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25 April 2019
Major Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Federal Prison on Drug Trafficking and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced JOHNNY J. MASON, age 36, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to federal prison following his convictions in Operation Hidden Fee, an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a drug trafficking network based and operating in Baton Rouge. The Indictment filed in this matter charged significant drug trafficking offenses involving heroin, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine, as well as several firearm offenses.
U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced MASON to a 180 month term of imprisonment following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Court also sentenced MASON to 5 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearm be forfeited.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, MASON was on parole for simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling and possession of cocaine when law enforcement authorities arrested him in January 2017 during an undercover investigation of a purchase MASON had arranged involving methamphetamine. Authorities searched the vehicle MASON was traveling in and seized, among other items, digital scales and four bags containing approximately 58.41 grams of methamphetamine and a Beretta .380 caliber pistol. While in parish prison, MASON recruited his co-defendant, Stacy Taylor, into the drug trafficking conspiracy and introduced her to James C. Hull, the head of a narcotics distribution ring involving 21 subordinate drug dealers who operated throughout the Baton Rouge area.
Taylor pled guilty to the conspiracy and was subsequesntly sentenced to 48 months imprisonment. Hull pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine base, distribution of methamphetamine and heroin, and four counts of unlawful use of communication facilities. As a result of his conviction, Hull faces a significant term of imprisonment, a fine, and a period of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, ”I want to congratulate our prosecutors and our federal, state, and local partners, whose work will ensure that this serious drug trafficker will remain behind bars for a significant period of time, and that a large drug trafficking organization is being dismantled. Keeping drugs and violence out of our communities remains a top priority of our office.”
“This is an outstanding example of law enforcement teamwork,” said DEA’s Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Arnett. “It also shows the tenacity of our law enforcement agents who, for years, continued to pursue MASON and bring him to justice and be punished for the serious crimes he committed.”
The investigation is yet another effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, which was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
These ongoing investigations were led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with invaluable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Baton Rouge City Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. Other agencies also assisted in apprehending the defendants, including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Sheriffs’ Offices in Ascension, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Piedrahita and Lyman E. Thornton III.
Llano Woman Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Stealing over $900,000 from Local BankRead the Press Release
In San Antonio, 45-year-old Kelley Ranae Jones was sentenced to three years in federal prison for stealing over $900,000 from her employer, the Arrowhead Bank in Llano, TX, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs.
Yesterday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez sentenced Jones to the prison term followed by five years of supervised release and ordered that she pay $905,372.49 in restitution to the bank.
On January 28, 2019, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a bank employee. By pleading guilty, she admitted that while employed at the bank from 2011 to 2018, she stole the money by manipulating entries in Arrowhead bank records.
FBI agents conducted this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean B. O’Connell prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
Leader of Newark Drug Trafficking Organization Charged with Continuing Criminal EnterpriseRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man has been indicted on an additional charge stemming from his role as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that dealt heroin and crack cocaine in and around Newark, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Keith Herd, 31, of Newark, is charged in a second superseding indictment, returned April 24, 2019, with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. Herd was charged by indictment in August 2018 with two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin. A superseding indictment in October 2018 added one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Herd and his co-defendants will be arraigned on the new indictment at a date to be determined.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Herd was the main heroin supplier in and around Hayes Street and 14th Avenue in the area of the New Community Corporation community development (NCC) and the leader of the Brick City Brim set of the Bloods street gang within NCC. In addition to selling narcotics in and around NCC, Herd and members of the organization alerted each other to police and rival gang member or drug dealer presence within NCC, shared narcotics supplies, narcotics proceeds, customers, and raised money for each other following arrests.
If convicted, Herd faces mandatory term of life in prison.
Herd was originally charged by complaint along with 10 other individuals in March 2018. An additional 17 individuals were charged by complaint in April and August of 2018. Furad Loyal, 37, Tyrone Brown, 35, and Raheem Tarry, 33, all of Newark, are indicted with Herd on narcotics conspiracy, distribution, and possession charges for their respective roles in the NCC drug trafficking organization. Loyal also faces firearms possession charges.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, and members of the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Director Anthony F. Ambrose, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, the New Jersey Department of Corrections, New Jersey State Parole, and the U.S. Marshals for their assistance.
Herd and the NCC drug trafficking organization were part of the original Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) targets. The VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around the Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA’s New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Union County Jail, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine K. Lou of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Kentucky Woman Charged with Sex Trafficking Two VictimsRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky charging Cleoretta Allen, 41, of Louisville, Kentucky, with two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and one count of interstate transportation for prostitution, announced Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Russell M. Coleman of the Western District of Kentucky, and Special Agent in Charge James Robert Brown Jr. of the FBI’s Louisville Division.
According to the indictment, between September 2017 and October 2017, the defendant used force, fraud, and coercion to cause two women to engage in commercial sex acts in Kentucky. The defendant also transported the two women from Kentucky to Georgia to engage in prostitution.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted of sex trafficking, the defendant faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, as well as mandatory restitution and a $250,000 fine. The interstate transportation for prostitution charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine.
This case is being investigated by the FBI in Louisville, Kentucky, the Louisville Metro Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda E. Gregory of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Litigation Counsel William E. Nolan and Trial Attorney Kate Alexander of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Justice Department Obtains $600,000 Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against North Carolina Property OwnerRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced a settlement with Robert Hatfield to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he violated the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act by subjecting 17 actual and prospective female residents of homes he owned in Wilkes County, North Carolina, to sexual harassment over the course of more than 10 years.
Under the settlement, which the parties filed today with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Hatfield has agreed to pay a total of $600,000, which includes $550,000 in monetary damages to former and prospective residents, as well as a $50,000 civil penalty. The settlement also permanently bars Hatfield from participating in the rental, sale, or financing of residential properties, and requires that he relinquish his ownership interest in all such properties.
“Abusing power and control over housing and credit by committing acts of sexual harassment is an abhorrent and intolerable violation of every woman’s right to equal housing and credit opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “The Justice Department, through its Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative, will continue to aggressively enforce federal anti-discrimination laws against property managers and owners who cause women to feel unsafe in their homes.”
“Using a woman’s need for housing and safety as leverage to obtain sexual favors is behavior that is both illegal and depraved,” said Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. “Hatfield’s settlement underscores my office’s commitment to continue to vigorously enforce the federal civil rights laws to combat sexual harassment in housing and to hold accountable those who violate these statutes.”
The complaint, filed in 2017, alleged that Hatfield ran a real estate business that involved not only operating residential rental properties, but also selling homes through “owner financing,” meaning he extended credit to individuals to purchase homes that he owned. The lawsuit alleged that he subjected actual and prospective female residents of these homes to sexual harassment by making unwanted sexual advances and comments, groping or otherwise touching their bodies without consent, offering to reduce or eliminate down payments, rent, and loan obligations in exchange for sexual favors, and taking or threatening to take adverse action against residents when they refused or objected to his advances.
In October 2017, the Justice Department launched an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing. In April 2018, the Department announced the nationwide rollout of the initiative, including three major components: a new joint Task Force with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to combat sexual harassment in housing, an outreach toolkit to leverage the Department’s nationwide network of U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and a public awareness campaign, including the launch of a national Public Service Announcement.
Since launching the initiative, the Justice Department has filed nine lawsuits alleging a pattern or practice of sexual harassment in housing. The Justice Department has filed or settled 14 sexual harassment cases since January 2017, and has recovered over $2.2 million for victims of sexual harassment in housing.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibit discrimination in housing and lending. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, e-mail the Justice Department at [email protected], or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or through its website at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp.
Justice Department Obtains $600,000 Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against North Carolina Property OwnerRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina today announced a settlement with Robert Hatfield to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he violated the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act by subjecting 17 actual and prospective female residents of homes he owned in Wilkes County, North Carolina, to sexual harassment over the course of more than 10 years.
Under the settlement, which the parties filed today with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Hatfield has agreed to pay a total of $600,000, which includes $550,000 in monetary damages to former and prospective residents, as well as a $50,000 civil penalty. The settlement also permanently bars Hatfield from participating in the rental, sale, or financing of residential properties, and requires that he relinquish his ownership interest in all such properties.
“Abusing power and control over housing and credit by committing acts of sexual harassment is an abhorrent and intolerable violation of every woman’s right to equal housing and credit opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “The Justice Department, through its Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative, will continue to aggressively enforce federal anti-discrimination laws against property managers and owners who cause women to feel unsafe in their homes.”
“Using a woman’s need for housing and safety as leverage to obtain sexual favors is behavior that is both illegal and depraved,” said Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. “Hatfield’s settlement underscores my office’s commitment to continue to vigorously enforce the federal civil rights laws to combat sexual harassment in housing and to hold accountable those who violate these statutes.”
The complaint, filed in 2017, alleged that Hatfield ran a real estate business that involved not only operating residential rental properties, but also selling homes through “owner financing,” meaning he extended credit to individuals to purchase homes that he owned. The lawsuit alleged that he subjected actual and prospective female residents of these homes to sexual harassment by making unwanted sexual advances and comments, groping or otherwise touching their bodies without consent, offering to reduce or eliminate down payments, rent, and loan obligations in exchange for sexual favors, and taking or threatening to take adverse action against residents when they refused or objected to his advances.
The settlement agreement can be found here.
In October 2017, the Justice Department launched an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing. In April 2018, the Department announced the nationwide rollout of the initiative, including three major components: a new joint Task Force with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to combat sexual harassment in housing, an outreach toolkit to leverage the Department’s nationwide network of U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and a public awareness campaign, including the launch of a national Public Service Announcement.
Since launching the initiative, the Justice Department has filed nine lawsuits alleging a pattern or practice of sexual harassment in housing. The Justice Department has filed or settled 14 sexual harassment cases since January 2017, and has recovered over $2.2 million for victims of sexual harassment in housing.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibit discrimination in housing and lending. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, e-mail the Justice Department at [email protected], or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or through its website at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp
Jefferson Parish Building Inspector Pleads Guilty for His Role in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ALTON MCCLINTON, age 54, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty as charged yesterday before United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey to a one-count bill of information with using a facility of interstate commerce with the intent to promote unlawful activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 1952(a)(3).
According to court documents, MCCLINTON began working as a building inspector for the Jefferson Parish Department of Inspection and Code Enforcement in about 2014. He was responsible for, among other things, investigating complaints involving zoning violations and inspecting buildings to ensure that the structures were in compliance with parish building codes. On at least ten (10) occasions, MCCLINTON used his position to demand a payment of between $150 and $500 in exchange for issuing either (1) a report reflecting that no zoning violation had occurred when, in fact, one had occurred and (2) an inspection report reflecting that MCCLINTON had inspected a particular building and that the building complied with parish building codes when, in fact, MCCLINTON had not actually inspected the building. Thereafter, MCCLINTON had the pertinent information regarding the fraudulently passed building or zoning inspection entered into one of two internet-based computer systems used by Jefferson Parish to record building inspections and zoning violations. While most of the bribe payments MCCLINTON received were in cash, at least one was in the form of a check drawn on the account of the party seeking a passing report from MCCLINTON. In total, MCCLINTON received a total of not less than $3,000 in bribe payments to influence his conduct.
MCCLINTON faces a maximum term of five (5) years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment. Sentencing before Judge Zainey has been scheduled for July 30, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter, with the assistance of the Jefferson Parish Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, supervisor of the Public Corruption Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
Jefferson County Home Builder Charged with a Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – Federal prosecutors yesterday charged a Jefferson County home builder with a wire fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
In a one-count information filed in U.S. District Court, the U.S. Attorney’s office charges JEFFREY RUSERT, 52, with a wire fraud scheme.
According to the information, Rusert embezzled over $1.3 million from his customers. Rusert was the owner and President of Southern Craftsman Custom Homes, Inc. Southern Craftsman was engaged in the business of residential homebuilding. Between 2016 and 2018, Rusert engaged in a fraudulent scheme to obtain money from at least sixteen known individuals and/or families. Rusert solicited individuals and families to sign a contract and pay money to Southern Craftsman for the construction of a custom home. Rusert accepted the checks and down payments from numerous individuals and families and fraudulently used the proceeds on unrelated construction projects, outstanding debt, and personal expenses. In addition to obtaining personal checks from the victims, Rusert assisted individuals and families with obtaining a loan to finance the construction of their custom home. After obtaining financing, Rusert submitted false and fraudulent invoices and documentation to financial institutions for the purpose of obtaining checks or draws from the construction loans purportedly to pay for materials, labor and expenses associated with a particular home under construction. Rusert failed to apply the money obtained from the financial institutions towards the construction of the customer’s home project.
“The victims trusted the defendant to help them achieve the American dream of a custom built home and instead he took their money, used it for his own benefit, and left them without a home, while he moved on to other unsuspecting victims,” Town said. “We appreciate the collaborative work of the FBI and the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board.”
The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Beardsley Mark is prosecuting.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Jackson Man Sentenced Under Project EJECT to 18 Months in Prison for Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Jeremy Shedd, 32, of Jackson, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III, to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing a stolen firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi. Shedd was also ordered to pay a $1,500.00 fine.
On March 9, 2018, FBI received information from a confidential source that Shedd traded firearms for narcotics out of his residence, noting that the source saw Shedd in possession of narcotics and multiple firearms, some believed to be stolen. Later that day, FBI agents obtained and executed a search warrant at Shedd’s residence. During the search, agents found approximately 16 firearms. Shedd ultimately admitted to knowing that one of the firearms was stolen.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wansley.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for "Empower Justice Expel Crime Together." PSN is 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.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to over 8 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Jesus Ernesto Rodriguez, 36, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to serve 103 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles with Homeland Secuity Investigations (HSI). Rodriguez was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
On March 26, 2018, a U.S. Border Patrol agent attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Interstate 10 in D’Iberville on a vehicle driven by Rodriguez’s codefendant, Jason Cooper. Cooper failed to stop and began throwing what was later determined to be methamphetamine from the driver’s side window. Cooper exited the interstate in Ocean Springs where law enforcement lost sight of the vehicle. Agents canvassed the area and located the vehicle, which was still occupied by Cooper and Rodriguez. Inside the car, agents located 78.2 grams of methamphetamine.
On April 17, 2018, Rodriguez and Cooper were charged in a federal indictment. Rodriguez pled guilty on October 15, 2018, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Cooper previously pled guilty and was sentenced on November 13, 2018, to 233 months in prison.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shundral H. Cole.
Henry County Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the IRSRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Henry County woman who co-owned Pittman Trucking Company ("PTC") pleaded guilty to obstructing the administration of the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.
According to the charging instrument, Debra Wyatt, of Puryear, Tennessee, executed a scheme to release two IRS tax levies against PTC. PTC owed the IRS approximately $214,373.40 in federal employment taxes. The IRS tax levies were issued to Rush Trucking Corporation ("RTC") which was a source of income for PTC. Wyatt contacted an RTC representative about releasing the levies. She sent fraudulent releases to RTC that purported to be from the IRS revenue officer. RTC released the levies based on Wyatt’s fraudulent correspondence. The total amount of fraudulently released debt was $20,765.81.
This charge carries a penalty of up to 36 months in federal prison and a fine of $5,000.00. Sentencing is set for July 25, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Protection of the United States Treasury is a core value and critical mission for this office and the Department of Justice. Income tax evasion, IRS obstruction and fraud strike at the very heart of our federal government, and will not be tolerated."
This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Damon K. Griffin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Hazleton Man Sentenced to 63 Months’ Imprisonment for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on April 24, 2019, United States District Court Judge James M. Munley sentenced Theodore O. Wing, age 52, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, to 63 months’ imprisonment and a two-year term of supervised release, for aiding and abetting false statements in the purchase of firearms.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Wing’s daughter, Jasmine Wing, purchased five firearms while making false representations that she was the actual buyer, when in fact Theodore Wing and his co-conspirators selected, paid for, and took possession of the firearms. The firearms were purchased from Bob’s Sporting Goods in Hazleton, PA, and from Dave’s Gun Shop in Drums, PA, between September 19, 2014 and March 19, 2015. The firearms were:
- a Glock 19 9mm;
- a Glock 23 .40 caliber;
- a Taurus PT745Pro .45acp;
- an Extar EXP556 5.56; and
- a CAI/Romarm Micro Draco 7.62x39 (a semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine).
Two of the firearms subsequently were recovered in law enforcement operations, including one that had been used in a shooting in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, in February 2015. In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Munley highlighted Theodore Wing’s lengthy criminal history, willingness to involve his own daughter in this offense, and his attempts to persuade his daughter to lie to investigating law enforcement officials. Theodore Wing has remained in custody pursuant to this matter and an unrelated state sentence for a narcotics trafficking conviction.
The United States previously filed a criminal information and plea agreement with Jasmine Wing, who was charged with making false statements in the course of purchasing six firearms (including the five charged against Theodore Wing). Jasmine Wing pleaded guilty on August 9, 2017, and is awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo.
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.
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Harrison County man admits to role in a methamphetamine distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Russell Clark, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Clark, age 64, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises.” Clark admitted to maintaining a residence on Winding Way in Clarksburg for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine in February 2018.
Clark faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $500,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Accessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Michael Alex Miller, 19, of Gulfport, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to one count of accessing with intent to view visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In February 2019, the FBI received information that a specific Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with a Gulfport residence had previously accessed a website used to access child pornography. On February 8, 2019, agents went to that Gulfport address and Michael Alex Miller answered the door. Miller agreed to voluntarily speak with the agents who conducted a non-custodial interview with Miller. Miller admitted to looking at child pornography on his Samsung S5 Cellular Telephone and viewing or accessing multiple images of the same. Forensic examination of Miller’s cellular devices confirmed Miller accessed multiple images of minors engaging in such conduct. A review of the images by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also confirmed that the images included known minors.
Miller will be sentenced on Friday, July 26, 2019, at 9:30 a.m., before United States District Judge Sul Ozerden in Gulfport.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Grain Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography, Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Grain Valley, Mo., man who was already under investigation for distributing child pornography over the internet pleaded guilty in federal court today to traveling to North Dakota for illicit sex with a 14-year-old child, who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer.
Andy Earl Crook, 63, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to distributing child pornography, possessing child pornography, and traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
FBI agents in Washington executed a search warrant at a residence in that state on Feb. 21, 2018. A review of the suspect’s electronic devices indicated that he had exchanged images and videos of child pornography with others via the internet, including Crook.
On April 5, 2018, Google, Inc. submitted two separate incident reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline reporting that Crook had uploaded and stored possible child pornography images in Google Photos online. An FBI agent, acting in an undercover capacity, communicated with Crook via Kik Messenger. Crook sent images and a video of child pornography to the undercover agent.
On May 4, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Crook’s residence and seized his electronic devices. On Crook’s cell phone, investigators found numerous sexually explicit photos of Crook, 190 images and 13 videos of child pornography (including infants and toddlers), and chat conversations involving child exploitation.
Following the search and seizure, and his interview with an FBI agent, Crook contacted an undercover law enforcement officer in North Dakota, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl, on Sept. 1, 2018. Crook’s communication with the undercover officer, via Facebook Messenger and Kik Messenger, became increasingly sexually graphic.
Crook made plans to travel to North Dakota to meet the person whom he believed was a 14-year-old girl, so they could engage in illegal sexual conduct. Crook rented a vehicle and drove to North Dakota for a planned meeting on Sept. 22, 2018. When Crook arrived for the meeting, he was arrested. Officers found multiple sex toys in his vehicle.
Under federal statutes, Crook is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 70 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."Garden City Woman, Licking Man Plead Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Garden City, Mo., woman and a Licking, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to their roles in a conspiracy to distribute at least 15 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Lisa A. Fletcher, 51, and Ricky F. Hazen, 63, pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Co-defendant Tony L. Ryerson, 52, of Duke, Mo., pleaded guilty on Jan. 24, 2018, to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, Fletcher supplied Hazen with at least a pound of methamphetamine each week between June 28, 2015, and Nov. 28, 2016. Hazen then distributed methamphetamine to Ryerson and others. Ryerson distributed ounce quantities of methamphetamine to other distributors.
According to court documents, the conspiracy distributed at least 15 kilograms of methamphetamine. The defendants’ plea agreements cite several controlled buys of methamphetamine from Hazen and Ryerson by law enforcement officers utilizing confidential informants. One confidential informant saw Ryerson pull out a shotgun and shoot a hole in the wall of the residence during a transaction. The confidential informant also saw three additional firearms on Ryerson’s table.
Another source told investigators that he purchased at least a pound of methamphetamine from Hazen each week for four months, for which he paid Hazen $1,000 per ounce. Officers executed a search warrant at Hazen’s residence on Sept. 18, 2015, and found 522 grams of methamphetamine in an ammunition can on a trailer outside the house, as well as a total of 1.4 grams of methamphetamine in baggies on the kitchen counter.
Hazen told investigators he had been buying pounds of methamphetamine for three months from a source that was introduced to him by Fletcher. Ryerson was averaging a pound a week from this source until that source was “busted” in August. Hazen then began getting pounds from a new source in the Kanas City, Mo., area. Ryerson would call Fletcher and tell her how much methamphetamine he needed. Fletcher would then call Hazen to tell him when to come to her residence to retrieve the methamphetamine. Hazen paid Fletcher $13,000 per pound of methamphetamine.
On Oct. 9, 2015, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper conducted a stop of a Ford Crown Victoria, driven by Fletcher, in Polk County, Mo. Inside the vehicle, the trooper found a suitcase that contained 443.7 grams of methamphetamine. Fletcher admitted she was delivering the methamphetamine to Hazen.
Under federal statutes, Fletcher, Hazen and Ryerson each are subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the South Central Drug Task Force, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Fresno Couple Indicted for Drug Possession and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Edilberto Vidrio, 53, and Elena Castillo, 46, both of Fresno, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Fresno police officers assisted Monterey County District Attorney’s Office to serve a search warrant unrelated to narcotics at Vidrio and Castillo’s apartment. They found approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine, a pound of cocaine, and 1.8 pounds of heroin packaged for sale in their apartment. Scales and other items associated with the sale of narcotics were also found in their apartment.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Montoya is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Vidrio and Castillo face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Middletown Resident Sentenced to 5 Years Imprisonment in Federal Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Michael Boyce, age 57, formerly of Middletown, was sentenced yesterday by U. S. District Court Judge Richard G. Andrews to 60 months of imprisonment on federal wire fraud and tax evasion charges.
According to documents and arguments discussed in open court, beginning in or around 2004, Mr. Boyce began defrauding his employer by submitting fake invoices for computer equipment and supplies that were never provided to the company. Mr. Boyce was able to submit these invoices because he worked in his employer’s Information Technology Department. After submitting the invoices through third party vendors, Mr. Boyce completed the fraudulent transactions by falsely logging the equipment as received by the company and forwarding the paperwork to the Accounts Payable Department. Upon receiving payment from the company, the third party vendors would transfer 90% of that payment to Mr. Boyce. Over the course of the twelve years that Mr. Boyce’s scheme went undetected, he stole more than $3.2 million from his employer, all the while rising through the ranks of the IT Department, eventually becoming its director. Though he declared much of his illegal income, Mr. Boyce evaded the payment of income taxes on more than $1 million between 2012 and 2015. Mr. Boyce pled guilty to this scheme on November 27, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Today was a day of reckoning for a defendant who, over the course of a dozen years, stole millions of dollars from his employer to line his own pockets. His calculated and callous conduct not only hurt the company’s bottom line, but abused the trust of his co-workers and the supervisors who promoted him, all the time unaware of the theft. While Defendant successfully concealed his crimes for years, today they caught up with him. The five year sentence handed down by the Court should send a message to others contemplating similar crimes that in the end, crime does not pay. ”
“Michael Boyce omitted a significant portion of his income; and in doing so, evaded over half a million dollars in taxes,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Guy Ficco. "The overarching principle of IRS' enforcement strategy is simply this: We protect the integrity of the tax system by ensuring everyone pays the right amount of tax."
The case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS-Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf. U.S. Attorney Weiss thanked the investigators for their diligence and dedication in pursuing this investigation.
Former Credit Union Lending Director Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Kevin Robert Lee, 35, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon to twenty counts of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, theft from a lending institution, and three counts of filing a false tax return. The guilty plea was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Between June 2014 and November 2017, Lee was the lending director of FSU Credit Union (FSUCU), a Tallahassee-based credit union, a position that allowed him to open new customer accounts and approve lines of credit. He also served as treasurer of the Tallahassee Chapter of Credit Unions (TCCU), a non-profit organization that advocates pro-credit union legislation.
In 2014, Lee used the name, date of birth, and social security number of the President of TCCU to create a second account for TCCU. Lee used the original TCCU account for fraudulent activity while leaving the new account for legitimate TCCU transactions. Lee also created two accounts using the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of his college roommates, which served as “intermediary accounts” into which funds stolen from FSUCU customers were deposited. Lee also transferred funds from inactive customer accounts either to pay down the lines of credit he created, to the intermediary accounts he created, or into the original TCCU account. Lee used the stolen funds to pay off personal credit cards, to make mortgage and car payments, and for his children’s tuition. In total, Lee transferred or withdrew a total of $806,666.26 from FSUCU. In February 2016 and March 2017, Lee filed tax returns in which he did not claim as income the funds he stole from FSUCU.
Lee faces the following penalties:
- Bank fraud: a maximum of 30 years in prison;
- Aggravated identity theft: a 2-year mandatory minimum prison sentence consecutive to any other sentence imposed;
- Theft from a lending institution: a maximum of 30 years in prison; and
- Filing a false tax return: a maximum of 3 years in prison.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 22, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.
This case resulted from an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, after being alerted by FSU Credit Union. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Former Bend Campus Security Officer Receives Second Life Sentence for Federal Kidnapping and CarjackingRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—Edwin Enoc Lara, 34, a former campus safety officer at Central Oregon Community College and resident of Bend, Oregon, was sentenced today to life in federal prison for kidnapping and carjacking.
“Edwin Lara is a ruthless killer who will rightfully spend the rest of his life in prison,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “There is simply no place in civil society for this type of horrific violence. I sincerely hope Lara’s two life sentences will bring some measure of comfort to his victims and their families. Their courage and perseverance throughout Lara’s lengthy state and federal cases are an inspiration to the entire law enforcement community.”
According to court documents, between July 24 and July 26, 2016, Lara went on a violent crime spree that left multiple victims and their families in its wake. Early on the morning of July 24, 2016, Lara brutally murdered 23-year-old Bend resident Kaylee Sawyer, a crime for which he would later receive a life sentence in Deschutes County Circuit Court.
After the murder, on July 25, 2016, Lara fled to Salem, Oregon where he carjacked and kidnapped a young woman at gun point. Lara told his victim he was a police officer and showed her news reports about what he had done to Kaylee Sawyer. He then forced her to travel with him to California. Along the way, Lara decided to stop at a hotel in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Inside the hotel room, Lara handcuffed his victim, forced her to take sleeping pills, and made a series of physical advances leading her to believe he might sexually assault her.
A short while later, after receiving a phone call and growing concerned that law enforcement was nearing his location, Lara left the hotel with his victim and continued traveling toward California. At some point during the drive, Lara sought to change vehicles to avoid detection and stopped at two rest areas looking for another vehicle to steal.
In the early morning hours on July 26, 2016, Lara stopped at a motel in Yreka, California where he spotted an elderly man near his vehicle. Lara parked, grabbed his victim by the hand and approached the man. With his gun visible, Lara told the man that he needed his vehicle. When the man wouldn’t comply, Lara shot him in the abdomen. At this point, Lara’s victim pleaded with him to let her go, but he again grabbed her hand and forced her to flee with him by foot to a nearby gas station.
At the gas station, Lara found his next victims, two young men and their elderly grandmother, sitting inside a vehicle. After threatening to shoot them, Lara entered their vehicle with his Oregon victim and forced them to drive off. During the drive, Lara confessed to his victims that he had an “urge to kill” and had already murdered a young woman in Bend and shot a man in Yreka. Lara eventually dropped his three California victims on the side of the road, again threatened to kill them and continued driving southbound with his Oregon victim. Soon after, California law enforcement caught up with Lara and arrested him.
On November 16, 2016, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a four-count indictment charging Lara with one count each of kidnapping and carjacking, and two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Prior to sentencing, Lara pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and carjacking charges before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.
This case was investigated by the Redmond Police Department, Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and other local law enforcement agencies in California with the assistance of the FBI. It was prosecuted by Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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.
Florida Residents Charged with Armed Robbery of Wethersfield BankRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian C. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Wethersfield Police Chief James Cetran today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment yesterday charging SAMUEL NEATHERY, 29, and DAISY FELIBERTY, 35, both of Florida, with robbing a Wethersfield bank at gunpoint in December 2018.
The indictment alleges that, on December 27, 2018, Neathery and Feliberty entered the People’s United Bank located at 436 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, brandished firearms and, by force, violence and intimidation, took approximately $83,000 from the bank.
The indictment charges Neathery and Feliberty with one count of armed bank robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years, and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years.
Neathery and Feliberty are currently detained in South Carolina for alleged offenses stemming from a credit union robbery in Forest Acres, South Carolina, on February 5, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wethersfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.
Felon who was Convicted of Threatening U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier and Firearm Possession Sentenced to 36 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that on April 18, 2019, David E. Polnitz, Jr., was sentenced in federal court to 36 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and forcibly assaulting, impeding, intimidating or interfering with a United States Postal Service (“USPS”) Letter Carrier. A jury had previously found Polnitz guilty of these charges.
The facts at trial showed that on June 27, 2017, a USPS Letter Carrier was attempting to deliver mail when Polnitz’s unrestrained pit bull charged the Letter Carrier. Fearing for his safety, the Letter Carrier followed procedure and sprayed the pit bull with USPS-issued dog spray. Polnitz, 39, upon being notified by his spouse of the incident, ultimately pointed a Taurus, model PT738, semi-automatic .380 pistol at the Letter Carrier. The Letter Carrier identified Polnitz, among other ways, by his distinctive “Pepsi blue” contact lenses.
While sentencing Polnitz, United States District Court Judge Pamela Pepper emphasized that this was one of the more serious cases of its kind that she had seen. She also stressed that the victim in this case was merely doing his job as a letter carrier and should never have been threatened with a gun.
“This sentence sends the message that federal prison awaits anyone who threatens a federal employee,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “We commend the law enforcement agencies for their excellent work in bringing justice to this matter.”
“The sentencing in this case should send a strong message that Postal Service employees should not be threatened or intimidated while performing their official duties, and should be off limits to acts of violence,” said Inspector in Charge Craig Goldberg, of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection. “The safety of Postal Service employees is our top priority and violence against our employees will never be tolerated.”
The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Corey and Benjamin Taibleson.
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Felon Sentenced for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Michael A. Raskie, 36, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to three years in federal prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon. Raskie pleaded guilty to this charge on January 14, 2019. His prison term will be followed by a three-year period of supervised release.
On September 22, 2018, Raskie was observed shoplifting at a Menards store in Eau Claire. He gave the loss prevention officer permission to retrieve the stolen items from his truck. Prior to doing so, the Eau Claire police were called. They knew Raskie is a felon, who was on probation. While he was retrieving the stolen items, the loss prevention officer saw a rifle case in Raskie's truck. The loss prevention officer told Eau Claire police that there appeared to be a rifle in the case. The officers searched the truck and located methamphetamine, numerous rounds of ammunition, a homemade suppressor, a bump stock, a .45 caliber handgun, and an AR-15 rifle.
Judge Conley rejected Raskie’s request for an 18-month sentence because the firearms and ammunition were “high powered” and because Raskie accessorized them with the suppressor and bump stock.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence.
The charge against Raskie was the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.
Federal Jury Convicts Memphis Man for Robbing Multiple Businesses; Accomplice pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a week-long jury trial, a Memphis man was found guilty of robbing two businesses and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during those robberies. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on Monday, June 11, 2018, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Kewan Callicutt, 34, and his girlfriend Nitika Wilkerson, 35, entered the Family Dollar Store located at 4330 Winchester Road and robbed the business at gunpoint. They took $738.74 from the registers and safe and fled the scene on foot. Callicutt had been wearing a fake beard, Army hat, blue FedEx hoodie, white sunglasses, blue pants, and was armed with a silver and black semiautomatic handgun.
At approximately 9:50 p.m. on July 22, 2018, Callicutt entered the Family Dollar Store located at 3255 Hickory Hill Road and robbed that business at gunpoint. He was wearing a fake beard, Army hat, sunglasses, plaid shirt, and was armed with a silver and black semiautomatic handgun. Callicutt was unaware that he took a GPS tracking device when he stole the money from the business. Soon after he left the business, Memphis Police Communications began receiving real-time locations of the tracking device and subsequently traced it to Callicutt’s address at 5391 Newberry Road. Memphis Police Officers responded to that address and observed a black Mazda M26 backed into the driveway with its headlights on. As officers approached the vehicle, Callicutt opened the passenger’s side door and fled the scene on foot, leaving Wilkerson inside the vehicle. Wilkerson was taken into custody. She pleaded guilty to both robberies on February 7, 2019, and is set for sentencing June 19, 2019.
Sentencing for Callicutt is set for July 19, 2019, before United States District Judge Mark Norris, where he faces possible sentences of up to 20 years for each robbery, and a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 14 years for brandishing a firearm during each crime of violence.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Robberies of businesses with a firearm are especially dangerous and violent due to the high risk of death and serious bodily injury to innocent victims. Business robberies also have a substantially negative impact on the local economy and commerce, which victimizes the entire community. As demonstrated in this case, we will not tolerate this senseless gun violence and will use all available resources to remove dangerous offenders from our communities for a very long time."
The case was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Hartridge is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Federal Indictments Target San Bernardino Street Gang’s Drug Trafficking Activities, Including Smuggling Drugs into County JailRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – More than 250 law enforcement personnel this morning arrested 24 members and associates of the Westside Verdugo street gang in San Bernardino who are charged in eight federal indictments, one of which alleges they deliberately got themselves arrested in order to smuggle narcotics and syringes hidden in their body cavities into San Bernardino County jails.
The defendants arrested this morning are among 35 charged in the indictments unsealed today. A total of 10 defendants are already in state custody and are expected to be brought to federal court in the near future.
Three of the indictments returned by a federal grand jury earlier this month name Carlos Antonio Aznaran, 24, of Rialto, as the central figure in separate narcotics-trafficking conspiracies. One of the indictments details how the gang distributed methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana inside San Bernardino County’s jail system from at least July 2017 until April 2019. Another indictment alleges that members and associates of Westside Verdugo – including Aznaran and his wife, Elisa Montes, 28, of Palm Desert – conspired to distribute methamphetamine within the City of San Bernardino. The third narcotics indictment charges Aznaran and others with conspiring to distribute heroin in San Bernardino County, as well as possessing firearms and ammunition in furtherance of their drug crimes. The remaining five indictments charge individual Westside Verdugo gang members or associates with being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition.
One of the indictments alleges that on July 2, 2017, Aznaran and other defendants planned for another gang member – Trevor Harris, a.k.a. “Eminem,” and “Vice,” 28, of San Bernardino – to get himself arrested purposely so he could smuggle narcotics to jailed co-conspirators. One week later, Harris was arrested for tampering with a vehicle and was taken to the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino. A search by law enforcement personnel, who had been monitoring telephone calls at the jail, recovered from Harris’s anal cavity approximately 43.33 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 49.7 grams of heroin, five syringes, and 20 packets of the opioid Suboxone, the indictment states. The narcotics allegedly were separated into multiple packets with monikers written on them to indicate who would receive the drugs.
On September 24, 2017, Ernest Madrid, 48, of San Bernardino, told another person that he was “trying to get busted right now” so he could smuggle narcotics into a custody facility, according to the indictment. Later that day, Madrid was arrested for a probation violation and was taken to the Central Detention Center, where approximately 78.2 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 12.12 grams of heroin, and five syringes – all concealed in his anal cavity – were seized. Authorities also found two telephone numbers, allegedly used by Aznaran, written in marker on Madrid’s legs.
“For more than 50 years, this gang has been responsible for spreading drugs and violence in this community, but today we have taken a major step to combat the group’s influence on the city of San Bernardino,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “While this is not the first time federal authorities have joined with our local counterparts to fight this criminal gang, today’s arrests signal that we will continue to pursue street gangs until families in every Southern California neighborhood can lead safe and peaceful lives.”
“Collaboration with law enforcement at all levels of government is crucial in our continuing efforts to stem the tide of criminal activity by street gangs,” said Paul Delacourt, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The arrests announced today are the latest example of that partnership and of our commitment to targeting the most violent of these gangs, such as the Westside Verdugo, whose members traffic in drugs and intimidate through violence.”
“Today, our department assigned four tactical teams to apprehend the suspects involved in this case. This is a significant step in interrupting this criminal enterprise so that they can be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney,” said Undersheriff Shannon Dicus of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. “On behalf of Sheriff John McMahon, we would like to thank all of our agency partners, especially the men and women who worked on this investigation for their commitment to protecting all of us.”
“This gang is and has been responsible for many crimes on our streets,” said San Bernardino Acting Police Chief Eric McBride. “We appreciate the work and collaborative effort done by our partnering agencies. This investigation has made strides in making our community a safer place.”
In addition to allegations of distribution of methamphetamine, one of the indictments also claims that two of the gang’s associates were found in possession of personal identifying information of dozens of unsuspecting victims, whose identities the defendants used to commit fraud.
In the third conspiracy case, the documents allege that law enforcement not only seized heroin, but also substances containing fentanyl, as well as loaded firearms stored with the narcotics.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances carries a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, and the San Bernardino Police Department.
The Fontana Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the San Bernardino County Probation and Parole Departments provided substantial assistance.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin R. Rhoades and Scott M. Lara of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Fifteen in Heroin and Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On April 9, 2019, a federal grand jury in Greeneville returned a three-count indictment against the following individuals for their roles in the distribution of heroin and fentanyl:
- Deandre Roy Haliburton, 31, of Detroit, Michigan
- Deshawn Dwayne Thomas, 25, of Detroit, Michigan
- Daryl Alvito Reese, 27, of Detroit, Michigan
- Delmeko Desean Vaughn, 24, of Detroit, Michigan
- Deandre Eric Williams, 24, of Detroit, Michigan
- Joshua Gould, 35, of Warren, Michigan
- Leon Walton II, 33, of Detroit, Michigan
- Nidia Marie Santiago, 25, of Detroit, Michigan
- Shakeela Myon Bradley, 29, of Detroit, Michigan
- Lovey Shresse Ingram, 31, of Detroit, Michigan
- Lareitha Lucretia Haliburton, 25, of Detroit, Michigan
- Ann Margaret Isabell, 25, of Detroit, Michigan
- Ashley Nicole Johnson, 26, of Port Huron, Michigan
- Tamar Victor Frost, 24, of Detroit, Michigan
The indictment, which was recently unsealed and is on file with the U.S. District Court, alleges that each of these individuals was involved in a conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and/or 40 grams or more of fentanyl in the Eastern District of Tennessee and elsewhere. Gould, Walton, and Bradley are also charged with money laundering. Thomas is charged with the distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of a victim.
Trial is currently set for June 11, 2019, in U.S. District Court in Knoxville, before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, U.S. District Judge.
If convicted of the heroin and fentanyl distribution conspiracy charge, each faces a minimum mandatory term of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5,000,000.
If convicted of the distribution of fentanyl resulting in the death of a victim charge, Thomas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, with a possible sentence of up to life, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $8,000,000.
The ongoing investigation leading to the indictment was the product of a partnership between the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Fifth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Blount County Sheriff’s Department, Maryville Police Department, Alcoa Police Department, Sevier County Street Crimes, Sevierville Police Department, Sevier County Sheriff’s Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Knoxville Police Department, Ninth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Wood County, Ohio, Prosecutor’s Office, FBI, ATF, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Quencer will represent the United States in court proceedings.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation is a result of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Eleven in Heroin and Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On April 2, 2019, a federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a single count indictment against the following individuals for their roles in the distribution of heroin and fentanyl in the Eastern District of Tennessee and elsewhere:
- Darrle Wade Harris, 54, of Knoxville, Tennessee
- Cordarryl Wade Harris, 27, of Knoxville, Tennessee
- Ronald Anthony Thompson, 29, of Detroit, Michigan
- DeAirrus Jamar Taylor, 28, of Plymouth, Michigan
- Deshawn Lee Greene, 24, of Detroit, Michigan
- Jamal Mylen McDonald, 22, of Detroit, Michigan
- Raynell Eugene McDonald, 49, of Detroit, Michigan
- Raphiel Antwon Thompson, 28, of Detroit, Michigan
- Robert Lee-Rogener McDonald, 28, of Romulus, Michigan
- Keith Madison, 53, of Detroit, Michigan
- Sherard Ramon Taylor, 32, of Detroit, Michigan
The indictment, which was recently unsealed and is on file with U.S. District Court, alleges that each of these individuals was involved in a conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and/or 40 grams or more of fentanyl in the Eastern District of Tennessee and elsewhere.
Trial is currently set for June 18, 2019, before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, U.S. District Judge.
If convicted of the heroin and fentanyl distribution conspiracy charge, each faces a minimum mandatory term of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5,000,000.
The ongoing investigation leading to the indictment was the product of a partnership between the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Fifth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Blount County Sheriff’s Department, Maryville Police Department, Alcoa Police Department, Sevier County Street Crimes, Sevierville Police Department, Sevier County Sheriff’s Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Knoxville Police Department, Ninth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Wood County, Ohio, Prosecutor’s Office, FBI, ATF, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Quencer will represent the United States in court proceedings.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation is a result of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Chicago Man for Allegedly Committing Murder to Maintain and Increase Position in Violent Street GangRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man sought to maintain and increase his position in a violent street gang when he fatally shot a man outside a South Side gas station last fall, according to a federal indictment unsealed today.
DERRICK SWANSON, 22, of Chicago, is charged with committing murder in aid of racketeering, and illegally possessing a handgun. He was arrested this morning. Arraignment in U.S. District in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment accuses Swanson of murdering Anthony Carter on Oct. 2, 2018, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing Swanson’s position in the Evans Mob street gang. Carter, 27, was fatally shot outside a gas station in the 800 block of East 79th Street in Chicago’s Grand Crossing neighborhood.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Timothy Jones, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and Eddie Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vikas Didwania, Rajnath Laud, and Albert Berry III.
The indictment alleges that the Evans Mob, also known as “GuttaGang” and “HitzSquad,” is a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in narcotics trafficking and committed acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder and assault, to acquire and preserve the gang’s territory on the South Side of Chicago. Members of the Evans Mob publicly claimed responsibility for their acts of violence, taunted rival gang members, and took steps to prevent law enforcement’s detection of criminal activities, according to the indictment.
The indictment also renews a charge that was initially filed in November against another suspected Evans Mob member, PIERRE ROBINSON, 26, of Chicago. Robinson is accused of murdering Glenn Houston on Dec. 23, 2014, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing Robinson’s position in the gang. Houston, 23, was fatally shot inside a store about four blocks west of where Carter was killed.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Murder in aid of racketeering is punishable by a mandatory sentence of life in prison, and the death penalty is also possible. The illegal gun possession charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Federal Court Shuts Down Florida Tax Return PreparersRead the Press Release
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida entered a permanent injunction against Guary Louima, Guy Telfort, and Tax Houses and Accounting Services Inc., barring them from preparing federal tax returns for others and owning or operating a tax preparation business, the Justice Department announced today.
The court also ordered that Louima, Telfort and the business disgorge $150,000, representing the ill-gotten gains they received for the preparation of tax returns. The defendants agreed to entry of the injunction and disgorgement judgment against them.
In its complaint the government alleged that Louima and Telfort own and operate Tax Houses and Accounting Services Inc. in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. The government alleged that the defendants prepared tax returns making false or fraudulent claims for the Earned Income Tax Credit by claiming bogus business losses for non-existent businesses, misrepresenting the filing status of their customers, and inflating the number of dependents claimed on their return. Defendants also allegedly prepared returns that improperly lowered their customers’ reported taxable income by falsely claiming deductions for the personal use of their vehicles.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. The IRS has information on its website about selecting a return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Fairview Park man indicted for assaulting federal officers and illegally having a firearm after he allegedly had a firearm and struck task force officers who were trying to arrest himRead the Press Release
A Fairview Park man was charged with assaulting federal officers and illegally having a firearm after he allegedly had a firearm and struck task force officers who were trying to arrest him.
Kevin W. Walker, 33, on March 6 struck two police officers working with the U.S. Marshals as part of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force with his vehicle, according to the indictment.
Walker also possessed a Taurus 9 mm firearm and ammunition on March 6. Walker was prohibited from having the firearm and ammunition because of previous convictions for domestic violence, aggravated assault, and other crimes, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique
to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Marshal Service, the Cleveland Division of Police, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Zarzycki and Danielle Angeli.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Fairbanks Man Indicted on Federal Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Christopher Thomas Howard, a/k/a “Indy,” 33, of Fairbanks, has been federally indicted with three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Howard was arrested on April 5, 2019, based on a criminal complaint.
According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 3, 2019, Howard allegedly negotiated to sell two ounces of methamphetamine, agreeing to meet at Club Manchu in Fairbanks for the exchange. During the exchange, Howard got into another vehicle and handed over two plastic baggies of methamphetamine. Howard allegedly told the buyer that he had four ounces of methamphetamine left, that he had sold two pounds over the last couple of days, and that he should be getting more soon. The subsequent investigation revealed that the two plastic baggies Howard distributed contained 55.2 grams of pure d-Methamphetamine Hydrochloride. At Howard’s preliminary hearing on Friday, April 19, 2019, U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec found sufficient probable cause to continue detaining Howard to answer to the charges as stated in the criminal complaint.
The indictment charges Howard with distributing methamphetamine on two additional occasions, on Nov. 15, 2018, and again on Dec. 6, 2018.
If convicted, Howard faces a statutory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison for the most serious charges alleged in the indictment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU), which is comprised of officers from the Alaska State Troopers (AST), the Fairbanks Police Department (FPD), and the North Pole Police Department, conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan D. Tansey.
The charges in the indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Jury Convicts Albuquerque Man on Methamphetamine and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury sitting in Albuquerque, N.M., returned a guilty verdict against Yusef Casanova 46, of Albuquerque, on methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges today after a four-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge James A. Parker. The verdict was announced by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred J. Federici, Special Agent in Charge Monique Y. Villegas of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Special Agent in Charge Kyle Williamson of the DEA’s El Paso Division.
Casanova was charged with violating the federal narcotics and firearms laws in an indictment originally filed in June 2016, and later superseded in March 2017. The superseding indictment charged Casanova with distributing methamphetamine on June 7, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M. It also charged Casanova with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and with unlawfully possessing an unregistered firearm. According to the superseding indictment, in June 2016, Casanova was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of distributing controlled substances, escape from jail, tampering with evidence, robbery, and receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle.
Trial on the three-count superseding indictment began on April 22, 2019, and concluded this afternoon, when the jury returned a verdict of guilty on each of the three counts.
The evidence at trial established that in early June 2016, an ATF Special Agent was supervising an informant on an undercover operation in southeast Albuquerque that targeted narcotics and firearms crimes. On June 6, 2016, the informant obtained a telephone number for Casanova, with the understanding that Casanova would sell him methamphetamine. That day, the informant had four recorded telephone calls with Casanova, during which Casanova negotiated the sale of two ounces of methamphetamine and a firearm, a sawed-off rifle, to the informant.
On June 7, 2016, the informant had another recorded telephone call with Casanova during which they negotiated the price for the methamphetamine and the firearm – a $1250 for the drugs and $100 for the gun – and agreed to meet later that day to complete the deal. When Casanova failed to show up at the agreed upon location, another meeting was arranged. At the new location, the parking lot of an Albuquerque-area fast food restaurant, federal agents video-recorded Casanova as he met with an unidentified man before meeting with the informant to complete the drug and gun deal.
The jury heard the testimony of the ATF Special Agent who supervised the informant, the DEA Special Agents who arranged for the methamphetamine to be tested at the DEA lab, and the ATF Special Agent who confirmed that the gun traveled in interstate commerce and was shorter than permitted by law. The jury also heard the telephone recordings between Casanova and the informant, saw the videotape of the meeting during which Casanova sold the methamphetamine and gun to the informant, and saw the gun and ammunition that Casanova sold to the informant.
The jury deliberated less than two hours before returning the guilty verdict.
Casanova was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after the jury rendered its verdict and will remain detained until his sentencing hearing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Casanova faces a statutory mandatory minimum of ten years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the ATF and DEA offices in Albuquerque. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel A. Hurtado and Mark C. Pfizenmayer are prosecuting the case.
El Paso Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
In El Paso, 33-year-old Nickolias Sauceda was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Jack P. Staton, El Paso.
Yesterday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone sentenced Sauceda to the prison term followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
On May 5, 2018, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Saucedo’s residence and seized several home computers, related media and cell phones. A subsequent forensics examination of the seized materials revealed the presence of hundreds of videos and images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit activity. Three of the videos discovered were produced by the defendant while he was having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old female. On February 6, 2019, Sauceda pleaded guilty to the child pornography production charge.
“This case is another nightmarish example of a person recording his sexual brutalization of a child. I am proud that our office continues to fight this wave of child abuse,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.
“This sentence–essentially a life sentence–exemplifies the type of heinous crimes committed against the most vulnerable among us,” said Jack P. Staton, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “Taking child predators off the streets is part of HSI’s mission, and we will continue to target them and use our authority and technical expertise to keep them from victimizing children.”
HSI agents in El Paso conducted this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Rasmussen prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Dunbar Man Pleads Guilty to Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Dunbar man pled guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Kenneth Stover, 43, entered his guilty plea before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
On August 31, 2017 detectives from MDENT searched Stover’s 18th Street residence in Dunbar as a result of citizen complaints of drug activity where they recovered two firearms from Stover’s bedroom. Stover was prohibited from possessing the firearms as a result of having been convicted of conspiracy to operate a clandestine drug laboratory in Putnam County in 2004.
Stover faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on July 24, 2019. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is responsible for the prosecution.
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.
Follow us on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart
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District Man Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison for Illegally Trafficking 31 Firearms from Virginia into the District of Columbia for ResaleRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Isaiah Green, 28, of Washington D.C., has been sentenced to a 50-month prison term for his role in a gun trafficking scheme in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Green pled guilty in November 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to a charge of interstate travel in connection with engaging in the business of illegally dealing in firearms. He was sentenced on April 24, 2019, by the Honorable Amit P. Mehta. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
The guilty plea followed an investigation by ATF, MPD, and the Virginia State Police into Green’s role in the purchase of significant quantities of firearms during the summer of 2018. Green and another individual were arrested on July 27, 2018, in the District of Columbia after allegedly purchasing four firearms at the Dulles Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia. An additional five firearms, all with obliterated serial numbers, were recovered by law enforcement from an apartment in the District of Columbia where Green was living at the time.
According to the government’s evidence, beginning in or around June 27, 2018, Green and the other individual began accepting orders for firearms purchases from people residing within the District of Columbia. To fulfill the orders, the two traveled to various gun stores and pawn shops throughout Virginia. The other individual would fill out ATF forms and falsely assert that she was the intended owner of the firearm. Green could not purchase the firearms himself because he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms due to a prior domestic violence conviction.
After purchasing the firearms, the two traveled back to an apartment in Southeast Washington, where Green used a sanding tool to remove the serial numbers from the firearms so that the firearms could not be traced back to them after they were sold. The two would then illegally sell the firearms for a profit within the District of Columbia.
As part of the plea agreement, Green admitted that he and his co-defendant purchased 31 firearms for illegal resale in a one-month time period in 2018.
In a related development, a third person pled guilty on April 24, 2019, for purchasing firearms from Green and his co-defendant. Juan Jones, 41, of District Heights, Md., pled guilty to conspiring to violate federal laws connected to his involvement in requesting straw purchased firearms with obliterated serial numbers. Jones is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction for a gun crime and he is currently on parole for this offense. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Mehta on July 24, 2019. His plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon sentence of three years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the ATF and MPD with the assistance of the Virginia State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin L. Rosenberg of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Delray Beach Resident Sentenced to Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
A Delray Beach resident was sentenced today to a total of nine years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Ari C. Shapira, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, Gadyaces S. Serralta, U.S. Marshal, Southern District of Florida, and Gregory Tony, Sheriff, Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), made the announcement.
Pender Senatus, 38, of Delray Beach, was convicted by a trial jury on January 25, 2019, of being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) (Case No. 18-80029-Cr-Marra). The trial jury acquitted Senatus of assaulting three federal officers with a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a)(1) and (b), and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the assaults, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (ii). Senatus was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra to 108 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
According to the court record, including facts contained in the indictment, filings in the case, and evidence presented at trial, on July 25, 2017, Senatus was arrested outside his Delray Beach residence on an arrest warrant for second degree murder in a Broward County case. The arrest was made by BSO detectives assigned to the SWAT/Fugitive Unit, each of whom had been sworn in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal, and was working as a Task Force Officer with the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service. When advised he was under arrest and ordered to get on the ground, Senatus said, “Hell no,” and fled toward the front door of his residence. The detectives tackled Senatus, who then pulled out a loaded handgun from a holster inside his waistband. The handgun fell from his hand as Senatus was wrestled to the ground.
Senatus could not be charged with the federal offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm because the handgun had been manufactured in Florida and had not traveled in interstate or foreign commerce. The ammunition inside the handgun, however, had been manufactured outside the state of Florida, so Senatus was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition.
This case stems from Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN was reinvigorated 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.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and BSO in this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William T. Shockley.
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 at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Defendant Apprehended with Firearms, Live Rounds of Ammunition, and Loaded Magazines Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm While Under IndictmentRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Amead Williams, 24, pleaded guilty on April 25, 2019 in federal court to possession of a firearm while under indictment.
According to court documents, on September 11, 2018, Virgin Islands police and other law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence in Frederiksted. During the search, police uncovered a .223 Kel Tec pistol with two attached loaded magazines, each containing 30 live rounds, and a 9mm firearm loaded with 13 rounds. A firearm forensic analysis revealed that both firearms were operable. Amead Williams admitted to law enforcement officers that the firearms belonged to him. At the time of the search, Williams was subject to criminal charges pending in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands,
Williams faces up to five years of incarceration for the offense and a fine of up to $250,000.00. A sentencing date has been scheduled for August 28, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews, Jr.
DEA and Partners hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in announcing that on April 27th, DEA will hold its 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The biannual event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at thousands of collection sites around the country, including here at Kroger, 7615 Highway 70 Bartlett, Tennessee. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous.
With robust public participation over the course of 16 prior events, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative continues to remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens.
Now in its seventeenth year, DEA has collected a total of nearly 11 million pounds (more than 5,400 tons) of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications through its Take Back Day events. This weekend, approximately 6,000 collection sites will be manned by law enforcement partner agencies. The public can find a nearby collection site at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539. (DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps.)
"Addiction causes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, not just for those addicted to drugs, but also for their families and friends," said Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. "Helping people keep their loved ones safe by disposing of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications is just one of many ways that DEA is working to break the cycle of addiction and overdose deaths plaguing this country."
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Addressing the opioid crisis in our communities requires a comprehensive approach which includes prevention, education, treatment, and enforcement. The DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back event allows everyone to participate in prevention and education that promotes public safety, and I encourage all West Tennesseans to turn in your unused, unwanted, and expired medications. Together, we can prevent addiction, injury and death, and educate the public about the dangers of prescription drug abuse."
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States continue to be alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The majority of prescription drug abusers say they get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet. Take Back Day is a unique opportunity for Americans to protect their homes and medicine cabinets from theft and abuse.
National Take Back Day has received enthusiastic public support since its inception in 2010. Last October, the public turned in 457 tons (914,236 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,800 of its local and tribal partners.
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DEA and Partners Hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 27, 2019Read the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – On Saturday, April 27, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Des Moines Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other participating law enforcement agencies will give the public its 17th opportunity in nine years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps – only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.
This Saturday, approximately 6,000 collection sites manned by nearly 5,000 partner law enforcement agencies will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. The public can find a nearby collection site at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539.
Last October Americans turned in 457 tons (914,236 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,800 of its state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners. Overall, in previous Take Back Day events, DEA has collected a total of nearly 11 million pounds of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The majority of prescription drug abusers say they get their abused prescription drugs free from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
DEA and Partners Hold 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – This Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its local law enforcement and community partners will collect expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications at 19 collection sites throughout Alaska. The service is free of charge, no questions asked. Last October, residents of Alaska turned in 3,977 pounds (2 tons) of prescription medications.
“Take Back Day is a unique opportunity for Alaskans to protect their homes and medicine cabinets from theft and abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Schroder. “Our country is in the midst of an opioid crisis, and all too often the abuse begins with prescription drugs. Getting old and unneeded prescriptions out of the home can help prevent addictions from starting.”
“Prescription drug abuse is an epidemic that is plaguing the nation,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Root. “Alaskans can help us combat this serious public health issue by disposing of unwanted medications at one of the take back sites in the area. Everyone who participates in this free and anonymous service is making a difference in their community.”
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative addresses a critical public safety and public health issue. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States continue to be alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Because the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration have advised the public that flushing their prescription drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards, DEA launched its prescription drug take back program to encourage the safe disposal of medications.
Now in its ninth year, DEA has collected a total of nearly 11 million pounds (more than 5,400 tons) of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications through its Take Back Day events. This weekend, approximately 6,000 collection sites manned by nearly 5,000 partner law enforcement agencies will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. (DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps.)
For more information or to locate a collection site near you, go to www.DEATakeBack.com where you can search by zip code, city, or state.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Christopher Watson, 29, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 42 months in prison followed by three years of court supervision for illegally possessing a firearm.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Todd Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Jonathan McPherson, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck and agencies participating in the FBI Safe Streets Task Force announced the sentence handed down Wednesday, April 24 by U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose.
According to the Statement of Facts in this case, task force officers searched a house in west Dayton in March 2018 and found a loaded 9mm handgun holding 16 rounds of ammunition in a bedroom. Investigators determined that the gun belonged to Watson. Because Watson had been convicted of felony drug possession in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in May 2011, he was prohibited from having a firearm or ammunition. Watson pleaded guilty in January 2019 to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the Safe Streets Task Force, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Hunt, who represented the United States in this 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 Justice Department 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.
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Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Social Security Number Fraud, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Mark Pignatello, 54, of Kent, Connecticut, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to bank fraud, social security number fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, from October 22 through 24, 2018, Pignatello traveled across Maine and New Hampshire visiting branches of People’s United Bank at which he passed or attempted to pass counterfeit checks made out to others. He used the social security numbers and other personal information of these individuals to impersonate them and used counterfeit driver’s licenses bearing his image but their personal information. He was apprehended by the Newport police outside of the Newport, Maine branch of People’s United Bank, where his activity had been identified as fraudulent.
Pignatello faces up to 30 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000,000 on the bank fraud charge, up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the social security number fraud charge, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft charge, as well as up to five years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Maine State Police.
Columbus Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank Robbery in WhitehallRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Robert K. Mason, 42, of Columbus, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to robbing a bank in Whitehall, pistol-whipping two of the bank’s employees while demanding money, and conspiring with his girlfriend to hide the gun he used in the robbery.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Todd Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Columbus Division of Police Acting Chief Tom Quinlan, and Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen announced the plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
Mason pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery, punishable by up to 25 years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence, which carries a minimum punishment of seven years and up to life in prison, and one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
In a statement of facts in the plea agreement, Mason admitted that he robbed the Huntington Bank at 4550 East Broad Street on September 26, 2018. Mason walked in the bank, lifted his shirt to show that he had a gun, pulled the handgun and ordered customers to the floor. Mason vaulted the counter and demanded money from the tellers, hitting two of them with the gun when he became frustrated at the speed of the employees.
Mason ran out the front door and escaped in a car driven by his girlfriend, Bretta L. Nallen. Whitehall police arrested Mason on October 31. While he was in custody, he called Nallen and told her to get rid of the gun. Nallen is facing charges of being an accessory to the crime and evidence tampering.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by law enforcement and assistant U.S. attorneys David DeVillers and Courter Shimeall, who are representing the United States in this case.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Theft of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Jonathan Donnell Thompson, a/k/a “Joe-Nae,” a/k/a “Jonathan Joe Nate Thompson,” age 37, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee.
Evidence presented to the court showed on August 5, 2016, Tony’s Guns and Police Supplies, a federal firearms licensee in Sumter, was burglarized and approximately 75 handguns were stolen. The investigation revealed similarities between that burglary and other burglaries of liquor stores in several counties. Law enforcement was able to identify Cedrick K. Reddick, age 26, of Columbia, as one of the suspects after a DNA match linked him to a burglary of one of the liquor stores. Additionally, a search warrant at Reddick’s apartment revealed a 9mm handgun stolen during the burglary of Tony’s Guns and Police Supplies. Both Thompson and his co-defendant Reddick were charged federally with the gun store theft. Of the 75 firearms stolen, only 21 of them have been recovered by law enforcement, some in the hands of felons who are prohibited from possessing firearms and were prosecuted federally.
Thompson has prior state convictions for driving under suspension (two separate counts), forgery less than $5,000, simple possession of marijuana (two separate counts), possession of cocaine (two separate counts), and receiving stolen goods. One week prior to this August 5, 2016 incident, Thompson pleaded guilty in Richland County to malicious injury to real property stemming from a February 2016 attempted burglary at a Columbia liquor store.
United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs sentenced Thompson to 48 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Thompson’s co-defendant Reddick was sentenced on April 12, 2019, to a total of 84 months (7 years) in federal prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. That 84-month sentence is comprised of 70 months on the new firearm convictions and a consecutive 14-month revocation of his prior federal supervision.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Clinton Police Department, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation 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. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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Charleston Woman Sentenced to Prison for Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that Theresa Jurae-Lekole Woodson, 31, of Charleston, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. Stuart commended the efforts of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
“Distribution of heroin and cocaine. Selling it for money. Tragic,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Woodson was peddling multiple illicit drugs in Charleston. As a result of MDENT’s good work, she will now spend some time in federal prison for her criminal activity.”
Woodson pled guilty in December 2018, admitting that she intended to distribute heroin, cocaine, and crack in March 2018. MDENT detectives used an informant to purchase cocaine and heroin from Woodson in late February and early March 2018. On March 12, 2018, MDENT executed a search warrant at her Woodward Drive residence in Charleston where they recovered 17 grams of crack, 27 grams of heroin, and a small amount of cocaine powder along with a firearm.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks handled the prosecution.
Follow us on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart
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Celadon Group, Inc. Enters into Corporate Resolution for Securities Fraud and Agrees to Pay $42.2 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
Celadon Group Inc. (Celadon) has agreed to pay total restitution of $42.2 million for filing materially false and misleading statements to investors and falsifying books, records and accounts.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler of the Southern District of Indiana, Special Agent in Charge Grant Mendenhall of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office and Inspector in Charge Delany De Leon-Colon of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) made the announcement.
Celadon, a transportation company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, that was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in connection with a criminal information filed today in the Southern District of Indiana charging the company with securities fraud. The case was primarily focused on the fact that Celadon knowingly filed materially false and misleading statements to investors and falsified books, records and accounts with regard to the values of assets involved in four trade transactions that were recorded at inflated values and not fair market value.
“Celadon executives misled the investing public for a simple reason: profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “Securities fraud harms all investors — from the most sophisticated to those everyday Americans saving for retirement, and the Criminal Division remains committed to investigating and prosecuting these complex crimes.”
“The fabric of American industry is woven together through innovation, work ethic and integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler. “The government is charged with ferreting out misdeeds in corporate America, particularly when these violations of public trust result in financial harm to our citizens as is set forth in this matter. I would like to personally thank and recognize the Justice Department’s Fraud Section, SEC, FBI and USPIS partners whose collaborative work unearthed this criminal activity.”
“The message here is clear, those who commit financial fraud will be held accountable. Investors should expect nothing less than complete candor and truth from companies and their executives,” said Special Agent in Charge Grant Mendenhall. “The FBI and our agency partners will continue to identify, investigate and pursue violations such as this.”
“The Postal Inspection Service has been protecting investors and defending the integrity of the marketplace for many years,” said Inspector in Charge Delany DeLeon-Colon. “Anyone who engages in these deceptive securities practices should know they will not go undetected and they will be held accountable.”
According to court documents filed as part of the DPA, Celadon provided trucking and transportation services in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Quality Companies LLC (Quality) was a wholly owned subsidiary of Celadon that leased tractors and trailers to owner-operator truck drivers. Between 2013 and 2016, Quality’s inventory grew rapidly, from approximately 750 tractors and trucks to more than 11,000.
Quality’s financial performance began to struggle in 2016 due in part to a slowdown in the trucking market. In addition, Quality owned a significant number of a truck models with mechanical issues, which many drivers did not want to lease. By 2016, many of Quality’s trucks were idle, unleased and overvalued on Quality’s books by tens of millions of dollars.
Instead of properly reporting Quality’s financial difficulties to investors, members of Celadon’s and Quality’s senior management team, all acting within the scope of their employment, participated in a scheme that resulted in Celadon falsely reporting inflated profits and inflated assets to the investing public through Celadon’s financial statements. Between approximately June 2016 and October 2016, Quality engaged in a series of trades as a means to dispose of its aging and unused trucks. In order to avoid disclosing the losses connected to these trucks, executives executed the trades using invoices purposely inflated well above market value. Celadon ultimately used these invoices and inflated truck values to hide millions of dollars of losses from investors.
In December 2016, after allegations of misconduct had arisen publicly, Celadon’s management approved a memorandum that falsely stated the trucks involved in the above-described transactions were purchased and sold at fair market value, and were accounted for properly on Celadon’s books. Further, beginning in approximately January 2017, Celadon’s independent auditors conducted an investigation into the allegations of misconduct. In response, multiple members of Celadon’s and Quality’s management falsely represented to independent auditors that the transactions were done at fair market value and that they were not trades. Celadon’s auditor ultimately withdrew its audit opinion for certain Celadon financial statements. The resulting disclosure by Celadon of the auditor’s withdrawal caused a significant drop in the price of Celadon’s stock, which resulted in investors losing tens of millions of dollars.
Under the terms of the DPA, Celadon is required to pay full restitution of $42.2 million to shareholder victims directly and proximately harmed as a result of the commission of the offense, which will be paid over a period of years consistent with 18 U.S.C. § 3664(f)(2), (3)(A). Celadon also agreed to implement rigorous internal controls and cooperate fully with the Department’s ongoing investigation, including its investigation of individuals. Under the DPA, prosecution of the company for securities fraud will be deferred for an initial period of approximately five years, subject to approval by the court, to allow Celadon to demonstrate good conduct.
The Department reached this resolution based on a number of factors, including Celadon’s ongoing cooperation with the United States and the company’s extensive efforts at remediation. Among other remedial efforts, the company no longer employs the executives involved in wrongdoing, and the company replaced its executive management team with experienced executives who display a commitment to building an ethical corporate culture. Furthermore, Celadon created the new position of Chief Accounting Officer and hired an experienced Internal Audit staff member reporting directly to the Company’s Internal Audit Manager.
In addition, the United States filed an Information and plea agreement against Danny Williams, the former President of Quality, who was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, to make false statements to a public company’s accountants, and to falsify books, records and accounts of a public company in connection with Celadon’s crimes.
Trial Attorneys Kyle W. Maurer and L. Rush Atkinson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Deputy Chief Steven D. DeBrota and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Linder of the Southern District of Indiana prosecuted the case with assistance from the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office and the USPIS.
This investigation is ongoing.
If you believe you are a victim of this offense, please visit https://www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/case/celadon or call (888) 549-3945.
Celadon Group, INC. Enters into Corporate Resolution for Securities Fraud and Agrees to Pay $42.2 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
Celadon Group, Inc. (Celadon) has agreed to pay total restitution of $42.2 million for filing materially false and misleading statements to investors and falsifying books, records and accounts.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler of the Southern District of Indiana, Special Agent in Charge Grant Mendenhall of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office and Inspector in Charge Delany De Leon-Colon of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) made the announcement.
Celadon, a transportation company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, that was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in connection with a criminal information filed today in the Southern District of Indiana charging the company with securities fraud. The case was primarily focused on the fact that Celadon knowingly filed materially false and misleading statements to investors and falsified books, records and accounts with regard to the values of assets involved in four trade transactions that were recorded at inflated values and not fair market value.
“Celadon executives misled the investing public for a simple reason: profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “Securities fraud harms all investors — from the most sophisticated to those everyday Americans saving for retirement, and the Criminal Division remains committed to investigating and prosecuting these complex crimes.”
“The fabric of American industry is woven together through innovation, work ethic and integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler. “The government is charged with ferreting out misdeeds in corporate America, particularly when these violations of public trust result in financial harm to our citizens as is set forth in this matter. I would like to personally thank and recognize the Justice Department’s Fraud Section, SEC, FBI and USPIS partners whose collaborative work unearthed this criminal activity.”
“The message here is clear, those who commit financial fraud will be held accountable. Investors should expect nothing less than complete candor and truth from companies and their executives,” said Special Agent in Charge Grant Mendenhall. “The FBI and our agency partners will continue to identify, investigate and pursue violations such as this.”
“The Postal Inspection Service has been protecting investors and defending the integrity of the marketplace for many years,” said Inspector in Charge Delany DeLeon-Colon. “Anyone who engages in these deceptive securities practices should know they will not go undetected and they will be held accountable.”
According to court documents filed as part of the DPA, Celadon provided trucking and transportation services in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Quality Companies, LLC (Quality) was a wholly owned subsidiary of Celadon that leased tractors and trailers to owner-operator truck drivers. Between 2013 and 2016, Quality’s inventory grew rapidly, from approximately 750 tractors and trucks to more than 11,000.
Quality’s financial performance began to struggle in 2016 due in part to a slowdown in the trucking market. In addition, Quality owned a significant number of a truck models with mechanical issues, which many drivers did not want to lease. By 2016, many of Quality’s trucks were idle, unleased and overvalued on Quality’s books by tens of millions of dollars.
Instead of properly reporting Quality’s financial difficulties to investors, members of Celadon’s and Quality’s senior management team, all acting within the scope of their employment, participated in a scheme that resulted in Celadon falsely reporting inflated profits and inflated assets to the investing public through Celadon’s financial statements. Between approximately June 2016 and October 2016, Quality engaged in a series of trades as a means to dispose of its aging and unused trucks. In order to avoid disclosing the losses connected to these trucks, executives executed the trades using invoices purposely inflated well above market value. Celadon ultimately used these invoices and inflated truck values to hide millions of dollars of losses from investors.
In December 2016, after allegations of misconduct had arisen publicly, Celadon’s management approved a memorandum that falsely stated the trucks involved in the above-described transactions were purchased and sold at fair market value, and were accounted for properly on Celadon’s books. Further, beginning in approximately January 2017, Celadon’s independent auditors conducted an investigation into the allegations of misconduct. In response, multiple members of Celadon’s and Quality’s management falsely represented to independent auditors that the transactions were done at fair market value and that they were not trades. Celadon’s auditor ultimately withdrew its audit opinion for certain Celadon financial statements. The resulting disclosure by Celadon of the auditor’s withdrawal caused a significant drop in the price of Celadon’s stock, which resulted in investors losing tens of millions of dollars.
Under the terms of the DPA, Celadon is required to pay full restitution of $42.2 million to shareholder victims directly and proximately harmed as a result of the commission of the offense. Celadon also agreed to implement rigorous internal controls and cooperate fully with the Department’s ongoing investigation, including its investigation of individuals. Under the DPA, prosecution of the company for securities fraud will be deferred for an initial period of approximately five years, subject to approval by the court, to allow Celadon to demonstrate good conduct.
The Department reached this resolution based on a number of factors, including Celadon’s ongoing cooperation with the United States and the company’s extensive efforts at remediation. Among other remedial efforts, the company no longer employs the executives involved in wrongdoing, and the company replaced its executive management team with experienced executives who display a commitment to building an ethical corporate culture. Furthermore, Celadon created the new position of Chief Accounting Officer and hired an experienced Internal Audit staff member reporting directly to the Company’s Internal Audit Manager.
In addition, the United States filed an Information and plea agreement against Danny Williams, the former President of Quality, who was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, to make false statements to a public company’s accountants, and to falsify books, records and accounts of a public company in connection with Celadon’s crimes.
Trial Attorneys Kyle W. Maurer and L. Rush Atkinson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Deputy Chief Steven D. DeBrota and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Linder of the Southern District of Indiana prosecuted the case with assistance from the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office and the USPIS.
This investigation is ongoing.
If you believe you are a victim of this offense, please visit https://www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/case/celadon or call (888) 549-3945.
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Camden County, New Jersey, Man, Admits Attempting to Distribute and Attempting to Possess with Intent to Distribute Crystal MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey man today admitted his role in a scheme to possess and distribute crystal methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Mauricio Melendrez, 46, of Blackwood, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle in Camden federal court to an information charging him one count of attempt to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five grams or more of crystal methamphetamine.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In May 2014, Melendrez arranged for the delivery of a package containing approximately two pounds of crystal methamphetamine stuffed inside a 4-slice toaster oven. Before the package could be delivered to its intended address on June 3, 2014, law enforcement seized it. Melendrez later discussed this package of crystal methamphetamine with another individual and stated it had been sent to him by a “cartel,” and that Melendrez still owed the cartel money for the crystal methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Susan A. Gibson in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The count to which Melendrez pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5 million, or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2019.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara A. Aliabadi of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
California Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on April 24, 2019, Michael Anthony Santistevan, age 31, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Santistevan was sentenced to 235 months in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release of five years.
On May 21, 2018, Santistevan was stopped by a Pottawattamie County Deputy for speeding on Interstate 80. Santistevan was the sole occupant of the rental vehicle. The car rental company was contacted and the return vehicle was overdue and Santistevan was not the renter nor an authorized driver. The deputy issued Santistevan a traffic citation for speeding and requested permission to search the vehicle. During the search, a certified narcotics canine was utilized for a inspection and the canine alerted and indicated to the odor of narcotics on the rear of the vehicle. Deputies located fifteen pounds of methamphetamine inside a tire in the vehicle.
This matter was investigated by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department and Council Bluffs Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Buffalo Couple Charged with Selling HeroinRead 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 Orlando Albert-Arroyo 24, and Genesis Tolentino-Cruz, 25, both of Buffalo, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the prosecution of the case, stated that according to the complaint, in February 2019, Buffalo Police investigators began investigating the drug trafficking activities of the defendants. The investigation was initiated following a possible drug overdose death.
In the early morning hours of February 27, 2019, first responders from the Buffalo Police Department, Buffalo Fire Department, and AMR Ambulance were dispatched to the scene of a possible drug overdose. Upon arrival, they discovered an unresponsive 24 year old male. Medical personnel attempted resuscitation efforts but the victim was declared deceased. At the scene, investigators recovered four green wax envelopes commonly used to package heroin and a plastic straw with white powder residue.
Subsequent investigation determined that the victim's girlfriend was in contact with a phone number tied to the defendant’s on the day of the victim’s death. In addition, between March 30 and April 11, 2019, AlbertArroyo and Tolentino-Cruz sold suspected heroin to an individual working with investigators on four separate occasions.
A search warrant was executed at the defendants’ residence and two AR style firearms and a quantity of suspected heroin were recovered.
AlbertArroyo and Tolentino-Cruz appeared at a detention hearing before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo and were released on conditions.
The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division.
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.# # # #