Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Friday 3 August 2018
16th Person Pleads Guilty in "Operation Panamera" InvestigationRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A West Warwick man today became the 16th person who participated in a multi-state fentanyl and cocaine distribution conspiracy with ties to the Dominican Republic, dubbed “Operation Panamera,” to plead guilty to federal drug trafficking charges.
Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr., Jamaal M. Dublin, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle, and Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel Ann C. Assumpico.
Dublin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2018.
To date, 16 of 23 individuals arrested and charged in the fall of 2017 with participating in the drug trafficking conspiracy have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges.
During the course of the investigation, which began in early 2017, more than 23 kilograms of fentanyl, 18 kilograms of cocaine, 11 kilograms of marijuana and two kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms were seized. The seizures were made as the drugs moved through the U.S. Postal Service, during traffic stops, and during the execution of court-authorized searches of residences, storage units and vehicles.
Dublin admitted to the Court that he coordinated with the ring-leader of the conspiracy, Ramon Delossantos, 25, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, to distribute and collect payment for significant quantities of cocaine.
According to court records, Delossantos, a Dominican national who maintained strong ties to the Dominican Republic, was responsible for distributing at least 50 kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine in New England with the use of “runners.” Delossantos’ mode of transportation during the drug trafficking operation was a 2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo. Delossantos was arrested on October 2, 2017, and his Porsche Panamera was seized by law enforcement.
Delossantos pleaded guilty on June 14, 2018, to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17, 2018.
An immigration detainer has been lodged against Delossantos by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Daly, Jr., and Milind M. Shah.
The investigation, “Operation Panamera,” was led by agents from by the Drug Enforcement Administration and members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
###
Thursday 2 August 2018
Yuba City Man Indicted for Fentanyl, Heroin, and Methamphetamine CrimesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Elmer Daniel Iglesias Lucatero, 23, of Yuba City, charging him with distribution of methamphetamine and heroin, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on February 12, 2018, Lucatero sold an undercover source about 430 grams of pure methamphetamine. Later, on February 26, 2018, Lucatero sold this source about 500 pills advertised as oxycodone. Laboratory analysis later showed that heroin was their active ingredient and, thus, that the pills were counterfeit. Finally, on April 5, 2018, agents executed a search warrant on Lucatero’s Yuba City apartment. There, they found about 13,000 more pills pressed to look like legitimate oxycodone. In reality, the pills contained fentanyl, a powerful and potentially lethal opioid pain reliever. The agents also found about 3,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills in a car that Lucatero had been driving. Laboratory analysis showed that these pills contained heroin.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Beck is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Lucatero faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $26 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Wilson Man Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison Following High Speed Chase Resulting in Discovery of Drugs and FirearmRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that yesterday in federal court Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced KEEDRON JAMELL KEARNEY, 20, of Wilson, NC to serve 45 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release upon conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Crack Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. KEARNEY previously pleaded guilty to the charges on April 19, 2018.
According to the Indictment and arguments at sentencing, on July 27, 2017 in Wilson, officers with the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office learned that KEARNEY was distributing cocaine base (crack). A confidential informant purchased a quantity of crack from Kearney at a motel parking lot in Wilson. After the purchase, officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on KEARNEY’S vehicle. When officers activated blue lights and sirens, however, KEARNEY led officers on a dangerous car chase with speeds exceeding 100 miles an hour on the streets of Wilson. Once apprehended, officers found additional drugs, scales, and a loaded firearm in the vehicle.
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.
In support of PSN, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina has implemented the Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney William M. Gilmore represented the government in this case.
Wetzel County residents admit to connection to a drug distribution operation in Wetzel and Tyler CountiesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Susan Kotson and Randy Peffer, both of New Martinsville, West Virginia, have admitted to their involvement in methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin distribution that spanned multiple states, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Kotson, age 53, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Maintaining of a Drug-Involved Premises.” Kotson admitted to maintaining a house on Ohio Street in New Martinsville for the purpose of distributing and using drugs.
Peffer, age 25, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Peffer admitted to selling methamphetamine in September 2017 in Wetzel County.
Kotson and Peffer each face up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., and Shawn M. Adkins are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol; Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office; the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office; the Sistersville Police Department; the Paden City Police Department; and the New Martinsville Police Department investigated. The Columbus, Ohio, Police Department Gang Crimes Unit assisted in the case.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. presided.
Westbrook Man Pleads Guilty to Interfering and Attempting to Interfere with Commerce by RobberyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Travis Jonathon Card, 38, of Westbrook, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to interfering and attempting to interfere with commerce by robbery. The charges arose from an investigation into eleven armed and attempted armed robberies in the greater Portland area in March and April, 2018.
According to court records, the defendant, brandishing what appeared to be a firearm, robbed the Riverton Gas Station, in Portland, on March 20; robbed the Lil’ Mart Gas Station, in Falmouth, on March 21; robbed Good Things Variety, in Westbrook, on March 22; robbed Express Mart, in Cumberland, on March 22; robbed the Daily Grind, in Westbrook, on March 24; attempted to rob China Taste, in Portland, on March 25; robbed Subway, in Westbrook, on March 26; attempted to rob Aroma Joe’s, in South Portland, on March 27; robbed China Eatery, in Old Orchard Beach, on March 29; robbed Gulf Mart, in Westbrook, on April 6; and attempted to rob Moby Dick Variety, in Old Orchard Beach, on April 11.
If convicted, Card faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each robbery or attempt. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Portland, South Portland, and Lewiston Police Departments; in conjunction with the Westbrook, Falmouth, Cumberland, and Old Orchard Beach Police Departments.
Webster Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Webster man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to possession of child pornography.
William Shenette, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Nov. 1, 2018.
On Dec. 1, 2017, federal and state law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Shenette's residence in Webster. Shennette admitted that he had received two videos of “kiddy porn” the previous evening. During their search, Shenette’s tablet was seized and an on-scene forensic exam was conducted, which revealed two videos, one of a prepubescent girl being anally penetrated by an adult male and another of a female child being orally penetrated by an adult male.
In addition, Kik Messenger chats between Shenette and another person regarding the videos were found. During those chats, Shenette stated that he “wants to (expletive) a little girl” aged “6 to 12.” In response, the third party sent the aforementioned videos.
The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent; and Chief Timothy Bent, Webster Police Department, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Dineen Jerrett of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Weare Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Dustin Moss, 31, formerly of Weare, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April of 2017, Moss purchased a large package of methamphetamine from a drug supplier in Las Vegas, Nevada. Moss also arranged, through his sister, Sabrina Moss, to have another individual, Brian O’Rourke, pick up the package. On April 19, 2017, federal agents intercepted the package. After obtaining a search warrant, they discovered 12 pounds of 92-percent pure “ice” methamphetamine inside the package.
Later that day, agents delivered the package, now containing “dummy” drugs, to O’Rourke. Agents then followed O’Rourke to a location in Manchester where Moss was waiting. Once O’Rourke transferred the package to Moss, agents arrested both men. Inside Moss’ car, agents found, among other things, a loaded Smith & Wesson firearm, throwing knives, and two black ski masks, as well as $10,590 in cash, a digital scale, and drug packaging and distribution paraphernalia. The $10,590 was forfeited to the United States in an administrative forfeiture proceeding and the firearm will be forfeited pursuant to a civil forfeiture proceeding.
Moss previously pleaded guilty on April 25, 2018, to one count of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The drug count carried a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and the firearm charge carried a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years.
On June 28, 2018, Moss’s sister, Sabrina Moss, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to participating in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. O’Rourke pleaded guilty on December 22, 2017, and is awaiting sentencing.
“This lengthy prison sentence serves notice that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is fully committed to aggressively prosecuting drug traffickers, particularly those who use firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Methamphetamine is a rising threat to public health and safety and dealers should expect serious penalties after conviction. I commend the law enforcement agents whose efforts ended this defendant’s drug trafficking business. We will continue to identify, arrest and prosecute those who choose to distribute this dangerous drug.”
“The sentence imposed today on Dustin Moss demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our partners in law enforcement, and at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to the prosecution of mailers and recipients of illegal drugs to the fullest extent of the law,” said Delany De Leon-Colon, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S Postal Inspection Service “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to keeping methamphetamine and other highly addictive drugs, from destroying lives."
“DEA is committed to bring to justice those that distribute methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s substantial sentence not only holds Mr. Moss accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning that DEA and its local, state and federal law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to keep this highly addictive drug off the streets of New Hampshire.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the DEA. It was prosecuted by former Assistant United States Attorney William Morse and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John S. Davis and Shane B. Kelbley. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rabuck is handling the asset forfeiture matter.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). 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.
###
Vallejo Man Sentenced to Two Years and Nine Months in Prison for Passing Counterfeit CurrencyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — John Lamont Winn, 53, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to two years and nine months in prison for passing counterfeit $100 bills, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Winn was convicted by a jury on May 3, 2018 after a four-day trial. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on June 13, 2017, Winn and two associates passed approximately $6,600 over six transactions in less than one hour at a casino in Lincoln. Those bills were detected as counterfeit by the casino’s bank. On June 16, 2017, Winn and another associate passed approximately $29,200 in counterfeit currency at two banks in Vallejo. The bills were held aside by the bank on the basis of their appearance, and they were later determined by the Secret Service to be counterfeit. Winn was also ordered to pay a total of $16,600 in restitution to the casino and bank.
This case was the product of an investigation by the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew G. Morris and Quinn Hochhalter prosecuted the case.
Umatilla Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with MinorRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Thomas James Adams, 23, of La Grande, Oregon, was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison for sexually abusing a minor victim on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, in September 2015, Adams, then 20 years old, visited the 9-year-old minor victim at his family’s home during the Pendleton Round-Up, a local rodeo event. When others in the house were asleep, Adams convinced the minor victim to participate in a series of “dares” or “challenges” that escalated from running around the house naked and peeing outside in the dark to looking at adult pornographic photos on Adam’s cellphone, mutual masturbation and touching each other’s genitals. The young victim reported the sexual contact to his parents, who contacted tribal law enforcement authorities.
The court also ordered Adams to have no contact with the victim or his immediate family, and ordered that he not enter or visit the Umatilla Indian Reservation without approval in advance from his probation officer.
Adams pleaded guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2244(a)(5) and 1152 on January 31, 2018.
The case was investigated by the FBI with the assistance of the Umatilla Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Jennifer Martin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
U.S. Attorney Statement on Release of 2018 HIDTA Marijuana Insight ReportRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon provided the below statement on the release of the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) 2018 Marijuana Insight Report.
“The recent HIDTA Insight Report on marijuana production, distribution, and consumption in Oregon confirms what we already know—it is out of control. The industry’s considerable and negative impacts on land use, water, and underage consumption must be addressed immediately. State officials should respond quickly and in a comprehensive manner to address the many concerns raised by this assessment. To date, we’ve seen insufficient progress from our state officials. We are alarmed by revelations from industry representatives, landowners, and law enforcement partners describing the insufficient and underfunded regulatory and enforcement structure governing both recreational and medical use. A weakly-regulated industry will continue to detract from the livability and health of communities throughout the state.”
“What is often lost in this discussion is the link between marijuana and serious, interstate criminal activity. Overproduction is rampant and the illegal transport of product out of state—a violation of both state and federal law—continues unchecked. My ask continues to be for transparency, responsible regulation, adequate funding, and a willingness to work together. It’s time for the state to wake up, slow down, and address these issues in a responsible and thoughtful manner.”
The Oregon HIDTA program was established by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in June of 1999. In 2015 the program expanded into Idaho and was renamed the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA consists of 14 counties and the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Counties in the HIDTA include Oregon’s Clackamas, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Umatilla and Washington counties, and Idaho’s Ada, Bannock and Canyon counties.
Two St. Thomas Men Sentenced in Cocaine Conspiracy Responsible for Drug Smuggling through the Cyril E. King AirportRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Craig Richardson, 43, and Germaine Hall, 41, were sentenced today to 168 months and 160 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Gretchen Shappert announced. District Judge Curtis V. Gomez also sentenced both Richardson and Hall to five years of supervised release, 350 hours of community service, and a $100 special assessment.
On March 29, 2018, Richardson pleaded guilty, and on April 4, 2018, Hall was convicted by a jury. According to the testimony at Hall’s trial, between 2014 and 2016, both Richardson and Hall were members of a large-scale cocaine smuggling organization that operated out of the Cyril E. King Airport. The organization smuggled cocaine by utilizing a former security officer at the Office of the Governor who used his law enforcement credentials to bypass security screening at Cyril E. King Airport to smuggling large kilogram quantities of cocaine from St. Thomas to Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Once in Florida, the officer delivered the cocaine to another member of the conspiracy for distribution in the continental United States. The trial testimony revealed that Richardson, the leader of the organization, would arrange for the shipments of cocaine and later direct Hall and other members of the conspiracy to collect, and subsequently sell the cocaine at $34,000 per kilogram. Trial testimony also revealed that, during the course of the conspiracy, Hall collected multiple kilograms of cocaine, as directed by Richardson. The smuggling operation was dismantled on September 3, 2016, after a co-conspirator contacted a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent and reported that the officer was traveling on that day with cocaine and had to be stopped. Within one hour of receiving the tip, CBP agents seized 22 kilograms of cocaine from the officer’s carryon suitcase.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia Smith.
Two Randolph County Men Indicted for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
On July 18, 2018, two Randolph County residents were indicted for a methamphetamine offense, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. Lewis D. Higgins, 54, and David Bereitschaft, 39, both of Tilden, were charged in a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that the offense occurred between 2016 and June 2018, in Perry and Randolph Counties. Higgins and Bereitschaft made their initial appearances in federal court on August 2, 2018. They were ordered held without bond pending an October 1, 2018, jury trial.
The conspiracy offense carries a maximum penalty of 5-40 years of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Sparta Police Department, Tilden Police Department, Marissa Police Department, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Drug Tactical Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Randolph County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Two Pensacola Brothers Each Sentenced to Twenty Years in Federal Prison for Large Drug and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Aaron M. Booker, 27, Joseph F. Booker Jr., 29, and Kaishawndra Lyons, 25, all of Pensacola, and Uy Nguyen, 35, of Vallejo, California, have been sentenced for charges arising from a multi-state drug and money laundering conspiracy. Joseph Booker was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on July 31, and Aaron Booker was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison today. Nguyen was sentenced to 84 months in prison on July 2. Lyons was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison on July 31. The sentences were announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Nguyen and the Booker brothers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. All four defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition to the money laundering conspiracy, Lyons also pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal agents.
Since 2015, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have been investigating a multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering organization operating in Pensacola, Northern California, and elsewhere. The investigation disclosed that between February 2015, and December 2017, Nguyen shipped packages of cocaine and marijuana from California to the Booker brothers in Pensacola. Nguyen sent his co-conspirators photographs of drug invoices and pictures of packages of cocaine and marijuana that he was shipping from California to Pensacola. Postal records show that the Booker brothers and Lyons mailed more than two dozen currency-filled packages to Nguyen as payment for the drugs. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers intercepted multiple packages of drugs that Nguyen shipped to his co-conspirators. Bank records revealed that the Booker brothers and Lyons laundered drug money by depositing proceeds from the sale of the marijuana and cocaine into bank accounts Nguyen opened in California.
In December 2017, law enforcement officers searched Nguyen’s residence and vehicle in northern California and located multiple kilograms of marijuana and a receipt for a newly mailed parcel heading to Pensacola. This parcel was intercepted by law enforcement officers and contained multiple pounds of marijuana. The search of the Lyons/Booker residence in Pensacola revealed over $300,000 in United States currency as well as over $300,000 in jewelry and high-end clothing.
Based upon the drug invoices, law enforcement officers determined this conspiracy involved 250 kilograms of marijuana and more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. The conspirators laundered over $250,000 through bank accounts and jewelry stores between Pensacola, Northern California, and other locations in the United States.
This case resulted from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pensacola Police Department, the State Attorney’s Office – First Judicial Circuit, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Tukwila Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Production of Images of Child RapeRead the Press Release
A 40-yearold Tukwila, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 20 years in prison and 25 years of supervised release for production and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. JESSE LEE ALLEN, was arrested in November 2016, after a witness reported that she had seen videos of the molestation of a young child on ALLEN’s cell phone. The witness made a report to Tukwila Police in October 2016 and ALLEN was located and arrested a few weeks later. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly called child pornography a “plague on our community,” saying,” this was an incredibly terrible crime that was committed against a little girl.”
According to records filed in the case, the witness was involved in a romantic relationship with ALLEN and at one point checked his phone to see if there were images of other women ALLEN might be dating. The witness instead discovered three videos that showed the sexual molestation of a 6-year-old child. The witness immediately went to police.
ALLEN pleaded guilty to the charges March 8, 2018.
The case was investigated by the Tukwila Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation (HSI).
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson. Ms. Gregson is a Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation cases in federal court.
Towing Titan Gasper Fiore Sentenced to Prison for BriberyRead the Press Release
The owner of multiple towing companies in southeast Michigan, Gasper Fiore, 57, of Grosse Pointe Shores, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine today based on his conviction for conspiracy to commit bribery, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Timothy R. Slater, Special Agent In Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Manny Muriel, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service.
Fiore was convicted of conspiring to pay bribes to Clinton Township Trustee Dean Reynolds in order to obtain a municipal towing contract with the township. Clinton Township is the sixth largest municipality in the state. Fiore gave Reynolds cash bribes of $4,000 and $3,000 in March and May of 2016 in order to buy Reynolds’ vote to select Fiore’s company to receive the Clinton Township towing contract. Fiore paid the bribes to Reynolds through Charles B. Rizzo, who was cooperating with federal law enforcement at the time of the bribe payments.
Fiore is one of twenty defendants charged in the government’s wide-ranging corruption investigation centered in Macomb County, Michigan. United States District Judge Robert H. Cleland remanded Fiore into custody following the sentencing.
Information at the sentencing hearing revealed that besides his conviction for paying bribes to Reynolds, Fiore has also paid bribes to former Detroit Deputy Chief of Police Celia Washington, other law enforcement officers, former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and former Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers.
“Big-time contractors like Fiore who pay bribes and corrupt communities in order to maximize their wealth face significant punishment,” stated United States Attorney Matthew Schneider. “The court’s sentence demonstrates that pay-to-play contracting will not be tolerated and will be punished.”
"Public corruption is one of the FBI's top criminal priority," said FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Timothy R. Slater. "Corruption of local, state, and federally elected, appointed, or contracted officials - strikes at the heart of government and erodes public confidence."
This case is part of the government’s wide-ranging corruption investigation centered in Macomb County, Michigan. The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Gardey, R. Michael Bullotta, and Adriana Dydell.
Three Sacramento Airport Workers Indicted for Mail Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment today against Domingo Ene, 27, of Roseville; Joshua Hopoi, 22, of Sacramento; and Raymond Su, 29, of Sacramento, charging them with a conspiracy to steal U.S. mail and possession of stolen U.S. mail, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, from April 2018 to July 2018, the three men conspired to steal mail that was passing through Sacramento International Airport. All three defendants worked at Sacramento International Airport as employees of a company that provided ground services. They were responsible for loading U.S. mail from the Sacramento area onto departing flights, as well as unloading incoming mail from arriving flights. The indictment alleges that they opened containers of mail and stole items, especially greeting cards. The defendants removed cash and gift cards from the stolen mail items, and they used the gift cards to make purchases.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Narcotics and Economic Crime Investigations Task Force, Roseville Police Department, Citrus Heights Police Department, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, and Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Miriam R. Hinman is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Texas Man Sentenced to 10 Months for Making Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Shea Ryan Estes, 41, previously of McKinney, Texas, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release, including up to three months of community confinement, for transmitting threats in interstate commerce. Estes pleaded guilty on April 5, 2018.
According to court records, in the summer of 2017, the defendant, while living in Texas, made two threatening telephone calls to his ex-girlfriend, who was then in Maine. The calls were recorded on her answering machine. In the calls, the defendant threatened that he would “hunt” her down, that she was “next,” that she would “suffer, and that if he ever got back to Maine he would kill her current boyfriend, various members of her family, and “anyone that gets in my [expletive] way.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Tampa Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years for Illegal Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Jamaar Danglo Hayes (34, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered him to forfeit the firearm. Hayes pleaded guilty on April 25, 2018.
According to court documents, in October 2017, Hayes drove to an apartment complex located on Sligh Avenue in Tampa while in possession of a .38 caliber revolver. Multiple individuals at the apartment complex saw Hayes with the firearm and called 911. The responding officers located Hayes and the revolver. Hayes, a previously convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay G. Trezevant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Have Sex with A MinorRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Charlie P. Conant, 27, of Syracuse, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to attempted online enticement of a minor. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that on February 27, 2018, an undercover New York State Police Investigator (UC) discovered a personal ad on a Syracuse, NY, website that appeared to be targeting minors for sex which was traced to the defendant. Posing as a 12-year-old female, the UC began communicating with Conant who asked for pictures. Communication between the UC and Conant continued via text message, as the defendant also asked for more pictures including naked photos.
On May 15, 2018, the defendant sent text messages to the UC indicating that he wanted to meet with the child in Seneca Falls, NY, for the purpose of having sex. On June 14, 2018, the defendant traveled to Seneca Falls to meet the UC while “the minor’s” grandmother was supposedly at work. After Conant arrived, he was arrested.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eric Laughton, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 5, 2018, before Judge Siragusa.
Stockton Man Indicted on Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Ruben Valdez, 26, of Stockton, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and illegal possession of a machine gun, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on November 13, 2017, Valdez was found in possession of a stolen Glock, Model 20 handgun, with a selector switch designed to convert a semi‑automatic firearm to a fully automatic machine gun. Valdez is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based on prior felony convictions.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Stockton Police Department, and the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shea J. Kenny and Cameron L. Desmond are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Valdez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
St. Louis Man Indicted for Killing Laclede Cab DriverRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – James Flannel, 37, of St. Louis, MO, was indicted for the carjacking and killing of Boris Iouioukine, a Laclede Cab Company driver killed on June 25, 2018. Specifically, the three-count indictment returned this morning charges Flannel with one count of carjacking, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in the death of Mr. Iouioukine, and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition during the same general time period.
Flannel was originally charged by way of federal complaint for his illegal possession of ammunition on June 27, 2018, two days after the murder. He was ultimately located by law enforcement and taken into federal custody on July 14, 2018. Flannel has been detained ever since. Today’s superseding indictment adds charges related to Flannel’s carjacking and killing of Mr. Iouioukine.
If convicted, the felon in possession of ammunition charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years. The carjacking charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years. Flannel’s possession of a firearm resulting in Mr. Iouioukine’s death carries an additional consecutive mandatory minimum penalty ranging from 10 years to life or the imposition of the death penalty. In determining actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
Following the return of today’s indictment, U. S. Attorney Jeff Jensen commended the swift action of and coordination between the Saint Louis Metropolitan and Saint Louis County Police Departments; the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; his office; and the Saint Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office, “This case is a good example of the cooperative, ‘all hands on deck’ philosophy our state, local and federal partners have embraced in response to the persistent gun violence in the St. Louis area.”
As is always the case, charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Seven defendants face federal drug chargesRead the Press Release
All alleged to have brought large quantities of narcotics into the Evansville area.
PRESS RELEASE
Indianapolis-United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced today that seven defendants face federal drug charges for their role in bringing large quantities of illegal drugs into the Evansville area.
“Maintaining the safety of our neighborhoods remains a top priority of my office,” said Minkler. “The violence that often comes with drug dealing is disruptive to the well-being of the citizens of Evansville.”
On July 10, 2018, Seroy Mobley 34, Evansville, Seneca Binder, 37, Evansville, Eric Wilkerson, 37, Whitestown, Kentucky, and Carl Kirkland, 53, Antioch, California, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Mobley is alleged to be the main distributor who received his supply of methamphetamine from Kirkland who lived in California. Binder and Wilkerson received their methamphetamine from Mobley and would redistribute the drug in and around the Evansville area. Law enforcement executed warrants at Mobley’s residence where they found 350 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm in the bedroom of Mobley’s infant child. All remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
On July 11, 2018, Justin Helsley, 27, Evansville, and Nicholas Grayson, 27, Evansville, were charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone. It is alleged that Helsley received his supply of drugs from a dealer in Los Angeles, California, and Grayson helped him distribute the narcotics locally. Federal authorities traveled to California and worked closely with law enforcement there and arrested Helsley and Grayson. DEA agents, Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force Officers and deputies from the Warrick County Sheriff’s Department executed federal and state search warrants in connection with this investigation and seized eight firearms, several pounds of marijuana, nearly five pounds of heroin, several hundred Oxycodone pills and over $1 million in cash.
On July 25, 2018, Demarco Davis, 37, Evansville, was charged by a criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine. DEA and Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force received information that Demarco Davis was alleged to be a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker in the Evansville area. Demarco met with his source of supply in an Evansville hotel and exchanged bags believed to be filled with cash and methamphetamine. As Davis left the hotel, he was arrested and found to be in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine to which he had just paid $64,000 in United States currency. Davis remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
These cases are being investigated by the DEA, the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force and the Warrick County Sheriff’s Department.
“Those who deal drugs in this community bring a great deal of violence and prey on the vulnerabilities of those with substance abuse problems,” said Doug Freyberger, Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA in Evansville. “We will continue to work with our local partners to make this community a safer place to live, work and raise a family.”
“These arrests highlight the strong working relationship between the Evansville Police Department and our partners at the Drug Enforcement Agency,” said Sergeant Jason Cullom. “We appreciate the work being done by the DEA and our Task Force Officers as we continue to address the issues of drug abuse and addiction.”
“We are working fiercely to remove drugs and drug dealers from our streets,” said Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding. “We hope that the dealers are punished severely and that the addicts are offered treatment; enforcement and education/treatment may slow the distribution and usage in our community.”
Indictments and criminal complaints are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting those who traffic in large quantities of methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 3.3
###
Sentencings for July 30 - August 2, 2018Read the Press Release
DANNY LAURENCE RUST, 34, of Mills, Wyoming was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on July 30, 2018 for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Rust was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received one hundred fifty six months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1000.00 fine. The Mills Police Department, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
LOURDES LETISIA GANDARILLA-DUARTE, 33, of Durango, Mexico was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on July 31, 2018 for fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. Gandarilla-Duarte was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received eighteen months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case.
MANUEL HARO-ROCHA, 33, of Guasabe, Mexico was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on August 1, 2018 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Haro-Rocha was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment at the time of deportation. The Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
TIMOTHY WILLIAM DAVIS, 55, of Big Piney, Wyoming was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on August 2, 2018 for felon in possession of a firearm. Davis was arrested in Sublette County, Wyoming. He received one hundred months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $500.00 fine, and a $100.00 special assessment. The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
DAVID WAYNE HARDY, 60, of Rawlins, Wyoming was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on August 1, 2018 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. Hardy was arrested in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. He received eighty-seven months of imprisonment, to be followed by forty-eight months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $900.00. The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Scranton Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of Efuel Gas StationRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Amod Phillips, age 28, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 31, 2018, by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to serve seven years’ imprisonment for the armed robbery of the EFuel gas station located on Pittston Avenue in Scranton.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Phillips previously pleaded guilty to the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Phillips and another individual, Durrell Davenport, age 28, also of Scranton, were indicted by a grand jury in November 2017 for the armed robbery of the EFuel gas station on June 8, 2017. Approximately $266 and several packs of cigarettes were taken in the robbery. Davenport is currently awaiting sentencing.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Mannion ordered that Phillips be supervised by a probation officer for three years upon release from prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Scranton Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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.
# # #
Rochester Truck Driver and Photographer Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PorngraphyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Richard Wolfe, 60, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine, or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that in March 2016, a Canadian law enforcement agency executed a search warrant involving a mobile chatting application. Between April 2, 2016, and April 7, 2016, a user with the account name “rickyraz15” used the application to share 331 images of child pornography. The account was traced to the defendant in Rochester.
On October 31, 2017, HSI Buffalo executed a search warrant at Wolfe’s residence on Legran Road in Rochester. Special Agents seized a laptop, two digital cameras, a camcorder, a thumb drive, two SD cards, a cell phone, multiple CD’s, an external hard drive, and miscellaneous documents. During a search of the garage, agents discovered a desktop computer that appeared to have been destroyed by a sledge hammer.
A lockbox was discovered in the closet of an upstairs bedroom. HSI gained entry to the lockbox and found approximately 80 CD’S and an external hard drive. A forensic preview of the external hard drive found several images and videos of child pornography. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors engaged in sexual situations.
On October 31, 2017, HSI Buffalo executed a second federal search warrant for the defendant’s cell phone, which revealed that the phone had been reset to factory settings.
A forensic examination of the items seized from the defendant is currently pending, but to date, over 2030 images and videos containing child pornography have been recovered.
Wolfe, a full-time truck driver, also works as a part-time professional photographer who has taken pictures of minors.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 14, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
Riverdale Man Indicted on Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Rodger Riquez Rodriguez, 33, of Riverdale, charging him with being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on May 22, 2018, Rodriguez was found in possession of a silver Kel-Tec P-3AT handgun. On July 24, 2018, he was found in possession of a weapon made from a rifle, Izhmash, Model SVD. Rodriguez was prohibited from possessing firearms based on a prior felony conviction and prior misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Clovis Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McKeon is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Valdez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Postal Employee Charged with Taking $100 from Greeting CardsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - An Allegheny County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal law pertaining to government employees, United States Attorney Scott w. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment named Jasson E. Hart, Sr., age 35, of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment presented to the court, on or about June 29, 2015, Hart, while working as a U.S. Postal Service employee, removed $100 from greeting cards, which were addressed and intended for delivery by the U.S. Postal Service.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Bond of $5,000 unsecured has been requested.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul E. Hull is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Postal Employee Charged with Mail TheftRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Kinsman, Ohio, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of theft of mail by a postal employee, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment named Nicole Wade, 43, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Nicole Wade was an employee of the United States Postal Service at the time she stole two greeting cards and removed two $20 US Notes and four gift cards contained therein that were to be conveyed by mail.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul E. Hull is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pittsburgh Man Gets More than Four Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography Photos and VideosRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 52 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his conviction of possession of material depicting the exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Abhijeet Das, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, Das unlawfully possessed computer graphic files containing approximately 1,000 photographs and 380 videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct..
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Western Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Das.
Perry County Husband and Wife Sentenced to Combined 47 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Betty Jo Eckenberger, age 32, and James David Eckenberger, age 43, of Perry County were sentenced on August 1, 2018, by United States District Court Judge Yvette Kane for child exploitation crimes. Betty Jo Eckenberger was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment followed by 15 years of supervised release. James Eckenberger was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment followed by 15 years of supervised release.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the Eckenbergers sexually assaulted minors between 2008 and 2011, and took photographs of those assaults. Both defendants were ordered to forfeit all electronic equipment used to take the images.
This case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney James T. Clancy prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
# # #
Parker Man Sentenced to Prison for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Aug. 1, 2018, Jason Allen Martinez, 37, of Parker, Ariz., and a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 77 months in prison, followed by a term of three years of supervised release. Martinez had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Martinez was also sentenced to four months’ imprisonment in a 2010 supervised release matter, to run consecutive to the sentence imposed in the 2017 case. Martinez had previously admitted to violating his supervised release.
On Aug. 21, 2017, Martinez assaulted the victim, a former partner of his, by chasing her down in the vehicle he was driving and crashing into the rear end of the victim’s vehicle. Martinez continued to chase the victim after crashing into her vehicle and tried to force her off the road several times. The victim is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes and the assault occurred on the Colorado River Indian Tribes Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-2017-01509-PHX-DGC and CR-2010-00131-PHX-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-098_Martinez
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Project Dakota Flyer Sentences AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that 19 defendants from Project Dakota Flyer – one of the largest wildlife trafficking investigations in the Midwest in recent history – have been sentenced.
Nine men from South Dakota, five women from South Dakota, one man from North Dakota, one man from Iowa, one man from Idaho, and two pawn shops in South Dakota, convicted of various Lacey Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act violations, have been sentenced in United States District Court by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno, U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann.
U.S. Attorney Parsons praised the sentences: “This investigation has demonstrated the breadth of the illegal black market for eagle and other migratory bird parts. It is our goal to completely eliminate the unauthorized killing and selling of bald eagles, golden eagles, and other protected species. Importantly, nothing in this investigation was done to infringe upon traditional Native American use of eagle parts for cultural or spiritual purposes. We are very sensitive to the Native American culture and religious practices that use and honor the eagle, and we want them to be able to continue to do that in a lawful and culturally appropriate manner.”
These convictions stem from incidents beginning in 2014, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated an undercover operation, Project Dakota Flyer, focusing on the unlawful trafficking of protected migratory birds, primarily bald and golden eagles. The operation utilized undercover techniques to purchase eagle and other protected bird parts from 51 suspects over a 19-month period. The purchases occurred in South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, and in some cases over the internet.
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protects our nation’s wildlife here and abroad,” said Edward Grace, Acting Assistant Director of the Office of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We initiated Operation Project Dakota Flyer to stop the unlawful trafficking in protected migratory birds with a particular emphasis in bald and golden eagles. The work of our special agents and forensic scientists revealed over 35 species of birds, from every continent except Antarctica, were trafficked. This operation, which began in America’s heartland, illustrates how wildlife trafficking is a global crisis."
Sheldon Tree Top, age 44, of Mandan, ND, was sentenced on April 4, 2018, by Judge Lange to six months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $5,000, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $125. Tree Top was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2017, and pled guilty on December 29, 2017, to two violations of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Jorge Pena, age 45, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced on July 16, 2018, by Chief Judge Viken to five months of federal prison on each count, to run concurrently, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $20,000, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $125. Pena was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 12, 2017, and pled guilty on March 23, 2018, to violations of the Lacey Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Aaron David West, Jr., age 34, of Eagle Butte, SD, was sentenced on June 11, 2018, by Judge Lange to two months in federal prison, six months of home confinement, one year of supervised release, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $31,750 jointly with co-defendant Aaron David West, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $125. West was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 12, 2017, and pled guilty on March 21, 2018, to violations of the Bald and Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Aiding and Abetting.
Aaron David West, age 63, of Eagle Butte, SD, was sentenced on June 11, 2018, by Judge Lange to one year of probation, which includes six months of home confinement, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $31,750 jointly with co-defendant Aaron David West, Jr., and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25. West was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 12, 2017, and pled guilty on March 21, 2018, to a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and Aiding and Abetting.
Benjamin Iron Hawk, age 45, of Mission, SD, was sentenced on June 11, 2018, by Judge Lange to two months in federal prison, six months of home confinement, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $28,750 joint and several with co-defendant Valencia Neck, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Iron Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 12, 2017, and pled guilty on March 21, 2018, to a violation of the Lacey Act.
Valencia Neck, age 39, of Mission, SD, was sentenced on June 11, 2018, by Judge Lange to one year or probation, which includes six months of home confinement, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $28,750 joint and several with co-defendant Benjamin Iron Hawk, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25. Neck was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 12, 2017, and pled guilty on March 21, 2018, to a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Christopher Pomani, age 38, of Chamberlain, SD, was sentenced on April 5, 2018, by Judge Moreno to two years of probation, a fine in the amount of $500, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25. Pomani was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2017 and pled guilty on December 5, 2017, to a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Aiding and Abetting.
Arvella Pomani, age 36, of Box Elder, SD, was sentenced on July 17, 2018, by Judge Moreno to one year of probation, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $16,800, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25. Pomani was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2017, and pled guilty on July 17, 2018, to a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Aiding and Abetting.
Chet Christensen, d/b/a Chet’s Place, age 67, of Tuthill, SD, was sentenced on March 28, 2018, by Judge Moreno to one day of probation, a fine in the amount of $3,000, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $3,500, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25. Christensen was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 12, 2017, and pled guilty on March 28, 2018, to a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Elray Rosaaen, d/b/a Buffalo Gap Trading Post, age 72, of Buffalo Gap, SD, was sentenced on March 23, 2018, by Judge Wollmann to a fine in the amount of $3,000 and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10. Rosaeen was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 12, 2017, to a one count Indictment of Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Manuel Lieras, age 67, of Pocatello, Idaho, was sentenced on March 28, 2018, by Judge Gerdes to a fine in the amount of $5,000, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $900, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10. Lieras was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 12, 2017, and pled guilty on March 28, 2018, to a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Steven Marin, d/b/a Mobridge Pawn, age 47, of Selby, SD, was sentenced on March 28, 2018, by Judge Moreno to a fine in the amount of $3,000 and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10. Marin was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 12, 2017, and pled guilty on March 28, 2018, to a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Jeffrey Jensen, d/b/a Jerry’s Pawn Shop, age 53, of Mobridge, SD, was sentenced on April 11, 2018, by Judge Moreno to a fine in the amount of $3,000, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $1,750, joint and several with co-defendant Amanda Silbernagel, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10. Jensen was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 12, 2017, and pled guilty on April 11, 2018, to a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Amanda Silbernagel, d/b/a Jerry’s Pawn Shop, age 30, of Mobridge, SD, was sentenced on April 11, 2018, by Judge Moreno to a fine in the amount of $1,000, restitution to the National Wildlife Foundation in the amount of $1,750, joint and several with co-defendant Jeffrey Jensen, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10. Silbernagel was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 12, 2017, and pled guilty on April 11, 2018, to a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Wanda Dupris, age 45, of Eagle Butte, SD, was sentenced on April 24, 2018, by Judge Moreno to a fine in the amount of $1,000, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25. Dupris was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2017, and pled guilty on April 24, 2018, to a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Fair Deal Pawn, a business in Box Elder, SD, was sentenced on May 29, 2018, by Judge Wollmann, to a fine in the amount of $3,000 and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10. Fair Deal Pawn was indicted by a federal grand Jury on September 12, 2017, and pled guilty on May 29, 2018, to a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Kenneth Foster, d/b/a Rapid Pawn, of Box Elder, SD, was sentenced on July 13, 2018, by Judge Wollmann, to a fine in the amount of $3,000 and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10. Foster was indicted by a federal grand Jury on September 12, 2017, and pled guilty on July 13, 2018, to a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Pawn With Us, a business in Rapid City, SD, was sentenced on June 1, 2018, by Judge Wollmann, to a fine in the amount of $3,000 and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10. Pawn With Us was indicted by a federal grand Jury on September 12, 2017, and pled guilty on June 1, 2018, to a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Melinda Sue Relf, a/k/a Melinda Sue Red Feather, age 37, of Rapid City, SD, was sentenced on July 27, 2018, by Judge Wollmann, to a fine in the amount of $1,000 and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10. Relf was indicted by a federal grand Jury on September 12, 2017, and pled guilty on July 27, 2018, to a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Restitution for the loss of the eagles and other migratory birds was sought by the United States in these cases where it could be proved that a deceased bird was trafficked as part of the illegal activity. Following extensive expert testimony, the Courts adopted a restitution value for immature eagles at $5,000 and adult eagles at $10,000.
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Kelderman and Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the cases.
One-Stop Shop Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 190 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A local man has been sentenced to 190 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. D. Michael Dunavant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in November 2016, Bartlett Police Department, Narcotics Unit, initiated an investigation into the illegal drug trafficking of Randy Martell Robertson, 35, a/k/a/ "Black." The investigation revealed Robertson was selling heroin and various other narcotics out of his apartment as well as two hotel rooms on Lamar Avenue, in Memphis.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Armed drug traffickers present a significant risk to public safety in multiple ways. Targeted enforcement and aggressive prosecution of such dangerous offenders is crucial to combatting addiction and violent crime in our neighborhoods. Robertson was a one-stop shop drug dealer who was willing to protect his product at all costs, and this 15 year sentence brings closures to an important drug trafficking case that helps to restore the safety of the community."
Detectives in the Narcotics Unit orchestrated two controlled purchases from Robertson using a confidential source. A search warrant was later executed on November 29, 2016, at Robertson’s residence and hotel rooms, which yielded 187 grams of heroin, 31 grams of ICE, 28 grams of cocaine, 25 grams of methamphetamine, 19.6 grams of crack, 14 ounces of codeine, 82 hydrocodone pills and 74 oxycodone pills. Three loaded firearms were also found on the scene.
On July 31, 2018, U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Robertson to 190 months imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bartlett Police Narcotics Unit; Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
Non-Indian Man Sentenced to Five Years for Sexually Abusing Navajo WomanRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Mark Silva, 48, of Sundance, N.M., was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 60 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for his conviction on a sexual abuse charge. Silva will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The FBI arrested Silva on April 4, 2017, on an indictment that charged him with sexually abusing an Indian woman on May 1, 2016, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in McKinley County, N.M.
On Oct. 12, 2017, Silva pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on May 1, 2016, he sexually abused a Navajo woman. Silva admitted engaging in the sexual act while knowing that the victim was incapable of declining to participate in, or communicating the unwillingness to engage in, the sexual act.
This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Spindle pursuant to the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico, which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
New Jersey man sentenced for alien smugglingRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office and the Swanton Sector of the United States Border Patrol announce that Jose Moreira de Sousa, 51, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives in Newark, N.J., was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to one-year of probation following his guilty plea to a charge that he transported two illegal aliens within the United States. U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also fined Moreira de Sousa $1000 and ordered him to pay special assessments totaling an additional $5100.
According to court records, on the morning of October 17, 2017, a concerned citizen notified agents at the Beecher Falls Border Patrol station that a suspicious person driving an Audi with New Jersey license plates was at a cabin literally feet from the U.S. – Canadian border. Agents learned that the car was driven by Moreira de Sousa and that he had entered the United States from Canada earlier that day.
Agents surveilled Moreira de Sousa, who appeared to be alone, in the vicinity of the cabin and followed him to a local restaurant, where he bought coffee and muffins for three persons. He then returned to the cabin. Shortly thereafter, Moreira de Sousa and two other men emerged from the cabin and got into the defendant’s Audi. Agents followed the car as it drove away. When the vehicle pulled to the side of the road, agents approached, determined that Moreira de Sousa was a U.S. citizen and that the two occupants were Portuguese nationals who had walked across the border, with Moreira de Sousa’s assistance, a few hours before. Neither alien had permission to enter the United States.
The Swanton Sector Border Patrol is responsible for securing the land border between ports of entry in Vermont as well as New Hampshire and northeastern New York. The assistance of citizens is invaluable in helping the U.S. Border Patrol accomplish their border security mission and they welcome community members to help them keep our nation’s borders safe by reporting suspicious activity at 1-800-689-3362.
For more on CBP’s mission at our nation’s ports of entry with CBP officers and along U.S. borders with Border Patrol agents, please visit the Border Security section of the CBP website.
Moreira De Sousa was represented by Douglas Kallen. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
Mora Development Sentenced to Pay A Fine of $3 Million for Violation of the Clean Water ActRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, PR – Today United States District Judge Carmen Consuelo Cerezo sentenced MORA Development to pay a fine of $3 million, serve a five-year term of probation and make restitution to a family whose children were affected by the criminal conduct. Judge Cerezo ordered that Mr. Cleofe Rubi-Gonzalez personally guarantee payment of all financial obligations imposed on the company.
Mora Development Corporation previously pled guilty to a one-count Information charging a violation of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1311 and 1319 (c) (2) for discharging the sanitary wastewater generated from residences at Las Cascadas II Development in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico from a holding tank through a point source (a by-pass pipe) into the Toa Alta Municipal storm water system and then into Quilan Creek which flows into La Plata River, a water of the United States without a National Pollution Elimination System (NPDS) permit. La Plata River serves approximately 80,000 people in Puerto Rico.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to enforce federal laws which protect the environment and the public,” said Rosa E. Rodríguez-Vélez, US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Today’s sentence should serve as a deterrent to those who consider discharging waste water into our creeks. Our office will continue to work with all law enforcement agencies in order to help prevent release of hazardous material into our creeks, protect workers and the local community.”
“Mora Development Corporation knowingly cut corners to save money by discharging raw sewage into the La Plata River without proper treatment in violation of the Clean Water Act,” said Tyler Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of Criminal Investigation Division for EPA’s Region 2 Office in New York. “The scheme to hide an illegal sewage system is a short-sighted business decision that put the community’s health and environment at risk. EPA will continue to work directly with our Commonwealth partners to investigate and seek prosecution of environmental crime offenders.”
The government presented evidence that over the course of the time prior to properly connecting with PRASA, MORA discharged more than 29,000,000 gallons of sewage into the municipal stormwater system and into Quilan Creek.
The former Project Manager, Jose Merino had also pled guilty previously and was sentenced to 6 months’ probation.
The case was prosecuted by the Howard P. Stewart Senior Litigation Counsel of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice, and Assistant United States Attorney Carmen Marquez of the United States Attorney’s Office. The case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Criminal Investigation Division.
# # #
Minneapolis Opioid Dealer Sentenced to 80 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced the sentencing of JOHN HENRY EDMONDS, 35, to 80 months in prison for distribution of heroin, carfentanil, methamphetamine, and furanyl fentanyl. EDMONDS, who pleaded guilty on March 20, 2018, was sentenced today before Senior U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minn.
United States Attorney Erica MacDonald said, “This is the first case in the District of Minnesota involving carfentanil and one of the first involving furanyl fentanyl. Sadly, highly potent and extremely lethal opioid analogues such as these are becoming more common on the illegal drug market and the devastating societal impact of these substances, even in very small quantities, cannot be overstated. I commend the work of the DEA for taking a firm stance against those who threaten our communities with deadly drugs.”
“The trafficking of fentanyl analogues represents a significant threat to public safety,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Solek. “Investigations like this are vitally important to our neighborhoods and communities, and DEA is proud of the close ties we have with our state and local counterparts, who work tirelessly along with DEA to strive for a drug free community.”
According to his guilty plea and documents filed in court, on multiple dates between July 6 and August 22, 2017, EDMONDS distributed a total of 5.9 grams of mixtures and substances containing heroin, carfentanil, methamphetamine, and furanyl fentanyl to an individual, who unbeknownst to EDMONDS, was cooperating with law enforcement. EDMONDS was taken into federal custody on September 25, 2017.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Bloomington Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Surya Saxena.
Defendant Information:
JOHN HENRY EDMONDS, 35
Minneapolis, Minn.
Convicted:
- Distribution of heroin, carfentanil, methamphetamine, and furanyl fentanyl, 5 counts
Sentenced:
- 80 months in prison
- Five years of supervised release
# # #
Additional news available on our website.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Michael J.W. Potter Sentenced to Life in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn.- On August 1, 2018, Michael J.W. Potter, 36, of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Judge, to serve the remainder of his life in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Potter was sentenced pursuant to a federal statute which provides for a mandatory sentence of life in prison for individuals convicted of a drug trafficking offense after having previously been convicted of two or more felony drug trafficking offenses in state or federal court.
Evidence presented trial revealed that an investigation into a large scale methamphetamine distribution ring in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia led to the execution of search warrants by agents with the Second Judicial Drug Task Force, working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Nearly five kilograms of crystal methamphetamine were seized as a result of these searches. During the investigation, agents identified numerous members of the organization, which was supplied primarily by Nathan Hogan of Villa Rica, Georgia, who was also indicted in this case.
Potter and his co-conspirators were responsible for transporting hundreds of pounds of crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive controlled substance, from northern Georgia into Sullivan County, Tennessee, and the surrounding area for distribution. Only Potter proceeded to trial. The other 24 individuals indicted in the conspiracy entered guilty pleas, with the exception of Shawn Dumitras, who died prior to arrest.
Law enforcement agencies participating in this joint investigation were the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Kingsport, Police Department, TBI, ATF and DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Gregory Bowman represented the United States in court proceedings.
This case was a result of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
###
Mexican National Sentenced for Smuggling 53 Aliens in Tractor TrailerRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Mexican National who was on a visitor visa has been ordered to federal prison for attempting to smuggle illegal aliens behind a load of produce, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Luis Valero-Carrizales, 39, pleaded guilty April 4, 2018.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed Valero-Carrizales a 30-month sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, Valero-Carrizales is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison.
At the time of his plea, Valero-Carrizales admitted he conspired to transport illegal aliens hidden behind a load of produce in the trailer portion of the 18-wheeler he was driving. On Dec. 16, 2017, Valero-Carrizales drove a freightliner and approached the primary inspection lane at the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint near Falfurrias. During a routine immigration inspection, a service canine alerted to the trailer.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, authorities discovered 53 illegal aliens hidden inside. The temperature inside the refrigerated trailer was 54 degrees.
He was taken into custody at that time where he remains pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Miller is prosecuting the case.
Member of the Genovese Family of La Cosa Nostra Charged in 1997 Murder-For-Hire of Richard OrtizRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Charles Gardner, the Commissioner of the City of Yonkers Police Department (“YPD”), announced the arrest of JOHN TORTORA JR., a/k/a “Johnny T,” on charges of racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and murder for hire. The murder charges arise out of TORTORA’s role in the November 11, 1997, murder of Richard Ortiz, 29, in Yonkers. TORTORA was arrested this morning in Yonkers by FBI agents and Yonkers PD detectives. TORTORA will be presented later today before the U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein at the United States Courthouse in Manhattan. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Sidney H. Stein. An initial pretrial conference is scheduled for August 14, 2018, at 3:00 p.m., before Judge Stein.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said: “As alleged in the indictment, the defendant was responsible for the stabbing death of Richard Ortiz over 20 years ago. Today, thanks to the remarkable dedication and perseverance of the FBI and the Yonkers Police Department, the defendant faces charges for his crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “The arrest of John Tortora should remind everyone that justice delayed is not justice denied. Whether a crime was allegedly committed decades ago or just days ago, the FBI will maintain the same tenacity and we will be relentless toward ensuring those who commit violent crimes be held accountable for their actions. The FBI New York Office never does these investigations alone, and we want to thank the Yonkers Police Department for their help in successfully solving a case from more than 20 years ago.”
Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner said: “This arrest for the 1997 murder of Mr. Ortiz demonstrates the resolve and commitment of law enforcement to hold those accountable for their actions and serves as a warning to all members of La Cosa Nostra engaging in violent criminal activity in our communities. We will continue to work with our federal partners to aggressively target alleged criminals and criminal enterprises operating in our City.
I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI for their invaluable support and efforts in this investigation.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment[1] and statements made in court:
From in or about 1997 up to and including in or about 2018, TORTORA, an associate and later a member of the Genovese Crime Family, along with other members and associates of La Cosa Nostra, committed a wide range of crimes, including murder, extortion, gambling, and narcotics trafficking. In particular, TORTORA hired others to kill Richard Ortiz in order to further the goals of the Genovese Family. As a result, on November 11, 1997, Ortiz was brutally stabbed multiple times, causing his death.
* * *
TORTORA, 61, of Yonkers, New York, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, and murder for hire. A chart showing the charges and maximum penalties for each count of the Indictment is below. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
COUNT
CHARGE
MAXIMUM PENALTY
1
Conspiracy to commit racketeering
Life in prison
2
Murder in aid of racketeering
Mandatory life in prison or the death penalty
3
Murder for hire
Mandatory life in prison or the death penalty
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the Yonkers Police Department, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Lonergan, Jessica Fender, and Lauren Schorr are in charge of the prosecution. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
McKinley County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Child Pornography ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Johtonnie Yazzie, 30, of Rocksprings, N.M., was sentenced yesterday afternoon in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 45 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Yazzie also will be required to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.
The FBI and McKinley County Sheriff’s Office arrested Yazzie on Dec. 20, 2016, on an indictment, which was filed on Dec. 7, 2016, charging him with possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. According to the indictment, Yazzie committed the crime between Jan. 2016 and May 2016, in McKinley County, N.M.
On Jan. 8, 2018, Yazzie pled guilty to the indictment. In his plea agreement, Yazzie admitted that from Jan. 2016 through May 2016, he downloaded videos and images of child pornography from the internet and saved them onto his cellular phone. Yazzie acknowledged that his cellphone contained 366 images and 61 videos of child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mease as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
The case also was brought as a part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 86 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.
Marietta Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lane Edward Miller, age 26, of Marietta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and 1 year supervised release for Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1) and 2. The charge arose from an investigation by the Marietta Police Department, the Love County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Secret Service.
The Indictment alleged that on or about May 6, 2017, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the Defendants knowingly transferred, possessed and used, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person, S.D., during and in relation to a felony violation described in 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(c), Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1349, knowing that the means of identification belonged to another actual person.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Identity thieves wreak havoc on the lives of their victims. Fortunately, due to diligent victims and local and federal law enforcement agencies, this identity thief was caught and is being brought to justice for his crimes. This investigation and prosecution is a great example of how watchful citizens bringing information to their local law enforcement agency can lead to a team effort between local and federal investigators and prosecutors, and ultimately lead to a successful prosecution.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States. The defendant will remain in custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which the non-paroleable sentence will be served.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Selling Drugs and Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
“Prosecuting armed drug traffickers is a top priority,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Together with our law enforcement partners we are targeting areas where firearms and the drug trade are fueling violence and endangering the safety of those communities. We are committed to our mission of public safety and will continue to aggressively pursue those who choose to endanger the safety of the communities we serve.”
According to court documents, on April 29, 2016, John Paul Alarcon, 31, was stopped by the Virginia Beach Police and law enforcement subsequently discovered a concealed, loaded firearm in his car. The police also discovered 3.4 grams of Methamphetamine and approximately $3,500 in cash. During the execution of a search warrant at Alarcon’s home in Virginia Beach, police discovered 9.6 grams of Methamphetamine, Psilocyn, Amphetamine tablets, Fentanyl tablets, a tablet containing a Heroin and Fentanyl mixture, Oxymorphone, and approximately $2,000 in cash.
“Methamphetamine destroys people and communities,” said Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk. “HSI, along with our partners at the Virginia Beach Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, are committed to keeping this dangerous drug out of Hampton Roads.”
Over a year later and while on bond from the Virginia Beach General District Court, law enforcement encountered Alarcon at the Military Circle Mall, and seized a bag containing a loaded firearm, 2.9 grams of Methamphetamine, 7.9 grams of Cocaine, Alarcon’s wallet and $1,195 in cash.
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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of HSI Norfolk, Eric Shen, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-9.
Lee County Man Receives Ten Year Sentence in Child Pornography CaseRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. – A Sanford man who pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment today, announced Matthew G.T. Martin, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.
SCOTT SAMUEL YOUNG, 28, of Sanford, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on March 8, 2018, to one count of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment followed by 20 years of supervised release by United States District Judge N. Carlton Tilley, Jr.
YOUNG had previously been convicted of a state child pornography offense in Lee County Superior Court on January 20, 2016, under the alias Justin Presendorf. In August 2016, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a certain Dropbox cloud storage account was being used to store and access child pornography. The SBI identified YOUNG as the user of that Dropbox account, based on the IP addresses and email address used, and the fact that no one had logged into the Dropbox account during the time YOUNG had been incarcerated for his state conviction. That cloud storage account contained 2,020 images and 135 videos of child pornography.
On September 9, 2016, investigators seized a phone found in YOUNG’S possession and arrested him after determining that the phone contained child pornography. Investigators found 369 images and 174 videos of child pornography on the phone.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Both agencies are members of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric L. Iverson.
It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
###
Lackawanna Man Charged with Stealing Student Incentive Gift CardsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Joel Hunsicker, age 37, of Scranton, Pennsylvania was charged on July 31, 2018, in a criminal information with stealing student incentive gift cards.
According to United States Attorney David Freed, Hunsicker was in charge of counseling youths at the PA CareerLink in Lackawanna County. During the course of five years as a student counselor, Hunsicker stole more than $6,500 worth of federally funded gift cards intended for student rewards, Hunsicker used those cards for his own personal benefit.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Evan Gotlob is prosecuting the case.
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 is 10 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.
# # #
Kenton County Man Sentenced to 52 Months for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – Kevin Sellers, 26, of Covington, was sentenced today to 52 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge David L. Bunning, for unlawful possession of firearms.
Sellers previously pleaded guilty to possessing three firearms after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. According to the guilty plea agreement, the Covington Police Department stopped the vehicle Sellers was driving, on June 20, 2017, after receiving a complaint that he had threatened an individual with a gun. When officers stopped the vehicle, Sellers and three other individuals were present. In the car, officers discovered three semi-automatic pistols, including one that was capable of accepting a large capacity magazine and another that was later determined to have been stolen from a local police department.
Another Defendant, Jack Deakins, who was in the vehicle at the time, was convicted of the same offense and sentenced to 30 months in prison, on June 28, 2018.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Amy Hess, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations; and Robert Nader, Chief of the Covington Police Department, jointly made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Covington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Voorhees.
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with the Philadelphia Police Department to Ensure Effective Communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing IndividualsRead the Press Release
NOTE: The settlement agreement can be found here.
The Justice Department today reached a settlement agreement with the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) to resolve allegations that it violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying deaf and hard of hearing individuals full and equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from PPD’s programs, services, and activities. Specifically, the Department alleged that PPD did not take appropriate steps to ensure that communications with deaf and hard of hearing individuals were as effective as communications with others, and did not provide auxiliary aids and services that were necessary to ensure the provision of effective communication.
The Department initiated an investigation in response to a complaint that PPD had not provided effective communication to a deaf detainee. In the course of its investigation, the Department interviewed a number of deaf individuals—ranging from detainees to crime victims—who contended that PPD denied them effective communication. The Department also interviewed PPD representatives and reviewed PPD’s policies and practices relating to the provision of auxiliary aids and services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Based on the investigation, the Department determined that PPD had not met its obligations to provide effective communication as required by the ADA.
“Deaf and hard of hearing individuals are entitled to full and equal opportunities to communicate with police officers and to benefit from police services,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore. “We commend the Philadelphia Police Department, which is taking steps to ensure that Philadelphia’s deaf and hard of hearing community members are provided effective communication and auxiliary services.”
The ADA mandates that public entities, such as PPD, take appropriate steps to ensure that communications with people with disabilities are as effective as communications with others. In meeting the effective communication obligation, public entities are not required to take any action that would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of their service, program or activity or in undue financial and administrative burdens.
PPD represents that since the Department’s investigation, it has been steadfast in its efforts to improve its provision of effective communication. PPD has developed comprehensive ADA policies and practices, including policies that help law enforcement personnel understand how to secure appropriate auxiliary aids and services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. PPD has also developed a comprehensive training program to educate its personnel on the ADA’s effective communication obligation. PPD further asserts that it is ensuring reliable access to American Sign Language interpreters.
Under the three-year agreement, PPD will adopt ADA policies and procedures on effective communication and appropriate auxiliary aids or services, train personnel on the ADA, provide accessible telephone equipment, and pay eight aggrieved individuals a total of $97,500.
Those interested in finding out more about this settlement or the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at http://www.ada.gov/complaint/.
Jury Convicts Illegal Alien of Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
A Fort Lauderdale federal jury convicted Mohammed Al-Ghool, 50, of Broward County, yesterday of possessing a firearm and ammunition while being an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Diane J. Sabatino, Director, Field Operation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Miami Field Office, Mark Selby, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI). Ari C. Shapira, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, and Scott Israel, Sheriff, Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), made the announcement.
According to the court docket, including evidence introduced at trial, Al-Ghool was working at the register in a convenience store crowded with customers on the night of April 13, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Al-Ghool got into a verbal altercation with a co-worker that entered the store. The verbal fight escalated when Al-Ghool threw merchandise at the co-worker and then produced a firearm. Al-Ghool shot a round of ammunition from the firearm at the co-worker. The projectile hit the ceiling tile, directly above his co-worker’s head. Al-Ghool possessed the firearm and ammunition while being a citizen of a foreign country without valid U.S. identification or immigration documents.
Al-Ghool is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2018, before U.S. District Court Judge William P. Dimitrouleas.
Mr. Greenberg commended the investigatory efforts of the CBP, ICE-HSI, ATF and BSO in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Don Chase.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Jury Convicts Brooklyn Man of Firearm and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – A jury today voted to convict Emmanuel Philippe, age 23, of Brooklyn, New York, and Leominster, Massachusetts, of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, and possessing and intending to distribute crack cocaine.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict of the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Saratoga Springs Police Chief Greg Veitch.
Evidence presented during the 4-day trial established that on March 17, 2017, at about 3 a.m., Philippe was the subject of a routine traffic stop, for speeding, on West Avenue near the YMCA in Saratoga Springs, New York. Philippe gave Officers a fake name and fake Massachusetts driver’s license, and said he was on his way to a hotel in Schenectady, New York.
A Saratoga Springs Police Officer smelled marijuana, and Philippe admitted to having marijuana in his car. Officers ordered Philippe and his passenger out of the car so they could search it. During the search, Philippe and his passenger stood on the side of the road in the presence of Officers.
Philippe became visibly nervous as an Officer searched the trunk, and attempted on several occasions to approach the trunk, falsely claiming that his jacket was inside. Officers asked him to back away from the trunk.
While searching the trunk, an Officer found a plastic bag containing a loaded rifle magazine and rounds of .223 caliber ammunition. As the Officer called her Sergeant over to see what she had found, Philippe took off running, through a snow-covered field, in the direction of the YMCA. Officers quickly and safely arrested Philippe in the YMCA parking lot, and found him in possession of 35 tie-off baggies containing crack cocaine.
In the trunk, Officers located a Windham Weaponry semi-automatic rifle, loaded with a 30-round magazine and with its safety turned off; another loaded, 30-round magazine; a total of 165 rounds of Federal .223 caliber ammunition; and 22 rounds of Federal 9 millimeter ammunition. In Philippe’s possession and in the car, Officers also located $1,610 in cash, 2 digital scales, and drug packaging materials.
Philippe, who has a prior felony conviction for attempted grand larceny, faces at least 5 years and up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 6, 2018 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Philippe, a lawful permanent resident of the United States and citizen of Haiti, may face immigration consequences as a result of his convictions.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Saratoga Springs Police Department, with the assistance of the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Jamaican Man Pleads Guilty to Involvement in International Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Jamaican man pleaded guilty today to his role in a cocaine conspiracy involving the distribution and possession of 15 kilograms of cocaine on behalf of a Panamanian drug trafficking organization (DTO).
According to court documents, Oraine Lawson, 26, a citizen of Jamaica, served as a cocaine transporter for the DTO moving illegal narcotics within the United States. In February 2016, Lawson and a co-conspirator traveled from Brooklyn, New York to Charleston, South Carolina, to receive 15 kilograms of cocaine for domestic distribution on behalf of the DTO. On the same day, law enforcement intercepted 15 kilograms of cocaine on a commercial shipping vessel at the Port of Charleston sent by the DTO. The next day, Lawson and his co-conspirator obtained a bag containing 15 kilograms of cocaine in Charleston from a co-conspirator while under surveillance of law enforcement. Upon taking possession of the cocaine, Lawson boarded a commercial bus and law enforcement later executed a drug interdiction operation on the commercial bus on which Lawson was traveling. During the stop of the bus, law enforcement surveillance observed Lawson’s co-conspirator hide the bag containing the 15 kilograms of cocaine under a seat inside the bus. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers seized the bag containing the 15 kilograms of cocaine.
Lawson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment when sentenced on November 2. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Brotehrs Grim. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Scott W. Hoernke, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik S. Siebert and Peter S. Duffey are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-cr-108.