Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
20 March 2019
Man with Assaultive History Who Illegally Possessed Firearms Sentenced to Four Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed firearms and ammunition was sentenced today to four years in federal prison.
Damon Montano, age 39, from Louisiana, Missouri, received the prison term after a December 3, 2018, guilty plea to possession of firearms by a person convicted of domestic violence.
Evidence during the case established that Montano was convicted of domestic violence assault in 2007. After that conviction he continued to possess three different firearms and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition. At sentencing, Montano stated that he was “terrified [he] would get eaten alive by bears” and possessed the firearms for protection.
Montano was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Montano was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Williams relied on testimony at the sentencing hearing which established that, in addition to Montano’s 2007 domestic assault conviction, Montano had committed multiple other assaults, causing serious injuries, including as recently as August 2018 while he was incarcerated in the Tama County Jail and assaulted another inmate.
Montano is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Meskwaki Nation Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-0092.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Heroin and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to more than 10 years in prison for conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine.
According to court documents, William Jerome Peele, 45, was part of a massive drug-trafficking operation in Hampton Roads. As part of that conspiracy, Peele personally distributed more than 15 kilograms of cocaine, more than 2 kilograms of crack, and more than 100 grams of heroin. Last year, DEA conducted five controlled purchases of cocaine from Peele, totaling roughly 200 grams. Investigators arrested Peele just before a sixth scheduled buy. He was caught with 90 grams of cocaine, marijuana, $1200 in cash, and four cell phones. He told the investigators that he was planning to “cook” much of that cocaine into crack before police showed up. Police recovered even more cocaine from Peele’s home while executing a search warrant.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, Col. K.L. Wright, Chief of Chesapeake Police, and Angela Greene, Interim Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Promotional Deceit. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-175.
Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man pleaded guilty yesterday to producing child pornography.
According to court documents, Benjamin Taylor White, 34, produced an image of a 12-year old minor child completely nude in a shower. The image was uncovered on White’s cell phone, which also contained over 2,600 photos or videos of suspected or supported child exploitation or pornographic materials obtained by White via a peer-to-peer file sharing network in 2018. A forensic examination of White’s laptop computer further revealed that White searched for and accessed images of child pornography dating as far back as 2008.
White pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison when sentenced on June 21. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, and Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Shean and Elizabeth M. Yusi are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-17.
Man Pleads Guilty for Possessing a Firearm with Altered Serial NumberRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Waldorf man pleaded guilty today to possessing a firearm with an altered serial number.
According to court documents, in October 2018, Albert Lyles, 29, was pulled over for speeding by Military Police at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Military Police noticed the smell of marijuana inside the vehicle and upon inspection discovered approximately one ounce of marijuana and a firearm with an altered serial number.
Lyles pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with an altered serial number and faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison when sentenced on May 21. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Clark is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cr-72.
Man Found Guilty of Murder and Other Charges in Slaying of Corrina MehielRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – El Hadji Toure, 30, formerly of Laurel, Md., was found guilty today of murder and other charges stemming from the March 2017 slaying of artist Corrina Mehiel, whose body was found in a rowhouse in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Toure was found guilty by a jury of a total of 13 charges, including first-degree murder while armed (premeditated and felony), with aggravating circumstances; first-degree sexual abuse while armed, also with aggravating circumstances; kidnapping while armed; first-degree burglary while armed; robbery while armed; first-degree theft; unauthorized use of a vehicle; credit card fraud, and first-degree identity theft. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with no possibility of release. The Honorable Juliet McKenna scheduled sentencing for June 7, 2019.
According to the government’s evidence, on March 21, 2017, at approximately 4:34 p.m., officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) found Ms. Mehiel’s body in a rowhouse in the 600 block of 14th Street NE. Ms. Mehiel’s body, which had been bound, showed multiple stab wounds to her neck and side. Ms. Mehiel, 34, of Burnsville, N.C., had been staying in the sublet basement apartment while in Washington for a couple of weeks while working on an art show at the Corcoran Gallery at George Washington University.
On the morning of Monday, March 20, 2017, Ms. Mehiel was packing up her few belongings from the apartment. Toure broke into the residence, kidnapping and sexually assaulting her, stabbing her, and stealing her belongings, including her car and her debit card. Toure later used her debit card to withdraw cash at several ATMs in nearby Maryland and Virginia from March 20 through March 24, 2017.
On the afternoon of March 21, 2017, when no one had heard from Ms. Mehiel, her co-workers entered her apartment and found her body, face down in her bedroom.
The defendant, who was a stranger to Ms. Mehiel, was arrested on March 27, 2017, in Northeast Washington, and has been in custody ever since.
The government’s evidence in the case included surveillance video showing Toure using Ms. Mehiel’s debit card at ATMs; he is also visible on surveillance video on Ms. Mehiel’s block shortly before the attack. Additionally, DNA evidence linked him to the crime.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Metro Transit Police Department, the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences, and Signature Science LLC. They acknowledged the efforts of those worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Michael Ambrosino, Special Counsel for DNA and Forensic Evidence Litigation; Elizabeth Trosman, Chief of the Appellate Division; Chrisellen Kolb, Deputy Chief of the Appellate Division; Stephen R. Prest, Special Counsel for Discovery Policy and Litigation; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julianne Johnston, Silvia Gonzalez Roman, and Lauren Bates; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; Victim/Witness Services Coordinator LaJune Thames; Supervisory Victim/Witness Services Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; Supervisory Paralegal Specialists Sharon Newman; Paralegal Specialists Tijuana McPhail and Richard Cheatham; Senior Paralegal Specialist Kathryn Hoey; Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Criminal Investigator John Marsh, and Forensic Operation/Program Specialist Elizabeth Marrero.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Nestler and Jessi Brooks, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Madison Gas Station Owner Sentenced to 30 Months & $1 Million Fine for Selling Synthetic CannabinoidsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Farooq Shahzad, 50, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 30 months in federal prison and fined $1,000,000 for conspiring to distribute synthetic cannabinoids and possessing untaxed smokeless tobacco. Shahzad further agreed to forfeit the proceeds from the sale of a gas station involved in the drug offense. Shahzad pleaded guilty to these charges on January 10, 2019.
Farooq Shahzad owns and operates Capitol Petroleum, LLC (Capitol Petroleum). From July 2015 through May 2016, Shahzad conspired with certain Capitol Petroleum employees and others to distribute synthetic cannabinoids, a dangerous drug manufactured to mimic the effects of THC.
Law enforcement repeatedly instructed Shahzad and Capitol Petroleum employees to stop the sale of these dangerous drugs, and executed search warrants in June 2015 seizing the inventories of two gas stations. Despite these warnings, the conspirators continued to distribute synthetic cannabinoids from a Mobil gas station located at 3505 East Washington Avenue in Madison.
During this period, Shahzad also procured and sold untaxed smokeless tobacco, evading approximately $52,000 in State of Wisconsin excise tax.
In sentencing Shahzad, Judge Peterson stated that Shahzad “compartmentalized away the illegal aspects of activities that were profitable to him.” Judge Peterson was concerned that Shahzad persisted in distributing synthetic cannabinoids even after he knew it was illegal and damaging to the community. Judge Peterson stated that he wanted the sentence to send a strong message to the business community.
The charges against Farooq Shahzad were the result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and the Dane County Narcotics Task Force. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antonio M. Trillo, Aaron Wegner, and Kevin Burke.
Little League Coach Admits to Interstate Travel to Engage in Illicit SexRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Connecticut little league vice president and coach arrested by members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force on January 25, 2019, and charged in Rhode Island state court with indecent solicitation of a child and with disseminating and possessing child pornography, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and transporting child pornography.
Appearing in U.S. District Court in Providence, Christopher L. Merchant, 33, of Canterbury, Conn., admitted that on numerous occasions he communicated via social media with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. The communications rapidly turned sexually graphic. Merchant admitted that during the exchanges he arranged to meet with the boy at a Warwick hotel to engage in illicit sexual activity. Merchant also admitted to sending obscene photographs to the person with whom he was communicating.
Merchant was in fact communicating with a member of law enforcement assigned to the ICAC Task Force. Upon his arrival at the hotel on January 25, 2019, Merchant was arrested by members of the ICAC Task Force. A review of his cell phone revealed images of child pornography stored in the phone.
Merchant was held on state charges at the ACI until posting bail on January 28. He was re-arrested on a federal arrest warrant two days after his release from the ACI. He was arraigned in federal court and released on $10,000 unsecured bond.
Today’s guilty plea in federal court to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and transporting child pornography is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Colonel James M. Manni, and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh.
Merchant is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on June 28, 2019.
Travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 30 years in federal prison, a term of supervised release of 5 years to life, and a mandatory $5,000 special assessment imposed as required by the Justice for Victims Trafficking Act in child sexual exploitation cases where the Court makes a finding that the defendant is not indigent.
Transporting child pornography is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment, with a mandatory 5 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release of 5 years to life, and a mandatory $5,000 special assessment imposed as required by the Justice for Victims Trafficking Act in child sexual exploitation cases where the Court makes a finding that the defendant is not indigent.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
###
Lithuanian Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Theft of over $100 Million in Fraudulent Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that EVALDAS RIMASAUSKAS, a Lithuanian citizen, pled guilty today to wire fraud arising out of his orchestration of a fraudulent business email compromise scheme that induced two U.S.-based Internet companies (the “Victim Companies”) to wire a total of over $100 million to bank accounts he controlled. RIMASAUSKAS entered his guilty plea today in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As Evaldas Rimasauskas admitted today, he devised a blatant scheme to fleece U.S. companies out of $100 million, and then siphoned those funds to bank accounts around the globe. Rimasauskas thought he could hide behind a computer screen halfway across the world while he conducted his fraudulent scheme, but as he has learned, the arms of American justice are long, and he now faces significant time in a U.S. prison.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:
From 2013 through 2015, RIMASAUSKAS orchestrated a fraudulent scheme designed to deceive the Victim Companies, including a multinational technology company and a multinational online social media company, into wiring funds to bank accounts controlled by RIMASAUSKAS. Specifically, RIMASAUSKAS registered and incorporated a company in Latvia (“Company-2”) that bore the same name as an Asian-based computer hardware manufacturer (“Company-1”), and opened, maintained, and controlled various accounts at banks located in Latvia and Cyprus in the name of Company-2. Thereafter, fraudulent phishing emails were sent to employees and agents of the Victim Companies, which regularly conducted multimillion-dollar transactions with Company-1, directing that money the Victim Companies owed Company-1 for legitimate goods and services be sent to Company-2’s bank accounts in Latvia and Cyprus, which were controlled by RIMASAUSKAS. These emails purported to be from employees and agents of Company-1, and were sent from email accounts that were designed to create the false appearance that they were sent by employees and agents of Company-1, but in truth and in fact, were neither sent nor authorized by Company-1. This scheme succeeded in deceiving the Victim Companies into complying with the fraudulent wiring instructions.
After the Victim Companies wired funds intended for Company-1 to Company-2’s bank accounts in Latvia and Cyprus, RIMASAUSKAS caused the stolen funds to be quickly wired into different bank accounts in various locations throughout the world, including Latvia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Hong Kong. RIMASAUSKAS also caused forged invoices, contracts, and letters that falsely appeared to have been executed and signed by executives and agents of the Victim Companies, and which bore false corporate stamps embossed with the Victim Companies’ names, to be submitted to banks in support of the large volume of funds that were fraudulently transmitted via wire transfer.
Through these false and deceptive representations over the course of the scheme, RIMASAUSKAS caused the Victim Companies to transfer a total of over $100 million in U.S. currency from the Victim Companies’ bank accounts to Company-2’s bank accounts.
RIMASAUSKAS was arrested by Lithuanian authorities in March 2017, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant, and was extradited to the Southern District of New York in August 2017.
* * *
RIMASAUSKAS, 50, of Vilnius, Lithuania, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
RIMASAUSKAS is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Daniels.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and thanked the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, the Vilnius District Prosecutor’s Office and the Economic Crime Investigation Board of Vilnius County Police Headquarters, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Latvia, and the International Assistance Group at the Department of Justice, Canada, for their assistance in the investigation, arrests, and extradition, as well the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eun Young Choi and Olga Zverovich are in charge of the prosecution.
Latrobe Woman Participated in Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, waived indictment and pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of money laundering conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Susan Rings, 63, pleaded guilty to one felony count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that during the period from January 2011 through May 2016, Rings became a member of a money laundering conspiracy. Rings conducted financial transactions affecting interstate commerce, knowing that the property involved in the financial transactions represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity. Rings knew that each of the financial transactions was designed in whole or in part to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds. As part of the money laundering conspiracy, Rings and her co-conspirators conducted the following financial transactions: 1) withdrew funds from prepaid debit cards and credit cards; 2) transmitted and received funds via MoneyGram, Walmart and Western Union; 3) cashed checks and money orders; and 4) sent and received wire transfers of funds. The funds involved in these transactions, which totaled over $95,000, were the proceeds of wire fraud.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2019. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of twenty years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentence, the court released Rings on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.
Kent Resident Convicted of Distributing Methamphetamine following Three Day Jury TrialRead the Press Release
A 32-year-old Kent, Washington resident was convicted today of distributing methamphetamine following a three day jury trial, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. JOHNNY JAVIER MOREL-PINEDA faces a mandatory minimum 5 years in prison and up to 40 years in prison when sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez on June 14, 2019. MOREL-PINEDA is a citizen of Honduras who likely will be deported following his prison term.
According to testimony at trial and records filed in the case, MOREL- PINEDA came to the attention of law enforcement as a source of methamphetamine in the South King County area. A confidential informant, working with law enforcement, set up a drug deal with MOREL- PINEDA. The telephone calls setting up the April 2018 drug deal, as well as the drug sale in MOREL- PINEDA’s car were audio recorded. In the calls and via text message the two speak in code, calling an ounce of methamphetamine a “taco,” and pricing “four tacos” at $1200.
The jury deliberated about 90 minutes before reaching the guilty verdict.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Ferrentino and Amy Jaquette.
KC Man Who Led Police in Car Chase Charged with Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who rammed a police vehicle and crashed into two more cars while leading officers on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle was charged in federal court today with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Chance Ayers, 24, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo.
According to an affidavit filed in support of today’s federal criminal complaint, on March 3, 2019, a Kansas City police detective saw Ayers driving a maroon 2002 Mercury Sable, which had been reported stolen when the keys were taken during a burglary earlier that day. The detective followed Ayers to a gas station, where he pulled up next to the front of the building. A police captain, dressed in full police uniform and driving an unmarked police vehicle equipped with emergency lights and siren, arrived to conduct a car check. The captain activated his lights, got out of his vehicle, and made verbal contact with Ayers.
When Ayers saw the captain, the affidavit says, he immediately put his car in reverse and backed up until he struck the front of the captain’s police vehicle. Ayers continued to accelerate in reverse and the Mercury began pushing the parked police vehicle backward. The captain was dragged backwards through the parking lot as he struggled with Ayers through the driver’s window of the Mercury in an effort to get Ayers to stop. The captain was able to disengage from Ayers and the Mercury before it entered 11th Street. Ayers continued to push the police vehicle until it struck a wooden utility pole, which sheared off. Ayers then placed the Mercury in drive and fled westbound on 12th Street.
A civilian police department employee, who was seated in the front passenger seat of the police vehicle, was treated at a hospital for neck and back pain. The police vehicle was towed from the scene.
A Kansas City police officer soon located Ayers, who was traveling at a high rate of speed, near 12th Street and Chestnut. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to stop the vehicle, the affidavit says, but Ayers refused to stop. Ayers allegedly ran multiple red traffic signals as he traveled at a high rate of speed. Ayers made a wide turn onto 71 Highway, almost driving off the road. Ayers continued to drive at a high rate of speed in rainy conditions on 71 Highway, the affidavit says, weaving in and out of all three lanes. When Ayers exited 71 Hwy at 39th Street, he caused an accident with another vehicle, but did not stop. The officer pursuing Ayers was unable to continue the pursuit and lost sight of Ayers after he exited at 39th Street.
Ayers eventually wrecked into a parked car on Wayne Avenue. A police sergeant saw Ayers run from the vehicle towards Highland Avenue. The sergeant located an open garage door of an abandoned residence at 4316 Highland Avenue and heard noises inside. A perimeter was set up and Ayers was eventually taken into custody inside the residence. Ayers had two 12-gauge shotgun shells in his right front pants pocket at the time of his arrest.
The Mercury had major damage, and was towed from the scene. Inside the vehicle, officers found a loaded New England 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun on the driver’s side floorboard. Two more shotgun shells were found on the floor next to the shotgun.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Ayers has prior felony convictions for burglary, theft and criminal damage. He was on state parole at the time of the alleged offense.
The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Missouri. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that identifies the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Hawaii Department of Public Safety to Ensure Equal Access to Its Programs for Inmates with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today reached a settlement agreement with the Hawaii Department of Public Safety (HDPS) to ensure that inmates with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in HDPS’ programs, services, and activities.
The settlement agreement resolves complaints, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), in which inmates with mobility disabilities alleged that HDPS excluded them from participating in its furlough program because of their disabilities and HDPS prison facilities were inaccessible to inmates with disabilities, thereby denying them equal access to HDPS’ programs, services, and activities. HDPS cooperated with the Department of Justice throughout the investigation.
“Compliance with the ADA ensures that inmates with disabilities have equal access to basic necessities, such as showers or sleeping areas, and to programs that are offered to qualified inmates,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “We commend HDPS for recognizing its obligations and working collaboratively with the Department of Justice.”
Among the terms of the agreement, qualified inmates with mobility disabilities will not be excluded from participating in HDPS’ furlough program. The agreement also requires HDPS to modify its policies, practices, and procedures; make architectural modifications to five correctional facilities (Hale Nani Correctional Facility, the Women’s Community Correctional Center, Halawa Correctional Facility, Waiawa Correctional Facility, and Oahu Community Correctional Center) to make them accessible to inmates with disabilities; train relevant staff; designate statewide and facility-specific ADA Coordinators; implement an ADA complaint procedure; and provide $45,000 in monetary damages to the complainants.
This agreement was reached under Title II of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by state and local governments.
Those interested in finding out more about this settlement or the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at http://www.ada.gov/complaint/.
Jury Convicts Syracuse Man for Threatening to Kill Former President Barack Obama and U.S. Representative Maxine WatersRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – A jury today convicted Stephen J. Taubert, age 61, of Syracuse, of making death threats toward former President of the United States Barack Obama and Congresswoman Maxine Waters. The verdict was announced by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, Chief Matthew R. Verderosa, United States Capitol Police, and Special Agent in Charge Lewis Robinson, United States Secret Service, Buffalo, New York Field Office.
The verdict followed a three-day trial in federal court in Syracuse,. Taubert was convicted of threatening to kill a former President of the United States, transmitting a threat via interstate commerce, and threatening to murder a member of Congress with intent to impede, interfere with, or retaliate against a member of Congress during and because of her performance of official duties.
The evidence at trial demonstrated that on June 2, 2017, Taubert made multiple phone calls to the Washington D.C. office of then-Minnesota Senator Al Franken. In two of those calls, Taubert stated that he was planning to go to Washington D.C. the next day to “hang” former President Obama at his home and to kill him. In making these threats, Taubert repeatedly used vile racial slurs directed toward former President Obama.
The evidence at trial also demonstrated that on July 20, 2018, Taubert called the Los Angeles, California district office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters and stated that he would be at every event the Congresswoman attended and that he would kill her and every member of her staff. In making these threats, Taubert directed vile racial slurs toward Congresswoman Waters and her staff.
The evidence at trial included a recorded interview of Taubert, during which he made racist statements and an admission that he called Congresswoman Waters’s office to “terrorize” her in retaliation for public statements she had made.
The jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts charged in the indictment. The jury also made specific findings that Taubert selected his victims because of their actual or perceived race, color, or ethnicity, which provides an enhancement under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines for hate-crime motivation.
Taubert is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2019, in Syracuse by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby, who presided over the jury trial. Taubert faces up to 10 years in prison on the retaliation count and up to five years on each of the other two counts. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by the United States Capitol Police, Threat Assessment Section, and the United States Secret Service, with assistance from the Syracuse Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Michael F. Perry.
Jury Convicts Roseville Man of 3 Counts of Wire Fraud in Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a seven–day trial, a federal jury found Erik Hermann Green, 37, of Roseville, guilty on Tuesday of three counts of wire fraud in a mortgage fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to evidence presented at trial, Green was part of a large-scale mortgage fraud scheme to defraud the New Century Mortgage Company by submitting false documentation about employment, income and assets, including fraudulent loan applications and other altered bank documents. Around October 2006, when Green submitted his fraudulent loan applications to obtain a loan for $820,000, he was a licensed real estate sales person and managed approximately 15 loan officers. As part of the scheme, Green received a check for $100,000 that was funneled through a shell company at the close of escrow. Green used the funds for personal expenses.
This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson and Miriam R. Hinman are prosecuting the case.
Co-defendants Stephen Pirt and Janis Pirt previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Stephen Pirt was sentenced in 2015 to 25 months in prison and in 2014, Janis Pirt was sentenced to five years of probation with a year of home detention.
Green is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on June 13. Green faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conviction. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
Illegal alien from Mexico arrested in St. Mary Parish sentenced to 21 years for drugs, firearms chargesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Raymundo Pizano-Montes, 34, of Mexico, was sentenced yesterday to 21 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell for distributing LSD in St. Mary Parish and possessing firearms.
A St. Mary Parish deputy pulled over a Mazda SUV in which Pizano-Montes was an occupant on November 18, 2016 for a traffic violation. During a search of the vehicle, the deputy found $14,582 in cash, 319 dosage units of LSD, 82 Xanax pills, marijuana paraphernalia, a scale, and 12 firearms. Six of the 12 firearms — including an AR-15 assault rifle — were reported stolen. Pizano-Montes stated to officers that anything found in the vehicle was his property, and he buys and sells firearms, marijuana, LSD and Xanax. He was deported in 2010 after having been convicted in California for second degree robbery and re-entered the United States illegally.
Homeland Security Investigations, ATF and St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty to Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – An illegal alien from Mexico living in Georgia pled guilty today to trafficking in heroin, after he was caught with nine kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of fentanyl in Gulfport. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, one kilogram of fentanyl alone can kill up to half a million people.
Eder Ortega-Casarrubias, 25, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to possession with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
"Illegal fentanyl has become a weapon of mass destruction, and, as demonstrated by this case, is being pushed by those who have no respect for our laws or our borders. The amount of fentanyl seized here is enough to kill every man, woman and child in Mississippi’s six coastal counties. This is a new fight, and we are going to take that fight directly to the drug traffickers and illegal aliens until our borders are secure and our citizens are safe," said U.S. Attorney Hurst.
In November 2018, Ortega-Casarrubias negotiated with a confidential informant to deliver and sell heroin and fentanyl to the informant in Gulfport, Mississippi. On November 6, 2018, Ortega-Casarrubias and two co-defendants arrived in Gulfport with what they claimed was ten kilograms of heroin hidden in a compartment of their vehicle. All three were arrested shortly thereafter. The substance was eventually tested and found to be nine kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of fentanyl.
Ortega-Casarrubias will be sentenced on June 26, 2019, by Judge Ozerden, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Co-defendants Pablo Vega-Ontanon and Eric Estudillo-Carrazco are scheduled to go to trial on May 13, 2019.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.
Harrison County woman admits to role in methamphetamine distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Stormetta Hawkins, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to her role in a methamphetamine distribution operation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Hawkins, age 26, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Hawkins admitted to selling methamphetamine in July 2018 in Harrison County.Hawkins faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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 United States Marshal Service assisted.
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.
Four Broward County Residents Convicted at Trial for Their Roles in a String of Armed Robberies – Using FirearmsRead the Press Release
On March 15, 2019, four Broward County, Florida residents were convicted by a federal jury for their participation in a string of armed robberies using firearms. One defendant was also convicted of kidnapping four victims.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office and Ari C. Shapira, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
Following a four-week trial, all four defendants were convicted. Jerome Simmons, 31, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was convicted of two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Adrian Hardy, 34, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was convicted of one count of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, and four counts of kidnapping. Christopher Brinson, 33, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was convicted of two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Emmory Moore, 34, of Coral Springs, Florida, was convicted of one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery.
According to the court record, including evidence introduced at trial, on March 3, 2017, Christopher Brinson entered Class Jewelers in Deerfield Beach, Florida and engaged one of the employee’s in conversation. Approximately, ten minutes later, Moore and Simmons entered the store, dressed in wigs, makeup and women’s clothing. They held the two employees at gunpoint and demanded they open the safe. Moore and Simmons stole jewelry and other items from the store then left in a waiting vehicle.
On March 15, 2017, historical cell site information showed that cell phones owned by Simmons, Hardy, Brinson, and Moore traveled to Spring Hill, Florida. On March 6, 2017, two men dressed as women entered Lily’s Jewelry in Spring Hill and held the owner at gunpoint while stealing the store’s merchandise. One of the individuals dropped a cellular phone, which was later tied to Moore.
On March 31, 2017, historical cell site information showed that cell phones owned by Hardy, Brinson, and Moore traveled to Valdosta, Georgia. Hotel records established that Simmons checked into a local inn that evening. On April 1, 2017, three men dressed as women entered Bishop’s Jewelers in Valdosta. While holding the business owners at gunpoint, the men stole money, jewelry, and a firearm from the store’s safe. On April 6, 2017, during a traffic stop, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department recovered the firearm stolen in that robbery from the trunk of a car driven by Moore.
On April 16, 2017, three men dressed as women, left a white Jeep and entered LSO Jewelers in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Holding the owner and an employee at gunpoint, the men attempted to steal the store’s jewelry stock. An off duty state agent called the police and reported the robbery. As police arrived, the waiting white Jeep pulled away and the men inside the store fled on foot. Port Saint Lucie officers located Simmons in a nearby hospital parking lot wearing only his underwear and a sock. Brinson, who was driving the white Jeep, was located at a nearby restaurant. Hardy escaped into a nearby retirement community and held the four residents, snowbirds from Toronto, Ontario, at gunpoint for several hours, eventually forcing them to drive him from Port St. Lucie to Fort Lauderdale.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra on June 7, 2019, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Simmons, Hardy, Brinson, and Moore face up to 20 years in prison for the robbery and robbery conspiracy charges and a consecutive mandatory minimum term of 7 years to life in prison for each conviction for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Additionally, Hardy faces up to 15 years in prison for each of the kidnapping charges.
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 FBI and ATF in this matter. She thanked the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Port St. Lucie Police Department, Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, Valdosta Police Department, and U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jodi L. Anton and Anita White.
Related court documents and information can 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.
Former West Virginia state trooper indicted for using excessive forceRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG – A federal grand jury today indicted Michael Kennedy, a former West Virginia State Trooper, for using excessive force against an arrestee. Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Bill Powell made the announcement.
Kennedy, 29, of Morgantown, West Virginia, is charged with one count of “Deprivation of Rights under Color of Law.” According to the indictment, the defendant is accused of using excessive force resulting in bodily injury during an arrest on Nov. 19, 2018, in Berkeley County.Kennedy faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. An indictment is merely an accusation. 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.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod J. Douglas and Department of Justice Civil Rights Trial Attorney Christine Siscaretti are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI investigated.
Former West Virginia State Trooper Indicted for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury today indicted Michael Kennedy, a former West Virginia State Trooper, for using excessive force against an arrestee. Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Bill Powell made the announcement.
Kennedy, 29, of Morgantown, West Virginia, is charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. According to the indictment, the defendant is accused of using excessive force resulting in bodily injury during an arrest on Nov. 19, 2018, in Berkeley County.
Kennedy faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilt
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod J. Douglas and Department of Justice Civil Rights Trial Attorney Christine Siscaretti are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI investigated.
Former U.S. Marine Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Explosives, Firearms, and Narcotics OffensesRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that RICHARD LAUGEL was sentenced to 121 months in prison for detonating a pipe bomb in the Bronx on March 2, 2016, along with firearms and narcotics offenses. LAUGEL pled guilty on November 8, 2018, before United States District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who also imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Richard Laugel’s dangerous attempt to harm his neighbor by detonating a car bomb was, thankfully, unsuccessful. His cache of weapons was also seized, and his narcotics businesses ended thanks to the extraordinary work of our law enforcement partners, making New York City streets safer. Now Laugel will serve a lengthy prison sentence for his crimes.”
According to the Information, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and evidence presented in court at sentencing:
On March 2, 2016, LAUGEL placed an improvised explosive device (“IED”) under the rear tire well of his neighbor’s car, which was parked near their apartment building in the Bronx, New York. LAUGEL, a former United States Marine, had constructed the IED using a metal pipe bomb, which he packed with nails and explosives and attached to a butane canister to increase the potential lethality of the device. LAUGEL used a remote-detonation device to activate the bomb after his neighbor entered the car and drove several blocks away. The force of the explosion blew out the airbags in the car and buckled the car doors. The neighbor was not injured by the explosion.
On May 22, 2018, agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), officers with the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) executed a search warrant at LAUGEL’s home in the Bronx. Law enforcement recovered from LAUGEL’s home and garage, among other items:
- 575 rounds of assorted ammunition
- 8 silencers and 32 silencer parts
- 5 home-made pistols
- 2 commercially manufactured pistols, one of which had an obliterated serial number
- 2 “switches” to convert pistols into fully automatic weapons
- 1 bump stock
During a subsequent search of LAUGEL’s apartment located near his home, law enforcement recovered evidence consistent with the manufacturing of alprazolam for distribution to customers online, including a powder mixing machine, pill press dies to stamp pills, and boxes of alprazolam packaged for shipment to customers.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, LAUGEL, 39, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of ATF, the NYPD, and HSI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Alison Moe and Jacob Warren are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Emergency Medical Technician Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Bryan Matthew Cooney (30, Casselberry) has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Cooney faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to court records, from September 19, 2018 through September 27, 2018, Cooney chatted with an FBI undercover agent (UC) via a social media application known as “KIK” about sexually exploiting a 12-year-old female child, which Cooney said was his daughter. During the chats, Cooney shared clothed images of the minor with the UC and said he had sexually abused and produced images of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
During the investigation, FBI agents identified Cooney’s residence and obtained a warrant to search for evidence related to the allegations. On October 30, 2018, FBI agents executed the search warrant and interviewed Cooney, and Cooney admitted that he was the person chatting with the UC about sexually exploiting a 12-year-old child. Cooney also said that he had actually obtained images of the minor from his friend’s Facebook page and had shared those pictures with the UC during chats. Cooney also said that he had been viewing child pornography for the past four of five years, which he downloaded to his iPhone through KIK, and then uploaded to a Dropbox account.
Upon viewing the Dropbox account, agents found hundreds of videos and numerous images of child pornography depicting bestiality and other acts of sadistic conduct against prepubescent children between the ages of 4 and 10. Cooney had posted images of his friend’s daughter on KIK, and attempted to obtain images of child pornography from other KIK users, by trading clothed images of his friends’ daughter.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Flooring Company Settles Allegations it Paid Bribe for Government WorkRead the Press Release
The nationwide flooring company Spectra Contract Flooring with an office in Tukwila, Washington, has agreed to pay $133,718 to settle allegations it improperly provided kickbacks to a defense contractor, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. The civil settlement comes after a criminal investigation, and false tax return conviction, of an employee of a government defense contractor who accepted benefits from Spectra. Spectra is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shaw Industries Group Inc. The criminal case, U.S. v Meisner, was resolved in May 2017. In the settlement announced today, Spectra does not admit any wrongdoing but chooses to resolve the claims.
According to records filed in the criminal case and the settlement agreement, in 2009, Spectra was one of the subcontractors working on a seismic upgrade at the Delta Pier Support Facility at the Bangor Submarine Base near Silverdale. The contractor leading the Bangor job was Cherokee General Corporation, a subsidiary of Doyon Government Group, headed by Brent S. Meisner. Meisner was in the midst of a remodel of his Gig Harbor, Washington, residence. Invoices submitted by Spectra reveal that the company billed the Navy for the work at Meisner’s residence under the seismic upgrade contract. Meisner paid nothing for the flooring services provided at his home. As is allowed by law in False Claims cases, Spectra is settling the matter for three times the cost of the false billing: $133,718.
In May 2017, Meisner was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
"The announced settlement is representative of the law enforcement community's dogged efforts to hold accountable those who engage in unethical business practices that stifle fair competition and ultimately result in a loss to the American taxpayer," said Bryan Denny, Special Agent in Charge, Western Field Office, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). "As in this case, any unscrupulous actions by government contractors and subcontractors that tarnish and corrupt the integrity of the defense procurement process will be reviewed and vigorously investigated by DCIS and its law enforcement partners."
The False Claims Act allegations were investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Army CID Major Procurement Fraud Unit and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
The civil settlement was negotiated for the government by Assistant United States Attorney Kayla C. Stahman.
Federal Inmate Sentenced to 30 Months’ Imprisonment for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani sentenced Clayton Shinn, age 28, an inmate at United States Penitentiary, Canaan, in Waymart, Pennsylvania, to 30 months’ imprisonment on March 14, 2019, for assaulting another inmate resulting in serious bodily injury.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Shinn and co-defendant, Jeffrey Mattox, assaulted another inmate on October 4, 2016, by repeatedly striking, punching and kicking the inmate, resulting in serious bodily injury.
Jeffrey Mattox pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski prosecuted the case.
# # #
Federal Inmate Charged with Possession of A WeaponRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Niegel Broadus, age 23, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary, Allenwood, was indicted on March 14, 2019, by a federal grand jury for possession of a weapon.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that on October 8, 2018, Broadus was found in possession of a homemade sharpened piece of plastic, commonly referred to as a “shank,” that was designed to be used as a weapon.
The charges stem from an investigation by officers at USP Allenwood and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The defendant is facing a maximum of five years of incarceration and a $250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
# # #
Federal Inmate Charged with Assault on Correctional OfficerRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that James Duncan, age 54, a prisoner at the Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood, was indicted on March 14, 2019, by a federal grand jury for assaulting a federal correctional officer.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that on November 26, 2018, Duncan struck and caused physical contact with a correctional officer resulting in bodily injury.
The charges stem from an investigation by FCI Allenwood and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The defendant is facing a maximum of twenty years of incarceration and a $250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
# # #
Estonian National Extradited from Estonia to Face Charges of Illegal Procurement of U.S. ElectronicsRead the Press Release
UPDATE
The original version of this press release identified Valery Kosmachov as a Russian national. Based upon new information, he is now being identified as an Estonain national.
SAN FRANCISCO— A federal grand jury handed down a 52-count indictment charging Valery Kosmachov with engineering a scheme to illegally procure sophisticated electronic components from the United States and to smuggle them into the Russian Federation, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson; Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Spradlin; Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security Acting Special Agent in Charge Todd Harris; U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations Brian Humphrey; and U.S. Marshals Service Marshal Donald M. O’Keefe. Kosmachov was extradited to the United States from Estonia to face the charges.
According to the indictment filed September 21, 2017, and unsealed this morning, Kosmachov, 66, is an Estonian national and resident of Tallinn, Estonia. He served as owner of Adimir OU and co-owner of Eastline Technology OU, along with co-defendant and Russian national Sergey Vetrov, 66. The indictment describes how Kosmachov and Vetrov used the Estonia-based companies as procurement “fronts” to obtain controlled U.S.-origin microelectronics, in part by misrepresenting that the end-users for the components were located in Estonia. The components included dual-use programmable computer chips capable of operating in austere environments making them useful in both civilian and military applications. Once in possession of the chips in Estonia, the co-defendants allegedly later smuggled them into the Russian Federation, in part by using laundered funds.
In sum, Kosmachov, Vetrov, and their two companies are charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and one count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2)(A) and (h). In addition, Kosmachov and Vetrov are charged with 12 substantive counts of violating the IEEPA, in violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705, 19 counts of smuggling, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 554 and 2; and 17 counts of international money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2)(A).
Kosmachov was arrested in Tallinn on September 12, 2018, and was extradited to the United States on March 14, 2019, to face prosecution. Vetrov remains at large. Kosmachov appeared this morning before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero, for a detention hearing. He remains in federal custody pending his next court appearance. Kosmachov is next scheduled to appear on March 28, 2019, before the Honorable William H. Orrick, U.S. District Judge, for further proceedings.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Kosmachov could face a maximum 20-year term of imprisonment for each IEEPA and money laundering-related count, and a maximum 10-year sentence for each count of smuggling. Additional periods of supervised release, fines, and special assessments also could be imposed. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip J. Kearney of the Northern District of California United States Attorney’s Office, and Amy Larson, of the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division, are prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
Eight Illegal Aliens Involved in Alien Smuggling near New Baden, IllinoisRead the Press Release
Guatemala Man Charged With Smuggling 13 Illegal Aliens in Southern Illinois
An alien smuggling enterprise has been disrupted in the Southern District of Illinois. A Guatemalan citizen has been indicted for smuggling 13 illegal aliens from Guatemala and Ecuador through southern Illinois, seven of whom have been charged with illegally reentering the country after deportation, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
The case began on February 25, 2019, when a task force officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration made a traffic stop on an SUV travelling eastbound on Interstate 64 near New Baden, Illinois. During the traffic stop, the officer quickly saw that the vehicle was overloaded with numerous people crammed in the seats and on the floor. The driver of the vehicle, Domingo Tomas-Zacarias, 20, was discovered to be a citizen of Guatemala who was unlawfully present in the United States.
Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) responded to the scene, with assistance from local police officers from Lebanon and New Baden. The officers discovered a total of fourteen people, including six who were found hiding under a blanket in the back of the SUV. All fourteen men were taken into administrative ICE custody.
The driver, Tomas-Zacarias, has been charged with alien smuggling, which alleges that he knowingly transported illegal aliens for financial gain. He faces a maximum possible punishment of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Seven of the passengers in the vehicle had been previously arrested in the United States and deported. Those seven individuals are now also under federal indictment for illegally reentering the country after deportation, which is a federal crime punishable by up to two years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release. They are Segundo Porfirio Ordonez-Japon, 34, of Ecuador, and Alejandro Mejia-Hernandez, 24, Silvestre Bopp-Mendoza, 30, Miguel Raymundo Velasco, 19, Rigoberto Heredia-Lopez, 30, Fidencio Quizar-Sharshente, 32, and Diego Brito-Bernal, 24 – all of Guatemala.
The remaining six passengers were determined to have illegally entered the United States through various locations in Arizona or Texas at various times. None of these six had been previously deported, and so they remain in administrative ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
All eight charged defendants appeared in federal district court on March 13, 2019, for Initial appearances following the filing of a criminal complaint against them. Now that they have been indicted, the eight are expected to be arraigned on the indictment on March 20, 2019, at which time a trial date will be set.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Eagle Butte Man Indicted for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.
Devin Dolphus, a/k/a Devin Pretty Weasel, age 19, was indicted on March 12, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 19, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on January 16, 2019, Dolphus being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and prohibited from possessing a firearm was found in possession of a shotgun having a barrel length of less than 18 inches. This firearm was not registered in the National Firearms Registration database.
The charges are merely accusations and Dolphus is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Dolphus was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Eagle Butte Man Charged with Burglary and Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for First Degree Burglary and Aggravated Sexual Abuse.
Shawn Iron Hawk, age 25, was indicted on February 20, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 18, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on December 30, 2018, Iron Hawk entered a home occupied by an individual and sexually assaulted the victim.
The charges are merely accusations and Iron Hawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Iron Hawk was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Dubois-area Doctor Pleads Guilty to Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, PA - A resident of DuBois, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of health care fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
David James Girardi, 41, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, Girardi, formerly a physician at Brookville Hospital, admitted to committing health care fraud by submitting fraudulent claims to Highmark for six Oxycodone and Hydrocodone prescriptions that Girardi wrote for his wife, but which were in fact intended for his own use.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for August 5, 2019. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued defendant’s bond.
Assistant United States Attorneys Colin J. Callahan and Rachael L. Mamula are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of David James Girardi.
Dozens Arrested in Major Law Enforcement OperationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A total of 47 people are now in custody following the return of a 43-count indictment alleging drug-trafficking and related crimes in the Houston and Galveston areas. The case will be prosecuted in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick made the announcement along with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy, Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Chief Vernon Hale of the Galveston Police Department (GPD), Special Agent in Charge Designee Brett Rovey of Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (CI) and Deputy U.S. Marshal Alfredo Perez of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).
The arrests are the culmination of 31-month Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation (OCDETF) dubbed Operation Wrecking Ball.
“This operation is the result of countless hours of hard work by officers and agents from many different agencies,” said Patrick. “OCDETF is uniquely able to marshal resources for complex cases. The Department of Justice is committed to disrupting the work of international cartels and other drug trafficking organizations. This case also is reinvigorating my office’s commitment to Galveston. For the first time in decades, we have a full time prosecutor on the island who is focused on cases that will have a local impact in Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston and Matagorda counties.”
During the law enforcement operation today and yesterday that spanned multiple jurisdictions and states, authorities took a total of 43 people into custody. They join the four individuals who were previously in custody. Nine are considered fugitives and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests.
“Today’s enforcement operation marks the culmination of a 3 ½ year investigation targeting one of the largest suspected drug organizations seen in Southeast Texas in decades,” said Glaspy. “The success of this investigation was possible only because of the many law enforcement agencies dedicated to protecting our communities in the greater Houston/Galveston area from those who prey on them.”
The indictment, which was returned in November 2018 and unsealed today, alleges the defendants engaged in a variety of cocaine and heroin transactions. Some also allegedly conspired to commit money laundering and illegally transferred money to avoid reporting requirements.
The charges allege the crimes occurred between Feb. l, 2016, and April 19, 2018. According to the indictment, the drugs were smuggled into the United States from Colombia and Mexico. Heroin and Cocaine was then distributed through Houston to Atlanta, Georgia; Buffalo and New York, N.Y.; Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Norfolk, Virginia.
This case is a clear example of the kind of federal matters we are bringing to the Galveston Division
The indictment also seeks forfeiture of any illegal proceeds of the alleged crimes. To date, approximately $3.1 million has been seized.
Those arrested are expected to make initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison in Houston beginning at 10:00 a.m. March 21, 2019.
The DEA conducted the investigation along with HSI, Houston Police Department, IRS-CI, USMS, GPD and Galveston County Sheriff’s Office with assistance of the Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Cusick is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft and Stealing Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty on Friday, March 15, 2019, in federal court in Boston to identity theft, aggravated identity theft, theft of public money, and illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
Isidro Viscaino-Soto, a/k/a Ysidro Vizcaino, 59, a Dominican national residing in Boston, pleaded guilty to one count of identity theft, one count of aggravated identity theft, one count of theft of public money, and one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for June 30, 2019. Viscaino-Soto was arrested and charged by complaint on April 17, 2018, and has been in custody since.
“Despite being previously deported following a conviction for drug dealing, this defendant returned to the United States, acquired the Social Security number of a U.S. citizen, and used it to fraudulently apply for MassHealth, which is funded by U.S. taxpayers,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Cases like this are precisely why we need strong border security: the first time, Viscaino-Soto came to the United States and sold drugs here. The second time, he came to the United States, stole an identity, and then stole $9,000 worth of insurance benefits from U.S. citizens.”
Law enforcement officers in Boston discovered Viscaino-Soto on April 12, 2018, and determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Viscaino-Soto was previously deported on July 31, 2000, after receiving a drug conviction. In addition, Viscaino-Soto used the Social Security number of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico in order to receive disability insurance, and in so doing, stole approximately $9,000 in federally-funded MassHealth benefits.
Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The identity theft charge provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of illegal reentry provides for a sentence of no greater than two years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000. Viscaino-Soto will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Denison, Iowa Men Off to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Two men who conspired to distribute meth were sentenced to federal prison. Erick Corona Cardenas, 30, Denison, Iowa, but illegally in the United States, and Daniel Limon Bastidas, 23, from Denison, Iowa, received the prison terms after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine within a protected location.
Evidence showed that Corona Cardenas and Limon Bastidas were involved in a conspiracy from January 2017 through February 2018 that distributed more than 2 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Denison, Iowa area. On two separate occasions, law enforcement executed search warrants at the men’s residences where approximately 1 pound and ½ pound quantities of methamphetamine were seized that the men intended to distribute to others. During two controlled drug transactions in the Hy-Vee parking lot in Denison, Corona Cardenas and Limon Bastidas first distributed ½ pound and later were in possession of one pound of methamphetamine. The parking lot for Hy-Vee is within the protected location of Washington Park, a public playground.
Both men were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Corona Cardenas was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and Limon Bastidas was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment. Each must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Denison Police Department, and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-4016. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Cryptocurrency CEO Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud in $4 Million Crypto SchemeRead the Press Release
The inventor of cryptocurrency AriseCoin pleaded guilty today to duping investors out of more than $4 million, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
AriseBank CEO Jared Rice, Sr. – who settled a civil action involving AriseCoin filed by the SEC’s Fort Worth regional office last year – pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud Wednesday afternoon. His plea makes this case one of the first in which an individual has pleaded guilty to securities fraud involving a cryptocurrency in U.S. federal court.
According to his plea papers, Mr. Rice, 30, admits he lied to would-be investors, claiming that AriseBank – billed as the world’s “first decentralized banking platform” based on the proprietary digital currency AriseCoin – could offer consumers FDIC-insured accounts and traditional banking services, including Visa-brand credit cards, in addition to cryptocurrency services. In actuality, AriseBank had not been authorized to conduct banking in Texas, was not FDIC insured, and did not have any sort of partnership with Visa.
Even as he touted AriseBank’s nonexistent benefits, Mr. Rice quietly converted investor funds for his own personal use, spending the money on hotels, food, transportation, a family law attorney, and even a guardian ad litem – facts he failed to disclose to investors. He also failed to disclose that he’d plead guilty to state felony charges in connection with a prior internet-related business scheme.
Meanwhile, hundreds of investors bought approximately $4,250,000 in AriseCoin using digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, as well as fiat currency.
“I’m proud of the Northern District of Texas’ innovative work enforcing the rule of law in the cryptocurrency space,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “We will not tolerate flagrant deception of investors – virtual or otherwise.”
Statutorily, Mr. Rice faces 0 to 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing is slated for July 11, 2019. He is expected to be required to reimburse investors he deceived.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Walters and Sid Mody are prosecuting the case.
Convicted Drug Dealer from Youngstown, Ohio Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Heroin in New Castle, PARead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Frank Christian, 46, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about February 22, 2016, in the City of New Castle, Christian distributed approximately 90 grams of heroin to a confidential informant. Christian has a prior federal felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and was on federal supervised release at the time of his arrest.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2019 at 2:15 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than thirty years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the Judge continued Christian’s detention.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania State Police and New Castle Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Christian.
Concord Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Unlawfully Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Nathaniel Carr, 25, of Concord, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 1, 2018, a police officer saw a Chevrolet Trailblazer with expired temporary license plates, driven by Carr, exit a convenience store’s parking lot on Loudon Road. A police officer later located the vehicle, with Carr sitting in the driver’s seat, in another parking lot on Loudon Road. At that location, the police officer parked behind the Trailblazer. When Carr opened the driver’s door, the police officer saw a .22 caliber revolver in the pocket of the driver’s door and a box of .22 caliber ammunition in front of the front passenger seat. As a previously-convicted felon, Carr is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
While later executing a warrant to search Carr’s residence on August 24, 2018, the Concord Police Department found 20 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, 31 rounds of .38 caliber ammunition, and .380 caliber pistol in the kitchen; and a .12 gauge shotgun shell in Carr’s bedroom. Officers also found methamphetamine and fentanyl in the kitchen.
Carr previously pleaded guilty on December 6, 2018.
“In order to keep our communities safe, it is vital to keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners throughout New Hampshire to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who violate federal firearms laws.”
“As a previously convicted felon, Mr. Carr should have known better than to break the law again. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep illegally obtained weapons out of the hands of others like him,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
This matter was investigated by the Concord Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Anna Krasinski prosecuted the case.
The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.
###
Collier County Man Arrested and Charged with Murder on the High SeasRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL – Casey Lowell Hickok (32, Copeland) has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with second-degree murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Hickok made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday afternoon and was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to the complaint, while aboard a commercial fishing vessel, Hickok was witnessed bludgeoning a sleeping member of the boat’s crew to death with a spare boat alternator, which he later threw off the vessel. At the time, the vessel was in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 66 nautical miles west of Marco Island.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.
Chinese National Arrested and Charged with Gun PossessionRead 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 Teng Sun, a Chinese national, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being an alien in possession of a firearm. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmanuel O. Ulubiyo, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on December 17, 2018, the defendant was charged by the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office with Criminal Possession of an Assault Weapon-3rd Degree, and Criminal Possession of an Assault Weapon-4th: Non-Citizen.
Subsequently, a check by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), determined that Sun is a citizen and national of China illegally present in the United States. The defendant entered the United States as a nonimmigrant F-1 student with authorization to remain in the U.S. States for a temporary period not to exceed his length of stay. On April 2, 2015, Sun was granted Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment authorization with an end date of September 1, 2016. On September 1, 2016, SUN completed his Optional Practical Training and failed to comply with the conditions of his non-immigrant status by not filling an extension or departing from the United States.
On March 14, 2019, the defendant, and his wife were arrested by ICE-ERO for deportation proceedings. While in custody, Sun consented to be taken to his residence located in Williamsville, NY to retrieve his wife’s passport. Once inside the residence, the defendant showed ICE-ERO agents his firearms and ammunition. Agents took 10 firearms into custody, as well as eight 80% complete AR-15 type lower receivers as well as the drilling templates to complete those receivers, and approximately 1,000 to 2,000 rounds of ammunition consisting of various caliber ammunition.
The defendant will make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy on March 29, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. he is currently being detained by ICE-ERO.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations, under the direction of Buffalo Field Office Director Thomas Feeley.
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.
# # # #
Charlotte Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Charlotte, North Carolina, tax return preparer was sentenced to 24 months in prison today for assisting in the filing of false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to documents and information provided to the court, from 2011 through 2017, Shawanda Elmore owned and operated C and W Tax Professionals, a tax return preparation business in Charlotte. Elmore fraudulently increased her clients’ tax refunds by preparing returns that claimed false deductions and reported income and expenses for fictitious businesses in order to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. In total, Elmore prepared approximately 500 fraudulent tax returns that claimed over $500,000 in false tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
In addition to the term of imprisonment imposed, Elmore was ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution in the amount of $517,738 to the Internal Revenue Service.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Murray commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Alexander Effendi and Lauren Archer of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
Charlotte Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Transporting Stolen PropertyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Edwin R. Barkley, 63, of Charlotte, appeared in federal court today and pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property, for operating a large-scale fraudulent scheme involving the purchase and sale of stolen goods and merchandise through his Charlotte-based storefront business, Tool King USA (Tool King).
Reginald A. DeMatteis, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, and Chief Kerr Putney of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department join the U.S. Attorney’s Office in making today’s announcement.
As Barkley admitted in court today, from at least September 2015 through October 2018, Barkley operated the Tool King as a “fence,” which is a business that buys stolen merchandise from multiple “boosters.” A booster is someone who steals goods and merchandise and sells them to a fence. Court records show that Barkley bought from multiple boosters large-ticket items such as power tools, vacuum cleaners, generators, and home electronic goods, at a fraction of their retail value. Barkley then sold the stolen merchandise on an e-commerce platform at or near ninety percent of their retail value, and used the profits to pay for his daily living expenses.
Barkley entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer. The interstate transportation of stolen goods charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Barkley is currently released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case was the result of the investigative efforts of CMPD and the Secret Service. The CMPD and the Secret Service have established a fully integrated partnership to combat the most significant organized criminal groups operating in Charlotte. Through this partnership, this unit has successfully leveraged local and federal resources, personnel, expertise and authorities to identify and combat the criminals and criminal organizations that have the largest negative impact on the community.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
Buffalo Photographer Arrested, Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead 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 Delshawn K. Trueheart, 43, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in March 2019, a victim reported to the Buffalo Police Department that Trueheart had a sexual relationship with her while she was between 15 and 17 years of age. The victim stated that she had sexual relations with him at both his residence and his photography studio located on East Delavan Avenue. The victim also reported that Trueheart took nude images of her and recorded them engaged in sexual intercourse.
On March 20, 2019, law enforcement officers searched Trueheart’s residence and studio, and located a video of the victim, then 16 years-old, engaged in sexual intercourse.
The defendant will make an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy at 2:30 p.m.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, and the Buffalo Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.
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.
# # # #
Brooklyn Attorney Convicted of Conspiracy to Obstruct A Federal ProceedingRead the Press Release
Lydia Hills, an attorney admitted to practice in the state of New York since 2011, was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of obstructing an official proceeding, and conspiring to do the same. Specifically, Hills attempted to influence the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (USAO-SDNY) to remove a lien on her client’s real properties by misrepresenting that the properties would be sold and that the client would not receive any proceeds from the sale. The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States District Judge I. Leo Glasser. When sentenced, Hills faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each count of the indictment.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.
“As proved at trial, Hills violated her oath as an attorney by participating in a corrupt scheme to impede the collection of forfeiture and restitution owed to the government by her client,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “Today’s verdict holds her responsible for attempting to undermine the laws she was sworn to uphold, and serves as a message to others that this Office will not tolerate such conduct.”
“When the government imposes a restitution and forfeiture agreement in response to a crime that’s been committed, the best course of action is to pay up. In this case, Lydia Hills masterminded a scheme so her client could skirt the system. At one point, Hills expressed concerns about the deal that was about to go down. As evidenced by today’s conviction, she had every reason to fear the inevitable outcome,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.
Hills’ client was convicted in 2010 in federal court in the SDNY of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. The client was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay more than $4.9 million in restitution (the Judgment) and more than $13.5 million in forfeiture (the Forfeiture Order). The USAO-SDNY filed a lien against four properties in Queens, New York, to prevent Hill’s client from selling the properties without first satisfying the Judgment and Forfeiture Order.
Hills, who was also a licensed as a real estate broker, subsequently represented the client in a mortgage “short sale” of the properties. In a short sale, the mortgage holder can pay off the mortgage with the proceeds of the short sale, but the mortgager does not receive any of the proceeds. During March and April 2016, Hills conspired with her client to sell the four properties in a transaction where the client would receive the sales proceeds in a hidden cash transaction and conceal it from the USAO-SDNY, which was entitled to the proceeds to partially satisfy the Judgment and Forfeiture Order. On March 15, 2016, Hills faxed a letter to the USAO-SDNY requesting that the lien be released in order to proceed with the sale, falsely representing that the client would not receive any financial benefit from the short sale. However, on April 6, 2016, Hills, the client and the buyer met at the closing, and the buyer gave Hills a bag containing $33,100 in cash, representing $25,000 for one property and Hills’ broker fee of $8,100. At the closing, which was recorded by FBI agents, Hills told the buyer with regard to her client, “I’m afraid. I’m an attorney… I don’t want her to say something… The wrong thing on the phone one day and it’s being recorded and I’m screwed.”
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Martin E. Coffey and Alexander Mindlin are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
LYDIA HILLS
Age: 38
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-cr-204 (ILG)
Berkeley County man indicted for heroin and fentanyl distributionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Trey Cardale Campbell, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was indicted today on drug charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Campbell, age 26, is charged with one count of “Distribution of Heroin” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Furanyl Fentanyl, Heroin, and Fentanyl.” Campbell is accused of distributing heroin, furanyl fentanyl and fentanyl in May 2017 in Berkeley County.Campbell faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each count. 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 Timothy D. Helman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Berkeley County man indicted for fentanyl distributionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Nicholas Wayne Deminds, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was indicted today on a drug charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Deminds, age 30, is charged with one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.” Deminds is accused of distributing fentanyl in December 2018 in Berkeley County.Deminds faces not less than five and up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000,000. 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.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Bergen and Burlington County, New Jersey, Religious Leaders Admit Roles in Conspiracy to Evade Taxes on Millions of Dollars in Income from ChurchRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The leader and the main treasurer of the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ admitted their respective roles today in a scheme in which both men caused the church to pay millions of dollars in personal expenses for the leader that the leader then omitted from his personal tax returns, U.S Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Jermaine Grant, 43, of Burlington Township, New Jersey, and Lincoln Warrington, 48, of Bergen County, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court to Count One of the indictment against them, charging them with conspiring to defraud the United States.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Grant and Warrington used their leadership positions in the church to divert to Grant millions of dollars belonging to the church and its members for Grant’s personal use and benefit. The defendants used a variety of methods to carry out the scheme. For example, Grant and Warrington created a purported entertainment company that portrayed Grant as an industry mogul whose wealth was derived from his success in the industry, thereby concealing from church members that his lifestyle was supported entirely by the church and donations from its members. Grant and Warrington also used the church’s money to pay Grant’s other personal expenses, including payments for rental real estate properties, vacations, high-end luxury items, and private school tuition for Grant’s minor children. Grant, with Warrington’s assistance, then omitted these benefits from his individual income tax returns, resulting in the evasion of a substantial amount of tax due and owing to the United States. In total, Grant and Warrington concealed millions of dollars in income from the IRS, and failed to pay at least $250,000 in taxes.
The plea agreements in this matter include a requirement that the church will develop and present to the United States a plan designed to ensure the church’s compliance with applicable federal income tax laws going forward. A preliminary version of this tax compliance plan that is satisfactory to the United States must be provided prior to the date of Grant’s and Warrington’s sentencing hearings. Before the United States returns to the church certain cash and property seized during execution of the search warrants in this case, the compliance plan must address the disposition of that cash and property and ensure that they are returned for the benefit of the the church rather than for the personal benefit of Jermaine Grant or any other individual.
The tax fraud conspiracy charge to which Grant and Warrington pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If accepted by the court, the plea agreement further provides that each defendant will be sentenced to a maximum of 30 months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie, and IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John R. Tafur, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas.
The government is represented by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig and Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret A. Mahoney, Senior Trial Counsel for the National Security Unit in Newark, New Jersey.
Defense counsel: Grant: Gerald Lefcourt Esq. and Faith Friedman Esq., New York
Warrington: Richard Levitt Esq., New YorkBelcourt Man Found Guilty of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under 12 Years oldRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on March 19, 2019, following a two-day trial, a jury returned a guilty verdict against Calvin Keith Delorme, age 30, Belcourt, ND, for the offense of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under 12 Years. U.S. District Judge James M. Moody Jr., Eastern District of Arkansas, sitting by designation, presided over the trial.
This case came to the attention of law enforcement in March 2014, when a child under Delorme’s care disclosed that he had sexually abused her over a period of several years. The victim stated the abuse occurred on many occasions when the victim was left in the defendant’s care.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Greenley and Lori Conroy prosecuted the case.
####
Barbour County woman admits to methamphetamine distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Nicholle Knotts, of Philippi, West Virginia, has admitted to distributing methamphetamine, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Knotts, age 25, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Knotts admitted to distributing methamphetamine in November 2017 in Harrison County.Knotts faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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.
Baltimore Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for an Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced DeAndre Spencer, age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 12 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for committing an armed carjacking.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department.
“DeAndre Spencer used a gun to commit a carjacking in broad daylight,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Hopefully criminals who are not deterred from carrying guns by the threat of prison time can be deterred by the reality of years spent in a federal prison far from home—where there is no parole. Ever.”
According to Spencer’s plea agreement, on October 26, 2017, the victim was stopped in his car at the intersection of North Duncan Street and East Fairmount Avenue in Baltimore, when Spencer approached and requested a ride. The victim refused and Spencer pointed a loaded handgun at the victim and demanded that the victim get out of the car. Spencer then stole the victim’s wallet and cell phone and drove away in the victim’s car. The victim walked to a nearby school and called 911. Police arrived and began an investigation into the carjacking.
Later that day, a detective with the Baltimore County Police Department saw Spencer driving the victim’s car through intersections without stopping at stop signs. The detective began following the car to initiate a traffic stop. Shortly thereafter, Spencer crashed the car into a light pole and tried to run away. The detective apprehended Spencer and recovered a loaded handgun from his person.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DellaBetta, who prosecuted the case.
# # #
Armstead and Jerome Kieffer, Father and Son, Sentenced to Life in Prison for Felony Murder Related to May 2017 Loomis Armored Car RobberyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced JEROME KIEFFER, age 25, and his father, ARMSTEAD KIEFFER, age 54, both of New Orleans, to spend the rest of their lives in federal prison for their roles in a 2015 armored car robbery and a 2017 attempted armored car robbery in which Loomis guard James McBride was killed, announced U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser.
Following a week-long trial in October 2018, a jury convicted JEROME KIEFFER and ARMSTEAD KIEFFER, who are father and son, of charges related to two armored car robberies, a 2015 robbery at the Chase Bank on N. Board and a 2017 attempted robbery at the Campus Federal Credit Union on Tulane. During the 2015 robbery, JEROME KIEFFER and co-defendant DELTOINE SCOTT, who pleaded guilty and testified against the KIEFFERs, approached a Brinks truck while it was servicing ATMs at the Chase Bank. JEROME KIEFFER forced a guard back onto the truck at gunpoint, and the two robbers made off with approximately $160,000. About a year and a half later, the pair attempted another armored car robbery at the Campus Federal, this time enlisting JEROME KIEFFER’s father, ARMSTEAD KIEFFER as a lookout. During the second robbery, gunfire broke out between the robbers and the guards, and Loomis guard James McBride was shot and later died of his wounds. Both of the KIEFFERs were convicted on all counts at trial.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys David Haller and Michael McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.
* * *