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9 June 2017
Detroit Resident Sentenced to 15 Months in Custody for Threatening to Blow up Murdered Detroit Police Sargent’s FuneralRead the Press Release
A Detroit man was sentenced today to 15 months in prison after having pleaded guilty to false information and hoaxes by threating to blow up the funeral procession of a slain Detroit Police Department Sargent, announced Acting United States Attorney Daniel L. Lemisch.
Lemisch was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge David P. Gelios, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
Deshawn Maurice Lanton, 21, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sean Cox.
According to court records, Lanton wrote a threatening message to Channel 7’s Facebook live stream of the funeral of Detroit Police Department Sargent Kenneth Steil. Sargent Steil’s was murdered in the line of duty in September 2016. During the funeral procession at St. Joan of Arc Church in St. Clair Shores, Lanton wrote “Maybe I should drop a bomb on tha building to get rid of the rest of y’all” on the Facebook live page as hundreds of officers marched into the church to pay their respects to the fallen officer. Also at the church were Sargent Steil’s widow and two children. Other Facebook live viewers read Lanton’s post and contacted the police.
Lanton has several felony convictions, including crimes of violence and theft.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Detroit Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin M. Mulcahy and Hank Moon.
Deputy Director of USAID Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in Contract-Steering SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – BethAnne Moskov, a deputy director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), pled guilty today to charges stemming from a contract-steering scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Jonathan Schofield, Special Agent in Charge for the USAID Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations.
Moskov, 53, of Silver Spring, Md., pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and making false statements to law enforcement. The plea agreement, which is subject to Court approval, requires the Court to impose a sentence within the range of no prison time to a year and a day in prison. The Honorable Christopher R. Cooper scheduled sentencing for August 28, 2017.
“By engaging in cronyism and contract-steering, this defendant chose to reward a friend with federal money instead of actively seeking the most qualified and cost-effective bidder,” said U.S Attorney Phillips. “The prosecution of this case underscores our determination to protect taxpayer dollars and demand that contracting officials act fairly and within the law.”
“The American taxpayer expects federal employees to execute their duties and obligations conscientiously and in a dispassionate, fair manner that puts public good ahead of private gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Schofield. “Here we see an unfortunate exception; an official who used her position to benefit herself. Though the damage in reputational harm and erosion of public trust is difficult to quantify, the resolute investigation and prosecution of Ms. Moskov is a reminder that legal and ethical standards for federal employees are not haphazard and consequences for such transgressions can be grave.”
According to the plea documents, Moskov worked from July 2012 through August 2016 as the USAID Deputy Director for the Office of Health, Infectious Disease, and Nutrition. Her office was located at USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C. The charges involve her dealings with a person identified in the documents as “Co-Conspirator A,” a close personal friend who worked as a consultant for various projects for USAID, as well as the private sector. Moskov and “Co-Conspirator A” took trips together and was the man of honor at her wedding.
In June 2014, according to the plea documents, Moskov wanted to hire “Co-Conspirator A” for a consultancy contract. She was the approving and selecting official for the contract, and the person to be chosen for the work was to report to her. Moskov provided internal government document templates needed for the consultancy to “Co-Conspirator A.” In an e-mail at the time, Moskov told him that “we need to jump thru a few hoops and will go through the motions but you will (sic) selected in the job – any time you spend putting this together add it as days to your consultancy…thanks peaches.”
In July 2014, “Co-Conspirator A” prepared a Selection Memo and other consultancy documents from the templates for Moskov. The Selection Memo listed “Co-Conspirator A” as the highest ranked candidate. Later that month, Moskov selected him as the “best consultant to fill the project order.” The Selection Memo included language taken verbatim from the version provided by “Co-Conspirator A.” “Co-Conspirator A” was paid a total of $22,480.85 for the consulting project, according to the plea documents.
Additionally, during an investigation, law enforcement learned that Moskov had used her government e-mail account in 2012 to ask “Co-Conspirator A” for a loan to help her in financing a house. “Co-Conspirator A” agreed to loan her the funds. In an e-mail, Moskov thanked “Co-Conspirator A” for the loan and wrote, ““Send me your CV again and let me float it here with the 2 missions as well as some of my contacts around town …there is SOOO much work going on here! I got to get you in the system.” “Co-Conspirator A” wired her $7,100.
In December 2015, Special Agents with the USAID Office of Inspector General interviewed Moskov at USAID headquarters. She falsely stated that she had repaid the entire $7,100 loan from “Co-Conspirator A.” In reality, she had paid nothing back.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Phillips and Special Agent in Charge Schofield commended the Special Agents who investigated the case from the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kristy Penny and Joshua Fein. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Saler, who is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Sentenced to 150 Months in Federal Prison on Methamphetamine Distribution ConvictionRead the Press Release
LUBBOCK, Texas — Michael Sebastion Ford, 24 of Lubbock, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 150 months in federal prison on a methamphetamine distribution conviction, announced John Parker, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Ford pleaded guilty in February 2017 to an indictment charging one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He has been in custody since December 2016, after the return of that indictment.
Rene Ortiz, 42, also pleaded guilty in February 2017 to the same offense and was sentenced by Judge Cummings to 200 months in federal prison on May 26, 2017.
According to documents filed in the case, on October 25, 2016, officers with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, operating in an undercover capacity, called Ford and reached an agreement for Ford to sell the officers two ounces of methamphetamine for $1,300. The deal was scheduled to take place on October 26, 2016 at a residence located in Lubbock. The undercover officer arrived at the location and spoke with Ford who told the officer that his cousin would be bringing the methamphetamine later on. The undercover officer left the residence and told Ford to notify him when the drugs had arrived. Ford texted the officer a few moments later to tell the officer that the drugs had arrived at the residence. During this time, officers observed a vehicle arrive at the residence and saw Ford approach the front passenger side of the vehicle and talk to the driver. As officers approached the residence, Ford saw them and ducked down next to the vehicle before running into the residence where he was then arrested. Officers approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Ortiz. As Ortiz exited the vehicle, officers observed a bag containing approximately 10 grams of methamphetamine on the driver side floor mat. Officers also found a torn baggie underneath the vehicle that contained approximately 26 grams of methamphetamine and found another 30.4 grams of methamphetamine behind the driver seat. A pistol and ammunition were also found in a shoe box in the back of the vehicle.
The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Long prosecuted.
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Current and Former Boynton Beach, Florida Police Officers Indicted for Using Excessive Force Against an Arrestee, Filing False Reports and Obstructing JusticeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in West Palm Beach, Florida, returned a six-count indictment yesterday charging Boynton Beach Police Officer Michael Brown and former Boynton Beach Police Officers Justin Harris and Ronald Ryan, Jr., with unlawfully assaulting an arrestee, J.B., during a traffic stop on August 20, 2014 and then filing false reports of the incident. Boynton Beach Police Sergeant Phillip Antico was charged with falsifying a report of the incident and obstructing justice during the investigation.
The indictment alleges that while serving as patrol officers and conducting a traffic stop of a vehicle, Brown, Harris and Ryan unlawfully assaulted one of that vehicle’s passengers, J.B. The indictment further alleges that Antico, as the patrolmen’s supervisor, and Harris aided and abetted one another in falsifying a report of the incident and that Antico further intentionally misled a federal agent who conducted an investigation of the incident. The indictment also alleges that Brown, Harris and Ryan made false entries in reports of the incident.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
If convicted, Antico, Brown and Ryan each face a maximum punishment of 30 years imprisonment, and Harris faces a maximum punishment of 50 years imprisonment.
This case is being investigated by the West Palm Beach Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Osborne of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney D.W. Tunnage of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
Current and Former Boynton Beach Police Officers Indicted for Using Excessive Force Against an Arrestee, Filing False Reports, and Obstructing JusticeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in West Palm Beach, Florida, returned a six-count indictment yesterday charging Boynton Beach Police Officer Michael Brown and former Boynton Beach Police Officers Justin Harris and Ronald Ryan, Jr., with unlawfully assaulting an arrestee, J.B., during a traffic stop on August 20, 2014 and then filing false reports of the incident. Boynton Beach Police Sergeant Phillip Antico is charged in the indictment with filing a false report of the incident and obstructing justice during the incident.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that while serving as patrol officers and conducting a traffic stop of a vehicle, Brown, Harris and Ryan unlawfully assaulted one of that vehicle’s passengers, J.B. The indictment further alleges that Antico, as the patrolmen’s supervisor, and Harris aided and abetted one another in falsifying a report of the incident, and that Antico further intentionally misled federal agents who conducted an investigation of the incident. The indictment also alleges that Brown, Harris and Ryan made false entries in reports of the incident.
If convicted, Antico, Brown and Ryan each face a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison, and Harris faces a maximum punishment of 50 years in prison.
An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
- Greenberg commended the investigative assistance of the FBI and Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Rhee Osborne of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney D.W. Tunnage of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced for Federal EscapeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A convicted sex offender was sentenced today to one year in prison for escaping from federal custody.
Theodore Wells, 59, formerly of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to federal escape on Aug. 15, 2016. According to court documents, Wells was convicted in October 2013 of failing to register as a sex offender and was designated to a federal prison in New Jersey. In January 2016 Wells was nearing the completion of his prison sentence and the Bureau of Prisons permitted him to travel unescorted to a residential reentry center in Baltimore, Maryland. Wells, however, never arrived and was subsequently arrested at a public library in Fairfax.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Robert Mathieson, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Berrang prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-155.
Cockfighting Pit That Operated for More Than 30 Years Destroyed; Men Who Owned the Property SentencedRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – The 8,000 square-foot facility known as the Big Blue Sportsman’s Club in McDowell, Kentucky, which had hosted cockfights for more than 30 years, was razed following the guilty pleas of the property’s two owners in March. Those two individuals, Shirley Ray Slone and Vernon Kelly Slone, have been sentenced in Federal Court, Acting United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced.
Yesterday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon, Shirley Ray Slone, 73, and Vernon Kelly Slone, 69, both of McDowell, Kentucky, who had forfeited $100,000 as part of their plea agreements, were sentenced to probation for a term of one year. At a previously hearing, each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to cause others to attend a cockfight. In addition, the pair agreed to pay for the complete destruction of the 8,000 square-foot facility known as the Big Blue Sportsman’s Club. The demolition of pit was completed in early May.
Shirley and Vernon Slone owned the property in McDowell, Kentucky that housed the Big Blue Sportsman’s Club, a 5,000-member club that hosted cockfights for more than 30 years. The facility, a 8,000 square-foot building that featured arena-style seating, multiple fighting pits and a restaurant, was the site of a law enforcement raid in 2014. Federal charges relating to cockfighting, gambling and narcotics arose out of the investigation. According to testimony presented in today’s hearing, the Slones began hosting cockfights at Big Blue in 1977 and quit operating the facility in the early 1990s. They then leased the facility to others for use as a cockfighting pit. The individuals who rented the facility paid the Slones $3 for each person who attended a cockfight.
Seven other individuals were previously convicted and sentenced for their roles in the Big Blue cockfighting conspiracy, as follows:
Defendant Imprisonment:
Russell D. Peaks 24 months
Jonathan Robinson 12 months
Wesley Dean Robinson 6 months
Joshua Stumbo 10 months
Sonya Stumbo 10 months
Walter Stumbo 18 months
Jimmy Crate Willis probation
Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer and Special Assistant United States Attorney/Virginia Assistant Attorney General Michelle Welch prosecuted these cases on behalf of the United States. The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Bureau of Law Enforcement, and the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. In addition, the following agencies assisted with arrests, search warrants and other related proceedings: Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force; Virginia State Police Tactical Team; Southwest Virginia Regional Task Force; Botetourt County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office; Wise County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office; Virginia State Veterinarian’s Office; United States Homeland Security Investigations; Kentucky State Police; the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Businessman Appointed to Manage VA Funds Admits to Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Robert Gausman, 54, of Rockwall, Texas, appeared this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney and pleaded guilty to one count of misappropriation by fiduciary. U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas made today’s announcement.
Gausman faces a statutory penalty not to exceed 5 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. According to the plea agreement, he could also be ordered to pay restitution. Gausman will remain on bond pending sentencing, which will be set at a later date.
According to documents filed in the case, from September 2014 and continuing to October 2016, Gausman was appointed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through his company “The WACKO Group LLC,” as the Paid Federal Fiduciary (PFF) for four individuals, each veterans who have been deemed incompetent and are receiving benefits from the VA. As a PFF, the VA appointed Gausman to manage the VA benefits of these beneficiaries because they are unable to manage their own finances. Gausman was only entitled to a 4% commission of the funds and permitted to use the money for preapproved expenditures. Gausman knew his role and what was allowed as a PFF, and yet knowingly and willfully embezzled the funds of these four veterans for his own use. In total, Gausman embezzled $40,668 in funds from these four beneficiaries.
The case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rumsey is in charge of the prosecution.
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Alexandria Man Sentenced for Fraud and Gun-Related CrimesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man who defrauded investors, renters, and a bank, and who attempted to illegally acquire a firearm, was sentenced today to 8 years in prison.
Donald Omar Fazel, a.k.a. Rodney Dickerson, 50, pleaded guilty to a 4-count criminal information on January 25, 2017. According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Fazel carried out an investment fraud scheme in which he solicited individuals to invest in a purported technology company called Microsystems Technology USA (“MST”). Fazel eventually obtained over $700,000 from his blue-collar working victims for general investment in MST, as well as for specific technology projects that MST was allegedly developing for foreign and domestic government agencies. In truth, MST never had any assets or operations and never actually developed any technology. Fazel expended the investors’ money on a combination of retail debit purchases, cash withdrawals, and payment of “returns” back to investors. Fazel also carried out a rental fraud scheme, in which he rented and then immediately re-listed three different properties using an assumed identity. When prospective renters responded to his listings, Fazel required them to pay a cash deposit up front in order to secure the lease. On the appointed move-in dates, the victims and their families arrived at the properties only to discover that none of them could access the properties or contact Fazel. Fazel further deposited a fraudulent check for $45,000 at SunTrust Bank, which was drawn on a non-existent account. Finally, Fazel attempted to purchase a firearm at a licensed gun shop in Woodbridge. In connection with the attempted purchase, Fazel falsely certified under penalty of perjury on federal and state application forms that he had never been convicted of a felony offense, when in fact he had five prior felony convictions.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; and Chief Humberto I. Cardounel, Jr., Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grace L. Hill and Jack Hanly prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-4.
Alexandria Man Sentenced for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced today to five years in prison for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Deandre Tyree Harris, 23, pleaded guilty on Dec. 21, 2016. According to court documents, Harris ran from police officers who were attempting to arrest him for an outstanding warrant on June 5, 2016. During the foot pursuit, Harris discarded a backpack containing a loaded firearm, distribution amounts of marijuana, and a digital scale. Harris admitted that he carried the loaded handgun while conducting drug trafficking activities and that he paid another person to purchase the handgun on his behalf, in violation of federal firearms laws. Harris also admitted to shooting the handgun in two residential neighborhoods in Alexandria on May 15 and May 31, 2016, which resulted in the Alexandria Police Department being called to the scene.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Michael B. Boxler, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina A. Cuellar prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-304.
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Prison for Failing to Update Sex Offender RegistrationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Kevin Scott Gordon, 59, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 21 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release including a mandatory year in a residential reentry program for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Gordon will be required to register as a sex offender when he completes his prison sentence.
SORNA, also known as the Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act, requires that a convicted sex offender register in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, where the offender is employed, or where the offender is a student, and that the sex offender maintain current registrations.
Gordon was arrested in March 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with violating SORNA by failing to update his sex offender registration. According to the complaint, Gordon was convicted in May 1983, of rape, sexual deviate conduct, robbery and confinement, and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. In 1983, Gordon escaped from the Indiana State Reformatory, was apprehended in 1990, and remained in custody in Indiana until his release in May 2006.
According to court documents, Gordon was arrested for violating SORNA in Dec. 2007, in Colorado, and has a pattern of non-compliance with registration requirements. On Feb. 22, 2016, law enforcement officers in N.M., received information that Gordon was residing in Albuquerque and was not registered as a sex offender in New Mexico.
Gordon was subsequently indicted on March 23, 2016, and charged with violating SORNA by failing to update his sex offender registration between May 2015 and March 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.
On March 2, 2017, Gordon pled guilty to the indictment. In his plea agreement, Gordon admitted that he was convicted in Dec. 1982, of a criminal offense that required him to register under SORNA. Gordon further admitted that before May 15, 2015, he traveled from Colorado to New Mexico, and that he resided in New Mexico between May 2015 and March 2016, but failed to update his sex offender registration in New Mexico as required.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle.
Administrator of Camden Nonprofit Admits Embezzling FundsRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Cherry Hill, New Jersey, woman today admitted embezzling over $40,000 from a nonprofit that provided mental health services to Camden’s poorest residents, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Maria Tavera, 53, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court to an information charging her with embezzling from a health care benefit program.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Tavera was an administrator of Nueva Vida Behavioral Health Center of New Jersey, a nonprofit that provided mental health services to the Camden community, mostly to Medicaid beneficiaries.
Tavera regularly embezzled money from the Nueva Vida bank account in addition to her salary and used the money for personal expenses. She admitted that she used her Nueva Vida debit card to pay dental expenses, make purchases at a guitar store, withdraw cash, and shop for clothes and hardware. In total, Tavera embezzled over $40,000 from Nueva Vida.
Tavera faces a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2017.
Her husband, Cesar Tavera, the former Executive Director of Nueva Vida, previously pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid and embezzling money from Nueva Vida. He awaits sentencing.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster in Philadelphia, and special agents from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert, with the investigation. He also thanked the Medicaid Fraud Division of the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney R. David Walk Jr. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Health Care and Government Fraud Unit in Camden.
The New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office reorganized its health care practice in 2010 and created a stand-along Health Care and Government Fraud Unit to handle both criminal and civil investigations and prosecutions of health care fraud offenses. Since that time, the office has recovered more than $1.32 billion in health care and government fraud settlements, judgments, fines, restitution and forfeiture under the False Claims Act, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, and other statutes.
Defense counsel: Gilbert J. Scutti Esq., Somerdale, New Jersey
50 Kilos of a Fentanyl Precursor Chemical Seized in Worcester CountyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The DEA New England Field Division and the United States Attorney’s Office announced today that 50 kilograms of a fentanyl precursor chemical, with a street value of over $570 million, was seized at a storage facility in Northborough, Mass., on May 25, 2017.
Federal agents, assisted by members of the Worcester, Northborough and Westborough Police Departments, seized 50 kilos of what is believed to be N-Phenethyl-4-piperidinone (NPP), which is commonly used for the illicit manufacture of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
If converted, 50 kilograms of NPP would theoretically yield up to 19 million fentanyl tablets, with an estimated street value of over $570 million.
It is believed that this represents the DEA’s largest seizure of a fentanyl precursor in the New England Region in recent years. This matter was overseen by the United States Attorney’s Office and conducted by the DEA’s New England Field Division’s Worcester Tactical Diversion Squad with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Worcester, Northborough and Westborough Police Departments.
No further information regarding the seizure is available at this time.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The matter is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg A. Friedholm of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office.
14 Defendants Plead Guilty to $4.3 Million Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that 14 defendants pleaded guilty in federal court this week to their roles in a $4.3 million conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine throughout Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties.
Sabrena Lynn Morgan, 40, Ryan A. Battagler, 38, and Elgin Eugene Dothage, 41, all of Kearney, Mo.; Jason Daniel Davis, 43, of Liberty, Mo.; Joshua K. Bowers, 33, of Polo, Mo.; and Paula Rae Scott, 48, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Maughmer to the charges contained in a July 7, 2015, federal indictment.
Jose Luis Ruiz-Salazar, 38, his brother, Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar, 34, and Caleb Dean Hayes, 36, all of Kansas City, Mo.; Brian Michael Bowers, 34, of Richmond, Mo.; and Taylor Lee Syas, 25, of Polo, pleaded guilty on Thursday, June 8, 2017.
Gregory Bullock, 48, of Kansas City, Mo., and Anthony Ray Stevenson, 45, of Excelsior Springs, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, June 7, 2017.
Bryan D. Carroll, 28, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty on Tuesday, June 6, 2017.
In addition, co-defendants Rodney Earl King, 51, of Excelsior Springs, Franklin Charles Carter, 28, of Grandview, Mo., and Jay Harrison Lee Carder, 31, of Cowgill, Mo., pleaded guilty last week.
They are among 21 defendants who have pleaded guilty; four of those convicted defendants have been sentenced.
In 2010, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the DEA initiated an investigation into a drug-trafficking organization distributing methamphetamine in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. Jose and Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar, Joshua Bowers and Bullock admitted that they were the primary sources that supplied co-conspirators with large amounts of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. Co-conspirators then distributed the methamphetamine throughout Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties in Missouri.
According to court documents, conspirators sold $4,359,600 worth of methamphetamine and heroin from 2010 to 2015. That estimate is based on a conservative street price of $1,200 for an ounce of 50 percent pure methamphetamine and the total conspiracy distribution of at least 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a conservative street price of $2,500 per ounce of heroin and an overall conspiracy distribution of approximately three pounds.
On Jan. 13, 2015, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence regularly frequented by members of the drug-trafficking conspiracies. Approximately one kilo of methamphetamine was recovered along with heroin, firearms, drug paraphernalia, drug sale proceeds and a drug ledger.
Jose and Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar and Bullock each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Under the terms of their plea agreements, Jose and Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar each will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment between 10 to 16 years in federal prison without parole. Bullock is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.
Morgan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possessing firearms (including a pink, pump-action shotgun) in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and maintaining a drug premises. Morgan admitted that her involvement in the conspiracy resulted in the distribution of more than five kilograms of methamphetamine. Morgan is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.
Joshua Bowers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Bowers admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of more than five kilograms of methamphetamine and more than one kilogram of heroin. Bowers also admitted that he possessed a Springfield .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun, a New England 12-gauge shotgun and various other firearms during the time of the conspiracies. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Joshua Bowers will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment between 15 and 30 years in federal prison without parole.
Syas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, possessing firearms (including a Springfield Armory .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun and a New England 12-gauge shotgun) in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and maintaining a drug premises. Syas admitted that her involvement in the conspiracy resulted in the distribution of more than five kilograms of methamphetamine and more than one kilogram of heroin. Syas is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.
Four defendants have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gary Dewayne Brown, 37, of Cowgill, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. Ronald Louis Roberts, 54, of Lathrop, Mo., was sentenced to 10 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Brittney James Brehm, 38, of Bland, Mo., was sentenced to six years and 11 months in federal prison without parole. Darin Gene Berry, 51, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to four years and five months in federal prison without parole.
The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bruce Rhoades, Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Matt Moeder. It was investigated by the Clay County Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the DEA.
8 June 2017
U.S. Army Contracting Officer Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes from South Korean Companies that Were Paid for Work Not PerformedRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A U.S. Army Contracting Officer Representative pleaded guilty today to federal bribery charges stemming from his approval of fraudulent invoices issued by South Korean contractors in return for payments totaling at least $170,000.
Marcus D. Flowers, 50, of Enterprise, Alabama, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, a felony offense that carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
Flowers pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 11.
Flowers, who worked as a Contracting Officer for the United States Army, was responsible for approving invoices issued by various South Korean contractors that installed closed circuit televisions at U.S. military installations in the Republic of Korea. According to court documents, Flowers accepted between $170,000 and $543,783 in cash and other items of value in return for approving payments to contractors despite their non-installation of CCTVs, or the installation of cheaper, inferior CCTV models than those required by the contracts.
As part of his plea, Flowers has agreed to forfeit to the government any remaining proceeds of the bribery scheme, which includes cash and real estate purchased in the Philippines.
Flowers flew to the United States from South Korea and surrendered himself to authorities in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He is currently free on his personal recognizance.
The federal case that led to Flowers’ arrest and subsequent plea resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, which received assistance from South Korean authorities.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel O’Brien of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Galatzan of the Asset Forfeiture Section is assisting in the case.
Two New York Men Sentenced to Prison for Roles in $1 Million Stolen Identity Refund SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two men from Bronx, New York, were each sentenced today to 61 months in prison for their roles in a scheme to obtain stolen identity information and use it to file phony tax returns with the IRS, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Jhan Luis Mejia Marcelino, 27, and Odanys Orlando Rojas, a/k/a “El Fuerte,” 39, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to separate informations charging them each with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, one count of theft of government funds, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Mejia and Rojas admitted that from January 2013 through May 2014, they obtained stolen personal identifying information, including names and Social Security numbers, of victims located in New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere. Afterwards, Mejia, Rojas and others used the information to file fraudulent federal tax returns. They also admitted that once they received the refunds, they converted the checks to cash or other proceeds for their own benefit. Overall, the scheme caused losses of over $1 million to the U.S. Treasury.
In addition to the prison terms, Judge Vazquez sentenced each defendant to three years of supervised release and ordered them to pay restitution of $1,109,938.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge James V. Buthorn; and the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark Mckevitt, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Wangenheim of the Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: Marcelino: John Yauch Esq. Rojas: Tim Anderson Esq.
Two Men Arrested for Terrorist Activities on Behalf of Hizballah's Islamic Jihad OrganizationRead the Press Release
Ali Kourani, 32, of the Bronx, New York, and Samer el Debek, 37, of Dearborn, Michigan, aka, “Samer Eldebek,” were arrested on Thursday, June 1, on charges related to their alleged activities on behalf of Hizballah, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana Boente, Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim for the Southern District of New York, Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. of the FBI’s New York Office, and Commissioner James P. O’Neill of the NYPD made the announcement.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kim said: “Today, we announce serious terrorism charges against two men who allegedly trained with and supported the Islamic Jihad Organization, a component of the foreign terrorist organization Hizballah. Recruited as Hizballah operatives, Samer El Debek and Ali Kourani allegedly received military-style training, including in the use of weapons like rocket-propelled grenade launchers and machine guns for use in support of the group’s terrorist mission. At the direction of his Hizballah handlers, El Debek allegedly conducted missions in Panama to locate the U.S. and Israeli Embassies and to assess the vulnerabilities of the Panama Canal and ships in the Canal. Kourani allegedly conducted surveillance of potential targets in America, including military and law enforcement facilities in New York City. Thanks to the outstanding work of the FBI and NYPD, the allegedly destructive designs of these two Hizballah operatives have been thwarted, and they will now face justice in a Manhattan federal court.”
Assistant Director in Charge Sweeney Jr. said: “The charges announced today reveal once again that the New York City region remains a focus of many adversaries, demonstrated as alleged in this instance by followers of a sophisticated and determined organization with a long history of coordinating violent activities on behalf of Hizballah. Our announcement today also reveals, however, that the dozens of agencies working together with our FBI JTTFs nationwide are just as determined to disrupt the plans of those working to harm our communities. I’d like to thank the hundreds of investigators who comprise the FBI’s New York JTTF and display constant vigilance on our behalf, and I encourage the public to remain engaged and to immediately report suspicious activity to law enforcement.”
Commissioner O’Neill said: “As part of his work for Hezbollah, Kourani and others allegedly conducted covert surveillance of potential targets, including U.S. military bases and Israeli military personnel here in New York City. Pre-operational surveillance is one of the hallmarks of Hezbollah in planning for future attacks. As alleged, Kourani, on at least two occasions, received sophisticated military training overseas, including the use of a rocket propelled grenade. In addition, El Debek is charged in an unrelated complaint, for allegedly possessing extensive bomb making training received from Hezbollah. Today’s charges of two for their work on behalf of Hezbollah is a tribute to the collaborative work of the agents and detectives of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.”
Kourani was arrested in the Bronx for providing, attempting, and conspiring to provide material support to Hizballah; receiving and conspiring to receive military-type training from Hizballah; a related weapons offense that is alleged to have involved, among other weapons, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and machine guns; violating and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA); and naturalization fraud to facilitate an act of international terrorism. Kourani was presented on Friday, June 2, before Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses in Manhattan federal court.
El Debek was arrested in Livonia, Michigan, outside of Detroit, for providing, attempting and conspiring to provide material support to Hizballah; receiving and conspiring to receive military-type training from Hizballah; use of weapons in connection with a crime of violence that is alleged to have involved, among other weapons, explosives, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and machine guns; and violating and conspiring to violate IEEPA. El Debek was presented on June 5, before Magistrate Judge Henry Pitman in Manhattan federal court.
As alleged in the criminal Complaints against Kourani and el Debek,[1] both of which were unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
Background on Hizballah and the Islamic Jihad Organization
Hizballah is a Lebanon-based Shia Islamic organization with political, social, and terrorist components. Hizballah was founded in the 1980s with support from Iran after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and its mission includes establishing a fundamentalist Islamic state in Lebanon. Since Hizballah’s formation, the organization has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks that have killed hundreds, including U.S. citizens and military personnel. In 1997, the U.S. Department of State designated Hizballah a Foreign Terrorist Organization, pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and it remains so designated today. In 2001, pursuant to Executive Order 13224, the U.S. Department of State designated Hizballah a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity. In 2010, State Department officials described Hizballah as the most technically capable terrorist group in the world, and a continued security threat to the U.S.
The Islamic Jihad Organization (“IJO”), which is also known as the External Security Organization and “910,” is a component of Hizballah responsible for the planning and coordination of intelligence, counterintelligence, and terrorist activities on behalf of Hizballah outside of Lebanon. In July 2012, an IJO operative detonated explosives on a bus transporting Israeli tourists in the vicinity of an airport in Burgas, Bulgaria, which killed six people and injured 32 others. Law enforcement authorities have disrupted several other IJO attack-planning operations around the world, including the arrest of an IJO operative surveilling Israeli targets in Cyprus in 2012, the seizure of bomb-making precursor chemicals in Thailand in 2012, including chemicals manufactured by a medical devices company based in Guangzhou, China (“Guangzhou Company-1”), and a similar seizure of chemicals manufactured by Guangzhou Company-1 in Cyprus in May 2015 in connection with the arrest of another IJO operative.
Kourani’s Alleged Support of Hizballah
Kourani, who was born in Lebanon, attended Hizballah-sponsored weapons training in Lebanon in 2000 when he was approximately 16 years old. After lawfully entering the U.S. in 2003, Kourani obtained a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering in 2009, and a Masters of Business Administration in 2013.
Kourani and certain of his relatives were present during the summer 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah in Lebanon, when a residence belonging to his family was destroyed. Kourani was subsequently recruited to join the IJO by 2008. In August 2008, Kourani submitted an application for naturalization in the U.S. in which he falsely claimed, among other things, that he was not affiliated with a terrorist organization. In April 2009, Kourani became a naturalized citizen and was issued a U.S. passport. Despite claiming in his passport application that he had no travel plans, Kourani traveled to Guangzhou, China – the location of Guangzhou Company-1 – on May 3, 2009. He later claimed to the FBI that the purpose of the trip was to meet with medical device manufacturers and other businessmen.
Kourani was assigned an IJO handler, or mentor, responsible for providing him with taskings, debriefings, and arranging training. Kourani sometimes communicated with his handler using coded email communications, including messages sent by the handler that informed Kourani of the need to return to Lebanon. In order to establish contact with his handler when Kourani returned to Lebanon, Kourani called a telephone number associated with a pager (the “IJO Pager”) and provided a code that he understood was specific to him. After Kourani called the IJO Pager, the handler would contact Kourani to set up an in-person meeting by calling a phone belonging to one of Kourani’s relatives. The IJO also provided Kourani with additional training in tradecraft, weapons, and tactics. In 2011, for example, Kourani attended an IJO military training camp located in the vicinity of Birkat Jabrur, Lebanon, where he was provided with military-tactics and weapons training, including training in the use of a rocket propelled grenade launcher, an AK-47 assault rifle, an MP5 submachine gun, a PKS machine gun (a Russian-made belt-fed weapon), and a Glock pistol.
Based on other taskings from IJO personnel, which were conveyed during periodic in-person meetings when Kourani returned to Lebanon, Kourani conducted operations that included searching for weapons suppliers in the U.S. who could provide firearms to support IJO operations, identifying individuals affiliated with the Israeli Defense Force, gathering information regarding operations and security at airports in the U.S. and elsewhere, and surveilling U.S. military and law enforcement facilities in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Kourani transmitted some of the products of his surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts back to IJO personnel in Lebanon using digital storage media.
El Debek’s Alleged Support of Hizballah
El Debek, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was first recruited by Hizballah in late 2007 or early 2008, began to receive a salary from Hizballah shortly thereafter, and was paid by Hizballah through approximately 2015. In July 2006, shortly before he was recruited by Hizballah, el Debek expressed by email his support for Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hizballah.
El Debek received military training from Hizballah in Lebanon on several occasions, from approximately 2008 through approximately 2014. El Debek received training in basic military tactics, the handling of various weapons, surveillance and counter-surveillance techniques, and the creation and handling of explosives and explosive devices. Based on information el Debek provided to the FBI, FBI bomb technicians have assessed that el Debek received extensive training as a bomb-maker, has a high degree of technical sophistication in the area, and was trained in techniques and methods similar to those used to construct the improvised explosive device used in Hizballah’s 2012 Burgas, Bulgaria, bus bombing, a bombing that el Debek reported was carried out by a relative of his. El Debek received by email in 2010 a list of raw materials that could be sent from Syria or Dubai, including items often used in explosives and improvised explosive devices.
El Debek also conducted missions for Hizballah in Thailand and Panama. In May 2009, el Debek traveled from Lebanon, through Malaysia, to Thailand, where his mission was to clean up explosive precursors in a house in Bangkok that others had left because they were under surveillance. El Debek used his U.S. passport to enter and leave Thailand, consistent with his instructions from Hizballah to use his U.S. passport so he could travel from Malaysia to Thailand without obtaining a visa.
El Debek first traveled to Panama for Hizballah in 2011, where his operational tasks included locating the U.S. and Israeli Embassies, casing security procedures at the Panama Canal and the Israeli Embassy, and locating hardware stores where explosive precursors could be purchased. Shortly before traveling to Panama, el Debek updated his status on Facebook with a post that read, in part, “Do not make peace or share food with those who killed your people.”
In early 2012, el Debek again traveled to Panama for Hizballah, passing through New York and New Jersey, and was asked to identify areas of weakness and construction at the Panama Canal, as well as provide information about how close someone could get to a ship passing through the Canal. Upon his return from Panama, el Debek’s IJO handlers asked him for photographs of the U.S. Embassy there and details about its security procedures.
El Debek has told the FBI that he was detained by Hizballah from December 2015 to April 2016 and falsely accused of spying for the U.S. Between November 2014 and February 2017, el Debek, who received religious training from Hizballah, has conducted more than 250 Facebook searches using search terms such as “martyrs of the holy defense,” “martyrs of Islamic resistance,” “Hizballah martyrs,” and “martyrs of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon.”
* * *
Kourani is charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; receiving military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a sentence of 10 years in prison or a fine; conspiracy to receive military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; conspiracy to possess, carry, and use firearms and destructive devices during and in relation to crimes of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; making and receiving a contribution of funds, goods, and services to and from Hizballah, in violation of IEEPA, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; conspiracy to make and receive a contribution of funds, goods, and services to and from Hizballah, in violation of IEEPA, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and naturalization fraud in connection with an act of international terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
El Debek is charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; receiving military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a sentence of 10 years in prison or a fine; conspiracy to receive military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; possessing, carrying, and using firearms and destructive devices during and in relation to crimes of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; making and receiving a contribution of funds, goods, and services to and from Hizballah, in violation of IEEPA, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and conspiracy to make and receive a contribution of funds, goods, and services to and from Hizballah, in violation of IEEPA, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Kim praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD. Mr. Kim also thanked the FBI’s Detroit Office and the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
These prosecutions are handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emil J. Bove III and Amanda L. Houle for the Southern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution of Kourani. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew D. Beaty and Stephen J. Ritchin for the Southern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution of el Debek. Trial Attorneys Lolita Lukose and Alexandra Hughes of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are assisting the prosecutions.
The charges contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaints and the description of the Complaints set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Florencia 13 Gang Members Convicted of Racketeering Acts, Including a Murder, Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two Huntington Park men who are members of the Florencia 13 street gang and participated in the murder of another gang member have been sentenced to life without parole in federal prison after being convicted at trial of racketeering, narcotics, and weapons offenses.
Jose Dorado, also known as “Yogi,” 35, and Tannous Fazah, aka “Terist,” 27, were sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell.
Judge O’Connell sentenced the two men after presiding over a four-week trial last summer that ended with a jury returning guilty verdicts on multiple charges against the two defendants – including conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to commit violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR), conspiracy to traffic narcotics, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Dorado and Fazah received an order from an incarcerated, senior member of the F13 gang in March 2010 that instructed them to beat and kill a junior member of the gang. Within hours of receiving the order, in an alley in Huntington Park, Dorado, Fazah and other members of the gang circled the victim and proceeded to punch and kick him repeatedly. While the victim lay unconscious, Fazah brandished a handgun and fatally shot the victim in the face.
“[T]here is no crime more serious than murder, and the brutality of this particular homicide – that is, a vicious beating carried out at the center of a circle of gang members, who continued to pound on the victim even after he had lost consciousness, and concluding with Fazah shooting the victim in the face at point blank range – supports a sentence at the statutory maximum,” prosecutors wrote in sentencing memorandums that recommended life sentences for Fazah and Dorado.
The drug trafficking charges against Dorado and Fazah were based on the F13 gang’s street sales of illegal narcotics and smuggling of drugs into the Los Angeles County jail system.
The jury that convicted Dorado and Fazah also returned guilty verdicts against two other F13 members who also were charged in the 2013 federal racketeering indictment. Those other two defendants were sentenced recently to lengthy prison terms. The RICO indictment named 30 members and associates of the F13 gang. With the four convictions last summer, a total of 25 defendants have been convicted in the case (one charged defendant died, and the other four remain fugitives).
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Huntington Park Police Department; and the Los Angeles Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Terrence P. Mann of the Santa Ana Branch Office, Sheila Nagaraj of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Victoria A. Degtyareva of the General Crimes Section.
Toledo man indicted for selling six kilograms of heroinRead the Press Release
A Toledo man was indicted for distributing six kilograms of heroin, said David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon.
Ricardo Rivera, 40, was indicted on one count distribution of approximately six kilograms of heroin. He was arrested last month after DEA agents observed him take a black duffel bag from 1443 Western Avenue in Toledo and place it in the trunk of a vehicle. That car was stopped in North Baltimore, Ohio, and found to have six kilograms of heroin, according to court documents.
“We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who traffic the heroin and opioids that have killed so many of our neighbors and relatives,” Sierleja said. “Only through enforcement, combined with education and prevention efforts, can we hope to turn the tide on this epidemic.”
“This investigation demonstrates that the disruption of heroin trafficking and putting the brakes on the current opioid epidemic is DEA’s top priority,” Plancon said. “The seizure of six kilograms of heroin in Toledo is significant, and not only puts a dent into heroin trafficking in the community, but also illustrates that DEA and our partners in law enforcement are working hard to slow the supply of this deadly drug into the region.”
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.
The investigating agency in this case is the Drug Enforcement Administration, in Toledo. case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Freeman.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Three Canadian Men Plead Guilty to $17 Million Scheme to Traffic Contraband CigarettesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that three Canadian men pleaded guilty in federal court today to their roles in a $17 million scheme to transport hundreds of thousands of cartons of contraband cigarettes from the Kansas City, Mo., area to the state of New York, where they were sold primarily on Indian reservations.
Mark Bishop, 42, and Piotr Hoffmann, 43, both of Montréal, Quebec, Canada, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to aiding and abetting contraband cigarette trafficking. Co-defendant David Bishop, 46 (the brother of Mark Bishop), of Montréal, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, to participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and contraband cigarette trafficking.
David Bishop owned and operated DKB Trade Concepts, a Canadian corporation located in Montréal. David Bishop admitted that he aided and abetted in the sale, possession, transportation, and reception of contraband cigarettes from July 2010 to January 2012. Mark Bishop and Hoffman admitted to transporting contraband cigarettes. They are among 18 co-defendants who have pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to purchase premium-brand cigarettes in Kansas City and transport them to retailers on Indian reservations in New York, without the appropriate $4.35 per pack excise tax being paid or the appropriate tax stamps being applied to the cigarettes.
Conspirators purchased more than $17 million worth of contraband cigarettes from ATF agents during an undercover operation. Approximately 620,600 cartons of cigarettes – containing 10 packs per carton – were transported to New York without paying the required $4.35 per pack excise tax. The untaxed cigarettes were sold by New York retailers and smoke shops on the reservations in the state of New York. The benefit to those smoke shops was that they did not pay New York state cigarette taxes; thus, they could undercut the prices charged by off-reservation cigarette retailers by over $40 per carton. The total state excise tax lost to the state of New York was more than $8 million, which has been paid in restitution to the state by the perpetrators of the scheme.
David Bishop admitted that he received commissions or “brokerage fees” for coordinating contraband cigarette orders between co-defendant Craig Sheffler of Independence, Mo., the owner of Cheap Tobacco Wholesale, and Gholamreza Tadaiyon of Weston, Fla.
Mark Bishop and Hoffman each admitted that he transported a load of contraband cigarettes from the ATF undercover warehouse in Kansas City. Hoffman was paid $11,000, which he must forfeit to the government. Mark Bishop did not receive any substantial financial benefit or payments for his participation in the conspiracy.
Under federal statutes, David and Mark Bishop and Hoffman are each subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul S. Becker and Justin G. Davids. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department with substantial assistance provided by the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.
Thirty-three charged with oxycodone distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Thirty-three individuals have been charged in a 129-count federal indictment as a result of an investigation spanning two states and four North Central West Virginia counties, according to Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen.
Indictments were unsealed today alleging that a group of individuals from Michigan and West Virginia conspired with one another to operate an oxycodone distribution operation in the region.
Many of the defendants were taken into custody today during a coordinated, multi-agency arrest operation led by the Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative. Those individuals facing federal drug charges include:
- Terry Thomas, a.k.a. “Top,” 44, of Detroit, Michigan;
- Michael Wesley, a.k.a. “Black”, a.k.a. “Big Flea,” 45, of Detroit, Michigan;
- Michael James Anthony, a.k.a. “Spook,” 42, of Detroit, Michigan;
- Christopher Lloyd, a.k.a. “Red,” 31, of Detroit, Michigan;
- Darmatrice Love, 32, of Detroit, Michigan;
- Robert Brown, Jr., a.k.a. “Pooh,” 23, of Detroit, Michigan;
- Andrew Thomas, a.k.a. “Bud,” 26, of Detroit, Michigan;
- Sean Miller Phillips, Jr., 24, of Eastpointe, Michigan;
- Devante Maddox, 25, of Detroit, Michigan;
- Konshawntas Boyd, 37, of Detroit, Michigan;
- Brianna Blackman, a.k.a. “BB,” 21, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
- Tiffany Edwards, 35, of Westover, West Virginia;
- Codey Bonnette, 25, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
- Leon Jamar Maddox, 34, of Fairmont, West Virginia;
- Amanda Gifford, a.k.a. “Mandi,” 25, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
- Floyd Pancoast, 24, of Pursglove, West Virginia;
- Jason Pancoast, 23, of Pursglove, West Virginia;
- Christopher Moriarty, 24, of Buckhannon, West Virginia;
- Carlee Cuppet, 25, of Kingwood, West Virginia;
- Brittany Brown, 31, of Stonewood, West Virginia;
- Ariel Blosser, 27, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
- Amanda Maddox, 32, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
- Brandy Miller, 28, of Salem, West Virginia;
- Anna May Martin, 31, of Westover, West Virginia;
- Kimberley Mozie, 36, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
- Jason Perry, 35, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
- Holly Jo Exline, 22, of Dellslow, West Virginia;
- McKenna Kansco, 22, Crawford, West Virginia;
- Marjorie Sue Webster, 23, Maidsville, West Virginia;
- Thomas Keener, II, 22, of Fairmont, West Virginia;
- Jayla Shade, 20, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
- Jesse Tichenor, 25, of Morgantown, West Virginia; and
- Bobbie Jo Phillips, 30, of Morgantown, West Virginia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is handling the cases on behalf of the government. The Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crime Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, led the investigation, which was initiated as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The Task Force consists of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office, Morgantown Police Department, the Star City Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia University Police Department, the Granville Police Department, and the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The US Marshals Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Monongalia County Processing and Transport Personnel, the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force MHIT Group, the Mountain State Drug Task Force, the Three Rivers Drug Task Force-Fairmont, and the Fairmont Police Department assisted in the arrest operation today. In addition, West Virginia State Police and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office allowed the use of their spaces to coordinate these efforts.
Acting United States Attorney Steinfeld Jividen commended the work of all the agencies involved in the investigation.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Tennessee Contractor Sentenced for Giving Kickbacks Tied to Construction of Fulton County Detention CenterRead the Press Release
Sentenced to 35 months imprisonment; Ordered to pay $100,000 restitution
PADUCAH, Ky. – a Dresden, Tennessee, business owner and contract supplier was sentenced to 35 months in prison and ordered to pay $100,000 restitution today in United States District Court by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell for his role in a conspiracy to defraud Fulton County citizens, through kickbacks and concealment of costs associated with work performed on the 2015 Fulton County Detention Center expansion, announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.
“Public corruption, in any form, cannot be tolerated," stated U.S. Attorney John Kuhn. "When contractors pay kickbacks to public officials, they effectively steal from taxpayers and facilitate the corruption. Public office must never be used for unlawful self-enrichment, whether by our elected officials or those having business with government agencies. The Department of Justice will work to prevent this corruption and maintain the public's trust in government integrity."
Ronald D. Armstrong, 60, pled guilty to four charges including Honest Services Wire Fraud and Wire Fraud for his role in a conspiracy that involved then Fulton County Jailer Ricky D. Parnell and others between April 2015 and August 2016. Judge Russell sentenced Armstrong to 35 months of confinement and ordered that he pay $100,000 in restitution to Fulton County.
Armstrong is the owner of Armstrong Construction, located in Dresden, Tennessee, whose company often performed contracting work for Fulton County both as part of the Fulton County Detention Center expansion (Project) and for work done prior to the Project. Armstrong has been doing business with Parnell and Fulton County for approximately twenty years.
Armstrong was awarded a $210,000 general contractor contract by the Fulton County Fiscal Court as part of the Project. Parnell influenced the Fulton County Fiscal Court to award Armstrong with this contract with the understanding that Armstrong would pay Parnell $100,000 of his fees to Parnell as a kickback for being awarded the contract. In following through with this agreement, Armstrong so far has paid Parnell $80,000 in cash.
Armstrong knowingly and voluntarily agreed and conspired with Parnell to give Parnell cash kickbacks due to Parnell influencing the Fulton County Fiscal Court to award Armstrong with the general contractor contract for the Project, which Parnell could do because he was the Fulton County Jailer. Armstrong’s contractor fees were paid by Fulton County. As part of their kickback scheme, the Fiscal Court paid Armstrong by check in amounts of $50,000, $60,000, and $50,000, which were drawn on the Fulton County account with Republic Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, and those checks triggered interstate wire transfers.
Armstrong and Parnell both profited from their arrangement and neither the Fulton County Fiscal Court nor the citizens of Fulton County were ever made aware of the arrangement. In doing so, Armstrong had the intent to defraud the citizens of Fulton County through the kickback scheme he entered into with Parnell.
Armstrong was charged by grand jury indictment, with co-defendants Ricky D. Parnell of Hickman, Kentucky; Michael Homra of Fulton, Kentucky; Jimmy Boyd of South Fulton, Tennessee; and Daniel C. Larcom, of Union City, Tennessee, on November 15, 2016 and were arraigned in United States District Court in Paducah, before Magistrate Judge Lanny King that same day. Larcom will be sentenced on June 15th and Parnell will be sentenced on July 24th. Charges against Boyd were dismissed on motion of the United States.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nute Bonner and is being investigated by the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Syracuse Area Physician Agrees to Pay a Financial Penalty to Resolve Allegations that She Violated Federal Drug LawsRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – A federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of New York signed a Stipulated Judgment today resolving the government’s allegations that Dr. Nancy C. Blake violated her obligations under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and its regulations by accepting payment for medical services in marijuana and by failing to create medical records sufficient to justify certain prescriptions to a patient receiving Suboxone, a controlled substance used to treat opioid addiction, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.
The government alleged that, over an approximately year and a half time period, Dr. Blake issued twenty-three Suboxone prescriptions to a patient and was paid by the patient in small quantities of marijuana for at least twelve of the corresponding medical appointments. Dr. Blake admitted to being paid in marijuana but asserted that it was fewer than twelve times. The government also alleged that Dr. Blake created a medical record in only four of the twenty-three visits. The CSA and its implementing regulations make it unlawful for a physician registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to dispense a controlled substance unless the prescription is issued for a legitimate medical purpose by a practitioner acting in the usual course of her professional practice. Violations of this requirement create civil penalty exposure of up to $25,000 per violation.
United States Attorney Hartunian said: “Our office is committed to using all of the tools at our disposal to ensure that controlled substances are prescribed and dispensed appropriately, an issue of special importance when the prescriptions concern opioids. This settlement reflects our willingness to use the civil penalty provisions of the CSA against providers that fail to fulfill their obligations under applicable regulations and to their patients.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge James Hunt stated, “This case brings to light how a substance abuse counselor, like Nancy Blake, used someone’s battle with addiction to feed her own. It is also a reminder how easily drug addiction can overpower one’s life and have damaging consequences.”
The investigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort among the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.
Southern California Man Indicted for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Eduardo Zavala Lopez, 26, of Sylmar, charging him with possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, an undercover officer negotiated with Lopez and a source in Mexico to purchase China white heroin for $34,000 per kilogram. Lopez said the heroin was “synthesized.” Lopez traveled to Kingsburg where he met with the undercover officer. Ultimately, two kilograms were found hidden in the left rear passenger door and law enforcement later determined that the substance was a mixture of fentanyl and ketamine.
Fentanyl is a potent and highly toxic synthetic opioid that poses a significant health risks including death.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Methamphetamine Task Force and the Fresno Area Surveillance Team, made up of officers from the Fresno Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the California Highway Patrol, and the Kings County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Laurel J. Montoya is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Lopez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
South Jersey Man Admits to Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden man today admitted distributing heroin in Camden, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Jose Correa, a/k/a “Ciego,” 45, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renee M. Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute heroin.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Correa admitted selling at least 410 grams of heroin to two cooperating witnesses on five separate dates. The sales took place in Camden County and occurred between October 2015 and February 2016. He also admitted to possessing with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin on the day that he was arrested. Correa was initially charged by complaint on Feb. 25, 2016, and is currently released on bond.
The drug distribution charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Correa’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2017.
This investigation and prosecution is the result of a collaborative law enforcement initiative by the Philadelphia-Camden High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (PCHIDTA), which comprises federal, state and local law enforcement agencies using a coordinated approach to combat drug trafficking and other crimes. PCHIDTA initiatives prioritize violent crimes and emphasize disruption of drug trafficking organizations and criminal activity.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski; Delaware River Port Authority, under the direction of Chief John L. Stief; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo; the Camden County Metro Police Department, under the direction of Chief J. Scott Thomson; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Rick Fuentes, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Camden County Sheriff’s Department for its assistance.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin M. Fay of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
South Charleston woman sentenced to federal prison for role in large-scale methamphetamine conspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A South Charleston woman was sentenced today to four years in federal prison for her role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Morgan Light, 25, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
As part of a comprehensive investigation, agents from the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team, and Homeland Security Investigations intercepted several mail packages that contained methamphetamine, other drugs, or drug proceeds. Since January 2014, several pounds of methamphetamine were transported from California and Nevada into the Southern District of West Virginia via the United States mail or through individuals driving packages of drugs into the area. Light, as well as codefendants Mark Cobb and Shayne Shamblen, each admitted that they worked with Joseph Cooper, another codefendant, to arrange for the shipment and transport of methamphetamine to West Virginia.
Light’s handwriting was found on at least one package that contained over 100 grams of crystal methamphetamine. Shamblen admitted that he arranged for the shipment of that same package and intended to distribute the methamphetamine contained in the package. Cobb lived with Light and Cooper in Nevada for a short time, and also helped with the packaging and distribution of methamphetamine. Cobb’s fingerprint was found on a package containing approximately three grams of crystal methamphetamine that was sent to an individual in St. Albans. The methamphetamine from both of the packages was laboratory tested and found to be over 90% pure.
Multiple defendants have been sentenced to federal prison as a result of this large-scale methamphetamine trafficking investigation. Cooper was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Benjamin Childers was sentenced to 10 years and a month in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Cobb and Shamblen were both sentenced to seven years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Mark Bays was sentenced to five years in prison for maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine. Harold Parsons was sentenced to four years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Several other individuals involved in the drug trafficking organization have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing. Jon Bowman previously pleaded guilty to using the mail to facilitate a drug crime and faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on June 14, 2017. David Huffman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and faces at least five and up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on June 21, 2017.
Gregory Crum and Diana Salazar Gamboa both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Crum faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. Gamboa faces at least five and up to 40 years in federal prison. Beth Hammonds pleaded guilty to using the mail to facilitate a drug crime and faces up to five years in federal prison for her role in the conspiracy. Crum, Gamboa, and Hammonds are all scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2017.
Assistant United States Attorney Haley Bunn is responsible for these prosecutions. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., is presiding over these cases.
These prosecutions are part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of illegal drugs, including methamphetamine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of illegal drugs in communities across the Southern District.
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Six Defendants Indicted on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the return of an 11-count Indictment charging six defendants with drug and gun charges ranging from heroin conspiracy to possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Indicted were CHRIS WELLS, 33, and ASHLI MARTIN, 33, both residents of Chalmette; along with JUSTIN CRAFT, 28; ELTON WELLS, 39; LLOYD BOLEWARE, 34; and ANGELMICA AUGUSTINE, 27, all of New Orleans.
According to the Indictment, beginning on a date unknown and continuing to on or about April 18, 2017, CHRIS WELLS, CRAFT, ELTON WELLS, and BOLEWARE did knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate and agree with other persons known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to possess with the intent to distribute one hundred grams or more of heroin.
Additionally, CHRIS WELLS, CRAFT, ELTON WELLS, and BOLWARE are each charged with distribution of a quantity of heroin and BOLWARE is charged with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.
CHRIS WELLS, MARTIN, CRAFT and AUGUSTINE are also charged with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
For the drug counts, CHRIS WELLS, CRAFT, ELTON WELLS, and BOLEWARE face a minimum of five years imprisonment and up to a maximum term of forty years imprisonment and a fine of $5,000,000. For the gun counts, CHRIS WELLS, CRAFT, ELTON WELLS, BOLEWARE, MARTIN and AUGUSTINE face a minimum term of five years imprisonment to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the Indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of each defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Andre’ Jones is in charge of the prosecution.
Sentencings for June 5 - June 7, 2017Read the Press Release
Elijah Alon Algiene, 24, of Aurora, Colorado, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson, on June 7, 2017, for being a felon in possession of firearms. Algiene was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received 37 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and a $300.00 fine. This case was investigated by the Casper Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Sherman George Quiver, 33, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal, on June 6, 2017, for sexual abuse in Indian Country. Quiver was arrested in Ethete, Wyoming. He received 120 months of imprisonment, to be followed by seven years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and $1,709.65 in restitution. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services
James Sandfer, 54, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson, on June 5, 2017, for possession of child pornography. Sandfer was arrested in Riverton, Wyoming. He received 46 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and a $400.00 fine. This case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Casey Ray Woolsey, 31, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal, on June 5, 2017, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Woolsey was arrested in Sundance, Wyoming. He received 100 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and a $500.00 fine. This case was investigated by the Moorcroft Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Jason Robert Slowik, 41, of Rawlins, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal, on June 5, 2017, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Slowik was arrested in Rawlins, Wyoming. He received 120 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and $400.00 in restitution. This case was investigated by the Rawlins Police Department, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
David Castillo-Gonzalez, 23, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal, on June 5, 2017, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Castillo-Gonzalez was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received 120 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and $900.00 in restitution. This case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
Sells Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 7, 2017, Marvin Richie Lewis, Jr., 34, of Sells, Ariz., a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frank R. Zapata to 37 months in prison. Lewis had previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor, who is also a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Lewis will be placed on lifetime federal supervision and be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
The investigation in this case was conducted by both the Tohono O’odham Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Micah Schmit, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-0637-TUC-FRZ-BPV
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-052_Lewis
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Rowlett Woman Sentenced to 51 Months in Federal Prison for Her Role in a Heroin Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Brittany Anders, 32, of Rowlett, Texas, was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle for her role in a heroin distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Anders was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison following her guilty plea in October 2016 to one count of possession with intent to distribute and the distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. Anders has been in custody since his arrest in June 2016.
Anders was charged along with six others with various offenses related to a heroin distribution conspiracy. Of the seven charged, all have pleaded guilty, five have been sentenced.
According to documents filed in the case, on April 27, 2016, Anders met an individual in a McDonalds restaurant bathroom in Garland, Texas and exchanged one-half ounce of heroin for $820.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Allen Police Department and Rockwall Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanna Etessam prosecuted.
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Randolph County Man Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
On June 6, 2017, a federal grand jury indicted a Randolph County man for a methamphetamine offense. The indictment was announced today by Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.
Jason M. Stoker, 34, of Chester, was charged in a one-count indictment for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that the offense occurred between June 2016 and October 31, 2016, in Randolph County.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The methamphetamine offense carries a maximum penalty of 5-40 years of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Chester Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Marshals Service. The Randolph County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorneys Adam E. Hanna and Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.
Pittsburgh Man Indicted on Drug and Gun Charges following Seizures of Fentanyl, Cash and Assault RifleRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
The three-count indictment, returned on June 7, named Robert Allen, age 38, as the sole defendant.
On May 11, 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Western Pennsylvania Opioid Task Force assisted by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police executed a series of search warrants in Allegheny County. Agents recovered over two kilograms of pure fentanyl, an AK-47 assault rifle, and more than $100,000 in cash.
As a result, according to the indictment, Allen is charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As a convicted felon, Allen is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years nor more than life in prison, a fine of up to $20,000,000, or both. The United States is also seeking the forfeiture of $116,054 in United States Currency, a black Infinity QX56 SUV, a Romarm Assault Rifle, and numerous items consistent with drug packaging and distribution. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Port Authority Police Department, Munhall Township Police Department and West Mifflin Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pittsburgh Felon Facing Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
The three-count indictment, returned on June 7, named Richard Ruby, age 29, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, on April 25, 2017, Ruby possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin. Ruby, a convicted felon, was also in possession of two firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As a convicted felon, Ruby is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years nor more than life in prison, a fine of up to $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia Man Charged with Illegal Reentry After DeportationRead the Press Release
Miguel Domingo Barbosa, of Philadelphia, PA was charged today by Indictment with illegal reentry after deportation, announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen. The indictment alleges that on or about May 2, 2017, Barbosa, an alien, and native and citizen of Brazil, was found in the United States after having been deported from the United States on or about March 31, 2008, June 14, 2009, October 21, 2009, and April 7, 2011.
If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of two years.
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ERO”), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.
An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia Man Charged with Defrauding Social SecurityRead the Press Release
William Robertson, 65, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged by Indictment, unsealed today, with five counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government funds, one count of social security fraud, and one count of making false statements announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen. According to the Indictment[1], the defendant received retirement benefits intended for a deceased relative after his relative’s death in June 2005. The defendant’s alleged actions resulted in a loss to the government of approximately $148,938.
If convicted, defendant William Robertson faces a sentence of incarceration, a period of supervised release, full restitution to the government of $148,938, a fine, and a special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher E. Parisi.
[1] An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pennsylvania Woman Charged with Smuggling Drugs into U.S. on Commercial FlightRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Pennsylvania woman appeared in federal court in Boston today for a detention hearing after having been charged with smuggling drugs, concealed in her underwear, into the United States on a commercial flight from the Dominican Republic.
Natalia Alexander Duran, 21, of Pennsylvania, was arrested on May 30, 2017, at Boston’s Logan International Airport, and charged with smuggling drugs into the United States. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley took the matter of detention under advisement. Duran remains in the custody of U.S. Marshals.
According to court documents, Duran arrived at Logan Airport on a JetBlue flight from the Dominican Republic on May 30, 2017. Upon arrival, Duran, a U.S. citizen, was referred for a secondary baggage examination. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers searched her bags and did not find any contraband. Duran then stated that she needed to use the restroom. Two female CBP officers escorted Duran to a private bathroom inside a pat down room and told her that prior to using the restroom, she needed to be searched.
It is alleged that during the pat down, one of the CBP officers felt an abnormality in Duran’s groin area. When questioned, Duran said she was wearing three maxi pads. As the pat down continued, Duran explained that she was going to urinate herself and asked the CBP officers to leave so that she could use the restroom. When the CBP officers informed Duran that they would not leave the room, Duran told them she no longer needed to use the restroom; that she was wearing a body suit and could not urinate with it on and did not want to remove it. Duran then confessed to concealing drugs inside her body suit, saying that someone gave her drugs to carry. Duran subsequently reached into her underwear and emptied 41 pellets of cocaine, approximately 445 grams, onto the floor.
CBP officers had reason to believe Duran had ingested additional pellets, so she was transported to a medical facility where an additional 68 pellets were discovered inside her body, which also tested positive for cocaine and heroin.
In total, the 109 concealed pellets yielded approximately 2.6 pounds of illicit narcotics, 1075 grams of cocaine and 120 grams of heroin.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and William A. Ferrara, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Norridgewock Man Sentenced to Four Years for Distributing OxycodoneRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: Acting United States Attorney Richard W. Murphy announced that Brandon Lancaster, 21, of Norridgewock, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for distributing oxycodone. Lancaster pleaded guilty on February 22, 2017.
According to court records, on August 31, 2016, Lancaster sold eleven 30 mg oxycodone pills to an individual working with law enforcement for $500.
In imposing the sentence, Judge John Woodcock noted that illegal drug distribution has an “insidious impact on the fabric of a community” and that individuals who get involved in the drug trade begin “dancing with the devil.” Judge Woodcock admonished Lancaster for being a “traitor to the community.”
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Nine Members of Rockland County Drug Trafficking Organization Charged in Manhattan Federal Court with Distribution of Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, and FentanylRead the Press Release
Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Thomas Zugibe, the Rockland County District Attorney, and James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), today announced the unsealing of an indictment charging nine defendants with participating in a drug trafficking organization that distributed a variety of narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine, in and around Rockland County, New York, and obtained those narcotics for resale from the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, New York. The indictment alleges that the use of heroin distributed by defendant ROBERT DIAZ, a/k/a “Facey,” a/k/a “Face,” resulted in serious bodily injury to a particular victim (“Victim-1”) on or about December 15, 2016, in Queens, New York.
All but one of the defendants were arrested last night and today. RENE SANCHEZ, PABLO PEREZ, CHRISTIAN CARDENAS, DAVID ALMONTE, and RONALD BOLANOS were presented in federal court in Manhattan before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein this afternoon. ROBERT DIAZ, THERESA KEEFE, and NICOLE MUNDERVILLE will be presented tomorrow before Judge Gorenstein. ROLANDO PAULINO remains at large.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim stated: “As alleged, the defendants conspired to sell deadly drugs, including heroin and fentanyl, even though some of them knew that users were overdosing on their drugs. The opioid epidemic, and in particular, overdoses on fentanyl, is on the rise in too many of our communities, including Rockland County. Together with our partners at the DEA and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, we are working to combat this deadly epidemic.”
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe stated: “Sadly, we're seeing high numbers of fentanyl and heroin related overdoses in Rockland County. Dealers selling heroin-laced fentanyl or replacing the heroin entirely with fentanyl are a major threat to our community. Often times, users never know that the substance they purchased has been cut with this opioid, which is 50 times more powerful than regular heroin. Today’s arrests help to stem the flow of heroin and fentanyl into our neighborhoods. Along with our law enforcement partners, the Rockland County District Attorney's Office is committed to holding dealers accountable with the full force of the law.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt stated: “The after effects of this Rockland County drug crew added casualties to the number of opioid overdoses nationwide, as they callously discussed doing the ‘fentanyl dance.’ In addition to dismantling drug trafficking organizations, law enforcement and our community partners are collaborating to alert the public on the dangers of drug dealers pushing heroin and fentanyl into our neighborhoods.”
According to the Indictment[1] unsealed in Manhattan federal court:
ROBERT DIAZ, a/k/a “Facey,” a/k/a “Face,” RENE SANCHEZ, a/k/a “Renny,” PABLO PEREZ, a/k/a “Menor,” CHRISTIAN CARDENAS, a/k/a “Chris,” a/k/a “Spoonie,” DAVID ALMONTE, a/k/a “Elli,” RONALD BOLANOS, a/k/a “Ronny,” a/k/a “ET,” ROLANDO PAULINO, a/k/a “Santana Paulino,” THERESA KEEFE, a/k/a “Terry,” and NICOLE MUNDERVILLE, a/k/a “Nicki,” conspired to distribute significant amounts of narcotics, including heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl, in and around Rockland County, New York, from 2012 to May 2017 as members of a drug trafficking organization (the “Rockland DTO”). CARDENAS, ALMONTE, PEREZ, PAULINO, and BOLANOS acted as suppliers for the Rockland DTO, while DIAZ, SANCHEZ, KEEFE, and MUNDERVILLE distributed and assisted in distributing the narcotics to customers in and around Rockland County. The Rockland DTO distributed narcotics on a daily basis, and obtained narcotics for resale from the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Some members of the Rockland DTO were aware of the potency and danger of the narcotics they were distributing. For example, from December 2016 to May 2017, DIAZ indicated to certain other members of the Rockland DTO that the narcotics he, KEEFE, and MUNDERVILLE were selling, and that CARDENAS was supplying, contained fentanyl, were particularly dangerous, and had caused adverse reactions in multiple customers, including at least one overdose that had required the administration of naloxone to Victim-1 on or about December 15, 2016. Also, as described in the Indictment, on January 5, 2017, DIAZ told CARDENAS that “three people fell out” from the drugs DIAZ had provided. DIAZ subsequently informed KEEFE and MUNDERVILLE that the drugs they were selling, thought by customers to be heroin, actually contained fentanyl. In addition, on March 20, 2017, DIAZ, in a conversation with PEREZ, laughed as he discussed doing the “fentanyl dance,” telling PEREZ that he had a “new connect” for “straight up fentanyl” and that customers “love it.”
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Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. DIAZ also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison for having distributed heroin resulting in serious bodily injury to a victim. The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. A chart with the defendants’ ages and residences is below.
Mr. Kim thanked the DEA’s Westchester Tactical Diversion Squad, the Rockland County Drug Task Force, the Rockland County REACT Team, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office for their work on the investigation. The DEA’s Westchester TDS comprises agents and officers of the DEA, Westchester County Police Department, Town of Orangetown Police Department, Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, Yonkers Police Department, New Windsor Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Health and Human Services.
This matter is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jane Kim, Jason Richman, and Elizabeth Hanft are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
DEFENDANT
AGE
RESIDENCE
ROBERT DIAZ, a/k/a “Facey,” a/k/a “Face”
49
Haverstraw, New York
RENE SANCHEZ, a/k/a “Renny”
52
Haverstraw, New York
PABLO PEREZ, a/k/a “Menor”
37
Bronx, New York
CHRISTIAN CARDENAS, a/k/a “Chris,” a/k/a “Spoonie”
41
Queens, New York
DAVID ALMONTE, a/k/a “Elli”
36
Bronx, New York
RONALD BOLANOS, a/k/a “Ronny,” a/k/a “ET”
47
Queens, New York
ROLANDO PAULINO, a/k/a “Santana Paulino”
46
Manhattan, New York
THERESA KEEFE, a/k/a “Terry”
55
Haverstraw, New York
NICOLE MUNDERVILLE, a/k/a “Nicki”
34
Haverstraw, New York
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Neopit Woman Indicted for Drug Trafficking, Firearm Offense on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 6, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against a woman allegedly involved in drug trafficking and firearms offenses on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment named Sheila R. Madosh (age: 52) of Neopit, which is located on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Count One of the indictment charges Madosh with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Substance in violation of 21 United States Code, Section 841. Count Two charged Madosh with Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense in violation of 18 United States Code, Section 924(c). On Count One, Madosh faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and between 3 years and a lifetime of supervised release. On Count Two, Madosh faces a mandatory 5-year consecutive sentence and up to life in prison.
According to the indictment, on April 21, 2017, investigators discovered 298 grams of a substance containing a Schedule I analogue called FUB-AMB, which is a synthetic cannabinoid known locally as “Ish.” Investigators seized the synthetic drugs, along with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, during the execution of a search warrant at Madosh’s Neopit residence.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation (Native American Drug and Gang Initiative), Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at 414 297-1700
Neopit Man Indicted for Assault and Firearm Offense on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 6, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against a man allegedly involved in an assault and firearms offense on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment named Dillon J. Peters, Sr. (age: 30) of Neopit, which is located on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Count One of the indictment charges Peters with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in violation of 18 United States Code, Section 113(a)(3). Count Two charged Peters with Use of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Violent Crime in violation of 18 United States Code, Section 924(c). On Count One, Peters faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. On Count Two, Peters faces a mandatory 10-year consecutive sentence and up to life in prison.
According to the indictment, between about May 5 and May 7, 2017, Peters discharged a firearm in furtherance of an assault committed against another person. The incident occurred at Peters’ residence in Neopit.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at 414 297-1700
Mexican National Sentenced to Ten Years for Conviction on Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking Charges in New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Victor Hernandez-Pena, 24, a Mexican national illegally in the United States, was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 120 months in prison for violating federal firearms and drug trafficking laws. Hernandez-Pena will be deported after completing his prison sentence.
Hernandez-Pena was arrested on April 2, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with distribution of methamphetamine in Bernalillo County, N.M. According to the complaint, on March 24, 2015, Hernandez-Pena sold approximately 55 grams of methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement officers.
Hernandez-Pena was indicted on a methamphetamine distribution charge on April 28, 2015, and charged with distributing methamphetamine. The indictment was superseded twice, most recently on Oct. 25, 2016. The five-count second superseding indictment charged Hernandez-Pena with distributing methamphetamine on March 4, 2015 and March 24, 2015; possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute on April 2, 2015; and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition on April 2, 2015 and Nov. 10, 2014. According to court documents, the Nov. 10, 2014, charge arose out of an incident during which Hernandez-Pena hit a woman with a firearm, which caused the firearm to discharge and injure the victim when the bullet grazed her head. According to the second superseding indictment, Hernandez-Pena committed the crimes in Bernalillo County.
On Nov. 11, 2016, Hernandez-Pena pled guilty to the second superseding indictment. In entering the guilty plea, Hernandez-Pena admitted selling methamphetamine to an individual he later learned was working with law enforcement authorities on two occasions in March 2015. More specifically, he admitted selling 2.65 grams of methamphetamine on March 4, 2015, and 51.7 grams of methamphetamine on March 24, 2015. Hernandez-Pena also admitted that on April 2, 2015, he possessed 208.2 grams of methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute to others. He also admitted that on April 2, 2015, he possessed a firearm and ammunition at that same residence. According to the plea agreement, on Nov. 10, 2014, Hernandez-Pena also possessed a handgun and ammunition while sitting in the parking lot of an Albuquerque-area restaurant.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristopher N. Houghton and Peter J. Eicker prosecuted the case.
Member of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced for Conviction on Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Yolanda Rodriguez, 50, a U.S. citizen who formerly resided in Mexico, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for her conviction on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
Rodriguez was convicted on multiple charges contained in a 45-count indictment that was filed in Oct. 2015. The indictment charged Rodriguez and 19 others with participating in a major drug trafficking organization (DTO) that imported large amounts of cocaine, marijuana and heroin from Mexico into the United States. The indictment alleged that members of the DTO distributed the cocaine, marijuana and heroin in Albuquerque and other places in the United States, and smuggled drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico. According to the indictment, the conspiracy operated in Doña Ana, Luna and Bernalillo Counties from Oct. 2014 through Oct. 2015.
The indictment was the result of an investigation by the DEA, FBI, IRS and U.S. Border Patrol that was designated as part of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, which combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies and their local counterparts in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. During the investigation, federal agents seized and purchased 6.2 kilograms of cocaine, 2.9 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1039.9 kilograms of marijuana, and 351 grams of heroin. They also seized $267,030.00 in drug proceeds and other assets valued at approximately $153,000.00.
On Oct. 6, 2016, a federal jury returned a verdict finding Rodriguez and co-defendant Amado Acevedo-Gonzalez, 36, a Mexican national, guilty on drug trafficking offenses and money laundering charges after a four-day trial. The evidence at trial established that Rodriguez and Acevedo-Gonzalez were part of a Mexican DTO that imported cocaine and marijuana into the United States, and exported the drug proceeds back to Mexico. More specifically, the evidence established that Acevedo-Gonzalez, distributed marijuana for the DTO, and that Rodriguez was a courier who transported drugs and drug proceeds from Albuquerque to Mexico for the DTO.
During the trial, the jury learned about the ten-month investigation into the DTO during which court-authorized wiretaps were used to gather evidence that permitted federal agents to learn about shipments of cocaine and marijuana that were transported in tractor-trailers from Mexico to an auto body shop in Albuquerque. From the auto body shop, a member of the DTO coordinated with bosses in Mexico to distribute the drugs, and to collect drug proceeds and transport them back to Mexico. Federal agents testified about this pattern – drugs going north in tractor-trailers and drug proceeds going south – occurred numerous times. Based on their knowledge of this pattern, federal agents were able to seize more than $250,000 in drug proceeds from couriers and a tractor-trailer containing marijuana.
Of the 20 defendants charged in the indictment, 13 have been arrested, 11 have entered guilty pleas, two were convicted at trial and the remaining seven are fugitives. The following defendants have entered guilty pleas in this case:
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Rene Amaya-Rivas, 28, a Mexican national who was residing in Odessa, Texas, pled guilty on April 27, 2016, to conspiracy, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and money laundering charges.
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Pablo Alberto Arana-Delgado, 35, a Mexican national who was residing in El Paso, Texas, pled guilty on June 8, 2016, to conspiracy and possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute charges, and was sentenced on Dec. 14, 2016, to 36 months in prison. He will be deported after completing his prison sentence.
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Elier Gabriel Jaime-Castillo, 35, a Mexican national illegally present in the United States, pled guilty on Aug. 30, 2016, to conspiracy, money laundering, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and use of a communication device to facilitate a drug trafficking crime charges, and was sentenced on June 2, 2017, to 46 months in prison. He will be deported after completing his prison sentence.
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Acevedo-Gonzalez, was found guilty at trial on Oct. 6, 2016, of participating in the drug trafficking conspiracy, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and using a communication device to facilitate drug trafficking crimes, and was sentenced on June 2, 2017, to time served and will be deported.
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Mauricio Ledezma, 23, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty on Dec. 8, 2015, to misprision of a felony, and was sentenced on April 6, 2016, to 24 months of probation.
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Cerbando Carbajal, 20, of Columbus, N.M., pled guilty on March 29, 2016, to conspiracy and money laundering charges, and was sentenced on Nov. 3, 2016, to time served.
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Emilia Quezada, 31, a U.S. citizen who was residing in Chihuahua, Mexico, pled guilty on April 1, 2016, to conspiracy and money laundering charges, and was sentenced on Feb. 9, 2017, to 18 months in prison.
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George A. Taylor, 55, of Deming, N.M., pled guilty on April 20, 2016, to conspiracy, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and money laundering charges, and was sentenced on March 17, 2017, to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
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Grisel H. Majalca, 32 of Columbus, N.M., pled guilty on Aug. 3, 2016, to conspiracy, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug trafficking crime and money laundering charges, and was sentenced on Feb. 9, 2017, to 12 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
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Leonardo Martinez-Olivas, 49, a Mexican national, pled guilty on May 11, 2016, to conspiracy and money laundering charges, and was sentenced on Nov. 1, 2016, to 12 months in prison. He will be deported after completing his prison sentenced.
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Neftali Garcia-Torres, 20, a Mexican national, pled guilty on Sept. 14, 2016, to misprision of a felony, and was sentenced on June 1, 2017, to two years of probation.
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Carlos Adrian Ortega-Acevedes, 25, a Mexican national pled guilty on March 3, 2017, to conspiracy and international money laundering charges.
The following defendants, all Mexican nationals, have yet to be arrested and are considered fugitives: Edgar Estopellan-Torres, Ignacio Villalobos-Salinas, 30, Angel Daniel Silva-Silva, 31, Rigoberto Estopellan-Torres, 35, Jesus Muñoz-Lechuga, 36, Emilio Delgado-Olivas, 43, and Jesus Gilberto Varela-Sanchez, 28. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Las Cruces offices of the DEA, FBI, IRS and the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Selesia L. Winston and Renee L. Camacho of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
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McKeesport Residents Sentenced to Prison for Distributing CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - Two residents of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, were each sentenced in federal court to 36 months imprisonment and five years supervised release on their convictions of violating federal narcotics and money laundering laws, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentences on Jeffrey Turner, age 35, and April Racan, age 37, both of McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, between 2011 and 2015, a cocaine source of supply in Brownsville, Texas, Dante Lozano, mailed dozens of packages of cocaine to Turner and Racan in Elizabeth and McKeesport, in Allegheny County. Approximately 8 kilograms (about 18 pounds) of cocaine were sent in this fashion.
Turner and Racan then sold the cocaine to others. Although drug proceeds in the form of cash were generally sent back to Lozano in Texas, during a six-month period of time in 2012, $116,700 in postal money orders were purchased and sent by Turner and Racan from Pittsburgh back to Texas.
Five other defendants were previously convicted and sentenced. Dante Lozano is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2017.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory J. Nescott prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Song commended the United States Postal Service in Pittsburgh and the Drug Enforcement Administration in Brownsville, Texas for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Jeffrey Turner and April Racan.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Activity with a MinorRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A man who picked up a 13-year old girl at her school bus stop to have sex with her was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and 20 years of supervised release.
Manuel Delgado, 26, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to transportation of a minor across state lines for criminal sexual activity on March 16. According to court documents, Delgado met the minor victim through family when she was 11 years old and began a romantic relationship with the victim that lasted over a year. In June 2016, Delgado, pretending to be the minor victim’s father, called the minor victim’s middle school claiming she was ill, resulting in an excused absence. Delgado then used a car service to travel from Maryland to Virginia to pick up the minor victim at her school bus stop. He then took her back to his house in Maryland and had sex with her. After the minor victim disclosed the sexual exploitation to her mother and law enforcement became involved, Delgado continued to communicate with the victim and encouraged her not to disclose the abuse to law enforcement.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Henry P. Stawinski III, Chief of Prince George’s County Police; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge James C. Cacheris. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Cain prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-11.
Man Sentenced to 292 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Illegal Reentry ChargesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA - On June 7, 2017, Jacinto Loza Gil a/k/a Sergio Alfaro Rojasheather Jean Reekr, 46, of Urbandale, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 242 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and 50 months in prison for illegal reentry into the United States, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. A total sentence of 292 months in prison was ordered.
On February 8, 2017, Loza Gil pleaded guilty to these charges, admitting he was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine between June and September 2016, and had unlawfully reentered the United States following his deportation in March 2014. The conspiracy charges stemmed from a several-month investigation of Loza Gil, in which numerous controlled purchases of methamphetamine were made from him and others operating at his direction. A search warrant at Loza Gil’s residence in September of 2016 yielded approximately five pounds of methamphetamine.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, with significant assistance of other federal, state, and local agencies. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Learn more about this release by calling Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300, or by emailing her at [email protected].
Los Angeles Strike Force Indictment Targets Traffickers that Allegedly Shipped Hundreds of Pounds of Narcotics to U.S.Read the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The first major narcotics trafficking indictment resulting from an investigation by the Los Angeles Strike Force was unsealed today as authorities arrested seven defendants charged with drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons offenses.
The indictment charges a total of 22 defendants who allegedly were members of a drug trafficking organization linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. The charged defendants allegedly were responsible for the importation of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin from Mexico into the United States. The narcotics were distributed throughout the country via a network of cartel associates, and the proceeds from the domestic narcotics sales were then funneled back to Mexico, according to the indictment.
In addition to the seven defendants arrested this morning, one of the defendants was already in a California prison on unrelated charges. The remaining 14 defendants, including four whose true names are not yet known, are fugitives, most of whom are believed to be in Mexico.
During the two-year wiretap investigation, members of the Strike Force seized narcotics with an approximate street value in Los Angeles of more than $6 million, including approximately 290 pounds of methamphetamine, 280 pounds of cocaine, 30 pounds of heroin and 81 pounds of marijuana. During the investigation, authorities also seized 33 firearms, three vehicles with hidden compartments and $1.3 million in cash.
The indictment specifically details 14 significant seizures, one of which involved more than 15 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as over 28 firearms. Another seizure involved more than 70 pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin as well as two vacuum-sealed bundles of cash.
The Los Angeles Strike Force investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service and the Azusa Police Department. These Strike Force members uncovered a sophisticated international drug trafficking network that regularly transported narcotics across the U.S.-Mexico border and at times stored drugs in “stash houses” across the San Gabriel Valley. The narcotics then were distributed throughout the United States.
“The Strike Force has become a leader in using innovative investigative techniques to target Mexico-based drug trafficking organizations,” said Acting United States Attorney Sandra R. Brown. “We are committed to stemming the illegal flow of narcotics into our country, and law enforcement initiatives like the Strike Force will continue to have a significant impact in protecting Americans from dangerous drugs and the violence that often accompanies illegal drug trafficking.”
“The stream of narcotics coming into the United States fuels violence in local neighborhoods and contributes to the current drug epidemic in the United States,” said Deirdre Fike, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s multi-agency operation is the result of a lengthy investigation targeting cartel members for their roles in an international drug importation network that enriched Mexico-based cartel members while American communities were being adversely affected. The FBI will continue to address this crime problem by working with our law enforcement partners, and by engaging with leaders of communities affected by narcotics trafficking.”
“The indictment and today’s arrests demonstrate the Strike Force’s ability to reach both sides of the border, impacting the Sinaloa Cartel by disrupting their drug supply chain and neutralizing key players in the organization,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge David J. Downing. “We’ve sent a message to the cartels – they won’t be allowed to operate freely in Los Angeles or conduct business as usual.”
The 19-count indictment specifically charges the defendants with being members of a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The indictment contains 14 counts alleging possession with the intent to distribute narcotics. One defendant also is charged with illegally possessing seven handguns while engaged in drug trafficking activities.
The seven defendants arrested today are:
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Julian Rocha, also known as “JRoc,” 33, of Azusa, who is charged with being a Los Angeles-based purchaser of Mexican narcotics;
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Froilan Villarreal, also known as aka “DeL MoNtE,” of Azusa, who allegedly illegally possessed seven firearms when authorities seized large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from his El Monte residence;
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Oscar Arredondo, 53, of Bakersfield, an alleged drug transporter who was arrested in the Eastern District of California;
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Maria Ernestina Limon Elenes, 64, of Azusa, an alleged facilitator and the mother of lead defendant/fugitive Jeuri Limon Elenes;
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Antonio Orozco, also known as “El Sr.,” 45, of Long Beach, who allegedly transported narcotics across the international border;
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Martin Ruiz Saldana, of Santa Ana, who allegedly received narcotics from Villarreal; and
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Audrey Rose Urrea, of Chula Vista, who allegedly attempted to transport narcotics across the international border and who was arrested this morning in the Southern District of California.
The five defendants arrested today in the Central District of California are being arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.
One additional defendant – Fernando Madueno Sanchez – was already in state prison. Prosecutors will seek to transfer him to federal custody to face the charges in the indictment unsealed today.
The Los Angeles Strike Force was formed in 2014 to target Mexican drug cartels that utilize the Los Angeles metropolitan region as a primary hub for the distribution of narcotics across the United States. The goals of the Strike Force are to target high-level narcotics traffickers, disrupt and dismantle the cartels’ narcotics trafficking and related money laundering activities, and arrest and prosecute the cartels’ leaders and operatives.
The lead defendant in the indictment – Jeuri Limon Elenes (also known as “Prude,” “Rzr,” “Fox,” and “Royal Nuevo”) – is charged with acquiring narcotics in Mexico and arranging for the transportation of the drugs into the United States. Limon is a fugitive at this time.
In addition to the narcotics and weapons offenses, the indictment includes a charge of conspiracy to launder money that alleges the drug trafficking organization used the United States banking system to launder drug proceeds by making multiple cash deposits into purportedly legitimate accounts to disguise the origin of thousands of dollars of illicit funds.
“When drug traffickers amass large quantities of cash from narcotics sales, they often attempt to legitimize these ill-gotten profits through the use of banks and financial institutions,” said R. Damon Rowe, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation. “This joint investigation demonstrates our efforts to ensure that the banking industry will not be abused by large-scale narcotics traffickers, but will be operated in a fair and honest manner to promote the public interest.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If they are convicted in this case, all of the defendants would be subject to potential sentences of life without parole in federal prison.
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Logan businessman sentenced to federal prison for tax crimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Logan man was sentenced today to a year and a day in federal prison for a tax crime, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Timothy Moore, 54, previously pleaded guilty to making a false statement on a tax return. Moore was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and over $127,000 in restitution.
Moore admitted that from 2010 through at least 2013, he diverted checks intended for his business, Auto Body Specialists, LLC, an auto body and collision company located in Logan. Moore also admitted that the checks were payment for auto body or other work, and that he diverted the checks by depositing them directly into his personal bank accounts rather than into his company accounts. Moore additionally admitted that he hired an outside bookkeeper to prepare his personal and business taxes and to organize the books and records of the business. He admitted that he did not tell his bookkeeper about the diverted checks, nor did he provide the bookkeeper access to his personal bank accounts. When the bookkeeper filed joint income tax returns for Moore and his wife, Moore admitted that he knew that his tax returns understated his income from his company, as the returns did not take into account those diverted funds. Moore further admitted that he authorized the bookkeeper to file the false returns.
In tax years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, Moore diverted $414,273.58 into his personal accounts that was not reported on his tax returns. Moore also admitted that the total tax loss for his criminal conduct is $127,926.26, and that he owes that same amount to the IRS as restitution.
This case was investigated by agents of the IRS – Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith George Thomas is handling the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.
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Keshena Man and Woman Indicted for Drug Trafficking, Firearm Offenses on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 6, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against a man and woman allegedly involved in drug trafficking and firearms offenses on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment named Leroy F. Sanapaw, Sr. (age: 42), and Kerry L. Nacotee (age: 42) of Keshena, which is located on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Count One charges Sanapaw with Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana in violation of 21 United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). Count Two charges Sanapaw and Nacotee with Felon in Possession of a Firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). On Count One, Sanapaw faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a $1 million fine, and from 3 years to a lifetime of supervised release. On Count Two, Sanapaw and Nacotee each face a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release.
According to the indictment, on May 8, 2014, investigators discovered over 250 grams of marijuana and five rifles of various calibers during the execution of a search warrant at the couple’s Keshena residence. Both Sanapaw and Nacotee are prohibited from possessing firearms.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation (Native American Drug and Gang Initiative), and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at 414 297-1700
Keshena Man Indicted for Sexual Assault on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 6, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against a man allegedly involved in a sexual assault on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment named Justin A. Schneider (age: 18) of Keshena, which is located on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment charges Schneider with Aggravated Sexual Abuse in violation of 18 United States Code, Section 2241(a)(1). Schneider faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and between 5 years and a lifetime of Supervised Release.
According to the indictment, on May 15, 2017, while at the defendant’s Keshena residence, the defendant engaged in a sexual act with an adult female by the use of force. According to the indictment, the defendant held down the victim’s arms and placed his hand on her chest during the sex act.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at 414 297-1700
Jefferson County man admits to illegally possessing firearmsRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Ranson, West Virginia man was convicted today of illegal possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced.
Jeremiah David Wallace, age 29, pled guilty to one count of “Felon in Possession of Firearm.”
Wallace admitted to possession of multiple firearms in Berkeley County in November 2015. Wallace, having been convicted of a felony in Frederick County, Virginia, is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Wallace faces up to ten years incarceration and a fine up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Ranson Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.