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey N. MacDonald is prosecuting the case.
Holyoke Man Sentenced for Making Machine GunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Holyoke man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for making a machine gun.
Edward V. Laboursoliere, 51, of Holyoke, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 27 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. In March 2019, Laboursoliere pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly possessing an unregistered firearm, one count of possessing a firearm unidentified by a serial number, and one count of making a firearm, in violation of the National Firearms Act. Laboursoliere was arrested on April 8, 2018, and has been in custody since.
On April 8, 2018, law enforcement responded to Laboursoliere’s home after his wife reported that he had been storing hazardous materials in the home. A short-barrel rifle machine gun, 17 other guns, half of which Laboursoliere admitted to making, a partially-constructed pipe bomb, and stockpiles of ammunition and explosives were recovered in the home.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Chief Manuel Febo of the Holyoke Police Department; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla, Chief of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office.
Grant County man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Cody Swick, of Petersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 25 months incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Swick, age 34, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” in April 2019. Swick, having been previously convicted of domestic battery, admitted to having a .22 caliber revolver in October 2018 in Grant 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 Danae DeMasi-Lemon prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Grain Valley Man Sentenced for Child Pornography, Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Grain Valley, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for traveling to North Dakota for illicit sex with a 14-year-old child, who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer, while he was under investigation for distributing child pornography over the internet.
Andy Earl Crook, 63, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 12 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Crook to 10 years of supervised release following incarceration.
On April 25, 2019, Crook pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography, possessing child pornography, and traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
The investigation began when FBI agents in Washington executed a search warrant at a residence in that state on Feb. 21, 2018. A review of the suspect’s electronic devices indicated that he had exchanged images and videos of child pornography with others via the internet, including Crook.
On April 5, 2018, Google, Inc. submitted two separate incident reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline reporting that Crook had uploaded and stored possible child pornography images in Google Photos online. An FBI agent, acting in an undercover capacity, communicated with Crook via Kik Messenger. Crook sent images and a video of child pornography to the undercover agent.
On May 4, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Crook’s residence and seized his electronic devices. On Crook’s cell phone, investigators found numerous sexually explicit photos of Crook, 190 images and 13 videos of child pornography (including infants and toddlers), and chat conversations involving child exploitation.
Following the search and seizure, and his interview with an FBI agent, Crook contacted an undercover law enforcement officer in North Dakota, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl, on Sept. 1, 2018. Crook’s communication with the undercover officer, via Facebook Messenger and Kik Messenger, became increasingly sexually graphic.
Crook made plans to travel to North Dakota to meet the person whom he believed was a 14-year-old girl, so they could engage in illegal sexual conduct. Crook rented a vehicle and drove to North Dakota for a planned meeting on Sept. 22, 2018. When Crook arrived for the meeting, he was arrested. Officers found multiple sex toys and wine coolers in his vehicle.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."Fugitive in "Card Cracking" Scheme Arrested in CaliforniaRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – The final person sought in connection with an alleged bank fraud scheme where members of an alleged conspiracy created and deposited approximately a million dollars worth of bogus checks in banks in Rhode Island and Massachusetts has been arrested in California.
Edmilson Rodriques, 20, of Providence, named in a federal indictment along with six others returned in Providence in April 2019, was found sleeping in a vehicle in a Culver City, California, hotel parking lot on August 19. Inside the vehicle, Culver City Police allegedly located an assortment of driver’s licenses, social security numbers, credit cards, and checks in the name of several individuals other than Rodriguez or the other individual also found inside the vehicle with Rodrigues.
Rodrigues is one of six individuals named in an indictment who are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. A seventh individual is charged with conspiracy to commit bank.
According to the indictment and information presented to the Court, it is alleged that the members of the conspiracy solicited individuals with access to legitimate business and public agency checks to photograph the checks and send them to a counterfeiter. The information was used to create counterfeit checks. It is alleged that members of the conspiracy then solicited others via social media, often times college students, to allow the bogus checks to be deposited into their bank accounts. Using ATM cards belonging to the account holders, either members of the conspiracy or, at times the actual account holders, under the supervision of members of the conspiracy, would attempt to withdraw cash from the accounts prior to the bank determining that the deposited checks were counterfeit.
It is alleged that over the past six years, members of the conspiracy created and deposited approximately a million dollars worth of bogus checks in banks in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The other six individuals named in the indictment were previously arrested and arraigned in U.S. District Court in Providence. Rodrigues is detained in federal custody following an appearance in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. He will be returned to Rhode Island by the U.S. Marshals Service and arraigned at a later date in U.S. District Court in Providence.
The arrest of Rodrigues is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Stephen Marks, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Joseph W. Cronin, and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.
This investigation was initiated by the Providence Police Department’s Detective Bureau, Financial Crimes Unit. They sought the assistance of federal law enforcement and the case was then investigated jointly by U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Ferland.
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman thanks the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General, Rhode Island State Police, and the Warwick and North Providence Police Departments for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Former hospital director of security indicted for federal fraud and gun chargesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Russell Richardson, the former Director of Security for DeKalb Medical Center, has been charged with stealing firearms meant for security personnel and then illegally selling those guns for profit.
“Richardson’s alleged sale of illegally attained weapons is troubling,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “He abused his position of authority to enrich himself, and now faces justice.”
“Among ATF’s top priorities is ensuring that firearms traffickers are aggressively investigated and swiftly brought to justice. This is an excellent example of such an investigation,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka, ATF Atlanta Field Division.
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Between 2016 and June of 2018, while employed as the Director of Security for DeKalb Medical Center, Inc. (“DeKalb Medical Center”), Richardson used his position to fraudulently order numerous firearms from a local federal firearms licensee and then caused the resulting invoices to be submitted to the hospital for payment. DeKalb Medical Center paid the invoices, but never received the firearms. In all, Richardson diverted approximately 93 firearms to his own use, including selling them for profit.
Richardson also misused a hospital issued purchase card for personal gain. Even though the purchase card was solely for gas purchases and maintenance of hospital vehicles, Richardson allegedly charged approximately $45,000 for repairs and services performed on his personal vehicles using a mechanic shop located in South Carolina. The mechanic shop subsequently issued refunds directly to Richardson totaling approximately $20,000. Instead of returning the funds to the hospital, Richardson allegedly kept the money.
Russell Richardson, 43, of Dallas, North Carolina, has been indicted on 15 counts of mail fraud, one count of dealing firearms without a license, and three counts of unlawfully selling firearms to out of state residents. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from DeKalb Medical Center, now doing business as Emory Decatur Hospital.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracia King is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former contract security guard at ATF facility sentenced to 14 years for stealing and selling firearmsRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Lee Yates, a former contract security guard at a U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) facility, was sentenced today to 168 months incarceration for stealing firearms from the government, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
“The theft and illegal distribution of firearms presents a clear and present danger to the public. The defendant’s conduct was not only audacious, it was and remains extraordinarily dangerous. The court’s sentence sends a clear and unequivocal message. Importantly, many of the stolen items remain unrecovered, and we encourage the public across the country to report any material information to the ATF or other law enforcement agencies,” said Powell.
Yates, age 52, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Stolen Firearm” and one count of “Theft of Government Property” in April 2019. Yates was a contract employee at the ATF’s National Disposal Branch in Martinsburg, West Virginia. From 2016 to early 2019, Yates stole thousands of firearms, firearms parts, and ammunition. Yates sold much of the property to others across the country. The crimes caused ATF to issue more than 1200 referrals across all 25 ATF field divisions in 49 of the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. To date, ATF has recovered 4,625 pieces of the stolen firearms and parts, including 4,000 firearms parts, 3,000 of which of were slides, and at least 15 rifles, 80 handguns, including ATF duty weapons, 10 to 15 AR-style lower receivers, and four machine guns.ATF Special Agent in Charge Ashan Benedict commented, “Mr. Yates was in a position of trust and his egregious behavior not only betrayed his coworkers at the destruction facility, but put the public at risk in exchange for his financial gain. Insiders can pose a significant threat to any organization and ATF is no exception. We urge the public to come forward with information leading to the recovery of any additional items he stole.”
The judge also ordered a money judgment in the amount of $300,000.
Yates was taken into custody immediately following the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Finucane 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.
Anyone with information regarding the location of these firearms, firearms parts, ammunition and/or persons who unknowingly purchased one or more of these items should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS, email [email protected]; through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips; or through the ReportIt ® app, www.reportit.com, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Former NFL Player Charged with Illegal Firearms After Being Tasered While Resisting ArrestRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Kansas City Chiefs football player, who was tasered twice while struggling with officers and resisting arrest, was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing firearms.
Saousoalii P. Siavii, Jr., also known as “Junior,” 40, of Independence, Missouri, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., with three counts of being an unlawful drug user in possession of firearms. Siavii remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.
Today’s federal criminal complaint alleges that Siavii, an unlawful user of illegal drugs, has been arrested on three occasions in which he was in possession of both illegal drugs and loaded firearms. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is an unlawful drug user to be in possession of any firearms or ammunition.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Siavii was arrested on Saturday, Aug. 24. Independence, Missouri, police officers responded to parking lot on U.S. 40 Highway, where a witness said he located his friend’s stolen 2017 Jeep Wrangler Sport. The witness told police he saw a man later identified as Siavii getting out of the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
Officers contacted Siavii, the affidavit says, who disregarded their commands, and an officer deployed his Taser on Siavvi. Siavvi, who is six feet, five inches tall and weighs approximately 330 pounds, fell to the ground and officers attempted to gain control as he began to actively resist arrest. Siavii began pushing himself up off the ground, at which time a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol fell directly in front of him within his reach. An officer drew his duty weapon and put it to Siavii’s back, due to him not being under physical control, while another officer grabbed Siavii’s firearm and threw it several feet away. Officers continued to fight with Siavii, the affidavit says, while giving him commands to stop resisting and to place his hands behind his back. An officer deployed his Taser on Siavii again with little effect. Siavii was able to get on top of the officer, who was on the ground at this point. Another officer was eventually able to put Siavii in a neck restraint and render him unconscious long enough to handcuff him. Siavii continued to resist even after being handcuffed.
Officers searched Siavii’s backpack and found additional ammunition, 5.2 grams of methamphetamine, 12.2 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
In addition to the Aug. 24 incident, today’s complaint cites two more incidents in which Siavii was arrested while in possession of illegal drugs and firearms.
On Aug. 4, 2019, Independence police officers were dispatched to the area of 24 Highway and Jennings on a stolen auto report. A 2019 Chevrolet Silverado had been stolen in Sugar Creek, Missouri, and was being tracked by On-Star to the parking lot of the Great Western Motel. When officers arrived, Siavii was walking away from the stolen vehicle, the affidavit says, and fled on foot when he saw the officers. Officers attempted to take Siavii into custody, but he resisted and fought with officers. Siavii was lying on his stomach and constantly reached towards his waistband. After a prolonged struggle with Siavii, officers were able to take him into custody. When officers rolled him to his side, a loaded Sturm Ruger handgun was located underneath him. Officers searched Siavii and found 4.4 grams of methamphetamine. Officers searched the stolen Silverado and found a Cobra Enterprises .32-caliber handgun and drug paraphernalia.
On April 7, 2019, Independence police officers attempted a traffic stop in the area of 24 Highway and Lee’s Summit Road on a silver Ford Fusion for an improperly registered license plate. The vehicle, driven by Siavii, had been observed at a known drug house. Siavii failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated. During the pursuit, Siavii’s vehicle reached speeds up to 101 m.p.h. Siavii’s vehicle eventually left the roadway on Maywood Avenue and he was seen running northbound; he was located by officers and taken into custody. Officers found a loaded Phoenix Arms .22-caliber handgun in the front cup holder of the vehicle. Also found in the vehicle was 3.8 grams of marijuana, two baggies that contained a total of .6 grams of methamphetamine, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
The complaint also cites two earlier incidents in which Siavii was in possession of illegal drugs when he was stopped by police officers. Siavii was arrested on Jan. 17, 2019, following a traffic stop. According to the affidavit, when he got out of his vehicle, he pulled away from officers, causing the officers to take him to the ground where he continued to resist. Officers searched him and found a Xanax pill; they also found a prescription bottle that belonged to another person and contained more pills and marijuana. Siavii also was arrested on April 21, 2018, for driving under the influence. According to the affidavit, he was in possession of a straw that contained cocaine residue.
The charges contained in this complaint 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 Robert Smith. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department.
Former Chesapeake Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced for CorruptionRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A former Chesapeake Sheriff’s deputy was sentenced today to two and a half years in prison for conspiracy to obtain property under color of official right.
According to court documents, Jenis Leroy Plummer, Jr., 34, of Norfolk, used his official position as Chesapeake Sheriff’s Deputy to smuggle heroin, cocaine, cell phones, e-cigarettes and other contraband into the Chesapeake City Jail. In exchange, conspirators gave Plummer over $6,500 in cash. From July 2017 through January 2019, Plummer knowingly and intentionally conspired with an inmate in the Chesapeake City Jail to engage in this scheme. On numerous occasions throughout the conspiracy, Plummer contacted the inmate’s girlfriend and arranged to meet her at various locations in Hampton Roads to pick up the contraband. At these meetings, the inmate’s girlfriend gave Plummer the illicit contraband in blue latex gloves. Plummer then smuggled the contraband into the jail and delivered the items to the inmate.
In exchange for using his official position, numerous individuals connected to the inmate paid Plummer with cash, via CashApp, and via PayPal. On one occasion, law enforcement observed the inmate’s girlfriend drop a black sock containing contraband at an arranged meeting location in a cul-de-sac on Horse Run Drive in Chesapeake. Law enforcement recovered the black sock and replaced the suspected bags of narcotics with two bags of fake narcotics and returned the black sock to its original location. Thereafter, law enforcement observed Plummer travel to the cul-de-sac and retrieve the black sock containing contraband that included the fake narcotics. After being approached by law enforcement, Plummer, and his conspirators, separately admitted their involvement in the conspiracy.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa E. O’Boyle and Joseph E. Depadilla 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. 2:19-cr-25.
Former Cameron High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Using Hidden Camera to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Cameron, Missouri, high school teacher pleaded guilty in federal court today to secretly recording pornographic videos of a teenage victim in his bathroom, and admitted to secretly recording pornographic videos of two other teenage victims.
William Derek Williams, 39, of Cameron, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to producing child pornography. Williams formerly was a high school language arts teacher and more recently a part-time high school multimedia teacher at the time of the alleged offense.
During his guilty plea, Williams admitted that he secretly filmed three different victims over a five-year period from January 2013 to September 2018 while they were in the basement bathroom of his residence. A then-15-year-old victim discovered a hidden camera, designed to look like a cell phone charger plug, on Sept. 6, 2018. The victim opened the device and retrieved a micro SD card, which he inserted into his cell phone in order to view its contents. The card included a secretly-recorded video of the victim.
The child victim turned the device over to investigators. On Sept. 8, 2018, investigators with the Clinton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Williams’s residence and seized a laptop computer and an SD card. Each of those devices contained pornographic videos of two more teenage victims who were secretly recorded in the basement bathroom. The laptop contained five distinct videos produced on five different days of a then-16-year-old victim. The laptop and the SD card contained several pornographic videos of a third victim who was then between 14 and 16 years old.
Under federal statutes, Williams is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Clinton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."Federal Superseding Indictment Charges Former Athletic Trainer Intern with Enticement, Production of Child Pornography, Cyberstalking, and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
STATESVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Charlotte has returned a 21-count superseding indictment against Frank Darrell Cromwell, 23, of Boone, N.C., charging him with enticement of a minor, production of child pornography, communicating threats, cyberstalking, and related offenses.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Charlotte, and Chief Dana Crawford of the Boone Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
“This individual allegedly tried to gain access to children by obtaining employment in places where he could embed himself with underage boys, including a high school, a summer camp, a middle school, and a behavioral healthcare facility. Protecting our children from predators is one of our highest priorities. I urge parents to have a conversation with their children about the dangers of online communications and social media, where predators can use fake names and profiles to weave a heinous web of lies to lure young and innocent children,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.
According to allegations contained in the charging documents, including a previously filed criminal complaint, as early as March 2018, Cromwell used a cell phone app and other means to contact and entice minor male victims to produce and send to Cromwell sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. Court documents further allege that Cromwell misled the minors to believe that he was a female, by, among other things, using female names and images to entice the minors to produce and send to him child pornography, and to engage in sexual activity. To date, law enforcement have identified 10 victims. Cromwell met some of the victims through his Appalachian State University internship as an athletic trainer at Watauga High School.
As the superseding indictment alleges, Cromwell used the following names online and on social media to contact the young victims: “Savannah,” “princesssav222,” “lickmeup5020,” “Sav,” “frankie5020,” “Lauren,” “Sydney,” “Sarah,” “Lily,” “Kaylee,” and “Stephanie.”
If you believe that you or someone you know may have been a victim or have information related to the conduct referenced this case please contact the Boone Police Department at (828) 268-6938.
The specific charges against Cromwell are: nine counts of production of child pornography, which carry a minimum of 15 years and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison per count; four counts of distribution and receipt/attempted receipt of child pornography which carry a minimum of five years and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count; three counts of enticement of a minor, which carry a minimum penalty of 10 years and maximum penalty of life in prison per count; two counts of cyberstalking which carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison per count; interstate communication of threats which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison; advertising of child pornography which carries a minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison; and one count of possession of child pornography which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Each of these counts also carries a maximum fine of $250,000 per count.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray credited ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the Boone Police Department for their investigation which led to federal charges.
Assistant United States Attorney Emily Wasserman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is in charge of the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Federal Inmate Sentenced to 6 More Months in Prison for Possessing ContrabandRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto, Pa. pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to a charge of possession of a prohibited object in prison, and immediately following, was sentenced to six months in prison, consecutive to the current prison term he is serving, and three years’ supervised release, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Christopher D. Rarick, 40, pleaded guilty to the indictment before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, on February 16, 2017, Rarick possessed a quantity of Buprenorphine.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Brady commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Correctional Institution, Special Investigative Staff, for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Rarick.
Ex-Chairman for Christian Science Church in Los Angeles Arrested on Indictment Alleging $11.5 Million Bank and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The former chairman of the board for the Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist, of Los Angeles was arrested today on a federal grand jury indictment charging him with fraud for stealing more than $11 million in church money and using it to purchase a home, a membership at Disneyland’s exclusive dining club, and other personal expenses.
Charles Thomas Sebesta, 54, of Huntington Beach, is expected to make his initial court appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles. Sebesta has been charged with six counts of wire fraud, five counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment unsealed today, Sebesta was hired in 2001 as the church’s facilities manager and ultimately joined the church in 2005 and served as its local chairman. In this capacity, he had control over the church’s financial assets and operations, including at least five of its bank accounts, the indictment states.
From at least August 2006 through December 2016, Sebesta allegedly caused the church to make checks and other payments to fictitious companies for which he had opened bank accounts, as well as to accounts in his own name and in the names of his family members. To further conceal these payments, Sebesta allegedly forged a church member’s signature on numerous checks drawn against the church’s bank accounts.
In the fall of 2008, Sebesta oversaw the sale of church property in Hollywood for approximately $12.8 million, and he siphoned a significant majority of the proceeds for his personal use, including purchasing a home with $2,019,000 in cashier’s checks drawn from church bank accounts, the indictment alleges. Sebesta falsely recorded his thefts in church records as “donations,” as well as environmental remediation and other payments to fictitious companies which Sebesta named so that they appeared legitimate, the indictment states.
In June 2010, Sebesta allegedly used stolen church funds to purchase a membership at Club 33, Disneyland’s exclusive dining club, where he hosted high-profile entertainment companies, including professional sports teams, and their employees.
In 2009 and 2010, Sebesta allegedly wired $1.86 million and $309,622 in church money toward his own personal tax accounts in order to generate overpayment refunds to himself from the U.S. Treasury and the California Franchise Tax Board, respectively.
Among other concealments and deceptions, the indictment also alleges that Sebesta deceived fellow church members and others by creating fictitious email accounts, including in the name of a prominent real estate executive, whom Sebesta impersonated to further his scheme.
In total, Sebesta stole at least $11,438,213 of church assets and also stole $34,032 from a private high school that also employed him, according to the indictment.
If convicted of all charges, Sebesta would face a statutory maximum sentence of more than 250 years in federal prison.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam P. Schleifer of the Major Frauds Section.
District Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Shooting Man Outside His DoorstepRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jamal Blocker, 18, was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Friday August 23, 2019 for a shooting that killed a man as he stepped out his doorstep to walk to the store, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.
Blocker pled guilty in April 2019, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of second degree murder while armed. He was sentenced by the Honorable Ronna Beck. Following his prison term, he will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, around 4 p.m., on Monday September 24, 2018, the victim, a 24-year-old- man, who had just finished basic training in the U.S. Army, was walking to the store with a 17-year-old relative. Just steps outside of their doorstep, Blocker shot four times at the young men – striking the victim in the chest. The victim succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead a short while later.
Blocker was arrested on October 2, 2018, after being caught with an illegal firearm in Maryland.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of the detectives, officers, and mobile crime technicians who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. She also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Lornce Applewhite and Victim Witness Specialist Jennifer Clark.
Finally, she commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Jackson, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Fentanyl in HuntingtonRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit, Michigan man pled guilty to selling fentanyl in Huntington last year, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Mashal Franchuit Thomas, 25, pled guilty to distribution of fentanyl in federal court in Huntington.
“Thomas admitted to distributing up to 400 grams of heroin and fentanyl in Huntington over a period of almost three years,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Another Detroit drug dealer responsible for wreaking havoc on our people. There’s no doubt that the City of Huntington and surrounding area are much safer as a result of this conviction.”
Thomas admitted that on February 8, 2018, an informant contacted him to purchase heroin. Thomas agreed to meet the informant in the area of 14th Street West in Huntington and, when the informant arrived, Thomas distributed what was purported to be 5 grams of heroin. After forensic testing, the substance distributed by Thomas was discovered to actually be fentanyl, a powerful opiate painkiller.
Thomas further admitted that he was involved in distributing heroin and fentanyl in the Huntington area between July of 2015 and March of 2018, and that he was responsible for the distribution of up to 400 grams of heroin and fentanyl in Huntington during that period.
Thomas faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on November 25, 2019.
The Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a focused enforcement effort that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
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Dallas County Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Possession of a Firearm After Conviction of a FelonyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Dontaveous Benjamin, a 28 year old resident of Selma, Alabama was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration for possession of three pistols after felony conviction for possession of marijuana.
On May 17, 2019, Benjamin pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in Court that on January 17, 2019, Selma, Alabama police officers went to the home of Benjamin’s paramour to execute an arrest warrant for Benjamin after charges were filed against him for shooting into an unoccupied residence. Upon arrival at the residence, officers made contact with Benjamin and his paramour. Benjamin was arrested without incident. Officers then asked his paramour for consent to search her residence and she provided written consent. During the consent search, officers seized three firearms found in and on top of a dresser in the living room. The firearms are described as a Hi-Point, CF380, .380 caliber pistol, a Talon Industries, model T200, 9mm pistol, and a Taurus, model 80, .38 caliber revolver. Benjamin gave a post arrest Mirandized statement. He stated that, “those guns were inside my granddad’s house. I think one of them belonged to a cousin . . .” Benjamin also stated that the revolved was given to him two months ago be someone who wanted to keep it from the police. Benjamin made several additional statements relating to the firearms.
At that time, Benjamin had been convicted of a felony, namely, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st on February 14, 2013, in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama, case number CC-2012-00277.
Officers of the Selma, AL Police Department and special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.
Daisy Man Sentenced to 51 Months for Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that John Douglas Walker III., age 39, of Daisy, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for Felon in Possession of Ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Indictment alleges that on or about February 5, 2019, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed in and affecting commerce, ammunition which had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.
DEA Announces Steps Necessary to Improve Access to Marijuana ResearchRead the Press Release
The Drug Enforcement Administration today announced that it is moving forward to facilitate and expand scientific and medical research for marijuana in the United States. The DEA is providing notice of pending applications from entities applying to be registered to manufacture marijuana for researchers. DEA anticipates that registering additional qualified marijuana growers will increase the variety of marijuana available for these purposes.
Over the last two years, the total number of individuals registered by DEA to conduct research with marijuana, marijuana extracts, derivatives and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has increased by more than 40 percent from 384 in January 2017 to 542 in January 2019. Similarly, in the last two years, DEA has more than doubled the production quota for marijuana each year based on increased usage projections for federally approved research projects.
“I am pleased that DEA is moving forward with its review of applications for those who seek to grow marijuana legally to support research,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice will continue to work with our colleagues at the Department of Health and Human Services and across the Administration to improve research opportunities wherever we can.”
“DEA is making progress in the program to register additional marijuana growers for federally authorized research, and will work with other relevant federal agencies to expedite the necessary next steps,” said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “We support additional research into marijuana and its components, and we believe registering more growers will result in researchers having access to a wider variety for study.”
This notice also announces that, as the result of a recent amendment to federal law, certain forms of cannabis no longer require DEA registration to grow or manufacture. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which was signed into law on Dec. 20, 2018, changed the definition of marijuana to exclude “hemp”—plant material that contains 0.3 percent or less delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. Accordingly, hemp, including hemp plants and cannabidiol (CBD) preparations at or below the 0.3 percent delta-9 THC threshold, is not a controlled substance, and a DEA registration is not required to grow or research it.
Before making decisions on these pending applications, DEA intends to propose new regulations that will govern the marijuana growers program for scientific and medical research. The new rules will help ensure DEA can evaluate the applications under the applicable legal standard and conform the program to relevant laws. To ensure transparency and public participation, this process will provide applicants and the general public with an opportunity to comment on the regulations that should govern the program of growing marijuana for scientific and medical research.
The Notice of Application is available here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/08/27/2019-18456/bulk-manufacturer-of-controlled-substances-applications-bulk-manufacturers-of-marihuana.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man pleaded guilty today to possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony.
According to court documents, Shalik Mitchell, 26, was discovered sleeping inside of a car approximately 20-30 feet from the body of a homicide victim. Mitchell, a convicted felon, was sitting on an AK pistol. There is no evidence that Mitchell was involved with the homicide.
Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on November 21. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Roderick C. Young accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Holli R. Wood and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-055.
Charlotte Woman and Her Mother-In-Law Are Sentenced to Prison for Sex Trafficking Three MinorsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Brianna Leshay Wright, 26, of Charlotte, and her mother-in-law, Tanya Fuentes, 56, of Charlotte, were sentenced today for their respective roles in the sex trafficking of three minor females, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr., sentenced Brianna Wright to 120 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Tanya Fuentes was ordered to serve 24 months in prison and two years of supervised release.
According to filed court documents, statements made in court, and today’s sentencing hearing, between April 28, 2016 and May 8, 2016, Zerrell Fuentes, his wife Brianna Wright, and his mother Tanya Fuentes engaged in the sex trafficking of three minor victims. As Zerrell Fuentes previously admitted in court, while he was in jail on state charges, he recruited three underage victims, via telephone, to engage in prostitution to earn money for his bond. Zerrell Fuentes arranged for Brianna Wright to transport the minor victims from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts.
According to court records, Brianna Wright, accompanied by Tanya Fuentes, drove the three minors from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach. While in Myrtle Beach, Tanya Fuentes paid for lodging. Brianna Wright drove the minors to see clients for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts for money, and her phone was used to post prostitution advertisements for the minor victims on the Internet. While in Myrtle Beach, at least two minor victims committed sexual acts or had sexual contact.
On July 10, 2018, Zerrell Fuentes and Brianna Wright pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. On July 16, 2018, Tanya Fuentes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
A sentencing date for Zerrell Fuentes has not been set. The penalty for sex trafficking is a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Murray praised the law enforcement agents and officers from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department who are members of the FBI’s Human Trafficking Task Force for their investigation. U.S. Attorney Murray also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimlani Ford and Dallas Kaplan, of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case.
Cape Coral Member of Drug Distribution Ring Sentenced to Ten YearsRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Tafawah Horrobin (39, Cape Coral) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Horrobin had pleaded guilty on May 13, 2019. His uncle, co-defendant Michael Horrobin, was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months’ imprisonment on August 12, 2019. A third co-defendant, Travis Lee Watkins, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 3, 2019.
According to court documents, on five occasions between February and August 2018, law enforcement officers purchased heroin laced with fentanyl from Tafawah Horrobin in Cape Coral. During the investigation, officers learned that although Tafawah Horrobin resided in Cape Coral, he frequently visited a house in Lehigh Acres where Travis Lee Watkins and Michael Horrobin lived. Investigators determined that the Lehigh Acres residence served as a “safe house” for a drug distribution ring where large quantities of controlled substances were stashed for safekeeping.
On August 16, 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cape Coral Police Department simultaneously executed search warrants at Tafawah Horrobin’s Cape Coral residence and the Lehigh Acres safe house. Inside the Cape Coral residence, investigators found and arrested Tafawah Horrobin who confessed to distributing more than $10,000 in heroin and fentanyl for the organization monthly. From that house, law enforcement also seized various items used to facilitate the distribution of drugs, an illegally possessed firearm, and cash. Inside the Lehigh Acres safe house, law enforcement seized approximately one kilogram of heroin, approximately 400 grams of cocaine, smaller amounts of crack cocaine and methamphetamine, and four firearms.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cape Coral Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
Buffalo Man Going to Prison for Selling FentanylRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Miguel Figueroa, 33, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing, 10 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing butyryl fentanyl and furanyl fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 37 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura A. Higgins and Jeremiah E. Lenihan, who handled the case, stated that on March 7, 2017, and April 11, 2017, the defendant sold drugs to a confidential source working for the DEA in exchange for $1,100 cash. Forensic testing determined that the controlled substance sold by Figueroa contained butyryl fentanyl, U-47700, furanyl fentanyl, and fentanyl.
On April 24, 2017, law enforcement officers executed a New York State search warrant at Figueroa’s residence on 15th Street in Buffalo. Officers recovered a plastic bag and five glassine envelopes containing butyryl fentanyl and other substances. Officers also recovered packaging materials, a digital scale, and approximately $3,137 in cash.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.
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Berkeley County man sentenced to more than 12 years for selling fentanylRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Herman Terrell Govan, of Inwood, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 151 months incarceration for selling fentanyl, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
“Fentanyl continues to kill people across the country. The defendant has learned that bringing it into Berkeley County has significant consequences,” said Powell.
Govan, age 35, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl” in April 2019. Govan admitted to selling fentanyl in January 2018 in Berkeley County.
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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Helman prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Bank Robber from Hattiesburg Pleads Guilty After Multistate Bank Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Clifford Randell Montague, 53, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty Friday before U.S. District Sul Ozerden to bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
On February 23, 2019, Montague robbed a credit union in Gautier, Mississippi, by handing a teller a note threatening to shoot if she did not put money in a bag. Montague went on to rob a bank in Pace, Florida, on March 4, and another bank in Ellisville, Mississippi on March 18. Each time, Montague used a note. He was stopped in Memphis, Tennessee, driving a stolen car from Florida and confessed to FBI agents.
Montague will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on November 25, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
Attorney General William P. Barr Invites Romanian Minister of Justice Ana Birchall for Meeting in SeptemberRead the Press Release
Attorney General Barr today invited Romanian Minister of Justice Ana Birchall to meet with him in Washington this coming September. The Department of Justice has worked closely with Ana Birchall and views her as a vital and trusted partner in the fight against corruption. Her leadership comes at a vital time for Romania, where controversies have raised questions about Romania’s commitment to rule of law values and have diminished public trust and caused increasing concern in the international community. Under Birchall’s leadership, Romania can once again be a model in the region for progress on anti-corruption issues.
The Attorney General and Minister Birchall first met in June in Bucharest, Romania, where Minister Birchall hosted the U.S./EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial, during the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
In a bilateral meeting, the Attorney General and Minister discussed the U.S.-Romania Strategic Partnership, which is important for both our nations’ continued security and prosperity. The close collaborative relationship between the law enforcement agencies of Romania and the United States has resulted in significant joint successes in the fight against transnational crime, particularly in the areas of cybercrime-related fraud, narcotics trafficking, and human trafficking. These successes have protected citizens in both our countries.
In particular, during their June meeting, Minister Birchall emphasized her commitment to ensuring that Romania takes all steps necessary to strengthen its anti-corruption laws and processes. In their meeting in September, the Attorney General and Minister will discuss how the U.S. Department of Justice can assist the Minister, and her Ministry, in this vital task. The Department of Justice welcomes this opportunity to meet again with a valued and trusted partner who is committed to fighting for the rule of law.
Asheville Man Pleads Guilty to First Degree Murder and Aggravated Sexual Abuse Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced today that Derek Shawn Pendergraft, 22, of Asheville, N.C., has pleaded guilty to one count of first degree murder and two counts of aggravated sexual abuse resulting in death. U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf accepted Pendergraft’s guilty plea in federal court in Asheville.
John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division; Neal D. Labrie, Chief Ranger of the Blue Ridge Parkway; and Robert Schurmeier, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to plea documents and today’s hearing, on July 24, 2018, Pendergraft, who worked at the Pisgah Inn, murdered his co-worker, Sara Ellis, during the perpetration of aggravated sexual abuse. The murder occurred on the Blue Ridge Parkway, within the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States, and within the Western District of North Carolina.
Pendergraft’s plea agreement, which the Court has accepted, provides that the defendant will receive a sentence of life in prison without any possibility of parole for his crimes.
Pendergraft remains in federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the National Park Service, the FBI, the SBI, the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cruso Fire Department for their respective work and assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Don Gast and John Pritchard, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, are in charge of the prosecution.Arlington, Texas Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Distribution of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jalen Jewaun Glass, age 24, of Arlington, Texas, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release for Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Cocaine Base. The sentencings for each count will be served concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the McAlester Police Department, the District 18 Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The three counts in the Indictment alleged that on or about August 18, 2018, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, defendant knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, and 28 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine base. Methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base are Schedule II controlled substances.
“This investigation and prosecution is indicative of the results we can achieve for the communities we serve when agencies work together. This type of collaboration is common for law enforcement agencies serving McAlester and Pittsburg County,” said United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester. “Thousands of dosage units of dangerous drugs did not reach the destination intended by the defendant and he is being held accountable.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Clay Compton represented the United States.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute More Than 30 Kilograms of Fentanyl, Heroin & Cocaine in Central OhioRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today after law enforcement officials discovered more than 30 kilograms of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, as well as nearly $75,000 in cash, in his motorcycle.
Jorge Sanchez Montes, 33, of Phoenix, Ariz., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiring to possess more than 400 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. Montes faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in prison.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and law enforcement officials with the Central Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force announced the plea entered into this morning before Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
According to court documents, officers conducted a traffic stop on Montes in June near mile marker 78 on Interstate 70, near Plain City. During the stop, a K9 positively alerted to narcotics and Montes’ motorcycle was subsequently searched. Officers discovered approximately 30 packages of narcotics and more than $74,300 in cash.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the Central Ohio HIDTA Task Force and Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Hunter, who is representing the United States in this case.
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Arizona Man Arrested After Traveling from Arizona to New Orleans on Amtrak Train with Heroin Was Sentenced to 52 Months’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – ADRIAN F. DANIEL, 25, a resident of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 to 52 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to the charge of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser.
According to court documents, on June 11, 2018, a detective with the Amtrak Police Department in New Orleans reviewed the manifests for incoming passengers to the Amtrak Station in New Orleans and noticed DANIEL’S train travel patterns. In his review, the detective noticed a train reservation for DANIEL, who was travelling one way from Tucson, Arizona to New Orleans then to New York City the following day. The detective also noticed that DANIEL made the reservation on June 11, 2018, one day prior to the scheduled travel date. The detective’s review of DANIEL’S train travel patterns revealed that beginning in January 2018, DANIEL made multiple train trips from Tucson, Arizona to New Orleans. The trips were paid for in cash and were usually booked the day before DANIEL’S departure from Tucson. Also, DANIEL used a different telephone number each time he booked a reservation.
When the train arrived at the station on June 12, 2018, the detective approached DANIEL and asked to speak to him. DANIEL agreed to speak and became noticeably nervous. When questioned about his prior train trips, DANIEL lied about the frequency of the trips further arousing suspicions.
The detective asked to search DANIEL’S bags and DANIEL consented. Among DANIEL’S belongings were bags containing 1.9 kilograms of heroin.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, and the Amtrak Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.
Alma, Arkansas Man Sentenced to 157 Months for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darrell Dewayne Roberts Jr., age 31, of Alma, Arkansas, was sentenced to 157 months’ imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). The charges arose from an investigation by the Roland Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”).
The Superseding Indictment alleges that on or about December 31, 2018, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “This prosecution began with an investigation by members of the Roland Police Department on December 31, 2018. As a result of their work, with assistance from agents from the DEA, thousands of dosage units were prevented from being distributed into communities in Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. This case is a great example of how collaborative law enforcement benefits the communities we serve.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Edward Snow represented the United States.
57-Year-Old Pedophile Committed to Federal Custody as a Sexually Dangerous PersonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan committed CHARLES TODD STOKES, 57, to the custody of the Attorney General as a sexually dangerous person under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
STOKES, a former elementary school teacher, has a history of sexually molesting prepubescent and post-pubescent boys in the United States and Thailand. Florida records alleged that between 1994 and 1998, STOKES molested six students or other minors. STOKES denied the allegations and argued that the allegations were “unsubstantiated.” Between 1995 and 1997, STOKES, then in his 30s, engaged in sexual behavior “several times” with the 13 to 15-year-old son of a divorced woman he dated and whose family he befriended prior to the parents’ divorce. The boy’s father filed a complaint with state officials alleging STOKES molested his son, which STOKES denied. The Florida state case was dismissed. STOKES admitted at the civil commitment hearing that when questioned by Florida law enforcement authorities and state education officials after the complaint was filed he denied molesting the boy because he deemed it in his “best interest” to do so.
Florida law enforcement officials arrested STOKES in August 1998 and charged him with two counts of lewd and lascivious assault on a child. The allegations involved STOKES inappropriately touching two nine-year-old boys. STOKES denied the allegations but, in February 2000, pled no contest to simple battery and was sentenced to one year probation. STOKES also surrendered his teacher’s license and teaching certificate.
One month into his probationary period, STOKES applied for permission to resume teaching in Thailand and his request was granted. According to STOKES, he chose to teach in Thailand, in part, because of its “looser sexual mores.” STOKES taught in Thailand between 2000 and 2006. In 2002, STOKES was fired from a school in Thailand after his coworkers reported that he encouraged a young boy to hug and kiss him and after inappropriately touching a young boy in a pool. His coworkers also reported that STOKES was living with a 15 year-old male prostitute. STOKES was not charged with a crime and denied living full-time with a 15-year-old male prostitute but admitted a 15-year-old male prostitute occiasionally lived with him during that period.
Based on the allegations, law enforcement officials in the United States and Thailand began investigating STOKES. A search warrant was executed at STOKES’ residence in October 2003 and numerous items were recovered, including printed photographs of clothed young children, a pair of children’s swimming trunks, a video camera, a video cassette tape, and a digital camera. The digitial camera contained a photograph of a Thai boy, who appeared approximately 10 to 13 years old, lying naked on a bed. STOKES admitted at the hearing that he engaged in sex with the boy the night before the search warrant was executed.
In 2006, law enforcement authorities arrested STOKES in Thailand on unspecified criminal charges and extradited STOKES to the United States approximately one year later. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois initially charged STOKES with three counts of child trafficking but later indicted STOKES on one count of traveling in interstate and foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act with a person under age 18. STOKES pled not guilty and went to trial on the charge.
Two of STOKES’ victims from Thailand testified at the criminal trial in Illinois. The victims testified that they were 11 years old when STOKES invited them to his home where they would play video games. They further testified that STOKES molested them and took nude photographs of them simulating sexual intercourse. A federal investigator also testified at the criminal trial that she recovered approximately 6,000 images from the electronic devices seized during the execution of the 2003 search warrant. According to the investigator, some of the images depicted prepubescent boys engaged in sexual behavior. Other images depicted STOKES engaging in sex acts with prepubescent or pubescent boys. The investigator estimated that STOKES had molested 60 minors of which 30 were approximately less than 12 years old with the youngest victim appearing to be 7 years old. The jury found STOKES guilty of all counts and the federal judge in Illinois sentenced STOKES to 180 months’ imprisonment, the maximum under law.
During the civil commitment hearing here in Eastern North Carolina, STOKES admitted he molested the victims of the crimes for which he received his federal conviction. STOKES testified, however, that he believed the victims were both 15 years old, the legal age of sexual consent in Thailand. STOKES denied that any of the males depicted in the 6,000 photographs recovered from the various electronic devices were pre-pubescent and that only 12 of the male prostitutes he sought after were under 18 years old.
STOKES was scheduled for release from federal prison on July 19, 2019, but the United States certified him as a sexually dangerous person under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. Congress passed this Act in order to provide another powerful legal mechanism for protecting the public from some of the most dangerous sexual offenders. The Act allows the United States to seek civil commitment of sexually dangerous persons who, because of a serious mental illness, abnormality, or disorder, would have serious difficulty refraining from sexually violent conduct or child molestation.
The United States believed that STOKES met every element of that definition. The Court agreed. On August 5, 2019, after a hearing, the Court committed STOKES to the custody of the Attorney General as a sexually dangerous person.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina litigates Adam Walsh Act cases nationwide. All sexually dangerous persons who are committed to federal custody are housed in a federal facility in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where intensive, residential treatment is offered to them. STOKES is the eighty-fourth sexually dangerous person committed under the Adam Walsh Act.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael G. James represented the government in this case.
214 Arrested as Part of a Combined Law Enforcement Operation “Bluff City Blues” in West TennesseeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant and U.S. Marshal Jeffrey Holt announced today that a two-week-long joint federal, state and local law enforcement initiative has resulted in the arrests of 214 individuals in West Tennessee. These individuals were arrested on a variety of criminal charges, including homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, carjacking, arson, drug distribution, illegal gun crimes and failure to register as sex offenders. Operation "Bluff City Blues" was a coordinated violence reduction initiative led by the U.S. Marshals Service that brought together federal, state and local law enforcement partners in an effort to reduce crime in West Tennessee by identifying and arresting violent fugitives, targeting violent gang activity, and collecting intelligence to allow for the systematic removal of individuals who have been charged with committing violent crimes in West Tennessee.
In addition to the arrests, Operation "Bluff City Blues" resulted in the seizure of 28 firearms, approximately 771.9 grams of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and crack, $17,240 in U.S. currency, as well as the recovery of 4 stolen vehicles.
Operation "Bluff City Blues" commenced on August 12, 2019, and concluded on August 23, 2019. As a part of the coordinated and targeted initiative, those arrested for outstanding state and federal warrants included a total of 79 identified gang members, 65 individuals for aggravated assault, 34 individuals for homicide, 69 individuals for weapons offenses, and 40 individuals for drug offenses. In addition, a total of 78 registered sex offenders living in Madison and Shelby Counties were checked for compliance with sex offender registration requirements. Thirteen were found to be in violation.
During the two-week operation, law enforcement efforts took place primarily in the cities of Memphis and Jackson, TN, and focused on fugitive apprehension investigations, firearms and narcotics investigations, gang-related intelligence gathering, and proactive sex offender compliance. All of these cases will be prosecuted in either state or federal court, and it is expected that many of the arrests and investigations in this operation will result in future additional arrests in the pursuit of dismantling the criminal element in the Western District of Tennessee.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Because the U.S. Marshals Service is the preeminent federal law enforcement agency for fugitive investigations and apprehensions, I called upon them to plan and execute this violence reduction operation in West Tennessee. Together with our other dedicated federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, the USMS has successfully located and arrested some of the most dangerous fugitives and violent gang members that are the primary crime-drivers in our communities. Operation ‘Bluff City Blues’ sends two very important and powerful messages: 1. The citizens of West Tennessee can be assured that their safety and security is our highest priority, and that we can and will do something about crime in their communities, and 2. Violent criminals and gang members can be assured that we will use our highest and best resources to remove them from our streets and impose consequences for their criminal conduct. I thank and commend the outstanding work and tireless efforts of all of our law enforcement partners, and I am confident that this operation will have both an immediate and a long-term positive effect on public safety in West Tennessee."
U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee Jeff Holt thanks all the federal, state and local agencies that participated in this operation. "The excellent cooperation and hard work of all these law enforcement officers over this two week period is a prime example of agencies working hand-in-hand to make a difference in our communities. I am very proud of the men and women who put in long hard hours to make this a highly successful operation. Many of these investigations have led to other arrests and investigations that will further dismantle the criminal structure in the Western District of Tennessee."
Deputy Commander Mike Quarles of the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force praised the efforts of all of the participating agencies that made this operation a success. Quarles stated, "Since 1789, the U.S. Marshals Service has been forming posses and task forces to apprehend the most violent of all fugitives. Our historical foundation was built upon the investigatory knowledge of skilled fugitive hunters. The successes of the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force are directly related to our partnerships." Quarles further commented, "Without these agencies coming together as a force multiplier, many of these violent criminals would still be walking our streets. It was exciting to see this many agencies efficiently and effectively come together for the singular mission of making West Tennessee safer. I am confident that a strong message was sent, that violent crime is not welcomed in the Western District of Tennessee."
The following agencies participated in Operation "Bluff City Blues":
United States Marshals Service
United States Attorney’s Office
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
United States Probation Service
District Attorney General’s Office (Shelby County)
District Attorney General’s Office (Madison County)
Memphis Police Department
Jackson Police Department
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Tennessee Department of Correction
Tennessee Highway Patrol (Jackson Office)
Tennessee Highway Patrol (Memphis Office)
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov
For operational still photos, please visit:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/usmarshals/U857Z0
For B Roll operational footage, please visit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kp96maxbpsy1vck/Operation%20Bluff%20City%20B-roll.mpeg?dl=0
Sunday 25 August 2019
Washington Man Indicted on Cocaine and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Spokane, Washington, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Jamecus Lushawn Hodges, age 40, was indicted on February 13, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 21, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on December 8, 2018, in Brule County, South Dakota, Hodges knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly receive and possess a firearm. The charges are merely accusations and Hodges is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The investigation is being conducted by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Hodges was released pending trial. A trial date has not been set.