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13 April 2018
Justice Department Honors Indiana Victim AdvocateRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice recognized Shelby Kay Looper with the Tomorrow’s Leaders Award during the National Crime Victims’ Service Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. This honor is awarded to youth up to age 24 who have dedicated their efforts to supporting victims of crime.
“Victims of crime deserve assistance and support – no matter their zip code,” said Attorney General Sessions. “Shelby Looper has already distinguished herself by fighting hard to provide adequate services to victims of crime in rural Indiana. Her dedication and commitment has paid dividends for Hoosier families, and I have no doubt that her impact will be felt for many years to come.”
While majoring in criminal justice and criminology at Ball State University, Looper interned at the Muncie Police Victim Advocates Program. During her internship, she realized that some rural and small-town police departments were not offering victims the same services available to those in larger cities. On her own initiative, Looper visited these police departments to educate officers about the victim services resources available to them through the Muncie Police Victim Advocates Program.
After her graduation, Looper was hired by the Muncie Police Department as a victim advocate. She established the Domestic Violence On-Call Program which places victim advocates on the scene when police respond to domestic violence calls. This allows the victim advocate to establish a relationship with victims, design a plan to meet their needs, and build stronger relationships between the police department and the community. In July 2017, Looper was named Director of the Muncie Police Victim Advocates Office.
“Ms. Looper’s dedication to ensuring victims have access to necessary resources is not only extremely admirable but it is also proof that even at a young age, you can have a very significant and positive impact in your community,” said Director of the Office for Victims of Crime Darlene Hutchinson. “The Department of Justice is proud to honor her for her remarkable contributions and for her commitment to justice for all individuals victimized by crime.”
During today’s ceremony, the Justice Department recognized a dozen individuals and organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of victims of crime. Awardees were selected from public nominations in ten categories.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 8-14, with the theme Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.Justice Department Honors Former San Diego City Attorney for Contributions to Victims’ ServicesRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice recognized Casey Gwinn, President of Alliance for HOPE International, with the Ronald Wilson Reagan Public Policy Award during the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. This honor is awarded to individuals whose leadership, vision, and innovation have led to significant changes in public policy and practice that benefit crime victims.
“Throughout his career, Casey Gwinn has worked tirelessly to make resources available to children and their families in the aftermath of crime, as well as to prosecute the heinous individuals responsible to the fullest extent of the law,” Attorney General Sessions said. “Casey’s efforts helped reduce crime in San Diego and his Camp HOPE initiative continues to minister to the unique needs of children exposed to domestic violence. I am grateful for his extraordinary service.”
Gwinn currently serves as the president of Alliance for HOPE International. He was elected and served as the San Diego City Attorney from 1996 to 2004. Prior to elected office, he founded the City Attorney’s Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Unit. He led this unit from 1986 to 1996, prosecuting both misdemeanor and felony cases. In 1993, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges recognized his unit as the model prosecution unit in the nation.
Gwinn founded the San Diego Family Justice Center (FJC) which brought 25 local agencies under one roof to better serve victims of crime. San Diego’s model inspired a national movement, and today there are FJCs in 40 states.
“Mr. Gwinn is an incredible example of how one person can have a tremendous impact in his community and around the country,” said Director of the Office for Victims of Crime Darlene Hutchinson. “The Department of Justice is proud to honor him for his remarkable contributions and commitment to justice for all individuals victimized by crime.”
During today’s ceremony, the Justice Department recognized a dozen individuals and organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of victims of crime. Awardees were selected from public nominations in ten categories.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 8-14, with the theme Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.Justice Department Honors Former Office for Victims of Crime Director for Her Commitment to Victims’ Rights and ServicesRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice recognized the late Joye E. Frost with the Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services for her lifelong dedication to improving victims’ services during the National Crime Victims’ Service Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Frost passed away on March 12 after a long battle with cancer.
“Joye Frost dedicated her career to advocating on behalf of victims of crime, and she was highly effective,” said Attorney General Sessions. “Her work to expand and improve the impact of victim assistance after trauma such as sexual assault, terrorism, or mass violence, made sure that many people received the help they needed. The Department of Justice—and the United States—is better because of Joye and her invaluable efforts, and so today we honor her memory.”
During her almost 20-year tenure with the Office for Victims of Crime, Frost launched the Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Initiative to expand the reach and impact of the victims’ assistance field. She fostered a groundbreaking partnership between OVC and the U.S. Department of Defense to strengthen support to military sexual assault victims. Frost was also instrumental in developing OVC’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and Sexual Assault Response Team training and technical assistance initiatives.
“Ms. Frost’s untimely death is not only a devastating loss for us in the Office for Victims of Crime, but also for the victim services community which she helped to transform by spending most of her professional life advocating on behalf of victims,” said Director of the Office for Victims of Crime Darlene Hutchinson. “The Department of Justice is extremely proud to honor Joye for her contributions. Her passion, integrity, and dedication will not be forgotten.”
During today’s ceremony, the Justice Department recognized a dozen individuals and organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of victims of crime. Awardees were selected from public nominations in ten categories.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 8-14, with the theme Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.Justice Department Honors Delaware Victim AdvocateRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today recognized Debra McCall Reed with the National Crime Victim Service Award during the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
“Our criminal justice system should be responsive to the needs of every victim of crime,” said Attorney General Sessions. “This week, we celebrate and thank those who ensure that it is, including victim advocates like Debra Reed. For more than 30 years, she has helped victims in the aftermath of traumatic experiences like sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Victims throughout Delaware have benefited from her energy and expertise, and I want to thank her for tireless service on their behalf.”
Reed began working with victims of crime 30 years ago as a child abuse investigator for Delaware’s Division of Family Services. In 1990, she was selected by the Delaware State Police to develop the Delaware Victim Center. Five years later, she was promoted to Director, a position that she still holds.
Reed has been instrumental in developing the Delaware Victim Center’s services related to sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and sudden death. As victims’ needs have changed through the years, she has responded with new and unique programs, including an emergency financial assistance program to assist crime victims with immediate needs such as housing, medical costs, and counseling.
"Ms. Reed’s dedication to the Delaware State Police’s Delaware Victim Center is making Delaware a better place for those who tragically become victims of crime,” said Director of the Office for Victims of Crime Darlene Hutchinson. “The Department of Justice is proud to honor her for her remarkable contributions and for her commitment to justice for all individuals victimized by crime.”
During today’s ceremony, the Justice Department recognized a dozen individuals and organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of victims of crime. Awardees were selected from public nominations in ten categories.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 8-14, with the theme Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.Justice Department Honors Asset Forfeiture Program Team with the Crimes Victims’ Financial Restoration AwardRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice recognized the Criminal Division’s Program Management and Training Unit within the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section with the Crime Victims’ Financial Restoration Award. The award goes to teams that have instituted innovative approaches for securing financial restoration for crime victims. The organization was honored during the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
“Civil asset forfeiture is a key tool that helps us defund organized crime, weaken criminals and cartels, and provide relief to victims,” said Attorney General Sessions. “The women and men of the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section play a central role in finding and restoring forfeited funds to crime victims. Just this week, they helped distribute an additional $500 million to victims of the Bernie Madoff financial scam, bringing the total to more than $1.2 billion. I applaud their efforts and appreciate all that they do for victims of crime.”
The Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program has returned over $5.1 billion in civilly and criminally forfeited funds to crime victims since 2002 through the Department’s Victim Compensation Program.
Over the past three years, the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section has returned over $1.3 billion in forfeited funds to crime victims. Most recently, the Unit oversaw a $772 million distribution to 24,000 victims of Bernard Madoff, the first in a series of payments that will eventually return over $4 billion to victims of the Madoff fraud. In 2016 the Unit began oversight and administration of the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, established to compensate victims of international acts of terrorism. To date, the Fund has issued more than $1 billion to over 2,000 victims. These victims include the Iran hostages held from 1979 to 1981 and their spouses and children; victims of the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania; and victims of the attack on the U.S.S. Cole.
“We cannot undo the damage that criminals like Bernie Madoff do to victims of crime, but distributions like yesterday’s provide significant relief to many of the victims of fraud,” said Director of the Office for Victims of Crime Darlene Hutchinson. “The Department of Justice is proud to honor this team for their remarkable contributions and for their commitment to justice for all individuals victimized by crime.”
During today’s ceremony, the Justice Department recognized a dozen individuals and organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of victims of crime. Awardees were selected from public nominations in ten categories.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 8-14, with the theme Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.Justice Department Honors Arizona Detective; FBI Agent with Federal Service AwardRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice recognized Detective Kevin Rivers of the Gila River Police Department and Special Agent Sherry C. Rice of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the Federal Service Award during the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. This honor is awarded to federal agency personnel whose work affects victims of federal, tribal, or military crimes or promotes victims’ rights and services nationally and internationally.
“Those of us in law enforcement are sworn to serve and protect,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “Special Agent Sherry Rice and Detective Kevin Rivers have done just that. Through their hard work and dedication, they have brought closure and relief to girls in the Gila River Indian Community who have suffered at the hands of a suspected predator. I want to thank them for their courage and outstanding service in investigating this case and ensuring that justice was served.”
Rivers and Rice led the investigation into a child sex offender who was suspected of crimes in the Gila River Indian Community over the course of 30 years. Rivers’ and Rice’s leadership led to charges against the suspect for crimes related to sexual assault involving seven different victims.
“Detective Rivers and Special Agent Rice’s tireless leadership brought a dark and painful chapter in the Gila River Indian Community to an end,” said Director of the Office for Victims of Crime Darlene Hutchinson. “The Department of Justice is proud to honor them for their remarkable contributions and for their commitment to justice for all individuals victimized by crime.”
During today’s ceremony, the Justice Department recognized a dozen individuals and organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of victims of crime. Awardees were selected from public nominations in ten categories.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 8-14, with the theme Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.Justice Department Announces Phil Keith as Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing ServicesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced that Phil Keith will serve as the Director of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The COPS Office is the division of the Justice Department responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nation's state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources.
Mr. Keith has more than 47 years of experience in the fields of criminal justice, public safety, and business administration. Thirty-four of those years were spent in active law enforcement service, including 17 years as Chief of Police of the Knoxville, Tennessee, Police Department.
In addition to his service as a law enforcement officer, Mr. Keith has significant policy and administrative experience, including working directly with the COPS Office. His experience in these areas include, but are not limited to service as:
- Commissioner, Tennessee Peace Officers Standard and Training Commission;
- Principal Project Director, Major Cities Chiefs Association;
- Member, Department of Justice COPS Office Law Enforcement Ethics Task Force; and
- Member, Department of Justice COPS Office National Community Policing Resource Board.
In these and other professional capacities, Mr. Keith has performed more than 150 organizational assessments and has authored more than 100 articles and technical reports.
Mr. Keith has been widely recognized and awarded for his commitment to public safety. Mr. Keith has been awarded two Director’s Choice Awards from the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police; honored by the American Society for Public Administration for Excellence in Public Service for Municipal Services; received the Law Enforcement Leadership Award given by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; and recognized by the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation in 2013 as the first recipient of the Human Rights Award for his leadership in fighting commercial sex trafficking.
“The Justice Department is committed to backing our state and local law enforcement partners—the men and women that serve on the front lines of the fight against violent crime, the opioid crisis, and criminal organizations,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “For that reason, it is imperative that we have a leader in the COPS Office that understands this commitment and how the Office can work to fulfill it. Phil Keith’s experience is second-to-none, and I am confident he will be an effective leader for the COPS Office.”
Mr. Keith will be responsible for overseeing grant awards, innovative policing strategies, and training and technical assistance.
Mr. Keith is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Business Administration, and from the University of Tennessee, where he earned a Master’s of Science. Chief Keith also served in the United States Army Reserves from 1968 to 1974.
Justice Department Announces Nationwide Initiative to Combat Sexual Harassment in HousingRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Today, as the Department of Justice recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the nationwide rollout of an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and reporting of sexual harassment in housing. The announcement includes an interagency task force between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Justice Department to combat sexual harassment in housing, an outreach toolkit, and a public awareness campaign. This three-pronged approach will strengthen the Department’s efforts to combat sexual harassment in housing.
“Sexual harassment in housing is illegal, immoral, and unacceptable," said Attorney General Sessions. “It is all too common today, as too many landlords, managers, and their employees attempt to prey on vulnerable women. We will not hesitate to pursue these predators and enforce the law. In October, I ordered a new initiative to bring more of these cases, and we have already won relief for 15 victims. Today we announce three new steps to make the initiative more effective and to win more cases. I want to thank the dedicated and committed professionals in our Civil Rights Division and our partners in the Department of Housing and Urban Development for their hard work in this effort. We will continue to aggressively pursue harassers, because everyone has a right to be safe in their home.”
“All discrimination stains the very fabric of our nation, but HUD is especially focused on protecting the right of everyone to feel safe and secure in their homes, free from unwanted sexual harassment,” said Secretary Ben Carson. “No person should have to tolerate unwanted sexual advances in order to keep a roof over his or her head. Part of our mission at HUD is to provide safe housing and we will remain diligent in this mission to protect those we serve. I look forward to working with Attorney General Sessions and the Department of Justice as part of this task force to bring an end to this type of discrimination.”
The Department is rolling out three major components to the Initiative.
First, the new HUD-DOJ Task Force to Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing will drive a shared strategy between the Department and HUD for combatting sexual harassment in housing across the country. It will focus on five key areas: continued data sharing and analysis, joint development of training, evaluation of public housing complaint mechanisms, coordination of public outreach and press strategy, and review of federal policies.
Second, the outreach toolkit is designed to leverage the Justice Department’s nationwide network of U.S. Attorney’s Offices. The toolkit provides templates, guidance, and checklists based on pilot program feedback. It ultimately will amplify available enforcement resources and help victims of sexual harassment connect with the Department.
Third, the public awareness campaign has three major components: a partnership package with relevant stakeholders, launch of a social media campaign, and Public Service Announcements (PSAs) run by individual U.S. Attorney’s offices. The campaign is specifically designed to raise awareness, and make it easier for victims all over the country to find resources and report harassment.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment in housing should call the Department at 1-844-380-6178, send an e-mail to [email protected], or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777. If you have information or questions about any other housing discrimination, you can contact the Department at 1-800-896-7743.
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Justice Department Announces Nationwide Initiative to Combat Sexual Harassment in HousingRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Today, as the Department of Justice recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the nationwide rollout of an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and reporting of sexual harassment in housing. The announcement included an interagency task force between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Justice Department to combat sexual harassment in housing, an outreach toolkit, and a public awareness campaign. This three-pronged approach will strengthen the Department’s efforts to combat sexual harassment in housing.
“Sexual harassment in housing is illegal, immoral, and unacceptable," said Attorney General Sessions. “It is all too common today, as too many landlords, managers, and their employees attempt to prey on vulnerable women. We will not hesitate to pursue these predators and enforce the law. In October, I ordered a new initiative to bring more of these cases, and we have already won relief for 15 victims. Today we announce three new steps to make the initiative more effective and to win more cases. I want to thank the dedicated and committed professionals in our Civil Rights Division and our partners in the Department of Housing and Urban Development for their hard work in this effort. We will continue to aggressively pursue harassers, because everyone has a right to be safe in their home.”
“All discrimination stains the very fabric of our nation, but HUD is especially focused on protecting the right of everyone to feel safe and secure in their homes, free from unwanted sexual harassment,” said Secretary Ben Carson. “No person should have to tolerate unwanted sexual advances in order to keep a roof over his or her head. Part of our mission at HUD is to provide safe housing and we will remain diligent in this mission to protect those we serve. I look forward to working with Attorney General Sessions and the Department of Justice as part of this task force to bring an end to this type of discrimination.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee supports this important initiative of Attorney General Sessions and will work with HUD and our law enforcement partners to enforce the laws and ensure that these innocent victims are aware of their rights to have a safe and secure place for their families to live without fear of harassment or discrimination,” said U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey, Eastern District of Tennessee.
In October 2017, the Justice Department announced an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing and launched pilot programs in D.C. and the Western District of Virginia. The initiative sought to increase the Department’s efforts to protect women from harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, security guards, and other employees and representatives of rental property owners. During the pilots, the Department developed and tested ways to better connect both with victims of sexual harassment in housing and with those organizations that victims may turn to first for help – including law enforcement, legal services providers, public housing authorities, sexual assault services providers, and shelters. The Department also tested certain aspects of the initiative in other jurisdictions, including New Jersey, the Central District of California, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Michigan.
The two pilot programs generated an upswing in harassment reporting to the Department from both D.C. and the Western District of Virginia. In D.C., the Department generated six leads since the October 2017 launch. In Virginia, the Department generated three leads. While the Justice Department recognizes that leads and investigations do not always lead to enforcement actions, the pilot program’s results—when extrapolated across all the U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country—could lead to hundreds of new reports of sexual harassment in housing across the country.
Because of these promising results, the Department is rolling out three major components to the Initiative.
First, the new HUD-DOJ Task Force to Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing will drive a shared strategy between the Department and HUD for combatting sexual harassment in housing across the country. It will focus on five key areas: continued data sharing and analysis, joint development of training, evaluation of public housing complaint mechanisms, coordination of public outreach and press strategy, and review of federal policies.
Second, the outreach toolkit is designed to leverage the Justice Department’s nationwide network of U.S. Attorney’s Offices. The toolkit provides templates, guidance, and checklists based on pilot program feedback. It ultimately will amplify available enforcement resources and help victims of sexual harassment connect with the Department.
Third, the public awareness campaign has three major components: a partnership package with relevant stakeholders, launch of a social media campaign, and Public Service Announcements (PSAs) run by individual U.S. Attorney’s offices. The campaign is specifically designed to raise awareness, and make it easier for victims all over the country to find resources and report harassment.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment in housing should call the Department at 1-844-380-6178, send an e-mail to [email protected], or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777. If you have information or questions about any other housing discrimination, you can contact the Department at 1-800-896-7743.
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Justice Department Announces Nationwide Initiative to Combat Sexual Harassment in HousingRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY — As the Department of Justice recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, Attorney General Jeff Sessions yesterday announced the nationwide rollout of an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and reporting of sexual harassment in housing. The announcement includes an interagency task force between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Justice Department to combat sexual harassment in housing, an outreach toolkit, and a public awareness campaign. This three-pronged approach will strengthen the Department’s efforts to combat sexual harassment in housing.
“Sexual harassment in housing is illegal, immoral, and unacceptable," said Attorney General Sessions. “It is all too common today, as too many landlords, managers, and their employees attempt to prey on vulnerable women. We will not hesitate to pursue these predators and enforce the law. In October, I ordered a new initiative to bring more of these cases, and we have already won relief for 15 victims. Today we announce three new steps to make the initiative more effective and to win more cases. I want to thank the dedicated and committed professionals in our Civil Rights Division and our partners in the Department of Housing and Urban Development for their hard work in this effort. We will continue to aggressively pursue harassers, because everyone has a right to be safe in their home.”
“All discrimination stains the very fabric of our nation, but HUD is especially focused on protecting the right of everyone to feel safe and secure in their homes, free from unwanted sexual harassment,” said Secretary Ben Carson. “No person should have to tolerate unwanted sexual advances in order to keep a roof over his or her head. Part of our mission at HUD is to provide safe housing and we will remain diligent in this mission to protect those we serve. I look forward to working with Attorney General Sessions and the Department of Justice as part of this task force to bring an end to this type of discrimination.”
“It is fitting that we acknowledge the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act by announcing this initiative to increase awareness and reporting of sexual harassment in housing,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “No one should live in fear of unwanted sexual advances or attacks, nor should they fear losing their homes if they report such activities. All people have the right to feel safe in their own home. My Office, with our federal partners, will continue to do all that we can to protect that right and to bring to justice those whose behavior endangers it.”
In October 2017, the Justice Department announced an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing and launched pilot programs in Washington, D.C. and the Western District of Virginia. The initiative sought to increase the Department’s efforts to protect women from harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, security guards, and other employees and representatives of rental property owners. During the pilots, the Department developed and tested ways to better connect both with victims of sexual harassment in housing and with those organizations that victims may turn to first for help – including law enforcement, legal services providers, public housing authorities, sexual assault services providers, and shelters. The Department also tested certain aspects of the initiative in other jurisdictions, including New Jersey, the Central District of California, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Michigan.
The two pilot programs generated an upswing in harassment reporting to the Department from both D.C. and the Western District of Virginia. In D.C., the Department generated six leads since the October 2017 launch. In Virginia, the Department generated three leads. While the Justice Department recognizes that leads and investigations do not always lead to enforcement actions, the pilot program’s results—when extrapolated across all the U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country—could lead to hundreds of new reports of sexual harassment in housing across the country.
Because of these promising results, the Department is rolling out three major components to the Initiative.
First, the new HUD-DOJ Task Force to Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing will drive a shared strategy between the Department and HUD for combatting sexual harassment in housing across the country. It will focus on five key areas: continued data sharing and analysis, joint development of training, evaluation of public housing complaint mechanisms, coordination of public outreach and press strategy, and review of federal policies.Second, the outreach toolkit is designed to leverage the Justice Department’s nationwide network of U.S. Attorney’s Offices. The toolkit provides templates, guidance, and checklists based on pilot program feedback. It ultimately will amplify available enforcement resources and help victims of sexual harassment connect with the Department.
Third, the public awareness campaign has three major components: a partnership package with relevant stakeholders, launch of a social media campaign, and Public Service Announcements (PSAs) run by individual U.S. Attorney’s offices. The campaign is specifically designed to raise awareness, and make it easier for victims all over the country to find resources and report harassment.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment in housing should call the Department at 1-844-380-6178, send an e-mail to [email protected], or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777. If you have information or questions about any other housing discrimination, you can contact the Department at 1-800-896-7743.
Justice Department Announces Nationwide Initiative to Combat Sexual Harassment in HousingRead the Press Release
Yesterday, as the Department of Justice recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the nationwide rollout of an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and reporting of sexual harassment in housing. The announcement includes an interagency task force between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Justice Department to combat sexual harassment in housing, an outreach toolkit, and a public awareness campaign. This three-pronged approach will strengthen the Department’s efforts to combat sexual harassment in housing.
To launch this initiative in the Eastern District of Michigan, on April 10, 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the Civil Rights Division, held a community roundtable to discuss the impact of sexual harassment in housing and current efforts to address the issue. U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider and Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights John Gore, each made remarks at the event, which was held at the McGregor Center on the campus of Wayne State University. Attendees included representatives from over 30 different organizations, including fair housing centers, legal aid groups, advocacy and non-profit organizations, and governmental agencies. Each organization was invited because they often work with Michigan’s most vulnerable populations, who could also become victims of sexual harassment in housing. Through such roundtables, the US Attorney's Office is working to help residents or applicants experiencing sexual harassment to quickly and easily connect with the Department of Justice.
United States Attorney Matthew Schneider stated, “If you have been sexually harassed by your landlord, apartment manager, maintenance worker, or other housing employee, please contact us so we can help you and seek justice in federal court.”
“Sexual harassment in housing is illegal, immoral, and unacceptable," said Attorney General Sessions. “It is all too common today, as too many landlords, managers, and their employees attempt to prey on vulnerable women. We will not hesitate to pursue these predators and enforce the law. In October, I ordered a new initiative to bring more of these cases, and we have already won relief for 15 victims. Today we announce three new steps to make the initiative more effective and to win more cases. I want to thank the dedicated and committed professionals in our Civil Rights Division and our partners in the Department of Housing and Urban Development for their hard work in this effort. We will continue to aggressively pursue harassers, because everyone has a right to be safe in their home.”
“All discrimination stains the very fabric of our nation, but HUD is especially focused on protecting the right of everyone to feel safe and secure in their homes, free from unwanted sexual harassment,” said Secretary Ben Carson. “No person should have to tolerate unwanted sexual advances in order to keep a roof over his or her head. Part of our mission at HUD is to provide safe housing and we will remain diligent in this mission to protect those we serve. I look forward to working with Attorney General Sessions and the Department of Justice as part of this task force to bring an end to this type of discrimination.”
In October 2017, the Justice Department announced an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing and launched pilot programs in Washington, D.C. and the Western District of Virginia. The initiative sought to increase the Department’s efforts to protect women from harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, security guards, and other employees and representatives of rental property owners. During the pilots, the Department developed and tested ways to better connect both with victims of sexual harassment in housing and with those organizations that victims may turn to first for help – including law enforcement, legal services providers, public housing authorities, sexual assault services providers, and shelters. The Department also tested certain aspects of the initiative in other jurisdictions, including New Jersey, the Central District of California, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Michigan.
The two pilot programs generated an upswing in harassment reporting to the Department from both D.C. and the Western District of Virginia. In D.C., the Department generated six leads since the October 2017 launch. In Virginia, the Department generated three leads. While the Justice Department recognizes that leads and investigations do not always lead to enforcement actions, the pilot program’s results—when extrapolated across all the U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country—could lead to hundreds of new reports of sexual harassment in housing across the country.
Because of these promising results, the Department is rolling out three major components to the Initiative.
First, the new HUD-DOJ Task Force to Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing will drive a shared strategy between the Department and HUD for combatting sexual harassment in housing across the country. It will focus on five key areas: continued data sharing and analysis, joint development of training, evaluation of public housing complaint mechanisms, coordination of public outreach and press strategy, and review of federal policies.
Second, the outreach toolkit is designed to leverage the Justice Department’s nationwide network of U.S. Attorney’s Offices. The toolkit provides templates, guidance, and checklists based on pilot program feedback. It ultimately will amplify available enforcement resources and help victims of sexual harassment connect with the Department.
Third, the public awareness campaign has three major components: a partnership package with relevant stakeholders, launch of a social media campaign, and Public Service Announcements (PSAs) run by individual U.S. Attorney’s offices. The campaign is specifically designed to raise awareness, and make it easier for victims all over the country to find resources and report harassment. To find the PSAs for the Eastern District of Michigan, click here.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment in housing should call the Department at 1-844-380-6178, send an e-mail to [email protected], or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777. If you have information or questions about any other housing discrimination, you can contact the Department at 1-800-896-7743.
Honduran National Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Kidnapping Woman in Kansas City, Missouri and Raping Her as They Traveled to New JerseyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Honduran national was sentenced today to 288 months in prison for kidnapping his former girlfriend in Kansas City, Missouri, and raping her while they traveled to New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
José Amaya-Vasquez, 33, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman to Count One of an indictment, charging him with kidnapping, and Count Two, charging him with engaging in interstate domestic violence. Amaya-Vasquez previously pleaded guilty to Count Four which charged him with illegally re-entering the U.S. after having been deported. Judge Hillman imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Amaya-Vasquez is a citizen of Honduras. On Feb. 14, 2005, he attempted to enter the United States illegally in Texas, at which time the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested him, gave him a Notice to Appear in Immigration Court and released him from custody. On July 13, 2005, he failed to appear as ordered, at which time an Immigration Judge entered an Order of Removal.
On June 7, 2014, the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department arrested Amaya-Vasquez and charged him with domestic assault after he threw a comb at the victim and pushed her into a table. The police turned the defendant over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which removed him from the United States on July 4, 2014.
On Sept. 9, 2014, CBP officers arrested Amaya-Vasquez after he illegally entered the United States from Mexico near Eagle Pass, Texas. On Sept. 16, 2014, the defendant pleaded guilty to a count of illegal entry before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas and was sentenced to 30 days’ incarceration. On Oct. 22, 2014, ICE again removed the defendant from the United States and he was barred from re-entering the United States for 20 years. He admitted that he illegally re-entered the country in January 2015.
On May 23, 2015, Amaya-Vasquez met the victim in the parking lot of the Burlington Coat factory in Independence, Missouri. Amaya-Vasquez entered the victim’s vehicle, threatened her with a knife, duct-taped the victim and then took her and the victim’s 2-year old child to an abandoned house in Kansas City, where he sexually assaulted the victim at knifepoint.
From May 24, 2015, through May 25, 2015, Amaya-Vasquez took the victim and the child towards New York. He stopped at motels in Englewood, Ohio, and Bellmawr, New Jersey, and continued to rape the victim.
On May 26, 2015, officers from the Bellmawr Police Department, acting on information from the Kansas City Police Department, located the victim in the Bellmawr motel. Amaya-Vasquez escaped from the motel as the officers approached. Later that morning, officers from Bellmawr and Mt. Ephraim, New Jersey, arrested Amaya-Vasquez a short distance from the motel. Amaya-Vasquez has been in custody since his arrest.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Hillman sentenced Amaya to five years of supervised release, ordered him to pay $6,100 in restitution to the victim and ordered him to have no contact with the victim.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster in Philadelphia, special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), under Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris, and investigators with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Kansas City Police Department and the Bellmawr Police Department for their assistance.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel Jason M. Richardson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Defense counsel: Jose Luis Ongay Esq., Camden
Honduran Man Sentenced for Human SmugglingRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Emerson Isaac Hernandez-Turcios, 26, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 21 months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, and Thomas M. Annello, Acting Special Agent-In-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans. Hernandez-Turcios was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
As a result of this felony conviction, Hernandez-Turcios, who had been living in the United States legally as a Legal Permanent Resident, will face Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings upon the completion of his prison sentence. Were he to unlawfully return to the United States during his period of supervised release, he could face additional penalties. Hernandez-Turcios was convicted after pleading guilty on January 5, 2018, before Judge Ozerden in Gulfport.
On November 5, 2017, a Honda CRV, driven by Hernandez-Turcios, was stopped by a Pearl River County Sheriff’s Deputy on Interstate-59 in Pearl River County, Mississippi, for speeding. While the Honda CRV was designed to seat five people, the deputy observed that, in addition to the driver, there were five unidentified passengers. The driver could not identify his passengers and the deputy could not communicate with the passengers due to a language barrier. Suspecting human smuggling, the deputy contacted the Department of Homeland Security and a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations was dispatched. A Mississippi Highway Patrol State Trooper also provided assistance.
Upon opening the Honda CRV’s cargo door, three additional passengers were found covered in the cargo area of the vehicle bringing the total number of occupants in the vehicle to nine including the driver. The vehicle occupants were taken to the Pearl River County Jail and, ultimately, all of the passengers were determined to be illegal aliens being smuggled within the United States.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris.
Guatemalan Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Ammunition ChargesRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MISAEL BERNAL, age 33, a citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty yesterday to a one-count indictment for violating the Federal Gun Control Act.
According to court documents, officers of the New Orleans Police Department were dispatched to a residence after receiving a 911 call in reference to a man firing a gun into the air. Responding officers encountered BERNAL outside of his residence and observed several spent 9mm shell casings on the ground. After conducting an investigative frisk for officer safety, a box of 9mm ammunition was located in his right front pocket. While conducting the investigation, officers located a witness who indicated that BERNAL went back into his residence after firing the weapon. Officers applied for a search warrant on his residence which later yielded a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. BERNAL was arrested and federal agents later determined that he had been previously removed from the United States on April 30, 2013 and had no permission to reenter.
BERNAL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, a fine of $250,000, three years supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment. U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon set sentencing for July 12, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri is in charge of the prosecution.
Grand Jury Charges Pesticide Applicator for Applying Restricted-Use Pesticide to Residences in the U.S. Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
Jose Rivera, 59, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. According to the indictment, Rivera illegally applied fumigants containing methyl bromide in multiple residential locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including the condominium resort complex in St. John, where a family of four fell seriously ill in March 2015, announced Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood of the Environment and Natural Resources Division and United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands.
The indictment alleges that Rivera knowingly applied restricted-use fumigants at the Sirenusa resort in St. John for the purpose of exterminating household pests on or about Oct. 20, 2014, and on or about March 18, 2015. The defendant was also charged with applying the restricted-use pesticide in eight residential units in St. Croix and one additional unit in St. Thomas between April 2013 and February 2015.
In 1984, EPA banned the indoor use of methyl bromide products. The few remaining uses are severely restricted. Pesticides containing methyl bromide in the U.S. are restricted-use due to their acute toxicity, meaning that they must only be applied by a certified applicator. Health effects of acute exposure to methyl bromide are serious and include central nervous system and respiratory system damage. Pesticides can be very toxic and it is critically important that they be used only as approved by EPA.
Earlier this year, TERMINIX LP and TERMINIX, USVI were sentenced to pay a total of $9.2 million in criminal fines and restitution. The companies were also ordered to perform community service following an investigation and guilty pleas to their use and application of illegal fumigants in multiple residential locations in the Virgin Islands.
The case was investigated by EPA Criminal Investigation Division, working cooperatively with the Virgins Islands government and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Senior Litigation Counsel Howard P. Stewart of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim L. Chisholm for the District of the Virgin Islands are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Patricia Hick, EPA Region II Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel.
An indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
For more information about EPA’s pesticide program and its requirements, visit www.epa.gov/pesticides/.
For more information on methyl bromide, visit www.epa.gov/region2/methyl-bromide.pdf.
Gary Man Sentenced to 63 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Dennis Wayne Stryjewski, 46 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced before Hammond District Court Judge Philip Simon on his plea of distributing heroin, announced U.S. U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Stryjewski was sentenced 63 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
According to documents in this case, On June 23, 2017, Stryjewski sold heroin from his residence located in Gary, Indiana.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Padilla.
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Former Major at Correctional Institution Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Falsifying Records to Obstruct Federal InvestigationRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Yesterday afternoon, Michael J. Baxter, 49, of Grand Ridge, Florida, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court in Panama City to 5 years in prison after being convicted on January 25 of falsifying records to obstruct a federal investigation. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
During the two-day trial, the government presented evidence that Baxter, while acting as a state correctional officer at the Apalachee Correctional Institution, knowingly falsified use-of-force and incident reports to obstruct an investigation into allegations of a violent assault on an inmate. The jury received evidence that, on July 12, 2015, the inmate was assaulted in Major Baxter’s office on the day the inmate was going to be married. Blood splatter from the inmate’s head was found on the floor of the office, and medical records confirmed significant damage to the inmate’s face and head. Afterwards, Major Baxter falsified his reports to obstruct the investigation into the assault.
United States Attorney Canova said: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will vigorously prosecute those lawbreakers in positions of trust who abuse their authority to obstruct the pursuit of justice and attempt to mislead investigators with false information.”
“Law enforcement must be held to a higher standard,” said Charles P. Spencer, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “The FBI will use every resource available to assist our law enforcement partners in holding officers accountable for their actions.”
FDC Secretary Julie Jones said: “The actions of Mr. Baxter were unacceptable and are in no way a reflection of the thousands of correctional officers who work diligently every day to watch over our inmates. Protecting those in our custody is the Department’s chief priority, and we are committed to ensuring fair and appropriate treatment as they serve their time in the correctional system. We thank our law enforcement partners for their hard work throughout this process.”
“Obstructing the truth and knowingly falsifying records presents a clear danger to the lives of inmates and all those who work at the prison. FDLE takes such threats seriously and is committed to fully determining all the facts and ensuring that the truth provides for accountability,” said FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Jack Massey.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Corrections – Office of Inspector General, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Former Long Island Investment Adviser Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Stealing $3 Million from InvestorsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, New York, Eric Erb, a former investment adviser and hedge fund manager, was sentenced by United States District Judge Arthur D. Spatt to 57 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release. In August 2017, Erb pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in a hedge fund and other investment vehicles that Erb managed from an office in Babylon, New York. As part of the sentence, Erb was ordered to pay $5.3 million in restitution to victims of his crime, a $5.3 million forfeiture judgment and to forfeit $215,000 in proceeds that he earned from the sale of his former residence in Bay Shore, New York.
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.
“Erb blatantly lied to investors who entrusted him with their hard-earned retirement savings, stealing from them to finance his own lifestyle of country club dues, home renovations and private school tuition,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding accountable criminals like Erb who defraud the investing public.”
“Erb’s scheme had a devastating impact on his victims, leaving them to suffer financial losses directly and personal losses indirectly,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure this type of behavior ceases to exist.”
According to court filings and facts presented at the plea hearing, between approximately January 2016 and February 2017, Erb solicited approximately $5.4 million from investors under the promise that he would follow investors’ instructions when making various investments, including in Individual Retirement Accounts, annuities, real estate investment trusts, hedge funds and an initial public offering. The victims were led to believe that their investments with Erb were earning profits, when, in fact, they were suffering losses and their investments were financing the defendant’s lifestyle of home renovations, country club dues and private school tuition. When these investments began to fail, Erb emailed investors false earnings statements showing that their investments were earning profits when, in fact, they were generating losses; made wire transfers between banks in Long Island and Florida to fund investments that investors did not authorize him to make; and falsified payee information on checks that investors wrote to fund investments so that Erb could use investors’ monies to benefit himself and his companies. During his plea allocution, Erb admitted to stealing approximately $3 million from 38 investors.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley T. King and Madeline M. O’Connor are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ERIC ERB
Age: 40
Residence: Levittown, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-413 (ADS)
Former CFO Sentenced for Embezzling $6.5 Million from KC CompanyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The former chief financial officer of a Kansas City, Mo., company was sentenced in federal court today for embezzling more than $6.5 million from his employer.
Douglas Lee Ferrell, 34, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to five years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Ferrell to pay $1,940,462 in restitution to his victims, which is the remaining loss amount after Ferrell’s partial repayment of restitution.
On Aug. 3, 2017, Ferrell pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.
Ferrell, hired as a family friend of his employer, began working for Scarbrough International at its headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., in 2005 as an account representative and became the company’s chief financial officer in 2012. Scarbrough International is a privately owned, U.S. Customs Broker and international freight forwarder.
Ferrell admitted that he embezzled approximately $6,523,742 from the company for his own use and enjoyment. Over a nearly eight-year period, from Sept. 1, 2006, to June 10, 2014, Ferrell engaged in a scheme to embezzle company funds by making unauthorized personal charges to the company’s credit card and PayPal accounts, and then using company funds to pay those charges.
Ferrell also made a number of financial transactions of funds that he knew were the proceeds of fraud, including a $650,000 wire transfer (that contained at least $475,625 in fraud proceeds) to Cayman National Bank in the Cayman Islands to purchase a beach house. Ferrell wired a total of more than $2,250,000 to purchase that property. Ferrell also used embezzled funds to ship furnishings from the United States for the property and for additional construction and improvements to the property, including over $77,000 in payments to a Cayman Islands tile company. After the improvements, paid for with additional embezzled funds, the property was valued at over $2.6 million.
According to court documents, Ferrell concealed his embezzlement through the years of controlling the company’s financial affairs and finding ways to blame others for the company’s financial woes. For example, Ferrell would scour the expenses of other employees, calling them out for their wastes of company funds, while he embezzled substantially greater sums. Ferrell also was involved in recommending persons to lay off while the company was going through the financial crisis in 2010, even though during 2010, Ferrell stole roughly $600,000. While not all of the 11 layoffs resulted from Ferrell’s fraud, a meaningful number did.
Ferrell’s fraud only stopped when American Express cancelled the company’s credit card on Friday, June 6, 2014. The following Monday, June 9, Ferrell told the Scarbroughs that he was leaving the company because he was pursuing the deal of a lifetime. That same week, American Express contacted the company and explained that the company’s American Express card was cancelled due to Ferrell’s charges. At that point, the company reviewed records and disclosed the fraud. Shortly thereafter, the Scarbroughs confronted Ferrell by phone about his embezzlement. On June 12, 2014, Ferrell met with the Scarbroughs and their attorneys, confessed to his fraud, and outlined a plan to liquidate assets to repay what he embezzled.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Casey. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Former Albertville City Judge Sentenced to 17 ½ Years in Prison for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced an Albertville lawyer and former part-time municipal judge to 17½ years in prison on a child pornography crime, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr.
STEVEN VINCENT SMITH, 54, pleaded guilty in November to one count of receiving child pornography on a computer between January 2015 and March 2016. U.S. District Court Judge Virginia E. Hopkins sentenced Smith and ordered him to serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison term.
“This defendant swore to honor the law and uphold justice, but instead he committed loathsome crimes on the most vulnerable of victims,” Town said. “His innocent victims will grow into being survivors while Smith will spend most of his remaining breaths inside of a cell.”
According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, Smith “committed a shocking number of sex crimes.” Along with distributing child pornography on the internet and possessing thousands of images of child pornography, including photos of graphic sexual assaults on toddlers, Smith also molested a child, according to the sentencing memorandum. He also solicited the production of child pornography and advised other sexual predators on how to groom and molest children, the memorandum said.
Smith’s crimes spanned years, with forensic evidence showing him “discussing the rape of children and distributing child pornography as early as 2010,” according to the memorandum.
The FBI investigated the case in conjunction with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Manu Balachandran prosecuted the case.
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Five Defendants Indicted for Selling Heroin and Fentanyl That Led to the Deaths of Six IndividualsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a 23-count indictment charging four defendants with conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Charged in the conspiracy are:
• Robert Moore, a/k/a Fonz, a/k/a Charmy, 39 of Williamsville, NY; • Reese Moore, a/k/a Detroit, 25 of Buffalo; NY
• Kevin Abernathy, a/k/a B, 31 also of Buffalo; and
• Joshua Levine, 21 of Lancaster, NY.Robert Moore is also charged with five counts of causing death from the distribution of heroin and/or fentanyl and 12 counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution, of heroin, fentanyl, and butyryl fentanyl. Joshua Levine is charged with one count of causing death from the distribution of heroin and fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution, of fentanyl. The additional charges against Robert Moore and Joshua Levine carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $20,000,000 fine.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, Reese Moore (Robert’s brother) is charged with three counts of distribution of fentanyl and Kevin Abernathy is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl. Those charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, a maximum of life in prison, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Felicetta, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, the defendants distributed heroin, fentanyl, and butyryl fentanyl for over two years in the City of Buffalo and surrounding areas. Many of the sales occurred on residential streets in Buffalo, in parking lots of businesses in Amherst and Lancaster, and several times at a local mall. The defendants are responsible for distributing thousands of doses of opiates and causing multiple overdoses, including the five charged deaths. The decedents include a 21-year-old Lockport woman, a 45-year-old Buffalo man, and three Lancaster men, ages 24, 31, and 36. All five were reportedly in treatment for their addictions when they relapsed and immediately overdosed from the potent fentanyl.
Robert Moore was arrested on March 16, 2017, after authorities executed a search warrant at his home on Glenwood Drive in Williamsville. Law enforcement officers recovered 200 doses of fentanyl inside the residence. Over $49,000 in cash, over $440,000 in jewelry, and a 2009 Audi S5 Quattro were also seized from Moore’s residence.
Levine was also arrested on March 16, 2017 following the execution of a search warrant at his residence on Aurora Street in Lancaster. Officers recovered 26 doses of fentanyl inside his residence.
Robert Moore and Joshua Levine have been detained since their arrest in March 2017. Reese Moore and Kevin Abernathy were arraigned this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. They are being held pending a detention hearing on April 17, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder.
In a separate case, a federal grand jury has returned a second superseding indictment charging Oliver Kimmons, a/k/a Ollie, a/k/a Ali, 49, of Lockport NY, with distribution of fentanyl causing death, conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl, possession of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine with intent to distribute, maintaining two drug-involved premises and human sex trafficking. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, a maximum of life and a $20,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Tokash, who is handling the case, stated that according to the second superseding indictment, on January 30, 2015, the defendant distributed fentanyl which resulted in the death of an individual identified as “H.C.”Kimmons was previously indicted on other drug and sex trafficking charges. According to the previous indictment, over the course of three years, the defendant solicited young, opiate-addicted women to have sex with paying customers. In exchange, Kimmons provided the victims with drugs. The defendant drove the victims to farms, dairies, and Indian Reservations in Western New York where they engaged in sex acts with paying customers. Kimmons collected the money from customers and then “paid” his victims in heroin. The defendant also had sex with the victims in exchange for drugs.
“All told, at least six people lost their lives as a result of the conduct charged in these indictments,” said U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Not only did those charged with causing the deaths of others peddle their poison for profit, but they did so by preying upon some of the most vulnerable members in our community. That makes them predators, and it is my Office’s job to work with our federal, state, and local partners in law enforcement, as we did here, to remove predators from our community.”
“This indictment is a significant step in bringing drug dealers to justice for causing overdose deaths as a result of their illegal actions,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt. “I commend the men and women who worked diligently on this investigation.”
New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach stated, “The New York State Police and our Community Narcotics Enforcement Team remain committed to working with our partners in law enforcement to identify dealers, put them out of business and to send a clear message to anyone trafficking these dangerous and deadly drugs - you will be found, you will be prosecuted, and you will go to prison.”
Amherst Police Chief John Askey stated, “Our communities, families and friends continue to suffer as the result of the opiate epidemic. This case demonstrates the determination and commitment of law enforcement at all levels in Western NY. We will aggressively investigate, arrest and prosecute those individuals and groups that deal and profit while knowing the devastating effects of their actions. Congratulations to the law enforcement professionals and prosecutors for your outstanding work.”
These indictments are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division; the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief John C. Askey; the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Major David Krause, and Lieutenant Kevin Reyes; the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gerald J. Gill, Jr.; the Buffalo Police Department Narcotics Squad, under the direction of Commissioner Byron C. Lockwood; the Lockport Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Niethe; the Depew Police Department, under the direction of Chief Stan Carwile; the Niagara County Sherriff’s Office and the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Voutour; the Erie County Sherriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in Charge Kevin Kelly.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Federal Jury Convicts Man on Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Darius Fields, 27, of Dallas, Texas was found guilty Wednesday following a three-day trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn for aiding and abetting the false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer to acquire a firearm, commonly called “lying-and-buying” or making a “straw purchase,” announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Fields was convicted on one count of acquiring a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer by false or fictitious statement, one count of false statement with respect to information required to be kept in records of a licensed firearms dealer, and one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Fields faces a maximum statutory penalty of 25 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. He has been in custody since his arrest in July 2017. A sentencing date will be set by the court in the near future.
According to evidence presented at trial, Fields, a convicted felon who was being sought as a person of interests in a state kidnapping investigation, was found at a motel in Irving on the night of June 29, 2017. When the police made contact with Fields at the motel, they smelled the odor of marijuana and entered the room for a protective sweep. There, they found Fields’ girlfriend and co-defendant, LaPorshya Polley, emerging from the bathroom after attempting to flush marijuana down the toilet. They also observed a box of ammunition in plain view on a desk. Using flashlights, the police also observed a partially concealed AK-47 weapon in the back of a black Honda Accord parked directly in front of Fields’ motel room. The police then secured a search warrant for the motel room and the Honda Accord.
Inside the motel room, according to evidence presented, the police seized the box of ammunition, a small amount of marijuana, two cell phones belonging to Fields, and approximately $5,000 in cash. They also found a loaded FNH pistol—with a round in the chamber and the safety in the “fire” position—in Polley’s bag of clothing. In the Honda Accord, the police seized a loaded AK-47 pistol. Polley had purchased both weapons. The police, in fact, discovered that Polley had recently purchased the FNH pistol from DFW Gun Range in Dallas. The police obtained security video recordings of Polley’s purchase from the gun dealer. The recording depicted a classic “straw purchase” of the firearm, as it showed Fields and Polley arriving together at the gun dealer, but walking in at different times to act as if they weren’t together. The video also showed Fields and Polley ignoring one another and acting as if they were not together. Finally, the video showed Fields monitoring Polley’s interaction with the gun salesman, and once Fields observed that Polley was wrapping up the purchase he walked back out to the car and waited for Polley. Text messages found on one of Fields’ cell phones showed that after Polley purchased the pistol, but before she left the gun dealer, she texted Fields about the type of ammunition that he wanted for the weapon. Lastly, when Polley walked out of the gun dealer with the FNH pistol and ammunition and got inside the car driven by Fields, Fields waited before driving off—reflecting that he was examining Polley’s purchase. When Polley purchased the FNH pistol—which she paid approximately $1,400 in cash—she stated on the transaction record that she was buying the pistol for herself and not for anyone else.
Fields contended that the firearms and ammunition found by the police were for Polley and that he did not knowingly possess them. He also contended that Polley purchased the FNH pistol for herself and not for him and, therefore, she did not lie to DFW Gun Range or put false information in the gun dealer’s records. On Fields’ cell phones, the police discovered numerous pictures of Fields displaying firearms and two videos of Fields shooting firearms at a gun range in February 2017. The court permitted the government to introduce this evidence as it shed light on Fields’ knowledge and intent. Fields, however, countered that the pictures of him displaying guns were “prop” guns, not real ones, and a defense witness even incredulously claimed that the videos of Fields shooting at the gun range depicted “blank guns”—even though the video showed bullets striking the dirt behind the targets.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Irving Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary Tromblay and Camille Sparks prosecuted.
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Twenty-Eight IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MACON: Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that a Grand Jury, sitting in Macon Georgia, has returned indictments against twenty-eight defendants. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct. All of the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. “I want to thank our Federal and State law enforcement partners for their hard work bringing these cases before the Federal Grand Jury” said United States Attorney Peeler.
Those charged are:
NORRIS LOWE, aged 45, and KEISHA BUSSEY, aged 44, both of Atlanta, GA are charged in an indictment alleging:
Mr. Lowe is charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine (Count 1), Possession of Marijuana (Count 2), Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Count 3) and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense (Count 4). Mr. Lowe faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, a maximum $1 million fine, or both, for Count 1; 12 months, a maximum $25,000 fine, or both, for Count 2; 10 years, a maximum $250,000 fine, or both, for Count 3 and life imprisonment, a $250,000 maximum fine, or both, for Count 4, if convicted.
Ms. Bussey is charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine (Count 1), Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Count 3), Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense (Count 4). If convicted, Ms. Bussey faces a maximum penalty of 20 years, a $1 million maximum fine, or both, on Count 1; 10 years, a $250,000 maximum fine, or both, for Count 3 and life imprisonment, a maximum $250,000 fine, or both, for Count 4.
The case was investigated by the Perry Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Calhoun is prosecuting the case for the government.
JARON THOMAS, aged 26, of Eastman, GA, is charged with Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number and faces a maximum sentence of five years, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both, if convicted. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Calhoun is prosecuting the case for the government.
SHAYANA A. TRUITT, aged 27, of Stone Mountain, GA, and JOHN ANTHONY WILLIAMS, aged 36, of Spartanburg, SC are charged as below:
Ms. Truitt is charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm (Count 1) and Possession of Marijuana and Methamphetamine (Count 3). If convicted, Ms. Truitt faces maximum sentence of 1 year, a maximum fine of $1000, or both, for Count 1 and a maximum 10 years, a $250,000 fine, or both, on Count 2.
Mr. Williams is charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm (Count 1), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (Count 2) and Possession of Marijuana and Methamphetamine (Count 3). If convicted, Mr. Williams faces a maximum sentence of 1 year imprisonment, a maximum fine of $1000, or both, on Count 1; a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both, for Count 2; and a maximum sentence of 10 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both, for Count 3.
The case was investigated by the Hart County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Jarrett is prosecuting the case for the government.
JOSE CALDERON A/K/A “FLACO”, aged 40, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. If convicted, Mr. Calderon faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a maximum $10 million fine, or both. The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Department of Corrections and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah E. McEwen is prosecuting the case for the government.
FREDDIE LAMAR JOHNSON, aged 34, of Athens, GA, is charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana (Count 1), Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking (Count 2), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (Count 3), Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana within 1000 Feet of a School (Count 4), and Possession of Oxycodone (Count 5). Mr. Johnson faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 maximum fine, or both, on Count 1; a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a maximum sentence of $250,000, or both, on Count 2; a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both, on Count 3; a maximum sentence of 10 years, a maximum fine of $500,000, or both, on Count 4, and a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment, a maximum fine of $100,000, or both, on Count 5, if convicted. The case was investigated by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham A. Thorpe.
Four individuals were indicted for alleged Illegal Reentry after having been deported and removed from the United States. All of the cases were investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Solis is prosecuting the cases for the government.
- DERMER DUBON-SERRANO, aged 22, a citizen of Honduras, is charged with Illegal Reentry, having been deported and removed from the United States on or about September 13, 2013 and March 4, 2016. If convicted, Mr. Dubon-Serrano faces a maximum of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- ALEJANDRO GODINEZ-MORALES A/K/A GABRIEL VASQUEZ-TORRES, aged 31, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with Illegal Reentry having been deported and removed from the United States on or about March 13, 2008; May 23, 2011; January 30, 2012; August 14, 2014 and March 6, 2017. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in Federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- JUAN PEZA-RAMIREZ a/k/a JOSE HERNANDEZ-SALDANA, aged 44, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with Illegal Reentry having been deported and removed from the United States on or about January 19, 2007, October 21, 2011 and April 24, 2012. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in Federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- EFRAIN HERRERA-ALAS, aged 28, a citizen of El Salvador, is charged with Illegal Reentry, having been deported and removed on May 8, 2004. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in Federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
JAMES T. PARKER, aged 35 of Leary GA, is charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in Federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, if convicted. The case was investigated by the Albany Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Crane.
Twelve individuals were indicted for their alleged participation in a Wire Fraud Conspiracy:
- GARLAND ALFORD, aged 75, of Donalsonville, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (Counts 2-9). If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- ETHELENE ALFORD, aged 75, of Donalsonville, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (Counts 2-9). If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- ANTONIO GARDNER, aged 34, of Donalsonville, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (Count 17). If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- VICTORIA HENRY, aged 46, of Donalsonville, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (Count 19). If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- JENNIFER JOHNSON, aged 29, of Donalsonville, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (15). If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- RENEE KIMBLE, aged 40, of Donalsonville, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (Count 16). If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- CRYSTAL MAXWELL, aged 35, of Donalsonville, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (Count 10). If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- WENDY MITCHELL A/D/A WENDY PRICKETT, aged 43, of Nashville, TN, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (Count 11). If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- ROSANNA ROUPE, aged 32, of Donalsonville, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (Count 12). If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- JEANIE SHEFFIELD, aged 34, of Colquitt, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SMAP Fraud (Count 14). If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- KAYLA WALLACE, aged 25, of Donalsonville, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (Count 18). If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
- KANEESHA WOOTEN, aged 23, of Bainbridge, GA, is charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy (Count 1) and SNAP Fraud (Count 13). If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Alan Dasher.
DEMETRIUS CLARK, aged 32 of Columbus, GA, is charged with Access Device Fraud (Count 1) and Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 2-5). If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on Count 1 and two years in prison, to be served consecutively, on Counts 2 through 5. The case was investigated by the Columbus Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melvin E, Hyde, Jr. is prosecuting the case for the government.
BRYANT HOOKER, aged 29 of Athens, GA, is charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. Mr. Hooker faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in Federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, if convicted. The case was investigated by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham A. Thorpe is prosecuting the case for the government.
ROBERT IVAN MASK, is charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $10 million fine, or both, if convicted. The Brooks County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Drug enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia C. Bowen is prosecuting the case for the government.
RYNE MICHAEL SEETO, aged 31, of Fort Washington, MD, is charged with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in Federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, if convicted. The Houston County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul C. McCommon, III is prosecuting the case for the government.
Questions concerning this release should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.
Employees of a North Carolina Tax Return Preparation Business Plead Guilty to Preparing Fraudulent Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Two Winston-Salem, North Carolina, tax return preparers pleaded guilty today to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return for an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) undercover agent, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew G. T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to documents and information provided to the court, Kristyn Dion Daney and Rakeem Lenell Scales worked at a tax return preparation businesses named Fast Tax of Winston-Salem Inc. in Winston-Salem. Fast Tax was owned by Shannon DeWayne Patterson, who pleaded guilty to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return last November, and two other individuals.
As part of their pleas, Scales and Daney admitted that in March 2015 they assisted in preparing a false tax return for an IRS undercover agent. They further admitted that at the beginning of the 2014 tax filing season, they were instructed at training sessions held by one of the Fast Tax co-owners to manipulate the information on clients’ returns to maximize tax refunds.
In total, Daney admitted to aiding in the preparation of approximately 193 false tax returns, which claimed approximately $495,984.04 in fraudulent tax refunds. Scales admitted to aiding in the preparation of approximately 29 false tax returns, which claimed approximately $74,535.20 in fraudulent tax refunds.
U.S. District Judge Loretta C. Biggs scheduled sentencing for Sept. 11. Each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Martin commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorney Robert J. Boudreau and Criminal Division Chief Clifton T. Barrett of the Middle District of North Carolina, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Employees of A North Carolina Tax Return Preparation Business Plead Guilty to Preparing Fraudulent Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Two Winston-Salem, North Carolina, tax return preparers pleaded guilty today to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return for an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) undercover agent, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew G. T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to documents and information provided to the court, Kristyn Dion Daney and Rakeem Lenell Scales worked at a tax return preparation businesses named Fast Tax of Winston-Salem Inc. in Winston-Salem. Fast Tax was owned by Shannon DeWayne Patterson, who pleaded guilty to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return last November, and two other individuals.
As part of their pleas, Scales and Daney admitted that in March 2015 they assisted in preparing a false tax return for an IRS undercover agent. They further admitted that at the beginning of the 2014 tax filing season, they were instructed at training sessions held by one of the Fast Tax co-owners to manipulate the information on clients’ returns to maximize tax refunds.
In total, Daney admitted to aiding in the preparation of approximately 193 false tax returns, which claimed approximately $495,984.04 in fraudulent tax refunds. Scales admitted to aiding in the preparation of approximately 29 false tax returns, which claimed approximately $74,535.20 in fraudulent tax refunds.
U.S. District Judge Loretta C. Biggs scheduled sentencing for Sept. 11. Each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Martin commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorney Robert J. Boudreau and Criminal Division Chief Clifton T. Barrett of the Middle District of North Carolina, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
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District Man Pleads Guilty to Repeatedly Sexually Assaulting GirlRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A 24-year-old man from Washington, D.C. pled guilty today to two counts of second-degree child sexual abuse for engaging in sexual acts in his home with a cousin who was 9 and 10 years old at the time, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.
The defendant, who is not identified here to protect the privacy of the victim, pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Danya A. Dayson scheduled sentencing for June 22, 2018. Once released from prison, the defendant will be placed on a period of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
According to the government’s evidence, between Sept. 1, 2016 and Oct, 31, 2017, the defendant engaged in sexual acts with the young girl at his residence in Southeast Washington. He was arrested on Feb. 13, 2018, and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu praised detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Division; as well as employees of the girl’s school, who upon learning of the sexual abuse, immediately notified the police. She also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Brenda C. Williams and Victim/Witness Advocate Juanita Harris. Finally, U.S. Attorney Liu commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Taylor, who investigated and prosecuted this case.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Two Banks in Downtown Washington Last SummerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Timothy L. Jennings, Sr., 61, of Washington, D.C., has pled guilty to robbing two banks last summer in downtown Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Nancy McNamara, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Jennings pled guilty on April 12, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to two counts of bank robbery. Each charge carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Jennings faces a possible range of 57 to 71 months in prison. He also must pay a total of $1,367 in restitution to the two banks. The Honorable Tanya S. Chutkan scheduled sentencing for June 21, 2018.
According to the government’s evidence, Jennings carried out the first robbery on July 17, 2017, at approximately 9:05 a.m., targeting a SunTrust Bank in the 900 block of 17th Street NW. Jennings told a teller: “This is a robbery and I have a gun and I'll shoot you,” and demanded money. The teller handed him a total of $926 and Jennings fled the scene.
The second robbery took place four days later, on July 21, 2017, at approximately 9:20 a.m. This time, Jennings entered an M&T Bank in the 500 block of 12th Street NW and handed the teller a note demanding money. The teller handed him $441 and Jennings fled.
In his plea, Jennings also accepted responsibility for two additional bank robberies, which took place later on the morning of July 21, within an hour of the M&T Bank robbery. In both incidents, he left the banks without money. One attempt took place at a BB&T branch in the 800 block of Connecticut Avenue NW and the other at a Bank of America branch in the 800 block of 17th Street NW. Hours after these incidents, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department located Jennings and arrested him. He has been in custody ever since.
At the time of these offenses, Jennings had been on supervised release for a few months after serving more than 10 years in prison for a series of three bank robberies.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu, Assistant Director in Charge McNamara, and Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. They expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who worked in the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Paralegal Specialists Jeannette Litz and Teesha Tobias and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole, who prosecuted the case.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Targeting Casino Patrons in Robberies and CarjackingsRead the Press Release
The Detroit One collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement has led to the guilty plea of a Detroit man for conspiring to rob patrons of Detroit-area casinos at gunpoint that evolved into armed carjackings and identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider.
Joining in the announcement was Timothy Slater, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Col Kriste Kibbey Etue, Michigan State Police.
Chief Judge Denise Page Hood accepted the guilty of Damon Washington, 27, of Detroit. Washington’s plea agreement calls for a sentence of 39 to 41 years in prison.
According to court records, the plan started in August 2017 and lasted until police arrested Washington during an attempted carjacking on October 2, 2017. Washington initially intended only to rob casino patrons of their winnings, but the robberies quickly escalated into carjackings during which Washington and his co-conspirator would cause a traffic accident and then rob victims of their money, phone, and wallets before carjacking them. Police searched Washington’s home after his arrest and discovered he had identity documents for his robbery and carjacking victims, three dozen fraudulent credit cards, and equipment to produce more counterfeit credit cards.
The case was investigated by the FBI Violent Crime Task Force, which includes representatives of the Michigan State Police and Detroit Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeanine Brunson and Shane Cralle.
Desoto County Student Arrested and Denied Bail for Internet ThreatsRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – US Attorney William C. Lamar and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI announced today that Nathan Caleb Brown, age 19, of Desoto County, Mississippi, appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Roy Percy at the Federal Courthouse in Oxford, Mississippi pursuant to a Criminal Complaint and Arrest Warrant charging him with transmitting threats in interstate commerce using social media platforms, such as Twitter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c).
At the conclusion of a preliminary hearing and detention hearing, Magistrate Judge Percy determined that there was probable cause to believe that Nathan Caleb Brown had communicated threats via the internet regarding Snapchat headquarters as well as threats referencing a school shooting similar to the 1999 Columbine mass shooting and ordered Brown detained pending presentation of the case to the Grand Jury.
The public is reminded that a Criminal Complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the United States has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Johnnie Lee Luckett, 45, of Jackson, pled guilty today, before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On September 6, 2017, Jackson police officers stopped Johnnie Lee Luckett for speeding on Woodrow Wilson Avenue in Jackson. At that time, a small plastic bag of marijuana could be seen in his hands. He was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. During the inventory of the car, police officers found a Taurus 9mm Pistol. Luckett admitted to having the firearm.
Judge Wingate will sentence Luckett on June 25, 2018, and he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes.
Cleveland man charged with armed robbery of Cleveland bankRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man was indicted for the armed robbery on a bank on Chester Avenue last year.
Joshua Gilchrist, 35, was indicted on one count of armed bank robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence.
Gilchrist used a firearm when he robbed the Key Bank on Chester Avenue in Cleveland on Dec. 8, 2017, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cleveland Division of Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Chevy Chase Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography ArrestedRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact ELIZABETH MORSE
www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4885
Greenbelt, Maryland – Jonathan Oldale, age 54, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was arrested on April 13, 2018, based on a criminal complaint charging him with production of child pornography.
The arrest was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Police Chief Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
According to the complaint, the investigation of Oldale began when officers from the Montgomery County Police Department responded to Silver Stars Gymnastics and Fitness in Silver Spring, Maryland based on the report of a suspicious situation. An employee at the business had found a camera hidden inside a backpack in a restroom. The backpack had been placed under a wet floor sign directly in front of the bathroom’s only toilet. The camera itself was hidden inside a non-functioning automobile key fob. When the employee recovered the camera, it was hot to the touch and had a very small, illuminated light indicating the device was in the “on” position. Further investigation revealed that the backpack belonged to Oldale, and that the backpack had also been left in the bathroom three weeks prior.
In May 2017, the Montgomery County Police Department executed a search warrant at Oldale’s home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. A detective with the Montgomery County Police Department’s Electronic Crimes Unit completed a digital forensic examination of electronic evidence seized from the home. A program used to securely delete (i.e., “clean”) files from computers was discovered. The detective also identified installations of a browser that enables anonymous communication and access to the “dark web.” The distribution and sharing of child exploitation images and videos is one illegal activity known to take place on the “dark web.”
In addition, the forensic analysis uncovered various computer artifacts indicating that the user had accessed files with names indicative of child exploitation material. Forensic analysis also revealed references to a known, but then-defunct website from the “dark web” that had provided users access to child pornography. The website had been shut down by law enforcement in December 2016.
Based on this evidence, the Montgomery County Police Department executed a second search warrant at Oldale’s residence in July 2017. Cameras containing SD memory cards were seized from Oldale’s office. Subsequent forensic examination of the SD cards revealed hundreds of videos filmed in the bathroom of the residence. The videos show that multiple cameras were used simultaneously to record activities in the bathroom. The videos depict children taking off their clothes or bathing suits, taking showers, and getting dressed. At least 30 children were filmed. The videos also depict Oldale checking camera angles.
Further investigation by the Montgomery County Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that when children attended “splash parties” at Oldale’s residence, the children would become covered in grass. According to a witness, Oldale made children take showers before they went home.
Oldale faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for production of child pornography.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the Montgomery County Police Department and the FBI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Baldwin and Timothy Hagan, who are prosecuting the case.
Chesapeake Man Sentenced to Prison for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to eight years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for possessing hundreds of thousands of images of child sexual abuse.
According to court documents, Charles McClung, 64, was a member of an online bulletin board dedicated to trading child pornography. The board was hosted on the dark net and had over 1,500 members. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into the board in September 2015, and McClung was identified downloading content from the board in December 2015. As a result of the investigation, HSI and other law enforcement executed a federal search warrant of McClung’s residence in Chesapeake and found hundreds of thousands of images of child pornography.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources” for more information about Internet safety education.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-105.
Charges Filed Against Nine Members of Kensington Area “TRUHITTAZ” Drug Trafficking GroupRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – A 44-count Second Superseding Indictment, unsealed today, charges nine people with conspiring to distribute phencyclidine (“PCP”) and cocaine base (“crack”) in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, announced United States Attorney William M. McSwain.
Charged are: James Grimes, a/k/a “Speedy,” “Dink,” “HM,” 27, Hassain Griffin, a/k/a “Glizzy,” “Frizzy,” “ODOG,” “GlizzytheHitta,” 23, Andrew Gault, a/k/a “Fly,” “Butterknife King,” “BKK,” 26, Katina Grimes, a/k/a “Snoop,” “SnoopdaHitta,” 29, Tyreeq Lenair, a/k/a “Bear,” 26, Quran Justice, a/k/a “Skee,” 21, Wayne Brunson, a/k/a “Weez,” 23, Unterrio Parris, a/k/a “Dudda,” “Didda,” 24, Anthony Hill, a/k/a “Turk,” “Turt,” 27, all living in Philadelphia.
In addition to the conspiracy count, the defendants are charged in multiple counts of distribution of phencyclidine, distribution of cocaine base, possession with the intent to distribute phencyclidine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base, distribution of controlled substances within 1000 feet of a school, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances within 1000 feet of a school, maintaining a drug house, unlawful use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, use and carrying of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (see attached chart).
“This was an organized, methodical and violent group of drug dealers who used force to protect their business and their turf,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “This organization and others like it effectively hold neighborhoods hostage. If law abiding citizens are going to live without fear, we have to do everything possible to shut these organizations down.”
According to the Second Superseding Indictment, the conspiracy existed from approximately June 2014 to November 2016. Defendants James Grimes and Hassain Griffin led and organized the drug trafficking group that referred to itself as the “TruHittaz” (hereinafter, “the TruHittaz DTG”). The TruHittaz DTG conducted their drug trafficking activities on and around the 700 and 800 blocks of East Willard and East Madison Streets in Philadelphia, PA. The TruHittaz DTG obtained quantities of phencyclidine, cocaine base, heroin, marijuana, and other controlled substances from suppliers, both outside and within the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The TruHittaz DTG then distributed in excess of 1 kilogram of phencyclidine, 280 grams of cocaine base, and quantities of heroin, marijuana, and other controlled substances in and around their drug territory.
"This investigation is an example of ATF’s dedication to working with our state, local and federal partners in identifying, targeting, and investigating violent criminals who are involved in selling narcotics and firearms. These offenders prey upon innocent citizens and lessen the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald Robinson. “Our neighborhoods deserve to exist without fear and intimidation inflicted by these violent gangs. These arrests should significantly impact the violent drug related violence that has wreaked havoc throughout Philadelphia.”
The TruHittaz DTG separated and packaged bulk quantities of liquid phencyclidine and cocaine base into different distribution quantities, and then distributed and sold the drugs to customers in and around their drug territory. A large part of the area in which the TruHittaz distributed and possessed with the intent to distribute drugs was located within 1,000 feet of several area schools.
The TruHittaz DTG classified themselves and each other as “bosses” or “shot callers,” “caseworkers,” “trappers,” and “lookouts,” delineating their role(s) in the organization. “Lookouts” watched for and alerted other members of the TruHittaz DTG to the presence of law enforcement in the area. “Trappers” sold drugs on the block, and “caseworkers” oversaw and supervised those sales. The “bosses” (also referred to as “shot callers” and “top callers”) of the TruHittaz DTG supplied controlled substances to the block and set the prices of, and received payments for, the controlled substances sold on the block. The TruHittaz DTG sold drugs in and around their drug territory 7 days a week and 24 hours per day. The TruHittaz DTG divided drug sales into day and night shifts, with the day shift running approximately 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and the night shift running from 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. The TruHittaz DTG staffed these shifts with lookouts, one to two caseworkers, and at least two trappers –one of whom sold phencyclidine and the other of whom sold cocaine base. When one member of the TruHittaz DTG – at any level of the group – was unavailable, another member stepped into that role.
Members of the TruHittaz DTG had specific hand signals and logos to denote their membership in the TruHittaz including a hand signal that formed an “H” for “Hittaz.” Members of the TruHittaz DTG used coded language to refer to the type and amount of phencyclidine, cocaine base, and other controlled substances for sale, such as, “hard” and “the ball game” (to refer to crack), “dime” and “basketball” (to refer to a packet/bundle of crack), “oranges” (to refer to larger quantities of crack) “dippers” or “dips” (to refer to cigarettes dipped in liquid PCP), “wet,” and “water” (to refer to liquid PCP), “fat bitches,” “a hizzy,” and a “soda” (to refer to various quantities of liquid PCP), “soccer balls” (to refer to marijuana), and “footballs” (to refer to heroin). Members of the TruHittaz DTG also used the phrases “the jungle” and “the block” to refer to their territory at or around the 700 and 800 blocks of East Willard and East Madison Streets and the term “trapping” to refer to selling controlled substances. The TruHittaz also used coded language to warn each other of the presence of law enforcement, such as, “Mayback” to refer to the presence of police officers in vehicles, “Rollers” to refer to the presence of police officers on bicycles, and “Phantoms” to refer to the presence of police officers on foot.
Members of the TruHittaz DTG tried to get customers to buy from them individually, and sold drugs in concert with each other, with members providing Adippers@ B cigarettes dipped in liquid phencyclidine and small bags of crack cocaine that were sold for $10 with increased dollar value correlating to an increased quantity of drugs. Members of the TruHittaz DTG also sold controlled substances in larger amounts, including a half-ounce, an ounce, and up to sixteen ounces of PCP and/or ounce or bulk quantities of crack cocaine. When multiple members sold drugs in concert with each other, each participating member received a portion of the profits from the sale relative to his/her contribution. Individuals acting as “lookouts” for the TruHittaz DTG also received a portion of the profits of drug sales for the shift worked by the lookout. All members of the TruHittaz DTG, regardless of their role at a given time, were paid in proportion to the amount of drugs sold on a given shift, so that the higher the quantity of drugs sold, the higher the profit each member received.
The TruHittaz DTG used residences in Philadelphia as “stash houses” and “trap houses” to store and package bulk quantities of PCP, crack cocaine, and other controlled substances for distribution and to collect and store the proceeds from their drug sales. These houses included 7606 Castor Avenue, Apartment B (also referred to as “the AP”), 763 East Willard Street, 744 East Madison Street, 755 East Madison Street (also referred to as “the trap house”), 810 East Willard Street, as well as vacant lots on both 800 East Willard and East Madison Streets, and abandoned properties.
The TruHittaz DTG used several vehicles to transport controlled substances to the block, to store controlled substances for the block, to transport controlled substances to drug customers at various locations, and to pick up proceeds of drug sales. These vehicles included: a black GMC Yukon Denali; a dark blue Dodge Charger; a maroon Pontiac Montana van; a silver Lincoln MKS; and a silver Chrysler 300.
Members of the TruHittaz DTG did not permit non-DTG members to sell drugs in their territory. To protect their territory, drug trafficking activities, drug customers, and drug proceeds, members of the TruHittaz DTG purchased, routinely carried, and sometimes used loaded firearms, and also kept firearms in hidden locations, including the “stash” house at 744 East Madison Street and at or around vacant lots at both 800 East Willard and East Madison Streets. Members of the TruHittaz DTG referred to these firearms as “gats,” “ratchets,” “tools,” and/or “block guns.” Members of the TruHittaz DTG used juveniles, to carry firearms and sell controlled substances to customers of the TruHittaz DTG. The “bosses” and “upper management” of the TruHittaz DTG threatened and/or used force against other TruHittaz members and “taxed” other members (by requiring them to pay money to the bosses and upper management) to ensure the quality of the drugs sold on the block and/or that drug sales were conducted in accordance with their wishes.
Members of the TruHittaz DTG routinely warned each other of the presence of law enforcement in the area and used counter-surveillance tactics to prevent detection of their drug trafficking activities by law enforcement. Members of the TruHittaz DTG used cellular telephones (“main phones”), disposable telephones (“burners” or “burner phones”), and social media to arrange for and facilitate the distribution and purchase of phencyclidine, cocaine base, and other controlled substances, and discarded or otherwise changed their burner phones every fourteen-to-thirty days to avoid detection by law enforcement.
If convicted of all counts, each defendant faces lengthy prison terms (see chart).
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys MaryTeresa Soltis and Kelly A. Lewis Fallenstein.
Canadian Drug Firm Admits Selling Counterfeit and Misbranded Prescription Drugs Throughout the United StatesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – Kristjan Thorkelson, a resident of Manitoba, Canada, together with several Canadian companies associated with Thorkelson, including Canada Drugs, Rockley Ventures, and River East Supplies, admitted today to widespread illegal sales of misbranded and counterfeit prescription drugs in the United States. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen sentenced the Canadian companies to forfeit $29,000,000 of the proceeds of their illegal scheme, to pay a fine of $5,000,000, and to five years of probation. The court sentenced Thorkelson individually to pay a fine of $250,000 and to five years of probation with the first six months in home confinement. Thorkeleson and the associated companies were also ordered to permanently cease their illegal operations, surrender to the United States all domain names and websites from their businesses, and cooperate with the United States Justice Department and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in any further criminal investigations.
In 2010, it came to the attention of the FDA that Canada Drugs was shipping to health care providers in the United States prescription drugs that were unapproved in the United States, labelled with foreign languages, and that lacked adequate instructions for use. During this time, Thorkelson was CEO of Canada Drugs. Further investigation revealed that various entities affiliated with Canada Drugs were smuggling unapproved and misbranded drugs intended for sale in foreign countries into the United States, including for sale to providers in Montana. To facilitate its sales, Canada Drugs purchased other companies engaged in this business and used the brand names, drug inventories, and customer lists of those companies to further its illegal operations. One of those companies was Montana HealthCare Solutions, owned by Montana resident Paul Bottomley, who was separately prosecuted for similar conduct. In order to avoid detection, Canada Drugs and its affiliated companies falsified customs forms concerning the value of the drugs shipped into the United States.
In two instances, Canada Drugs, through its subsidiary River East Supplies, distributed counterfeit cancer drugs Avastin and Altuzan (the Turkish version of the drug) in the United States. Testing of vials of the drugs recovered from these shipments revealed that both contained no active ingredient. In 2012, Thorkelson and others at Canada Drugs became aware that they had shipped counterfeit Avastin and Altuzan to medical clinics in the United States. Thorkelson denied “selling or offering Avastin,” even while the company attempted to recall the suspect drugs. At no time did Thorkelson notify the FDA or other authorities in the United States that counterfeit cancer drugs containing no active ingredient had been shipped to providers in the United States.
United States Attorney Kurt Alme stated, “By circumventing the FDA approval process, Thorkelson and the Canada Drugs companies jeopardized the health and safety of Americans. The FDA approval process is important for the protection of public health and safety, and we will diligently prosecute those who put unknown and unapproved substances into the American prescription drug market. But as this case shows, American providers and consumers need to beware when purchasing drugs on the internet.”
“FDA regulations are in place to protect patients and help ensure the medicines they receive are safe and effective,” said Catherine A. Hermsen, acting director of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations. “The U.S. drug supply is among the safest in the world, but when drugs from outside the FDA’s closed supply chain enter the U.S., patients are put at risk. For the protection of consumers, the FDA will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who attempt to evade FDA’s regulations.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Spraker and Special Assistant United States Attorney Paul Joseph, and investigated by the U.S. FDA Office of Criminal Investigations. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance in this matter. The Department also thanks its law enforcement colleagues in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Barbados.
California Man Arrested for Threatening Congressman via FacebookRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced today the arrest of a California man accused of using social media to communicate threats against a member of the United States House of Representatives.
The United States Attorney’s Office charged Eun Soo Lee, 28, of Cypress, California, in a criminal complaint with one count of making a threatening communication to injure another person through interstate commerce. Lee was arrested Thursday in California and will have his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Abingdon on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
“The First Amendment does not protect individuals who use social media and other online forms of communication to threaten violence,” United States Attorney Cullen stated. “This United States Attorney’s Office will continue to hold accountable those who use social media to threaten others.”
According to the criminal complaint and affidavit, on May 5, 2017, Facebook user “Fwafefewawe Gawefawef,” later identified to be Lee, sent a number of threatening messages to United States House of Representatives Member “TG’s” Facebook account.
The threatening messages included but were not limited to:
“I would love to kick you hard in the face, breaking it. Then I’d cut your stomach open with a chainsaw, exposing your intestines. Then I’d cut your windpipe in two with a boxcutter. Hopefully you’ll get what’s coming to you. F**cking bitch”
“You’re dead if I ever meet you in real life, fu**cker. I’ll fu**ing kill you.”
“I would love to fu**ing send your fu**ing useless ass to the hospital in intensive care, fighting for your worthless life.”
Investigators interviewed Lee on July 13, 2017 in Cypress, California at which time he admitted to sending threatening messages to Congressman “TG.” Lee said he sent the threats because he was frustrated with the “”TG’”s views. Lee also admitted to sending similar threatening messages to other elected officials.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Capitol Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a Jay Neal, 39, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to eight counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more heroin, possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, maintaining a drug involved premises, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a defaced firearm before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 45 years, and a $5,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that on October 20, 2015, Neal sold a quantity of heroin to a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration. The following day, on October 21, 2015, Neal once again agreed to sell a quantity of heroin. Neal drove to a residence at 87 Mariner St. in Buffalo. About an hour later, Neal and co-defendant Quashawn Lawrence were arrested by police. At the time of his arrest, Neal was armed with a 9mm handgun and had $10,000 in cash. A search warrant executed inside 87 Mariner recovered two guns, ammunition, 10 grams of heroin inside a dresser drawer, and multiple scales.In 1997, Neal was convicted in state court of Attempted Murder and Robbery in the 1st Degree. As a result of his convictions, Neal is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Lawrence was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard.Sentencing is scheduled for July 12, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Conspiracy Which Operated Near A Buffalo SchoolRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Cleophus Dentmond, aka “Face,” 28, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine, or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant conspired with Stevie Alejandro who operated the Barberians Barber Shop at 1132 East Lovejoy Street, which is located directly across from Buffalo Public School #43, the Lovejoy Discovery School. Between May 2017 and October 18, 2017, the defendant participated in the cocaine conspiracy with co-defendants Alejandro, Aaron Hill, Gilbert Guzman, Catherine Ramos, and others, to distribute cocaine in the Lovejoy District.
During the conspiracy, Alejandro conducted negotiations with an undercover law enforcement officer regarding the sale, cost, amount, and delivery of cocaine. Then, Dentmond, or one of his co-conspirators, would conduct the drug transaction with the undercover officer. All proceeds went back to Alejandro. A total of 14 cocaine sales took place with the undercover officer.
Charges are pending against defendants Hill, Guzman, and Ramos. 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.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zak; and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 25, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
British Citizen Extradited from Morocco for Defrauding Investors of More Than $36 MillionRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that RENWICK HADDOW has been extradited to the United States from Morocco and is expected to appear in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York today. HADDOW was charged by Complaint in June 2017 for engaging in schemes to defraud victims by making material misrepresentations and misappropriating investment funds in companies created by HADDOW called Bitcoin Store Inc. (“Bitcoin Store”) and Bar Works Inc. (“Bar Works”), as well as related entities HADDOW controlled. In July 2017, HADDOW was arrested in Morocco on the basis of a provisional arrest warrant for participating in these schemes.
According to the allegations in the Complaint[1]:
RENWICK HADDOW is a citizen of the United Kingdom. From November 2014 through June 2017, HADDOW solicited investments in start-up companies he created and controlled, including Bitcoin Store — a purported online platform for purchasing, selling, and storing the digital currency known as “Bitcoin”—and Bar Works, which purports to be a company that adapts former restaurants, bar premises, and other locations into co-working spaces. When doing so, HADDOW made material misrepresentations about, among other things, the management, operations, and historical performance of those companies.
For example, HADDOW concealed his interest in Bitcoin Store and fabricated the purported “experienced team of leading investment professionals” working at the company. In connection with Bar Works, HADDOW adopted the alias “Jonathan Black” to further hide his role in the schemes. HADDOW claimed that “Jonathan Black” had an extensive background in finance and had a role in setting up “Car Share,” a car-sharing app.
HADDOW solicited investments through agent brokers and through his control of InCrowd Equity Inc. (“InCrowd”), which represented itself as a type of crowdfunding portal through which investors could purchase shares of start-ups supposedly vetted by InCrowd. HADDOW did so without disclosing to investors that he had an ownership interest in both InCrowd, on the one hand, and Bitcoin Store and Bar Works, on the other. HADDOW also misappropriated without permission funds purportedly invested in Bitcoin Store and Bar Works for his own use and the use of others.
* * *
RENWICK HADDOW, 49, has been charged with two counts of wire fraud — one relating to the Bitcoin Store scheme and the other relating to the Bar Works scheme. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of the FBI and thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has brought civil actions against the defendant, for its assistance. Mr. Berman also thanked Moroccan Ministry of Justice, the General Directorate of National Security of Morocco, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, the United States Marshals Service, and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and noted that the investigation is continuing.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vladislav Vainberg, Justin V. Rodriguez, Brooke E. Cucinella, and Martin Bell are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Brentwood, Tennessee Man Sentenced for Possessing Unregistered Sub-Machine GunsRead the Press Release
BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING UNREGIGISTERED SUB-MACHINE GUNS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – April 12, 2018 – Jerry Christopher Bostick, 58, of Brentwood, Tennessee, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court, to pay a $100,000 fine and serve five years on probation, with the first six months on home confinement, for possessing unregistered sub-machine guns, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran of the Middle District of Tennessee.
Bostick was indicted in October 2015 for possessing a .45 caliber sub-machine gun and a 9mm sub-machine gun, which were not registered in the National Firearms Registry as required by law. Bostick pleaded guilty to the charges in the indictment on July 18, 2017.
Chief U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw, Jr., also ordered the firearms to be forfeited and that Bostick serve 500 hours of community service.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Montminy.
Aruban Telecommunications Purchasing Official Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy Involving Violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices ActRead the Press Release
An Aruban official residing in Florida pleaded guilty today to money laundering charges in connection with his role in a scheme to arrange and receive corrupt payments to influence the awarding of contracts with an Aruban state-owned telecommunications corporation.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Robert F. Lasky of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement.
Egbert Yvan Ferdinand Koolman, 49, a Dutch citizen residing in Miami, Florida, was an official of Servicio di Telecommunicacion di Aruba N.V. (Setar), an instrumentality of the Aruban government. Koolman pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frederico A. Moreno of the Southern District of Florida to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27.
In connection with the scheme, Lawrence W. Parker, Jr., 42, of Miami, pleaded guilty on Dec. 28, 2017 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and to commit wire fraud. Parker’s sentencing is scheduled for April 30.
According to admissions made as part of his plea agreement, between 2005 and 2016, Koolman operated a money laundering conspiracy from his position as Setar’s product manager. Koolman admitted that, as part of the scheme, he conspired with Parker and others to transmit funds from Florida and elsewhere in the United States to Aruba and Panama with the intent to promote a wire fraud scheme and a corrupt scheme that violated the FCPA. Koolman was promised and received bribes from individuals and companies located in the United States and abroad in exchange for using his position at Setar to award lucrative mobile phone and accessory contracts, he admitted. He received the corrupt payments via wire transfer from banks located in the United States, in cash during meetings in Miami and in Aruba, and by withdrawing cash in Aruba using a bankcard that drew money from a United States-based bank account, he further admitted. In exchange for the more than $1.3 million in corrupt payments that he received, Koolman also admitted providing favored vendors with Setar’s confidential information.
The FBI’s International Corruption Squads is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Jonathan Robell and Vanessa Snyder of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lois Foster-Steers of the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
Aruban Telecommunications Purchasing Official Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy Involving Violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices ActRead the Press Release
An Aruban official residing in Florida pleaded guilty today to money laundering charges in connection with his role in a scheme to arrange and receive corrupt payments to influence the awarding of contracts with an Aruban state-owned telecommunications corporation.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg of the Southern District of Florida, Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Robert F. Lasky of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement.
Egbert Yvan Ferdinand Koolman, 49, a Dutch citizen residing in Miami, Florida, was an official of Servicio di Telecommunicacion di Aruba N.V. (Setar), an instrumentality of the Aruban government. Koolman pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frederico A. Moreno of the Southern District of Florida to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27.
In connection with the scheme, Lawrence W. Parker, Jr., 42, of Miami, pleaded guilty on Dec. 28, 2017 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and to commit wire fraud. Parker’s sentencing is scheduled for April 30.
According to admissions made as part of his plea agreement, between 2005 and 2016, Koolman operated a money laundering conspiracy from his position as Setar’s product manager. Koolman admitted that, as part of the scheme, he conspired with Parker and others to transmit funds from Florida and elsewhere in the United States to Aruba and Panama with the intent to promote a wire fraud scheme and a corrupt scheme that violated the FCPA. Koolman was promised and received bribes from individuals and companies located in the United States and abroad in exchange for using his position at Setar to award lucrative mobile phone and accessory contracts, he admitted. He received the corrupt payments via wire transfer from banks located in the United States, in cash during meetings in Miami and in Aruba, and by withdrawing cash in Aruba using a bankcard that drew money from a United States-based bank account, he further admitted. In exchange for the more than $1.3 million in corrupt payments that he received, Koolman also admitted providing favored vendors with Setar’s confidential information.
The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lois Foster-Steers of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Jonathan Robell and Vanessa Snyder of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Arrest Made in Eastern North Carolina Synthetic Drug CaseRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announces the arrest of Akram Abdel-Aziz, 50, on drug related charges.
Abdel-Aziz is charged in a criminal complaint with the possession with intent to distribute a quantity of 5F-ADB, a synthetic cannabinoid listed as a Schedule I controlled substance. Known locally by the label “Black Magic” and other similar names, the substance was sold as a liquid vaporizer product at vape shops in Onslow, Craven, Wilson, Cumberland, New Hanover, and Pamlico counties. The product came to the attention of authorities following more than 40 persons requiring medical attention after ingesting the product, for symptoms such as seizures, loss of consciousness, hallucinations, paranoia, and cardiac arrest.
Abdel-Aziz is currently in custody.
The allegations above are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command, U.S. Marine Corps Criminal Investigative Division, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, Jacksonville Police Department, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Craven County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Wilson Police Department and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Antigo Man Indicted on Firearm and Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 10, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Shane A. Tillman (age: 33) of Antigo, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges that Tillman conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and did so while in the possession of a firearm, contrary to Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 841(a) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). It further alleges that Tillman’s status as a convicted felon prohibited him from ever possessing a firearm pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Tillman faces up to a life sentence if convicted of the charges alleged.
Tillman was arraigned before a federal Magistrate Judge on April 12, 2018, and will remain in federal custody pending trial.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.
This case was investigated by the Langlade County Sheriff’s Office and the Antigo Police Department with assistance from the Brown County Drug Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Amtrak Employee Charged with Accepting BribesRead the Press Release
Timothy Miller, 36, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was charged today by Information with one count of federal program bribery, announced United States Attorney William M. McSwain.
According to the Information, Miller worked for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (“Amtrak”) Procurement & Logistics Department as its Lead Contract Administrator responsible for procuring equipment and services and for managing the account for Amtrak diesel and locomotive seat cushion vendors. Amtrak is a recipient of federal grant funds from the United States Department of Transportation.
“The defendant in the case was responsible for millions of dollars in contracts in what was supposed to be a fair bidding process. As the filing alleges, he simply sold out his position,” U.S. Attorney McSwain said.
The Information charges that, from about August of 2015 through June of 2017, Miller awarded more than $7.6 million in contracts to a small manufacturing firm, in exchange for bribes of approximately $20,000 and other things of value, including trips to Rehoboth Beach arranged by two executives at the firm.
“We’re very proud of our joint efforts with the cross-agency team of investigators who helped bring this case to light,” said George Dorsett, assistant Inspector General for Investigations with Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General. “We commend their continued dedication, and we remain dedicated to supporting the U.S. Attorney’s Office as this case progresses.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and three years’ supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U. S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric L. Gibson.
An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
After Stand-Off Authorities in San Antonio Arrest Robbery CrewRead the Press Release
In San Antonio this morning, authorities arrested four individuals for their alleged role in the robbery of a San Antonio pawn shop yesterday, announced United States Attorney John F. Bash; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Fred J. Milanowski, Houston Division; and, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.
A federal criminal complaint and supporting affidavit filed in federal court today charges those arrested this morning--40-year-old Daniel Ray Rodriguez, 22-year-old Daniel Ray Rodriguez, Jr., 24-year-old Xavier Noel Musquiz and 36–year-old Cesar Rodriguez—and 22-year-old Martin Ramirez Hernandez with one count of Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce. The complaint alleges that on April 12, 2018, the defendants robbed a Cash America Pawn in San Antonio at gun point. The defendants stole approximately 30 firearms, several hundred pieces of jewelry, and an undetermined amount of United States currency.
Overnight, San Antonio Police officers and ATF agents set up surveillance of a residence in San Antonio. The five men were believed to be inside the house. Over the course of the stand-off, four of the five suspects were arrested. Law enforcement is still looking for Hernandez. If anyone has information on where Hernandez is, please call the San Antonio Police Department or 911.
All four arrested this morning remain in federal custody.
Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wannarka is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
2 South L.A. Men Indicted on Federal Charges of Robbing Undercover Secret Service Agent during Counterfeit Money InvestigationRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury this afternoon returned an indictment that charges two men in a scheme to rob an undercover agent with the United States Secret Service at gunpoint under the pretense of selling the law enforcement officer counterfeit money.
Richard Taron Henderson, aka “Profit,” 22, and Tyre Jordan Simmons, aka “Reckless,” also 22, were named today in a six-count indictment that alleges one transaction involving counterfeit United States currency and an armed robbery of the undercover agent.
Both men are charged with conspiracy, robbery, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Henderson is further charged with dealing counterfeit money, and Simmons is accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The indictment alleges an October 18, 2017 incident in which Henderson allegedly sold 250 counterfeit $20 Federal Reserve Notes as part of a Secret Service investigation into the trafficking of counterfeit money.
As the investigation continued, Henderson allegedly negotiated a deal to sell $40,000 in counterfeit money. However, according to the indictment, the deal was a pretense to rob the undercover agent who was attempting to purchase the counterfeit money.
On March 26, Henderson arranged the meeting in South Los Angeles and prepared for it by stuffing clothes into a duffel bag to make it appear that the bag was filled with counterfeit money, according to the indictment. Henderson dispatched Simmons to meet with the undercover agent. During the meeting, Simmons allegedly produced a Taurus 9mm handgun, pointed it in the face of the undercover agent and robbed him of $4,500 in genuine United States currency and the keys to the undercover USSS vehicle. In committing the robbery, Henderson and Simmons put the life of the undercover agent in jeopardy by using a dangerous weapon.
Simmons, who was convicted of robbery in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2016, allegedly was a felon in possession of a firearm during the robbery.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.
Simmons is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on April 19, and Henderson’s arraignment is set for the following day. Henderson and Simmons were previously arrested in this case pursuant to a criminal complaint, and Simmons remains in custody without bond.
If they were to be convicted, Henderson would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years for the counterfeit money charge. Both defendants would face up to 50 years for the charges related to the alleged robbery, plus a mandatory seven-year sentence related to the use of the firearm. And, Simmons would face up to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This investigation is being conducted by the United States Secret Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Khaldoun Shobaki of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section.
12 April 2018
Webster Man Sent to Prison for Receiving Child Pornography VideosRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 31-year old resident of Webster has been ordered to prison following his conviction on one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jake Nicholas Luera pleaded guilty June 27, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered him to prison for a total of 136 months after which he must immediately serve 15 years of supervised release, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Luera came to the attention of law enforcement following an investigation dubbed Operation Back to School in August 2015 which targeted the online solicitation of minors. During the operation, Luera engaged in online chats with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old female and drove to a location where he believed he would make sexual contact with her.
Following his arrest, authorities searched his home in Webster. They discovered and seized various items of computer media which a forensic analysis revealed more than 4,000 images and 75 videos of child pornography involving young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. These videos included children under the age of 12 involved in sadistic conduct, including bondage.
At the time of his plea, Luera admitted he received and saved the images and videos on multiple storage devices.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation at the Pearland Police Department in conjunction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Walla Walla Man Sentenced to Six Months in Federal Prison for Embezzling $40,000 from United Steelworkers Local UnionRead the Press Release
Spokane – Joseph H. Harrington, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Jason A. Richard, age 42, of Walla Walla, Washington, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty on December 14, 2017, to embezzling labor union funds. United States District Judge Salvador Mendoza Jr. sentenced Richard to a 6-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 2-year term of court supervision following release from Federal prison. The Court also ordered Richard to pay $30,649 in restitution. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Mendoza described Richard’s embezzlement as a “chronic and continuous abuse of trust.”
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, the United States Department Labor office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) initiated an investigation of Richard after receiving information from United Steelworkers Local Union 12-990 (USW LU 12-990) auditors that Richard embezzled labor union funds. Richard was the Secretary-Treasurer of USW LU 12-990, which is a labor organization located in Wallula, Washington. As Secretary-Treasurer, Richard had access to USW LU 12-990’s funds and was responsible for the union’s financial transactions. OLMS’s investigation revealed that Richard embezzled $40,049 from the union during a ten-month period. Richard used the funds to pay personal expenses. Richard paid $9,400 back to the union not long after his embezzlement was discovered.
Joseph H. Harrington said, “Prosecuting union embezzlement and other white collar crime continues to be a high priority for our office. I commend the investigators from the Department of Labor office of Labor-Management Standards for their excellent investigative work on this case. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to aggressively prosecute financial crimes in the Eastern District of Washington.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards. This case was prosecuted by George J.C. Jacobs, III and Dan Fruchter, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
Virginia Beach Business Owner Sentenced for $3.9 Million FraudRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for money laundering in connection with a fraud scheme that resulted in a loss of at least $3.9 million.
According to court documents, Edward Zinner, 58, operated Ocean Equity, a collection of businesses that engaged in credit card processing and merchant cash advances. In operating Ocean Equity, Zinner and others acting on his behalf, provided false representations to private investors/lenders to obtain over $4.5 million in funds.
In addition to the $4.5 million from private investors/lenders, Zinner obtained six business loans for Ocean Equity in the amount of $3 million. In obtaining these loans, Zinner falsely represented that the loans would not be used for personal, family, or household purposes. However, Zinner spent large amounts of company money on personal expenditures, including, travel, vehicle expenses, gambling, day-trading, mortgage payments, renovations to his personal residence, medical bills, personal credit cards, a rock band, and other expenditures. From 2011 to 2016, approximately $2 million was transferred from the Ocean Equity accounts to Zinner’s personal accounts.
Zinner closed down Ocean Equity in early 2016, and at the time he still owed at least $3.9 million in business loans and loans from private investors/lenders.
The Court sentenced Zinner to the statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Zinner was also ordered to pay over $4 million in restitution to his victims.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kimberly Lappin, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Samuels and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany J. Lipman 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. 4:17-cr-3.