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Monday 6 June 2016
Michigan Woman Pleads Guilty to Possessing Marijuana with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI - Deangelia D. Quintana, 30, pleaded guilty today in District Court on St. Thomas to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement, on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, Quintana arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, on board a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta, Georgia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers approached Quintana as she approached the carousel at the baggage claim area and removed two bags. Quintana was taken to secondary inspection where CBP officers searched her bags and discovered a large bundle of plastic in each bag. Within the plastics, CBP discovered approximately 19.5 kilos of what was determined to be marijuana. When questioned, Quintana admitted that the bags were hers.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez permitted Quintana to remain on release pending her October 6, 2016, sentencing date. Quintana faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Member of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips Pleads Guilty to Crack-Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A gang member who sold crack-cocaine for the New Jersey set of the Grape Street Crips pleaded guilty today to drug trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Ernest Valentine, a/k/a “Bop,” 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of crack-cocaine.
On June 2, 2016, Trae Roberts, a/k/a “Trae Pound,” 24, pleaded guilty to the same charge. To date, 37 members and associates of the NJ Grape Street Crips have pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, firearms and other charges.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The New Jersey Grape Street Crips controlled drug trafficking and other criminal activities in various areas of Newark, including the neighborhood of 6th Avenue and North 5th Street. Both Valentine and Roberts obtained crack-cocaine from more senior gang members and associates who used and shared a dedicated cell phone to accept orders for thousands of clips of crack-cocaine. These gang-members included Hakeem Vanderhall, a/k/a “Keem,” a/k/a “Sugar Bear,” Eric Concepcion, a/k/a “Eddie Arroyo,” a/k/a “E-Wax,” a/k/a “Wax,” and Rashan Washington, a/k/a “Shoota.”
To protect their gang and drug territory, the New Jersey Grape Street Crips operating in the 6th Avenue and North 5th Street location used “community guns” that were easily accessible to gang members. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement agents seized numerous firearms, including a .410 caliber assault rifle, a.45 caliber Thompson semi-automatic carbine, a 7.62 caliber assault rifle, and numerous semi-automatic handguns.
Both Valentine and Robert face a five-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, a maximum potential sentence of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, for the investigation leading to the guilty pleas. U.S. Attorney Fishman also thanked prosecutors and detectives of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray, police officers and detectives of the Department of Public Safety and Newark Police Division, under the direction of Director Anthony A. Ambrose, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Armando B. Fontoura, for their work on the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Osmar J. Benvenuto and Barry A. Kamar of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit of the Criminal Division in Newark.
This case was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Defense counsel:
Valentine: Stacy A. Biancamano Esq., Chatham, New Jersey
Roberts: Jean D. Barrett Esq., Montclair, New Jersey
Member of A Mexican Sex Trafficking Ring Pleads Guilty to Forcing Woman into ProstitutionRead the Press Release
A member of a Mexican sex trafficking organization, Paulino Ramirez-Granados, has pleaded guilty to federal charges relating to the sex trafficking of a woman from October 2000 to December 2008. The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto at the U.S. Courthouse in Brooklyn. When sentenced, Ramirez-Granados faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The guilty plea was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Angel Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). In announcing the guilty plea, Mr. Capers extended his grateful appreciation to HSI, the agency responsible for leading the government’s investigation.
At today’s proceeding, Ramirez-Granados admitted to bringing a woman from Mexico to New York between October 2000 and December 2008, and forcing her, using threats and violence, to work as a prostitute in Queens, New York, and elsewhere. Ramirez-Granados also admitted that he obtained money from the prostitution that his victim was forced to perform. Pursuant to his plea agreement with the government, Ramirez-Granados also admitted to trafficking an additional victim and agreed to pay restitution to both victims.
As set forth in court filings, between October 1998 and June 2011, members of the Granados sex trafficking organization, including Ramirez-Granados, illegally smuggled young women into the United States, where they were forced to work as prostitutes in New York City and elsewhere. The organization collected profits from the victims’ activities. When victims refused to work or resisted, members of the organization beat and sexually assaulted the victims, and threatened the victims’ family members in Mexico, including the victims’ children.
To date, 13 members of the Granados organization have been indicted in the Eastern District of New York on sex trafficking charges. Twelve have been arrested, and one remains a fugitive. Two high-ranking members of the group, Eleuterio Granados-Hernandez and Samuel Granados-Hernandez, who are brothers, pled guilty to sex trafficking and were sentenced by Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto in 2014 to 22 years and 15 years, respectively.
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement identified and rescued over 20 additional victims — all Mexican nationals. Several victims were sexually assaulted by their traffickers, while others were physically assaulted. All the victims said the traffickers threatened to harm their family members.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Soumya Dayananda and Jennifer Carapiet.
The Defendant:
Name: PAULINO RAMIREZ-GRANADOS
Age: 38E.D.N.Y. United States v. Paulino Ramirez-Granados, 11-CR-557 (KAM)
Media Advisory: Waterloo/Black Hawk County Town Hall Meeting Heroin Epidemic & Community Treatment OptionsRead the Press Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The United States Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative, has scheduled a Waterloo/Black Hawk County Town Hall Meeting on June 8th to discuss the heroin epidemic making its way into Eastern Iowa. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., with 47,055 lethal drug overdoses in 2014. Opioid addiction is driving this epidemic, with 18,893 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers, and 10,574 overdose deaths related to heroin in 2014. Waterloo joins other Iowa cities facing this threat.
Viewed as a national challenge requiring a community solution, the meeting will bring the community together to exchange information and to discuss strategies to address the epidemic plaguing our state. A guest speaker will share her story of her son’s involvement and death from heroin use. A “Call to Action” will be introduced to the community by the Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative.
Visit www.faceboook.com/EasternIowaHeroinInitiative to learn more.
U.S. Attorney Kevin W. Techau will be present. The event is open to the public.
Event Details
When: June 8, 2016 (flyer is attached)
Where: Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial Street, Waterloo, IA
Time: Begins at 6:00 p.m., and ends at 8:00 p.m.
waterloo_town_hall_flyer.pdf
Press wishing to attend should contact AUSA Steve Young at 319-731-4037, or by emailing him at [email protected].
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Return of Thousand-Year-Old Bronze Statue to Republic of IndiaRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the return of a stolen 11th or 12th Century bronze statue of Ganesha to the Republic of India, pursuant to an agreement between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Toledo Museum of Art. The Ganesha was returned today along with several other stolen antiquities at a repatriation ceremony with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch at Blair House in Washington, D.C.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “A decade ago, a valued piece of India’s cultural heritage was stolen and sold in the United States. We are proud to have played a role in returning this treasure to the Indian people, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the United States does not become a marketplace for stolen art and antiquities.”
The statue of Ganesha, also known in Tamil Nadu as Vinayagar, is a bronze statue dating from the Chola dynasty period (1080-1150 A.D.). The Ganesha was stolen from the Sivan temple at Sree Puranthan Village in the Ariyalur District of Tamil Nadu in 2006, and obtained by Subhash Kapoor, an antiquities dealer in Manhattan. Kapoor has been charged with various offenses by both Indian authorities and the New York County District Attorney’s Office for his alleged involvement in trafficking in stolen antiquities, and is currently awaiting trial in Tamil Nadu. Kapoor sold the Ganesha to the Toledo Museum of Art (the “Museum”) in 2006.
Working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the Office identified the Ganesha as stolen, and contacted the Museum. Upon being presented with the evidence of the Ganesha’s illicit origin, the Museum voluntarily agreed to turn over the Ganesha to HSI for return to the Republic of India.
Mr. Bharara thanked HSI for their outstanding work in connection with this matter. He also thanked the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Bharara also thanked the Toledo Museum of Art for their willingness to voluntarily return the Ganesha to the Republic of India.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander J. Wilson is in charge of the case.
Man Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court for Threatening to Blow up the Statue of LibertyRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JASON PAUL SMITH pled guilty in Manhattan federal court today to communicating a hoax threat to bomb the Statue of Liberty that resulted in the evacuation of more than 3,200 people from Liberty Island in New York Harbor. SMITH pled guilty to a one-count Indictment before U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick.
According to the criminal Complaint, Indictment, other documents filed in federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in this case, including today’s guilty plea:
On April 24, 2015, SMITH initiated a call to the emergency 911 system (the “911 Call”) from his iPad using a service that assists hearing-impaired individuals with making and receiving telephone calls (the “Service”). In the 911 Call, SMITH identified himself as “Abdul Yasin,” described himself as an “ISI terrorist,” and threatened that “we” are preparing to “blow up” the Statue of Liberty.
Law enforcement officers responded to the threat that SMITH conveyed in the 911 Call, and conducted a sweep of the areas in and around the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island with the aid of canine units trained to detect explosives. Canine units alerted in the vicinity of the visitor lockers at the base of the Statue of Liberty, prompting law enforcement officers and emergency responders to evacuate the more than 3,200 people who were on Liberty Island at the time. Later, the threat conveyed by SMITH was determined to be unfounded.
The iPad registered in SMITH’s name has used the Service to make other 911 calls, including at least two calls in May 2015 from a user who identified himself as “Isis allah Bomb maker” and who threatened to attack Times Square and kill police officers at the Brooklyn Bridge.
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SMITH, 42, pled guilty to one count of conveying false and misleading information and hoaxes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. SMITH is scheduled to be sentenced on September 6, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., before Judge Broderick.
Mr. Bharara praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (“FBI”) New York Joint Terrorism Task Force – which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York City Police Department. Mr. Bharara also thanked the United States Park Police for its assistance.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zhou is in charge of the prosecution.
Leader of Bank Fraud Scheme Sentenced to over 5 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Leslie Okyere, age 33, of Hyattsville, Maryland today to 66 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to commit bank fraud, using an unauthorized access device and aggravated identity theft. Judge Hazel also ordered Okyere to pay restitution of $1,040,646.14.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Postal Inspector in Charge Maria L. Kelokates of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and John L. Phillips, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Inspector General.
According to his plea agreement and court documents, co-defendant Bertrand Essem recruited college students to open a bank account and obtain a debit card and PIN number associated with that debit card. After the recruits opened the bank accounts, Essem collected the debit cards and PIN numbers and gave them to Okyere.
Okyere kept the recruited individuals’ bank account information in a portfolio book, along with a handwritten list of telephone numbers for numerous The Home Depot stores located throughout the country, and a handwritten schedule listing the days of the week followed by dollar figures alongside the recruited individuals’ names and their debit card numbers. At the same time, Okyere obtained individual victims’ stolen credit card information from several sources, including co-defendant Godfred Obeng.
For example, sometime in 2012, Okyere recuited Obeng to fraudulently access the credit card information for cardholders from Obeng’s employer, Capital One Bank. Okkyere received approximately 538 text messages from Obeng containing stolen account numbers, cardholders’ names and addresses for the cardholders.
On numerous occasions Okeyere ordered construction materials from The Home Depot stores by phone in amounts ranging from $2,500 to $8,000, using a victim’s stolen credit card number as payment. Within a few days, Okyere called to cancel the order and requested that the refunds be sent to the debit card account numbers and bank accounts in the name of the recruited individuals. From June 2010 to January 2014, a total of approximately 173 refunds from unauthorized credit card purchases at The Home Depot were credited to bank accounts of recruited individuals.
The recruits, including Stanley Nmesirionye and Dosis Feludu, would be required to withdraw the majority of the money from the bank account and give that to Essem or to the person by whom they were recruited. The recruit could keep a portion, in some cases as much as $300, and a significant portion of the refunded money was given to Okyere.
The court determined at today’s hearing that the total loss attributable to Okyere’s conduct arising from the fraudulent scheme was $1,040,646.14.
Bertrand Awah Essem, age 28, of Beltsville, Maryland; Stanley Nmesirionye, age 25, of Owings Mills, Maryland; Dosis Feludu, age 26, of Salisbury, Maryland; Gideon Turkson age 25, of Burtonsville, Maryland and Godfred Obeng, age 39, of Glen Allen, Virginia, previously pleaded guilty to their participation in the fraud scheme. Obeng was sentenced on April 14, 2016 to three years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $338,548.45. Essem was sentenced on February 5, 2016 to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $264,757.29. Feludu, Nmesirionye and Turkson were each sentenced to a day in prison. Feludu was ordered to pay restitution of $71,221.82, Nmesirionye to pay $57,255.85 and Turkson to pay $52,953.13.
The Maryland Identity Theft Working Group has been working since 2006 to foster cooperation among local, state, federal, and institutional fraud investigators and to promote effective prosecution of identity theft schemes by both state and federal prosecutors. This case, as well as other cases brought by members of the Working Group, demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to work with financial institutions and businesses to address identity fraud, identify those who compromise personal identity information, and protect citizens from identity theft.
Today’s announcement is part of the efforts undertaken in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Department of the Treasury – OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan E. Foreman, who prosecuted the case.
Kansas Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Stealing More than $2 Million in Government FundsRead the Press Release
A Stillwell, Kansas, man pleaded guilty today to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of theft of government funds, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas.
Richard Drake, 60, admitted that he obtained more than $2 million from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing false tax returns in the names of his clients. Those false returns claimed refunds that Drake directed into accounts he controlled. In his plea agreement, Drake admitted that he used the identities of his clients to perpetrate his fraud without their knowledge. The tax returns that Drake filed caused the U.S. Department of the Treasury to issue large income tax refunds that Drake then converted to his own use.
As part of his plea agreement, Drake has agreed to serve 48 months in prison and to pay $2,432,147 in restitution to the IRS. The sentencing hearing date has not yet been determined.
Acting Assistant Attorney General and Acting U.S. Attorney Beall commended special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorney Ryan Raybould of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt of the District of Kansas, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Kansas Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Stealing More than $2 Million in Government FundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Stillwell, Kansas, man pleaded guilty today to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of theft of government funds, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas.
Richard Drake, 60, admitted that he obtained more than $2 million from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing false tax returns in the names of his clients. Those false returns claimed refunds that Drake directed into accounts he controlled. In his plea agreement, Drake admitted that he used the identities of his clients to perpetrate his fraud without their knowledge. The tax returns that Drake filed caused the U.S. Department of the Treasury to issue large income tax refunds that Drake then converted to his own use.
As part of his plea agreement, Drake has agreed to serve 48 months in prison and to pay $2,432,147 in restitution to the IRS. The sentencing hearing date has not yet been determined.
Acting Assistant Attorney General and Acting U.S. Attorney Beall commended special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorney Ryan Raybould of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt of the District of Kansas, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Exporting Firearms to Overseas PurchasersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to six counts of exporting and attempting to export firearms illegally from the United States to individuals located in other countries, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas.
Michael Andrew Ryan, 35, of Manhattan, Kansas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree of the District of Kansas, who set sentencing for Sept. 12, 2016.
“With a computer and an internet connection, Ryan hosted an international arms trafficking business on the dark web, peddling firearms and ammunition throughout the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Criminals of all stripes take advantage of technological advances to further their crimes and attempt to avoid identification and arrest. In this case, thanks to the hard work of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers involved, we were able to shut down dangerous criminal activity and secure the defendant’s conviction – but we must remain vigilant to ensure that law enforcement retains the necessary capabilities to keep up with criminals.”
“The fact that international firearms trafficking has reached Kansas shows the power of the internet,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Beall. “This prosecution shows our law enforcement efforts are working.”
In connection with his plea, Ryan admitted that he used a hidden internet marketplace website that sold illegal drugs and other illegal goods to unlawfully export or attempt to export firearms from the United States to Cork, Ireland; Pinner, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Victoria, Australia; and Mallow, Ireland.
In his plea, he admitted unlawfully exporting or attempting to export to:
Cork:
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a Beretta 9 mm pistol;
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a Taurus .38 Special revolver;
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a 15-round 9 millimeter magazine;
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32 rounds of 9 mm ammunition;
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one round of .380 ammunition; and
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41 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
Pinner:
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a .22 caliber UZI;
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a .22 caliber magazine for an UZI;
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98 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition; and
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89 rounds of .270 long ammunition.
Edinburg:
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a Highpoint .45 caliber pistol;
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a .45 caliber magazine; and
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19 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition.
Victoria:
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a Walther P22, .22 caliber pistol; and
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a .22 caliber magazine.
Mallow:
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a Glock model 27, .40 caliber pistol;
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a Glock model 22, .40 caliber pistol;
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a 9- round magazine for a .40 caliber Glock;
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a 10-round magazine for a .40 caliber Glock; and
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10 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division investigated the case with assistance from ATF’s Washington, D.C., Division; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Manhattan and Riley County, Kansas, Police Departments. Senior Counsel Marie-Flore Johnson of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough of the District of Kansas are prosecuting the case.
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Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Exporting Firearms to Overseas PurchasersRead the Press Release
A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to six counts of exporting and attempting to export firearms illegally from the United States to individuals located in other countries, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas.
Michael Andrew Ryan, 35, of Manhattan, Kansas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree of the District of Kansas, who set sentencing for Sept. 12, 2016.
“With a computer and an internet connection, Ryan hosted an international arms trafficking business on the dark web, peddling firearms and ammunition throughout the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Criminals of all stripes take advantage of technological advances to further their crimes and attempt to avoid identification and arrest. In this case, thanks to the hard work of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers involved, we were able to shut down dangerous criminal activity and secure the defendant’s conviction – but we must remain vigilant to ensure that law enforcement retains the necessary capabilities to keep up with criminals.”
“The fact that international firearms trafficking has reached Kansas shows the power of the internet,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Beall. “This prosecution shows our law enforcement efforts are working.”
In connection with his plea, Ryan admitted that he used a hidden internet marketplace website that sold illegal drugs and other illegal goods to unlawfully export or attempt to export firearms from the United States to Cork, Ireland; Pinner, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Victoria, Australia; and Mallow, Ireland.
In his plea, he admitted unlawfully exporting or attempting to export to:
Cork:
- a Beretta 9 mm pistol;
- a Taurus .38 Special revolver;
- a 15-round 9 millimeter magazine;
- 32 rounds of 9 mm ammunition;
- one round of .380 ammunition; and
- 41 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
Pinner:
- a .22 caliber UZI;
- a .22 caliber magazine for an UZI;
- 98 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition; and
- 89 rounds of .270 long ammunition.
Edinburg:
- a Highpoint .45 caliber pistol;
- a .45 caliber magazine; and
- 19 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition.
Victoria:
- a Walther P22, .22 caliber pistol; and
- a .22 caliber magazine.
Mallow:
- a Glock model 27, .40 caliber pistol;
- a Glock model 22, .40 caliber pistol;
- a 9- round magazine for a .40 caliber Glock;
- a 10-round magazine for a .40 caliber Glock; and
- 10 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division investigated the case with assistance from ATF’s Washington, D.C., Division; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Manhattan and Riley County, Kansas, Police Departments. Senior Counsel Marie-Flore Johnson of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough of the District of Kansas are prosecuting the case.
Kansas City, KS, Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Drug Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas City, Kan., man was sentenced Monday to life in federal prison for drug trafficking, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Juan Manuel Lopez-Garcia, 27, a citizen of Mexico who lived in Kansas City, Kan., was convicted by a jury in January on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Lopez-Garcia was the main supplier of methamphetamine to a drug trafficking ring that operated in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Lopez-Garcia, who was from Sinaloa, Mexico, received 50 to 60 kilograms of methamphetamine from his brother, who was a high ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel. Lopez-Garcia paid for methamphetamine shipments he received by arranging to send payments in the form of $50,000 to $80,000 in cash at a time to Mexico in vehicles with hidden compartments. Lopez-Garcia was arrested Sept. 5, 2014, at a residence in the 400 block of Shawnee in Kansas City, Kan.
Beall commended the FBI, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ward and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania for their work on the case.
Judge Revokes Wilkinsburg Drug Trafficker’s Bond Pending SentencingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Wilkinsburg, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a quantity of cocaine, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Kelvin Whittle, 58, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies joined forces in a multi-agency wiretap investigation of drug trafficking and violence in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. The interception of wire and electronic communications began in December 2013 and continued through the end of August 2014. During that timeframe, Kelvin Whittle was intercepted over the wire conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine, which was shipped from California to the Western District of Pennsylvania through the United States Postal Service or commercial carrier.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for Oct. 6, 2016. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court revoked the defendant’s bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, Wilkinsburg Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Munhall Police Department, Duquesne Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Kelvin Whittle.
Huntington man sentenced to Federal prison for gun crimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced today to nine months in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. Shane Patrick Masters, 46, previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a domestic violence crime.
On July 2, 2015, Masters traveled to the 26th Street Drinkery, a bar in Huntington. Masters had a handgun in his vehicle when he arrived at the bar where he met and had drinks with two other individuals. Later on in the early morning hours, those two individuals came into possession of the gun and provided it to officers with the Huntington Police Department. Masters was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of a 2015 domestic battery conviction in Wayne County.
The Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution. Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by working with existing local programs that target gun crime.
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Huntington drug dealer pleads guilty to Federal heroin crimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man who was caught with heroin pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. James Lennon Pace, 27, entered his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute heroin.
On June 26, 2015, an officer with the Huntington Police Department observed Pace walking along the 1400 block of 10th Avenue in Huntington. Officers had been looking for Pace as a suspect in an unrelated crime. When approached by law enforcement, Pace gave the officer a false name and repeatedly placed his hands in his pockets. Officers detained Pace and discovered approximately 39 grams of heroin in one of Pace’s pockets. Pace admitted that he intended to distribute the heroin.
On September 22, 2015, agents with the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 1201 Charleston Avenue in Huntington after observing Pace leave the residence. During the search, agents seized over 360 grams of heroin, some of which was mixed with fentanyl – an opiate painkiller roughly 40 to 50 times more powerful than pure heroin. Agents also seized firearms, over $4,000 in cash, a press used to prepare heroin, and other drug paraphernalia.
Pace faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on September 6, 2016.
The Huntington Police Department and the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is responsible for the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
This case is being prosecuted as 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 prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
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Hobbs Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Drugs in Lea CountyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Rolando Cantu, 40, of Hobbs, N.M., was sentenced this morning in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 151 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his conviction on a methamphetamine trafficking charge.
Cantu was one of five defendants charged as the result of an investigation primarily targeting a drug trafficking organization operating in Lea County, N.M., allegedly headed by co-defendant Leroy Castillo, 34, of Hobbs, N.M. The investigation was led by the FBI and Lea County Drug Task Force (LCDTF) with assistance from the DEA and New Mexico State Police. It was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations.
Cantu was arrested in July 2014, and charged in a seven-count indictment filed in June 2014. The indictment also charged co-defendants Castillo, Joe Padilla, 34, of Hobbs, Mario Flores, 30, of Artesia, N.M., and Anthony Pisana, 30, of Roswell, N.M. Count 1 charged the four men with participation in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy from Feb. 2014 through May 2014, in Lea County. Counts 2 and 3 charged certain defendants with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in Eddy and Lea Counties in March 2014, and Counts 4 through 7 charged certain defendants with using telephones to facilitate drug trafficking crimes in Feb., March and April 2016.
Cantu pled guilty on March 24, 2015, to County 3 of the indictment charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In his plea agreement, Cantu admitted that on March 8, 2014, law enforcement officers seized 76.2 grams of methamphetamine from inside a truck parked at his residence. Cantu further admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine that was found inside the truck.
With the exception of Castillo, all defendants charged in this case have pleaded guilty. Castillo has yet to be arrested and is considered a fugitive. Individuals with information regarding the whereabouts of Castillo are asked to call the FBI at 505-622-6001. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces, Roswell and Albuquerque offices of the FBI and the LCDTF, with assistance from the Las Cruces office of the DEA, the New Mexico State Police and the Phoenix Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Terri L. Abernathy and Shaheen P. Torgoley.
The Lea County Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Lea County Sheriff’s Office, Hobbs Police Department, Lovington Police Department, Eunice Police Department the Tatum Police Department and the Jal Police Department, and is part of the HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.
Glendale Man Who Stole and Distributed Trade Secrets Belonging to Former Employer Sentenced to One Year in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An electrical engineer from Glendale who was found guilty of violating the Economic Espionage Act for stealing and distributing trade secrets belonging to his former employer was sentenced today to federal prison.
Derek Wai Hung Tam Sing, 45, was sentenced by United States District Judge Christina A. Snyder to serve one year and one day in prison.
Judge Snyder presided over a bench trial in September and found Sing guilty in a written ruling issued in January. In her 28-page ruling, Judge Snyder convicted Sing of 32 counts of violating the Economic Espionage Act by transmitting and possessing numerous trade secrets.
Sing worked at the Pasadena-based Rogerson Kratos (RK) in 2012. Until he was fired by the aircraft avionics company, Sing had access to RK trade secrets, and he signed a confidentiality agreement that prohibited him from disclosing any confidential information and trade secrets that belonged to the company.
According to a sentencing memorandum filed by prosecutors, Sing’s short tenure at RK was “tumultuous…he was late on assignments, showed up late to work, and had a bad attitude. He created disparaging paraphernalia, such as mugs and bottle openers referring to RK employees as imbeciles, and distributed them to his colleagues. Eventually, he was fired, but not before he took home with him a trove of documents related to RK’s confidential trade secrets, including at least 27 schematics.”
After being terminated, Sing retained materials that he had collected while working at RK, despite being specifically asked to return all trade secrets. Instead, Sing “packaged the trade secrets with sufficient supporting documentation and instructions so that other competitor companies would be able to use the trade secrets and reverse engineer RK’s products,” according to Judge Snyder’s written verdict, which noted that Sing testified at trial that he “wanted to get back at Rogerson Kratos” for not appreciating his work as an employee.
Sing prepared packages that included schematics of RK products and a “readme” document that explained the importance of the proprietary information and instructed competitors to reverse engineer the products. In early 2013, Sing sent the stolen trade secrets to other companies that produced avionics, including a company outside of the United States. Sing also sent flash drives with the trade secrets to companies. Judge Snyder found that Sing illegally sent seven schematics to three different companies, and that he illegally possessed four of those schematics.
In its recommendation to the court, the United States Probation Office
concluded that “Sing acted out of anger, and intended to cause harm to his former employer. He has shown no remorse,” according to the government’s sentencing memo.
“Mr. Sing tried to conceal his illegal theft and transmission of trade secrets by using fictitious email accounts,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “If not for one of the competitors that received the proprietary secrets alerting authorities, Mr. Sing might have caused a devastating blow to his former employer. Intellectual property is the lifeblood of the American economy and provides critical value to businesses and employees.”
“In addition to violating the law by stealing proprietary information, Mr. Sing further victimized his former employer by advertising his theft of trade secrets to the company’s competitors,” said Deirdre Fike, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI takes theft of intellectual property very seriously as the compromise of such data affects the American economy and can weaken our national security.”
The case against Sing was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Former University Employee Pleads Guilty to $716,000 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former University of Missouri employee pleaded guilty in federal court today to embezzling more than $716,000 from the school over a nine-year period.
Carla Rathmann, 54, of Mount Vernon, Mo., waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of mail fraud and one count of credit card fraud.
Rathmann admitted that she embezzled a total of $716,665, primarily by submitting fake and fraudulent invoices and bills to the University of Missouri. Rathman also admitted that she illegally used a university credit card for approximately $146,144 in personal expenses.
“The University of Missouri detected the embezzlement and worked closely with law enforcement to investigate,” Dickinson said. “The university’s cooperation was instrumental in determining the full scope of the fraud scheme.”
Rathman was hired by the University of Missouri as an administrative officer at the Southwest Research Center, located in Mount Vernon, in January 2000. Her responsibilities included receiving bills, paying bills, various accounting duties, payroll, scheduling meetings and organizing staff at the Southwest Research Center. According to today’s plea agreement, Rathmann was fired from her position in September 2015 after officials discovered that she had used her university credit card, also known as a “p-card,” to pay for personal expenses.
In 2005, Rathmann created and registered three shell companies with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office. Rathmann admitted that these companies – R&R, R&R Argi and Garrett Farm and Oil – did not produce a single product or provide a service of any type. Either Rathmann or her husband were the owners and registered agents for these companies.
From Jan. 24, 2005, to June 18, 2014, Rathmann issued bills or invoices in the names of these shell companies to the University of Missouri for products or services ostensibly provided to the Southwest Research Center. In reality, none of these companies provided a single item or a service to the Southwest Research Center. The invoices or bills submitted by Rathmann to the University of Missouri for payment were entirely false and fraudulent.
On numerous occasions, Rathmann, in her capacity as an administrative employee for the University of Missouri at the Southwest Research Center, approved the fraudulent invoices and bills. After she approved the payments, the University of Missouri wrote checks to Rathmann’s fictitious companies, which were deposited into her bank account.
The University of Missouri paid Rathmann $570,521 for the products and services that in fact were never delivered or provided.
Shortly after she was hired, Rathmann was given a credit card to facilitate the purchasing of goods and services needed for the Southwest Research Center. Rathmann fraudulently used the credit card to make unauthorized personal purchases (i.e., her dog’s surgery, remodeling her home, dental expenses, propane for her home, gas for her vehicle and herbicide for her home).
The first unauthorized use of the credit card occurred on Feb. 19, 2002, when Rathmann’s credit card was used to pay Bolivar Insulation in the amount of $1,249. The last unauthorized use of the credit card was on Aug. 20, 2015, when Rathmann’s credit card was used to pay an invoice from Ozark Mountain Pest Control in the amount of $30. In between these purchases were numerous other personal purchases she made using the credit card that totaled approximately $146,144.
By pleading guilty today, Rathmann agreed to forfeit to the government a $716,665 money judgment, which represents the proceeds derived from the fraud scheme.
Under federal statutes, Rathmann is subject to a sentence of up to 30 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. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Former Operator of Money Transfer Business Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Illegal Structuring of Financial TransactionsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Criminal Information was filed in U.S. District Court in Scranton charging a Northampton County man with conspiring to unlawfully structure financial transactions.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, from January 2008 through December 2011, German Ossa Rocha, age 45, conspired with others to utilize a money transmitter service in order to transfer the proceeds from unlawful criminal activity to the Dominican Republic. Ossa Rocha, together with his then-wife, Mirela Desouza, operated Tropic Express, Inc., a money transfer service business, in Stroudsburg. The defendants were residents of Northampton County. Desouza previously pleaded guilty to the same criminal charge and is awaiting sentencing. Both defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2015 on money laundering and illegal structuring charges.
The government also filed a plea agreement in the case. As part of the agreement, the government agreed to dismiss the money laundering charge.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service. Ossa-Rocha faces up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, the alleged crime is “structuring,” the conducting of transactions in currency for the purpose of evading federal currency transaction reporting requirements. Under federal law, money transmitter agents are required to obtain identification, social security numbers and occupations of clients sending money to other countries, in this case the Dominican Republic, in amounts over $1,000. The defendants ignored the directives. The law also prohibits evading or attempting to evade the reporting requirements or attempting to cause failures to file currency transaction reports.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Former Contractor of Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation Admits Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The sole proprietor of a company that purportedly provided internet research and technology consulting services to the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation (NWCDC) today admitted that she failed to report substantial income she received from the NWCDC, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Retha Renee McCoy, 53, of Newark, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose Linares in Newark federal court to Count 4 of an information charging her with making and subscribing a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, for tax year 2012, which intentionally omitted approximately $56,792 in income that she received from the NWCDC in that year.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From September 2007 to March 2013, McCoy received approximately $355,519 from the NWCDC, which was paid in the form of checks written to McCoy individually, or to a company of which she was the sole proprietor, Precision Technology Services (Precision).
The proceeds that the NWCDC paid to McCoy far exceeded the value of any work performed by her as a consultant for the NWCDC. In fact, a substantial portion of these payments were fraudulent and orchestrated to fund a stream of concealed payments from McCoy to Linda Watkins Brashear, the Executive Director of the NWCDC at the time. Brashear pleaded guilty in December 2015 to defrauding the NWCDC of her honest services in the affairs of the NWCDC by taking kickbacks (including payments from McCoy), and of the NWCDC’s money and property, as well as to subscribing to a false federal personal income tax return.
McCoy further admitted that she had failed to report significant income received from the NWCDC directly or through Precision on her 2009, 2010 and 2011 federal personal income tax returns.
The charge of filing a false tax return to which McCoy pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 12, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher; IRS – Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Newark office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, as well as criminal investigators of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the investigation leading. U.S. Attorney Fishman also thanked the New Jersey Comptroller’s Office, under the direction of Philip J. Degnan, for its assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mala Ahuja Harker, Jacques Pierre and Leslie Schwartz of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division.
Defense counsel: Angelo Servidio Esq., Nutley, New Jersey
Former Ansonia Resident Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Importing "Molly"Read the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WAHEED ISLAM, 48, also known as “Max Paine,” formerly of Ansonia and Manchester, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 108 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for importing and distributing “Molly,” and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2014, the Ansonia Police Department received information that ISLAM was residing in Ansonia and was making and distributing “Molly.” Molly is a street name for MDMA.
In July 2014, a U.S. Postal Inspector reported to Ansonia Police that ISLAM had been receiving packages from China that were labeled as containing “rock sugar.” On August 8, 2014, a package that had originated in China and was addressed to ISLAM’s post office box in Ansonia was intercepted at JFK International Airport. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents opened the package and found it to contain approximately one pound of ethylone, a Schedule I controlled substance that is a stimulant closely related to methylone, MDPV, MDMA and MDEA. A second package originating from China had been delivered to the Ansonia branch of the U.S. Post Office and was awaiting delivery to ISLAM. On August 11, 2014, HSI agents opened the second package and found approximately 1.1 pounds of the same substance. ISLAM was arrested on August 12, 2014, after he arrived at the post office in Ansonia to pick up the package.
On August 15, 2014, another package destined for ISLAM was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. A search of the package revealed approximately 2.3 pounds of ethylone.
ISLAM has been detained since his arrest. On March 3, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance into the United States.
ISLAM’s criminal history includes multiple felony crimes of violence, including first degree assault and first degree robbery. In addition, on May 6, 2011, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 18 months of imprisonment for illegally purchasing and possessing body armor. He was on supervised release at the time of his most recent criminal conduct.
This matter was investigated by the Ansonia Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Falfurrias Mayor Pro Tem Pleads Guilty in Illegal Gambling Business OperationRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The mayor pro tem of Falfurrias has admitted she knowingly and intentionally aided and abetted an illegal gambling business operation in the state of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Leticia Hernandez Garza aka Letty Garza, 58, entered a guilty plea this morning.
A federal grand jury indicted Garza on March 23, 2016, for aiding and abetting an illegal gambling business in Falfurrias from on or about Jan. 1, 2009, to on or about May 31, 2015. She surrendered the following day to federal authorities.
The illegal gambling business involved several people who conducted, financed, managed, supervised, directed and owned all or part of such business. The business was in substantially continuous operation for more than 30 days and had a gross revenue in excess of $2,000 in a single day.
Following a one-year undercover operation, agents identified Garza and the owners, operators or managers of multiple illegal casinos in the Falfurrias area. On May 31, 2015, law enforcement raided the game rooms and residences of the owners, seizing $4.9 million.
As part of her plea, Garza admitted to using her influence as Mayor Pro Tem to aid and abet several of the illegal gambling businesses.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Ramos accepted Garza’s plea today and has set sentencing for Sept. 22, 2016. At that time, Garza faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The charges are the result of a two-year joint investigation by the FBI, Texas Rangers, Homeland Security Investigations, Kingsville Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force, Secret Service, Brooks County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, Jim Wells County District Attorney's Office and the Texas Border Prosecution Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Ex-HPD Officer Sentenced in Connection with Armored Car RobberyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A former police officer has been ordered to federal prison for his conviction of lying to investigators in relation to an armored car robbery that occurred in Houston in 2013, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Joel Quezada, 33, of Humble, pleaded guilty Jan 11, 2016.
Today, U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore, who accepted the guilty plea, ordered he serve 48 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release.
At the time of his guilty plea, Quezada admitted he lied to investigators about accepting cash for monitoring his police radio during an armored car robbery that occurred on Dec. 6, 2013. At the time of the robbery, he was a full-time patrol officer with the Houston Police Department (HPD).
Quezada no longer works at HPD.
He was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Four others were charged in a separate case with the actual robbery of the Loomis armored car. They have all been convicted and are pending sentencing before U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison in August 2016.
The investigation leading to the charges against Quezada was conducted by the FBI and HPD - Internal Affairs Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Leuchtmann and Carolyn Ferko are prosecuting the case.
District Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Knife Attack That Disfigured VictimRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Meguiel Jackson, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 12 years in prison on a charge of malicious disfigurement while armed for cutting a woman approximately 28 times, all over her body, with a knife in an attack that occurred at an apartment building in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced.
Jackson pled guilty in March 2016, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a 12-year prison sentence. The Honorable José M. López accepted the plea today and sentenced Jackson accordingly. Following his prison term, Jackson will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of Jan. 22, 2016, Jackson entered an apartment building in the 4700 block of C Street SE. He was brought to an apartment by the victim, and she permitted him into her bedroom. Jackson became angry when the victim refused to allow him to inspect her cellular telephone to see her text messages. At one point, he said words to the effect of “I am tired of you ---,” and began to assault her. She lost consciousness. While she was unconscious, Jackson took a knife and began to cut her.
Jackson cut the victim’s body approximately 28 times all over, including her face, her chest, her back, her buttocks, and her legs. Some of the wounds were so deep that tissue was exposed. Jackson ultimately broke the knife in the process of cutting her. He then left the building later that evening. He was arrested Jan. 30, 2016 and has been in custody ever since.
The victim was found to have suffered a total of 28 wounds to the face and body. Also, during the attack, she received a broken jaw and a broken orbital bone in her face. The victim is permanently disfigured as a result of the injuries inflicted by Jackson.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Phillips commended the work of the detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sixth District, the patrol officers who responded in a major snowstorm to the crime scene, and the crime scene officers who processed the scene. U.S. Attorney Phillips also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Shawn Slade; Supervisor Security Specialist Michael Hailey; Victim/Witness Security Specialist M. Laverne Forrest; and Paralegal Specialist Tierra Nanches. Finally, U.S. Attorney Phillips thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen and Julianne Johnston, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brandon D. Hayes, 31, of Central Falls, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Providence to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hayes was arrested in July 2015 by a Rhode Island State Police trooper during a routine traffic stop after the trooper discovered and seized from the vehicle a loaded firearm belonging to Hayes.
Hayes’ guilty plea is announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.
According to information presented to the court, on July 12, 2015, a State Police trooper signaled for a vehicle traveling northbound on Route 95 in Warwick to stop for motor vehicle violations. The trooper learned that as the vehicle was pulling over, Hayes, who was a passenger in the vehicle, removed a loaded handgun from his waistband and put it under the front passenger seat. The trooper seized a loaded Baikal Makarov IJ-70 9 mm pistol from under that seat. Hayes admitted to the trooper that the firearm belonged to him.
Hayes, who has been detained since his arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., on September 6, 2016. According to court records, Hayes was previously convicted in state court on felony assault and drug trafficking charges.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.
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Contact:
Jim Martin (401) 709-5357
email: [email protected]
on Twitter @USAO_RI
Columbus man pleads guilty to Federal heroin crimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Columbus man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. Jharel Daivon Kirkland, 27, entered his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute heroin.
On January 27, 2016, officers with the Huntington Police Department’s Special Emphasis Unit were conducting surveillance at a known drug residence in Huntington when they observed Kirkland enter the residence. Officers learned that the vehicle Kirkland was driving had been stolen in Columbus, and law enforcement conducted a traffic stop when Kirkland left the residence. Kirkland was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle. During a search of Kirkland after his arrest, an officer located approximately 30 grams of heroin. Kirkland admitted that he intended to distribute the heroin.
Kirkland faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on September 6, 2016.
The Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is responsible for the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
This case is being prosecuted as 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 prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
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Butler County Woman Facing Additional Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Valencia, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of interference with commerce by extortion and mail fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The seven-count superseding indictment named Pamela A. Vivirito, 46, of Valencia, PA as the sole defendant.
According to the second superseding indictment Vivirito extorted property from persons known to the grand jury. The indictment further alleges that Vivirito operated a not-for-profit charity called Equine Angels Rescue, Inc. (EAR) which solicited contributions to rescue and rehabilitate horses. Purportedly, Vivirito fraudulently solicited donations and used them for personal expenses.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 140 years in prison, a fine of $1.75 million or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Buffalo Woman Sentenced for Role in Commercial Sex BusinessRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Caitlin Connelly, 31, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to engage in a commercial sex business, was sentenced to time served and one year supervised release by U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen, Jr., who handled the case, stated that Connelly conspired with Kenneth White to entice women into traveling to other states to engage in commercial sex acts between 2006 through 2012. White, who was convicted of sex trafficking and sentenced 13 years in prison, received all of the money earned by the women in this manner.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Adam S. Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Shantelle P. Kitchen, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office.
Buffalo Man Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Carter Watts, Jr., Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of unlawfully receiving supplemental security income benefits, was sentenced to 12 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara. The defendant was also ordered to pay $15,456 in restitution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who handled the case, stated that between October 1, 2013 and June 1, 2015, the defendant received Supplemental Social Security Income benefits on behalf of his disabled daughter, when in fact, the child was not living with him. Watts received a total of $15,456 to which he was not entitled.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Ryan.
Breathitt County Ambulance Company, Owner, and Billing Manager Sued for Fraudulent Claims to Medicare and MedicaidRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON – The United States Government has sued a Breathitt County ambulance company, its owner, and billing manager for violations of the False Claims Act, a federal law that prohibits people from submitting false or fraudulent claims for payment from the federal government.
On Friday, June 3, 2016, the United States filed suit against Arrow-Med Ambulance, Inc. (“Arrow-Med”), Herschel Jay Arrowood, and his wife, Lesa Arrowood, alleging that the company submitted numerous fraudulent claims seeking payment for unnecessary non-emergency ambulance transports, and that the Arrowoods caused the company to make those fraudulent claims. Jay Arrowood is the owner of Arrow-Med and Lesa Arrowood serves as its billing manager. According to the complaint, the false claims caused more than a million dollars in loss to the Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid programs.
The Arrowoods also allegedly instructed and pressured employees to falsify patients’ medical records to justify the unnecessary services to help ensure payment from Medicare and Medicaid. In addition, the complaint describes how the Arrowoods converted hundreds of thousands of dollars from Arrow-Med’s bank accounts to their own use.
According to the complaint, from September 2012 to August 2015, Arrow-Med transported patients, who had no medical need for an ambulance transport, to dialysis clinics and to other medical appointments. Under federal law, Medicare pays for non-emergency ambulance transports only if the patient’s condition is such that taking other forms of transportation would endanger the patient’s health.
The complaint provides examples of unnecessary non-emergency ambulance transports provided to patients who rode in the front seat of the ambulance or to patients who walked a half-mile daily for exercise.
The complaint alleges the defendants caused damages to Medicare and Medicaid in excess of a million dollars. Under the False Claims Act, if the defendants are found liable at trial, they would be responsible for paying three times the amount of loss proven at trial, plus additional penalties of $5,000 to $10,000 for each false claim.
The litigation against Arrow-Med was initiated by Darrell Stephen McIntosh, who filed a complaint against Arrow-Med pursuant to the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act in April 2015. The United States’ Complaint in Intervention reflects the government’s intent to pursue allegations of fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary services against the defendants.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Hancock and Paul McCaffrey are litigating this case on behalf of the federal government.
Beaver Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Copyright InfringementRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH -- A resident of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud and copyright infringement, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Michael K. See, 34, of Beaver Falls, PA pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from in and around January 2010, to in and around January 22, 2015, See purchased and imported copyright infringing DVDs of television shows and movies. See then sold these copyright infringing DVDs on eBay.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for Oct. 6, 2016 at 2 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 25 years in prison, a fine of $500,000.00, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court released the defendant on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of See.
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch Returns Ancient Artifacts to IndiaRead the Press Release
Over 200 artifacts were returned to the government of India today by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch during a ceremony with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The items were recovered as a result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the work of the United States Attorneys’ Offices in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
“The United States is committed to ensuring that no nation is robbed of the objects that inform its identity, shape its traditions and inspire its citizens,” said Attorney General Lynch. “Today, as part of that ongoing commitment, more than 200 antiquities and cultural artifacts that speak to India’s astounding history and beautiful culture are beginning their journey home. It is my hope – and the hope of the American people – that this repatriation will serve as a sign of our great respect for India’s culture; our deep admiration for its people; and our sincere appreciation for the ties between our nations. I want to commend the men and women of the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for recovering these priceless objects and I want to thank our Indian counterparts for their continued cooperation in our shared efforts to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of both of our nations.”
Items returned included religious statues, bronzes and terra cotta pieces, some dating back 2,000 years, looted from some of India’s most treasured religious sites. Among the pieces returned is a statue of Saint Manikkavichavakar, a Hindu mystic and poet from the Chola period (circa 850 AD to 1250 AD) stolen from the Sivan Temple in Chennai, India, which is valued at $1.5 million. Also included in the collection is a bronze sculpture of the Hindu god Ganesh estimated to be 1,000 years old.
“Protecting the cultural heritage of our global community is important work and we are committed to identifying and returning these priceless items to their countries of origin and rightful owners,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson. “It’s the responsibility of law enforcement worldwide to ensure criminal smuggling organizations do not profit from the theft of these culturally and historically valuable items.”
The majority of the pieces repatriated in the ceremony were seized during Operation Hidden Idol, an investigation that began in 2007 after HSI special agents received a tip about a shipment of seven crates destined for the United States manifested as “marble garden table sets.” Examination of the shipment in question revealed numerous antiquities. This shipment was imported by Subhash Kapoor, owner of Art of the Past Gallery, who awaits trial in India.
HSI’s Operation Hidden Idol focused on the activities of former New York-based art dealer Kapoor, currently in custody in India awaiting trial for allegedly looting tens of millions of dollars’ worth of rare antiquities from several nations. Artifacts were also found in the Honolulu Museum and Peabody Essex, who promptly partnered with HSI to surrender illicit cultural property stemming from Kapoor. HSI special agents have executed a series of search warrants targeting Kapoor’s New York City gallery, along with warehouses and storage facilities linked to the dealer. Additionally, five individuals have been arrested in the United States for their role in the scheme. The estimated value of the artifacts seized so far in the case exceeds $100 million.
HSI plays a leading role in criminal investigations that involve illegally importing and distributing cultural property, including illicit trafficking of cultural property, especially objects that have been reported lost or stolen. HSI International Operations, through its 64 attaché offices in 46 countries, works closely with foreign governments to conduct joint investigations. Since 2007, more than 7,500 artifacts have been returned to 30 countries, including paintings from France, Germany, Poland and Austria; 15th to 18th century manuscripts from Italy and Peru; as well as cultural artifacts from China, Cambodia and Iraq.
Learn more about HSI cultural property, art and antiquities investigations. Members of the public who have information about suspected stolen cultural property are urged to call the toll-free HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or to complete its online tip form.
Alfred Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Kevin Millette, 44, of Alfred, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy Torresen to 10 years in prison to be followed by seven years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Millette pleaded guilty to the charge on January 28, 2016. He was also ordered to pay a total of $39,000 in restitution to victims depicted in the images he possessed.
According to court records, in November 2015, agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Millette’s residence in Alfred. Millette was present, and agreed to be interviewed after waiving his Miranda rights. He admitted that he had accessed child pornography recently using his phone, and estimated that he had thousands of child pornography images on the phone.
Investigators seized three cell phones and a memory card from the residence. One of the phones was in the process of downloading child pornography images when it was seized. A forensic analysis of the phone and its memory card revealed thousands of digital still images depicting children engaging in sexually explicit conduct, as well as a smaller number of child pornography videos. Another memory card was also found to contain child pornography images.
Millette was subject to an enhanced mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment because he had a prior child pornography conviction.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
20 People Charged in Methamphetamine and Money Laundering ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Michael Vincent Woodbury Bent, 37, Dennis Sharkey II, 50, Adam Fullbright, 37, Chris Nauman, 30, John Husemann, 51 all of Dubuque, Iowa, Heather Harris, 37, Zach Miller, 27, and Jacob Burton, 35, all of Waterloo, Iowa, and Edward Behrens, 50, of Benton, Wisconsin, have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Bent and Fullbright have been charged with an additional count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Chad Ellis Weyland, 38, Deis Ray, 40, Jay Seehase, 37, and Kevin Hemmer,41, all of Waterloo, Iowa, have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Weyland has been charged with an additional count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Aldo Omar Lopez Martinez, 22, Adan Sanchez-Chavez, a/k/a Osbaldo Nieto Arreola, a/k/a Osbaldo Martinez Arreola, 25, Roque Rodriguez Arellano, 32, Susana Martinez Arreola, 29, and Michael Corwin, 30, all of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Alejandro Hernandez, 38, and Alfredo Morales, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Lopez Martinez, Sanchez-Chavez, and Martinez Arreola have been charged with an additional count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The charges are contained in three Indictments filed on May 26, 2016, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictments allege that, starting as early as the summer of 2013, and continuing until May 2016, the defendants conspired with each other and persons known and unknown to the grand jury to distribute methamphetamine.
If convicted, unless noted below, these individuals face a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Weyland, Lopez Martinez, Sanchez-Chavez, Ray, Seehase, Bent, and Sharkey face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Weyland, Fullbright, Lopez Martinez, Sanchez-Chavez, Rodriguez Arellano, Martinez Arreola, Hernandez, Morales, Bent, Sharkey, and Behrens appeared on June 3, 2016, in federal court in Cedar Rapids and all were held without bond, except for Rodriguez Arellano and Fullbright. Their next appearance for trial is set for July 18, 2016.
Ray, Hemmer, Harris, and Burton appeared on May 31, 2016. Ray and Burton were held without bond. Harris and Hemmer were released on bond. Their next appearance for trial is set for July 18, 2016. Nauman and Husemann appeared on June 2, 2016. Husemann was released on bond and Nauman was held without bond. Their next appearance for trial is set for July 18, 2016.
Corwin’s, Seehase’s, and Miller’s, first appearance in federal court in Cedar Rapids for an arraignment will be set for a future date.
Weyland, Sharkey, Bent, Behrens, Lopez Martinez, Sanchez-Chavez, Rodriguez Arellano, Martinez Arreola, Morales, and Hernandez were previously arrested via a federal criminal complaint which was executed simultaneously with the execution of 29 federal search warrants across Iowa and in Wisconsin.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of Federal Bureau of Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force (Waterloo Police Department; Cedar Falls Police Department; Waverly Police Department; Bremer County Sheriff’s Office; Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office; LaPorte City Police Department; Evansdale Police Department; Hudson Police Department), Mid Iowa Drug Task Force (Marshalltown Police Department; Marshall County Sheriff’s Office; Tama County), and Dubuque Drug Task Force (Dubuque Police Department; Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office).
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 16-cr-1021, 16-cr-2027, and 16-cr-2028.
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10 Defendants in Drug Trafficking Organization SentencedRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Ten defendants in a multi-state narcotics trafficking conspiracy have been collectively sentenced to more than 590 months in federal prison. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.
According to information presented in court, between August 2014 and June 2015, the defendants conspired with each other to distribute large quantities of oxycodone, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. They utilized the United States Postal Service (USPS) to ship the drugs from Arizona and California to Memphis for distribution.
The defendants and their respective sentences:
• Eddie Caswell aka "Geezy", 35, of Memphis, Tennessee: 200 months
• Armando Penunuri aka "Migo," 29, of Los Angeles, California: 120 months
• Taderrio Johnson aka "Pee-Wee", 29, of Los Angeles, California: 57 months
• Marcus Moore aka "Corry Moore," 33, of Memphis, Tennessee: 18 months
• Martavious Taylor aka "Snap," 32, of Memphis, Tennessee: 60 months
• Tavious Jones aka "Threat" and "No Face, No Case," 23, of Memphis, Tennessee: 57 months
• Brandon Heard, 27, of Memphis, Tennessee: 12 months
• Taquita James, 33, of Memphis, Tennessee: time served
• Brittany Junious aka "Brittany Caswell," 23, of Memphis, Tennessee: 12 months
• Frederick Burton, 52, of Memphis, Tennessee: 60 months
Law enforcement’s investigation into the criminal organization revealed Caswell was the drug trafficking organization’s leader. He recruited family members for his illicit enterprise, including his wife (James) and nephew (Heard).
Initially, Caswell shipped marijuana from Arizona to Memphis. He then expanded his operation after teaming up with Penunuri and Johnson, who served as sources of supply of methamphetamine and prescription pills in California. In February 2015, agents intercepted a package containing more than four kilograms of meth, which Caswell had shipped from California to Memphis.
Over the course of the conspiracy, one of the defendants, Burton, worked as a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier. In collaboration with Caswell, Burton arranged to have express mail packages containing drugs mailed to addresses on his mail route. In exchange for cash, Burton would divert those packages to members of the drug trafficking organization. Law enforcement investigators captured surveillance on over two dozen instances which showed Burton diverting packages to persons off of his assigned postal route. A conservative estimate revealed that Burton distributed over 800 kilograms of marijuana and oxycodone.
In May 2015, all of the defendants were indicted on a multi-count indictment, which charged them with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute multiple narcotics.
All 10 defendants pleaded guilty to charges within the indictment in February 2016.
In May 2016, they all were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman to federal imprisonment, excluding Taquita James, who received time served.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Postal Inspector, and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan M. Taylor prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
Sunday 5 June 2016
Wisconsin Man Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child and Abusive Sexual Contact of a ChildRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child and Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child.
Dashown Raymond Keys, age 24, was indicted on April 13, 2016. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on May 31, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $1,250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $500 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between November 1, 2013, and September 6, 2015, Keys knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual acts with a female who had not attained the age of 12 years.
The charges are merely accusations and Keys is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.
Keys was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
White River Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a White River, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Stephan George Jones, a/k/a Stephen George Jones, age 45, was indicted on May 17, 2016. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 31, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The penalty upon conviction is 10 years up to life in custody and/or a $10,000,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
It is alleged that between September 1, 2013, and May 17, 2016, Jones conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota.
The charge is merely an accusation and Jones is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan is prosecuting the case.
Jones was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
David George Flute, III, age 26, was indicted on May 17, 2016. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 26, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, at least 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Flute, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to register and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Flute is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Flute was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Rosebud Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Benjamin Young, a/k/a Benjamin Two Eagle, age 34, was indicted on May 17, 2016. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 26, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction of the three drug charges is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $1,000,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each charge. The maximum penalty upon conviction of the firearm charge is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each charge. Restitution may also be ordered.
It is alleged that between January 1, 2015, and May 17, 2016, Young conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine, and that on September 19, 2015, and September 23, 2015, Young possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. It is also alleged that on September 23, 2015, while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, Young possessed a firearm in violation of federal law.
The charge is merely an accusation and Young is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan is prosecuting the case.
Young was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Rapid City Woman Indicted for Health Care Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters, Aggravated Identity Theft, Health Care Fraud, and Obtaining or Attempting to Obtain Controlled Substances by Fraud.
Tiffany Mills, age 43, was indicted on May 24, 2016. Mills appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on May 27, 2016, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Mills using the identifications of other people to obtain prescriptions of controlled substances in South Dakota between June and October of 2014.
The charges are merely accusations and Mills is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen is prosecuting the case.
Mills was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for August 2, 2016.
Mission Man Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Aiding and AbettingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Aiding and Abetting was sentenced on June 1, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
James Dean Iron Ring, age 25, was sentenced to 19 months in custody, 2 years of supervised release, $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and $661.25 in restitution.
On May 12, 2015, Iron Ring was indicted by Superseding Indictment for Discharge of a Firearm During Crime of Violence, and five counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Aiding and Abetting. He pled guilty on March 14, 2016, to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Aiding and Abetting.
On the evening of February 27, 2015, Iron Ring drove to Sunrise Apartments in Mission, with Richard Fool Bull and a juvenile. Iron Ring and the juvenile remained in the vehicle while Fool Bull approached the apartment. Fool Bull stood outside of the apartment and discharged a firearm eight times into the apartment. Iron Ring then drove Fool Bull and the juvenile away from the apartments.
Five individuals were inside of the apartment at the time of the shooting. One of the bullets grazed one victim’s arm.
Previously, Fool Bull pled guilty to two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Aiding and Abetting, one count of Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition, and two counts of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. On March 28, 2016, Fool Bull was sentenced to 117 months in custody, 5 years of supervised release, $500 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and $661.25 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and Rosebud Sioux Tribal Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie G. Sanderson prosecuted the case.
Iron Ring was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Opposing, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.
Richard Joseph One Feather, age 46, was indicted on April 13, 2016. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 26, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to eight years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
It is alleged that on March 29, 2016, One Feather assaulted a federal officer involving physical contact after an attempted traffic stop.
The charge is merely an accusation and One Feather is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk W. Albertson is prosecuting the case.
One Feather was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Huron Man Charged with Simple AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Huron, South Dakota, man has been charged by Complaint for Simple Assault.
James Christopher Wahl, a/k/a Kris Casanova, age 27, was charged on April 29, 2016. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 27, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Complaint.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 6 months in custody and/or a $5,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release, and $10 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Complaint alleges that on or about April 4, 2016, Wahl, a non-Indian, unlawfully assaulted a female acquaintance who is a tribal member, and said assault, which occurred on the reservation, constituted Simple Assault.
The charge is merely an accusation and Wahl is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Wahl was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Friday 3 June 2016
“Your Future, Your Decision” Program Offered to 7th Grade Students in TauntonRead the Press Release
TAUNTON – United States Attorney Carmen Ortiz, in partnership with Taunton Public Schools and the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, will present a powerful youth violence prevention event for approximately 650 middle school students at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at Taunton High and Parker Middle Schools.
U.S. Attorney Ortiz will offer remarks, along with District Attorney Thomas Quinn, Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye, Taunton Police Chief Edward Walsh, and other special guests.
“Your Future, Your Decision,” is a half-day in-school program which has been presented to nearly 6,000 middle school students statewide. The program emphasizes the importance of making good decisions, especially when young people face choices that could lead to gang activity, guns, drugs and bullying, and more. Following the speaking presentations, students will attend a resource fair featuring local organizations offering after school and summer programming.
“It is extremely important that we get the message to young people that it is not too early to start thinking about the decisions they make and how their choices can impact the rest of their lives,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. “Many outside factors influence youth, and it is critical that we arm them with the tools to confront difficult decisions as early as possible. It is our hope that the ‘Your Future, Your Decision’ program will give young people the skills and confidence they need to make good choices throughout their teenage years.”
Woman Who Sold Guns, Drugs and Fake Grenade Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Maria Del Carmen Flores Beltran, 43, of Stephenson, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for selling over 400 grams of cocaine and a dozen firearms, ammunition and a fake grenade to ATF agents in 2015.
Flores Beltran pleaded guilty on February 17. According to court documents, in June 2015, ATF identified Flores Beltran, who is an illegal alien from El Salvador, as a potential cocaine distributor. From July 2015 to December 2015, ATF agents carried out 13 controlled buys from Flores Beltran, purchasing a total of approximately 402 grams of cocaine. ATF agents also purchased 12 firearms, various types of ammunition, and a hoax grenade. The firearms sold by Flores Beltran included two rifles, three shotguns (one modified with a shortened barrel and stock), four semi-automatic handguns, two revolvers, and an M1-style .30 caliber pistol with a high capacity magazine. On multiple occasions, Flores Beltran sold cocaine and firearms together during the same transaction.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael Boxler, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Tyler McGaughey prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-40.
Whittier, N.C. Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced today John Michael Awtrey, 56, of Whittier, N.C., to 150 months in prison on child pornography charges, announced Jill Westmoreland Rose, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Awtrey was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release and was ordered to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Rose is joined in making today’s announcement by Nick Annan, Special Agent in Charge of ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and the Carolinas, Sheriff Curtis A. Cochran of the Swain County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Derrick Palmer of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
According to filed documents and statements made in court, on or about February 24, 2013, law enforcement became aware that an individual, later identified as Awtrey, was accessing child pornography online using the Internet profile of “iamnice.” Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Awtrey’s residence and seized approximately one dozen computers and various electronic devises and storage media. According to court records, forensic analysis of the seized devices and equipment revealed that Awtrey possessed hundreds of thousands of images and videos involving minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including material involving prepubescent minors and sadistic and masochistic conduct. Court records indicate that Awtrey used the Internet to send some of those images to other individuals and to receive child pornography.
In August 2015, following a bench trial, Judge Reidinger found Awtrey guilty of one count of distribution, one count of receipt and one count of possession of child pornography.
Awtrey is currently in custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. Federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.
The investigation was handled by HIS, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice, aimed at combating the growing online sexual exploitation of children. By combining resources, federal, state and local agencies are better able to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue those victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Two Arrested for Nationwide Casino and Credit Card Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment Thursday against Vivian Wang, 53, of Lilburn, Georgia, and Frank Luo, 48, of Las Vegas, Nevada, charging them both with wire fraud and charging Wang with aggravated identity theft, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The defendants were arrested today at their residences in Georgia and Nevada.
According to court documents, between August 5, 2008 and August 2014, Wang and Luo participated in a scheme to defraud casinos and credit card companies across the country. The scheme involved using false identities in the names and Social Security numbers of migrant workers to apply for casino credit called “markers” and to open credit card accounts. A marker is a cash advance provided by a casino to a patron, and it is often secured by a check from the patron’s bank account. The defendants initially timely repaid several markers at different casinos and several credit cards in order to give the impression of creditworthiness to future casinos and credit card companies. Moreover, the defendants coordinated their gambling activity in order to give the appearance of losing money (and thereby encouraging the casinos to issue future markers) when in fact one schemer would “lose” money while another would gain the same. In other instances, one schemer would surreptitiously deliver the issued gambling chips to another in order to give the appearance of having spent them.
According to the indictment, the defendants expended the fraudulently obtained credit on jewelry, precious metals, home appliances, international flights, luxury goods and clothing. The defendants closed and depleted the bank accounts provided to the casinos in their marker applications to prevent the casinos from recovering the money secured by the checks they had written against those accounts, and they did not pay back the credit card balances. The combined fraud led to over $1.2 million in losses to casinos and credit card companies.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice's Bureau of Gambling Control. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew M. Yelovich is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Wang and Luo face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine as to each count of wire fraud. If convicted of aggravated identity theft, Wang faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 24 months in prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two Additional Defendants Arraigned in Connection with Drug Smuggling at Montana State PrisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – Rachel Leanna Ross, 25, of Collierville Tennessee, and Lauren J. Hoskins, 26, of Somerville, Tennessee, were arraigned in federal court yesterday on a six-count superseding indictment charging them with various drug distribution crimes.
Ross and Hoskins were the fourth and fifth defendants to be arraigned under the indictment. Three other defendants were arraigned on Tuesday and an additional defendant was arraigned last month under a separate indictment. Both Ross and Hoskins were arraigned on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation into drug smuggling at the Montana State Prison. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspector, the Montana Department of Corrections Investigations Division, Montana State Prison Warden Leroy Kirkegard and his staff, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigations.
An indictment is simply a charging document that initiates formal court proceedings. Ross and Hoskins are presumed innocent of the charges in the superseding indictment unless and until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Turlock Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to File False Claims in Prison Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Daniel Allen Coats, 34, of Turlock, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing false claims for federal tax refunds, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, beginning in 2011, Coats and three fellow inmates in the California Correctional Center in Susanville obtained the personal identification information of other inmates and provided it to co-defendants located outside the prison. The co-defendants then used that information to prepare and file false income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service, claiming refunds to which the inmates were not entitled. Coats also filed three false tax returns in his own name.
According to court documents, the fraudulently obtained refund checks were deposited into various bank accounts and onto prepaid debit cards that the defendants controlled. The refunds were used for personal expenditures, added to the inmates’ commissary accounts, and used to purchase prepaid debit cards. In all, the conspiracy resulted in at least 247 false claims for income tax returns in tax years 2008 through 2011. Although the IRS stopped some of these refunds, approximately 138 fraudulent refunds totaling approximately $219,984 were issued.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Investigative Unit at the California Correctional Center. Assistant United States Attorney Amy Schuller Hitchcock is prosecuting the case.
Coats is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. on August 19, 2016. Coats faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
On July 8, 2015, Edwin Ludwig IV was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the scheme. The charges against the remaining five co-defendants are pending. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Trial Team Honored by Department of Justice at Executive Office for United States Attorneys Director's Awards CeremonyRead the Press Release
Deputy AG Sally Yates, EOUSA Director Monty Wilkinson recognize select employees at event in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON – An Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Southern District of Mississippi along with two DOJ Civil Rights Division attorneys, a DOJ Civil Rights Division Paralegal, and two FBI agents were among 160 recipients recognized by Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 32nd annual Director’s Awards Ceremony held in Washington D.C. on June 1, 2016.
The Southern District of Mississippi was one of 33 districts represented at the ceremony which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.
In her prepared remarks, Deputy Attorney General Yates said, “The achievements being recognized today reflect the breadth of the department’s responsibilities, and some of our most significant challenges. From dismantling dangerous gangs, drug cartels and human trafficking operations to tackling political corruption, white collar crimes, and international terrorism, these awardees have taken on our toughest cases. And the citizens of our country are safer because of their work.”
“We honor the truly talented and dedicated legal and administrative personnel in the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and our law enforcement partners who everyday touch lives in our communities, protect the American people, and work to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice,” said Director Wilkinson.
The award for “Superior Performance by a Litigative Team” was given to Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes, DOJ Trial Attorney Sheldon L. Beer, Deputy Chief Paige M. Fitzgerald of the DOJ Civil Rights Division, Paralegal Specialist Steven Harrell of the DOJ Civil Rights Division, FBI Agent Bradley Hentschel, and FBI Agent Robert H. Ruby for their hard work on U.S v. Dedmon case.
The Dedmon case was a federal hate crime case involving an assault which culminated in the death of James Craig Anderson, an African-American man, in the summer of 2011. The case was historic as it marked the first time that the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act had been used in a case where the defendants’ actions resulted in a victim’s death.
“We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Justice has recognized this trial team for their outstanding contribution to the Department and its mission,” said U.S. Attorney Davis.
EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.