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Monday 12 March 2018
Ansonia Man Pleads Guilty to Crack Cocaine Distribution ChargeRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON WALKER, 30, of Ansonia, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).
According to court documents and statements made in court, WALKER was a member of a drug trafficking organization that trafficked large quantities of crack cocaine throughout the Naugatuck Valley. The investigation revealed that members of the organization shared the same cellphone to service drug customers in shifts over a 24-hour period. Members of the drug trafficking organization also shared vehicles and serviced customers together. Between May and September 2017, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of crack from WALKER and other members of the drug trafficking organization.
WALKER was arrested on November 15, 2017.
Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for June 6, 2018, at which time WALKER faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. WALKER is currently detained.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force and the Ansonia and Derby Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.
Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Medical Products Charge Arising Out of Pharmacy RobberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Abraham Martinez, 36, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty this morning in federal court to theft of medical products charge arising out of the robbery of an Albuquerque-area pharmacy on Oct. 13, 2017.
Martinez was arrested in Oct. 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with violating the Hobbs Act by robbing a business engaged in interstate commerce and possession of Xanax with intent to distribute. According to the criminal complaint, Martinez committed the offenses by robbing the Walgreens pharmacy located at 2625 San Pedro Dr. NE in Albuquerque, and threatening the pharmacist with a knife while demanding Xanax.
Martinez subsequently was charged in a two-count indictment on Nov. 1, 2017, with violating the Hobbs Act by interfering with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, and theft of medical products.
During today’s proceedings, Martinez pled guilty to the theft of medical products charge. In entering the guilty plea, Martinez admitted that on Oct. 13, 2017, he robbed the Walgreens pharmacy in Albuquerque by approaching the pharmacist’s consultation window, holding out a knife, and demanding Xanax from the pharmacist. Martinez acknowledged that the bottles of Xanax he stole from the pharmacist were not available to the public and thus were considered pre-retail medical products.
At sentencing, Martinez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Martinez remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Tactical Diversion Squad of the DEA in Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department. DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squads combine DEA resources with those of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in an innovative effort to investigate, disrupt and dismantle those suspected of violating the Controlled Substances Act or other appropriate federal, state or local statutes pertaining to the diversion of licit pharmaceutical controlled substances or listed chemicals.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel R. Meyers is prosecuting the case as part of the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative. The HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 by the UNM Health Sciences Center and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in response to the national opioid epidemic, which has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico. Opioid addiction has taken a toll on public safety, public health and the economic viability of our communities. Working in partnership with the DEA, the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative, Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC), the Albuquerque Public Schools and other community stakeholders, HOPE’s principal goals are to protect our communities from the dangers associated with heroin and opioid painkillers and reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in New Mexico.
The HOPE Initiative is comprised of five components: (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning. HOPE’s law enforcement component is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners. Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative. Learn more about the New Mexico HOPE Initiative at http://www.HopeInitiativeNM.org.
Accountant Sentenced for Embezzling More than $3 Million from Houston CompanyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – An accountant from Georgia has been ordered to federal prison after admitting he committed wire fraud and stole more than $3 million from his former employer and client, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Daniel Nathan West, 52, of Duluth, Georgia, pleaded guilty Sept. 15, 2016.
Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt, who accepted the guilty plea, handed West a 108-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, additional evidence was presented including a statement by the president and CEO of Airis Internatioanl Holdings, West’s former employer and client. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hoyt ordered West to pay restitution in the amount of $3,561,166.11.
West was previously employed as the treasurer and chief financial officer for Airis. In this role, he was to manage Airis finances during construction projects, control the company’s monetary assets, administer payments and payroll, among other things.
In 2005, West resigned from Airis to start his accounting firm - Westtree Financial. Shortly thereafter, Airis contracted with Westtree Financial to provide accounting services to Airis. Although West no longer worked directly for Airis, through his company he continued to have signature authority on Airis’ bank accounts and authority to transfer funds on behalf of Airis.
From 2005 to 2012, West embezzled more than $3 million from Airis, admitting he used the monies to purchase a million-dollar home in Georgia, a beach house in Florida, an office building in Georgia and luxury vehicles.
West was first arrested Oct. 13, 2015, and released on bond. However, he was later taken into custody after Judge Hoyt determined West had violated his conditions of release. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vernon Lewis is prosecuting the case.
35 Members and Associates of Bloods Gang Plead Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Related Charges, Including Drug Trafficking and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Thirty-five members and associates of the Nine Trey Gangsters set of the United Blood Nation (UBN) street gang, including a “Godfather” as well as other high-ranking leaders of the organization, have pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and related charges in North Carolina, including drug trafficking, wire fraud, firearm possession, and the use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina, and Special Agent in Charge John Strong of the FBI Charlotte, North Carolina Field Division, made the announcement.
“The pleas announced today are part of an extensive investigation by a broad array of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies—including the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section—whose goal has been to disrupt and dismantle the Nine Trey Gangsters, a dangerous set of the United Blood Nation street gang,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. “By targeting the high-ranking individuals who were directing the gang’s activities—from locations up and down the eastern United States, both within prisons and in our communities—today’s pleas constitute a substantial step towards the gang’s eradication.”
“When my office indicted 83 Bloods gang members and senior leaders, the goal was to deliver a major blow to this organized criminal enterprise responsible for raging turf wars, rampant drug distribution and bloody gang violence,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We’ve made significant progress toward that goal but the work is far from over. Communities across Western North Carolina know firsthand the trail of violence and devastation gangs leave behind. We have a duty to protect the public from gang violence and to bring relief to neighborhoods afflicted by gang activity. Working with our law enforcement partners we will continue to combine our efforts and resources to keep our communities safe and to protect our children from violent street gangs.”
“The assaults, the robberies, the drug deals, each and every crime committed by these ruthless gang members was a blow to the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Strong. “The guilty pleas by these suspects are the next step in securing justice for every innocent person who was impacted by the violent actions of these gangs members.”
Omari Rosero, aka Uno B, 41, of Elmira, New York, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. According to the factual basis of Rosero’s plea agreement, the Nine Trey Gangsters’ leadership proceeds in rank, from lowest to highest, from “Scrap,” “1-Star General” through “5-Star General,” “Low,” “High,” and, “Godfather.” During his plea, Omari Rosero admitted to holding the leadership rank of “High,” and to serving as an acting “Godfather” of the entire UBN gang. According to a recorded jail call, Omari Rosero admitted to being, together with Pedro Gutierrez, aka Magoo, and James Baxton, aka Frank White, “the last ones that God put in power” over the UBN. Rosero conducted gang business and participated in the distribution of gang dues while incarcerated in the New York State Department of Corrections.
Porsha Talina Rosero, aka Lady Uno B, 35, of Syracuse, New York, pleaded guilty today to racketeering conspiracy. Rosero, who has a tattoo of “Mrs. Uno B” on her chest, referring to Omari Rosero, maintained a Facebook account through which private messages were sent from Omari Rosero to other Bloods leaders. According to the factual basis of her plea agreement, Porsha Rosero further admitted to participating in the distribution of gang dues, and to participating in a phone call during which Omari Rosero stated that a suspected cooperator would be “faded straight up.”
In addition to Omari and Porsha Rosero, seven other defendants with high-ranking leadership positions have previously pleaded guilty in this investigation:
- Montraya Antwain Atkinson, aka Hardbody, 31, of Raleigh, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. According to the factual basis of his plea agreement, Atkinson admitted to holding the leadership rank of “High,” and admitted to possessing marijuana and cocaine with intent to distribute, and to purchasing and selling powder cocaine;
- Adrian Nayron Coker, aka Gotti, 28, of Gastonia, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and three counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics. According to the factual basis of his plea agreement, Coker admitted to holding the leadership rank of “Low,” and to possessing a stolen firearm and ammunition, despite having previously been convicted of a felony. Moreover, according to a court-approved wiretap, Coker was recorded discussing a potential murder of a rival gang member;
- Quincy Delone Haynes, aka Black Montana, 39, of Lawndale, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and three counts of trafficking cocaine. According to the factual basis of this plea agreement, Haynes admitted to holding the leadership rank of “Low”;
- Barrington Audley Lattibeaudiere, aka Bandana and Bobby Seale, 31, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to the factual basis of his plea agreement, Lattibeaudiere admitted to holding the leadership rank of “High,” and coordinating the transmission of hundreds of dollars of UBN gang dues to Gutierrez and Baxton. Lattibeaudiere further admitted to participating in a scheme to make and attempt to make over $64,000 in purchases using fraudulent credit and gift cards;
- Bianca Kiashie Harrison, aka Lady Gunz, 28, of Midway Park, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. According to the factual basis of Harrison’s plea agreement, Harrison admitted to holding the leadership rank of “High,” and to participating, at facilities within the New York Department of Corrections, in gang leadership meetings with alleged UBN Godfathers Gutierrez and Baxton;
- MyQuan Lamar Nelson, aka Dripz, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and heroin trafficking, and according to the factual basis of his plea agreement admitted to holding the leadership rank of “Low”; and
- Tywlain Wilson, aka 5 Alive, 25, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and firearm possession in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to the factual basis of his plea agreement, Wilson admitted to holding the leadership rank of “Low.”
Furthermore, the following defendants have also pleaded guilty in this case:
- Destinee Danyell Blakeney, aka Lady Rude, 23, of Morven, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Brandon Khalil Covington, aka Blokka, 25, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking;
- Christopher Dentre Hamrick, aka Red Dot, 28, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Anthony ONeil Harrison, aka Ant, 20, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Delonte Maurice Hicks, aka BBB Shooter and Black, 29, of Bennettsville, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Raheam Shumar Hopper, aka Bone, 24, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Muhammad John Jackson, aka Picasso, 33, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Terrence Thomas Johnsom, aka Sypher, 41, of Durham, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Joe Tarpeh Johnson, aka JR, Big Pusha, and Kutthroat, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to conspiracy to commit wire fraud;
- Latif Nakia Antoine Johnson, aka Billy Solo, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Rashad Monte King, aka Billy Kilo Montana, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- David Matthew Lowe, aka Gucci, 26, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Charles Kenyon Lytle, aka Kam, 40, of Concord, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Brandon Theodore Manning, aka Billy B, 29, of Columbia, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Isaac Nabah McIntosh, aka Mac, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- D’Angelo De’Mara McNeil, aka Dutch, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Kolawole Olalekan Omotosho, aka Rugged Red, 19, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- James Brandin Pegues, 31, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Deshawn Deonta Peterkin, aka Proo, 29, of Wallace, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Austin Demontry Potts, aka Big Tek and B-Tek, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Rashad Sattar, 20, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to conspiracy to commit wire fraud;
- Anthony Bernard Smith, 25, aka Redd Lion, of Gastonia, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Isaiah Devon Stallworth, aka Zay and Juice, 25, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence;
- Cedric Surratt, aka Hollywood, aka 5-Star, aka Lingo, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Lavon Christopher Turner, aka Hungry, 28, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and
- Jesse James Watkins, aka Showtime, 34, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy.
According to admissions made in connection with the plea agreements, the UBN is a violent criminal street gang operating throughout the east coast of the United States since its inception as a prison gang in 1993. UBN members are often identified by their use of the color red, and can also often be identified by common tattoos or burn marks. Examples include: a three-circle pattern, usually burned onto the upper arm, known as a “dog paw”; the acronym “M.O.B.,” which stands for “Member of Bloods”; the words “damu,” or “eastside”; the number five; the five-pointed star; and the five-pointed crown. UBN members have distinct hand signs and written codes, which are used to identify other members and rival gang members. The Nine Trey Gangster set of the UBN refer to themselves as “Billies.”
Furthermore, the plea agreements note that the UBN is governed by a common set of 31 rules, known as “The 31,” which were originally written by the founders of the UBN. Members of the UBN are expected to conduct themselves and their illegal activity according to rules and regulations set by their leaders. Prominent among these is a requirement to pay monthly dues to the organization, often in the amounts of $31 or $93. A percentage of these funds are transferred to incarcerated UBN leadership in New York; these funds also are used locally to conduct gang business. UBN gang dues are derived from illegal activity performed by subordinate UBN members including narcotics trafficking, robberies, wire fraud, and bank fraud, among other forms of illegal racketeering activities.
The convictions are the result of a joint effort by the FBI; the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department; the Shelby Police Department; the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office; the Gastonia Police Department; the North Carolina State Highway Patrol; the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office; the North Carolina Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice; the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles; the U.S. Federal Probation; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command; and the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Office of Special Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina.
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.
35 Members and Associates of Bloods Gang Plead Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Related Charges, Including Drug Trafficking and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Thirty-five members and associates of the Nine Trey Gangsters set of the United Blood Nation (UBN) street gang, including a “Godfather” as well as other high-ranking leaders of the organization, have pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and related charges in North Carolina, including drug trafficking, wire fraud, firearm possession, and the use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina, and Special Agent in Charge John Strong of the FBI Charlotte, North Carolina Field Division, made the announcement.
“The pleas announced today are part of an extensive investigation by a broad array of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies—including the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section—whose goal has been to disrupt and dismantle the Nine Trey Gangsters, a dangerous set of the United Blood Nation street gang,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. “By targeting the high-ranking individuals who were directing the gang’s activities—from locations up and down the eastern United States, both within prisons and in our communities—today’s pleas constitute a substantial step towards the gang’s eradication.”
“When my office indicted 83 Bloods gang members and senior leaders, the goal was to deliver a major blow to this organized criminal enterprise responsible for raging turf wars, rampant drug distribution and bloody gang violence,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We’ve made significant progress toward that goal but the work is far from over. Communities across Western North Carolina know firsthand the trail of violence and devastation gangs leave behind. We have a duty to protect the public from gang violence and to bring relief to neighborhoods afflicted by gang activity. Working with our law enforcement partners we will continue to combine our efforts and resources to keep our communities safe and to protect our children from violent street gangs.”
“The assaults, the robberies, the drug deals, each and every crime committed by these ruthless gang members was a blow to the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Strong. “The guilty pleas by these suspects are the next step in securing justice for every innocent person who was impacted by the violent actions of this gang’s members.”
Omari Rosero, aka Uno B, 41, of Elmira, New York, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. According to the factual basis of Rosero’s plea agreement, the Nine Trey Gangsters’ leadership proceeds in rank, from lowest to highest, from “Scrap,” “1-Star General” through “5-Star General,” “Low,” “High,” and, “Godfather.” During his plea, Omari Rosero admitted to holding the leadership rank of “High,” and to serving as an acting “Godfather” of the entire UBN gang. According to a recorded jail call, Omari Rosero admitted to being, together with Pedro Gutierrez, aka Magoo, and James Baxton, aka Frank White, “the last ones that God put in power” over the UBN. Rosero conducted gang business and participated in the distribution of gang dues while incarcerated in the New York State Department of Corrections.
Porsha Talina Rosero, aka Lady Uno B, 35, of Syracuse, New York, pleaded guilty today to racketeering conspiracy. Rosero, who has a tattoo of “Mrs. Uno B” on her chest, referring to Omari Rosero, maintained a Facebook account through which private messages were sent from Omari Rosero to other Bloods leaders. According to the factual basis of her plea agreement, Porsha Rosero further admitted to participating in the distribution of gang dues, and to participating in a phone call during which Omari Rosero stated that a suspected cooperator would be “faded straight up.”
In addition to Omari and Porsha Rosero, seven other defendants with high-ranking leadership positions have previously pleaded guilty in this investigation:
- Montraya Antwain Atkinson, aka Hardbody, 31, of Raleigh, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. According to the factual basis of his plea agreement, Atkinson admitted to holding the leadership rank of “High,” and admitted to possessing marijuana and cocaine with intent to distribute, and to purchasing and selling powder cocaine;
- Adrian Nayron Coker, aka Gotti, 28, of Gastonia, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and three counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics. According to the factual basis of his plea agreement, Coker admitted to holding the leadership rank of “Low,” and to possessing a stolen firearm and ammunition, despite having previously been convicted of a felony. Moreover, according to a court-approved wiretap, Coker was recorded discussing a potential murder of a rival gang member;
- Quincy Delone Haynes, aka Black Montana, 39, of Lawndale, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and three counts of trafficking cocaine. According to the factual basis of this plea agreement, Haynes admitted to holding the leadership rank of “Low”;
- Barrington Audley Lattibeaudiere, aka Bandana and Bobby Seale, 31, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to the factual basis of his plea agreement, Lattibeaudiere admitted to holding the leadership rank of “High,” and coordinating the transmission of hundreds of dollars of UBN gang dues to Gutierrez and Baxton. Lattibeaudiere further admitted to participating in a scheme to make and attempt to make over $64,000 in purchases using fraudulent credit and gift cards;
- Bianca Kiashie Harrison, aka Lady Gunz, 28, of Midway Park, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. According to the factual basis of Harrison’s plea agreement, Harrison admitted to holding the leadership rank of “High,” and to participating, at facilities within the New York Department of Corrections, in gang leadership meetings with alleged UBN Godfathers Gutierrez and Baxton;
- MyQuan Lamar Nelson, aka Dripz, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and heroin trafficking, and according to the factual basis of his plea agreement admitted to holding the leadership rank of “Low”; and
- Tywlain Wilson, aka 5 Alive, 25, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and firearm possession in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to the factual basis of his plea agreement, Wilson admitted to holding the leadership rank of “Low.”
Furthermore, the following defendants have also pleaded guilty in this case:
- Destinee Danyell Blakeney, aka Lady Rude, 23, of Morven, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Brandon Khalil Covington, aka Blokka, 25, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking;
- Christopher Dentre Hamrick, aka Red Dot, 28, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Anthony ONeil Harrison, aka Ant, 20, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Delonte Maurice Hicks, aka BBB Shooter and Black, 29, of Bennettsville, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Raheam Shumar Hopper, aka Bone, 24, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Muhammad John Jackson, aka Picasso, 33, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Terrence Thomas Johnsom, aka Sypher, 41, of Durham, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Joe Tarpeh Johnson, aka JR, Big Pusha, and Kutthroat, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to conspiracy to commit wire fraud;
- Latif Nakia Antoine Johnson, aka Billy Solo, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Rashad Monte King, aka Billy Kilo Montana, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- David Matthew Lowe, aka Gucci, 26, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Charles Kenyon Lytle, aka Kam, 40, of Concord, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Brandon Theodore Manning, aka Billy B, 29, of Columbia, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Isaac Nabah McIntosh, aka Mac, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- D’Angelo De’Mara McNeil, aka Dutch, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Kolawole Olalekan Omotosho, aka Rugged Red, 19, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- James Brandin Pegues, 31, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Deshawn Deonta Peterkin, aka Proo, 29, of Wallace, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Austin Demontry Potts, aka Big Tek and B-Tek, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Rashad Sattar, 20, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to conspiracy to commit wire fraud;
- Anthony Bernard Smith, 25, aka Redd Lion, of Gastonia, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Isaiah Devon Stallworth, aka Zay and Juice, 25, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence;
- Cedric Surratt, aka Hollywood, aka 5-Star, aka Lingo, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy;
- Lavon Christopher Turner, aka Hungry, 28, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and
- Jesse James Watkins, aka Showtime, 34, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy.
According to admissions made in connection with the plea agreements, the UBN is a violent criminal street gang operating throughout the east coast of the United States since its inception as a prison gang in 1993. UBN members are often identified by their use of the color red, and can also often be identified by common tattoos or burn marks. Examples include: a three-circle pattern, usually burned onto the upper arm, known as a “dog paw”; the acronym “M.O.B.,” which stands for “Member of Bloods”; the words “damu,” or “eastside”; the number five; the five-pointed star; and the five-pointed crown. UBN members have distinct hand signs and written codes, which are used to identify other members and rival gang members. The Nine Trey Gangster set of the UBN refer to themselves as “Billies.”
Furthermore, the plea agreements note that the UBN is governed by a common set of 31 rules, known as “The 31,” which were originally written by the founders of the UBN. Members of the UBN are expected to conduct themselves and their illegal activity according to rules and regulations set by their leaders. Prominent among these is a requirement to pay monthly dues to the organization, often in the amounts of $31 or $93. A percentage of these funds are transferred to incarcerated UBN leadership in New York; these funds also are used locally to conduct gang business. UBN gang dues are derived from illegal activity performed by subordinate UBN members including narcotics trafficking, robberies, wire fraud, and bank fraud, among other forms of illegal racketeering activities.
The convictions are the result of a joint effort by the FBI; the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department; the Shelby Police Department; the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office; the Gastonia Police Department; the North Carolina State Highway Patrol; the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office; the North Carolina Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice; the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles; the U.S. Federal Probation; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command; and the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Office of Special Investigations.
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.
20-Year-Old Roanoke Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
Roanoke, VIRGINIA – A Roanoke man, who fled from police following a traffic stop for an expired registration tag, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Roanoke to a federal drug charge. United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle, Tom Chittum Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington, D.C. Field Division, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Jeffrey Taylor from the FBI’s Roanoke Field Office and Resident Agent in Charge Jeffrey Wanner of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Roanoke Field Office made the announcement.
Michael Antonio David II, 20, pleaded guilty today to one count of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine. As part of his plea agreement, the defendant agreed to a term of incarceration of 60 months in federal prison to run concurrent to the 18-month state sentence he is currently serving.
The case against David began on July 8, 2016 when an officer with the Roanoke City Police Department and a trooper with the Virginia State Police initiated a traffic stop for expired registration on the vehicle the defendant was driving. David stopped the car and fled on foot. As he ran, the officers observed the defendant reaching into his waistband.
After pursuing David for several blocks, officers stopped and arrested the defendant. During a search of the defendant, officers discovered a plastic bag containing crack cocaine. In a second plastic bag located in David’s gym shorts, which were under his pants, officers located 14 silver ammunition rounds.
A subsequent search of the area in which the foot pursuit took place was conducted and officers used a K-9 to assist. A semi-automatic, KAHR .40 handgun was located in the vicinity where the defendant had been running. David admitted to throwing the gun from his waistband while running from police.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Roanoke City Police Department, the Virginia State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Roanoke City Police Department. United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle and Assistant United States Attorney Ashley B. Neese are prosecuting the case for the United States.
Saturday 10 March 2018
Department of Justice Submits Notice of Proposed Regulation Banning Bump StocksRead the Press Release
Today the Department of Justice submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a notice of a proposed regulation to clarify that the definition of “machinegun” in the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act includes bump stock type devices, and that federal law accordingly prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of such devices.
"President Trump is absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and security of every American and he has directed us to propose a regulation addressing bump stocks,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “To that end, the Department of Justice has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a notice of a proposed regulation to clarify that the National Firearms and Gun Control Act defines ‘machinegun’ to include bump stock type devices.”
This submission is a formal requirement of the regulatory review process. Once approved by the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Justice will seek to publish this notice as expeditiously as possible.
Friday 9 March 2018
York Man Convicted on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Raul Cotto-Rivera, age 40, of York, Pennsylvania, was convicted yesterday of various drug trafficking offenses after a three-day jury trial held before U.S. District Court Judge Yvette Kane.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Cotto-Rivera was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams and more of heroin and 500 grams and more of cocaine hydrochloride, distribution of heroin (3 counts), possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine hydrochloride, distribution of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, cocaine hydrochloride and marijuana.
The charges stemmed from a number of controlled buys of heroin that were made by and through Cotto-Rivera in September and October of 2015. In October 2015, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant and located approximately $20,000 in United States currency, a drug ledger, drug packaging material and distribution quantities of cocaine and heroin all in the defendant’s home. While on release, Cotto-Rivera continued to sell drugs and was engaged in the distribution of marijuana from his store. A second search warrant executed in February of 2017, located distribution quantities of marijuana and cocaine, drug packaging materials and a loaded stolen firearm.
A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the York County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, the York Area Regional Police Department, the West Manchester Township Police Department, the York County Sheriff’s Office, the Springettsbury Township Police Department, and the York County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daryl F. Bloom and Carl Marchioli.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The defendant faces a mandatory term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 160 years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Wilmington Man Federally Indicted and Detained for Illegally Possessing A GunRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Zidre Cephas, of Wilmington, was detained pending trial Friday after being indicted[1] by a federal grand jury earlier this week for illegally possessing a firearm. According to court documents, Cephas was arrested last year by members of the Wilmington Police Department in the area of 6th Street and Jefferson Street, in Wilmington’s West Center City neighborhood. While responding to a citizen complaint, officers found a revolver in Cephas’ pants’ pocket.
U.S. Attorney Weiss commented, “Effectively combatting gun violence before shots are fired requires the cooperation of local, state, and federal law enforcement. My office is committed to working tirelessly with the Wilmington Police Department to investigate and prosecute firearms crimes in the City of Wilmington generally, and the neighborhood of West Center City in particular.”
Charges in this case were brought by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”). This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Welsh.
[1] The charges in the Indictment are only allegations. The Defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Virginia Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Scheme to Manipulate the Market for Fitbit StockRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROBERT WALTER MURRAY was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for manipulating the market for the stock of Fitbit, Inc. (“Fitbit”), by filing a sham tender offer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in November 2016. MURRAY’s sham tender offer resulted in a temporary change in Fitbit’s market capitalization of over $100 million. MURRAY pled guilty on November 7, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Robert Murray manipulated the market in Fitbit stock by making a false filing with the SEC about a tender offer. Hoping to take a quick profit from trading in Fitbit stock options, Murray’s attempt to game the system has instead earned him a federal prison sentence.”
According to allegations in a Complaint and Indictment filed in Manhattan federal court, as well as previous court filings and statements made in public court proceedings:
On November 8, 2016, MURRAY, falsely purporting to be an officer at a China-based entity called ABM Capital, created an account on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (or “EDGAR”) system. The next day, MURRAY submitted a filing on EDGAR that reported that ABM Capital had offered to purchase Fitbit for approximately $12.50 a share, a significant premium to the price of Fitbit stock at the time. This filing was made public on November 10, 2016, and, when it was, Fitbit’s stock temporarily increased in response to the news. While Fitbit’s stock had closed at approximately $8.55 a share on November 9, 2016, it reached a high of approximately $9.27 per share, with significantly increased trading volume, after MURRAY’s fake tender offer filing was made public. This resulted in a temporary increase of Fitbit’s market capitalization of around $100 million. The tender offer that MURRAY filed, however, was entirely fictitious, and was instead meant only to increase the value of options in Fitbit stock that MURRAY had purchased just days earlier.
MURRAY also took significant steps to hide his connection to the tender offer filing. For example, he created a separate email account to register with the SEC and to file the sham tender offer, and took efforts to disguise his IP address when accessing that account.
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In addition to the prison sentence, MURRAY, 25, of Chesapeake, Virginia, was sentenced to two years of supervised release. The Court further ordered MURRAY to forfeit a sum of $3,914.08.
Mr. Berman praised the exceptional work of the Office’s criminal investigators, and thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Securities and Exchange Commission for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Allen is in charge of the prosecution.
United States Customs Officer Charged with Lying About Citizenship Relating to His Federal EmploymentRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On March 7, 2018, the grand jury returned an indictment charging Marco Antonio De La Garza Jr., 37, of Hereford, Ariz., with three counts related to passport fraud and false statements on his federal law enforcement background application. Specifically, it is alleged that De La Garza is a Mexican citizen who knowingly used a fraudulently obtained Texas birth certificate to apply for a United States passport. Additionally, the indictment charges he knowingly and willfully used the same fraudulently obtained birth certificate to assert United States citizenship on his five-year background check to maintain employment as a United States Customs and Border Protection Officer.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Department of State-Diplomatic Security Service and the Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General. The prosecution is being handled by Lori Price and Heather Siegele, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona.
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CASE NUMBER: CR-18-00353-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-024_Franco
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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.
United States Attorney’s Office Reaches Settlement with Dauphin County, Pa, over Polling Place Access for VotersRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today a settlement with Dauphin County under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act to improve physical accessibility at the county’s polling places for individuals who use wheel chairs and other mobility aids, and for individuals who are blind or have vision impairments.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, in the May 19, 2015 primary election, the United States Attorney’s Office, along with an architect from the Department of Justice, surveyed a portion of the county’s polling place locations. The survey resulted in a finding that many of the county’s polling places contain barriers to access for persons with disabilities. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by a state or local government in any of its programs or services, including its voting program.
Dauphin County is working collaboratively with the United States Attorney’s Office to make all polling places accessible. Under the terms of the agreement, the county will use an evaluation form for each current and prospective polling place based on ADA architectural standards. The settlement requires the county to either relocate inaccessible polling places to new, accessible facilities, or to use temporary measures such as portable ramps, signs, traffic cones and doorbells, where appropriate to ensure accessibility on Election Day. Dauphin County has indeed taken steps since the May 19, 2015 election to ensure polling place accessibility.
“The right of individuals to participate in our democratic system of government includes full and equal access to polling sites,” said U.S. Attorney Freed. “Under this agreement, voters with disabilities will now be able to cast their ballots in person at their polling places alongside their neighbors.”
This investigation was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Butler with the assistance of the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (Disability Rights Section). Those interested in finding out more about the ADA can access the ADA website at www.ada.gov.
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Two Men Plead Guilty to Roles in Trans-National Methamphetamine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two men pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to their roles in a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking and money laundering ring operating between Massachusetts and California.
Bruce Reisman, 51, of Boston, and Jesse Gillis, 32, previously of Allston and San Diego, Calif., pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. Reisman pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and Gillis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. scheduled their sentencings for June 12, 2018, and June 13, 2018, respectively.
In November 2016, Reisman, Gillis, and nine co-defendants were charged with various methamphetamine offenses relating to a transnational trafficking scheme.
Beginning in at least 2013 and continuing to November 2016, Gillis and others participated in a conspiracy to transport significant quantities of methamphetamine from San Diego, Calif., to Massachusetts, where it was distributed in the greater Boston area. Proceeds from the sale of that methamphetamine were then transported and/or transferred back to California and laundered in various ways. Reisman possessed some of that methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others.
The charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property laundered. 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; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; William Ferrara, Director of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans made the announcement. The Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; and the Reading, Watertown, Quincy, Chelsea, Braintree, Peabody, Waltham, and Woburn Police Departments; and Connecticut State Police assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Beausey of Lelling’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the cases.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two District Men Found Guilty of Charges in Shooting at Southeast Washington Barber ShopRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Terrance Atchison, 22, and Barry Bloomfield, 29, both of Washington, D.C., have been found guilty by a jury of numerous charges stemming from a shooting at a barber shop in Southeast Washington, in which a father and his 21-month-old child were injured.
The verdicts were announced by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Atchison and Bloomfield were found guilty on March 8, 2018, of charges of aggravated assault while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed (of a minor), assault with a dangerous weapon, and related offenses. The verdicts followed a multi-week trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The defendants face sentencing on May 18, 2018 before the Honorable Judge Danya A. Dayson.
According to the government’s evidence, on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, at approximately 1:40 p.m., three masked gunmen opened the doors of Wrenn’s Barber Shop, in the 1000 block of Eighth Street SE, and began firing a total of eight rounds. At the time of the shooting, the shop was bustling with customers, and the toddler and his father were waiting for a haircut. The father, who was holding his son, was shot three times, and one wound shattered his ankle. A bullet grazed the child’s leg. Witnesses observed the gunmen run to a waiting white sport utility vehicle just around the corner and flee.
Video surveillance showed the defendants getting into a white Toyota RAV 4 about 20 minutes before the shooting and travelling to the barber shop. The defendants were on GPS monitoring because they were on post-conviction supervision, and their tracks placed them directly in front of the barber shop at the time of the shooting, as well as mirrored the RAV 4’s travel to and flight from the barber shop.
Atchison was arrested on Feb. 17, 2016, and Bloomfield was arrested on Feb. 18, 2016. They have been in custody ever since.
In announcing the verdicts, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa N. Walters and Thomas Saunders, who investigated the case, Paralegal Specialist Antoinette Sakamsa, Information Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Criminal Investigators Nelson Rhone and Melissa Matthews. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany Keil and Melissa Jackson, who prosecuted the case.
Twelve Defendants Arrested, Charged in Marijuana ConspiracyRead 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 12 defendants have been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing marijuana. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years and a $5,000,000 fine.
Named in the complaint are:
• Phoumano Duangtavilay, 50;
• Khonesavanh Vongxay, 62;
• Kongchay Kongthong, 50;
• Manivone Phommaviseth, 56;
• James Vongxay, 20;
• Chandy Vongxay, 29;
• Keith Surivan, 40;
• Phetnalay Douangtavilay, 47;
• Phou Daoreuang, 33;
• Danisha Floyd, 26;
• Jerimiah Torres, 20; and
• Kongdeuane Vongxay, 39.Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, since 2014, Phoumano Duangtavilay and Khonesavanh Vongxay have headed a marijuana distribution organization operating in the Rochester, NY area. Co-defendants Kongchay Kongthong, Manivone Phommaviseth, James Vongxay, Chandy Vongxay, Keith Surivan, Phetnalay Doungtavilay, Phou Daoreuang, Danisha Floyd, Jerimiah Torres, and Kongdeuane Vongxay assisted in distributing marijuana in the Rochester area and in obtaining money orders through structured purchases to evade reporting requirements and to conceal the proceeds of their marijuana sales. The complaint alleges that the organization obtained marijuana from California, and shipped it to various locations in Rochester for distribution. Money orders were then sent back to California as payment for the marijuana.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at nine locations in Rochester, and on numerous packages that were subsequently found to contain marijuana or money orders. Investigators seized over 130 pounds of marijuana, over $180,000 in money orders, and four vehicles that were used to facilitate the marijuana trafficking. Between August 2015 and January 2018, a total of 1,061 parcels containing suspected marijuana were sent using the U.S. Postal Service from California to individuals or addresses associated with this conspiracy in Rochester.
“This drug organization, like others we are seeing with increasing frequency, sought to flood the market through a steady drip, drip, drip of relatively small packages of drugs being shipped into our community,” noted U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Today, that spigot finally got turned-off. Whether its marijuana or deadly fentanyl, this Office, together with our partners in law enforcement will do all that we can to stem the flow of illegal substances into our area.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with our federal and state law enforcement partners, will dedicate the resources necessary to combat drug trafficking in our communities,” stated Acting Inspector-in-Charge Raymond Moss of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “These arrests should give fair warning that using the U.S. Mail to facilitate crimes like these, will not be tolerated. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to work diligently to rid the U.S. Mail of illegal drugs and their proceeds.”
“The suppliers of illegal drugs are exploiting every channel they can to infiltrate our communities,” said State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II. “By using our postal service, these defendants were able to ship drugs to our state and then distribute on our streets. These are crimes that will not be tolerated. The arrests are the result of collaboration and cooperation between all levels of government – federal, state and local law enforcement. Together, law enforcement is sending them a message: No matter how you attempt to bring illegal drugs into our communities, we will find you and send you to jail.”
Ten of the 12 defendants made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan W. Feldman. Phoumano Duangtavilay is being held while the other nine defendants were released on conditions. Defendants Chandy Vongxay and Keith Surivan were arrested in the Atlanta, Georgia area and will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ray Moss of the Boston Division, and the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of CNET Detail Commander Major Mary Clark, Lieutenant Kevin Reyes, CNET Western Regional Narcotics Commander, and Senior Investigator Matthew Butts, Narcotics Group Supervisor. Additional assistance was provided by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Richard Allen, Troop E Commander; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; US Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Steven Oldman; Irondequoit Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard Tantalo; the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief James VanBrederode; and the New York National Guard Counter Drug Task Force. The New York State Police also recognize the assistance of JetBlue Corporate Security.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Three Rutland County Residents Plead Guilty to Hosting Out-of-State Drug Dealers at Their Residences in Violation of Federal “Crack-House” StatuteRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated today that three Rutland County residents have pled guilty in three separate cases to violating the federal “crack-house” statute. The convictions arise from the defendants’ conduct in hosting out-of-state heroin dealers in their residences. Sheri Fitzgerald, 54, of Rutland; Wayne Oddo, 54, of Poultney; and Richard Webster, 60, of West Rutland, have all pled guilty to the federal law, commonly referred to as the “crack-house statute,” which prohibits making available a place, such as a residence, for the purpose of manufacturing, storing, distributing, or using any controlled substance. This statute imposes a maximum sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment, up to a $500,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release to begin after any term of imprisonment is served.
These three cases represent a renewed commitment by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to deter Vermont residents from assisting larger-scale out-of-state drug dealers by providing them with a local shelter or “base camp” for their drug trafficking operations in Vermont. Often, the individuals who house the out-of-state dealers are themselves addicts who receive payment in the form of drugs.
U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan stated:
“The heroin crisis in Vermont requires a multi-faceted law enforcement approach aimed at reducing supply, which will complement statewide efforts to reduce demand through prevention initiatives and by making drug treatment more accessible to addicts. As part of our continued vigorous prosecutions of large-scale drug dealers, it is also necessary to target those Vermont residents who enable out-of-state dealers by providing them with in-state bases of operation – that is, a place to stay, to store their product, and to conduct drug trafficking activities. Oftentimes, these Vermont facilitators will host a succession of out-of-state drug dealers, and perform drug deliveries to their customers. Vermonters who engage in this conduct play an essential role in larger drug trafficking organizations and contribute substantially to the overall opioid epidemic by helping suppliers avoid detection, connecting them with customers, and reducing their cost of doing business in the Green Mountain State. Facilitators must understand that such conduct will be met with felony charges. Indeed, prosecuting the in-state hosts and shutting down drug safe houses is a critical component of our strategy to dismantle drug pipelines and create a hostile environment for those who profit from the opioid addiction epidemic. In appropriate cases, such as when the owner of the property is aware of the drug dealing and fails to take reasonable and safe steps to stop it, such as by contacting law enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office may also utilize federal forfeiture law to seize and forfeit the property.”
According to court documents:
Sheri Fitzgerald lived in a Granger Street apartment in Rutland City in March 2016. At that time, she allowed an out-of-state heroin dealer to stay at her residence for multiple days. This dealer stored heroin in her residence and sold it from her residence. Fitzgerald assisted him by arranging and completing these drug sales. She received heroin in exchange for letting this drug dealer stay at her apartment.
Wayne Oddo lived at Morse Hollow Road in Poultney in the winter of 2016-17. At that time, he allowed Richard Torruellas (a.k.a. “Scoobs”) and Francesco Escribano (a.k.a. “Brisco”), also known as the Jersey Boys, to stay there overnight on multiple occasions. Oddo knew at the time that both of these individuals were distributing heroin and crack cocaine in Rutland County. They also occasionally sold these drugs at Oddo’s residence. In exchange for letting them stay there, the Jersey Boys would give Oddo small, personal use amounts of drugs. When Oddo was arrested on March 15, 2017, he admitted that he moved the body of Alexandra Rooker, who had overdosed a week earlier, to his shed and had not called anyone about her death. Her body was subsequently recovered from the property. During the execution of a federal search warrant, the ATF seized eight firearms (four shotguns and four rifles) from Oddo’s residence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has worked in close concert with Rutland County State’s Attorney Rose Kennedy and her office, which is also prosecuting Oddo in a case relating to the death of Alexandra Rooker.
Richard Webster lived on Harrison Avenue in West Rutland in the winter of 2017. At that time, he allowed Torruellas to stay at his residence during the daytime. Torruellas stored his heroin and cocaine base and coordinated his trafficking from Webster’s residence during the daytime, and would often stay at Oddo’s residence in Poultney at night. Webster received heroin from Torruellas. Torruellas and Escribano recently pled guilty to a conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine and agreed to a 54-month sentence.
During the pendency of their cases, after relatively short periods of incarceration, the Court allowed all three defendants to be released into residential drug treatment programs to address their respective substance abuse issues. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has recommended that Webster and Fitzgerald participate in the Federal Drug Court program in Rutland. The Rutland Federal Drug Court program offers treatment and rehabilitation under the supervision of the Court. Defendants who succeed in this one-year program are eligible for a probationary sentence in lieu of additional imprisonment. U.S. Attorney Nolan emphasized the importance of the Drug Court as a mechanism for promoting treatment and recovery for appropriate federal defendants, with the involvement of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the United States District Court, and the United States Probation Office. The sentencings for Webster and Fitzgerald are postponed until after their participation in the Drug Court program. The sentencing for Wayne Oddo is scheduled for July 5, 2018 at the U.S. District Court in Rutland.
“ATF will continue to work with its federal, state and local law enforcement partners by detecting and stopping the illegal flow of narcotics which jeopardize the safety of our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Larry Panetta.
Rutland Police Chief Brian Kilcullen added, “The pleas announced today should send a strong message to those who engage in any capacity in the illicit drug trade that they will be held accountable for the social harm they bring to our community. This collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies ensures those responsible for such harm to our city will be prosecuted using all available resources to ensure the most appropriate outcome for all involved. The City of Rutland thanks U.S. Attorney Nolan, her staff, the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rutland State’s Attorney Office for their commitment to combatting the heroin crisis in Vermont.”
These cases were investigated at the federal level by the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, the Rutland City Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Cate and Joseph Perella are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the United States. Sheri Fitzgerald is represented by John-Claude Charbonneau, Esq. of Rutland. Wayne Oddo is represented by Steven Barth, Esq. of the Federal Public Defenders Office. Richard Webster is represented by David Williams, Esq. of Burlington.
Three People Accused of Conspiracy and Weapons Offenses in Multi-State Firearms Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Three men have been indicted on federal charges stemming from an ongoing investigation into a firearms trafficking ring that acquired firearms in Atlanta, Ga., and transported the weapons into the District of Columbia for resale.
The charges are contained in an indictment that was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Thomas L. Chittum III, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Jeremy Carr, 34, of Marietta, Ga., was arrested on March 6, 2018 in Marietta. Stephon Jeter, 27, and his cousin, Quran Jeter, 19, both of Washington, D.C., were arrested earlier today in the District of Columbia. Carr made his first appearance on March 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and is awaiting extradition to the District of Columbia. The Jeters made their first appearances today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. All three defendants remain detained pending further court proceedings.
All three defendants are charged with taking part in a conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. Carr and Stephon Jeter also are charged with 12 counts of interstate travel for the purpose of acquiring firearms to deal without a license. Quran Jeter also is charged with carrying a pistol without a license and possession of an unregistered weapon, District of Columbia offenses. The indictment includes a forfeiture allegation seeking all proceeds of the crimes.
As alleged in the indictment, from June 2016 through at least February 2017, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to acquire firearms in Georgia and illegally resell them in the District of Columbia. Carr acted as a straw purchaser on behalf of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges, and provided false information to a licensed firearms dealer in order to acquire firearms.
According to the indictment, Carr then sold those firearms to Stephon and Quran Jeter. The indictment alleges that the Jeters asked Carr to purchase several types of firearms on their behalf, including the Taurus PT 111, Taurus PT 709, Zastava PAP M85, Century Arms PAP M92, and a Smith and Wesson SD9VE. The indictment further alleges that Stephon Jeter made 12 different trips from Washington, D.C. to Atlanta and back, for the purpose of acquiring firearms from Carr. The indictment alleges that the members of the conspiracy were able to resell firearms in the District of Columbia for three times the initial purchase price in Georgia.
As alleged in the indictment, Carr purchased at least 55 firearms between August 2016 and February 2017. To date, approximately 22 of these firearms have been recovered in the District of Columbia or in Prince George’s County Maryland.
The charges arose from a long-term investigation into people suspected of illegally trafficking firearms into the District of Columbia. The majority of firearm recoveries related to this investigation took place in the Columbia Heights area of Northwest Washington.
Quran Jeter is charged with carrying a pistol without a license in connection with a Nov. 21, 2016 arrest. According to the indictment, Jeter was arrested in the District of Columba with a Smith and Wesson SD9VE, a firearm that Carr purchased on Oct. 14, 2016 in Smyrna, Ga.
Two additional defendants previously were charged in connection with this investigation.
David Stewart, 32, of Washington D.C., is charged with felon in possession of a firearm for two separate firearms he allegedly possessed in the District of Columbia. Stewart was arrested on Oct. 31, 2016, in the area of the 2300 block of 11th NW with a Taurus PT111 G2 9mm handgun after MPD officers responded to multiple phone calls for the sound of gunshots. According to the evidence, Carr purchased this firearm in Smyrna, Ga., in January 2016.
Stewart was arrested again on July 10, 2017, in the 1400 block of Park Road NW, this time with a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber firearm with a high-capacity magazine. According to the evidence, Carr purchased this firearm in Smyrna, Ga., in January 2017.
Tyrone Hopkins, 25, of Washington, D.C. was charged with felon in possession of a firearm, distribution of crack cocaine, and use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in connection with an arrest on Oct. 16, 2017 in the area of the 1900 block of West Virginia Avenue NE. Hopkins was arrested with a Taurus PT111G2, 9mm semi-automatic pistol. According to the evidence, Carr purchased this firearm in Smyrna, Ga., in September 2016.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Washington Field Division of the ATF and MPD, with assistance from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Criminal Investigator Derek Starliper of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rosenberg, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Three More Members of the Westside Crips Criminal Enterprise Sentenced to Prison for Participation in Racketeering Conspiracy Relating to Sex Trafficking, Drug Trafficking and Other CrimesRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alessandra P. Serano (202) 252-5843 or Joseph Orabona (619) 546-7951
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 9, 2018
SAN DIEGO – Two more gang members of the Westside Crips were sentenced today for their participation in a racketeering conspiracy involving sex trafficking, narcotics trafficking and other violent crimes. A mid-level drug dealer who sold narcotics to gang members was also sentenced for his participation in the racketeering conspiracy and for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Peter Miranda (aka “Fat Boy,” “Baby Rocks,” and “Lil’ Burger”), Jasiri Lacey (aka “Baby Westwood” and “Baby West”), and Larry Monroe previously admitted their respective membership and association with the Westside Crips, who primarily operated in Oceanside and elsewhere. Today, U.S. District Judge John A. Houston sentenced Miranda to 45 months in prison. He sentenced Lacey to 72 months in prison. Judge Houston also sentenced Monroe for both of his crimes to 180 months in prison.
According to court documents, the members of the conspiracy were involved in drug trafficking, prostitution, attempted murder, assaults and robberies. Their criminal activity primarily occurred between 2004 through February 2017. According to court documents, members of Westside Crips are akin to a crime family, where all members work together committing various crimes for the purpose of making money.
In furtherance of the RICO conspiracy, Miranda admitted he engaged in promoting prostitution of an adult female between June and November 2015. In October 2015, Miranda transported the adult female for the purposes of prostitution. Miranda also admitted that he sold narcotics to benefit the Westside Crips. For example, in October 2008, he sold cocaine base in Oceanside, California. Lastly, Miranda promoted his involvement as a gang member in the Westside Crips by posting on Facebook, displaying gang signs, and wearing Westside Crips’ colors (blue) and affiliated clothing.
To further his role in the RICO conspiracy, Lacey admitted he engaged in two extremely violent robbery offenses, including one in which he pointed a shotgun at the victim and robbed him of his marijuana and other items. Lacey admitted he also was involved in the robbery of a wireless store in San Diego with two other accomplices who used handguns to steal 120 cellular phones, two laptop computers, and nine Apple iPads. This caused the wireless store to lose approximately $8,500. Lacey also admitted he promoted the prostitution of an adult female by using a smuggled cell phone while he was in prison and directed another gang member to manage one of the women working for Lacey as a prostitute.
As a mid-level drug dealer associated with the Westside Crips, Monroe admitted he distributed methamphetamine to gang members of the Westside Crips and others from December 2009 through October 2015. Throughout that period, Monroe sold various quantities of methamphetamine in furtherance of his role in two conspiracies – the RICO conspiracy and the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
“Gang members and drug traffickers who continue to sell dangerous narcotics and exploit members of our community for their own personal gain and notoriety shall be vigorously prosecuted for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Braverman.
This case is also the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
DEFENDANTS Case Numbers: 17cr0270-JAH, 17cr0214-JAH
Peter Miranda aka “Fat Boy,” “Baby Rocks”, “Lil’ Burger” Age: 33 Oceanside, CA
Jasiri Malcolm Lacey aka “Baby Westwood,” “Baby West” Age: 26 Oceanside, CA
Larry Darnell Monroe Age: 60 Oceanside, CA
PRIOR DEFENDANTS’ SENTENCES
Ameer Roby aka “Tiny Dum Dum” Sentenced to: 48 months in prison
Michael Sullivan aka “Du-Low” Sentenced to: 36 months in prison
Shane Anderson aka “Tiny Westwood” Sentenced to: 28 months in prison
Richard Cleveland aka “Face” Sentenced to: 57 months in prison
Umesh Oza (hotel manager) Sentenced to: 4 months in prison;180 days of
home confinement
SUMMARY OF CHARGES FOR MIRANDA AND LACEY
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(d) - Conspiracy to Conduct Enterprise Affairs Through a Pattern of Racketeering Activity; Title 18, United States Code, Section 1963 - Criminal Forfeiture Maximum Penalties: 20 years’ in prison, a fine of $250,000, three years of supervised release
SUMMARY OF CHARGES FOR MONROE
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(d) - Conspiracy to Conduct Enterprise Affairs Through a Pattern of Racketeering Activity; Title 18, United States Code, Section 1963 - Criminal Forfeiture Maximum Penalties: 20 years’ in prison, a fine of $250,000, three years of supervised release
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 – Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
Penalties: Mandatory minimum of 10 years’ in prison, and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, five years of supervised release
AGENCIES
North County Narcotics Task Force
Drug Enforcement Administration
Oceanside Police Department
Internal Revenue Service
Three Individuals Indicted for Conspiracy to Possess and Import Cocaine Worth over $15 MillionRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 7, 2018, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a three-count indictment against three defendants charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
The defendants Erix Manuel Rodríguez-López; Juan Carlos Castillo-Vasquez; and José Nicolas Auitian-Bohorquez conspired to possess with intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
This interdiction was the result of ongoing, multi-agency federal law enforcement efforts in support of Operation Unified Resolve, Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF).
On March 1, 2018, the crew of a patrolling CBP maritime patrol aircraft from the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB) detected a suspicious 30-foot go-fast vessel with visible packages on deck transiting without navigational lights, approximately 50 nautical miles south of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Horsley conducted the interdiction of the suspicious 30-foot long fast boat. Upon boarding the vessel, USCG found the defendants in possession of 30 bales containing approximately 900 kilograms of cocaine. The three individuals were detained by USCG and turned over to FBI agents from the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF) for processing, along with the seized narcotics.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation along with agents from the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF), with the collaboration of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO), CBP Air and Marine Operations (CBP AMO), CBP United States Border Patrol (CBP USBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and PR Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA).
The CCSF is an initiative of the U.S. Attorney’s Office created to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations operating in the Caribbean. CCSF is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which investigates South American-based drug trafficking organizations responsible for the movement of multi-kilogram quantities of narcotics using the Caribbean as a transshipment point for further distribution to the United States. The initiative is composed of DEA, HSI, FBI, US Coast Guard, US Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, and PRPD’s Joint Forces for Rapid Action.
Special Assistant US Attorney Sean Gajewski is in charge of the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Díaz-Rex, Deputy Chief of the International Narcotics Unit. If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
St. Louis Man Sentenced to 30 Years for his Role in Two Drug-Related HomicidesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Joe Moreland Edger, 43, of Saint Louis, MO, was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for his involvement in the December 16, 2014, murder of victim Erin Davis and the January 15, 2016, murder of victim Juanita Davis. (The victims were not related.) Sentencing occurred this morning in front of the Honorable Catherine D. Perry.
According to court documents, Edger was an associate of a known drug-dealer, Dwane Taylor. In late 2014, Taylor was robbed of, among other things, drugs and money. Taylor sought retaliation for the robbery and recruited Edger to assist in those efforts. Among other things, Edger assisted Taylor in identifying and locating the victims as well as transporting Taylor in a vehicle in connection with each murder. Edger also provided Taylor with the nine-millimeter firearm used by Taylor to commit the murder of each victim. In exchange, Edger received a .22 caliber firearm from Taylor.
Edger was convicted of and sentenced for conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Taylor was on state parole for a prior murder at the time of the murders of victims Erin Davis and Juanita Davis. Taylor’s parole has been revoked by the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole as a result of these crimes.
This case was investigated by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Six Area Men Charged with Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged six Cincinnati men in a narcotics conspiracy in an indictment unsealed here today.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac and Cincinnati City Solicitor Paula Boggs Muething announced the charges.
According to the 20-count indictment, beginning in November 2017 until February 2018, the defendants conspired to distribute heroin in the Cincinnati area. The indictment charges 17 counts of distribution or attempt to distribute heroin, representing separate drug deals throughout the timeframe.
Those charged include Calvin Tuck (also known as “Tank”), Mekil Gibson, Pierre Sneed (also known as “Rico”), Cortez Tuck (also known as “Nitty”), Daniel Williams (also known as “C.J.”) and Jarod Whitehead (also known as “Baby”). All six men reside in Cincinnati.
Tuck is also charged with possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime and one count of possession with intent to distribute. He faces a range of 5 to 40 years in prison for the drug charges and up to 10 years in prison for the gun charge.
Narcotics conspiracy and distributing or attempting to distribute a controlled substance are each federal crimes that carry a potential maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Each of the defendants is currently in custody pending detention hearings next week.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the DEA and Cincinnati Division of Police, as well as Special Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Brucato with the City Solicitor’s Office and Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy, who are prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Schuylkill County Man Guilty of Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that David Castro, age 28, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Castro, admitted to committing the offense between July 2016 and May 24, 2017, in Schuylkill County and elsewhere.
Castro was indicted by a grand jury along with three other persons in August 2017.
Judge Mariani ordered a presentence report to be completed. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and local police from Schuylkill County. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
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 life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The charge also carries a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years’ imprisonment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Sanborn Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty today, on March 9, 2018, in federal court in Sioux City.
Mark Jenkins, 51, from Sanborn, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Jenkins admitted that from 2015 through January 10, 2018, he was involved in the distribution of multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine while residing less than a block away from a public middle school. Jenkins admitted to transporting up to five-pound quantities of methamphetamine at a time from a source in Omaha, Nebraska. Jenkins admitted to selling numerous firearms in the past and keeping as much as $100,000 stashed away. At the time of his arrest, Jenkins and a co-conspirator were found in possession of approximately 177.89 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Jenkins remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Jenkins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The arrest and prosecution of Jenkins was the result of a long-term investigation spanning over three years and involved extensive cooperation between various law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Ajay Alexander and was investigated by the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, assisted by the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Sheldon Police Department, Sanborn Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the DEA Tri-State Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-4004-LTS.
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San Diego Communications Company Pays More Than $12 Million to Settle False Claim Act Allegations Regarding Eligibility for Small Business Innovation and Research ContractsRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Price, Jr. (619) 546-7642, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph J. Purcell (619) 546-7643
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 12, 2018
SAN DIEGO – TrellisWare Technologies, Inc., a communications company located in San Diego, has agreed to pay $12,177,631.90 to settle civil False Claims Act allegations that it was ineligible for multiple Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) contracts it had entered into with government defense agencies. TrellisWare is a majority-owned subsidiary of ViaSat, Inc., a global broadband services and technology company also headquartered in San Diego.
The SBIR program is designed to stimulate technological innovation by funding small businesses to engage in federal research and development efforts. To be considered a small business for purposes of SBIR awards, a contractor must not be majority owned by another company. Between 2008 and 2015, TrellisWare was awarded multiple SBIR contracts to provide the Navy, Army and Air Force with a variety of technology services and products involving communications and signal processing systems, including wireless networks used in military tactical environments. TrellisWare self-certified that it met the small business size requirements for eligibility to receive SBIR funding. But based on certain disclosures that TrellisWare later made about its ownership relationship with ViaSat, the government conducted an investigation into TrellisWare’s eligibility for SBIR awards. The government contends that TrellisWare was not eligible for SBIR awards because it was actually a majority-owned subsidiary of ViaSat at the time it was awarded and performed on SBIR contracts.
“False certifications of eligibility for SBIR funding siphons taxpayer dollars from the program’s intended beneficiaries. We will continue to work with our agency partners to bring to account those that breach the public trust by submitting false claims,” said Adam L. Braverman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California.
“Companies must exercise due diligence when self-certifying eligibility to gain access to programs set aside for small business or else face significant penalties,” said Kari Overson, Special Agent in Charge of the Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General’s Western Regional Office. “The SBIR program enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides qualified small businesses access to the nation’s research and development arena. I want to thank the U.S Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and hard work throughout this investigation.”
Chris Hendrickson, Special Agent in Charge of the Western Field Office, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, said: “DCIS is committed to working with its partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively investigate false claims by government contractors. These unethical practices stifle fair competition and erode the public’s trust in government.”
“The success of this case is a direct result of the joint efforts of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, our Federal Law Enforcement Partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Edward Denion, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS Southwest Field Office. “Protecting our warfighters is one of the top priorities of NCIS, and this investigation is an example of how we do this. Anyone considering defrauding the Navy and taxpayers should know NCIS will aggressively pursue all such allegations.”
“This settlement stands as further confirmation of the great work our agents do every day,” said Frank Robey, Director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command's Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “The funds recovered can now be used for a proper purpose - supporting the men and women of our Armed Forces.”
This matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph P. Price, Jr. and Joseph J. Purcell and auditing personnel of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in coordination with Special Agents of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Army Criminal Investigation Command; Air Force Office of Special Investigations; and Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General.
Agencies:
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
US Army Criminal Investigation Command
Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General
Resident of York, Maine Pleads Guilty to Investment Fraud Scheme and Failing to File Federal Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - William Bischoff, 76, of York, Maine, has pleaded guilty to participating in an investment fraud scheme and failing to file federal income tax returns, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 through September 2017, Bischoff defrauded more than two dozen clients of his financial advisory business by falsely promising to invest their money in real estate, structured legal settlements, high yield notes, and a start-up recycling business. He further guaranteed returns that far exceeded market norms. Bischoff sent many solicitations to the victims of the fraud scheme by e-mail.
In total, Bischoff stole more than $4.2 million from the defrauded investors. To conceal that conduct, Bischoff used money he received from some victim investors to make payments to other victim investors. He also provided monthly account statements to the victim investors that falsely represented the balance of their (fictitious) investment accounts.
Bischoff also admitted in court documents that he failed to file individual federal tax returns for the four-year period from 2011 to 2015, which resulted in a $568,845 tax revenue loss to the U.S. Treasury.
Bischoff pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of willfully failing to file federal tax returns. He will be sentenced on June 20th, 2018.
“Mr. Bischoff manipulated and misled his victims, depriving them of millions of hard-earned dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify those who commit such schemes and to seek justice for the victims of white collar crimes.”
“Mr. Bischoff is finally taking responsibility for defrauding his clients out of millions of dollars. Through a web of lies and deceit, Mr. Bischoff betrayed their trust and used their money to line his own pockets and prop up his failed investments,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to do everything we can to hold accountable those who take advantage of unwitting victims for their own personal gain.”
The Deputy Director of the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation, Jeffrey Spill, said, "The Bureau was pleased to do its part in this coordinated investigation. When the fraud was uncovered, the agencies acted quickly to shut the scheme down which prevented further losses."
“Mr. Bischoff’s investment scheme has destroyed the financial security of his unwitting victims. Rather than act in the interest of his clients, he acted only in his own,” said Special Agent in Charge Joel P. Garland of IRS Criminal Investigation in Boston. “We are proud to collaborate on joint cases of this magnitude, which defraud investors of millions in savings and the IRS of significant tax revenue.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation. Assistant United States Attorneys William Morse and Robert Kinsella prosecuted the case.
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Resident of York, Maine Pleads Guilty to Investment Fraud Scheme and Failing to File Federal Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - William Bischoff, 76, of York, Maine, has pleaded guilty to participating in an investment fraud scheme and failing to file federal income tax returns, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 through September 2017, Bischoff defrauded more than two dozen clients of his financial advisory business by falsely promising to invest their money in real estate, structured legal settlements, high yield notes, and a start-up recycling business. He further guaranteed returns that far exceeded market norms. Bischoff sent many solicitations to the victims of the fraud scheme by e-mail.
In total, Bischoff stole more than $4.2 million from the defrauded investors. To conceal that conduct, Bischoff used money he received from some victim investors to make payments to other victim investors. He also provided monthly account statements to the victim investors that falsely represented the balance of their (fictitious) investment accounts.
Bischoff also admitted in court documents that he failed to file individual federal tax returns for the four-year period from 2011 to 2015, which resulted in a $568,845 tax revenue loss to the U.S. Treasury.
Bischoff pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of willfully failing to file federal tax returns. He will be sentenced on June 20th, 2018.
“Mr. Bischoff manipulated and misled his victims, depriving them of millions of hard-earned dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify those who commit such schemes and to seek justice for the victims of white collar crimes.”
“Mr. Bischoff is finally taking responsibility for defrauding his clients out of millions of dollars. Through a web of lies and deceit, Mr. Bischoff betrayed their trust and used their money to line his own pockets and prop up his failed investments,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to do everything we can to hold accountable those who take advantage of unwitting victims for their own personal gain.”
The Deputy Director of the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation, Jeffrey Spill, said, "The Bureau was pleased to do its part in this coordinated investigation. When the fraud was uncovered, the agencies acted quickly to shut the scheme down which prevented further losses."
“Mr. Bischoff’s investment scheme has destroyed the financial security of his unwitting victims. Rather than act in the interest of his clients, he acted only in his own,” said Special Agent in Charge Joel P. Garland of IRS Criminal Investigation in Boston. “We are proud to collaborate on joint cases of this magnitude, which defraud investors of millions in savings and the IRS of significant tax revenue.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation. Assistant United States Attorneys William Morse and Robert Kinsella prosecuted the case.
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Reisterstown Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact ELIZABETH MORSE
www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4885
Baltimore, Maryland – On March 8, 2018, Stewart Sachs, age 66, of Reisterstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty to money laundering drug proceeds.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore Division; and Special Agent in Charge Kimberly Lappin of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.
According to his plea agreement, between November 2011 and February 2013, Sachs agreed to accept a total of $425,000 of narcotics trafficking proceeds. Mr. Sachs acknowledged that the money was tainted but agreed to sell his real estate, as a front for laundering the drug proceeds.
On four separate occasions, Sachs met with undercover agents and agreed to transfer real estate owned by Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) to the undercover agents or anyone else that the undercover agents wanted and no one would know that the undercover agent owned the properties, in exchange for cash.
The male undercover agent had represented himself to be a narcotics officer on numerous occasions. However, Sachs executed the documents to transfer ownership of the LLC to one of the undercover agents. Sachs had one of his employees prepare four checks payable to the undercover agent for $25,000 each. These checks represented the $100,000 overpayment, which the undercover agent said he needed to appear to be legitimate income. During the meeting, special agents from the DEA and IRS arrested Mr. Sachs and recovered the $425,000.
Sachs faces a maximum sentence of twenty in prison. U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis has scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2018 at 2:15 p.m.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the DEA and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Warwick and Cassie Mathias, who are prosecuting the case.
Previously Convicted Felon Admits Second Felon in Possession of Firearm Charge; Agrees to 12-Year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Essex County, New Jersey, man today admitted being a felon in possession of a weapon – for the second time – as well as a violation of supervised release from his first felon in possession conviction, and agreed to a 144-month sentence, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
John Cottle, 47, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of violation of supervised release from his first felon in possession of a firearm conviction from 2010. Cottle entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In December 2016, investigators from the Newark and Hillside police departments responded to reports of a robbery in the area of South 13th Street, near Avon Avenue, in Newark. Officers encountered Cottle in the area and upon investigation found him to be in possession of a loaded .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun. Cottle has numerous prior felony convictions, including a 2010 felon in possession of a firearm conviction in the District of New Jersey – from which he was still on supervised release at the time of the 2016 arrest – and is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.
The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; the violation of supervised release carries a maximum potential penalty of 24 months in prison. As part of his plea agreement, Cottle agreed to the maximum penalty for each of the crimes charged.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited FBI special agents, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan; and the Hillside Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Vincent Ricciardi, for their assistance.The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Intrater of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
Pittsburgh Men Charged in Armed Robbery Spree of Allegheny and Beaver County BanksRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – Bryan Campbell, age 28, and Daymon Cassanova Ottey, age 29, both of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have been arrested and charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to rob three area banks, armed bank robbery, brandishing a firearm in and during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
According to the criminal complaint, unsealed today, defendants Campbell and Ottey conspired to rob the S & T Bank in Plum, Pa., on March 7, 2017, the First National Bank in Verona, Pa., on May 1, 2017, and the Huntington Bank in Baden, Pa., on July 22, 2017. Additionally, both are charged with the March 7, 2017 armed bank robbery of the S & T Bank. Campbell is also charged with brandishing a firearm in and during a crime of violence for using a silver revolver during the March 7, 2017 robbery. Finally, Ottey was charged for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon on March 5, 2018.
On March 7, 2017, Campbell, wearing a ski mask and using a silver revolver, robbed the S & T Bank of $7,707.00 dollars and placed the money into pillowcase before fleeing the bank and entering a car registered to Ottey’s girlfriend.
On May 1, 2017, Campbell, wearing a windbreaker with the hood drawn, robbed the First National Bank of $84,200 while using a silver handgun. Campbell hopped the counter of the bank and was able to enter the vault, collecting the $84,200. Campbell filled the pillow case with money and left the scene, fleeing in the same car used in the March 7, 2017 robbery.
Subsequent to the May 1 robbery, FBI Special Agents discovered that Campbell’s girlfriend posted numerous photographs and videos on social media websites detailing expensive shopping sprees, vacations, and jewelry purchased. FBI Special Agents also discovered that the day after the May 1, 2017 robbery, Ottey purchased a Jeep Grand Cherokee. This Jeep Grand Cherokee was seen leaving the scene of the attempted bank robbery in Baden, Pa., on July 22, 2017.
Pursuant to a federal search warrant, FBI Special Agents recovered the silver revolver used in the robberies on March 5, 2018 at the home of Ottey.
For Ottey, the law provides for a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and 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 of the defendant.
For Campbell, the law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison up to a maximum of life, 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 Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case. The FBI Pittsburgh’s Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Plum Police Department, Verona Police Department, Economy Borough Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department, and Shaler Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the arrests in this case.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant may not be prosecuted unless, within 30 days, a grand jury has found probable cause to believe that he is guilty of an offense.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – Damian McKay was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute at least 100 grams of heroin and a quantity of fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
McKay, 28, of Pittsburgh, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Nora Barry Fischer. McKay’s sentence also includes a term of four years of supervised release following the prison sentence.
The conviction and sentence of McKay was a product of a Pittsburgh Bureau of Police investigation of the distribution of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl in bags stamped "Predator" that caused numerous fatal and non-fatal overdoses in Western Pennsylvania during the week of April 13, 2015. The Pittsburgh Police investigated several of the overdoses that occurred in Pittsburgh. Justin Robinson was identified as one of the retail distributors in Pittsburgh of the Predator bags. Deandre McKissick was identified as Robinson’s source of supply for the heroin and fentanyl in the Predator bags, as well as for heroin in bags with other stamps. McKay was also supplied by McKissick.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the conviction and sentence in this case.
Personal Injury Attorney Indicted on Federal Fraud and Money Laundering Charges for Stealing from Car Accident VictimRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A personal injury attorney who was recently suspended by the California State Bar was indicted today on federal charges that allege he stole the majority of a multi-million dollar client settlement, most of which should have been paid to the victim of an automobile accident.
Philip James Layfield, 44, who was arrested in New Jersey last week after returning to the United States from his new residence in Costa Rica, was named in a three-count indictment returned this afternoon by a federal grand jury.
Layfield, who is also certified public accountant, is charged with mail fraud and two counts of money laundering. Layfield will be arraigned on the indictment once he arrives in Los Angeles after being transported from New Jersey by the United States Marshals Service.
Layfield owned and operated the Layfield & Barrett law firm (L&B), which maintained offices in Irvine, Los Angeles, and other locations. Faced with declining revenues, Lawfield decided to close the firm and relocate to Costa Rica. Around that time, according to the indictment, Layfield took a number of steps that defrauded his clients, including filing unnecessary litigation to trigger increased attorney’s fees, settling personal injury cases without advising L&B clients, and stealing settlement funds that should have been paid to clients.
The indictment specifically alleges that Layfield entered into an agreement to represent an individual who was struck by an automobile in Orange County in 2016 and suffered significant injuries. After negotiating a $3.9 million settlement related to the accident, Layfield allegedly misappropriated most of money due to the victim – approximately $2 million. The indictment alleges that he transferred some of the victim’s share to his personal bank accounts and some on L&B payroll. The indictment states that the car accident victim received only $25,000 of the settlement proceeds.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If he were to be convicted of the three counts in the indictment, Layfield would face a statutory maximum sentence of 60 years in federal prison.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case against Layfield is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Aveis and Eddie A. Jauregui of the Major Frauds Section.
Parents Sentenced to 12-Year Prison Terms on Charges Related to Starvation Death of Infant DaughterRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Jay Crowder, 34, and Trishelle Jabore, 27, of Washington, D.C., were sentenced today to 12-year prison terms on charges stemming from the starvation-related death of their seven-week-old daughter, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Both defendants pled guilty in June 2017, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of voluntary manslaughter, first-degree cruelty to children, and welfare fraud-unlawful food stamp usage. Crowder also pled guilty to a charge of attempted distribution of a controlled substance (synthetic cannabinoid or K2).
Crowder’s plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed-upon sentence of 10 to 12 years in prison. The Honorable José M. Lόpez accepted the plea and sentenced Crowder accordingly. Following completion of their prison terms, Crowder and Jabore will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to a proffer of facts presented at the plea hearing, on Nov. 6, 2016, Jabore gave birth to the couple’s daughter, Trinity. The infant weighed 4 pounds, 14.5 ounces, but was considered at term and healthy. At the time of her birth, both the mother and child tested positive for THC, an active ingredient in marijuana. Both parents had prior experience parenting newborn children. They received approximately $995 in welfare funds, including food stamps. They paid $9.80 in rent and $50 for Internet service, and they spent money on cigarettes and marijuana; according to Jabore, she and Crowder smoked marijuana most days. Around Thanksgiving, they sold some of their food stamps to a family member for $150.
On the evening of Dec. 24, 2016, the baby was put to bed in her car seat with a bottle at 7 p.m. At approximately 9 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2016, Crowder entered his and Jabore’s bedroom, where the baby was still in her car seat. Crowder picked up the child and felt that her body was limp. Crowder attempted to feed her a bottle but she would not take it. The baby’s breathing appeared labored at that time, and Jabore said that her lips were yellow. Jabore and Crowder monitored the baby’s condition for about three hours. At noon, Jabore called 911 and stated that the baby was unconscious and not breathing. Jabore and Crowder reported that she had no signs of illness or any falls or trauma and had not been involved in any accidents.
The D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were dispatched to the defendants’ home in Southwest Washington. The baby was taken to the Emergency Department at Children’s National Medical Center. Hospital staff attempted advanced life-saving measures, but the child was pronounced dead at 12:26 p.m. A doctor reported that she appeared cachectic and had what appeared to be blood in her diaper.
According to the evidence, the baby did not get adequate food or nutrition. She lost over 10 ounces in weight from the time she was born. Additionally, the infant suffered 13 rib fractures and clavicle fracture at various stages of healing and severe diaper rash. Neither parent had taken her for medical treatment or care. She was in the exclusive care of Jabore and Crowder.
Even though Jabore and Crowder had money and their home had plenty of food for older children and adults, their baby starved to death. The parents were providing a fraction of the recommended amount of formula in an effort to make it go further. Alternatively, when not giving formula, they were giving their newborn cow’s milk (powdered milk or evaporated milk), which is harmful to an infant’s digestive tract. Chemists with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested a bottle found on the scene. Their testing revealed the bottle contained mostly water and had very little nutritional value.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia determined that the baby’s death was caused by malnutrition and hyponatremia[1], that the fractured ribs and clavicle fracture were contributing factors, and that the manner of death was homicide.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, analysts from the Food and Drug Administration, and medical personnel from Children’s National Medical Center. They also expressed appreciation to the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences for assistance in the investigation. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney, Stephanie Gilbert, Lornce Applewhite, and Alesha Matthews; Criminal Investigators Tommy Miller, Durand Odom, Nelson Rhone, Sharon Johnson, Shannon Alexis, and Chris Brophy; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; Litigation Technology Specialists Anisha Bhatia and Joshua Ellen; Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Kahn, and Intern Emily Yu. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who prosecuted the case.
[1] Hyponatremia is a condition that occurs when the level of sodium in your blood is abnormally low. Mayo Clinic Staff, Diseases and Conditions Hyponatremia, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/basics/definition/con-20031445 (last updated May 28, 2014).
Orlando Man Sentenced to Seven Years and Four More Indicted for Scheme Involving Impersonating Homeland Security Agents and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Court Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Ronnie Rolland Montgomery (28, Orlando) to seven years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He pleaded guilty to the offense on September 6 2017. Five others were previously charged in this conspiracy, have pleaded guilty, and are awaiting sentencing.
According to court documents, from at least August 1, 2015, through July 6, 2017, Montgomery was a manager/leader in a criminal organization that demanded money from victims by claiming to be agents with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and/or the Cyber Crimes Center (C3). The scheme typically began by one of the conspirators placing a fraudulent post on adult dating websites claiming to be a “nerdy girl seeking nerdy guy.” When the victims responded to the ads, the conspirators would continue to pretend that they were a female seeking companionship. A couple of days later, the conspirators would contact the victims pretending to be federal agents assigned to the “C3 Child Exploitation Division” or other components of DHS. They would accuse the victims of soliciting a minor on the internet and falsely claim that there was an outstanding warrant for the victims’ arrest. Victims were contacted from fraudulent email addresses that appeared to be from a law enforcement agency. The conspirators also used spoof apps on the victims’ phones to make it appear as if they were calling from a law enforcement number. After contact, victims were told that they could pay a “fine” or “fees” so that the purported warrant would be “purged” or “cleared.” To pay these “fines” or “fees,” victims were instructed to go to a money service business, and use either Ria, MoneyGram, or Western Union to wire money to satisfy their “fines” or “fees.” Victims were directed to address these wire transfers to a real name of one of the conspirators or to one of their aliases, after which the defendants would take turns picking up the payments. Victims were then traded among the conspirators to continue deriving more money from the scheme. The victims, many of which were members of the military, or elderly, would send multiple extortion payments, ranging from $200 to $1,900, per transaction because they feared arrest. Law enforcement estimates that the scheme generated over $342,000 in profits.
In addition, on March 7, 2018, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Donte Sherrick Harris (30, Kissimmee), Jean David Jules, a/k/a ‘Zoe,” a/k/a “Zoe Chappo” (33, Haitian national), Jonathan Wayne Thorne (27, Kissimmee), and Jason Tyiwuan Green (21, Orlando) with wire fraud for their involvement in the same scheme.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI/San Diego), with assistance from the following partnering agencies – the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (San Diego), and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Christina R. Downes and Brandon Bayliss, who are both on assignment from the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, ICE.
Orange City Man Sentenced for Manufacturing Anabolic SteroidsRead the Press Release
An Iowa State University student was sentenced on Monday, March 5, 2018, to 2 years’ probation with a condition that he spend two consecutive weeks in jail.
James Nhan, 23, from Orange City, Iowa, received the sentencing after a November 20, 2017 guilty plea to one count of manufacturing anabolic steroids.
In a plea agreement, Nhan admitted that, from late 2014 until December 15, 2015, he manufactured anabolic steroids and intended to distribute some of the steroids to various customers. In December 2015, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Nhan’s residence and seized numerous vials containing anabolic steroids, as well as laboratory equipment, packing material, labels, and sheets of papers listing the names and addresses of individuals who had purchased or intended to purchase anabolic steroids. Nhan admitted to importing the raw materials from China.
Nhan was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Nhan was sentenced to 2 years’ probation with a condition that he spend two consecutive weeks in jail. A special assessment of $100 was imposed.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Ajay Alexander and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Sioux County Attorney’s Office, Department of Homeland Security, Nebraska State Patrol, and Food and Drug Administration – Office of Inspector General.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-CR-4050-LTS.
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Nottingham Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact ELIZABETH MORSE
www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4885
Baltimore, Maryland – On March 8, 2018, a federal jury convicted Corey Hammond, age 30, of Nottingham, Maryland of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
The conviction was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Darryl DeSousa of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police.
Evidence presented at the four-day trial included intercepted coded cellular telephone calls in which Hammond discussed with another co-conspirator “2 Peyton Mannings,” which an expert Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) interpreted to mean a kilogram of cocaine. Peyton Manning’s jersey was 18. 18 ounces of cocaine equals 504 grams or one-half a kilogram. The jury also saw an intercepted text message from yet another co-conspirator which read: “256000 total at 32000.” Evidence at trial established the price of each kilogram of cocaine was valued at $32,000. The text message, according to the sender of the text and who testified at trial, represented 8 kilograms: 256,000 divided by 32,000 equals 8. Upon receiving the text, Hammond sent a text of his own, which read “Don’t Text. We already agreed. We’re on the same page.”
During the course of the trial, the jury also saw evidence of a seizure of almost 15 kilograms of cocaine, along with more than $520,000 in cash seized from Hammond’s co-conspirators.
Hammond, who previously had been convicted of a narcotics related offense in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years, without parole.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the DEA, the Baltimore City and Baltimore County Police Departments for their work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Hann, who prosecuted the case.
Nez Perce Tribal Member Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for StrangulationRead the Press Release
COEUR D'ALENE – Roy James Broncheau, 35, of Kamiah, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Coeur d’Alene to 24 months in prison for strangulation, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. Chief U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered three years of supervised release following Broncheau’s release from prison.
On December 6, 2017, Broncheau, an enrolled Nez Perce tribal member, pleaded guilty to the federal crime of strangulation. His guilty plea stemmed from his strangulation or attempted strangulation of his female partner. The assault occurred on the Nez Perce tribal reservation.
The federal crime of strangulation, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(8), became effective in March 2013. As in this case, the crime is most often used by federal prosecutors to charge defendants who commit non-fatal strangulation offenses against a spouse, intimate partner or dating partner. The statute defines "strangling" as "intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of a person by applying pressure to the throat or neck, regardless of whether that conduct results in any visible injury or whether there is any intent to kill or protractedly injure the victim." The statute also covers suffocation and attempted strangulation or suffocation.
The case was investigated by the Nez Perce Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
New York Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Cocaine in Fairfield CountyRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DOMINICK PACIFICO, 34, of Stony Point, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2017, the DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force began an investigation into the Stamford-area cocaine trafficking activity of Stephen Mazzo. On May 31, 2017, investigators conducting surveillance on Mazzo observed Mazzo exit a Norwalk hotel carrying a plastic shopping bag that he had not been carrying when he had entered the hotel. Law enforcement stopped Mazzo’s vehicle a short time later on Route 15 south in Stamford. A search of the vehicle and the plastic shopping bag revealed more than 400 grams of cocaine. Mazzo was arrested on state charges at that time.
Investigators returned to the hotel and determined that Mazzo had met with PACIFICO, who had been residing at the hotel for several weeks. A search of PACIFICO’s hotel room revealed items used to package drugs for distribution, and a search of PACIFICO’s vehicle revealed approximately 959 grams of cocaine separated in multiple packages for distribution, and $34,525 in cash.
On December 7, 2017, PACIFICO pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Mazzo has pleaded guilty to a related charge and awaits sentencing.
The DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force includes members of the DEA, Connecticut State Police and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford and Milford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo.
New York Investment Adviser Convicted of Defrauding InvestorsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – Louis F. Petrossi, age 77, the founder and president of the Wealth Research Institute, a purported investment research firm, was convicted yesterday by a federal jury in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, on three counts of securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, and wire fraud for his role in a scheme to defraud investors. The four-day trial was held before Chief United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner in Harrisburg.
David J. Freed, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, jointly announced the verdict.
The evidence at trial established that Petrossi falsely claimed to investors that money they had invested in purported investment funds, Chadwicke Partners LLC (“Chadwicke Partners”) and Chadwicke Ventures LLC (“Chadwicke Ventures”), would be used to invest in startup companies. Instead, the defendant used the investors’ money to pay for personal expenses and issued fraudulent statements that overstated both the cost and value of the securities held by Chadwicke.
The evidence also showed that between January 2015 and January 2017, Petrossi solicited more than $1.8 million in investments in Chadwicke Partners from more than 25 investors nationwide including an investor residing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Petrossi promoted Chadwicke as providing the opportunity to invest in high-profile startups companies such as Lyft, Inc., Maplebear Inc., Pinterest Inc., Spotify Technology SA, and Palantir Technologies, Inc. among others. Petrossi invested approximately $665,400 in privately held startup companies but used more than $1.1 million in investor funds to pay for personal expenses, including payments to BMW, renovations to his home and to pay his personal legal fees. In or around August 2016, Petrossi sent emails to Chadwicke investors attaching a spreadsheet that contained false and misleading statements about the purchase price and value of the securities held by the Chadwicke funds in order to conceal his misappropriation of investor money.
On May 3, 2016, Petrossi was arrested in Nevada pursuant to an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York for his role in a securities fraud scheme involving the securities of ForceField Energy Inc. Under the terms of Petrossi’s pre-trial release, the defendant was prohibited from employment “directly involving the handling of investors.” Between May 3, 2016 and approximately January 2017, Petrossi continued to engage in the Chadwicke scheme by emailing the August 2016 spreadsheet and soliciting $210,000 in investor funds.
Petrossi faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment on each count of conviction when he is sentenced by Chief Judge Conner of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Petrossi was convicted in May 2017 by a federal jury in Brooklyn for his role in the ForceField Energy Inc. market manipulation scheme. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan of the Eastern District of New York.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Bini of the Eastern District of New York and Special Assistant United States Attorney John O. Enright of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Enforcement Division prosecuted the case.
The matter was investigated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Enforcement Division.
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.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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New Bedford Seafood Manager Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford seafood manager was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for failing to report $75,000 in earnings on his tax returns.
Orlando Cardoso, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris to one year of probation, 10 months of which will be served in home confinement. Judge Saris also ordered Cardoso to pay $24,998 in restitution to the United States government. In November 2017, Cardoso pleaded guilty to two counts of filing a false income tax return.
Cardoso swore on his 2012 and 2013 tax returns that the only income he had received was from his employer. However, Cardoso had received over $75,000 in cash and checks from his employer’s supplier and failed to report the income on his tax returns.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen P. Heymann of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Multiple Defendants Sentenced for Violent Crimes and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
OXFORD – A Clarksdale man, the final defendant in a multi-defendant conspiracy, has been sentenced to 400 months in federal prison resulting from his role in a murder and heroin distribution conspiracy in the Northern District of Mississippi. Derrick Jones was sentenced for his crimes in United States District Court Thursday afternoon.
Multiple fatal opioid overdoses and hospitalizations in the Mississippi Delta spurred an investigation between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the United States Attorney’s Office. This investigation unveiled a large heroin and cocaine trafficking organization, operating predominately in Coahoma County, Mississippi. This joint investigation involved numerous search warrants, arrests, and convictions. In all, twelve defendants were sentenced in federal court for their roles in this drug trafficking conspiracy.
William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Joseph Frank, Supervisory Special Agent for the Oxford Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Warner Benson, Resident Agent in Charge of the Oxford Office of the DEA, Terry Spillers, Captain of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Oxford District Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
“Under the leadership of Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein, our mission is to make our neighborhoods safe. With the dismantling of this organization, Clarksdale, Mississippi, is safer. Pursuant to Project Safe Neighborhood, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, and other programs, we, with our state and local partners, will continue to pursue dangerous organizations and individuals to the fullest extent in every corner of our district,” said U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar.
Below, are the twelve co-conspirator’s charges and sentences, made possible by the Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative and OCDETF investigation:
- Derrick Jones pleaded guilty in July of 2017 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of murder. U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Jones to a total of 400 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Steven Haynes pleaded guilty in June of 2017 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin in excess of 100 grams and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Judge Brown ordered Haynes to serve a total of 240 months in custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Heroin supplier, Errick Hackler, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty in April of 2016 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin in excess of 100 grams and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Judge Brown ordered Hackler to serve a total of 67 months in custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Craig Haynes of Clarksdale, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in June of 2017 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin in excess of 100 grams. Judge Brown ordered Haynes to serve 85 months in custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Mark Connor of Clarksdale, Mississippi pleaded guilty to accessory to murder, after the fact, during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. In November of 2016, U.S. District Judge Neal B. Biggers, Jr. sentenced Connor to 70 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
- Cordarell Johnson of Clarksdale, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in April of 2016 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin in excess of 100 grams. Judge Brown ordered Johnson to serve 75 months in custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Octavious Conner of Clarksdale, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in April of 2016 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin in excess of 100 grams. Judge Brown ordered Conner to serve 35 months in custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Antonio Lewis of Clarksdale, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in April of 2016 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin in excess of 100 grams. Judge Brown ordered Lewis to serve 84 months in custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Frank Williams of Clarksdale, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in April of 2016 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. Judge Brown ordered Williams to serve a total of 67 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
- Reginald Murray of Clarksdale, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in January of 2016 to two counts of distribution of heroin. Judge Brown ordered Murray to serve 37 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release
- Sidney Avant, Jr. pleaded guilty in July 2017 to corruptly obstructing an investigation by the DEA, ATF and Federal Grand Jury. Judge Brown ordered Avant to serve 18 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
- Sidney Avant III pleaded guilty in July 2017 to corruptly obstructing an investigation by the DEA, ATF and Federal Grand Jury. Judge Brown ordered Avant to serve 14 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
These charges were the result of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that provides supplemental funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations pursuant to the Project Safe Neighborhood anti-violent crime initiative. Several agencies were crucial to this investigation, including the DEA, ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI Crime Laboratory, the Clarksdale Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi National Guard Counter-Drug Unit, Quitman County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Department, and the Coahoma County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Leary, Clyde McGee, Jamiel Wiggins and Sam Wright, with the assistance of Intelligence Specialist, Paul Rowlett.
Muksedur Rahman, Md. Rafiqul Islam and David Trung Quoc Phan Sentenced for Mail Fraud, Fraud in Foreign Labor Contracting, and Visa FraudRead the Press Release
SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendants Muksedur Rahman, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, and David Trung Quoc Phan were sentenced today by designated Senior District Court Judge John C. Coughenour from the Western District of Washington, on two counts of Mail Fraud, three counts of Fraud in Foreign Labor Contracting, and one count of Visa Fraud.
Defendant Muksedur Rahman was sentenced to 48 months in prison, three years of supervised release after incarceration, and restitution to the victims in the amount of $188,426.00. Defendant Mohammad Rafiqul Islam was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release after incarceration, and restitution to the victims in the amount of $188,426.00. Defendant David Trung Quoc Phan was sentenced to 8 months in prison, and two years of supervised release after incarceration.
The defendants defrauded Bangladeshi men by promising them good-paying jobs in the United States, as well as ‘Green Cards’. The victims paid over $15,000.00 each, but when they arrived in Saipan in April of 2016, they were not given work as promised. Defendant Mohammad Rafiqul Islam and unindicted co-conspirators in Bangladesh recruited the men, collected large fees from them, and deposited them into the bank accounts of defendants’ family members in Bangladesh. Defendant Muksedur Rahman coordinated the recruitment and employment of the victims from Saipan. A necessary part of the scheme required the purported employer, Defendant David Trung Quoc Phan, to mail fraudulent applications to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in order to obtain CNMI-only work authorization permits. The victims were also ‘coached’ to lie to U.S. Embassy personnel in Dhaka during their visa interviews; the Defendants told the victims not to admit they had paid any fees for their jobs, upon pain of losing all the money they had already paid.
United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson released the following statement: “The CNMI has been plagued by illegal recruitment scams for more than 20 years. They are difficult and expensive cases to investigate and prosecute because of the need for qualified interpreters, and because many of the transactions occur overseas, diplomatic channels must be used to obtain that evidence.”
“In this case, the victims sold virtually everything they owned, and borrowed large sums of money in order to raise the money to pay the defendants. They and their families in Bangladesh have suffered substantial financial hardship caused by the defendants’ actions. Such crimes also impact the economy of the CNMI, in that every CW-1 permit approved for a sham employer for a non-existent job represents one less nurse at the Commonwealth Health Center, one less power plant operator for the Commonwealth Utilities Commission, or one less worker for the CNMI economy. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue these cases at every opportunity.”
Part of the evidence in the case consisted of official bank records obtained from the Government of Bangladesh pursuant to a mutual legal assistance letter request (MLAT) prepared by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs (OIA). The case against Defendant Rahman and his co-defendants is the first NMI District case in which foreign evidence has been obtained through the MLAT process.
Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys James Benedetto and Eric O’Malley prosecuted the case.
Monongalia County woman and Harrison County woman sentenced for their roles in oxycodone distribution ringRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA –Two women were sentenced today to a combined five years incarceration for their roles in an oxycodone distribution operation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Amanda Gifford, 26, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 46 months incarceration. Gifford pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Use of Communication Facility” in November 2017. She admitted to using a telephone to help distribute oxycodone in March 2017 in Monongalia County.
Brandy Miller, of Salem, age 29, was sentenced to 15 months incarceration. Miller pled guilty to “Unlawful Use of Communication Facility” in November 2017. Miller admitted to using a phone to assist others in distributing oxycodone in March 2017 in Monongalia County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Mississippi Resident Charged with Making False Statement to United States Coast Guard and for Unlawful Use of Merchant Mariner CredentialsRead the Press Release
JEFFREY M. DESALVO, age 35, a resident of Picayune, Mississippi, was charged today in a five-count indictment for making false statements to the United States Coast Guard and for unlawful use of a merchant mariner license in violation Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1001 and 2197, respectively.
According to court documents, on February 4, 2015, DESALVO entered into a settlement with the U.S. Coast Guard wherein he agreed to surrender his merchant mariner credentials in lieu of having them permanently revoked. In connection with the settlement agreement, DESALVO submitted an affidavit to the U.S. Coast Guard in which he stated that his credentials had been destroyed, when, in truth and fact, his credentials had not been destroyed. In addition to the foregoing, DESALVO illegally used his suspended credentials to obtain work as a boat captain for four different companies that operated on the Mississippi River. If convicted, DESALVO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, a supervised release term of three years, and a fine of $250,000.00 for each count.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Coast Guard in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is in charge of the prosecution.
Mexican citizen sentenced to 5 years in prison for transporting methamphetamine near MonroeRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Mexican national was sentenced Tuesday to 60 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine.
Jorge Alberto Morales-Villanueva, 22, of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the October 10, 2017 guilty plea, a Louisiana State trooper stopped the van Morales-Villanueva was driving on March 5, 2017, which was traveling eastbound on Interstate 20 near Monroe. The trooper searched the vehicle and found a compartment underneath the front passenger seat that contained 19 packages containing a total of 26 pounds of methamphetamine. The defendant said he was paid $5,000 to transport the drug from Texas to Georgia.
Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell prosecuted the case.
Members of Wilmington Bloods Gang Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that yesterday, TYKE’EKE MONTE HINES, 19, of Wilmington, North Carolina, was sentenced in federal court by Chief United States District Judge, James C. Dever, III, to 84 months imprisonment after having been convicted of providing a firearm to a convicted felon.
“A top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is to reduce the levels of violent crime and gang activity that are terrorizing communities in our District. This prosecution is an example of how we will combat violent gang members and hold them accountable,” said Robin Pendergraft, Criminal Chief for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“The FBI is committed to dismantling the violent gangs that threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods. This investigation is an outstanding example of what federal, state, and local law enforcement can accomplish when we combine resources to address a threat,” said John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina.
An investigation by federal and state law enforcement agencies revealed that HINES was member of the Nine Trey Gangsters (“Nine Trey”), a subset of the United Blood Nation (“UBN”) street gang responsible for widespread drug distribution and violent crime in the Wilmington area.
During the months of July and August of 2016, law enforcement intercepted the communications of Nine Trey gang-leader KEJUAN SMITH pursuant to a federal Title III wiretap order. SMITH was intercepted communicating with subordinate gang members on a daily basis in furtherance of drug transactions, extortion, firearms offenses, and other gang-related crime.
In early-August, 2016, intercepted communications exposed a conflict between SMITH and the leader of a UBN set in Goldsboro. As the conflict escalated, SMITH coordinated with his subordinate gang members to gather firearms belonging to the Nine Trey and to prepare for an armed confrontation.
On August 4, 2016, SMITH, HINES, and others stockpiled firearms and ammunition at a Wilmington residence in anticipation of traveling to Goldsboro the following day to carry out a hit on the rival gang member. That evening, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence, resulting in the seizure of firearms and ammunition, including: one AR-22 .22 caliber assault rifle with attached 30 round magazine; one .38 caliber revolver; two stolen 9mm handguns; one stolen .40 caliber handgun; one stolen .45 caliber handgun; one .45 caliber handgun; one .38 caliber Derringer; one .40 caliber handgun loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition; one .22 caliber handgun loaded with 5 rounds of ammunition; one .22 caliber handgun loaded with nine rounds of ammunition; one 12 gauge shotgun; one .223 caliber assault rifle with an attached 30 round magazine; one extended magazine containing 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition; one 29 round magazine containing eight .40 caliber rounds of ammunition; 50 rounds of .223 ammunition; one .40 caliber round of ammunition; twenty-five .22 caliber rounds of ammunition; eleven 9mm rounds of ammunition; 2 magazines containing seven 5.56 rounds of ammunition; one .22 caliber round of ammunition; and one military grade ballistic vest.
Multiple co-defendants were charged and have already been sentenced in federal court in connection with this prosecution:
KEJUAN TIZOM SHABAZZ SMITH was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and firearms offenses and sentenced to 327 months imprisonment. KASHIF ARDE RHODES was convicted of possession of a firearm by felon and sentenced to 102 months imprisonment. KHALIL DJOUR TRUESDALE was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and sentenced to 78 months imprisonment. THEODORE PIERCE was convicted of heroin distribution and firearms offenses and sentenced to 102 months imprisonment. THEODORE HARDY was convicted of heroin distribution and sentenced to 84 months imprisonment. TAKEEM LEINARD COLLINS was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment. NYQUAY AKEI ROUSE was convicted of heroin distribution and sentenced to 16 months imprisonment. DAENZAL MURPHY was convicted of heroin distribution and sentenced to 14 months imprisonment. ALICIA RASHAWN JOHNSON was convicted of heroin distribution and sentenced to 13 months imprisonment. DARRELL TYKWAN ATKINSON was convicted of heroin distribution and sentenced to 14 months imprisonment.
This case was brought as a part of an Organized Crime Drug
Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation investigating narcotics distribution and gang activity.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of the FBI Charlotte Division’s Wilmington Resident Agency, the Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Onslow County Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville Police Department, and the Carteret County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Toby Lathan handled the prosecution of this case for the Government.
Mechanicsburg Businessman Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Prison for Failure to Pay Federal Payroll TaxesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Nicholas A. Long, age 30, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 8, 2018, to one year and one day and three years’ supervised release by United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo for willful failure to pay federal payroll taxes.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Long pleaded guilty in October 2017, to an information charging him with the willful failure to pay federal payroll taxes owed by his business, Harrisburg Commercial Interiors, LLC during 2013.
An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigation revealed that Long, through his solely owned commercial drywall business, Harrisburg Commercial Interior, LLC (HCI), willfully did not pay $216,304 in payroll taxes during 2013 and 2014. The IRS investigation began when several HCI employees contacted the IRS because they did not receive their 2013 income tax refunds.
As the owner of HCI, Long exercised primary control over the financial affairs of the business, was solely responsible for issuance of all paychecks, and had sole signature authority on HCI's business bank account. Although he issued payroll checks totaling $730,788 in gross wages during 2013 and 2014, Long did not file the requisite Employer's Quarterly and Annual Federal Tax Returns, Forms and 940, with the IRS, nor pay over the $160,399 he withheld from his employees’ pay checks to the government.
Judge Rambo also ordered Long to make full restitution in the amount of $216,304. Long made $140,000 in payments prior to his sentencing leaving $76,304 owed.
“Business owners like Mr. Long have a responsibility to withhold income taxes for their employees and then remit those taxes to the IRS,” stated Ed Wirth, Acting Special Agent in Charge. “The failure to do so is a crime, and the Special Agents of IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to vigorously pursue action against those who commit these types of offenses.”
The case was investigated by the Harrisburg Office of the IRS Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel.
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Martin Shkreli Sentenced to Seven Years’ Imprisonment for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Martin Shkreli was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto of the Eastern District of New York to seven years’ imprisonment for committing securities fraud and securities fraud conspiracy, to be followed by three years’ supervised release. The Court also ordered Shkreli to pay a $75,000 fine and $7.3 million in forfeiture. Earlier this week, the Court signed a Preliminary Order of Forfeiture, which will allow the government to seize substitute assets to satisfy the forfeiture judgment if necessary, including $5 million held in an account that had been used to secure Shkreli’s bail, the “Once Upon A Time in Shaolin” album by the Wu Tang Clan, the “Tha Carter V” album by Lil Wayne, and a Picasso painting.
Shkreli was the founder and managing member of hedge funds MSMB Capital Management LP (MSMB Capital) and MSMB Healthcare Management LP (MSMB Healthcare) and the former Chief Executive Officer of Retrophin Inc. (Retrophin), a biopharmaceutical company that trades under the ticker symbol RTRX. He was convicted by a federal jury in August 2017, following a six-week trial, of two counts of securities fraud and one count of securities fraud conspiracy. In September 2017, the Court found that Shkreli had violated his bail conditions by making online threats against former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and remanded him into custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he is currently incarcerated.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.
“For years, Shkreli told lie after lie in order to steal his investors’ money, manipulate the stock market and enrich himself,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “He will now pay the price for repeatedly violating the trust placed in him by his investors, his employees and the public. It remains a priority of this Office, together with our law enforcement partners, to identify, investigate and bring to justice criminals like Shkreli.” Mr. Donoghue thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office (SEC), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., Criminal Prosecution Assistance Group (FINRA CPAG), for their significant cooperation and assistance in this case.
“Martin Shkreli was notoriously ambitious, seeking to enrich himself at the expense of those who unwittingly invested in his lies,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “His crimes have been laid bare for all to see, and his intentions, which have been proven true beyond a reasonable doubt, resulted in this sentencing today. While we can now close this chapter of our investigation, our efforts continue to uncover and expose all crimes of this nature that claim innocent victims and defraud our financial markets.”
The evidence at trial established that Shkreli, who was convicted on three counts of the superseding indictment, alleging securities fraud (Counts Three and Six) and securities fraud conspiracy (Count Eight), executed three schemes to defraud investors:
As charged in Count Three, between 2009 and 2014, Shkreli used false representations and omissions to induce investors to invest more than $3 million in MSMB Capital, a hedge fund he founded in 2009. Subsequently, following trading losses, Shkreli sent fabricated performance updates to investors, boasting that the fund had made big profits when, in fact, it had sustained substantial losses. In addition, Shkreli withdrew more than $200,000 from MSMB Capital, far more than the one percent management fee and the 20 percent net profit incentive allocation permitted by the fund’s partnership agreement.
As charged in Count Six, between 2011 and 2014, Shkreli used false representations and omissions to induce investors to invest more than $5 million in MSMB Healthcare, a hedge fund founded by Shkreli after the implosion of MSMB Capital. Additionally, Shkreli used MSMB Healthcare assets to pay obligations that were not MSMB Healthcare’s responsibility. As with the MSMB Capital scheme, Shkreli withdrew more from MSMB Healthcare than the one percent management fee and the 20 percent net profit incentive allocation permitted by the fund’s partnership agreement.
As charged in Count Eight, between 2012 and 2014, Shkreli and his co-defendant Evan Greebel, an attorney who served as outside counsel to Retrophin, engaged in a scheme to defraud investors and potential investors in Retrophin by attempting to illegally control the price and trading volume of Retrophin’s stock. Greebel and Shkreli executed this scheme by, among other things, concealing Shkreli’s beneficial ownership and control of the majority of Retrophin’s free-trading shares. Greebel and Shkreli recruited associates of Shkreli to be nominee shareholders for the majority of Retrophin’s free-trading shares, and they also filed a false document with government regulators to hide the fact that Shkreli controlled those shares. Greebel and Shkreli prevented the nominee shareholders from selling these shares, and also directed that some of the shares be used to settle liabilities owed by the MSMB hedge funds and Shkreli.
In addition, Judge Matsumoto ruled in a decision issued on February 26, 2018 in connection with the sentencing, that the government had also proven by a preponderance of the evidence that Shkreli had engaged in a fourth fraud scheme, the wire fraud conspiracy charged in Count Seven of the superseding indictment. Specifically, the evidence at trial established by a preponderance that between 2011 and 2014, Shkreli conspired with Greebel and others in a scheme to misappropriate Retrophin’s assets in order to pay off defrauded investors in MSMB Capital and MSMB Healthcare. As part of this scheme, Shkreli and Greebel caused Retrophin to enter into so-called “settlement” agreements with certain defrauded MSMB Capital and MSMB Healthcare investors, which caused Retrophin to reimburse those investors more than $2 million in cash and stock for their lost investments in Shkreli’s hedge funds even though Retrophin was not responsible for those losses. Shkreli and Greebel also arranged for certain other defrauded investors to enter into sham consulting agreements with Retrophin as a means to settle liabilities owed by Shkreli and the hedge funds. In total, the settlement and sham consulting agreements caused losses to Retrophin of over $10 million.
In a separate trial in December 2017, Greebel was convicted of wire fraud conspiracy (Count Seven) and securities fraud conspiracy (Count Eight), following an 11-week trial. He is awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Alixandra E. Smith and G. Karthik Srinivasan are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Mantell and Claire Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section.
The Defendants:
MARTIN SHKRELI
Age: 34
Manhattan, New YorkEVAN GREEBEL
Age: 44
Scarsdale, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 15-CR-637 (KAM)
Man Charged with Misuse of Social Security Card and Resident Alien CardRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JESUS MATEHUALA-CABALLERO, a/k/a Francisco Rodriguez, age 40, a resident of Amite, was charged in a two count indictment with fraud and misuse of a social security card and resident alien card, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1546(a).
According to the indictment, on or about July 10, 2015, JESUS MATEHUALA-CABALLERO, used a fraudulent a social security card and fraudulent resident alien card for the purposes of obtaining employment knowing that he had never been lawfully issued a Social Security card or a resident alien card.
If convicted, JESUS MATEHUALA-CABALLERO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, three years supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily K. Greenfield.
Madawaska Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Importing Methylphenidate and AlprazolamRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Tristan Nelson, 39, of Madawaska, Maine pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court to illegally importing methylphenidate, which is commonly sold under the trade name Ritalin, and alprazolam, which is commonly sold under the trade name Xanax.
According to court records, on February 22, 2017, a mail package from the Philippines addressed to the defendant arrived at the Madawaska post office. The package contained about 950 methylphenidate pills and about 450 alprazolam pills. The defendant came to the post office and accepted the package. The defendant later admitted to agents that he purchased the pills online, that he knew the pills were shipped to him from outside of the United States, and that he intended to distribute some of the pills.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, between three years and life on supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine for importing methylphenidate. He faces up to 5 years in prison and between one year and life on supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for importing alprazolam. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Lorton Man Sentenced for Attempted Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Lorton man was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for attempted robbery, attempted possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and the use and discharge of a firearm during those crimes.
Thomas Todd, 33, was convicted by a federal jury on Sept. 19, 2017. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Todd conspired to rob a drug dealer at gunpoint in the basement of an apartment building in Lorton. The drug dealer arrived at the apartment building with an armed associate on the evening of June 24, 2016, and a shootout occurred in the lobby.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Fahey and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ankush Khardori and Samuel Lord 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. 1:17-cr-24