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Thursday 4 October 2018
Citizen of Honduras Pleads Guilty to Reentering U.S. after Being DeportedRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAVIER VASQUEZ MARTINEZ, 39, a citizen of Honduras last residing in Meriden, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to one count of reentry of a removed alien.
According to court documents and statements made in court, VASQUEZ MARTINEZ was deported from the U.S. to Honduras in May 2016 following two state convictions for operating under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and one conviction for failure to appear.
VASQUEZ MARTINEZ subsequently reentered the U.S. illegally.
On July 2, 2018, VASQUEZ MARTINEZ was arrested by the West Haven Police Department and charged with two counts of evading responsibility resulting in injury/property damage and one count of operating a motor vehicle without a license.
The investigation revealed that VASQUEZ MARTINEZ, using the name “Merary Vasquez,” also had two state convictions in 2007 for operating under the influence.
Judge Hall scheduled sentencing for December 20, 2018, at which time VASQUEZ MARTINEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
VASQUEZ MARTINEZ has been detained since his arrest.
The state charges from July 2018 are pending.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.
Chalmette Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, EDLA announced that U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced CHRIS WELLS, age 35, of Chalmette, Louisiana, to 240 months imprisonment and 8 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to several drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one hundred grams or more of heroin. WELLS also pled guilty to firearms offenses, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, In March of 2017, members of the NOPD/HIDTA Task Force received information from a source of information that three individuals, including WELLS, were heroin distributors in the area of Mandeville Street and Derbigny Street in New Orleans. Based on that information, officers conducted surveillance in that area.
On Thursday April 13, 2017, officers observed WELLS conduct hand-to-hand narcotics transactions in the area of Mandeville Street and Derbigny Street. Afterward, officers observed WELLS drive to his residence at 406 E. Liberaux Street in Chalmette, Louisiana, then return to North Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans where he picked up an individual. After observing WELLS drive in a manner as if to avoid being followed, officers suspected that WELLS conducted a narcotics transaction with the individual.
After the individual exited WELLS’ vehicle, he attempted to flee from the officers but fell and spilled approximately an ounce of heroin he purchased from WELLS. Officers arrested the individual and seized additional heroin from his pockets.
Officers and DEA Special Agents obtained a search warrant for WELLS’ residence. During the search, officers and agents seized approximately 33 grams of crack cocaine, 70 grams of heroin, and a semi-automatic pistol.
Through further investigation, officers learned that WELLS and his associates used one telephone to conduct heroin transactions. Customers would call the one telephone number and WELLS or his associates would conduct the sale.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys André Jones and Nicholas D. Moses were in charge of the prosecution.
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Caldwell Man Sentenced to over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in IdahoRead the Press Release
BOISE – Ray Perales, 43, of Caldwell, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 262 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. A federal grand jury indicted Perales on September 14, 2017, and he later pleaded guilty on July 13, 2018. Perales was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David C. Nye.
According to court records, investigators received information in July 2017 that Perales was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine. On July 19, 2017, Perales was arrested for violating his parole. At the time of his arrest, he had a loaded pistol and over $13,000. On August 9, 2017, investigators searched Perales’ mobile home in Homedale, Idaho. During the search, investigators found approximately five pounds of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and $18,231. Perales’ co-defendant, Ricardo Renteria-Castillo, was also in the mobile home.
Perales has a lengthy criminal history with at least four prior felony convictions, including distributing controlled substances. At the time he committed this offense, he was on parole for attempted strangulation. Because of his criminal history, he faced a sentence of at least twenty years in prison.
Perales’ co-defendant, Renteria-Castillo, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. He is scheduled for sentencing on December 6, 2018 before Judge Nye at the Federal Courthouse in Boise. That crime is punishable by at least 10 years up to life in prison.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Nampa Police Department, Caldwell Police Department, and the Idaho Department of Probation and Parole. The following law enforcement agencies also participated in the search of the mobile home in Homedale: Homedale Police Department, Boise Police Department, Valley County Sheriff’s Office, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mini Cassia Drug Task Force.
This indictment is the result of a joint investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which includes the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and the U.S. Marshals Service.
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.
Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking the Mother of His ChildrenRead 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 Mark Bieniek, 45, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to cyberstalking. The charge carries a minimum penalty of one year in prison, a maximum of five years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant and Victim 1 were once partners and had children together. On April 25, 2017, Victim 1 received an order of protection against Bieniek, prohibiting the defendant from communication with Victim 1, except as permitted by order of a family or supreme court.
Between January 25, 2018, and February 19, 2018, Bieniek resided in North Richland Hills, Texas, while Victim 1 resided in Erie County, NY. In violation of the order of protection during this period, the defendant sent several hundred electronic messages to Victim 1 with the intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate, or cause substantial emotional distress to Victim 1 or to place Victim 1 in reasonable fear of the death of or serious injury to herself or her partner, Victim 2. Among the messages:
• “I got [Victim 2]..” “I may spend the rest of my life in prison. But it’ll be worth it…I can’t wait to see him…Texas has lots and lots of pawnshops”
• “Hi [Victim 2]! Looking forward to meeting you…My brother killed someone…so can I (expletive)”
• “I like the pictures you posted. I’m coming fir you [Victim 2]. Now I know exactly what you look like. I’ll see you soon.” “(Expletives) I’m going to murder your boyfriend while you watch.”
• Images of the defendant holding an object resembling a black pistol along with the message, “It’s time [Victim 1]. I’m going to let you make the decision.”
• Photos of the outside of Victim 1’s place of employment with the message, “I’m wondering…Are you planning on coming out?”
• “I am here and I will get you. Maybe tonight I’ll just torch the place or ill wait to see the looks on your faces.”
• “see i paid a lot to put this whole plan together and i sawed off the end of my attitude adjuster. i have patience. be sure to look over your shoulder mother fucker because there will be dead bodies when I’m thru. Starting with your face getting a few slugs.”
• “I have nothing left [Victim 1]. You took it all. Idc what i have to do. You will hear my cries.” “I have two things i must do. Get you. No matter what. Then get myself.”
• “I know that you are alone and scared up there.”
• “I can feel the the hate for me. I can smell your feae.” “Fear.”
• “[Victim 2] you and [Victim 1] are going to die”, “Tomorrow”, “I promise you this sir”, “You are both dead”
• I SWEAR ON MY MOTHER CAROLS LAST BREATH IF SHE WERE TO ASK ME HER LAST DYING WISH TO NOT DO ANYTHING TO HURT OR SCARE YOU...LIKE SHE HAS BEFORE BUT YOU DONT CARE. IF SHE ASKED ME FOR THAT ONE LAST WISH BEFORE SHE TOOK HER LAST BREATH I'D LOOK HER IN HER EYES AND TELL HER I CANNOT CAN NOT GIVE YOU THIS WISH.The defendant has a history of domestic violence-related conduct towards Victim 1. On December 17, 2011, he was arrested for assaulting, including choking and kicking, Victim 1 with intent to cause physical injury. As a result, Victim 1 feared death or serious injury to herself and Victim 2 and suffered substantial emotional distress.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, with assistance from the FBI in Fort Worth, Texas.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 28, 2019, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Bowie County Felon Guilty of Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
TEXARKANA, Texas – A 79-year-old Hooks, Texas, man has pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
Robert D. Whittington, III, a retired Lt. Colonel with the U.S. Army, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven.
According to information presented in court, on Mar. 7, 2018, federal agents executed a search warrant at Whittington’s residence on Avenue D in Hooks, Texas. During the search, officers discovered 119 firearms and over 19,000 rounds of ammunition. Whittington was convicted of terrorizing on Jan. 3, 2011 in Bossier Parish, LA, and as a convicted felon is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Whittington was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas on May 16, 2018.
Under federal statutes, Whittington faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, ammunition and body armor, and improving the safety of residents in the Eastern District of Texas. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
Boston Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Distributing Drugs in and Around Public Housing DevelopmentRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston gang member pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to distributing crack cocaine in a Jamaica Plain housing development.
Dominique Finch, aka “Heff,” 27, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and distribution of cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a public housing facility. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Jan. 9, 2019.
Following a two-year investigation, Finch and eight co-defendants were charged in January 2018 in connection with illegal drug distribution and firearm possession within and near the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jamaica Plain, formerly known as the Bromley Heath Housing Development. On July 6, 2016, Finch, a member of the Heath Street Gang, conspired with his brother to distribute crack cocaine inside the development. According to court records, Finch has a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for assault with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery, witness intimidation, assault and battery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Finch was on pretrial release in Suffolk Superior Court at the time he and his brother made the drug sale.
The investigation and arrests sought to reduce violence and improve the quality of life for residents of the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments by removing individuals who trafficked drugs and who were involved in gang activity in and around the development.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and distribution of cocaine base within 1000 feet of a public housing facility provides for mandatory minimum sentence of one year and no greater than 40 years in prison, a minimum of six years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of $2 million. 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; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today. Assistance was also provided by the Boston Housing Authority’s Department of Police and Public Safety.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bluefield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – A Bluefield man pled guilty today to a federal gun charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Tykeem Freeman, 25, entered his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“What can I say? Another convicted felon. On parole. With a firearm,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “These cases just keep coming and we keep prosecuting them. Now, he is still a felon, no longer on parole, and no longer possessing a firearm.”
Freeman admitted that April 19, 2018, agents with the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives executed a search warrant at the house he was living in with his brother. When the agents entered the residence, Freeman was in possession of a Ruger, LCP .380 semi-automatic pistol. He admitted that he attempted to hide the pistol from law enforcement officers because he knew he was not supposed to possess any firearms because he was a convicted felon. He also admitted that at the time he committed this offense, he was still on parole out of the state of Virginia. Freeman was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of a 2016 drug-related felony conviction in Tazewell County, Virginia.
Freeman faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on January 31, 2019.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is responsible for the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber.
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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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Benton County Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Anthony Monjure, age 23, of Bentonville, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison followed by twenty-five years of supervised release on one count of Accessing the Internet with the Intent to View Child Pornography. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, in April of 2017, the FBI conducted a nationwide undercover investigation into individuals utilizing the internet to post, download, and have discussions about child pornography. During the investigation, the FBI located a social media group that was created and maintained solely for like-minded individuals to share child pornography. While monitoring the group, FBI agents determined that one member, who utilized the screen name of “horneyaf3785,” was from Northwest Arkansas. Ultimately, law enforcement identified the individual from Northwest Arkansas, as Anthony Monjure, a sex offender from Bentonville. In August of 2017, a federal search warrant was executed at Monjure’s residence. During the execution of the warrant, the FBI located in Monjure’s possession a cellular phone, which had the user ID of horneyaf3785 saved to the device.
In June of 2018, Monjure pleaded guilty to Accessing the Internet with the Intent to View Child Pornography. During his change of plea, the Government provided the Court with evidence that Monjure had previously been convicted of an offense related to the Possession of Child Pornography.
This case was investigated by the Federal bureau of Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case for the United States.
Attorney General Sessions Issues Statement in Support of the Administration’s National Counterterrorism StrategyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Attorney General Jeff Sessions today issued the following statement in support of the Administration’s release of a National Counterterrorism Strategy:
“The first duty of any government is to keep its citizens safe,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “The terrorist threat to this nation remains serious, but under President Donald Trump, the Department of Justice has done its part to protect the American people. Every day, our officers are working around the clock and around the world to identify, disrupt, and investigate terrorists and their enablers. This past Christmas we successfully thwarted an alleged planned attack on San Francisco. Today, the Trump administration takes an historic next step by releasing its National Counterterrorism Strategy. I applaud President Trump’s leadership on this issue as well as the principles laid out in the Strategy, and the American people can be assured that it will help this administration keep them safe.”
Anchorage Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Robbing Same Bank Three Separate TimesRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that an Anchorage man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in three separate bank robberies of the same Wells Fargo branch on Debarr Road, occurring on July 7, 2017; April 3, 2018; and April 16, 2018.
Christopher Hatting, 38, of Anchorage, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason, to serve four years in prison for each bank robbery, to be served concurrently, followed by five years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty as charged to three counts of bank robbery. Hatting’s co-defendants from the April 3, 2018, robbery were sentenced last week. Bethany McKeel, 31, of Anchorage, was also sentenced to serve four years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to one count of bank robbery. Derrick Moore, 29, of Anchorage, was sentenced to serve 56 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to one count of bank robbery.
According to court documents, on April 3, 2018, Hatting, Moore, and McKeel drove together to the Wells Fargo branch on Debarr Road in a GMC Yukon SUV. As McKeel parked and waited at a nearby cul-de-sac, Moore and Hatting ran inside the bank. Hatting, wearing a camouflaged jacket, entered the bank wielding a realistic air-pistol, with Moore, who was wearing a dark jacket and holding a bag. The two stole approximately $15,316 from several teller stations by threatening tellers and clientele with the pistol wielded by Hatting, while Moore went from teller to teller collecting the stolen money into his bag. Hatting and Moore then rejoined McKeel in the Yukon and left the area. The three then abandoned the vehicle, which was discovered the following day by APD officers. The vehicle was found to contain evidence linking the three to the bank robbery, including the jackets they wore, the air-pistol, and a credit card in Hatting’s name.
McKeel and Moore were arrested on April 25, 2018, and Hatting was ultimately arrested on May 15, 2018, while hiding in a secluded property in Eagle River. After Hatting was arrested for his role in the April 3, 2018, bank robbery, it was revealed that that he was responsible, along with other individuals, for two other robberies of the same Wells Fargo branch location – one committed the previous year on July 7, 2017, and the other committed on April 16, 2018.
Specifically, on July 7, 2017, Hatting was driven to the Wells Fargo branch by another co-conspirator, who waited in the parked car in a nearby cul-de-sac. Hatting applied makeup on his face and put cotton balls in his cheeks in an attempt to disguise himself. Both the makeup and cotton balls had been shoplifted by Hatting shortly before the bank robbery. Once he entered the bank, Hatting approached a teller with a note demanding money, which he had created from letters cut out of a magazine. Hatting stole approximately $3,000 from the teller before exiting the bank and rejoining his co-conspirator. On April 16, 2018, Hatting again entered the same Wells Fargo branch, by himself, masked, and holding what appeared to be a pistol. He stole approximately $4,101 before leaving the area with a co-conspirator.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander.
Amir Hossain Rasekh Sentenced to Serve 33 Months in Prison for Defrauding Social SecurityRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On October 2, 2018, Amir Hossain Rasekh, 40, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, Chief U.S. District Judge, to serve 33 months in federal prison for stealing Social Security benefits from unsuspecting seniors through a conspiracy involving theft of their personal information. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $547,719.20.
Rasekh pleaded guilty in May 2018, to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. From 2012 until his arrest in June 2017, Rasekh engaged in a scheme involving the theft of Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits from unsuspecting victims, including using their personal identification information (PII) to sign up for benefits online. He and other individuals, who are currently unknown to law enforcement, then directed the payment of the monthly SSA benefits to prepaid debit cards issued by Green Dot and under their control. Over the five-year period of the scheme, Rasekh stole $547,719.20 in SSA benefits.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue prosecution of individuals who commit crimes against our district’s older residents,” said U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey. “We encourage anyone near retirement age to protect themselves from fraudulent acts such as these by contacting the Social Security Administration to ensure that their personal identification information has not been used without their knowledge.”
Agencies involved in this investigation included the SSA, Office of the Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Dale, Jr. and Jennifer Kolman represented the United States in court proceedings.
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Alleged Latin Kings Members Charged with Kidnapping and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian C. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hartford Police Chief David Rosado today announced that, on October 2, 2018, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging five alleged members of the Almighty Latin Kings Nation (“Latin Kings”) with kidnapping a firearm offenses.
The four-count indictment charges each of the following individuals with one count of kidnapping, one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, one count of carrying and using a firearm in during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence:
LUIS PITT, a.k.a. “Macho,”Cuz-o,” 23, of Hartford
JONATHAN OTERO, a.k.a. “Jax” 25, of Hartford
PEDRO CARILLO, a.k.a. “P,” 23, of Hartford
ANTHONY CARILLO, a.k.a. “Boogie,” 20, of Hartford
JOSUE FRANCO, a.k.a. “Sway,” 23, of HartfordPitt and Anthony Carillo were arrested today. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and are detained. Otero, Pedro Carillo and Franco are incarcerated in state custody for unrelated offenses.
As alleged in the indictment, on January 26, 2018, Franco and Anthony Carillo lured an individual (“the victim”) to a residence on Benton Street in Hartford. When the victim entered the residence, Pitt and Otero were waiting. Pitt, Otero, Anthony Carillo and Franco then threatened, assaulted, and tortured the victim and prevented him from leaving the residence. After the victim was restrained, Pedro Carillo arrived at the residence and participated in the ongoing assault and torture of the victim. At times, the victim was threatened and assaulted with a firearm.
The indictment alleges that the defendants forced the victim to call his father and demand a ransom. The victim was threatened that, if the victim’s family did not pay the ransom, the victim would be harmed or killed.
It is alleged that the victim was moved to different locations in order to obtain the ransom. The victim eventually escaped.
The kidnapping charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and the firearm charges carry a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of seven years.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Division has provided critical assistance to the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Heroin and Methamphetamine Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – John Hanrahan, 57, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to heroin and methamphetamine trafficking charges without the benefit of a plea agreement. At sentencing, Hanrahan faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison. However, if the court determines that Hanrahan is a career offender, he faces a prison sentence within the range of 30 years to a maximum of life imprisonment.
Hanrahan, whose prior criminal history includes felony convictions for conspiracy, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit fraudulent use of credit cards, aggravated battery on a police officer, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, is being prosecuted as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target for federal prosecution violent or repeat offenders with the goal of making communities in New Mexico safer places for people to live and work.
DEA agents arrested Hanrahan in March 2016, when they executed a state search warrant at his residence and seized approximately 1961 grams of heroin, 128 grams of methamphetamine and more than $15,000 in cash.
Hanrahan subsequently was indicted on April 12, 2016, and was charged with possession of heroin and methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to the indictment, Hanrahan committed the offenses on March 17, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.
Hanrahan has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of the DEA and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristopher N. Houghton and Alexander M. Uballez are prosecuting the case as part of the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative. The HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 by the UNM Health Sciences Center and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in response to the national opioid epidemic, which has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico. Opioid addiction has taken a toll on public safety, public health and the economic viability of our communities. Working in partnership with the DEA, the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative, Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC), the Albuquerque Public Schools and other community stakeholders, HOPE’s principal goals are to protect our communities from the dangers associated with heroin and opioid painkillers and reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in New Mexico.
The HOPE Initiative is comprised of five components: (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning. HOPE’s law enforcement component is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners. Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.
Additional Charges Filed Against Plains Township Man Indicted for Firebombing the Luzerne County Children and Youth Office BuildingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment on October 2, 2018, charging Phillip Finn, Jr, age 48, of Plains Township, Pennsylvania, with interstate communications and using fire to commit a felony.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the superseding indictment charges Finn with using his email account to send a Luzerne County caseworker threatening emails between March 4, 2017 and March 5, 2017. It also alleges that on March 6, 2017, Finn used three Molotov cocktails to firebomb the Luzerne County Children and Youth Services building in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to commit the felony of stalking.
On July 11, 2017, Finn was indicted on charges of stalking, interstate communications and malicious damage to federal property by fire. The indictment alleged that between March 3, 2017 and March 6, 2017, Finn used Facebook, Google and his cell phone to engage in a course of conduct, to harass and intimidate two Luzerne County Children and Youth Services employees. The superseding indictment added the charge of use of fire to commit a felony and an additional count of interstate communication.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.
Indictments and Criminal Informations 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 combined maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a 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.
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12 Defendants Charged in Federal Investigation Targeting Heroin Trafficking on West Side of ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Twelve individuals are facing federal charges as part of an investigation into heroin trafficking on the West Side of Chicago.
As part of the investigation, dubbed “Operation Dirty Ice,” law enforcement intercepted cellphone communications between the defendants, conducted extensive surveillance, and performed court-authorized searches of residences in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago and west suburban Bellwood. During the probe, authorities seized one and a half kilograms of heroin, a half kilogram of crack cocaine, more than $892,000 in illicit cash proceeds, and a stolen handgun.
The investigation was conducted under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, whose principal mission is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations.
A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges eleven defendants with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, and one defendant with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. Many of the defendants were arrested Tuesday, and they have made initial appearances in federal court in Chicago.
The charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Gabriel L. Grchan, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago; and Eddie Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The Illinois State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Guzman and Rebekah Holman represent the government.
Charged in the drug conspiracy are DIAMOND LAKE, 42, of Bellwood; DARNELL HUDSON, 42, of Chicago; ANTWION WILLIAMS, 43, of Berwyn; DERRON BARTON, 42, of Chicago; STEVEN MOORE, 41, of Chicago; ROMELL RATLIFF, 40, of Chicago; DEANDRE HUGHES, 23, of Chicago; LAWRENCE JONES, 41, of Chicago; CLAYVON VIVETTER, 30, of Chicago; WILLIE BLAKE, 39, of Chicago; and EDDIE YOUNG, 39, of Chicago. Charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute is TYJUAN YATES, 36, of Chicago.
According to the charges, Lake operated a drug trafficking organization that distributed nearly 500 grams of heroin in the Chicago area on a weekly basis. The organization used Lake’s residence in Bellwood to store bulk quantities of heroin and to prepare the drug for street-level distribution, the complaint states. Lake, Williams and Hudson parceled the drug in distinctive packaging by wrapping it in tinfoil and stapling it inside mini Ziploc bags, the complaint states. Williams and Hudson then allegedly worked with Barton to bring the bags to street-level dealers, including Moore, Ratliff, Hughes, Jones, Vivetter, Blake and Young. After sales on the street, Williams, Hudson and Barton collected cash proceeds and delivered the money to Lake, the charges allege.
From May to October of this year, Lake’s organization distributed at least 10 kilograms of heroin to customers on the West Side of Chicago, the complaint states. Many of the sales allegedly occurred in the city’s Austin neighborhood, including in the 100 block of North LaPorte Avenue, the 5000 block of West Maypole Avenue, and the 4800 block of West Quincy Street.
The charge against Yates stems from a June 2018 seizure of heroin in the Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago, the complaint states. Law enforcement discovered approximately 109 grams of packaged heroin in Yates’s vehicle in the 4400 block of West Fulton Street, according to the complaint.
The conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, while the possession charge against Yates is punishable by up to 20 years. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Wednesday 3 October 2018
Zuni Pueblo Man Sentenced to Ten Years for 2nd Degree Murder ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Patrick Walela, 33, a member and resident of Zuni Pueblo, N.M., was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for his conviction on a second-degree murder charge in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M. Walela will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.
The FBI arrested Walela on Dec. 29, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with second degree murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The complaint alleged that Walela killed a 45-year-old Zuni Pueblo man and seriously injured a 52-year-old Zuni Pueblo man on Dec. 20, 2017, when he caused a single motor vehicle crash in Zuni Pueblo on Dec. 20, 2017. According to the complaint, Walela was intoxicated while driving the vehicle in which the two victims were passengers at an excessive rate of speed. Information extracted from his vehicle’s event data recorder indicated that his vehicle was traveling at speeds between 86 and 97 miles per hour in the seconds leading up to the crash.
Walela was indicted in April 2018 and was charged with second degree murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The indictment charged Walela with committing the crimes on Dec. 20, 2017 in McKinley County, N.M.
On June 21, 2018, Walela pled guilty to the second-degree murder charge. In entering the guilty plea, Walela admitted killing the victim with malice aforethought. Walela admitted consuming alcohol to the point that he could not operate a vehicle safely, and that he drove a vehicle even though he previously had been convicted of three DUI-related offenses in Zuni Tribal Court and had completed both a “victim impact panel” and “first offender” program informing him of the dangers of drinking and driving. Walela admitted that at the time of the crash, he drove the vehicle in excess of the speed limit and lost control of the vehicle and the victim died as the result of injuries he sustained in the crash.
This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Zuni Pueblo Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Murphy prosecuted the case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior criminal convictions for federal prosecution offenders with the goal of making communities in New Mexico safer places for people to live and work.
Waterbury Man Charged with Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment yesterday charging PATRICK ROGERS, 38, of Waterbury, with one count of possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.
As alleged in court documents, ATF received information that ROGERS was distributing heroin and was interested in acquiring firearms. In August and September 2018, an ATF special agent working in an undercover capacity made two controlled purchases of suspected heroin from ROGERS. ROGERS then agreed to provide a quantity of heroin to the undercover agent in exchange for two firearms. ROGERS was arrested on September 26, 2018, after he met the undercover agent at a location in Waterbury and took possession of two firearms that he traded for 160 bags of heroin.
The indictment alleges that ROGERS was convicted in state court in 1998 of sale of a hallucinogen or narcotic and robbery in the second degree, in 2008 of violation of a protective order, and in 2016 of possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute.
It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The charge of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
ROGERS has been detained since his arrest.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Freismuth.
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 neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Virginia Man Sentenced to One-Year Prison Term for Real Estate Investment ScamRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – David Tipton, 52, of Alexandria, Va., was sentenced today to a year and a day in prison for defrauding lenders who provided him with nearly $710,000 towards the purchase and renovation of a residential property in Northeast Washington.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Nancy McNamara, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Tipton pled guilty in May 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to a charge of mail fraud. He was sentenced by the Honorable Senior Judge Paul L. Friedman. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also must pay $448,994 in restitution, as well as an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment.
According to the government’s evidence, Tipton owned a company that was created to purchase, renovate, and sell residential real estate in the District of Columbia and Virginia. He signed a contract in January 2013 to purchase a property in the 500 block of 14th Street NE for $450,000 in cash, planning to renovate and sell the property for a profit. He falsely represented that he had the required funds available to close the cash transaction and created a false bank statement to back up the claim. In fact, almost all of the money for the purchase was coming from two unrelated private individuals whom he had met at a real estate investment seminar. Each of them provided Tipton with $224,497, for a total of $448,994, in return for Deeds of Trust securing their interest in the property. Tipton did not tell the settlement company about the loans. As a result, the Deeds of Trust were not recorded.
Additionally, Tipton later obtained $260,000 from a private money lender to renovate the property. Tipton did not disclose to the lender that two other individuals held Deeds of Trust in the property.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu and Assistant Director in Charge McNamara commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Marston, former Criminal Investigator Juan Juarez, Paralegal Specialist Aisha Keys, and former Paralegal Specialist Kristy Penny. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Saler, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney recounts efforts to combat crime on Project Safe Neighborhoods anniversaryRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that after a year of increased firearm and violent crime prosecutions, that there has been a substantial reduction in violent crime throughout the Western District of Louisiana.
One year ago the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. 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.
Throughout the past year, the Western District of Louisiana has partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. During this time, the Western District of Louisiana has quadrupled the number of violent crime and firearm prosecutions. And these prosecutions have shown results.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
“We have made reducing violent crime in our district a top priority,” Joseph stated. “Project Safe Neighborhoods is a program that helps our office work with local law enforcement to target the worst offenders. As a result of this, we’ve seen violent crime rates drop in many areas of our state. This program works, and we hope to continue this program to further reduce crime and protect the citizens of our communities. I want to thank each and every law enforcement officer, whether federal, state or local, as well as the prosecutors and Justice Department staff who have worked so hard during this last year to take violent offenders out of our neighborhoods.”
As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are some of the highlights of our PSN actions over the past year:
Enforcement Actions
In the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana has prosecuted more than 200 defendants throughout the district for firearm related offenses, including felons and drug dealers in possession of firearms.
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office started its prosecutions a year ago with the announcement on October 5, 2017 of indictments of 16 defendants in separate cases across north Louisiana. For more information, see the news release here.
- Throughout the past year, the office has prosecuted firearms related cases under Project Safe Neighborhoods averaging at least one PSN prosecution a week. An example of such prosecutions can be viewed here.
- The U.S. Attorney announced increased prosecutions in Northwest Louisiana. Read more here.
- United States Attorney Joseph announced increased prosecutions in the Acadiana area. More can be learned here.
Community Partnerships
Since the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods, these partnerships have been expanded to include the Louisiana State Attorney General’s Office in addition to other agencies.
- For the first time in its history, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Louisiana Attorney General announced a joint effort to increase violent crime prosecutions. See more here.
- The office announced grants available to local law enforcement. See more information here.
- As part of its community outreach efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has participated in a number of events and programs to educate and strengthen communities throughout the Western District of Louisiana such as National Night Out and drug prevention education events. See more here.
Improvements to Community Safety
- The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration, the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.
- The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
- With the increase of 200 defendant prosecutions throughout the district, it has resulted in a noticeable reduction in crime across the district. In Shreveport, violent crime has dropped by 13 percent and indications are that similar results are materializing in other communities throughout the district.
These enforcement actions and partnerships are 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.
United States Attorney Krueger Announces Progress in Making Communities Safer Through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. 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.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger explained today that throughout the past year, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
“Every resident of our District deserves to live in a safe community,” United States Attorney Krueger said. “We recognize that reducing violence requires a comprehensive approach that involves all parts of our community. Through the PSN program, we are committed to working together with federal, state, local, and community partners to use all available tools to make our neighborhoods safer.” United States Attorney Krueger highlighted some of the District’s PSN actions over the past year:
Enforcement Actions
A central focus of the PSN enforcement strategy is to prosecute the most violent groups and individuals who use firearms to commit crimes:
- On January 18, 2018, Joel Rivera was sentenced to 36 years of imprisonment for committing two armed business robberies in the City of Milwaukee. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, which is a collaboration of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the Milwaukee Police Department. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/milwaukee-man-sentenced-36-years-federal-prison-armed-robberies
- On April 29, 2018, Otis Hunter was sentenced to a mandatory 107 years of imprisonment for committing three armed business robberies and two armed carjackings in Milwaukee. His co-actor was sentenced to a mandatory 32 years for committing two of those robberies. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/milwaukee-man-sentenced-107-years-prison-five-armed-robberies
- On May 15, 2018, Elix Powell and Antonio Jamerson were charged with the armed robbery of the Swan Serv-U Pharmacy in the City of Wauwatosa. If they are convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and the Wauwatosa Police Department. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/two-men-indicted-federal-court-armed-robbery-wauwatosa-pharmacy
- On June 26, 2018, seven defendants were charged in a sixteen count indictment alleging, among other charges, a conspiracy to distribute heroin. On August 7, 2018, eight defendants were charged in a twenty-one count indictment for conspiring to distribute heroin as well. The arrest of these fifteen defendants in these two cases led to the recovery of fifteen firearms. The charges resulted from long-term federal, state and local drug investigations, including the Milwaukee Police Department, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (“HIDTA”), the United States Marshals Service, the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Department, the West Allis Police Department and the Wauwatosa Police Department. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/eight-milwaukee-defendants-charged-federal-court-heroin-conspiracy
- On August 1, 2018, Jimmy Desotell was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while possessing a firearm in Brown County and other communities in Northeastern Wisconsin. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) and the Brown County Drug Task Force. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/green-bay-man-receives-15-year-sentence-methamphetamine-distribution-and-firearm-charge
- On September 18, 2018, Nickie Foster, Marquel Johnson, and Martell Ford were indicted for committing a series of seven armed robberies of taxi cab drivers and gas station employees in the Milwaukee area. If convicted of all counts at trial, the defendants will face significant mandatory minimum sentences. They will also face a maximum of life in prison. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/three-indicted-robberies-taxi-cab-drivers-and-gas-station-employees
Another significant aspect of the PSN enforcement strategy is to prevent violent crime by prosecuting the illegal proliferation of firearms. Intelligence from ATF and other local law enforcement partners allows criminal investigators to focus their efforts on finding, and ultimately prosecuting, unauthorized firearm dealers and straw purchasers of firearms. For example, on September 18, 2018, Rachel Morzfeld was indicted for falsely claiming that she purchased five firearms for herself, when, in fact, it is alleged that she purchased the firearms for others in Union Grove, Wisconsin. In addition, Federal and state prosecutors regularly communicate to determine the best venue to prosecute individuals who possess firearms illegally.
Community Partnerships
In addition to efforts to prosecute violent offenders, district-based police and prosecutor teams work with community organizations to restore properties to their highest quality, assist residents and business owners in creating and enforcing positive neighborhood norms, and create neighborhood crime-reduction plans focused on prevention of gun violence.
PSN is also focused on positive prisoner reentry, which consists of regular face-to-face call-ins of individuals aged sixteen to twenty-six who recently were released from local, state, or federal correctional institutions. Notification sessions are organized and facilitated by community-based agencies that provide trauma-informed and healing-focused care to those involved in the criminal justice system. The program ensures connections to critical assistance and support to the returning offenders and community resources and services.
Yesterday, October 2, 2018, a Reentry Summit was hosted in Kenosha, featuring inspirational messages from previously incarcerated individuals on how to set returning citizens up for success through healing and right partnerships. The Summit also included networking events to introduce prospective employers to agencies that help prepare formerly incarcerated individuals for the world of work. A similar event was hosted in November 2017 in Milwaukee and was attended by 435 individuals.
Improvements to Community Safety
- The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration, the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.
- The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
- From October 1, 2017, to September 17, 2018, Milwaukee County law enforcement agencies have recovered 2,872 firearms.
- Homicides in the City of Milwaukee have decreased 8%, as of September 30, 2018, compared to the number of homicides committed a year ago at this time.
- Non-fatal shootings in the City of Milwaukee have decreased 16%, as of September 30, 2018, compared to the number of non-fatal shootings a year ago at this time.
These enforcement actions and partnerships are 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
U.S. Marshals Target Violent Offenders in KC Metro AreaRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison and U.S. Marshal Mark S. James announced today the results of a law enforcement operation that resulted in dozens of arrests and the seizure of multiple firearms and illegal drugs as part of the district’s renewed Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
“One year ago, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the launch of a reinvigorated Project Safe Neighborhoods program nationwide,” said Garrison. “Operation Washout is one example of the strategies we are implementing to reduce violent crime and make every community safer – especially the neighborhoods hardest hit by violent crime.”
“This is but a preview of what is to come,” said James. “In conjunction with our partners at the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and the other federal agencies, as well as members of the community, our deputies are working around the clock to rid the streets of these violent criminals victimizing our community.”
Operation Washout
For the past three weeks the United States Marshals Service conducted an enforcement operation in collaboration with the Kansas City and Independence, Mo., Police Departments, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in support of Project Safe Neighborhoods by tracking down some of the area’s most violent and persistent offenders in Operation Washout.
By the end of the three-week enforcement operation, deputy marshals, special agents and detectives arrested 56 people with state and federal felony warrants for violent crimes and drugs. The arrestees were among the most violent and active offenders in Kansas City. They are either known gang members, or subject to previous enforcement action through KC NoVA and KCPD, but continued to commit violent crimes. Officers also seized 10 handguns, two semi-automatic rifles, one shotgun, numerous rounds of ammunition and a variety of drugs, including methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy and cocaine.
The U.S. Marshals Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force-Kansas City division, operates in conjunction with members of the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Independence, Mo., Police Department and other federal law enforcement partners. The task force objectives are to seek out and arrest fugitives charged with violent crimes, drug offenses, sex offenders and other serious felonies. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, seven regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.
USA v. Walton
Investigations are currently underway to determine how many of those arrested in Operation Washout will be charged in state or federal court with additional crimes. One defendant, however, was indicted this week after he rammed two law enforcement vehicles while attempting to escape capture.
Brandon L. Walton, 36, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. The federal indictment charges Walton with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal law enforcement officers.
Investigators had information that Walton, who had an active warrant for his arrest due to allegedly violating the conditions of his supervised release, was in possession of multiple firearms. Officers located Walton in the parking lot of a tire shop on Sept. 17, 2018, and attempted to pin in his vehicle in order to make an arrest. Walton accelerated, ramming into the front end of a Deputy U.S. Marshal’s vehicle and escaping. Walton accelerated at a high rate of speed while exiting the parking lot, crashed through the tires blocking the exit and traveled airborne before turning north on Troost Avenue. Another Deputy U.S. Marshal attempted to block Walton’s vehicle and their vehicles collided. Walton’s vehicle spun to a stop and was embedded in the fence of a neighboring day care center. Walton attempted to flee on foot, but fell to the ground.
Walton had a Sig Sauer .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun in his pants pocket. Officers found two more firearms on the passenger floorboard, a loaded DPMS Panther Arms .223-5.56mm semiautomatic rifle with an extended magazine, and a loaded Micro Draco 7.62x39mm semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Walton has two prior federal felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, for which he was under supervised release at the time of his arrest.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Morgan. It was investigated by the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Independence, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Operation Washout is part of a strategy to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in the Western District of Missouri. Friday, Oct. 5, will mark one year since Attorney General Jeff Sessions reprioritized and enhanced the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, making it the centerpiece of the department’s violent crime reduction strategy.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. Project Safe Neighborhoods empowers each U.S. Attorney’s Office to develop targeted, localized violent crime reduction strategies, tailoring solutions to each individual community with the resources of the Department of Justice and the cooperation of community members.
In support of these efforts, the Department of Justice has allocated more than 300 new federal prosecutor positions to the 94 U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Four of those new positions were allocated in the Western District of Missouri, all of whom are now in place and joining the fight.
The Project Safe Neighborhoods effort in this district consists of the federal and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the Kansas City Crime Commission, and several prominent members of our community with law enforcement experience, including former Kansas City Police Department officials, former federal prosecutors, retired federal agents, and former U.S. Attorneys.
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.
U.S. Attorney’s Office promotes effort to fight violent crime at National Night Out events in Shreveport and AcadianaRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE, La. – U.S. Attorney’s Office staff members and local law enforcement and community leaders met in neighborhoods throughout Caddo, Bossier and Lafayette parishes Tuesday as part of their annual National Night Out crime and drug prevention events. The U.S. Attorney’s participation highlights the teamwork approach of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This year’s National Night Out marked the one year anniversary of PSN’s reinvigoration.
United States Attorney David C. Joseph, Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Cassidy and Leon Whitten, and legal assistants Mona Hardwick, Katina Freeman and Tanya’ Porter joined U.S. Marshal Henry Whitehorn, Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler, Shreveport Police Chief Alan Crump, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator, the Shreveport Fire Department and other agency representatives for events in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Van Hook, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamilla A. Bynog, Robert Abendroth, Desiree Williams and Dan McCoy joined the Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Sheriff’s Department and other agencies for National Night Out events in Lafayette.
Residents unlocked their doors, turned on porch lights and spent the evening outside with family, friends, neighbors, emergency response personnel and city officials. Many neighborhoods throughout Caddo and Bossier parishes hosted a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, flashlight walks, contests, youth activities and anti-crime rallies. In Lafayette, residents met at the Martin Luther King Center on Willow Street. The events included music, food, games, fun jumps and displays by the Lafayette Sheriff’s Office, the Lafayette Police Department SWAT Team, Horse Patrol, Motorcycle Unit and the Police Command Bus.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Thousands of communities across the United States took part in the 35th Annual National Night Out starting in August. To find out more about National Night Out, visit the National Association for Town Watch at natw.org.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Commits to Help Further Reduce Chattanooga Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Recently, the Chattanooga Police Department announced crime statistics showing reductions in violent crime from 2017 to 2018. According to the statistics, criminal homicides were down 61%; gang member involved homicides were down 53%; and non-fatal shootings involving gang members were down 35%. Overall, persons shot in Chattanooga, both fatal and non-fatal, were reduced by 27%.
These significantly reduced numbers are due, in part, to the collaborative efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement and state and federal prosecutors. Effective violence reduction depends on working in partnership with a wide range of engaged stakeholders.
While these numbers are encouraging, we cannot afford to be complacent. The violent crime rate is still too high. However, local, state and federal resources, working in partnership to address the drivers of violent crime in our communities, will continue to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As United States Attorney, I am committed to working to drive down violent crime even further.
Last fall, Attorney General Sessions announced the expansion of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which encourages U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work with the communities they serve to develop customized crime reduction strategies. The PSN program has always been strong in this district and will continue to thrive during this reinvigoration of our crime reduction strategy.
While PSN has been implemented by every U.S. Attorney’s office across the country, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution to reduce crime everywhere. It is about local needs, resources, and partners. Recently, the Eastern District of Tennessee formed a PSN Task Force consisting of representatives from local, state and federal law enforcement across our district. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the PSN Task Force includes representatives from the Chattanooga Police Department, Knoxville Police Department, Greeneville Police Department, First, Second, Sixth, and Eleventh District Attorney’s Offices, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Probation and Parole, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security, and U.S. Probation Office.
As a district, the plan is to attack the violent crime problem by identifying significant offenders and targeting them for either federal or state prosecution. By using the most effective tools and techniques, we target the offenders for prosecution in the jurisdiction that can provide the most certain and appropriate sanction.
One recent example of this was in March 2018, when 31-year old Chris Rayvon Starks of Shelbyville, Tennessee, was sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act to serve 180 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition in violation of the Gun Control Act. His sentence was enhanced based on his three prior convictions for aggravated robbery.
Since 2013, the City of Chattanooga has funded an attorney position that serves as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and focuses on violent crime cases to help lower shootings and overall violent crime in the City of Chattanooga. Under the reinvigorated PSN program, we hope to maintain this partnership for many years to come. Our goal is to continue working together with all of our law enforcement partners and community leaders and use all available resources to help reduce the violent crime statistics in Chattanooga even further in the coming year.
J. Douglas Overbey, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. Attorney Williams Announces Progress in Making Community Safe Through Project Safe NeighborhoodRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the department’s violent crime reduction strategy.
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.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
“Keeping our communities safe is the most sacred duty of law enforcement officials at all levels of government. It remains a key focus of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the entire federal law enforcement community,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “The revitalized PSN program focuses federal resources in support of our state, local and tribal partners’ ongoing effort to reduce violent crime in Oregon. Over the past year, we’ve seen many of the district’s most violent criminals brought to justice as a result of this program.”
As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are some of the highlights of our PSN actions over the past year:
Enforcement Actions
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon works in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the district’s most violent offenders under the PSN program. Recent prosecutions include:
U.S. v. Dencklau et al.
On June 28, 2018, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging three members and associates of the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club (GJOMC) for racketeering, kidnapping and murder.
Mark Leroy Dencklau, 58, of Woodburn, Oregon; Earl Deverle Fisher, 48, of Gresham, Oregon; and Tiler Evan Pribbernow, 37, of Portland were charged with murder in aid of racketeering; kidnapping in aid of racketeering, resulting in death; kidnapping resulting in death and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, resulting in death. Between June 30 and July 1, 2015, the defendants are alleged to have kidnapped, tortured, and murdered Robert Huggins, a resident of southeast Portland.
Huggins was a former treasurer of a local GJOMC chapter. The indictment alleges Dencklau, Fisher and Pribbernow engaged in the violent actions leading to Huggins’ death for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the GJOMC criminal enterprise.
A 10-day jury trial is scheduled for December 11, 2018.
Read More
U.S. v. Brockner
On August 14, 2018, Jesse Lee Brockner, 32, of Portland, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for armed bank robbery and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
In August 2017, three men burglarized and stole a vehicle from a barn in Yamhill County, Oregon. Two of the suspects fled in a moving truck and a third in the stolen vehicle. After Yamhill County Sheriff deputies located, arrested and interviewed the two suspects who fled in the moving truck, they identified Brockner as the third suspect. During a search of the moving truck, deputies found a backpack containing approximately $4,000, drug paraphernalia, and Brockner’s driver’s license.
Later the same morning, Brockner robbed a U.S. Bank branch in Beaverton, Oregon wearing a welding mask and holding a firearm. During the robbery, Brockner made numerous threats of physical violence and pointed a handgun at the teller. A witness observed Brockner walk through a parking lot adjacent to the bank and enter a vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle.
Approximately two hours later, an FBI Task Force Officer with the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) observed a vehicle matching the stolen vehicle’s description in Southeast Portland. After confirming Brockner’s identity, multiple marked PPB patrol units responded to assist the Task Force Officer. A high risk traffic stop was attempted and led to a vehicle pursuit. The pursuit ended in a crash and an officer involved shooting in Northeast Portland. Brockner was arrested and transported to a local hospital to receive medical attention.
Read More
U.S. v. Manzo
On August 27, 2018, Gonzalo Manzo, Jr., 33, of Fresno, California, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In 2017, Manzo coordinated the shipment of a kilogram of cocaine from California to Southern Oregon. Manzo and his co-conspirators sold the cocaine to undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Oregon in exchange for firearms and $21,000 in cash. Manzo intended for the firearms and cash to be transported back to California but agents arrested Manzo and his co-conspirators and the firearms were seized by law enforcement.
Manzo will be sentenced on December 11, 2018.
Read More
U.S. v. Fleet
On September 4, 2018, Christopher James Fleet, 23, of Portland, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for possessing distribution quantities of methamphetamine and two firearms.
On August 23, 2017, deputies from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit were conducting surveillance at a known drug and gang house in Portland. They observed a vehicle parked in front of the house they believed was connected with Fleet, a drug dealer with an outstanding arrest warrant. Upon leaving the house and attempting to drive away, deputies blocked Fleet using unmarked vehicles and approached him wearing marked law enforcement raid vests. After initially refusing to comply with the deputy’s commands to raise his hands and failing to find an escape route, Fleet surrendered.
During the arrest, deputies found a Kel Tec 9mm firearm and distribution quantities of heroin and methamphetamine on Fleet’s person. They also found a locked backpack in Fleet’s vehicle. The backpack was later found to contain .40 caliber Sig Sauer pistol, drug records, and a digital scale.
Read More
These enforcement actions and partnerships are 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.
U.S. Attorney Murray Announces Progress in Making Our Communities Safer Through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. 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.
Throughout the past year, we have partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
“In this district, local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement have a long history of working together to protect our communities and reduce violent crime by identifying serial violent offenders, focusing on crime hot spots, and dismantling criminal enterprises,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In addition to enforcement actions, as part of our strategy under the revitalized PSN program, we have expanded our existing partnerships and created new ones with important community stakeholders on our prevention, education and outreach efforts. Using the additional resources we have received from the Justice Department, will further our mission to increase safety and reduce violent crime in neighborhoods across Western North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.
Enforcement Actions
Over the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has worked with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to identify and prosecute the most violent individuals who use firearms to commit violent crimes:
- On September 25, 2018, three Gaston County drug traffickers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from nine to 17.5 years. The three men were responsible for trafficking multiple kilograms of crack cocaine. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized illegally possessed firearms, including one AK-47 assault rifle, one shotgun, four handguns, and ammunition.
- On September 10, 2018, Johnny Obrian Leach, 31, of Gastonia, N.C. was sentenced to 180 months for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Due to his prior offenses, that included Assault with Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, Robbery with Dangerous Weapon, and First Degree Kidnapping, Leach received an enhanced sentence as an Armed Career Criminal.
- On September 4, 2018, two high-ranking leaders of the Nine Trey Gangsters set of the Bloods street gang, including the “Godfather” of the set, who also served as “Chairman” of the UBN, and a second leader who held the rank of “Worldwide High” were each sentenced to 20 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy.
- On August 23, 2018, 11 individuals were arrested on drug and gun charges as part of a PSN initiative in Mecklenburg County.
- On February 13, 2018, 44 individuals were arrested on federal and state drug and gun charges. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered more than 27 firearms and illegal substances, including heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and MDMA (ecstasy) pills.
Community Partnerships
In addition to our law enforcement efforts to identify and prosecute violent offenders, as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s PSN strategy, we have partnered with area schools and community-based organizations on initiatives focusing on prevention and education.
In August 2018, we partnered with the Asheville Police Department and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office to conduct the Law Enforcement Guiding Adolescent Lives (L.E.G.A.L.) training program in Asheville. Volunteer officers and deputies, and 18 young men selected from the Asheville-based youth development program My Daddy Taught Me That, participated in this youth-oriented community outreach initiative, designed to foster positive interactions between young people and members of the law enforcement community.
In partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Schools, Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools, we continue to co-sponsor the Do the Write Thing writing challenge, which gives middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of violence on their lives, by communicating what they have seen to be the causes of youth violence. By encouraging students to make personal commitments to do something about the problem, the program ultimately seeks to empower them to reduce violence in their homes, schools and neighborhoods.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with school districts to organize the Violence Prevention Youth Summits. These summits are designed to encourage middle school and high school students to discuss the culture and climate within their schools, to develop conflict resolution skills, to discuss strategies for dealing with social pressures, and to brainstorm on solutions for creating a positive and inclusive school environment for students. In addition to the summits, the Stand Up, Speak Out campaign, which the U.S. Attorney’s Office co-sponsors, encourages students to take the anti-bullying pledge and to make a positive change within their schools.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is also working with faith-based organizations in the Asheville area to develop strategies for improving community relations and, specifically, relationships between law enforcement and minority groups.
Improvements to Community Safety
- The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump
Administration the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.
- The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
- In Charlotte, homicides are down 37% compared to the same time last year, and violent crimes involving firearms are down 7%.
In support of the Department’s PSN programs throughout the country, the Attorney General also announced almost $28 million in grant funding to combat violent crime through PSN and another $3 million for training and technical assistance to develop and implement violent crime reduction strategies and enhance services and resources for victims of violent crime. Since the announcement of the reinvigoration of the PSN program in October 2017, the Justice Department has also increased the number of federal prosecutors focused on violent crime. North Carolina has received nearly $1 million in PSN grants, $311,781 of which will be allocated to the Western District. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was also allocated two Assistant U.S. Attorneys to focus on violent crime prosecutions.
These enforcement actions and partnerships are 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.
U.S. Attorney Lydon Announces Project Safe Neighborhoods Grants to Combat Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SC ------ United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today the District of South Carolina has been awarded $547,945.00 in Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) grants to combat violent crime. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs will serve as the fiscal agent for the funds, which will be awarded to sub-grantees in a competitive grant process to be announced shortly.
Attorney General Sessions has made PSN the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. 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.
South Carolina’s implementation of PSN is called Project CeaseFire. PSN has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs.”
Through the enhanced PSN, the Department of Justice is targeting the most violent criminals in the most violent areas, utilizing policing tools that did not exist even a few years ago. Tools like crime gun intelligence centers (CGIC), which combine intelligence from gunshot detection systems, ballistics, gun tracing, and good old-fashioned police work, help to develop real-time leads on the “traffickers and trigger pullers” who are fueling the violence in their communities. By using modern technologies and cutting-edge police work, the Department of Justice is deploying resources strategically to provide the greatest return on our community-based anti-violence efforts.
The grants announced today build on Attorney General Sessions’ commitment to reducing violent crime in America, as directed by President Trump’s February 2017 Executive Order. The Department has distributed additional resources and built up strong partnerships with local law enforcement in communities plagued by violent crime.
Since the announcement of the reinvigoration of the PSN program in October 2017, the Department of Justice has increased the number of federal prosecutors focused on violent crime by over 300, directed its resources to improving cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies, restored local control of police agencies by reining in excessive use of consent decrees, reformed civil asset forfeiture and restored asset-sharing with state and local law enforcement, and helped fund over 800 hundred officers in police departments across America.
United States Attorney Lydon announced that South Carolina recently received funding for three new violent crime federal prosecutors, as well as additional support staff. These positions will be added to the violent crime unit, which will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to address violent crime in our communities.
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U.S. Attorney Lydon Announces Progress in Making Our Communities Safer Through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SC ------ United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that one year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. 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.
South Carolina’s implementation of PSN is called Project CeaseFire. PSN has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
Sherri Lydon, United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina, has quickly redoubled efforts and resources in combatting violent crime and securing our communities, recently adding federal prosecutors in the Columbia, Greenville, and Florence offices. “We are ‘all in’ with our state and local partners and committed to turning the tide of violence in South Carolina.”
As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are some of the highlights of our PSN/Project CeaseFire actions over the past year in South Carolina:
Enforcement Actions
Across the state, federal partners have worked hand in hand with local law enforcement agencies to make our communities safer by getting the most violent armed recidivists off our streets and out of our communities. One of the programs implemented under PSN/Project CeaseFire in South Carolina is “Operation Real Time,” which is designed to fast-track the most violent armed offenders to federal court, where many times they face stiffer penalties for firearm offenses and swift justice.
During 2017 – 2018, the USAO has prosecuted 533 armed offenders in 178 federal criminal complaints and 455 federal indictments. Below are some examples of armed felons successfully prosecuted under PSN/Project CeaseFire recently. Additional PSN/Project CeaseFire press releases may be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr.
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/columbia-man-sentenced-15-years-federal-firearms-charge
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/orangeburg-man-pleads-federal-firearm-charge-stemming-shooting-officers
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/rock-hill-man-sentenced-150-months-federal-firearm-and-drug-charges
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/federal-jury-finds-greenville-felon-guilty-firearm-trial
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/newberry-felon-sentenced-327-months-imprisonment-possessing-firearm-furtherance
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/lexington-man-sentenced-70-months-federal-prison-after-pleading-firearm-and-ammunition
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/orangeburg-man-pleads-federal-firearm-charge-stemming-shooting-officers
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/travelers-rest-woman-sentenced-15-years-imprisonment-being-felon-possession-firearm-and
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/north-carolina-man-sentenced-105-months-imprisonment-after-pleading-guilty-being-felon
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/convicted-felon-sentenced-188-months-federal-prison-gun-and-drug-charges
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/lexington-man-sentenced-15-years-federal-drug-and-firearm-charges
Community Partnerships
“National Day of Concern”: On Wednesday, October 17, 2018, the United States Attorney’s Office, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, will visit schools across South Carolina to meet with students as a part of our 17th annual Student Pledge Against Gun Violence. With a focus on keeping their schools and communities safe, students in middle school and high school are signing a voluntary pledge promising that they will never take a gun to school, will never resolve a dispute with a gun, and will use their influence to prevent friends from using guns to resolve disputes. Elementary school children are making a simpler commitment, pledging that if they see a gun they will not touch it, they will tell a teacher or a trusted adult, and they will assume that any gun they see might be loaded.
The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence is a national program that recognizes the role young people, through their own decisions, can play in reducing gun violence. The program provides a means for beginning the conversation with young people about gun violence and encourages important conversation among young people about gun safety and respectful ways to resolve disputes. Students from around the country will join together in pledging to do their part.
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/south-carolina-s-17th-annual-national-day-concern-student-pledge-against-gun-violence
'Focused Deterrence Models: Aiken Safe Communities and beyond”: In late 2012, the USAO-DSC partnered with the Aiken Department of Public Safety as well as numerous other federal, state, and local enforcement partners and community partners in their efforts to advance “Aiken Safe Communities.” This program entails inviting repeat offenders, many of whom are on state probation, to a public forum and allowing community partners, as well as law enforcement, to urge the offenders to not re-offend and to seize opportunities offered by the community. Officially launched in early 2013, the Aiken Safe Communities Initiative is a unified, proactive community approach to engage, educate, and encourage recurring offenders to change their behavior and make healthy life choices. The initiative also bands together local, state, and federal law enforcement to expedite the investigation and prosecution of individuals who reoffend in lieu of accepting opportunities and assistance offered by the community during public notification meetings held at Aiken City Hall several times a year.
From 2012-2013, the City of Aiken experienced an 86% reduction in murders. In 2014, the South Carolina Community Development Association presented the city of Aiken with its 2014 Award of Excellence, recognizing community development efforts that have significantly improved the quality of life in the community. “Safe Communities” continues to thrive with active involvement by the community, to include faith-based, non-profit, and business partners, as well as law enforcement at all levels. For those participants who did not avail themselves of the opportunities offered at the “call in” and reoffended thereafter, indictments followed. However, of the over 125 individuals who have participated in the program, the resulting recidivism rate is less than 18% compared to a national average of over 75%.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has also helped facilitate and initiate additional iterations in Conway (C-STAND), Columbia (Ceasefire Columbia), Hartsville (Hartsville Safe Communities), Greenville (Greenville Safe Communities), and Orangeburg (Orangeburg) Safe Communities.
“Operation ‘Home Front’”: Home Front is a focused deterrence-based initiative to combat domestic violence led by 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette. The initiative launched in December of 2016 and has the full support and partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Solicitor Barnette has detailed a career prosecutor from his office, Jennifer Wells, to serve as a Special Assistant United States Attorney handling these cases for the 7th Circuit in United States Federal Court. Since early 2017, thirty-seven domestic violence defendants have been indicted and prosecuted as a part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s partnership with the 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office to reduce domestic violence homicides and lower recidivism rates. Twenty-three of these defendants pled guilty to firearm related offenses. Two were found guilty at trial. To date, eleven defendants have been sentenced between 16 – 108 months in the Bureau of Prisons. The average sentence is 52 months.
Modelled after a program started in High Point, North Carolina, members of the Home Front task force began earlier this fall, meeting with representatives from every police department in Spartanburg county as well as the Sheriff’s Office. The Spartanburg County State Probation office and victim’s advocate stalwart, SAFE Homes, also serve as critical partners in this effort. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, domestic violence is a community crime problem that costs the United States over $5.8 billion every year. It is a major drain on law enforcement resources as domestic violence generates a high volume of calls and repeated calls to the same location. Domestic violence homicides make up 40–50 percent of all murders of women in the United States. Women who have experienced a history of domestic violence report more health problems than other women and they have a greater risk for substance abuse, unemployment, alcoholism, and suicide attempts.
Research shows that the repeat domestic violence offender tends to have a significant criminal history that includes a wide range of both domestic violence and non-domestic violence offenses. Most of these offenders are readily identified as they are known to the criminal justice system. The Home Front initiative exposes the repeat domestic violence offender to sanctions because of his pattern of criminal behavior. According to the 2015 Violence Policy Center “When Men Murder Women” report, South Carolina led the nation in rates of women murdered by men. Sixty-six percent (66%) of the victims were killed with a firearm and ninety-six percent (96%) of women murdered were killed by someone they knew. In Spartanburg County during the 2015 calendar year, SAFE Homes serviced 6726 victims of domestic violence. In the same time frame, the Spartanburg Police Department charged 907 domestic violence cases and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office charged 1068 domestic violence cases. There were fourteen (14) domestic related deaths in Spartanburg County in 2015.
Solicitor Barnette has had enough. “Domestic violence is violence, period. It continues to plague our community--so costly and harmful to families and children, persisting year after year. It is time for these offenders to get our best shot—our best efforts. That is Home Front.”
United States Attorney Sherri Lydon agrees. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands with Solicitor Barnette as well as local, state, and federal law enforcement in this innovative approach to stop the abuse and secure our victims and families from this continued cycle of horrific violence.”
- https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/spartanburg-initiative-combat-domestic-violence-results-108-month-federal-prison-sentence
Improvements to Community Safety
• The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.
• The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
These enforcement actions and partnerships are part of 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.
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U.S. Attorney Duncan Announces Progress in Making Communities Safer through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven 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.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
Throughout the past year, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky has partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In January 2018, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies created the Fayette County Violent Crime Task Force. The Task Force focuses investigative and prosecutorial resources on those individuals responsible for violent crime and significant drug trafficking in this area, particularly those who commit acts of violence while armed with a firearm and those who commit armed drug trafficking. The Agencies participating in this effort include the ATF, DEA, FBI, Lexington Police Department, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the Fayette County Detention Center, the Fayette County Public Schools Law Enforcement Division, the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
“Combatting violent crime is a cornerstone priority for the Department of Justice and our Office,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “As part of the enhanced PSN efforts, federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel are working in partnership to reduce violent crime in Lexington and throughout the Eastern District of Kentucky. These law enforcement partnerships have been effective and have resulted in innumerous violent offenders being removed from our streets, making our communities safer. While we are encouraged by the successes thus far, we recognize there is more work to be done. We are committed to continuing in this important endeavor; it truly benefits us all.”
“Local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecutors are communicating and coordinating like never before in Fayette County and we are seeing some good results,” stated Lou Anna Red Corn, Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney.
“The partnerships fostered by the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, greatly enhances the total community public safety philosophy of the Lexington Police Department and the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government,” said Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Chief of Police. “Through partnering with the U.S. Attorney, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Fayette County Public School Police, as well as other Federal Law Enforcement agencies, concrete plans and actions have been developed that have led to effective and efficient enforcement measures which have had a direct impact on, not just violent crime, but overall crime as well.”
“Working with our law enforcement partners, ATF continues to drive the reduction of violent firearm crimes through technical expertise and by focusing investigations on trigger-pullers and traffickers who pose the greatest threat to our communities,” stated Stuart Lowrey, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Division. “ATF remains committed to the continued success of Project Safe Neighborhoods and this comprehensive approach to public safety.”
“The PSN program has a proven track record of bringing together law enforcement agencies to share information, share resources, and work together to apprehend and prosecute the most violent offenders,” said Kathy Witt, Sheriff of Fayette County. “The revitalization and enhancement of PSN is a positive development for our community and communities across America.”
“The message should be clear; the FBI is fully committed to eliminating violent crime in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said Michael A. Christman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Louisville Division, FBI. “As part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods, the FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels to bring those who have not received this message to justice.”
Enforcement Actions
In marking the one-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are a few examples of law enforcement successes in Lexington, during the past year:
- Antoine Lamar Burns, 36, of Lexington, was sentenced on June 26, 2018, to 10 years in federal prison, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. In his guilty plea, Burns admitted to possessing a .380 caliber pistol, firing shots at someone he believed was cooperating with law enforcement, and pointing the firearm at a former girlfriend.
- Melvin Mahone, 31, of Lexington, was sentenced on June 29, 2018, to 15 years in federal prison, for trafficking in over 40 grams of fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- Michael D. Jackson, 37, and Brandi Stamper, 30, both of Lexington, were sentenced in July 2018, for their roles in conspiring to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Jackson was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, and Stamper was sentenced to 15 years.
- Devvin Anglen, 28, of Lexington, a convicted felon, pled guilty in Fayette Circuit Court to possession of a firearm and Persistent Felony Offender charges, after a traffic stop led to the discovery of a weapon in the car and social media video of him firing two handguns at a local range.
- Billy Lane, 36 of Lexington, pled guilty in Fayette Circuit Court to trafficking in controlled substances and Persistent Felony Offender charges, and was sentenced to serve 15 years in March of 2018. The execution of a search warrant in hotel room led to the discovery of heroin, cocaine, and other contraband that Lane was trying to destroy.
- Akeem Lyvers, 22, of Lexington, pled guilty in Fayette Circuit Court to felony trafficking charges, including forfeiture of approximately $3,000 and a handgun with a “drum” magazine that held dozens of rounds, and was sentenced to serve 8 years in prison.
Community Partnerships
“We recognize that enforcement alone is not enough, and sustained success requires a comprehensive approach,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “As part of that approach, Fayette County Violent Crime Task Force participants have engaged neighborhood organizations, to help us deter violent crime and prevent recidivism. As part of the PSN initiative, Fayette County Violent Crime Task Force participants have also worked in prevention and re-entry efforts, and are working with the Fayette County Public Schools’ after-school programs to provide tutoring and mentorship to children. This truly community effort is essential to combatting the threat.”
“As a prosecutor, holding offenders accountable is always my first priority, which usually means incarceration in gun violence cases,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Red Corn. “But my office, and other Task Force participants, are also very involved in PSN’s prevention, intervention, and re-entry work. Recently, in support of our PSN efforts, I attended a meeting of parolees and probationers who are beginning community supervision. The Public Library and a local mental health non-profit were also in attendance, sharing information about available education and mental health services. It is PSN’s comprehensive approach to violent crime reduction that I believe will make a long term difference in public safety in our community.”
“The Project Safe Neighborhoods partnership initiative has helped remove several violent offenders from our streets, while also helping to improve existing community relationships and create new ones,” said Chief Weathers. “This helps build community trust and government accountability by letting everyone in the community know that Project Safe Neighborhoods and its partners are serious about public safety.”
Improvements to Community Safety
Statistically, both nationally and locally, the PSN program is achieving positive results. For example:
- The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.
- The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives reason for optimism and evidences that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Specifically, public data from 60 major cities shows that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
- According to publicly available crime data from the Lexington Police Department, for the period of January 1 – August 31, 2018, robberies, aggravated assaults, breakings and entering, larcenies, and auto thefts are all down, when compared to January 1 – August 31, 2017.
- Through September 15, 2018, there have been 62 assaults with firearms reported in Lexington. There were 94 assaults with firearms reported in 2017.
- In 2018 through, August 31, there have been 19 homicides in Lexington. In 2017, there were 28 homicides.
“The PSN program is based on strong partnerships,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “We will strive to build on our shared successes, recognizing there is still work to be done,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “We look forward to continued partnerships, to developing new ones, and to making further progress. This endeavor truly advances everyone’s interests.”
Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.
U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan Announces Progress in Making our Communities Safer through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. 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.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
Throughout the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
“We cannot prosecute an end to violent crime in our South Florida communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan. “Only by reinforcing and amplifying our law enforcement and public partnerships can we collectively combat the violent threats to our safety, security and well-being. The Project Safe Neighborhoods program exemplifies the collective strategies that are needed in order to target the most egregious offenders, reinvigorate our neighborhoods and support our returning citizens. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida remains entrenched in our collaborative efforts to protect, educate and connect with our local residents.”
In order to amplify the enforcement and community impact of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida spearheaded, and has continued to support, the Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP). Through the VRP, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal, state and local law enforcement allies have sought to dismantle the most violent criminal networks that plague communities throughout the Southern District of Florida using a three-prong, holistic approach. First, in order to advance our enforcement efforts, Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) are specially assigned to handle matters within designated “hot spot” areas. Working with their law enforcement partners, the AUSAs facilitate community relations, gather intelligence, and identify the most prolific, violent offenders for prosecution. The collective mission is to ensure the safety of our community. Second, the VRP supports community based programs and initiatives designed to educate the public and prevent participation in criminal activity. Third, the VRP provides services to inmates scheduled to return to the community (returning citizens) so that they have the resources, support and skills needed for a successful reintegration.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, provides additional crime-fighting support in South Florida. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, let us highlight some of the recent local enforcement actions and community impact initiatives:
Enforcement Actions
Last month, a federal jury returned convictions against ten members and associates of a violent criminal enterprise that was the focus of VRP and OCDETF enforcement initiatives (U.S. v. Glass, et al, Case. No. 17cr20307). According to evidence introduced at trial, the racketeering enterprise, which used names such as the Dub Side Blood Family (DSBF), conducted unlawful business practices and controlled the South Gwen Cherry Housing Complex in the Allapattah neighborhood of Miami for over seventeen years. The criminal enterprise members routinely robbed victims at gunpoint and sold narcotics. The enterprise’s criminal spree included armed robberies of drug dealers and five commercial robberies. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/miami-based-violent-criminal-enterprise-members-and-associates-convicted-trial.
The following are examples of PSN sentencings during September 2018:
- A Fort Lauderdale resident was sentenced to over 92 years in prison, after having been convicted at trial of three armed robberies, a carjacking and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a violent act. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/fort-lauderdale-resident-sentenced-92-years-prison-armed-robberies-and-carjacking
- A Miami resident was sentenced to 32 years in prison for committing a string of armed robberies. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/serial-robber-sentenced-32-years-prison
- A Fort Lauderdale resident was sentenced to 27 years in prison for committing two armed iPhone robberies. During the second robbery, the defendant discharged the firearm and struck the victim in the face. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/iphone-robber-sentenced-27-years-prison-0
- A Miami-Dade resident was sentenced to 22 years in prison for robbing a convenience store and two gas stations. In each robbery, the defendant approached the cashier, stated that he had a firearm, and demanded money from the cash register. During the convenience store robbery the defendant displayed part of a firearm that was in his jacket pocket. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/miami-dade-county-resident-sentenced-22-years-prison-multiple-robberies-commercial
- A Tamarac resident was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for being a felon unlawfully in possession of a loaded firearm, while being the subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/tamarac-resident-sentenced-over-12-years-prison-being-felon-unlawfully-possession
In July, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that since April of 2017, sixteen Saint Lucie County Residents had been sentenced to federal prison on firearms and drug trafficking charges as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative to combat violent crime in the northern area of the federal district. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/sixteen-saint-lucie-county-residents-sentenced-federal-prison-firearms-and-drug
Community Partnerships
Simultaneously, and equally as important as the VRP’s law enforcement efforts are the U.S. Attorney’s Office community outreach and crime prevention initiatives.
Project Sentry and Project Safe Childhood: During interactive programs, volunteers teach students to avoid violence by recognizing dangers in the community, reporting problems and peacefully resolving issues. The Project Sentry program focuses on guns, gangs, and violence deterrence, while Project Safe Childhood educates the youth regarding bullying, cyberbullying, and internet safety. The programs are approved in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County schools.
Making Smarter Choices Fieldtrips: Volunteers speak to middle school students, who visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Miami federal courthouses, about the importance of “Making Smarter Choices.” During the program, students participate in mock trial exercises.
Drug Education For Youth (DEFY) Summer Camp: This overnight camp provides at-risk youth, ages 9-12 years, with the self-esteem, leadership and teamwork skills needed to resist drugs, gangs, violent behavior, bullying, and cyberbullying.
Pre-K Reading Program: During monthly reading sessions, governmental, law enforcement and public sector volunteers engage with 3 to 5 year olds in disadvantaged communities. At the end of every reading session, each child is given a book to take home. More than 11,000 books have been shared with our local children.
Peace Ambassadors Leadership Program: The Peace Ambassadors Leadership Program empowers high school juniors to be "change agents" in their family, school, and community. Academic excellence, courage, character, compassion, self-esteem, and personal responsibility are championed.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS): Volunteers mentor and provide educational assistance to students at local schools through BBBS.
United Way Reading Pals Program: During the academic year, volunteers read to and mentor Pre-K students at the Culmer Head Start Preschool in Overtown.
Monthly Community Resource Fairs and Food Distribution Programs: The programs provide free food and essential services to local residents.
Additional information regarding the VRP initiatives is available at [email protected] (link sends e-mail) or by calling (305) 961-9134.
Improvements to Community Safety
- The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.
- The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
- Attorney General Sessions announced today that the Southern District of Florida has been allocated $733,871 in PSN funding.
- Yesterday, the Department of Justice announced grants that will directly impact our local schools.
- The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) awarded grants to implement school safety measures including coordination with law enforcement, training for law enforcement to prevent student violence against others and self, target hardening measures, and technology for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency. The grant recipients included: the Village of Miami Shores; the City of Pembroke Pines; City of Homestead and Broward County.
- The School Board of Broward County, Florida received two grants from the Office of Justice Program’s (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA):
- A $379,346 grant under the Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program will support training to create and operate threat assessment and crisis intervention teams and to develop technology for local or regional anonymous reporting systems. This technology may be in the form of a mobile phone application, hotline, or website.
- A $500,000 grant under the Prevention and Mental Health Training Program will provide training and education on preventing violence and effectively responding to related mental health crises.
- OJP BJA also announced yesterday that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was awarded a $733,871 grant under PSN to create and foster safer neighborhoods through a sustained reduction in violent crime, including, but not limited to, addressing criminal gangs and the felonious possession and use of firearms and projects that support innovative cooperative efforts and partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement engaged in a unified approach led by the U.S. Attorney to identify and prevent violent crime.
- On October 1, 2018, the Department of Justice announced grant awards under BJA’s Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to state, local and tribal jurisdictions to develop and implement efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by the opioid epidemic.
- A number of awards were given to our South Florida partners, including: the City of Miami ($883,586 to provide staffing and treatment resources within our nation’s jails and upon reentry into the community, as well as funding to support opioid courts which connect new arrestees to treatment services immediately upon arrest and $750,000 under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program), Miami-Dade County ($1,000,999 under the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America ($1,250,000 to provide mentoring services to children impacted by the opioid epidemic).
- On September 25, 2018, OJP BJA announced that the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a $1,000,000 grant under the PSN Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction Program (CBCR). The CBCR program supports local and tribal communities to effectively target and address violent crime issues in distressed, high-crime neighborhoods through coordinated cross-sector approaches that are linked with broader neighborhood revitalization efforts. The goal of CBCR is to reduce crime, increase trust, and improve community safety as part of a comprehensive strategy to rebuild and revitalize neighborhoods. Through a broad cross-sector partnership team, including neighborhood residents, CBCR grantees target neighborhoods with hot spots of violent and serious crime and employ data-driven, cross-sector strategies to accomplish this goal.
- In addition, the City of Miami was recently chosen to be a National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) city, one of 31 cities chosen to participate in a coordinated effort to reduce violent crime. The PSP was established in June 2017 under the direction of Attorney General Jeff Sessions in response to President Trump’s Executive Order on a Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety, which emphasizes the role of the Department of Justice in combating violent crime.
Many of these enforcement actions and partnerships are 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods visit https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-sessions-announces-reinvigoration-project-safe-neighborhoods-and-other and https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-sessions-announces-reinvigoration-project-safe-neighborhoods-and-other.
U.S. Attorney Announces Safer Communities Through Project Safe Neighborhoods ProgramRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. 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. Throughout the past year, the Middle District of Florida (MDFL) has partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In support of the Department’s PSN programs throughout the country, the Attorney General today also announced awards of almost $28 million in grant funding to combat violent crime through PSN and another $3 million for training and technical assistance to develop and implement violent crime reduction strategies and enhance services and resources for victims of violent crime. As part of those awards, the MDFL will receive $1,129,811 to continue implementing PSN strategies within its district.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
“Public safety is everybody’s business,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners at every level and with our citizens to rid our streets of violent crime. We will not rest until our communities are safer places to live, work, and play.”
Since 2001, the MDFL has been a leader in implementing the PSN program. As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized program, here are some of the highlights of our PSN actions over the past year:
Enforcement Actions
The mission of the MDFL’s PSN program is to prosecute dangerous offenders, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, build proactive conspiracy cases against violent gang members, and support the U.S. Attorney’s crime prevention strategy. U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates the district’s PSN efforts with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to ensure that resources are strategically directed against violent offenders. MDFL PSN efforts are districtwide, with a special focus placed in Tampa through the Tampa Bay PSN Task Force; in Jacksonville, through the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Gun Unit; and in Fort Myers, through the Violent Crime Working Group. Interagency coordination, cooperation, and training has resulted in significant outcomes. A few highlights include:
- United States v. Isaac Thomas (Tampa Bay) – defendant was a previously convicted felon who got into a fight at a high school basketball game and was removed; he then fired a gun at law enforcement. Thomas was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and in a school zone. (Link to press release)
- United States v. Alejo Guerrero (Fort Myers) – defendant was prosecuted for multiple drug and gun offenses and was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. (Link to press release)
- United States v. Christopher Bentley (Jacksonville) – defendant was a pimp, convicted felon, and drug dealer. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. (Link to press release)
- United States v. Roderick Lester (Jacksonville) – defendant was a convicted felon sentenced to over 8 years in federal prison for armed robbery of a local tire store. (Link to press release)
Community Partnerships
The MDFL employs a three-pronged approach as part of its violent crime reduction strategy. In addition to enforcement and prosecution, key partnerships with schools, faith institutions, and other community organizations are continuous to support local prevention, intervention, and reentry programs. Through various yearlong community events, thousands of citizens have been engaged to create safer communities. Some key events and partnerships include:
- National Night Out
- Guns, Gangs and Goals
- Courageous Conversations: Gun Violence
- National Gun Pledge
- Great American Teach-In
- Guys with Ties
- Royalty (Girls) Program
- Federal Intensive Reentry Courts (Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville)
- Federal Correctional Complex (Coleman, FL) Community Relations Board
- Pinellas Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition
- Hillsborough Ex-Offender Network
- Abe Brown Ministries/Ready4Work
- Jacksonville Reentry Center
- Operation New Hope/Ready4Work
Improvements to Community Safety
- The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration, the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly 1½ percent.
- The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
MDFL Highlights
- In FY2018, the Tampa Bay PSN Task Force indicted 168 federal cases.
- In partnership with federal, state, and local agencies, violent crime in the City of Tampa was reduced by 27% (2015 benchmark data).
- In 2017, 11 members of the violent “Manche Boys Mafia” gang were indicted on white-collar offenses (including conspiracy, credit card fraud, aggravated identify theft, and tax crimes). Their sentences ranged between 4 and 8 ½ years’ imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Announces Progress in Making our Communities Safer through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. 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. We have seen a double-digit decrease in violent crime in Wheeling alone.
Throughout the past year, we have partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
“The first year of the revitalization of PSN is just the beginning. As we see strides in reducing violent crime in our communities, the work has only just started. It our mission to continue to build on our law enforcement partnerships and to keep the residents in our district safe. Our PSN Coordinating Assistant United States Attorney, Dave Perri, has done an excellent job,” said Powell.
As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are some of the highlights of our PSN actions over the past year:
Enforcement Actions
The Northern District of West Virginia has strong, reinvigorated partnerships with the task forces, sheriff’s offices, and police departments across the 33 counties in our district. As a collective force, law enforcement and our office have prosecuted more than 300 violent crime offenders since the PSN revitalization one year ago.
For example, Gregory Keith Clinton, of Kearneysville, West Virginia, was sentenced in August 2018 to 22 years incarceration for drug and firearm charges. After a three-day trial in April 2018, a jury found Clinton guilty of one count of “Armed Career Criminal Act,” and other drug charges. Read more here.
Also in August 2018, Emory Chiles, of Steubenville, Ohio, was sentenced 30 years incarceration for drug and firearms charges. A jury found Chiles, age 43, guilty of one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin,” one count of “Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Offense,” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” in April 2018. Read more here.
These cases are just a few examples of PSN at work in the Northern District.
Improvements to Community Safety
The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.
The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
The Northern District of West Virginia is experiencing similar results in many communities. For example, the City of Wheeling, our target enforcement area, in partnership with the Wheeling Police Department, has seen a 12% decrease in violent crime from 2017 to 2018 during the same period. With PSN partnerships in our communities, the district is encouraged by this trend.
Community Partnerships
Reentry education and assistance is an important part of the PSN initiative and vital to ensuring communities are safer when those incarcerated return home. The Northern District of West Virginia is active in the community in its reentry efforts, providing reentry presentations and simulations to community groups across the district. The Reentry Simulation is now being used as an educational tool at all Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities within the district. Our office has provided the necessary simulation kits, training, and support for the simulations to be implemented as inmate-run programs. The office has also offered the same for the West Virginia Division of Corrections.
These enforcement actions and partnerships are 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.
U.S. Attorney Announces Progress in Making Our Communities Safer Through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. The PSN strategy empowers each district to develop targeted, localized violent crime reduction strategies, tailoring solutions to each individual community. PSN has been proven to reduce violent crime since it was launched in 2001, and the revitalized version has been enhanced with new technologies and a redoubling of efforts to strengthen partnerships with local communities.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
U.S. Attorney Scott stated: “Our office has a strong track record of working with our federal, state and local partners to prosecute cases aimed at reducing violent crime in our communities. We have developed a model that targets the most violent street gangs plaguing counties in our district, and we have focused on stemming the tide of illegal firearms flowing into our communities, prosecuting those who manufacture, distribute, and possess those weapons. We have deployed this strategy in the Counties of Fresno, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Kern, Solano and Tulare, and we are working to spread this model throughout the district. Project Safe Neighborhoods is alive and well in the Eastern District of California.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office works regularly with District Attorney’s Offices in Fresno, Sacramento, Kern, Stanislaus, Solano, and Tulare Counties, and partners with local law enforcement and federal agencies to target drivers of violence in those communities, including gang members and those who inject illegal firearms into the hands of criminals. This team collects and analyzes statistical and anecdotal data to refine the targeted use of pooled resources. Since the revitalization of PSN in October 2017, almost 200 defendants have been indicted federally for charges arising from PSN investigations. Sixty-four of those stemmed from investigations in Sacramento, Solano, Shasta, and San Joaquin Counties. In 2018, a total of 60 PSN defendants were sentenced to between two and 15 years in prison in the Eastern District of California.
Project Safe Neighborhoods has helped to reinvigorate existing partnerships in our district, which has a history of successful collaborations with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Those collaborations have resulted in several large-scale, long-term, multidefendant gang cases, with many arrests, guilty pleas, and sentencings occurring over the past year. Below are examples.
Operation Silent Night involved a coalition of local, state and federal law enforcement officers who conducted 69 searches at various locations throughout Northern California. Officers arrested 25 defendants on federal charges. In addition, local officials arrested more than 10 individuals on state charges. The investigation, led by the FBI, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Woodland Police Department, focused on coordinated criminal activity that centered in Yolo County but extended to other Northern California counties and prisons.
Three Stockton residents were charged with unlawful dealing in firearms in February 2018. One defendant allegedly sold 50 firearms, including machine guns, stolen firearms, firearms with obliterated serial numbers, and assault rifles manufactured from unfinished lower receivers with no serial numbers. At the time of his arrest, he possessed one handgun, eight machineguns, and five machine gun-conversion devices. Another allegedly manufactured and sold approximately 15 assault rifles. The third defendant allegedly sold eight firearms, including five assault rifles manufactured from unfinished lower receivers with no serial numbers. None of the defendants is licensed to deal in firearms.
A Grass Valley man was sentenced to five years in prison for unlawful manufacturing and dealing in firearms. He contacted a firearms vendor on the dark web seeking to sell AR-15-style “ghost” guns. Firearms without serial numbers are sometimes referred to as ghost guns. The firearms vendor was in fact an undercover agent. He manufactured and sold eight AR‑15‑style firearms without serial numbers to the undercover agent in exchange for payment in bitcoin.
A Vallejo man was sentenced to five years in prison for being a felon in possession a firearm. On July 26, 2017, officers executed a search warrant at Andrews’ home in Vallejo and at a hotel in Fairfield where. When officers arrived at the hotel parking lot, they confronted the defendant, who discarded a .40‑caliber semi-automatic handgun under a car. The gun was loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition, including seven rounds of hollow point ammunition. The defendant could not lawfully possess firearms because he has previously been convicted of felony offenses, including a January 2016 conviction in Solano County for assault with a firearm on a police officer.
Improvements to Community Safety
- The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately 1 percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly 1.5 percent.
- The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities, including Sacramento and Fresno, show that violent crime was down by nearly 5 percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
These enforcement actions and partnerships are 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.
U.S. Attorney Announces $493,694 Grant to Wichita PoliceRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A $493,694 federal grant will support the Wichita Police Department’s program to work with gun owners and gun dealers to reduce violent crime, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said today.
The grant to the Wichita Police Department comes from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood program. This week is the one-year anniversary of the revitalized Project Safe Neighborhood program, which is a centerpiece of the Justice Department’s strategy for reducing violent crime.
“The Wichita police have some innovative new ideas for reducing violent crime,” McAllister said. “Our office is working closely with them to coordinate our efforts and make our communities safer.”
Deputy Chief Jose Salcido said the department soon will be announcing a new program to educate the public on what everyone can do to help reduce violent crime by preventing guns from being stolen and used in crimes. The voluntary program also will reach out to gun ranges and gun dealers, he said.
Two men from Toledo indicted for trafficking cocaine; prosecutors seek to forfeit $320,000 in cash that was seizedRead the Press Release
Two men from Toledo were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine.
Jeffrey A. Geckle, 40, and Scott A. Nigh, 39, were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of attempted to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Prosecutors are seeking to forfeit approximately $320,000 in cash that was seized on Sept. 18 from Nigh and Geckle, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Lima. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Freeman.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two Plead Guilty to Federal Firearm Charges Arising from Lexington County Home InvasionRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Brandon J. Thompson, age 31, and Quintrell Morris, age 19, both of Columbia, plead guilty in federal court. Thompson plead guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, use/carry/possess/brandish of firearms during and in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1951(a), 922(g)(1), and 924(c)(1)(A). Morris plead guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to use/carry/possess/brandish of firearms during and in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence, use/carry/possess/brandish of firearms during and in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1951(a), 922(g)(1), 924(c)(1)(A), and 924(o). United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis, of Columbia, accepted the guilty pleas and will impose sentences after she has reviewed the presentence reports, which will be prepared by the United States Probation Office.
Evidence presented in court established that on the early morning hours of December 30, 2017, deputies with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call referencing a home invasion on Maple View Drive. Upon approaching the residence, deputies noticed the door open, entered the home, and found two armed men, Thompson and Morris. After detaining both Thompson and Morris, deputies located a female, who had been tied up, and her children, one of whom had called 911. The female advised that they had forced her to open a safe and give them the money from it. Deputies seized a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun from Thompson and a loaded Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle from Morris. A ballistic vest was also seized from Thompson’s vehicle, which was located nearby. The investigation revealed that Thompson and Morris went to this home in an effort to rob the homeowners of proceeds from various businesses they operated.
Thompson and Morris are both prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon their prior state convictions. Thompson has prior state convictions for armed robbery and assault with intent to kill. Morris, a gang member who was on state probation at the time, has prior state convictions for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
Thompson and Morris face the following penalties: a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on the Hobbs Act robbery charges; a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on the felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition charge; and a mandatory minimum of 7 years imprisonment and a maximum of life, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 5 years of supervised release on the use/carry/possess/brandish a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence charge.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and was prosecuted as part of Project CeaseFire, a joint federal, state and local initiative focused upon aggressively prosecuting firearm cases in an effort to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and reinstituted PSN nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.
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Two Pharmacy Technicians Sentenced for Their Roles in Largest Pharmacy Theft in West Virginia HistoryRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that Marcia Evans, 60, of Gilbert, and Kimberly McCoy, 43, of Amherstdale, were sentenced for their involvement in the theft of the controlled substance Suboxone. Evans and McCoy were sentenced to 10 and 6 months in prison, respectively. The sentences were imposed by United States District Judge David A. Faber. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy.
“The sentences imposed are consistent with federal guidelines. The largest pharmaceutical theft in the recorded history of the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy, yet the sentencing guidelines suggested sentences that are comparatively light to other comparable drugs of abuse,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Suboxone is being abused in record numbers across the country. I have personally requested that the DEA and Department of Justice reconsider the scheduling of Suboxone to a classification that will provide sentences worthy of the danger this drug poses if not used for legitimate medical purposes.”
Evans and McCoy perpetrated what the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy has called the largest pharmacy theft in West Virginia since records have been maintained by the Board. Both Evans and McCoy were previously employed as pharmacy technicians at Riverside Pharmacy in Gilbert. They admitted that from 2014 to September 2016, they conspired with others to take Suboxone and Xanax from the supply at the pharmacy. In order to conceal the shortage of controlled substances, Evans and McCoy manipulated the controlled substance count in the pharmacy’s computers. An audit was performed comparing shipment records with distribution records at the pharmacy, and a shortage of over 23,000 dosage units of Suboxone and over 137,000 dosage units of Xanax was revealed. Evans and McCoy further admitted that they sold some of the Suboxone stolen from the pharmacy.
This case is a result of the work of the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit (OFADU), a Department of Justice initiative that uses data to identify and prosecute individuals that are contributors to the national opioid crisis. The Southern District of West Virginia is one of 12 districts nationally to participate in the pilot program.
Follow us on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart
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Trinity Scott Johnson Sentenced to Serve 17 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On October 3, 2018, Trinity Scott Johnson, 39, of Morristown, Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 17 years in federal prison. Johnson pleaded guilty in July 2018 to conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine (meth) or “Ice” and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
In February 2018, following an investigation conducted by the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department, a suspicious person report to police caused Johnson to be arrested at an unoccupied residence in Morristown, Tennessee. When officers arrived, it appeared that the front door of the residence had been kicked in and Johnson was leaving the residence.
During a consent search of that residence, officers found a plastic grocery bag containing a large sealed bag of meth, a black bag containing four separate bags of meth, a camera case containing another bag of meth, a glass jar containing 15 bags of marijuana, and another separate bag of marijuana. The meth was field tested and weighed 1,169 grams. The marijuana weighed 25 grams. Officers also found drug paraphernalia, digital scales, two pistols, 17 guns, two shotgun barrels, numerous shotgun shells, 9mm rounds, and three .380 caliber rounds of ammunition in the residence. Johnson was interviewed and admitted ownership of the meth.
Johnson said he began using and selling gram quantities of meth in August 2016. After his first supplier was arrested, he found a new supplier who provided him larger quantities of meth. He admitted to purchasing ounce and half-kilogram quantities of meth from his second supplier on multiple occasions for approximately six months. After this supplier was arrested, Johnson found a third supplier who provided half-kilogram quantities of meth. Over the next six months, he purchased multiple half-kilograms of meth from the third supplier, until that supplier was also arrested.
While dealing with the third supplier Johnson met his fourth supplier who sold kilogram and half-kilograms of meth to him. Johnson stated that he always paid cash, $11,000 for a half-kilogram of meth, but could not recall how many times he purchased half-kilograms from this fourth supplier. He estimated he purchased at least 15, but not as many as 20, kilograms of meth from this supplier.
Johnson consented to a search of his residence in Morristown, Tennessee. During that search, officers located a safe in the bedroom closet containing seven guns and ammunition, 13 bags of meth, 12 bags of marijuana, a bag of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia (digital scales, empty bags, pipes). Field weight of the methamphetamine was 175.4 grams, field weight of the marijuana was 194.7 grams, and field weight of the cocaine was 8.1 grams.
All of Johnson’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty to offenses related to this conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. Truman Lee Jones, 33, of Russellville, Tennessee, is set to be sentenced on November 11, 2018, and faces 10 years to life in federal prison. Amanda Marie Hilton, 36, of Whitesburg, Tennessee, is set to be sentenced on November 19, 2018, and faces five to 40 years in federal prison. Colby McGwire Scarlett, 20, of Morristown, Tennessee, faces 10 years to life in federal prison and is set to be sentenced on January 6, 2019. Jessica James, 30, of Morristown, Tennessee, also faces 10 years to life in federal prison and is set to be sentenced on February 6, 2019. Finally, sentencing for Megan Gilliam, 25, of Morristown, Tennessee, is set for February 11, 2019. She also faces 10 years to life in federal prison.
Agencies involved in this investigation included the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert. M. Reeves represented the United States in court proceedings.
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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was also the result of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
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Three New Jersey Men Arraigned on Mortgage Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – Three New Jersey men – a real estate investor, a builder, and a real estate settlement attorney – were arraigned today on multiple charges in connection with their alleged roles in a mortgage fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Victor Santos, a/k/a “Vitor Santos,” 58, of Watchung, New Jersey; Arsenio Santos, a/k/a “Gaspar Santos,” 51, of Warren, New Jersey; and Fausto Simoes, 65, of Millington, New Jersey, were charged on Sept. 24, 2018, in a 19-count indictment. They were each charged with one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud. Victor Santos was charged with nine counts of bank fraud and nine counts of making false statements in an application for credit. Arsenio Santos was charged with four counts of bank fraud and four counts of making false statements in an application for credit. Simoes was charged with seven counts of bank fraud and seven counts of making false statements in an application for credit.
All three were arraigned today before U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case:
From September 2007 through November 2008, Victor Santos, a real estate investor; Arsenio Santos, a builder; and Simoes, a real estate settlement attorney, and others allegedly conspired to fraudulently obtain mortgage loans with a total value of more than $4 million.
Victor Santos, Arsenio Santos, and their conspirators allegedly recruited “straw buyers” –individuals who purchase a property for another in order to conceal the identity of the actual purchaser, usually in exchange for a fee – to purchase properties in Newark.
In exchange for the use of the straw buyers’ identity and credit history, Victor Santos, Arsenio Santos, and others allegedly agreed to pay each of the straw buyers a fee of at least $5,000, provide the straw buyer’s down payment and cash required for closing, secure tenants to lease the purchased property, and make the mortgage payments on each of the fraudulently obtained mortgages. These secret agreements were not disclosed to the bank. Shortly after the properties were acquired the mortgages went into default.
For the three representative schemes highlighted in the indictment, Victor Santos, Arsenio Santos, and their conspirators prepared and submitted mortgage applications containing false information to the bank and obtained loans totaling more than $1.3 million. The conspirators allegedly arranged transactions for the Newark properties whereby the straw buyers would nominally purchase the properties for far more than the sellers had agreed to sell them, and the conspirators diverted excess loan proceeds for their own benefit and to further the conspiracy.
Simoes was the closing attorney on approximately 10 of the fraudulent transactions and signed and certified the final settlement statements. These statements falsely stated that the cash required for closing for each transaction came from the straw buyer. In fact, Victor Santos and his conspirators provided those funds to Simoes and the funds were deposited into Simoes’ attorney trust account. For certain transactions, a shell company – whose bank account was controlled by Victor Santos and a conspirator – and to which funds from fraudulently obtained mortgage loans were disbursed – was the source of the cashier’s checks given to Simoes to fund the straw buyer’s cash required at closing. For other transactions, down payments came from an account owned and controlled by Arsenio Santos or from the proceeds of a previously obtained fraudulent loan.
The conspiracy to commit bank fraud count, the bank fraud counts, and the false statement counts, each carry a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain to the defendants or twice the gross loss to others whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie of the Newark office, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charlie Divine and Kevin DiGregory of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Economic Crimes Unit in Newark and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General.
Texas Woman Pled Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud as Part of Lottery ScamRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that DEBRA KROM, age 36, a resident of Wylie, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
According to the Bill of Information filed on February 8, 2018, on or before August 2013, and continuing through December 2015, KROM and others operated a scheme to contact elderly individuals and people with diminished capacity who would be susceptible to being scammed. The scheme involved contacting victims by telephone through Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) and informing them they had won the Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes (“PCH”) or similar lottery and needed to pay KROM and others monies by cash, check, wire, and other methods in order to claim their lottery winnings.
Unknown members of the conspiracy, but believed to be residing in Jamaica, obtained names, addresses, and other biographical information from an unknown source. These individuals used the information to identify victims, telephone them, or directed others to telephone the victims and tell them that they had won the PCH sweepstakes. They needed to send KROM or other co-conspirators money to claim their winnings.
Co-conspirator, Andre Bowyer, charged in case 16-96 “J” in the Eastern District of Louisiana, directed KROM and others residing in the United States, including Alex Saunders, charged in case 18-168 “E”, to open bank accounts in the United States for the purpose of receiving money from elderly victims and transferring the proceeds into Bowyer’s account in Jamaica. It was part of the scheme and artifice to defraud that on certain dates between August 2013 and December 2015, the defendant, KROM, Saunders and others, conspired with Bowyer to accomplish the unlawful scheme of fooling elderly victims into believing they had won a sweepstakes, causing the victims to send money via the United States Postal Service or by wire transfer to KROM, Saunders or others. Immediately after receiving the funds in the mail from the victims, KROM, Saunders, and others transferred the ill-gotten proceeds from their accounts to Bowyer’s account in Jamaica.
KROM is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6, 2019 before United States District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance. She faces a maximum of 5 years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000, supervised release of up to 3 years, and a special assessment of $100.
U.S. Attorney Strasser commended special agents of the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharan E. Lieberman.
Taos County Man Pleads Guilty to Theft and Destruction of U.S. Government Property ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – John Vaughn Rohan, 38, of Taos County, N.M., pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to theft and destruction of U.S. Government property charges.
Rohan and his co-defendant, Joey Angelo Cruz, 38, of Trampas, N.M., were charged in a six-count indictment filed on Jan. 11, 2018, with three counts of theft of government property and three counts of destruction of government property. The indictment alleged that the defendants committed the offenses by breaking and entering into the Pilar Maintenance Storage Yard, which was maintained by the Bureau of Land Management in Taos County, on Nov. 23, 2016, March 12, 2017, and March 26, 2017. It further alleges that on each date, the defendants stole property valued in excess of $1,000, and destroyed property belonging to the United States.
During yesterday’s change of plea hearing, Rohan pled guilty to one count of theft from the United States and one count of destruction of U.S. property. In entering the guilty plea, Rohan admitted that on March 26, 2017, he broke into a storage container and stole more than $1,000 worth of equipment with the intention of selling the equipment for money. Rohan acknowledged that he later learned that the Bureau of Land Management owns the land he broke into and owned the property he stole.
At sentencing, Rohan faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Cruz has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him. Charges in criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Land Management and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec.
Statement of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services on Actions Needed to Strengthen Rule of Law and Public Safety on the Fort Berthold ReservationRead the Press Release
FARGO – A number of concerns have recently been raised about public safety and criminal investigations on the Fort Berthold Reservation. In response to these concerns, Christopher Myers, U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota, and Charles Addington, Director of the Office of Justice Services at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, met in Fargo in September to discuss law enforcement resources and jurisdictional issues on the Fort Berthold Reservation. As a result of this meeting, the BIA is taking steps to enhance investigative resources and will soon increase its staffing levels from one to two investigators.
Both the BIA and Department of Justice are committed to doing their part to improve public safety and conduct effective criminal investigations on the Fort Berthold Reservation. This includes helping to drive down the high rate of violence against women and children and assisting in the active and ongoing investigation into a suspicious death case. However, the BIA and DOJ also recognize the necessary and vital role that tribal law enforcement must play in this process. To that end, the BIA is in communication with tribal law enforcement about how to improve the effectiveness of investigations on the Fort Berthold Reservation. In addition, DOJ is working with the FBI and the Department of the Interior to ensure the prompt provision of investigative resources for serious crimes such as domestic and sexual violence against women and children prevalent on North Dakota reservations.
The Departments of Justice and Interior are working together to deliver training to improve the quality of investigations and coordination among law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions in Indian Country. To provide quality training techniques to law enforcement responsible for conducting criminal investigations in Indian Country, the BIA and FBI have teamed up and developed a nine-day Indian Country Criminal Investigator Training Program. The training program is highly interactive and filled with hands-on labs specific to conducting criminal investigations in Indian Country. In addition, the Department of Justice is identifying training resources that can be brought to the field to improve the capacity of tribal and federal law enforcement to address the situation.
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Statement of Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim Before the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer RightsRead the Press Release
Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee, it is an honor for me to appear before you today on behalf of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. I want to thank especially Chairman Lee and Ranking Member Klobuchar for your support of my efforts and those of the Department this past year. I am humbled by your support of my nomination, and am grateful for your public support of our work at the Antitrust Division to fairly and effectively enforce the antitrust laws. I appreciate the important role this Committee plays in our constitutional system of checks and balances. I view my position as the Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust as that of a protector of the rights of all American consumers to the fruits of vigorous competition. Free market competition is a bedrock principle of the American economy, and protecting, preserving and promoting competition through the enforcement of our antitrust laws is a vital function of our government. I, and all employees of the Antitrust Division, are dedicated to carrying out that mission to the very best of our abilities.
The Antitrust Division has been extraordinarily busy in our daily efforts to protect consumers, workers, and entrepreneurs through sound and vigorous antitrust enforcement and competition advocacy throughout the government. My testimony today will review our extensive efforts in criminal and civil enforcement and many of our recent new initiatives to promote competition.
The following are some highlights of the Division’s recent accomplishments and initiatives.
COMPETITION ADVOCACY AND OTHER NEW INITIATIVES:
- Engaged in advocacy regarding antitrust law and intellectual property in the context of standards setting organizations (SSOs): Advocated views on the analysis of antitrust law and intellectual property in the context of the adoption and implementation of SSO-developed standards, so as to maximize innovation incentives.
- Improved consent decree process, including a renewed emphasis on structural relief when possible, and the incorporation of standard provisions in all settlements to make consent decrees more enforceable and less regulatory.
- Announced Office of Decree Enforcement within the Division to better enforce the terms of consent decrees entered into with parties to a merger.
- Strengthened Amicus Program in the Division, and have filed amicus briefs and statements of interest as part of our competition policy and advocacy work.
- Hosted a series of three roundtable discussions this past spring on competition and deregulation. The discussions focused on exemptions and immunities from the antitrust laws, consent decrees, and the consumer cost of anticompetitive regulations. A report on these roundtables is in the process of being published. Planning for additional roundtables and workshops is underway as part of the Division’s competition and advocacy work.
- Promoted competition in the real estate industry by co-hosting a public workshop with the FTC in June to examine recent developments in residential real estate brokerage competition.
- Established James F. Rill Fellowship Program at the Division, and the inaugural fellow is currently being selected.
- Established Jackson-Nash Address Series to recognize the contributions of former Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson and Nobel Laureate economist John Nash, and to honor the speaker, recognizing and celebrating the role of economics in the mission of the Division.
CIVIL HIGHLIGHTS:
- Protected and Restored Competition in a Number of Key Industries Impacting American Consumers and obtained significant civil settlements. A few of the markets impacted by the Division’s efforts include crop protection chemicals and seed treatments (one of the largest ever merger divestitures), radio stations, nationwide telecommunication fibers, and entertainment.
- Litigated matters in industries ranging from nuclear waste management and hospitals to aviation fuel products.
- Litigated first vertical merger case to judgment in 40 years in United States v. AT&T/DirecTV and Time Warner—what some in the press have dubbed the “antitrust trial of the century”—which continues on appeal.
- Launched Judgment Termination Initiative involving a comprehensive review of nearly 1,300 legacy judgments and filing motions in courts across the country to terminate ones that no longer serve to protect competition.
- Opened review of Paramount Consent Decrees, which have regulated how certain movie studios distribute films to movie theatres since the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Paramount, 334 U.S. 131 (1948).
- Modernizing merger review process, with recent announcement of series of improvements to enhance and speed up the merger review process.
CRIMINAL HIGHLIGHTS:
- Investigated and prosecuted criminal antitrust violations across many sectors of the economy, with over $3.243 billion in criminal fines imposed in FYs 2016-17. In fiscal year 2017, investigated and prosecuted individual cases that resulted, in the highest number of individuals sentenced to prison terms since 2012. (30 individuals were sentenced to prison terms in FY 2017.)
- Devoted substantial resources to individual prosecutions and sentencings.
- Over FYs 2016-17, 52 defendants in Antitrust Division cases have been sentenced to prison terms, totaling 15,110 days of incarceration.
- Many of the Division’s individual convictions were the result of investigations into anticompetitive conduct at public real estate foreclosure auctions. This conduct was widespread and harmed homeowners and others.
- Trial due to start on October 9 in a price-fixing case against three traders from major banks, who are charged with manipulating the foreign currency exchange spot market for U.S. dollars and Euros. This follows corporate pleas in 2015.
- A record-setting number of criminal cases (nine) went to trial in FY 2017—the highest number in the last two decades.
- Actively engaged in outreach and training for agents at offices of inspectors general at numerous federal agencies. Such engagement and training arms these agents with the ability to detect and report antitrust crimes. In many instances these agencies also join our investigative efforts.
- Implemented no-poach initiative, investigating and prosecuting “no-poach” and wage-fixing agreements.
- Updated Leniency Program information designed to increase transparency and self-reporting of cartel behavior.
- Held a public roundtable discussion on “the role that corporate antitrust compliance programs play in preventing and detecting antitrust violations and ways to further promote corporate antitrust compliance.”
- Hosted event on the 25th anniversary of the Division’s Leniency Program
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:
- Established Antitrust Division International Working Group, with representation from each section within the Division, with the goal of learning about new and ongoing international issues and discussing best practices.
- Increased International Engagement
- Advanced a core set of procedural norms through the Multilateral Framework on Procedures in Competition Law Investigation and Enforcement (or “MFP”), working in partnership with leading antitrust agencies around the world.
- Led the Department’s NAFTA negotiation team and continue to serve as the Departmental point on trade coordination issues.
- Promoted effective enforcement of antitrust and competition laws across the globe, visiting or hosting agencies in the following jurisdictions to discuss enforcement: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
- Coordinated 21 technical assistance programs in FY 2018 to such diverse jurisdictions as Australia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Georgia, Honduras, Hungary, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Vietnam. All but three of these programs were financed from outside sources (e.g., USAID, OECD, or the local competition authority) and many of them were coordinated with the FTC.
- Engagement in the Division’s Visiting International Enforcers’ Program (VIEP), a two-week intensive exchange program for senior agency personnel designed to deepen institutional and personal ties with our foreign counterparts.
Criminal Enforcement
The Division investigated and prosecuted antitrust violations across many sectors of the economy, with over $3.243 billion in criminal fines imposed in FYs 2016-17. In the most recent fiscal year, the Division investigated and prosecuted individual cases that resulted in the highest number of individuals sentenced to prison terms since 2012. The Division also has made efforts to increase self-reporting of cartel behavior through its clarification of its amnesty program.
Criminal enforcement has long been a vital tool to protect competition and consumers. The Sherman Act has been a criminal statute ever since it was signed into law in 1890. Antitrust violations such as price-fixing, bid-rigging, and market allocation unambiguously disrupt the integrity of the competitive process, harm consumers, and reduce faith in the free market system. Such harmful agreements among competitors are subject to a rule of per se illegality, and individuals who engage in such conduct appropriately face criminal accountability along with the corporations they serve. At the Division, we focus our criminal enforcement efforts on holding culpable corporations and individuals accountable, including high-level executives.
In an important example, the Division brought charges against and obtained guilty pleas from executives of a generic pharmaceutical company for price fixing, bid rigging, and customer allocation for an antibiotic and a drug used to treat diabetes. (E.g., Plea Agreement, U.S. v. Glazer, 2:16-cr-00506 (E.D. Pa. Jan. 9, 2017), /media/876731/dl?inline.) It is particularly galling that, when healthcare prices in the United States are already high, certain corporations and executives engaged in anticompetitive activities at the expense of individuals who depend on critical medications.
In another area that has a profound impact on American consumers, the Division actively prosecuted bid rigging and fraud relating to real estate foreclosure auctions. To date, 138 individuals and 3 companies have been charged as a result of the Division’s investigations of bid rigging and fraud relating to real estate foreclosure auctions in California, Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi. (E.g., Press Release, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Seventh Mississippi Real Estate Investor Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Rig Bids At Public Foreclosure Auctions (July 19, 2018), https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/seventh-mississippi-real-estate-investor-pleads-guilty-conspiring-rig-bids-public-foreclosure.) On an individual basis, each of these cases is relatively small, but on an aggregate basis, these cases are important to the economy, particularly because the convicted investors subverted competition and lined their pockets by illegal bid rigging and fraud while diverting money from the homeowners and mortgage holders entitled to any proceeds.
The Division has many open criminal investigations. The Division is trying more criminal cases than ever before and obtaining more prison sentences for individuals than in recent years. Corporate leaders and business executives who consider deviating from the rules of our free enterprise system should take notice.
Moreover, the American public should know that the Antitrust Division is looking out for their salaries, as well. We have put employers on notice that agreements between employers that eliminate competition for hiring employees in the form of no-hire or non-solicitation agreements (often referred to as “no-poach” agreements) are per se violations of the Sherman Act when they are not ancillary to legitimate collaborations. In October 2016, the Division reminded the business community that no-poach and wage-fixing agreements can be prosecuted as criminal violations when they are not reasonably necessary to a separate, legitimate transaction or collaboration between employers. As a matter of prosecutorial discretion, the Division will pursue no-poach agreements terminated before October 2016 through civil actions. Defendants should anticipate potential criminal enforcement actions for any such naked no-poach agreements we uncover that post-date our October 2016 guidance, although we reserve discretion as appropriate in making our ultimate determinations.
The Division will continue to be diligent in detecting and deterring collusion that harms American consumers, and we will remain focused on crucial industries that affect Americans deeply, such as real estate, food, financial services, and health care, just to name a few.
Civil Enforcement
Our merger review program is perhaps the best known of the Division’s many functions, as key mergers generate not only extensive media interest but also typically touch the everyday lives of the American public. Protecting American consumers and businesses from anticompetitive mergers is an essential element of the Division’s mission.
The Division has been confronting huge mergers that cover large swaths of the U.S. economy that touch nearly every consumer, including telecommunications and entertainment (AT&T/Time Warner), agriculture (Bayer/Monsanto, Dow/Dupont), and health care (CVS/Aetna), among many others. We invest large portions of our limited resources to evaluate these massive transactions to ensure that consumers remain protected and competition is preserved. As a result, we have been extraordinarily busy in our merger review program.
One prominent example of our efforts on behalf of the American consumer is our review and challenge of AT&T’s $108 billion acquisition of Time Warner, one of the largest transactions in U.S. history. After the matter did not settle, we litigated in the district court for the District of Columbia the first vertical merger case that went to judgment in 40 years. We have appealed the district court’s decision and are proceeding before the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on an expedited review schedule. (Proof Brief of Appellant United States of America, U.S. v. AT&T Inc., No. 18-5214 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 6, 2018), /media/973241/dl?inline.)
AT&T/Time Warner is only one of the mega-mergers we have focused on in the past year. In May, in response to Bayer’s proposed $66 billion acquisition of Monsanto, we secured a $9 billion divestiture to protect consumers. (Competitive Impact Statement, U.S. v. Bayer AG & Monsanto Co., No. 1:18- cv-01241 (D.D.C. May 29, 2018), /media/954026/dl?inline.) Bayer and Monsanto were two of the largest agricultural companies in the world, and they competed to provide farmers with a broad range of seed and crop protection products. After a thorough investigation, we concluded that the proposed merger would have likely resulted in higher prices, lower quality, and fewer choices to farmers, and ultimately American consumers, across a wide array of seed and crop protection products. The merger also threatened to stifle the innovation in agricultural technologies that has produced significant benefits to American farmers and consumers.
We were able to negotiate appropriate solutions to those competitive problems, including divestitures to BASF, a global chemical company with a multi-billion-dollar crop protection business. Through these divestitures, we achieved a robust structural solution that preserves competition from horizontal and vertical concerns raised by the merger. The settlement also addressed incentives to compete through innovation by requiring divestitures of certain intellectual property and research capabilities. These innovation-focused divestitures include “pipeline” R&D projects and Bayer’s nascent “digital agriculture” business. The settlement also reflected important efforts to strengthen the enforceability and effectiveness of our consent decrees.
In another large agricultural matter, the Division obtained important divestitures associated with Dow’s acquisition of DuPont. (Competitive Impact Statement, U.S. & Plaintiff States v. Dow Chemical Co. & E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., No. 1:17-cv-01176 (D.D.C. June 15, 2017), /media/900176/dl?inline.) The Division’s structural remedies were focused on preserving viable, ongoing businesses that preserve needed competition in the agricultural sector.
For the foreseeable future, the Division’s merger enforcement activities will continue ahead at full steam. We continue to vigorously enforce the laws and review pending transactions in order to preserve robust competition for the millions of Americans who rely on private health insurance products.
I would note that these efforts, especially when we pursue litigation against very large mergers, which often involve threats to competition in multiple markets, are resource intensive. Not only do they require substantial devotion of personnel, but they also require increasingly large outlays for experts and document review.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Antitrust Division staff, we have often been able to resolve large and significant transactions within six months, as illustrated in the recent Disney/Fox and Cigna/Express Scripts investigations. Nonetheless, doing all we can to modernize and speed up the process of merger review is a worthy goal. To that end, I recently announced a series of changes in how we approach the merger review process at the Division. As part of this improved process, we will post a model voluntary request letter and a model timing agreement on our website. Going forward, we will also make some changes to what we generally agree to in timing agreements. We will generally seek to collect documents from fewer custodians and to take fewer depositions. Provided the parties agree to faster and earlier productions, make certain commitments on privilege, and agree to longer post-complaint discovery (if necessary), we will shorten the time from the parties certifying compliance to the Division making a decision to 60 days or less, with the proviso that the responsible deputy can extend that time period if he or she deems it necessary. With respect to Civil Investigative Demand enforcement, we will bring enforcement actions if necessary to ensure timely and complete compliance. We are also withdrawing the 2011 Policy Guide to Merger Remedies. The 2004 Policy Guide to Merger Remedies will be in effect until we release an updated policy. (Makan Delrahim, Assistant Att’y Gen., Antitrust Div., U.S. Dep’t of Justice, It Takes Two: Modernizing the Merger Review Process, Remarks as Prepared for the 2018 Global Antitrust Enforcement Symposium (Sept. 25, 2018), /media/977416/dl?inline.)
In addition to our merger review program, the Division also expends substantial resources investigating and, when appropriate, challenging non-merger conduct that may have the unlawful effect of depriving consumers of the fruits of robust competition. Some of these conduct issues are straightforward applications of antitrust principles. For example, the Division has successfully challenged unlawful agreements among South Central Michigan hospitals to not market their services to customers in each other’s territories. In February, following almost three years of litigation, the Division entered into a resolution of its litigation with the last of these hospitals: Henry Ford Allegiance Health (“Allegiance”), which operates a 475-bed hospital in Jackson County, Michigan. (Competitive Impact Statement, U.S. & Mich. v. W.A. Foote Mem’l Hosp. D/B/A Allegiance Health, No. 5:15-cv-12311 (E.D. Mich. Feb. 27, 2018), /media/941606/dl?inline.)
Some conduct issues are complex and require close study for when and how they affect competition and how they should be analyzed under the antitrust laws. For example, I have given speeches focusing on how policies adopted by a standards setting organization (SSO) should ensure that a diversity of views are represented, that patent holders have adequate incentives to innovate and create new technologies, and that licensees have appropriate incentives to implement those technologies. (E.g., Makan Delrahim, Assistant Att’y Gen., Antitrust Div., U.S. Dep’t of Justice, The “New Madison” Approach to Antitrust and Intellectual Property Law (Mar. 16, 2018), https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/assistant-attorney-general-makan-delrahim-delivers-keynote-address-university.) Because SSOs can promote innovation but also provide opportunities for competitors to harm competition, it is critical to examine closely the proper role of antitrust law and take enforcement or advocacy efforts that appropriately maximize incentives for innovation.
Along with our specific enforcement actions, the Division continues to pursue policy initiatives to strengthen our civil enforcement program. One such initiative is to streamline and improve the Division’s use of consent decrees and other remedies, guided by the view that antitrust enforcement is law enforcement, not regulation. (See Makan Delrahim, Assistant Att’y Gen., Antitrust Div., U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Remarks at the Antitrust Division's Second Roundtable on Competition and Deregulation (Apr. 26, 2018), https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/assistant-attorney-general-makan-delrahim-delivers-remarks-antitrust-divisions-second.) The Division will favor structural relief such as divestitures that rely on free market competitive processes to remedy competitive concerns with a merger rather than behavioral relief that regulates conduct. Doing so places risks of failure on the merging parties and relies on ongoing mechanisms to enforce settlement terms.
A crucial aspect of a consent decree is the ability to enforce it to ensure that the remedy that was necessary to preserve competition is fully implemented. In that regard, we have implemented a number of changes in the Division’s practices to strengthen our ability to ensure decree compliance. First, we are now incorporating a set of provisions as standard improvements in our consent decrees that will make decrees more enforceable. Under these provisions, negotiated with the settling parties, the Division may establish a violation of a consent decree by a preponderance of the evidence (rather than the more exacting clear and convincing evidence standard), thereby using the same standard in a decree violation lawsuit that applies to proving liability in a civil antitrust case in the first instance.
Another of the new provisions permits the government to apply for an extension of a decree’s term if the court finds a violation of the decree. An additional new term requires defendants to reimburse the taxpayers for attorneys’ fees, expert fees, and costs incurred in connection with any consent decree enforcement effort. After a certain number of years, typically five, another new provision gives the Division the ability to terminate a decree upon notice to the court and defendants if it concludes in its discretion the decree is no longer necessary to protect competition. We are also establishing a new Office of Decree Enforcement in the Division to dedicate Division personnel to ensuring proactive enforcement of consent decrees.
Last, but not least, we are in the midst of a robust effort to review nearly 1,300 so-called “legacy” judgments, some of which date back about a century. Our review considers changes in industry conditions, changes in economics, and changes in law to determine whether these decrees are necessary to protect competition and consumers. Some of them may be affirmatively harmful to competition. We have begun the process of filing motions in federal district courts to terminate decrees that are no longer needed to protect competition. In August, the D.C. District Court granted our first motion to terminate 19 such judgments. (Order Terminating Final Judgments, U.S. v. American Amusement Ticket Manufacturers Association, 1:18-mc-00091-BAH (D.D.C Aug. 15, 2018), /media/1183021/dl?inline.) This ongoing effort will continue to identify and eliminate unnecessary restrictions on individuals and businesses who remain subject to legacy decrees so that we may better focus the Division’s resources and attention on protecting competition.
As part of this effort, we also announced our review of the Paramount Consent Decrees, which for over seventy years have regulated how certain movie studios distribute films to movie theatres. The public is invited to comment on the Paramount Consent Decrees until the comment period closes tomorrow, October 4. (Press Release, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Department of Justice Opens Review of Paramount Consent Decrees (Aug. 2, 2018), https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-opens-review-paramount-consent-decrees.)
Policy and Program Initiatives
Apart from our direct enforcement efforts, the Division has implemented a wide range of initiatives designed to advance competition both nationally and internationally. These efforts do not always draw the same interest as our enforcement cases, but can be just as essential, if not more so, to our efforts to protect American consumers and businesses. I will discuss briefly a few of them.
International: Multilateral Framework on Procedures
Today, companies must regularly navigate the antitrust and competition enforcement authorities that now exist across the globe. To promote competition and due process, the United States regularly reaches out to our international counterparts in efforts to harmonize practices around those that best promote competition and to help ensure that competition laws around the world are enforced efficiently, effectively, and fairly. In June, the United States, in partnership with leading antitrust agencies around the world, advanced an effort to better align with one another on a core set of procedural norms through the Multilateral Framework on Procedures in Competition Law Investigation and Enforcement (or “MFP”). (See Makan Delrahim, Assistant Att’y Gen., Antitrust Div., U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Remarks on Global Antitrust Enforcement at the Council on Foreign Relations (June 1, 2018), https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/assistant-attorney-general-makan-delrahim-delivers-remarks-global-antitrust-enforcement.) We are working closely with our international colleagues to achieve consensus on, and publicly commit to, fundamental procedural protections necessary to ensure due process such as non-discrimination, transparency, timely resolution, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, proper notice, opportunity to defend, access to counsel, and judicial review.
Given the complex array of antitrust issues we address with our sister competition agencies across the globe, we are also improving the way we tackle these issues internally. For example, we established formal internal working groups that incorporate staff from all sections in the Division. These working groups meet regularly, sometimes with input from outside speakers. The goal is to learn about new and ongoing international issues, share ideas, discuss best practices, forge consensus, and identify the people and resources that can help address these challenges.
Appellate: Amicus Initiative
The Division has recently expanded our amicus program to increase our participation in private litigation not only in the Supreme Court, but at the district and appellate courts as well. In that way, we can more proactively and more effectively promote appropriate use of antitrust and competition principles across the judiciary. So far, in 2018, the Division has filed five statements of interest at the district court and five amicus briefs in an appeals court in cases where the United States is not a party, as compared to just two amicus briefs in 2017.
Thought Leadership
Through workshops and roundtables, the Division provides a forum for industry participants, academics, consumer advocates, and other interested parties to discuss important developments in particular business sectors, the appropriate scope of various legal doctrines, or recent advancements in our understanding of relevant economic principles.
On three dates this spring, the Division held a series of public roundtable discussions to explore the relationship between competition and regulation and its implications for antitrust enforcement. (Public Roundtable Discussion Series on Regulation & Antitrust Law, Antitrust Div., U.S. Dep’t of Justice, https://www.justice.gov/atr/CompReg (last updated June 25, 2018).) Specific issues included exemptions and immunities from the antitrust laws, the most effective and appropriate scope for consent decrees, and the consumer costs of anticompetitive regulations. Our speakers spanned a diverse range of policy perspectives and stakeholder viewpoints. These were fruitful discussions that are already shaping our actions at the Division, such as recent improvements to the Division’s consent decree practices.
Moreover, in April, the Division hosted a public Roundtable on Criminal Antitrust Compliance to engage with inside and outside corporate counsel, foreign antitrust enforcers, international organization representatives, and other interested stakeholders on the topic of criminal antitrust compliance. (Public Roundtable on Criminal Antitrust Compliance, Antitrust Div., U.S. Dep’t of Justice, https://www.justice.gov/atr/public-roundtable-antitrust-criminal-compliance (last updated Sept. 10, 2018).) More than 100 participants attended and discussed the role that antitrust compliance programs play in preventing and detecting criminal antitrust violations, and ways to further promote corporate antitrust compliance.
In June, the Division also held a joint workshop with the FTC on competition in residential real estate brokerage markets. (Public Workshop: What’s New in Residential Real Estate Brokerage Competition, Antitrust Div., U.S. Dep’t of Justice, https://www.justice.gov/atr/events/public-workshop-competition-real-estate (last updated June 25, 2018).) The workshop drew a diverse array of industry participants, thought leaders, and stakeholders. This is a sector that has merited recent competition advocacy from the Division to state officials, and the diverse viewpoints from the workshop will inform the Division’s advocacy and enforcement efforts going forward. We continue to closely monitor industry developments and the state of competition.
In addition to workshops and roundtables, the Division has also established the Jackson-Nash Addresses, a new lecture series to inspire and educate Division staff and the public about cutting-edge issues and developments in the field. (Press Release, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Antitrust Division Establishes the “Jackson-Nash Address” and Announces Professor Alvin Roth as Inaugural Speaker (Feb. 8, 2018), https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/antitrust-division-establishes-jackson-nash-address-and-announces-professor-alvin-roth.) Through extraordinary, distinguished guest speakers, we recognize and celebrate the role of economics in advancing the objectives of the antitrust laws and the mission of the Division. In so doing, the series will honor the weighty contributions to the field of antitrust from former Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson and Nobel laureate economist John Nash. We were proud to have our inaugural address feature Alvin Roth, also a Nobel Prize winning economist, who is lauded for his important contributions to game theory and market design that shaped the way medical students are matched with residency programs and patients are matched with kidney donors. Our second address featured George Akerloff, another Nobel Prize winning economist, who is lauded for his important contributions to markets characterized by asymmetric information, such as markets for lemons, and John Q. Barrett, a professor of law at St. John’s University who is writing a biography on Justice Jackson.
Looking to the Future
It is indeed an exciting time to be at the Antitrust Division as we work to achieve important results for American consumers. One of the not-so-secret secrets to our success is our talented and devoted staff. It is critical that the Division continues to attract and retain bright, talented, and passionate individuals—whether they be attorneys, economists, paralegals, or support staff.
One way we will draw talent is through the recently established James F. Rill Fellowship Program. (The James F. Rill Fellowship, Antitrust Div., U.S. Dep’t of Justice, https://www.justice.gov/oarm/james-f-rill-fellowship (last updated Aug. 13, 2018).) The Fellowship is designed to provide elite candidates of the Honors Program with a special opportunity to participate in antitrust enforcement actions and in the development and implementation of antitrust policy. I feel fortunate that through this fellowship I can honor one of the greats in the antitrust field, a man whose contributions span public service and private practice, administrations of all stripes, and the field of competition law not just domestically but across the globe. I hope that the fellowship will draw future great contributors to the field of antitrust. I look forward to working with this Committee on finding further means to ensure the Antitrust Division has the resources and talent it needs to protect and promote competition.
Conclusion
I have been the AAG of the Antitrust Division for one year and one week now, and it has been an exhilarating experience. I am honored to have the support of this Committee, and to be working with the dedicated women and men of the Antitrust Division to protect American consumers. We have done much, but much more remains to be done. I look forward to the coming challenges, knowing the importance of our work.
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to speak here today. I look forward to further discussion of these issues.
Springdale Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Jose Adilio Mancia-Sandoval, age 29, of Springdale, was sentenced today to 78 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, in the summer of 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) learned that methamphetamine was being distributed in Northwest Arkansas by Mancia-Sandoval. In May of 2016, the DEA arranged and conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Mancia-Sandoval in Springdale, Arkansas. The substance purchased was sent to the DEA South Central Laboratory for testing. The lab determined that the substance contained 53.0 grams of actual methamphetamine.
Mancia-Sandoval was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in October 2017 and entered a guilty plea in March 2018.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Kim Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.
Six Massachusetts Jurisdictions Awarded over $3 Million in Federal Grants to Support School SafetyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The Department of Justice announced today that six Massachusetts jurisdictions will receive over $3 million in grant funding to bolster school security, educate and train students and faculty and support law enforcement officers and first responders who arrive on the scene of a school violence incident.
“President Trump and his administration will ensure the safety of every American school,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “Earlier this year he signed into law the STOP School Violence Act, which provides grant funding to develop anonymous school threat reporting systems, to implement school building security measures, and to train students, school personnel, and law enforcement on how to prevent school violence. Today I am announcing $70 million in these grants to hundreds of cities and states across America. These grants will go a long way toward giving young people and their families both safety and peace of mind.”
“There is no greater priority than preventing violence in schools and keeping students safe,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Schools should be a safe haven for young people, but as recent events across the country have demonstrated, schools are increasingly becoming targets. These awards will provide new technology for reporting systems and other threat deterrent measures, and create school safety training and education programs for school administrators, staff, students and first responders.”
The Justice Department is awarding more than 220 grants, through three funding sources, to jurisdictions across the country to help make schools more secure:
- STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program: The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) will receive $750,000 to establish regional threat assessment teams, which will involve collaboration among the Commonwealth’s public safety, public health and public education disciplines. The City of Fitchburg, through its police department, will receive $57,364 to solicit professional development training opportunities related to threat assessment team training; to host monthly debriefings regarding concerning issues and behaviors at the schools; and to evaluate the security measures of each school, which will include a detailed assessment of each campus and recommendations for improvements. They will also receive $13,300 to implement anonymous tip reporting software throughout the Fitchburg Public School District over a two year period.
- STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program: The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (MAGO) will receive $1 million to provide school violence and suicide prevention trainings to school districts across the state. The MAGO will partner with Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) to train and educate students and educators in the three Know the Signs violence prevention programs; to re-train students, educators, and schools to provide ongoing support; to create a school and parents’ resource guide of available mental health services in Massachusetts for young people and information on the warning signs of mental illness; and to collect data on all training and education sessions. With grant funding, the MAGO and SHP will be able to train participants in at least 50 school districts, encompassing over 260 schools and almost 140,000 students in grades 6-12.
- COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP): The cities of Fitchburg, Lowell, Revere and Westfield will receive grants to fund school safety measures including coordination with law enforcement, training for law enforcement to prevent student violence, and technology for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency.
The grants are authorized by the STOP School Violence Act, which is intended to improve school security by helping students and teachers reduce exposure to risks, prevent acts of violence, and quickly recognize and respond to violent attacks.
Addition information on the grant announcements is available here: STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program, STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, and COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program.
Several men indicted on federal firearms charges as part of program focused on domestic abusers with gunsRead the Press Release
Several people with domestic violence convictions have recently been indicted in federal court as part of an emphasis on keeping firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers.
Among those charged with firearms offenses: William G. Smith III, 33, of Ravenna; Edward Kennerly, 46, of Cleveland; Antonio Stewart, 30, of Lorain; Elijah Harder, 23, of Cleveland; Steven Kennedy, 29, of Euclid; Jason Calton, 44, of Liberty Center.
“The law is clear: if you have been convicted of domestic violence, even a misdemeanor, or have an active protection order, you are not allowed to have a gun,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Data tells us that more than half of all women homicide victims were killed by their partners. We also know one of the greatest risks for police officers is responding to a domestic disturbance. These indictments will help make our community safer.”
“We should all feel safe in our homes, with our families, friends, and loved ones,” said Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “It is a breach of trust when family members suffer violence at the hands of those they trust most. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who break that trust while using firearms face the full consequences of their actions.”
Federal prosecutors in recent months have met with police, local prosecutors and domestic violence advocates to discuss filing more federal indictments for domestic abusers found to be in possession of firearms.
A study by the Centers for Disease Control released in July showed more than 55 percent of the deaths of women came at the hands of an intimate partner. The study examined more than 10,000 homicides between 2003 and 2014.
Additionally, several police officers killed in the line of duty recently in Ohio were killed while responding to domestic violence calls.
This enforcement initiative is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which one year ago Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. 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.
Smith had a SCCY 9mm pistol, a Remington .22-caliber rifle, a Masterpiece Arms .45-caliber pistol, a Ruger 5.56-caliber rifle , a Glock .45-caliber pistol and a Romarm Cugir 7.62-caliber rifle earlier this year, despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, according to court documents.
Kennerly attempted to buy a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun from Gold Star Pawn & Gun in Eastlake last year. Kennerly made false statements in an effort to acquire the shotgun, including that he was not under a restraining order from the court barring him from contact with his intimate partner and that he was not under indictment for domestic violence, according to court documents.
Stewart had a CN Romarm 7.62-caliber assault rifle, a Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun, another Smith & Wesson handgun and ammunition in August, despite a conviction for domestic violence, according to court documents.
Harder possessed a Derringer Corp. GE, Model CB9 pistol in May after having been convicted of domestic violence, according to court documents.
Kennedy in August possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol and ammunition despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, according to court documents.
Calton possessed a Harrington & Richardson .22-caliber revolver last year, despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, according to court documents.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Scranton Man Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Ammunition ChargesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Lamarr Adams, age 31, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was indicted on October 2, 2018, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and ammunition charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Adams conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine between February 1, 2018 and September 25, 2018, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The indictment also alleges that Adams possessed ammunition when he is prohibited because of a prior felony conviction.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Scranton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.
Indictments and Criminal Informations 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 maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 40 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a 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.
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Savannah-Chatham County awarded nearly $500,000 in DOJ grantsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Southern District U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine joined the Department of Justice in announcing more than $70 million in grant funding to bolster school security, educate and train students and faculty, and support law enforcement officers and first responders who arrive on the scene of a school violence incident, including $306,911 for Chatham County and $187,500 for the Savannah-Chatham Board of Education Police Department.
These grants are in addition to the funding to the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), announced by Attorney General Sessions last week, to expand and update their curriculum to better support training programs. These grants combined will better protect students, teachers, faculty, and first responders across the United States. Additionally, the Department is awarding more than $64 million to state agencies to improve the completeness, quality, and accessibility of the nation’s criminal record systems, which will help law enforcement and increase the effectiveness of background checks.
“President Trump and his administration will ensure the safety of every American school," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. "Earlier this year he signed into law the STOP School Violence Act, which provides grant funding to develop anonymous school threat reporting systems, to implement school building security measures, and to train students, school personnel, and law enforcement on how to prevent school violence. Today I am announcing $70 million in these grants to hundreds of cities and states across America. These grants will go a long way toward giving young people and their families both safety and peace of mind.”
“Our office is dedicated to eliminating violent crime throughout the Southern District of Georgia, and early intervention is a key component of reducing violence,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. “These substantial grants will provide valuable assistance in Savannah-Chatham as we work to make our schools safer and thus help make all our communities safer.”
The Office of Justice Program’s (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) together are making more than 220 awards to jurisdictions across the country to help make schools more secure. The awards, granted through three funding streams, will provide new technology for reporting systems and other threat deterrent measures and create school safety training and education programs for school administrators, staff, students, and first responders. This includes the support for existing crisis intervention teams and the creation of new ones.
- The COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) will provide nearly $25 million to 91 jurisdictions for school safety measures including coordination with law enforcement, training for law enforcement to prevent student violence against others and self, target hardening measures, and technology for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency. Chatham County is receiving $306,911 from this program.
- BJA’s STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program will provide training and education on preventing violence and effectively responding to related mental health crises. This program will fund 85 awards at nearly $28 million, including the $187,500 award to Savannah-Chatham schools.
- The STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program, also managed by BJA, will provide 68 awards valued at more than $19 million. This funding supports training to create and operate threat assessment and crisis intervention teams and to develop technology for local or regional anonymous reporting systems. This technology may be in the form of a mobile phone application, hotline, or website.
The grants are authorized by the STOP School Violence Act, which are intended to improve school security by helping students and teachers reduce exposure to risks, prevent acts of violence, and quickly recognize and respond to violent attacks.
The Department also announced that it has awarded more than $64 million to state agencies to improve the completeness, quality, and accessibility of the nation’s criminal record systems. These grants are administered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, part of OJP. Approximately $43 million in funding will be administered through the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), and nearly $21 million will be awarded under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program. These grant programs help states automate and upgrade records accessed by the firearms background check system. This year, at the direction of the Attorney General, the Department prioritized funding for projects that improve accessibility of criminal history records, domestic violence convictions, and information on persons who are prohibited from possessing firearms for mental-health related reasons.
The Department is also investing more than $1 million in research to better understand the factors behind mass shooting incidents. The grant awards, made by the Department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ), part of OJP, support scientific investigations that will examine factors that contribute to mass violence, identify any patterns in mass shootings, analyze psychological and social life histories of mass shooters and community-level predictors of mass violence, and will examine firearm purchasing patterns of known mass shooters in order to create a risk prediction tool.
For addition information on these grant announcements, visit www.bja.gov or www.cops.usdoj.gov.
NOTE: The breakdown of the STOP School Violence Grants can be found here: STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program, STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, and COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program
For any questions, please contact Barry Paschal at the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.
Rosebud Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Garrett Alan Heck, age 23, was indicted on September 11, 2018. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 28, 2018, 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, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Heck was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in July 2012. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. It is alleged that between April 27, 2018, and July 2018, Heck, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of conviction under Federal Law, failed to properly register as a sex offender.
The charge is merely an accusation and Heck is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore is prosecuting the case.
Heck was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Richmond County Board of Education Awarded DOJ GrantRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Southern District U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine joined the Department of Justice in announcing more than $70 million in grant funding to bolster school security, educate and train students and faculty, and support law enforcement officers and first responders who arrive on the scene of a school violence incident, including $250,000 for the Richmond County Board of Education.
These grants are in addition to the funding to the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), announced by Attorney General Sessions last week, to expand and update their curriculum to better support training programs. These grants combined will better protect students, teachers, faculty, and first responders across the United States. Additionally, the Department is awarding more than $64 million to state agencies to improve the completeness, quality, and accessibility of the nation’s criminal record systems, which will help law enforcement and increase the effectiveness of background checks.
“President Trump and his administration will ensure the safety of every American school," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. "Earlier this year he signed into law the STOP School Violence Act, which provides grant funding to develop anonymous school threat reporting systems, to implement school building security measures, and to train students, school personnel, and law enforcement on how to prevent school violence. Today I am announcing $70 million in these grants to hundreds of cities and states across America. These grants will go a long way toward giving young people and their families both safety and peace of mind.”
“Our office is dedicated to eliminating violent crime throughout the Southern District of Georgia, and early intervention is a key component of reducing violence,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. “This substantial grant will provide valuable assistance in Richmond County as we work to make our schools safer and thus help make all our communities safer.”
The Office of Justice Program’s (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) together are making more than 220 awards to jurisdictions across the country to help make schools more secure. The awards, granted through three funding streams, will provide new technology for reporting systems and other threat deterrent measures and create school safety training and education programs for school administrators, staff, students, and first responders. This includes the support for existing crisis intervention teams and the creation of new ones.
- BJA’s STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program will provide training and education on preventing violence and effectively responding to related mental health crises. This program will fund 85 awards at nearly $28 million, including the award to Richmond County schools.
- The STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program, also managed by BJA, will provide 68 awards valued at more than $19 million. This funding supports training to create and operate threat assessment and crisis intervention teams and to develop technology for local or regional anonymous reporting systems. This technology may be in the form of a mobile phone application, hotline, or website.
- The COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) will provide nearly $25 million to 91 jurisdictions for school safety measures including coordination with law enforcement, training for law enforcement to prevent student violence against others and self, target hardening measures, and technology for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency.
The grants are authorized by the STOP School Violence Act, which are intended to improve school security by helping students and teachers reduce exposure to risks, prevent acts of violence, and quickly recognize and respond to violent attacks.
The Department also announced that it has awarded more than $64 million to state agencies to improve the completeness, quality, and accessibility of the nation’s criminal record systems. These grants are administered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, part of OJP. Approximately $43 million in funding will be administered through the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), and nearly $21 million will be awarded under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program. These grant programs help states automate and upgrade records accessed by the firearms background check system. This year, at the direction of the Attorney General, the Department prioritized funding for projects that improve accessibility of criminal history records, domestic violence convictions, and information on persons who are prohibited from possessing firearms for mental-health related reasons.
The Department is also investing over $1 million in research to better understand the factors behind mass shooting incidents. The grant awards, made by the Department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ), part of OJP, support scientific investigations that will examine factors that contribute to mass violence, identify any patterns in mass shootings, analyze psychological and social life histories of mass shooters and community-level predictors of mass violence, and will examine firearm purchasing patterns of known mass shooters in order to create a risk prediction tool.
For addition information on today’s grant announcements, visit www.bja.gov or www.cops.usdoj.gov.
NOTE: The breakdown of the STOP School Violence Grants can be found here: STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program, STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, and COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program
For any questions, please contact Barry Paschal at the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on September 18, 2018, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Patrick Okroi, age 61, was sentenced to 20 years custody in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Beginning January 2016, Okroi travelled to California from Rapid City at least once or twice every month to pick up methamphetamine. Okroi then distributed between 5 and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine in western South Dakota to other persons, including Gregory O’Kelley and Amanda Tindall. O’Kelley and Tindall both previously received 121 months in federal prison. Juan Porcayo, also alleged to be involved in this conspiracy, is pending trial in March 2019.
On January 13, 2017, Okroi’s home was searched and two (2) pistols and two (2) rifles were located and seized from his home.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Okroi was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.