Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Thursday 18 July 2019
Detroit Drug Dealer Sentenced to Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A drug dealer from Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Stuart commended the investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (“MDENT”), the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Albans Police Department, the Nitro Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
“Detroit poison peddlers aren’t welcome here,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “When they come here to sell their deadly drugs and we find them, we will lock them up.”
Tyrece Ramone Phillips, also known as “Ty,” age 32, previously pled guilty to distributing acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl. As established by public court filings and hearings, on July 2, 2018, Phillips sold purported heroin to a confidential police informant near the 1000 block of 2nd Avenue in Charleston, West Virginia. Laboratory testing revealed that Phillips actually sold a drug mixture containing acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
###
Defendant to Serve Life in Prison in Kidnapping and Murder of Visiting Chinese StudentRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney John C. Milhiser announced today that U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid sentenced Brendt Christensen, 30, to serve the rest of his life in prison with no possibility for release for the June 9, 2017, kidnapping and murder of Chinese student Yingying Zhang. Judge Shadid imposed the mandatory life sentence this afternoon after the jury in the case was unable to reach a decision regarding the sentence.
On June 24, 2019, the same jury deliberated approximately 90 minutes before returning guilty verdicts against Christensen for the charge of kidnapping resulting in death and two counts of making false statements to FBI agents. Jurors began hearing evidence in the case on June 12. The sentencing phase of the trial began on July 8, 2019. After deliberating approximately nine hours yesterday and today, the jury advised the court that they were unable to reach a decision regarding sentencing.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Sean M. Cox of the FBI’s Springfield Division; and, University of Illinois Chief of Police Craig A. Stone join U.S. Attorney Milhiser in making today’s announcement.
“Tragically, a young woman’s life was cut short by the evil crimes perpetrated in this case,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “The Department of Justice insisted on holding the defendant accountable to the fullest extent of the law, and hopes that today’s outcome delivers some measure of justice for Yingying Zhang and her family.”
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of Yingying Zhang who have suffered a tragic loss under unimaginable circumstances,” said U.S. Attorney Milhiser. “I would like to recognize the coordinated work of law enforcement and the incredible strength and resolve shown by Yingying’s family throughout the investigation and in their continued presence at trial to bring this brutal killer to justice.”
“Today justice has been served and the defendant in this case will be held responsible for his actions and this horrific crime; a crime which he planned and then carried out without regard for the victim. I would like to thank our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts and dedication,” said Sean M. Cox, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Springfield Division. “Although the verdict and sentencing of the defendant will not lessen the pain of Yingying Zhang’s family, it is my sincere hope that it provides some closure to her loved ones.”
“We hope that the conclusion of this trial and sentencing can help to begin the healing process for Ms. Zhang’s family and loved ones, as well as the many others who have been affected by this tragedy,” said University of Illinois Police Chief Craig Stone. “The strength of our campus community has been evident since the beginning, and I am grateful to all those who worked together in this investigation and were determined to bring closure to this case.”
Evidence was presented during the trial that the victim, Yingying Zhang, 26, had come to the U.S. as a visiting scholar in April 2017, to begin post-graduate research work at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana campus. Zhang disappeared on June 9, 2017, as she was on her way to an appointment to sign an apartment lease. She was reported missing later that day when her colleagues tried to reach her and she did not respond.
Security camera footage of a bus stop taken on June 9, shows Zhang entered a car, which investigators determined belonged to Christensen, after Zhang had texted the apartment manager that she was running late for her afternoon appointment. A witness also testified that on the morning of June 9, she was approached by a man she later identified as Christensen, who posed as a police officer and asked her to get into his car to answer questions. The woman did not enter the car and contacted law enforcement to report the incident.
Investigators contacted area owners of the type of car, a black Saturn Astra, captured by the security camera at the bus stop. As investigators studied the video, they discovered a noticeable irregularity on the hubcap of the front passenger tire that matched the vehicle owned by Christensen.
When Christensen was questioned about his activity on June 9, 2017, he made false statements to FBI agents on two occasions, on June 12 and again on June 15. During a vigil walk held on June 29, to raise awareness in the search for Zhang, Christensen attended the walk and described how he had killed Zhang to his then-girlfriend, who recorded the conversation. Christensen’s account included details of the crime which were corroborated by evidence including that recovered by law enforcement who executed a search warrant of his apartment on June 30, 2017, the same day Christensen was arrested and charged.
In making today’s announcement, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski and U.S. Attorney Milhiser thanked the FBI and the University of Illinois Police Department for their dedicated work throughout the case investigation and prosecution. Milhiser also thanked the Illinois State Police; the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office; and, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District for their valuable assistance in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eugene L. Miller and Bryan D. Freres of the Central District of Illinois and Trial Attorney James B. Nelson of the Justice Department’s Capital Case Section represented the government in the case prosecution.
Defendant to Serve Life in Prison for Kidnapping, Murder of Visiting Chinese ScholarRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid today sentenced Brendt Christensen, 30, to serve the rest of his life in prison with no possibility for release for the June 9, 2017, kidnapping and murder of Chinese student Yingying Zhang. Judge Shadid imposed the mandatory life sentence this afternoon after the jury in the case was unable to reach a decision regarding the sentence.
On June 24, 2019, the same jury deliberated approximately 90 minutes before returning guilty verdicts against Christensen for the charge of kidnapping resulting in death and two counts of making false statements to FBI agents. Jurors began hearing evidence in the case on June 12. The sentencing phase of the trial began on July 8, 2019. After deliberating approximately nine hours yesterday and today, the jury advised the court that they were unable to reach a decision regarding sentencing.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean M. Cox, Springfield Division; and, University of Illinois Chief of Police Craig A. Stone join U.S. Attorney Milhiser in making today’s announcement.
“Tragically, a young woman’s life was cut short by the evil crimes perpetrated in this case,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “The Department of Justice insisted on holding the defendant accountable to the fullest extent of the law, and hopes that today’s outcome delivers some measure of justice for Yingying Zhang and her family.”
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of Yingying Zhang who have suffered a tragic loss under unimaginable circumstances,” said U.S. Attorney Milhiser. “I would like to recognize the coordinated work of law enforcement and the incredible strength and resolve shown by Yingying’s family throughout the investigation and in their continued presence at trial to bring this brutal killer to justice.”
“Today justice has been served and the defendant in this case will be held responsible for his actions and this horrific crime; a crime which he planned and then carried out without regard for the victim. I would like to thank our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts and dedication,” said Sean M. Cox, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Springfield Division. “Although the verdict and sentencing of the defendant will not lessen the pain of Yingying Zhang’s family, it is my sincere hope that it provides some closure to her loved ones.”
“We hope that the conclusion of this trial and sentencing can help to begin the healing process for Ms. Zhang’s family and loved ones, as well as the many others who have been affected by this tragedy,” said University of Illinois Police Chief Craig Stone. “The strength of our campus community has been evident since the beginning, and I am grateful to all those who worked together in this investigation and were determined to bring closure to this case.”
Evidence was presented during the trial that the victim, Yingying Zhang, 26, had come to the U.S. as a visiting scholar in April 2017, to begin post-graduate research work at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana campus. Zhang disappeared on June 9, 2017, as she was on her way to an appointment to sign an apartment lease. She was reported missing later that day when her colleagues tried to reach her and she did not respond.
Security camera footage of a bus stop taken on June 9, shows Zhang entered a car, which investigators determined belonged to Christensen, after Zhang had texted the apartment manager that she was running late for her afternoon appointment. A witness also testified that on the morning of June 9, she was approached by a man she later identified as Christensen, who posed as a police officer and asked her to get into his car to answer questions. The woman did not enter the car and contacted law enforcement to report the incident.
Investigators contacted area owners of the type of car, a black Saturn Astra, captured by the security camera at the bus stop. As investigators studied the video, they discovered a noticeable irregularity on the hubcap of the front passenger tire that matched the vehicle owned by Christensen.
When Christensen was questioned about his activity on June 9, 2017, he made false statements to FBI agents on two occasions, on June 12 and again on June 15. During a vigil walk held on June 29, to raise awareness in the search for Zhang, Christensen attended the walk and described how he had killed Zhang to his then-girlfriend, who recorded the conversation. Christensen’s account included details of the crime which were corroborated by evidence including that recovered by law enforcement who executed a search warrant of his apartment on June 30, 2017, the same day Christensen was arrested and charged.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Milhiser thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the University of Illinois Police Department for their dedicated work throughout the case investigation and prosecution. Milhiser also thanked the Illinois State Police; the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office; and, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District for their valuable assistance in the case.
Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan D. Freres of the Central District of Illinois and Trial Attorney James B. Nelson of the Justice Department’s Capital Case Section represented the government in the case prosecution.
DOJ Grant Will Fund New Gang Deterrent Program for Southwest Georgia's YouthRead the Press Release
ALBANY – The City of Albany has been awarded a substantial federal grant to pay for public safety and educational programs geared toward young people, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia and Michael Persley, the Chief of Police for the Albany Police Department. The Department of Justice approved a $60,378 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) grant for the City of Albany for the period of July 1, 2019 - June 20, 2020. The money will be used to fund three programs administered by APD, which include a new Juvenile Intervention Gang Deterrent counseling program, a new Youth Leadership Development program, and funding for the popular Teen Police Academy.
“This grant is one component of our collaboration with Albany’s law enforcement community to support purposeful actions that contribute to the overall safety and well-being of our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “Project Safe Neighborhoods is the Justice Department’s initiative to reduce violent crime. One part of its approach is administering grants directly to local communities who know just where they can make the biggest impact. I am confident that these PSN funded programs will positively influence at-risk youth and, therefore, the entire community.”
“We are excited to be recipients of this Project Safe Neighborhoods grant and will use the funds to address some social service challenges that our juvenile population is facing. We will continue to partner with the Federal Government in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of the more dangerous persons within our community, however this opportunity gives us a chance to reach a segment of our juvenile population by doing intervention and prevention methods. We are thankful for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for partnering with us to help provide additional resources in our efforts to combat crime and the perception of crime in Albany,” said Michael Persley, Chief of Police.
Earlier this week, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office (Macon, Georgia) made public their PSN grant award for the same time period in the amount of $44,640 to pay for a board-certified National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) firearms examiner, training for the gang unit, ammunition, and general supplies for the in-house NIBIN system. This grant combines with a 2017 PSN grant in the amount of $200,000 that paid for the Bibb County S.O. Crime Lab’s NIBIN machines. This technology is the only interstate automated ballistic imaging network in the United States, making it possible for local law enforcement to search against evidence from across the country, improving the outcomes of criminal investigations. The NIBIN technology is considered a valuable tool by law enforcement in the effort to reduce gun crimes across the Middle District.
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.
Questions regarding the grant awards can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Cranston Man Sentenced for Defrauding Social Security, Trafficking OxycodoneRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Cranston man who admitted to collecting Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) while at the same time depositing hundreds of thousands of dollars in his personal bank account and obtaining a home mortgage for more than a quarter million dollars was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay back funds he obtained fraudulently from the Social Security Administration.
In addition to pleading guilty on June 25, 2018, to Social Security fraud, Raymond Walker, 48, pleaded guilty to attempt to possess with the intent to distribute Oxycodone, admitting to the court that he was trafficking Oxycodone.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith today ordered Walker to serve 18 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release. Walker was ordered to pay $14,301 restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Walker’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI) Jeffrey J. Ebersole, Scott E. Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle.
According to information presented to the Court, Walker began receiving SSI benefits in 1992. SSI is meant to assist aged, blind, and disabled people who have little to no income. To be eligible, one has to be disabled, unable to engage in substantial gainful activity, and have limited income and resources. SSA takes into account a claimant’s resources and allows an individual to hold up to $2,000 worth of resources. “Income” includes money a claimant receives from work and other sources, such as friends and relatives. The claimant must notify SSA of any significant changes in conditions affecting the receipt of benefits, to include work activity, as either an employee or self-employed individual.
At the time of his guilty plea, Walker was receiving monthly SSI payments of $500 dollars.
In September 2017, Walker was interviewed by a SSA claims specialist and informed the claims specialist that since July 2015 his only resources were a 1988 vehicle and a bank account with no more than $200 in it at any time. He told the interviewer that he received approximately $200 per month from family members to assist with personal expenses.
However, an investigation by FDA-OCI, SSA-OIG, and the United States Attorney’s Office determined that between December 2013 and July 2017, Walker deposited $306,435 into his personal bank account; he held a $282,000 mortgage for a Cranston property, with a monthly mortgage payment of approximately $2,100; and he owned a 2016 Audi A8.
When applying for the mortgage, Walker claimed to be employed as a construction project manager earning approximately $7,400 per month.
Information was also developed by law enforcement that Walker was actively engaged in drug trafficking. On October 4, 2017, at the direction of FDA-OCI agents, a cooperating witness met with Walker at Walker’s mother’s house and sold him two bottles containing 168 inert 30 mg Oxycodone pills provided by the DEA for $5,000. When the cooperating witness returned approximately 90 minutes later to receive payment for the pills, Walker informed the individual he had already received complaints regarding the strength of the pills. In that 90 minutes, agents observed Walker’s mother’s home and saw numerous individuals stopping in front of the house and engaging with Walker to purchase the pills.
A court-authorized search of the residence that day resulted in the seizure of a money counter and $775 in cash. $5,000 was seized from inside a wheel compartment of his vehicle.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan.
###
Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Loaded Rifle on Chicago Train PlatformRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A convicted felon has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded assault rifle on an elevated train platform in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.
JORDAN WATKINS, 31, of Chicago, illegally possessed the gun on the morning of July 29, 2017, at the Chicago Transit Authority’s Belmont Station, which serves multiple elevated train lines. The rifle was strapped across Watkins’s chest underneath his grey sweatshirt. It was loaded and had one live round in the chamber. Watkins was also carrying a messenger bag that contained two 30-round magazines, one of which was loaded with four rounds. After a 911 call reported a man who “has a gun on him and like a really big clip,” multiple Chicago Police officers responded to the station and arrested Watkins on the southbound platform.
Watkins, who was on parole at the time he possessed the rifle, had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and was not legally allowed to possess a firearm. He pleaded guilty last year in the federal case to one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a felon. U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood on Wednesday sentenced Watkins to six years and four months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI; and Eddie Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The Illinois Department of Corrections provided valuable assistance.
“By carrying a loaded assault rifle into a CTA station, Watkins committed a serious offense that jeopardized public safety,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Grayson S. Walker argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.
Holding convicted felons accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods – the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Lausch and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, including by prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms.
Connecticut Pain Management Doctor and His Practice Pay over $425K to Settle Improper Billing AllegationsRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney John H. Durham, Special Agent in Charge Phillip Coyne of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong today announced that COMPREHENSIVE PAIN AND HEADACHE TREATMENT CENTERS, LLC (“CPHTC”) and its owner, MARK THIMINEUR, M.D., have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments in which they will pay more than $425,000 to resolve allegations that they improperly billed the Medicare and Connecticut Medicaid programs.
CPHTC is an interventional pain management medical practice with offices in Derby and Meriden, Connecticut. Thimineur is the owner of CPHTC.
The allegations against CPHTC and Thimineur arise out of improper billing for urine drug tests. There are various types of urine drug tests. Drug screening tests (also known as “qualitative” tests) determine the presence or absence of a drug or metabolite in a patient’s urine. “Quantitative” testing (also known as “definitive” or “confirmation” testing), provide a numerical concentration of a drug or metabolite in a patient’s urine.
It is alleged that CPHTC and Thimineur improperly submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for quantitative testing of patient urine samples, when such quantitative testing was not actually being performed. It is further alleged that CPHTC and Thimineur violated the federal and state False Claims Acts by submitting claims for alcohol tests and amphetamine/methamphetamine tests conducted on patients’ urine samples, when those tests were components of urine drug screening tests for which the CPHTC and Thimineur were already being paid by the Medicare and Connecticut Medicaid programs.
To resolve their liability, CPHTC and Thimineur will pay $427,691.90 to the federal and state governments for conduct occurring between May 15, 2013 and December 31, 2015.
This matter was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Molot and by Assistant Attorney General Michael Cole of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.
People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or the Health Care Fraud Task Force at (203) 777-6311.
Clarkdale Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On July 15, 2019, Shush Naki Clark Couyancy, 28, of Clarkdale, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release. On April 29, 2019, Couyancy pleaded guilty to one count of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor.
On April 7, 2018, Couyancy, an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, knowingly engaged in sexual contact with the minor victim, who is also an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yavapai-Apache Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Clarence Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Entice a MinorRead the Press Release
A man who attempted to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Jason Koontz, age 34, from Clarence, Iowa, was convicted of one count of attempted enticement of a minor. At the plea hearing, Koontz admitted that, in July 2017, he attempted to persuade, induce, or entice a person who he believed to be a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Koontz remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Koontz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $5,100 in special assessments, and supervised release for 5 years to life following any imprisonment.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.
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.”
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 19-48.
Cincinnati Man Sentenced to 188 Months for Distributing Methamphetamine in CovingtonRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. — Kevin A. Howard, 35, of Cincinnati, was sentenced on Thursday, to 188 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for distribution of 50 grams or more of crystal methamphetamine.
Howard previously admitted pursuant to a guilty plea that, on January 16, 2019 and January 22, 2019, he distributed 50 grams or more of crystal methamphetamine to an individual in Covington, for $1,400. Unbeknownst to Howard, this individual was working as undercover law enforcement with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. After the two undercover purchases, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Howard’s residence in Cincinnati, where an additional 444 grams of crystal methamphetamine was seized, along with two firearms.
Under federal law, Howard must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for a term of five years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration , Christopher P. Conners, Director, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Wade T. Napier.
Cape Coral Fisherman Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Overharvest Gulf Reef FishRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL - United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Mark E. Zywotko (47, Cape Coral) has pleaded guilty to four counts of mail fraud. Zywotko faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, from January 2013 through December 2017, Zywotko perpetrated a scheme to overharvest more than 50,000 pounds of Gulf reef fish from the waters off Southwest Florida. These illegally-caught fish were worth more than $286,000. Zywotko knowingly and illegally harvested, landed, and sold federally-regulated Gulf reef fish, including red grouper and red snapper, and submitted false documents, via the U.S. Mail, to state and federal agencies in order to conceal his overfishing.
Regulation of the Gulf reef fish fishery is a lawful function of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS”). NMFS is tasked with managing the fishery to ensure its sustainability and economic viability in the Gulf of Mexico across the southeastern United States.
NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.
“The Individual Fishing Quota program was designed to increase the marketability of our Gulf of Mexico snapper/grouper commercial fishery - an extremely vital fishing resource in the southeast U.S.,” said Manny Antonaras, Deputy Special Agent in Charge for NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement, Southeast Division. “We will not tolerate such violations to our nation’s economy nor our natural resources, and we commend the investigative team who spent hundreds of hours on this case.”
This case was investigated by investigated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, Southeast Division and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.
California Man and Arizona Woman Sentenced for Making False Statements to a Financial InstitutionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that JARED CASTELLAW, age 34, of Alpine, California, and VALERIE SCHONES, age 54, of Tucson, Arizona, were sentenced on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 for their role in making false statements to a financial institution.
According to court documents, beginning in or around October 2008 and continuing to on or about May 2009, JARED CASTELLAW and VALERIE SCHONES, along with co-defendant Patrick Healey, made false statements to the Federal Housing Administration “FHA” in order to assist low-income borrowers in qualifying for FHA insured loans that they would not otherwise have qualified for. Healey and CASTELLAW are former employees of an undisclosed entity, ABC Homes, LLC, located in St. Bernard Parish. SCHONES worked for XYZ Financial as a loan officer. In total, due to the acts of the defendants, the FHA suffered a loss in excess of $852,415.
Both CASTELLAW and SCHONES were sentenced to time served, supervised release of 5 years, a special assessment of $100, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $852,415.16.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharan E. Lieberman and Edward J. Rivera.
* * *
Byram Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison for Lying to Obtain a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Christian Matthew Storey, 27, of Byram, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Tom S. Lee to 21 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for attempting to acquire a firearm by making fraudulent statements on a federal background check form, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kirk Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Storey was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.
On October 18, 2018, Storey attempted to purchase a firearm from a pawn shop in Jackson, Mississippi. Storey had previously been judicially committed for mental treatment in 2016 by the Chancery Court of Hinds County. He was subsequently treated and discharged from a mental hospital in Mississippi.
Storey, in an attempt to purchase a 9mm pistol, completed and signed ATF Form 4473 while at the pawn shop as part of the federally required background check process. One question on that form asks a firearm purchaser whether or not they have ever been committed to a mental institution. Storey fraudulently checked “No” as to that question and then signed the form certifying that his false answer was correct.
The firearm purchase was denied after the National Instant Criminal Background Check System rejected the purchase due to Storey’s previous commitment for mental treatment. Under federal law, it is unlawful for a person who has been involuntarily judicially committed to either possess or purchase a firearm.
Storey was indicted on January 8, 2019 on one count of making a false statement in an attempt to acquire a firearm and one count of giving false information to a federal firearm licensee. He pled guilty before Judge Lee on March 28, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.
Buffalo Woman Indicted for Lying to A Grand Jury About A Murder InvestigationRead 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 a federal grand jury has returned a two-count indictment charging Shanna Smith, 25, of Buffalo, NY, with false declarations before grand jury and obstruction of justice. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Misha A. Coulson and Seth T. Molisani, who are handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, Xavier Wimes, a/ k/ a Zave, was shot and killed the morning of January 1, 2017, in the Towne Garden Apartments in Buffalo. As Buffalo Police investigated the homicide, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies included the Wimes homicide investigation as part of a larger investigation into violations of federal law involving, among other things, drug trafficking, racketeering, and violent crimes committed in furtherance of such activities.
On July 11, 2018, the defendant was interviewed by a Buffalo Police detective and an FBI special agent. During that interview, Smith stated she was at a party in the Towne Garden Apartments the morning of January l, 2017, attended by Wimes and that she was present during an altercation between Wimes and Dalvon Curry that preceded Wimes's murder. However, on July 31, 2018, the defendant, while under oath and testifying in a proceeding before a Federal Grand Jury, falsely stated: that she observed 20 individuals chasing Wimes outside of the Towne Gardens Apartment building just before Wimes was killed; that she observed her cousin Dalvon Curry retrieve a firearm from the grass shortly after the murder and throw it into the bushes; that she helped Dalvon Curry to a parking lot near the murder scene; and that she accompanied Dalvon Curry to the hospital to seek medical treatment following Wimes's homicide.
The defendant was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder and was released on conditions.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Broward County Resident Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Information Pertaining to Explosives OnlineRead the Press Release
A Broward County resident was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for distributing information pertaining to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
Tayyab Tahir Ismail, 33, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, previously pled guilty to Count 2 of an Indictment that charged him with distributing information pertaining to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 842(p)(2) (Case No. 18-60352-CR-Moore). U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Ismail to 240 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to the court record, including the agreed upon factual proffer, on or about July 16, 2018, through on or about September 17, 2018, Ismail posted and distributed online documents including, but not limited to, documents containing step-by-step instructions on how to construct a bomb and other explosives, with the intent that the information be used for and in furtherance of an activity that constitutes a federal crime of violence, that is, the use or attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.
On at least four occasions in or around July, August, and September 2018, Ismail posted bomb making instructions on the internet, on a social media platform. During that time, Ismail was a member of various rooms within the platform and each of these rooms contained members who support violent jihad. Ismail posted to these various rooms and his postings could be seen by all members of the room in which the information was posted. In and around the same time of Ismail’s postings, other members made postings in support of violent jihad.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the FBI’s Miami Field Office and South Florida’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in this matter. The case was jointly prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen E. Gilbert of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Troy Edwards of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Brooklyn Man Arrested for Armed Home Invasion Robbery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A three-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Devone Jefferys, also known as “Moneybags,” with Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and possessing and brandishing a firearm during an attempted home invasion robbery. Jefferys was arrested this morning, and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow before United States Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John B. Devito, Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.
As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, in the early morning hours of July 31, 2015, Jefferys and his co-conspirators entered an apartment building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to steal heroin and money from a drug dealer who resided there with family members. Posing as NYPD officers, Jefferys and his co-conspirators entered the victims’ apartment, drew their firearms and bound several victims with duct tape. When the robbers discovered that one of the victims had thrown a bag of heroin out a window, Jefferys forcibly removed one of the women from the apartment, and took her to a back alley to search for the drugs. When he was unable to find the bag of heroin, Jefferys forced the woman to perform oral sex on him at gunpoint, and then raped her before fleeing.
“Posing as NYPD officers and brandishing firearms, Jefferys and his co-conspirators terrorized victims of an attempted home invasion robbery, with Jefferys escalating the violence still further by raping a female victim,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will work unceasingly to protect residents of our communities from this type of senseless violence.”
Jeffery’s and his co- conspirators are alleged to have committed horrific crimes that may also leave deep mental and emotional scars on their victims,” stated ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Devito. “The ATF/NYPD Joint Robbery Task Force will work in lockstep with our partners in the United States Attorney’s Office to identify, pursue and successfully prosecute individuals like this to ensure that justice is brought to the unjust. We will continue to send the message to both the perpetrators and their victims that the law enforcement community will not allow lawless behavior and will use every resource at its disposal to protect the public from violence. I would like to thank all of our partners that put effort into this case and will continue to work until justice is served.
“This case is a reminder of the heinous acts that are too often associated with drugs and drug money,” said NYPD Commissioner O’Neill. “But those who would commit crimes like these – rape, armed robbery – should know that law enforcement professionals like those at the NYPD, the ATF and the US Attorney are driven by a desire to apprehend them and build strong cases against them. I want to thank the investigators who worked on this case. It is our hope that there will now be a successful prosecution and that this process helps the victims as they continue to heal.”
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was brought as 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 the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Harris is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
DEVONE JEFFERYS (also known as “Moneybags”)
Age: 27
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-359
Brockton Man Sentenced for Receiving Firearm While Under IndictmentRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for receiving a firearm while under indictment for felony offenses.
Alain Lenord, 26, a/k/a “OB,” was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2019, Lenord pleaded guilty to one count of receiving a firearm while under indictment for a felony offense.
On July 30, 2018, Lenord was indicted in Norfolk County with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, armed assault in a dwelling, armed home invasion, and kidnapping. On Sept. 11, 2018, Lenord was arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court and released on personal recognizance.
On Oct. 26, 2018, while the indictments were pending, law enforcement officers observed Lenord exit an apartment complex and walk toward a vehicle. As he walked, officers observed Lenord manipulating the front of his sweatshirt in a manner consistent with a holding a firearm. The officers approached Lenord, and one stated, “Hey OB.” Lenord appeared startled and then turned and ran into a wooded area. While he was running, the officers observed Lenord drop a loaded .45 caliber Glock 30 firearm that contained 10 rounds of ammunition. Lenord was apprehended and arrested by officers who approached from the other direction.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New England Field Division; Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Brockton Police Chief John Crowley made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
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. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Destroying Evidence in Heroin CaseRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that IVAN ROSARIO, also known as “Ghost,” 34, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 210 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in the destruction of evidence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation revealed that Rosario headed a Bridgeport-based heroin trafficking organization that, between approximately April 2015 and March 2017, received at least 30 kilograms of heroin that had been transported from Mexico to Bridgeport hidden inside motorcycles equipped with secret compartments. The organization then distributed the drug in the Bridgeport area.
During the investigation, investigators seized approximately $100,000 from a hidden compartment in one of Rosario’s cars, and approximately $90,000 in cash that was hidden in the residences of family members.
On March 16, 2017, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Rosario and six other individuals with heroin trafficking and related offenses.
Between March and May 2017, while he was detained in federal custody and awaiting trial, Rosario schemed to destroy potential evidence. As part of the scheme, Rosario used threats to force his child’s mother to destroy her cellphone because it contained “dangerous” information that would be used against him during trial. According to testimony at Rosario’s trial, the cellphone was discarded in the Long Island Sound.
On April 24, 2018, a jury found Rosario guilty of one count of causing or inducing any person to destroy evidence. The jury could not reach a verdict on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, and found Rosario not guilty of one count of witness tampering and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Rosario has been detained since his arrest on March 3, 2017.
This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Bridgeport Police Department and Stratford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Vizcarrondo and Alina Reynolds.
Bogalusa Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that AARON JOHNSON, age 42, of Bogalusa, pled guilty on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than fifty grams of methamphetamine and more than five hundred grams of a mixture containing a detectible amount of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, JOHNSON flew to California, where he obtained methamphetamine that he then mailed back to Louisiana. JOHNSON then returned to Louisiana to receive over a kilogram of high-purity methamphetamine, which law enforcement agents found in his house and vehicle. The government filed a bill of information charging JOHNSON with a prior felony drug offense. As a result, JOHNSON faces a term of imprisonment of at least fifteen years and up to life, to be followed by at least ten years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000,000.
Judge Susie Morgan set sentencing for October 22, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
Billings spa operator admits transporting person for sexual activityRead the Press Release
BILILNGS – A Billings spa operator today admitted to bringing a woman from Nevada to Billings to provide commercial sexual activity at the business, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Scot Donald Petrie, 61, of Billings, pleaded guilty to transportation of a person with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and aiding and abetting. Petrie faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and recommended Petrie’s plea be accepted by Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, who will sentence Petrie. Sentencing was set for Oct. 31. Petrie was released pending sentencing.
Prosecutors said in court records that beginning in June 2014, Petrie helped operate King Spa and A-Spa, which permitted individuals to live at both locations to provide legitimate message services and illegal commercial sexual services. Petrie was aware of the operations and services being provided. King Spa temporarily closed in December 2018, and Petrie helped re-open the spa to provide the services.
In January, Petrie used his debit card to buy a bus ticket for a woman to travel from Las Vegas to Billings to live and work at A-Spa. Because of a missed connection, Petrie went to Butte to pick up the woman to transport her back to Billings. The woman told law enforcement Petrie had contacted her while she was in Nevada and asked her to come to Montana. The woman said Petrie offered to pay for her bus ticket and provided her with condoms when she arrived in Billings. The woman performed commercial sexual activity, including intercourse, while staying at the spa in Billings.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Bryan Dake are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
XXX
Billings meth trafficker sentenced to 12 years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A traffic stop that resulted in heroin being seized from the vehicle ultimately led to a Billings man getting sentenced to prison today for his role in a large methamphetamine conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Joe Roy Michael, 38, of Huntley, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Michael pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The prosecution said in court records that in June 2018, the Montana Highway Patrol made a traffic stop on Michael’s rental vehicle. Michael’s statements conflicted with statements by his passenger and co-defendant, Joshua Clause. The trooper had a K9 dog sniff around the vehicle and the dog alerted to the presence of drugs. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle, and officers found 104 grams of heroin.
Investigators learned from multiple sources that Michael and Clause were selling large amounts of meth in Billings. One source admitted to stealing a pound of meth from Michael. Law enforcement arrested Michael in September 2018 in Townsend, and a search of his vehicle led to the seizure of meth and a pistol.
Clause told law enforcement that he and Michael had imported several hundred pounds of meth from California to Billings for distribution in 2018. A pound of meth is the equivalent of about 3,624 doses. Clause was sentenced in April to 15 years in prison for his conviction in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Billings Police Department.
The 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.
XXX
Beaver Falls Man Sentenced to 5+ Years in Prison for Robbing New Brighton BankRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Beaver County has been sentenced in federal court to a term of imprisonment of five years and five months (65 months), to be followed by three years of supervised release, on charges of bank robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Court Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Ernest Dewayne Taylor, 50, of Beaver Falls, PA.
According to information presented to the court, on August 17, 2018, Taylor entered the Huntington Bank located at 921 3rd Avenue, New Brighton, Pennsylvania and passed a teller a note indicating that he was armed and demanding cash. As a result of the robbery, Taylor obtained $600.00 in U.S. currency.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Schupansky prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Brighton Area Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
Arizona drug dealer sentenced to 10 years in meth trafficking caseRead the Press Release
BILLNGS—An Arizona man convicted in a drug investigation in which law enforcement seized 34 pounds of methamphetamine in a suitcase he brought to Billings was sentenced on Wednesday to 10 years in prison and to five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Aldo Fabrizio Pardini, 30, of Mesa, AZ, pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute meth.
Thirty four pounds of meth is the equivalent of about 123,216 doses and has an estimated street value of $1.54 million.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
Prosecutors said in court records that a confidential informant for the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force learned in July 2018 from a source of meth named Oscar that a relative was flying to Billings from Salt Lake City to conduct the sale of 35 pounds of meth. The meth was coming from Oscar’s associates, who included Pardini and co-defendant Jorge Luis Mendez-Sanchez, of Mexico.
Agents identified another co-defendant, Jose Jesus Islava-Lopez, of Mexico, as Oscar’s relative and followed him from the Billings airport to a Billings hotel. Islava-Lopez checked into a room and met with Pardini in the parking lot. Pardini and Mendez-Sanchez, who were staying together in another room, had transported the meth for the proposed sale from Arizona in Pardini’s car.
Agents detained Islava-Lopez in the lobby. Islava-Lopez told the agents that Oscar had directed him to fly to Billings for a job, rent a room at the hotel and meet a person in a car in the parking lot. After meeting Pardini in the parking lot, Islava-Lopez went to Pardini’s room and took a suitcase Pardini gave him back to his own room. Investigators served search warrants on both hotel rooms and the vehicle and found about 34 pounds of meth in a suitcase in Islava-Lopez’s room.
Mendez-Sanchez was convicted in the case and sentenced to 57 months in prison, while Islava-Lopez also was convicted and sentenced to 65 months in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI West Task Force and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
The 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.
XXX
Amsterdam Felon Sentenced to 66 Months for Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nelson Rodriguez, age 39, of Amsterdam, New York, was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm as a felon.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Amsterdam Police Chief Gregory J. Culick; and Special Agent in Charge John B. DeVito of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New York Field Division.
Rodriguez was convicted of attempted murder in 2009. In pleading guilty, he admitted to selling cocaine base (a/k/a crack cocaine) in Amsterdam and to possessing a .25 caliber handgun to protect his drugs and drug money. The handgun was discovered under Rodriguez’s mattress during the execution of a search warrant on his Amsterdam apartment in August 2017. Along with the handgun, law enforcement seized 6 grams of crack, 40 individually-wrapped packages of crack, and $2,000 in cash.
Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also imposed a 5-year term of supervised release, to be served after Rodriguez’s release from prison.
This case was investigated by the Amsterdam Police Department and ATF, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus P.W. Rieck.
Alma Grocery Store Ordered to Stop Distributing Products for Insanitary ConditionsRead the Press Release
Fort Smith, AR – Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, and Ned Sharpless, M.D., Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner, announced today that J and L Grocery, LLC, of Alma, Arkansas, the company’s owner, James T. White, and its manager, Lori A. Layne were ordered Thursday to stop distributing food, drug products, medical devices, and cosmetics until the company complies with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FC&C Act) and other requirements listed in a consent decree. The Honorable P.K. Holmes III entered the Consent Decree of Condemnation and Permanent Injunction in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.
According to court records, J and L Grocery, LLC (J and L Grocery) held FDA-regulated products under the insanitary conditions in which they may have become contaminated with filth, including widespread rodent, insect, and live animal infestation, in violation of federal law.
During the FDA’s inspection of J and L Grocery in September-October 2018, investigators observed multiple live and dead rodents, rodent nesting, live raccoons, live cats, a dead possum, animal feces, and urine-stained products in and around the company’s seven warehouses and sheds used to store food, medical products, and cosmetics. The FDA issued two Administrative Detention Orders at J and L Grocery, dated October 9 and 19, 2018. On November 7 and 8, 2018, the U.S. Marshals Service conducted a mass seizure of the company’s FDA-regulated human and animal food products, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, cosmetic products, and medical devices.
The consent decree of condemnation and permanent injunction entered by the U.S. District Court requires J and L Grocery to cease operations until it completes corrective actions. Under the consent decree, J and L Grocery may not resume operations until it establishes and implements a comprehensive written sanitation control program and receives written authorization from the FDA that it appears to be in compliance with the FD&C Act, among other requirements. As part of the consent decree, the company agreed to destroy the seized products.
“U.S. consumers rely on the oversight and inspection efforts of the FDA to ensure that their foods and medical products are safe. We will not tolerate insanitary conditions at facilities—like J and L Grocery—that serve U.S. consumers. Product safety at all points in the supply chain must be a high priority, and distributors have a critical responsibility to ensure products are kept safe for Americans to consume or use,” said FDA Acting Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D. “When adulterated products make their way into the U.S. marketplace, it places consumers at risk. The FDA will continue our vigorous oversight and will take action to prevent the distribution of potentially contaminated products to the American people.”
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency is also responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark W. Webb represented the United States in this case, with General Counsel Robert Charrow, Chief Counsel of the FDA Stacy Cline Amin, Deputy Chief Counsel Annamarie Kempic, and Associate Chief Counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Seth I. Heller.
Ahoskie Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Possession Near SchoolRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced TIO ANTWIONE BISHOP, 43, of Ahoskie, North Carolina to a total of 84 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
BISHOP was named in an eight-count Indictment filed on Occtober 10, 2018, charging him with distribution and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and cocaine base (crack), as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. On February 19, 2019, BISHOP pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and cocaine base (crack), as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the investigation, BISHOP sold cocaine on five occasions in 2018 from his home, which was located within 1,000 feet from an elementary school. On March 16, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at BISHOP’s home where they located a loaded .410 shotgun, a stolen 12-gauge shotgun, cocaine, crack cocaine, pills, digital scales and over $7,000 in currency. BISHOP received a sentencing enhancement for maintaining a home for the purpose of manufacturing or distributing controlled substances.
This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. For more information about this initiative please click https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.
Investigation of this enforcement operation was conducted by the Down East Drug Task Force, Hertford County Sheriff’s Office, Bertie County Sheriff’s Office, Ahoskie Police Department, and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Dena King represented the government.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced DANIEL DORF, 20, of Bar Nunn, Wyoming on July 17, 2019 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Dorf was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by forty-eight months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $400.00. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced GUADALUPE CORONADO-ENCINAS, 47, of Mexico on July 17, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Encinas was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received twenty-four months of imprisonment, to be followed by twenty-four months of supervised release. Encinas is subject to deportation proceedings. The US Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced JOSHUA SCOTT RICHARDS, 37, of Jackson, Wyoming on July 17, 2019 for access with intent to view child pornography. Richards was arrested in Jackson, Wyoming. He received twenty-four months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1500.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation an abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
14 Individuals Charged with Firearms Violations and Drug Trafficking in Manatí, Puerto Rico, in Project Safe Neighborhoods Enforcement EffortRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On July 17, 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against 14 defendants charged with firearms violations and drug trafficking, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations is in charge of the investigation, with the collaboration of and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), Arecibo Strike Force, and the Puerto Rico Bureau of Special Investigations. This case is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.
The indictment alleges that between on or about May and November 2018, the organization distributed cocaine, crack, heroin, and marihuana, all within the real property comprising the Villa Evangelina Public Housing Project located in the Municipality of Manatí, Puerto Rico. The 14 defendants are facing one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, aiding and abetting.
The defendants are: Luis Ortega-Lugo, a.k.a. “Chembo”; Jeyro Ayala-Crespo, a.k.a. “Jero”; José Tobar-Otero, a.k.a. “Joe El Visco”; Josué Arroyo-Ayala, a.k.a. “Deiby Arroyo/George”; Jessie Rodríguez-Lugo, a.k.a. “Chiky”; Xavier Rivera-Santiago, a.k.a. “Payco”; José Antonio Flores-Torres, a.k.a. “Chory”; Adalberto Quiles-Negrón, a.k.a. “El Berto”; Luis Esteban Alonso-Rivera, a.k.a. “El Mellao”; Juan Laureano-Miranda, a.k.a. “Juanchy”; Kelvin Rivera-Morales; Jan Paul Quiñonez-Mujica, a.k.a. “Menor”; Xavier Robles, a.k.a. “Vampi”; and Jeremi Torres-Rosario.
The following defendants are each facing one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (felon): Luis Ortega-Lugo, José Tobar-Otero, Josué Arroyo-Ayala, Jessie Rodríguez-Lugo, Xavier Rivera-Santiago, José Antonio Flores-Torres, Adalberto Quiles-Negrón, and Luis Esteban Alonso-Rivera. These individuals, knowing they had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, in several dates, knowingly possessed firearms of various makes and models; said firearms having been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Henek and Richard T. Passanisi are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 5 years, and up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program designed to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated in 2017, as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting each community’s most violent criminals. All U.S. Attorney’s Offices work in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as the local civilian community, to develop effective, targeted strategies to reduce violent crime. This case is a product of that collaborative effort.
# # #
Wednesday 17 July 2019
“John Doe” Convicted of Passport FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Roslindale man, identified only as John Doe, was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston in connection with using a U.S. citizen’s identity for more than 11 years. The U.S. citizen died in Puerto Rico in 2018.
Doe, whose true identity is unknown, was convicted by a federal jury of making a false statement on a passport application. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 22, 2019.
On an unknown date, Doe obtained the birth certificate of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico, and used it to obtain various identification documents, including a Social Security card, a Massachusetts liquor identification card, a Massachusetts driver’s license and a MassHealth card.
On May 14, 2008, Doe walked into a U.S. Postal Office in Roxbury and submitted a passport application with his picture attached, but used the U.S. citizen’s name and identifiers. The passport was ultimately issued. In July 2018, when the passport was about to expire, Doe sent in a passport renewal application in the false identity. In September 2018, when his renewed passport did not arrive, Doe went to the National Passport Center in Portsmouth, N.H., to check on his application. He was subsequently arrested and has remained in custody since that time.
Law enforcement began investigating Doe after he pleaded guilty to a 2010 involuntary manslaughter and assault and battery charge after throwing a glass at a young man’s neck in a Boston bar. Doe was prosecuted and served his jail time under the U.S. citizen’s identity.
The charge of making a false statement on a passport application provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration; and William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Tobin and Mackenzie Queenin of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Yamhill County Photographer Charged with Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that Robert Arnold Koester, 52, a photographer from Yamhill County, Oregon, has been charged with six counts of production of child pornography.
According to the indictment, beginning in January 2015, Koester is alleged to have knowingly coerced six minor victims in Oregon to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.
Koester is a suspected serial sexual predator who took nude photos of models and is alleged to have sexually assaulted many of these models, some of whom are minors. Koester, also known as Bert Kay, Rhake Winter, and Qitooly, has potentially been engaging in these criminal acts since 1994, continuing until his initial arrest in Carlsbad, California, on November 13, 2018.
Koester faces dozens of additional state and federal charges for related criminal conduct in Yamhill County and Carlsbad. On November 15, 2018, Koester was charged in San Diego County Superior Court with six felony counts involving sex crimes against minors. A week later, 35 additional related state charges were added. On February 6, 2019, Koester was charged with 32 related felony charges in Yamhill County Circuit Court. And finally, on March 7, 2019, Koester was charged in a two-count criminal information with production of child pornography by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California.
Federal law enforcement officials across the country have been working closely with local law enforcement in Carlsbad, Yamhill County and elsewhere to identify potential victims in this case. The FBI has created an online system to collect victim information.
If you have information about this ongoing investigation or believe you or someone you know may have been victimized by Koester, the FBI requests that you complete this secure, confidential online questionnaire. Information and tips from the public may also be submitted confidentially via email to [email protected].
Identified victims may be eligible for certain services and rights under federal and/or state law. More information is available at fbi.gov/modelcase.
This case was investigated by the FBI in Portland and San Diego, the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office and the Carlsbad Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Ravi Sinha, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wisconsin Rapids Man Convicted of Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - After a two-day trial, a federal jury in Madison, Wisconsin, found Alexander Kawleski, 42, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, guilty yesterday of 16 counts involving producing, attempting to produce, and possessing child pornography. U.S. Attorney Scott C. Blader for the Western District of Wisconsin announced the verdict.
Evidence at trial established that in 2013, Kawleski recorded himself sexually assaulting a girl who was between 15 and 16 years old. He kept a copy of the assault on a flash drive, where a friend found it and gave it to a Wisconsin Rapids Police Department Detective. In addition to the assault, the evidence established that in 2013 and 2014, Kawleski used a two-way mirror to secretly record two minor females while they were in the bathroom, in various stages of undress, getting in and out of the shower. Those recordings were saved on the same flash drive as the assault. One of the females was between 13 and 14 years old, and the other was 15 or 16 years old. Neither victim was aware that they were being filmed. Kawleski was convicted of producing child pornography related to the sexual assault video, and attempting to produce child pornography related to the secret shower videos. He was also convicted of possessing child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson scheduled Kawleski’s sentencing for November 25 at 10:00 a.m. Kawleski faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison on each of the first 15 counts involving production and attempted production of child pornography, and a maximum of 10 years on the last count of possessing child pornography.
The charges against Kawleski are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Altman and Laura Przybylinski Finn.
Wilson Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Second Federal Drug Conspiracy ConvictionRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced JEFFREY BERNARD MOORE, also known as “COOKIE MAN,” 49, of Wilson, North Carolina to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 8 years of supervised release.
The prosecution of MOORE was a part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF) entitled Operation Bobcat, which resulted in the arrest of several defendants for outstanding federal and state charges in a coordinated warrant enforcement operation. The investigation focused on cocaine base (crack) and cocaine trafficking in Wilson County.
MOORE was named in an eleven-count Indictment filed on August 28, 2018 charging him with a drug conspiracy running from at least 2013 until the date of the indictment on August 28, 2018. Specifically, MOORE was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of cocaine; as well as five counts of distribution of a quantity of cocaine. On November 6, 2018, MOORE pled guilty.
According to the investigation, MOORE was a part of a drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine throughout Wilson County. As part of the investigation, law enforcement purchased cocaine directly from MOORE at various locations in Wilson, including MOORE’s home. MOORE also maintained premises for the purpose of manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance and utilized other individuals to sell drugs on his behalf.
On June 3, 1997, MOORE was sentenced to 240 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base within the Eastern District of North Carolina. Based upon this prior conviction, the Government sought and received an enhanced penalty for MOORE in the instant case.
On December 6, 2018, KENNETH RAY BARNES, also known as “KENNY,” 49, of Wilson was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release and on February 5, 2019, TONY LYNN WINSTEAD, 61, of Wilson was sentenced to probation for their involvements in the drug conspiracy with MOORE.
This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. For more information about this initiative click here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.
Investigation of this enforcement operation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Wilson Police Department, and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Dena King represented the government.
Wilkinsburg Felon Charged with Federal Drug and Gun Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Jerome Solomon, 39, formerly of Wilkinsburg, PA.
According to the Indictment, on or about February 19, 2019, Solomon possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. On the same date, Solomon is also charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of that firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Federal law prohibits a felon from possessing a firearm.
The law provides for a minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne M. Saadi is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force, the Wilkinsburg Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
West Haven Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Distributing CrackRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RASHAAN WOOLFOLK, also known as “Booka,” 27, of West Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a New Haven drug trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2017, the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force initiated an investigation into a New Haven drug trafficking organization. The investigation, which included physical surveillance, 13 controlled purchases of narcotics, and court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, revealed that Woolfolk and other members of the organization were distributing crack cocaine and oxycodone in the New Haven area.
Woolfolk and several other members of the organization were arrested on federal criminal complaints on February 6, 2018. On February 8, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned a 30-count indictment charging Woolfolk and 18 other individuals with various offenses.
Woolfolk has been detained since his arrest. On March 18, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, cocaine base (“crack”).
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, which includes members from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, West Haven Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick F. Caruso and David C. Nelson.
Washington, DC Drug Dealers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel today sentenced Jamila Kibibi Hargrove, a/k/a Ms. Bossy, age 42; and Lonnell Staton, a/k/a Papi Chulo, age 38, both of Washington, D.C., to five years and eleven years in federal prison, respectively, for their roles in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. Hargrove and Staton each pleaded guilty in September 2018 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
The sentences, which were imposed yesterday, were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jesse Fong of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Field Office; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and St. Mary’s County Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron.
According to their plea agreements, Staton and Hargrove conspired with James Ronnell Davis and others to distribute at least three kilograms of cocaine. Specifically, Staton and Hargrove purchased cocaine from Davis, who used his business, Shades, Suds and Sounds LLC (SS&S), as a front to distribute cocaine.
Staton, Hargrove, and Davis used disposable, prepaid cellular telephones, commonly referred to as “burner phones,” and frequently switched phones in an effort to thwart law enforcement. Hargrove purchased and provided the burner phones to Staton and Davis in furtherance of the drug conspiracy.
During several phone calls that were intercepted by law enforcement, Davis, Staton, and Hargrove made arrangements to meet in order for Staton and Hargrove to purchase drugs. Those purchases were made at SS&S as well as at other locations including in Temple Hills, Maryland.
Search warrants executed at Hargrove’s residence, an apartment used by the couple, and vehicles driven by Staton and Hargrove resulted in the seizure of numerous cellular telephones, over $8,200 in cash, and three identically packaged bricks found in a backpack, with each brick containing approximately one kilogram of cocaine, as well as packaging material which had Staton’s fingerprints on it, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia.
On November 7, 2018, a federal jury convicted James Ronnell Davis, a/k/a Twin, Slim and Slick, age 41, of Springfield, Virginia, for a cocaine distribution conspiracy, two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Hazel has not set a date for Davis’ sentencing.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the DEA, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine K. Dick, who is prosecuting the case.
# # #
Unlicensed Pharmacy Technician Sentenced for Working at New England Compounding CenterRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New England Compounding Center (NECC) employee was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with working as an unlicensed pharmacy technician at the compounding pharmacy in Framingham.
Scott M. Connolly, 47, of East Greenwich, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 24 months of probation. In August 2018, Connolly pleaded guilty to 10 counts of mail fraud. In December 2014, Connolly was indicted along with 13 others in connection with the 2012 nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak originating from NECC. Connolly cooperated with the government and testified during co-defendants’ trials.
Connolly was a licensed pharmacy technician from September 2007 to January 2009, when he voluntarily surrendered his license in connection with a disciplinary action against him. Under Massachusetts regulations, pharmacy technicians filling drug orders are required to be licensed. Nevertheless, Connolly was hired at NECC and worked as a pharmacy technician from 2010 through October 2012. Connolly was assigned to Clean Room 2 making cardioplegia solutions that are used to stop patients’ hearts during heart surgeries. For more than two years, Connolly produced thousands of cardioplegia solutions that were sent to customers throughout the country. Connolly’s unlicensed status was known to his supervising pharmacists, Barry Cadden, Glenn Chin, and Gene Svirskiy.
To mask his presence from regulators, Connolly used Cadden’s username and password to log into the computerized pump so that his name would not appear on any paperwork generated when he filled the cardioplegia orders. He also did not perform any of the required validation tests other pharmacy technicians were required to do. Connolly’s employment file falsely listed him as a warehouse employee.
The NECC criminal case arose from the nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis that was traced back to contaminated vials of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) manufactured by NECC. The outbreak was the largest public health crisis caused by a pharmaceutical product.
In March 2017, Cadden was convicted by a federal jury of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud and mislead. He was sentenced in June 2017 to 108 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2017, Chin was convicted of the same charges and sentenced in January 2018 to eight years in prison and two years of supervised release. In December 2018, Svirskiy was convicted of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, 10 counts of mail fraud, and two counts of introduction of adulterated drugs into interstate commerce with intent to defraud or mislead. He was sentenced in May 2019 to 30 months in prison and one year of supervised release.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; FDA Acting Commissioner Norman E. Sharpless, M.D.; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Leigh-Alistair Barzey, Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office; Sean Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda P.M. Strachan, Chief of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney George P. Varghese of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Twenty Baltimore Men Charged for a Federal Drug Conspiracy Allegedly Distributing Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Marijuana in Northwest BaltimoreRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted 19 Baltimore men on federal charges related to an alleged drug distribution conspiracy operating in Northwest Baltimore near the intersection of Liberty Heights Avenue and Garrison Boulevard. The indictment was returned on June 27, 2019, and was unsealed today upon the execution of search warrants and the arrests of the defendants. The following defendants, all from Baltimore, are charged in the indictment:
Brandon Crawford, a/k/a Goat, age 38;
Robert Anderson, a/k/a Rock, age 46;
Daryl Burke, age 23;
Linwood Davis, age 23;
Marcus Hall, a/k/a Pill, age 18;
Lewis Hayward, a/k/a Junebug, age 59;
Antonio Johnson, a/k/a Sosa and Tony, age 26;
Christopher Jones, age 24;
Robert Jones, age 37;
Moses Lewis, a/k/a Moe, age 35;
Ronald McCormick, a/k/a Sleezy, age 36;
Donald McNeill, age 35;
Michael Mercer, age 32;
James Murray, a/k/a Crazy James, age 21;
Jermaine Porter, a/k/a Pistol, age 27;
Ivan Potts, a/k/a Spottie, age 33;
Sean Weston, age 52;
Donte White, age 30; and
Michael Williams, a/k/a Mega, age 28.Another defendant, also named Michael Williams, age 28, of Baltimore was arrested today and charged by criminal complaint.
The federal charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“Armed drug traffickers are on notice that federal, state and local law enforcement are working together to target leaders and key members of violent gangs operating in Baltimore City,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will not tolerate those who peddle death through drugs and gun violence in our neighborhoods. Gun crime can lead to federal time, where there is no parole—ever. Please put down the gun. You’ll save a life, maybe even your own.”
According to the indictment and court documents, beginning no later than 2018 and continuing through the filing of the indictment, the defendants allegedly operated a drug distribution operation in Northwest Baltimore, distributing heroin, crack and powder cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana in the area of Liberty Heights Avenue and Garrison Boulevard. The indictment further alleges that several of the defendants illegally possessed firearms in relation to drug trafficking. Before the indictment was returned, more than a dozen guns were seized from these defendants during the investigation.
Although not alleged in the indictment, the affidavit filed in support of the search warrants executed today alleges that the defendants are part of an organization called LNG. According to the affidavit, LNG is comprised of two allied groups who work together: the Yellow Bus Gang (YBG) Crips and the Black Guerilla Family (BGF). The affidavit alleges that LNG members participate in violent acts, including a gunfight on January 19, 2019, that occurred at approximately 11 a.m.
Fifteen of the 20 defendants have been arrested and law enforcement executed search warrants at 14 locations today, seizing electronic devices, guns, drugs, drug paraphernalia, drug packaging materials, and cash. Law enforcement is still searching for Antonio Johnson, Ivan Potts, Daryl Burke, Robert Anderson, and Christopher Jones.
If convicted, all of the defendants except C. Jones face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the drug conspiracy. C. Jones faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison for the drug conspiracy. McNeill and Mercer each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, respectively, and R. Jones faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. For illegal possession of a firearm by a prohibited person Porter, White, Davis, C. Jones, and Mercer each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; McNeill and Lewis face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison; and R. Jones faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison. Lewis and McNeill each face a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison for possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, while Mercer and R. Jones face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison for the same charge. Finally, Sean Weston faces a maximum of three years in prison for selling drug paraphernalia
The defendants began having initial appearances today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Hall, Davis, McNeill, and Porter have been detained pending detention hearings which are scheduled to begin tomorrow.
An indictment or criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment or criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation, and recognized the U.S. Marshals Service, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Department, the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations for their assistance with today’s arrests and search warrants. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew DellaBetta and James T. Wallner, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
# # #
Three Members of Almighty Vice Lords Nation Gang IndictedRead the Press Release
Three members of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation (AVLN) gang were indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and suboxone; and use of a communication facility to commit the drug conspiracy offense, announced United States Attorney Matthew Schneider. The indictment was unsealed yesterday.
Joining Schneider in the announcement was James M. Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), Michigan State Police (MSP) and Detroit Police Chief James Craig.
"Our office, along with our State and Federal partners, is committed to aggressively prosecuting members of violent street gangs involved in drug trafficking," stated United States Attorney Matthew Schneider. "We are especially committed to stopping the flow of drugs into the Michigan prison system, especially when it is fueled by gang members of the Vice Lords, and this case is just one example of our teamwork."
"The Michigan State Police, Second District will continue to provide resources to multi-agency task forces consisting of Federal and local partners," stated F/Lt. Michael Shaw, Second District Public Information Officer. "It is through these multi-agency task forces that we can continue to make Michigan a safer place for everyone to work, live and play."
Charged were Johnnie Ross Jr., 47, of Redford, Rishard Collins, 31, of Detroit, and Keith Spann, 39, an inmate currently with the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Collins was separately charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of the charged drug conspiracy offense.
As alleged in the indictment, the drug conspiracy involved selling drugs in the Detroit area as well as within the MDOC, by smuggling drugs inside the MDOC to Spann who was serving time for two separate 2016 state convictions involving a cocaine possession offense and a marijuana trafficking offense. The indictment alleges that while inside the MDOC, Spann was caught with the drug suboxone and Spann was later convicted in a Jackson county court for the offense of possession of contraband by an inmate.
The Almighty Vice Lords Nation (AVLN) is divided into sub-groups known as "branches" and "decks," including but not limited to the Unknown Vice Lords (UVL), Conservative Vice Lords, (CVL), Traveling Vice Lords (TVL), Renegade Vice Lords (RVL), Insane Vice Lords (IVL), Mafia Insane Vice Lords (MIVL), Imperial Insane Vice Lords (IIVL), Executioner Insane Vice Lords (EIVL), Cicero Insane Vice Lords (CIVL), and 4 Corner Hustler Vice Lords (4CHVL). The indictment alleges that Ross, Collins, and Spann were members of the Vice Lords.
The federal offense of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances carries a maximum sentence of twenty years. The offense of using a communication facility to commit the drug conspiracy offense carries a maximum sentence of four years. The offense of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to a maximum of life; however, it must be served consecutive to any other offense of conviction.
The investigation was a collaboration between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), Michigan State Police (MSP), Detroit Police Department (DPD) and members of the Comprehensive Violence Reduction Partnership (CVRP).
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Terrence Haugabook and Blake Hatlem.
Three Indicted, Arraigned on Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Three Rhode Island men were arrested by FBI agents and arraigned today in federal court on a child pornography charge contained in indictments unsealed in U.S. District Court, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.
Scott P. Hickey, 40, of Coventry, Robert H. Gillissie, 45, of Warwick, and John A. Amaral, 26, of Providence, were arraigned before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond and released on unsecured bond.
Each is charged with possession and access with intent to view child pornography.
It is alleged that each defendant possessed child pornography accessed through an online bulletin board and web site. The defendants were charged as part of an ongoing FBI investigation.
Possession and access with intent to view child pornography is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment, 3 years to lifetime supervised release, and a special assessment of $5,000.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
###
Three Florida Residents Sentenced to Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of Sawgrass Mills RestaurantRead the Press Release
Three Florida residents were sentenced today to between eight and ten years in federal prison for their participation in a conspiracy to commit an armed robbery of a Sawgrass Mills restaurant.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Anthony W. Rosa, Chief, Sunrise Police Department, made the announcement.
Zyheem Ian Smith, of Orlando, Gedeon Joseph, of Clermont, and Watverly Mortimer, of West Park, previously pled guilty for their involvement in the December 24, 2018 armed robbery of the Yard House restaurant at the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, Florida (Case No. 19-CR-60055-UNGARO). Smith, Joseph and Mortimer pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 3 of the indictment, which charged the Defendants with Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a) and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii).
Today, U.S. District Judge Ursula M. Ungaro sentenced Smith to 121 months in prison, and Joseph and Mortimer each to 96 months in prison.
According to court records, including the agreed upon factual proffers, Smith and Joseph entered the Yard House on the morning of December 24, 2018, before the restaurant had opened, through a back door that was opened by Mortimer, a Yard House employee. Smith and Joseph went upstairs to the manager’s office, pointed a Glock 19X handgun at the manager, and grabbed the manager’s cellphone. They threatened to shoot the manager if he did not empty the safe. The manager, who was in fear for his life, placed cash into a bag. Smith and Joseph left the restaurant with approximately $22,000.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI and the Sunrise Police Department in this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Juman.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.govor on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Thompson Man Charged with Kidnapping and Sexually Assaulting Massachusetts GirlRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney John H. Durham, Chief Michael Shaw of the Webster (Mass.) Police Department, Colonel Stavros Mellekas of the Connecticut State Police, FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian C. Turner of the New Haven Division and FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta of the Boston Division announced that JOSHUA BESAW, 35, of Thompson, Connecticut, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with offenses related to the kidnapping and sexual assault of 12-year-old girl.
Besaw appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford and was ordered detained.
As alleged in the complaint, on May 31, 2019, Besaw encountered a 12-year-old girl (“minor victim”) at a park in Webster, Massachusetts, and enticed the minor victim to enter his vehicle. Besaw, who identified himself as “Chuck,” then drove the minor victim to a wooded area in Thompson, Connecticut, where he sexually assaulted her. After the assault, Besaw drove the minor victim to Dudley, Massachusetts, where he released the minor victim in a neighborhood that was unfamiliar to her. The minor victim then borrowed a phone from a stranger to contact her parents who picked her up and brought her to the police station to report the incident. Later that day, a sexual assault examination of the victim was conducted at a medical facility.
It is alleged that Besaw was identified as a suspect after an extensive investigation led by Webster Police with support from the Connecticut State Police, which included analysis of surveillance video collected from numerous residences and businesses in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
On July 10, 2019, investigators conducting surveillance of Besaw collected cigarette butts that Besaw had discarded. It is alleged that DNA evidence collected from the discarded cigarette butts matched DNA evidence collected from the minor victim on May 31, 2019.
The complaint charges Besaw with kidnapping, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and with transportation of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Webster Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Tangipahoa Parish Man Sentenced on Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that on June 26, 2019, JAMES JACKSON, age 35, a resident of Hammond, Louisiana, was sentenced to serve 73 months in federal prison on gun and drug charges. JACKSON pled guilty back on December 6, 2018 to distribution of cocaine base (“crack”) and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
JACKSON was arrested by members of the DEA Task Force and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Deputies after law enforcement officials made controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin from JACKSON and his co-defendant, Jerry Pea. Law enforcement also conducted a search warrant at two residences, one on Becky Lane and one on Louis Lane, where they also recovered drugs and a firearm that were connected to these two defendants. Both men were indicted in federal court with this charges under case number 18-150 “I”.
Co-defendant Pea is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2019. Pea faces a sentence of five to forty years on the drug counts and a consecutive five years on the firearm charges to which he has pled guilty.
“As sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish, I am proud to partner with the local DEA Office and its agents to target drug dealers ruining the lives of people in our Parish. This is just one example of how combining our efforts with DEA and other local partners, such as Hammond Police Department, can help take drug dealers off our streets”, said Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards.
U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work by the Drug Enforcement Administration (D.E.A.) and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Maurice Landrieu is in charge of the prosecution.
Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Marcus Sales, 29, of Syracuse, New York, pled guilty yesterday to a federal cocaine distribution conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division, and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Sales admitted his involvement in a conspiracy to traffic more than 500 grams of cocaine over a period of several months. Sales further admitted that as part of the conspiracy he personally redistributed cocaine to others.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2019 in Syracuse, New York before Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. At sentencing, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of five years, and a maximum of forty years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least four years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The defendant agreed in his plea agreement to forfeit to the United States the proceeds of his illegal activity.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the New York State Police, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Commandeur.
St. Petersburg Man Sentenced to More Than Eight Years for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Antonio Morrow (42, St. Petersburg) to eight years and five months in federal prison, for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and hydromorphone, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Morrow had pleaded guilty on May 1, 2019.
According to court documents, on December 1, 2018, officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department initiated a traffic stop of Morrow’s car, after witnessing him fail to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. The officers noticed the smell of marijuana as they approached Morrow’s car. When the officers removed Morrow from his car and collected his identification card to run a records check, Morrow ran away. He went a short distance before tripping and falling down. As he was falling, Morrow attempted to discard a firearm and a small bag of cocaine. The officers recovered the firearm and cocaine and also recovered $2,726 from Morrow’s person during a pat down search. The officers also found 30 hydromorphone pills and 18 pieces of cocaine base in Morrow’s car.
This case was investigated by the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Second Luzerne County Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years’ Imprisonment for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gerald Pambianco, age 30, of Plains Township, was sentenced on July 16, 2019, by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to 161 months’ imprisonment for his role in an armed robbery of a bank in Luzerne County.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Gerald Pambianco previously pleaded guilty to the charges of aiding and abetting an armed bank robbery and aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in connection with the robbery of the Luzerne National Bank in Plains Township, Luzerne County, which occurred on May 16, 2018. On that date, Pambianco’s co-defendant, Derek Spaide, age 27, of Hanover Township, entered the bank, pointed a rifle at bank employees, and demanded money. Approximately $8,204 was taken in the robbery. Spaide then entered a vehicle driven by Pambianco, who engaged police in a high-speed chase on Route 81, reaching speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour. Police were able to disable the getaway vehicle on Route 309 in Plains Township, and Pambianco was apprehended behind the wheel of the vehicle. Spaide tried to flee from the vehicle, but was also apprehended by police.
Judge Mannion previously sentenced Spaide to serve 168 months’ imprisonment for his role in the robbery.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Plains Township Police Department, and the Hanover Township Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime.
# # #
Schuylkill County Man Sentenced to 70 Months’ Imprisonment for Directing the Unlawful Purchase of Several FirearmsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on July 16, 2019, United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced Mark Tullock, age 37, of New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to 70 months’ imprisonment and a two-year term of supervised release, for orchestrating the unlawful purchase of several firearms.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, on various dates in 2016 and 2017 in Schuylkill County, Tullock directed other individuals to serve as “straw purchasers” for several handgun-style firearms, which Tullock himself was not permitted to purchase or possess based upon his prior criminal record.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case.
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 the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
# # #
Rowan County Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Concord resident was sentenced on July 16, 2019, in federal court in Greensboro, announced United States Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina.
The Honorable Catherine C. Eagles sentenced Eddy Antonio PERALTA, 35, of Concord, North Carolina, to a 165 month term of imprisonment on charges of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. In addition to 165 months imprisonment, PERALTA was ordered to serve five years of supervised release after completing his sentence. PERALTA pleaded guilty in January 2019.
In October 2017, officers with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office received information that a black truck could be located at a garage near Blackwelder Baptist Church, and that the individual driving the truck was in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine. Surveillance was established near the garage, and a black Nissan Frontier truck was observed in the parking lot. A traffic stop was conducted as the vehicle left the parking lot. The officer recognized the driver as PERALTA based upon previous interactions with him, and knew that PERALTA did not have a valid driver’s license. As the officer processed the traffic offense, a second officer arrived and deployed his certified drug detection canine in order to conduct a free air sniff around the exterior of the Nissan Frontier. The canine gave a positive alert for the presence of the odor of narcotics, and a subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of approximately 80 grams of a substance suspected to be crystal methamphetamine. PERALTA admitted that he had a pound of methamphetamine stored in a vehicle at his residence in Concord. Officers conducted a consent search at PERALTA’s home and located a large quantity of methamphetamine inside a disabled gray Honda. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the substance discovered inside the Honda was methamphetamine, with a total weight of 895 grams.
Prior to this arrest, PERALTA had been convicted of felony sexual assault, felony possession of cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The case was investigated by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Concord Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry M. Meinecke.
###
Ridgway Resident Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Ridgway, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Jesse Porter, 42, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Porter took sexually explicit photos and video of two minor victims. One victim was three years of age when Porter recorded himself sexually abusing her. The other victim was 15 when Porter took sexually explicit surreptitious video of her.
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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for November 6, 2019. The law provides for a total sentence of 60 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Porter on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Ridgway Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Porter.
Ranger American Security Employee Found Guilty of Stealing $70,000 from Banco Popular ATMRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Clement Bougouneau, 52, of St. Thomas, was found guilty of bank burglary and larceny after a two-day jury trial in District Court, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to trial testimony, on September 4, 2017, shortly before Hurricane Irma made landfall, Bougouneau used his access and inside knowledge as a twelve-year Ranger American employee to steal $70,000 from the St. John Banco Popular de Puerto Rico ATM. Video tapes presented in the courtroom showed live footage of a person, identified as Bougouneau, removing cash from the ATM machine on September 4th. Another video showed Bougouneau’s subsequent interview with law enforcement, where he provided several different explanations of the events surrounding the September 4th heist.
As a result of his conviction, Bougouneau faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is set for November 21, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith J. Edwards.
Project Parkersburg Update: Parkersburg Man Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that Jeffrey Hoyler, 56, of Parkersburg, was sentenced to 71 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Hoyler was prosecuted as part of Project Parkersburg – a major takedown and dismantling of a multi-state drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing methamphetamine and heroin. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, the Parkersburg Police Department, the Dayton Ohio Police Department, and the Parkersburg Narcotics and Violent Crime Task Force. The long-term, joint investigation resulted in at least 29 individuals being charged in federal and state court, the seizure of 121 pounds of ICE methamphetamine, six kilograms of cocaine, 217 grams of heroin, and 290 grams of fentanyl.
“This DTO was bringing large amounts of deadly and dangerous narcotics into West Virginia,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “The dismantlement of this drug network is a huge win for West Virginia families.”
At his plea hearing, Hoyler admitted that in addition to distributing methamphetamine himself, he transported large quantities of cash to Phoenix, Arizona at the direction of co-defendants Aurelius Edmonds and Terrence McGuirk where Edmonds and others met with their source of supply to purchase the drugs.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is responsible for the prosecution.
Follow us on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart
###