Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Wednesday 4 December 2024
Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 4 Months for Illegally Reentering the United States After Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced Ulises Casterjon-Gallegos, 39, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 4 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. Casterjon-Gallegos pleaded guilty to this charge on September 11, 2024.
On January 29, 2024, Casterjon-Gallegos was arrested in Barron County, Wisconsin for possessing methamphetamine. He was originally removed from the United States in 2008 and was subsequently removed four additional times prior to his recent drug arrest.
Judge Conley addressed Casterjon-Gallegos’s substance abuse issues and his prior conviction and arrests for domestic abuse. Judge Conley urged him to take a lengthy period of sobriety and to reevaluate his treatment of the women in his life. Judge Conley warned him that now that he has a conviction for illegal reentry, he would face much higher consequences should he illegally reenter the country again.
The charge against Casterjon-Gallegos was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Barron County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon prosecuted this case.
Maryland “Ghost Preparer” Pleads Guilty to Preparing and Filing False Tax Returns for ClientRead the Press Release
A White Plains, Maryland, man pleaded guilty today to preparing and filing a false tax return for a client.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Anthony Judd was a full-time special police officer staffed at the National Archives and Records Administration and a part-time return preparer. Since at least 2013, Judd prepared and filed more than 40 false tax returns for individual clients which reduced the amount of taxes they owed and inflated their refunds. These returns reported losses for businesses that the clients did not actually have, and deductions for expenses — such as transportation and job-related expenses — that the clients did not actually incur. Judd prepared and filed each client’s tax return as a “ghost preparer,” meaning that he did not identify himself as the preparer on the returns. Judd caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $484,525.
Judd is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Jorge Almonte and Trial Attorney Evan C. Mulbry of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Marshfield Woman Sentenced to Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Shandel L. Mohr, 32, Marshfield, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to twelve months and one day in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. The prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. Mohr pleaded guilty to this charge on August 20, 2024.
In February 2022, Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force officers began investigating a methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking organization operating in Wausau, Wisconsin. The multi-year investigation involved the seizure of drug-laden packages from the mail, controlled purchases of narcotics, and seizures of firearms and large quantities of drugs from residence searches. From the investigation, officers believe the drug trafficking organization was distributing kilograms quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Shandel Mohr was identified as a regional cocaine dealer for the drug trafficking organization in the Marshfield area. During the investigation, officers learned that the prior cocaine distributor in Marshfield had been arrested. Intercepted phone calls and communications revealed the leaders of the drug trafficking organization recruited Mohr and her friend to take over distribution in Marshfield. Mohr was ultimately arrested and admitted during her interview that she sold cocaine. During the time of the investigation and while she was distributing cocaine, Mohr was out on bond, and later convicted and placed on probation for a domestic abuse case.
At sentencing, Judge Conley found that Mohr joined a serious drug trafficking conspiracy and took over an important distribution point in Marshfield, even though it was for a shorter duration than many of her co-defendants.
Eight others were also charged in connection with this drug trafficking organization. Teala Kumbera was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and sentenced by Judge Conley on November 14, 2024, to 54 months in federal prison. Tommie Haney, Quo Vadis Lewis, Craig C. Gates, and Troy A. Olsen have all pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months. Cases against Edwin Lewis, Samuel A. Teague, and Shelby Gutch are still pending and the three are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge against Mohr was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Marathon County Sheriff's Office, Portage County Sheriff's Office, Everest Metro Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations.
Marietta Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of A ChildRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jukobie Allen Ramsey, age 22, of Marietta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction.
The Indictment alleged that beginning in May 2021, and continuing until April 29, 2024, Ramsey used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing and transmitting a visual depiction of such conduct in interstate commerce via the internet.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Love County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Ramsey will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak Cohen represented the United States.
Man who Supplied Drugs that Killed Jail Inmate Sentenced to 16 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Wednesday sentenced the man who supplied the fentanyl that killed a St. Francois County jail inmate to 16 years in prison.
Garry W. Triplett, now 38, supplied drugs including fentanyl to jail inmate Timothy L. Noll, 35, of Park Hills, Missouri. Noll had arrived at the jail on July 27, 2021, and instructed an intermediary to get the drugs from Triplett and conceal them in a Bible. Triplett supplied at least three grams each of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Noll planned to sell the drugs inside the facility.
When on August 2, Noll discovered he was being sent to state prison and couldn’t bring the Bible, he had jail staff give it to his cellmate. His cellmate died two days later of mixed drug intoxication, including from a lethal dose of fentanyl.
Triplett pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances with death resulting and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Noll pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances with death resulting and one count of distribution of a controlled substance with death resulting.
The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone prosecuted the case.
Madison Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Possessing Fentanyl Intended for DistributionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Corvalis Stewart, 37, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 16 years in federal prison for possessing 400 or more grams of fentanyl intended for distribution. The prison term will be followed by 8 years of supervised release. Stewart pleaded guilty to this charge on September 1, 2024.
On the evening of February 8, 2024, Stewart and his codefendant Larry Williamson landed a rented Cessna 172 aircraft at the Middleton Municipal Airport, in Middleton, Wisconsin. Williamson was a private pilot who had rented the aircraft to fly to Phoenix, Arizona, to pick up drugs. Stewart was the passenger. Federal and state law enforcement received information about the flight and about Williamson and Stewart’s suspicious behavior in Arizona.
Law enforcement tracked the aircraft as it returned to Middleton and landed at approximately 10:55 p.m. Williamson and Stewart got out of the airplane and walked to the parking lot. Stewart was carrying three bags, which he put in the back of his vehicle. Law enforcement detained the men and searched the bags.
Two of the bags contained 19 pounds of methamphetamine. The third bag contained approximately 200,000 fentanyl pills known on the street as M30’s, which are counterfeit Oxycodone pills. This was the largest fentanyl seizure in Dane County, with an estimated street value of $2,000,000. The investigation revealed text messages showing that it was Stewart who arranged the drug pick up in Phoenix.
Judge Peterson remarked that this case involved a “startling quantity of drugs” and that fentanyl was the leading cause of overdoses. Judge Peterson found that additional aggravating factors were present in the case, including Stewart’s serious criminal history, the fact that he was on federal supervision at the time of this offense, and the fact that Stewart planned the crime.
Stewart has multiple felony convictions, including five convictions for gun- related offenses. At the time of this offense, Stewart was on federal supervision for a felon in possession of a firearm conviction. Stewart’s supervised release was also revoked at the sentencing and Judge Peterson sentenced him to 2 years in prison to run concurrently with the drug sentence.
Stewart’s co-defendant, Larry Williamson, pleaded guilty on June 18, 2024, to possessing 500 or more grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution. On October 31, 2024, Williamson was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
The charges against Stewart and Williamson were the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the Middleton Police Department, with the assistance of the Air Marine Operations Center in Riverside, California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Louisville Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced this week to 11 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Chief Paul Humphreys of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, on December 2, 2024, Dion Brown, 31, was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and five counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
Brown’s codefendants were previously sentenced.
On October 24, 2024, Raheem Richardson, 32, of Louisville, was sentenced to 11 years and 4 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, five counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Richardson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On October 28, 2014, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Richardson was convicted of wanton endangerment in the first degree (three counts).
On August 15, 2024, Jamesha Hickman, 31, of Louisville, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
On August 1, 2024, Demeeko Johnson, 30, of Louisville, was sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
On August 15, 2024, Samuel Keene, 35, of Louisville, was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misprision of a felony. Keene was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.
On or about January 30, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Keene was convicted of assault under extreme emotional disturbance.
On August 15, 2024, Tyrece Clark, 31, of Louisville, was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misprision of a felony. Clark was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.
On June 5, 2020, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Clark was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense - heroin.
On May 16, 2024, Hubert Brown, 54, of Louisville, was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misprision of a felony. Brown was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.
On November 2, 1989, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Brown was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, first offense - cocaine.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The DEA, HSI, and the Louisville Metro Police Department investigated the case with the assistance from the Kentucky State Police, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisville Airport Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez prosecuted the case with assistance from paralegal Adela Alic.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
###
Louisville Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Louisville man, Nathan Cole, 28, was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years in prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of 40 grams of more of a mixture containing fentanyl.
According to his plea agreement, on April 21, 2023, Cole sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a restaurant in London. Cole sold the informant 1,000 pills containing fentanyl and weighing approximately 111 grams . Cole also sold the informant 237 grams of methamphetamine.
Under federal law, Cole must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
– END –
Little Rock Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Edmond Quatrell Blue, a multi-convicted felon caught with more than a kilogram of fentanyl, will spend the next 18 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr.
In addition to the 18 years’ imprisonment, Judge Marshall sentenced Blue, 33, of Little Rock, Arkansas, to five years of supervised release. Blue was indicted on April 5, 2023, in a one-count indictment charging possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and pleaded guilty on July 29, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system.
An investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) revealed that on June 10, 2022, DEA agents conducted surveillance on Blue near the area of an apartment complex on Napa Valley Drive in Little Rock. During the surveillance, DEA agents observed a red Mazda pull into the parking lot with Blue arriving in the parking lot a short time later. Blue exited his vehicle and got in the back seat of the Mazda. A short time later, Blue exited the Mazda holding a plastic McDonald’s bag and walked to an unknown apartment.
Blue was then observed leaving the area but returning later in the afternoon in a black Ford F-250. He then went inside an apartment and returned to the Ford F-250 with a purple duffle bag. Blue put the duffle bag into the black Ford F-250 and left the area in the passenger seat of the truck. The Arkansas State Police (ASP) stopped the truck for a traffic violation at the front entrance of an apartment complex near Kanis and Barrow Road.
Blue exited the passenger side of the truck with the purple duffle bag and fled on foot, running west through the complex. A DEA Task Force Officer (TFO) who observed Blue flee drove to the west side of the complex where he observed Blue throw the purple duffle bag into a construction dumpster. Officers pursued Blue on foot, while the TFO climbed into the construction dumpster to retrieve the purple duffle bag. In the duffle bag the TFO found a plastic McDonald’s bag that contained a large plastic bag of a solid white powder substance and a “brick” or kilogram of a solid white powder substance, which were tested and confirmed by the DEA to be 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl. Officers located Blue hiding in a vacant apartment and took him into custody.
Blue’s prior criminal history includes felony convictions for possession of cocaine with the purpose to deliver, multiple convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, multiple convictions for possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, illegal possession of a firearm, and felony fleeing.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA with assistance from ASP and the Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Crews.
# # #
Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Lexington Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, James Allen Brown, 26, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 165 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for the distribution of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, from June 2022 to March 2023, Brown used multiple Instagram accounts to send and receive child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement also located evidence of sexually explicit depictions of minors stored on Brown’s cell phone and accessed on a cloud storage system. During an interview, Brown admitted to law enforcement that he used Instagram and Telegram to trade child pornography with others.
Under federal law, Brown must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
– END –
Kennewick Detective Recognized with Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Richland, Washington - Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, including Detective Liz Grant of the Kennewick Police Department.
This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety.
Guided by exceptional instincts and an unwavering commitment to justice, Detective Grant connected a series of sexual assaults to a single individual. Her painstaking investigative work, combined with her compassion for victims and ability to earn their trust, led to the suspect receiving a 226-year prison sentence – an outcome that underscores the power of her dedication to pursuing justice.
“Detective Grant’s extraordinary investigative abilities and dedication to supporting victims makes a powerful impact on the Tri-Cities community. Through her skill, compassion, and work ethic, she builds trust with victims and delivers impressive case results in the courtroom,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “Detective Grant’s engagement with her community makes it a safer and strong place to live. I extend my heartfelt congratulations for this well-deserved recognition.”
“Community policing is essential to building trust and ensuring public safety,” said Attorney General Garland. “These officers have gone above and beyond their duty to foster partnerships with the communities they serve. Their work is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the profound impact law enforcement can have on individuals, neighborhoods, and society.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.
The Department of Justice commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Senior Living Provider to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it secured a settlement agreement with Watercrest Community Management LLC (Watercrest) resolving the department’s determination that Watercrest violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) at its Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, location. The department determined that Watercrest discriminated against a non-U.S. citizen worker by rejecting her valid document showing her permission to work and asking for additional and unnecessary documents because of her citizenship status.
“Under federal law, employers cannot discriminate based on citizenship status when verifying an individual’s ability to work,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting workers from citizenship status discrimination and removing unnecessary barriers to work in the United States.”
After opening an investigation based on a worker’s complaint, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) determined that Watercrest improperly refused to honor the valid document that a non-U.S. citizen provided to prove her permission to work in the United States. IER’s investigation also revealed that Watercrest asked the worker for additional and unnecessary documents that Watercrest said were required by the commercial Form I-9 software program the company used. Watercrest improperly and repeatedly asked for those documents. Form I-9 is a government form that employers and workers are required to complete that verifies that a worker has the ability to work in the United States.
An employer must follow all legal requirements when verifying someone’s permission to work, and using a software program to electronically complete this process does not guarantee compliance with federal law. Under the INA, employers cannot reject valid documentation or request more documents than necessary when verifying a worker’s permission to work because of a worker’s citizenship or immigration status.
Under the terms of the settlement, if Watercrest encounters difficulty using its software program to complete an employee’s Form I-9, it will complete a physical Form I-9 for that employee rather than reject the employee’s valid documents showing permission to work. Watercrest also will pay a civil penalty to the United States, train its employees on the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to monitoring by the department.
IER is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee, unfair documentary practices and retaliation and intimidation.
Find more information about how employers can avoid discrimination when verifying someone’s permission to work on IER’s website. Information regarding how to avoid unlawful discrimination and other Form I-9 violations when using commercial or proprietary programs to electronically complete the Form I-9 or participate in E-Verify is also available. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify), or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a live webinar; watch an on-demand presentation; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.
Justice Department Proposes Regulations Implementing the Bipartisan Safer Communities ActRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced it has submitted to the Federal Register two notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that, if finalized, will fully implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 (BSCA), the most significant gun safety legislation in over 30 years.
Following the language of the BSCA, the Firearm Handlers Rule proposes that federal firearm licensees (FFLs), such as gun stores, be allowed to use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to voluntarily conduct employment background checks for certain employees. Current NICS regulations prohibit FFLs from initiating background checks for any purpose other than the transfer of firearms. Under the Firearm Handlers NPRM, FFLs will be permitted to request NICS background checks for current or prospective employees who may handle firearms, ammunition, or related materials. The Firearm Handlers Rule NPRM details the scope of employees eligible for background checks, as well as new NICS statuses proposed for such checks.
The second NPRM, known as the Under-21 Rule, would codify enhanced NICS background check procedures for prospective firearm purchasers under 21 years of age, among other changes. Under the BSCA, NICS is required to conduct enhanced background checks for such under-21 purchasers, by contacting certain state and local entities to determine if a juvenile record, such as a criminal conviction or mental health record, may disqualify the purchaser from possessing a firearm. The FBI began performing these enhanced checks in late 2022 and has denied nearly 1,000 transactions solely because of enhanced outreach.
View the Firearm Handlers NPRM here.
View the Under-21 Rule NPRM here.
Justice Department Finds Civil Rights Violations by Memphis Police Department and City of MemphisRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and City of Memphis (City) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
Specifically, the Justice Department finds that:
- MPD uses excessive force.
- MPD conducts unlawful stops, searches and arrests.
- MPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law.
- The City and MPD unlawfully discriminate in their response to people with behavioral health disabilities.
The Justice Department also identified serious concerns about MPD’s treatment of children. Finally, the Department identified deficiencies in policy, training, supervision and accountability that contribute to MPD’s and the City’s unlawful conduct.
“The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our exhaustive investigation found that the Memphis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, conducting unlawful stops, searches and arrests and discriminatory policing of Black people and residents with behavioral health disabilities. Our investigation also identified troubling policing practices that impact some of Memphis’ most vulnerable residents — its children. We acknowledge Memphis’ cooperation during our investigation and look forward to instituting reforms that will address the harms we identified.”
“This process and these findings uncovered that our city has a lot of work to do,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Memphians are rightly concerned with gun violence and violent crime. They are also rightly concerned about the collective approach that we must take to tackle these issues. We hope to work with Mayor Young, Chief Davis, the Memphis Police Department and our Memphis partners to move forward.”
The City and MPD cooperated fully with the Justice Department’s investigation. The department provided a comprehensive written report of its investigative findings to the City and MPD. The report acknowledges the changes already made by the City and MPD, and it identifies additional remedial measures that the department believes are necessary to fully address its findings.
The department opened this investigation on July 27, 2023. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The team conducted numerous onsite tours; interviewed MPD officers, supervisors and command staff; spoke with City officials and employees; accompanied behavioral crisis responders and officers on ride-alongs; reviewed thousands of documents; and reviewed hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. Department attorneys and staff also met with community members, advocates and service providers in the Memphis area.
The department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The findings announced today are the result of the department’s civil pattern or practice investigation and are separate from the department’s criminal cases against former MPD officers for federal crimes related to the death of Tyre Nichols.
The department will be conducting outreach to members of the Memphis community for input on remedies to address the department’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at [email protected] or by phone at 888-473-3730. The department will hold a virtual zoom community meeting on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Please use this link to register for the event: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_hf-KK_oOTpWQ6qinosSN2w. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings.
This is one of 12 investigations into law enforcement agencies opened by the Justice Department under Section 12601 since April 2021. In 2023 and 2024, the department issued findings reports regarding five of those investigations: the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Lexington, Mississippi, Police Department, and Trenton, New Jersey, Police Department. The five other ongoing investigations cover the Louisiana State Police; Mount Vernon, New York, Police Department; New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; Oklahoma City Police Department; and Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
###
Justice Department Finds Civil Rights Violations by Memphis Police Department and City of MemphisRead the Press Release
Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and City of Memphis (City) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
Specifically, the Justice Department finds that:
- MPD uses excessive force.
- MPD conducts unlawful stops, searches and arrests.
- MPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law.
- The City and MPD unlawfully discriminate in their response to people with behavioral health disabilities.
The Justice Department also identified serious concerns about MPD’s treatment of children. Finally, the Department identified deficiencies in policy, training, supervision and accountability that contribute to MPD’s and the City’s unlawful conduct.
“The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our exhaustive investigation found that the Memphis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, conducting unlawful stops, searches and arrests and discriminatory policing of Black people and residents with behavioral health disabilities. Our investigation also identified troubling policing practices that impact some of Memphis’ most vulnerable residents — its children. We acknowledge Memphis’ cooperation during our investigation and look forward to instituting reforms that will address the harms we identified.”
“This process and these findings uncovered that our city has a lot of work to do,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Memphians are rightly concerned with gun violence and violent crime. They are also rightly concerned about the collective approach that we must take to tackle these issues. We hope to work with Mayor Young, Chief Davis, the Memphis Police Department and our Memphis partners to move forward.”
The City and MPD cooperated fully with the Justice Department’s investigation. The department provided a comprehensive written report of its investigative findings to the City and MPD. The report acknowledges the changes already made by the City and MPD, and it identifies additional remedial measures that the department believes are necessary to fully address its findings.
The department opened this investigation on July 27, 2023. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The team conducted numerous onsite tours; interviewed MPD officers, supervisors and command staff; spoke with City officials and employees; accompanied behavioral crisis responders and officers on ride-alongs; reviewed thousands of documents; and reviewed hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. Department attorneys and staff also met with community members, advocates and service providers in the Memphis area.
The department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The findings announced today are the result of the department’s civil pattern or practice investigation and are separate from the department’s criminal cases against former MPD officers for federal crimes related to the death of Tyre Nichols.
The department will be conducting outreach to members of the Memphis community for input on remedies to address the department’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at [email protected] or by phone at 888-473-3730. The department will hold a virtual zoom community meeting on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Please use this link to register for the event: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_hf-KK_oOTpWQ6qinosSN2w. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings.
This is one of 12 investigations into law enforcement agencies opened by the Justice Department under Section 12601 since April 2021. In 2023 and 2024, the department issued findings reports regarding five of those investigations: the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Lexington, Mississippi, Police Department, and Trenton, New Jersey, Police Department. The five other ongoing investigations cover the Louisiana State Police; Mount Vernon, New York, Police Department; New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; Oklahoma City Police Department; and Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
Justice Department Announces Recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety.
“All 21 of today’s awardees have demonstrated what community-oriented policing looks like in practice,” said Attorney General Garland. “They come from all different parts of the country. They represent communities of all shapes and sizes. Their typical days might not all look the same. But they are united by a deep commitment to protecting their communities.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
“Today, we stand in the presence of extraordinary individuals who exemplify the very best of what it means to protect and serve,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “We celebrate a remarkable truth: the profound and positive impact that law enforcement officers and deputies have on the communities they serve every single day. These awards honor those who exemplify the very best of the profession and showcases these individuals as pillars of trust, empathy, and unity.”
The 2024 award recipients are:
Category: Criminal Investigations
- Detective Matthew Newbold of the Polk County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
- Detective Liz Grant of the Kennewick, Washington, Police Department;
- Detective Tyler Norman of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Police Department; and
- Police Officer Reece Walno of the Spearfish, South Dakota, Police Department.
Category: Field Operations
- Deputy Sheriff Jahmar Robinson of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
- Lance Corporal Justin Boyd of the Columbia, South Carolina, Police Department; and
- Detective/Community Policing Officer Stephen Leacroy of the La Marque, Texas, Police Department.
Category: Innovations in Community Policing
- Corporal Adrian Maldonado, Deputy James Mackey, Deputy Jason Coker, Deputy Tammy Fox, and Deputy Yanick Exceus of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
- Detective Edwin Hugh and Police Officer Thomas Joy of the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department;
- Officer Stephen Malandro, Officer Trevor Stamper, and Specialist Todd Nutbrown of the Largo, Florida, Police Department;
- Officer Wesley Griffith and Officer Bill Koehn of the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department;
- Master Police Officer Thomas Rodriquez of the Manassas City, Virginia, Police Department; and
- Master Officer Shauna Moller of the Manassas City Police Department.
“It is an honor to share the stage with these recipients,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). “I am inspired by their actions and service.”
The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.
The Justice Department commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.
Justice Department Announces Recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
MIAMI — U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida is delighted to share Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s announcement today regarding the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety. The award recipients include deputies who protect and serve communities in the Southern District of Florida.
“All 21 of today’s awardees have demonstrated what community-oriented policing looks like in practice,” said Attorney General Garland. “They come from all different parts of the country. They represent communities of all shapes and sizes. Their typical days might not all look the same. But they are united by a deep commitment to protecting their communities.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
“Today, we stand in the presence of extraordinary individuals who exemplify the very best of what it means to protect and serve,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “We celebrate a remarkable truth: the profound and positive impact that law enforcement officers and deputies have on the communities they serve every single day. These awards honor those who exemplify the very best of the profession and showcases these individuals as pillars of trust, empathy, and unity.”
The 2024 award recipients are:
Category: Criminal Investigations
Detective Matthew Newbold of the Polk County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
Detective Liz Grant of the Kennewick, Washington, Police Department;
Detective Tyler Norman of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Police Department; and
Police Officer Reece Walno of the Spearfish, South Dakota, Police Department.
Category: Field Operations
Deputy Sheriff Jahmar Robinson of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
Lance Corporal Justin Boyd of the Columbia, South Carolina, Police Department; and
Detective/Community Policing Officer Stephen Leacroy of the La Marque, Texas, Police Department.
Category: Innovations in Community Policing
Corporal Adrian Maldonado, Deputy James Mackey, Deputy Jason Coker, Deputy Tammy Fox, and Deputy Yanick Exceus of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
Detective Edwin Hugh and Police Officer Thomas Joy of the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department;
Officer Stephen Malandro, Officer Trevor Stamper, and Specialist Todd Nutbrown of the Largo, Florida, Police Department;
Officer Wesley Griffith and Officer Bill Koehn of the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department;
Master Police Officer Thomas Rodriquez of the Manassas City, Virginia, Police Department; and
Master Officer Shauna Moller of the Manassas City Police Department.
“It is an honor to share the stage with these recipients,” said Director Hugh T. Clements of the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). “I am inspired by their actions and service.”
The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.
The Justice Department commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.
###
Heavily Armed Sellersburg Career Criminal Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison for Selling Methamphetamine and GunsRead the Press Release
NEW ALBANY— Todd Nance, 40, of Sellersburg, has been sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, armed drug trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Todd Nance was a known drug dealer and was observed by law enforcement selling at least 263 grams of methamphetamine and various firearms out of his residence located in Sellersburg, Indiana. During a portion of that time, Nance was on pretrial release for multiple drug charges in state court, including felony possession of methamphetamine.
On April 29, 2024, Nance sold a .38 revolver and approximately 115 grams of methamphetamine to another person in exchange for $1,550 cash. During the transaction, Nance was carrying a 9mm handgun in his waistband.
On May 30, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a court-authorized search of Nance’s residence. Investigators found and seized 50 grams of methamphetamine and seven firearms, including a 12-gauge sawed off shotgun, a Ruger 9mm with an extended magazine, cocaine, fentanyl, and assorted pills. Nance is prohibited from ever legally possessing firearms due to his previous felony convictions for Possession of Methamphetamine and Residential Entry.
“This violent felon sold guns, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs in our community—all while illegally armed with an arsenal that included a sawed-off shotgun and a semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Deadly drugs and deadly weapons in the hands of repeat offenders cause tremendous damage to every community, large and small. Every neighborhood deserves to be safe from career criminals like Nance, and I commend the FBI, Clarksville Police Department, and our federal prosecutors for their efforts to take him off our streets. The fifteen-year federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that these very serious crimes will result in very serious consequences.”
“The defendant threatened the safety of the community and endangered lives through his choice to engage in the illegal sale of guns and drugs. This sentence sends a very clear message – those who choose to profit from violence and drug addiction will find themselves facing lengthy prison time,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated to ensuring those who engage in this illegal and destructive behavior will be held accountable for their actions.”
The FBI and the Clarksville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Oliver, who prosecuted this case.
###
Grand Jury Returns Multiple Firearms IndictmentsRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury has returned indictments, charging five individuals with federal firearms violations.
Dustin Allen Wayne Plants, 31, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was indicted for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, Plants was found with a firearm and ammunition in Marshall County. Plants was previously convicted of two felony charges of entering of a building in Marshall County, prohibiting him from possessing firearms.
David Earl Ellis, 44, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to the indictment, Ellis is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior domestic violence conviction in Ohio County.
Jakob Barnes, 38, of Wheeling, West Virginia, is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, Barnes, prohibited from having firearms because of a prior malicious assault conviction in Ohio County, had two firearms in his home.
Adam Jamal Ramadan, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was indicted for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, Ramadan was found with a firearm and ammunition during a traffic stop in Ohio County. Ramadan is prohibited from possessing guns due to prior convictions for robbery, receiving stolen property, and a firearms offense.
Tomez Faulkner, 38, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, Faulkner is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior drug and aggravated assault convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office; the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office; and the Wheeling Police Department.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Fort Cavazos Soldiers Arrested on Human Smuggling Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
ALPINE, Texas – Three Fort Cavazos soldiers were arrested on criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle undocumented noncitizens.
According to court documents, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent initiated a vehicle stop in Presidio on Nov. 27. The vehicle fled as the agent approached the passenger side and struck a second USBP vehicle, injuring an agent inside, according to the filed criminal complaint. Presidio County Deputies and Presidio Police Officers eventually stopped the vehicle and apprehended four individuals, three of whom were undocumented noncitizens—one Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals. The fourth individual was Emilio Mendoza Lopez, who claimed to be the front seat passenger in the vehicle. The driver, alleged to be Angel Palma, fled on foot and was located the following day at a hotel in Odessa.
Mendoza Lopez and Palma allegedly traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio for the purpose of picking up and transporting undocumented noncitizens. A third individual, Enrique Jauregui, is alleged to be the recruiter and facilitator of the human smuggling conspiracy. Data extracted from Palma’s phone through a search warrant revealed messages between the three soldiers indicating collaboration in the smuggling operation.
Mendoza Lopez made his initial appearance Dec. 2 in Alpine before U.S. Magistrate Judge David B. Fannin. Mendoza Lopez is charged with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens.
Palma and Jauregui were both arrested Dec. 3 on Fort Cavazos. They are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske for their initial appearance hearings in Waco on Dec. 6. The two codefendants are charged in a separate criminal complaint with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens and one count of assaulting a federal agent. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
HSI, USBP and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Cayton is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Former high school teacher sent to prison for possessing images and videos depicting sexual abuse of childrenRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Emilio Santiago De Los Santos pleaded guilty April 16.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered De Los Santos to a total of 97 months in prison. He was further ordered to pay restitution to the victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. De Los Santos will also be ordered to register as sex offender.
“As a high school teacher, De Los Santos held a special trust, charged with watching over the children in his care. At the same time, he was sharing his own stash of child pornography with like-minded offenders and that’s what makes this crime especially abhorrent,” said Hamdani. “The exploitation of children has no place in our community and my office will vigorously prosecute those involved in the distribution and possession of child pornography to the fullest extent of the law, in particular a teacher like De Los Santos.”
“The FBI’s violent crimes against children squad consists of very special individuals who work every day to identify, investigate and arrest predators like De Los Santos,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI’s Houston Field Office. “Today’s sentencing is another testament to their commitment and dedication to protect our children from these types of monsters.”
De Los Santos came to the attention of law enforcement after he shared multiple child pornography files in various subgroup chatrooms on the Keybase application. Authorities obtained a search warrant for De Los Santos’s residence and seized his electronic devices.
A forensic examination of those devices resulted in the discovery of 853 images and 380 videos of child pornography. The material included depictions of sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, sadistic and masochistic conduct involving children under the age of 12 and bestiality.
At the time of his arrest, De Los Santos was a high school teacher in the greater Houston area.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherin Daniel prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Former children’s hospital employee sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for sharing, receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Nationwide Children’s Hospital employee who treated child burn victims was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 210 months in prison for downloading, exchanging and receiving child pornography.
Ryan Ramos, 38, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in May 2024 to one count of distributing and receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
Ramos possessed a large quantity of child sexual abuse material, including more than 42,000 images and approximately 8,500 videos. As part of this case, more than 700 victims have been identified.
Ramos worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital from 2018 until 2020 and then at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in the ICU in burn trauma until 2023.
According to court documents, a 2020 FBI investigation in their Brooklyn-Queens office led agents to discover Ramos’s participation in a Signal app group dedicated to the exchange of child pornography.
Ramos shared hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse, including abuse of young boys and infants, to the chat group.
Further investigation into Ramos revealed that, in 2018, he had paid a sexual offender in New York City and received child pornography created by the offender in exchange for his payment. Ramos sent more than $500 via PayPal to the child exploiter.
Ramos’s iPhone contained more than 346,000 Signal, Telegram and other online chat messages, in most of which Ramos was distributing, seeking, receiving or discussing child pornography.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Former Social Security Administration Employee Admits to Role in Transnational “Grandparent Scam” Operated from Dominican RepublicRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man who previously worked as a claims specialist with the U.S. Social Security Administration admitted yesterday to acting as a courier for a Dominican Republic-based “grandparent scam” that targeted elderly Americans.
Victor Anthony Valdez, 39, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with wire fraud conspiracy.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, the scam operated from call centers in the Dominican Republic, making phone calls to elderly American victims purporting to be the victim’s grandchild, an attorney representing the grandchild in criminal proceedings, court personnel, or other persons associated with the legal system. Conspirators told the victims that their grandchildren had been arrested and needed cash for bail or other expenses. Once victims were convinced through lies and falsehoods, coconspirators instructed the victims to provide cash to couriers, including Valdez, who went to victims’ homes to pick up the money.
While acting as a courier for the scam between August 2020 and August 2021, Valdez is alleged to have retrieved, or attempted to retrieve, tens of thousands of dollars from defrauded victims at their homes in New York and New Jersey.
“The defendant admitted to his role in a scam targeting vulnerable seniors. The defendant and his coconspirators took advantage of grandparents’ love and concern for their grandchildren they believed to be in trouble, convincing them to pay thousands of dollars. My office will continue to protect the rights of all victims, and we will relentlessly prosecute those who target and cheat vulnerable seniors.”
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger
“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue individuals who prey on vulnerable and elderly victims through fraudulent schemes like the one in which the defendant here participated,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Those who aid transnational criminals in deliberately targeting vulnerable consumers in the United States will be held accountable.”
“Mr. Valdez intentionally conspired to defraud the elderly of their money and property through a cruel, international grandparent scam,” said Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Acting Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “The vast majority of the victims are Social Security beneficiaries, who live on a fixed income. We will continue to aggressively pursue such intolerable criminal activities. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting this case.”
Valdez faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 9, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the special agents of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Alison Thompson, and Trial Attorney Joshua Ferrentino of the Civil Division's Consumer Protection Branch and are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through OVC, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
valdez.indictment.pdf
Former Regions Bank Manager Sentenced to 30 Months for Embezzlement and Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Eric Jason Schouest, age 53, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, to 30 months in federal prison following his convictions for embezzlement and bank fraud. The Court further sentenced Schouest to serve two years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered Schouest to pay $86,375.89 in restitution.
Schouest was employed at Regions Bank from 2010 to 2021 as a branch manager overseeing business transactions and practices at the Regions Bank Plank Road branch. In his capacity as branch manager, he had the authority to access customer accounts, instruct others to open and close accounts, issue cashier’s checks, and transfer funds in and out of customer accounts.
Schouest exploited his position of trust at Regions Bank to embezzle funds from customers and deposit the money into his personal bank accounts. He also sent false and fraudulent emails and forged documents to conceal his scheme from other Regions Bank employees. Some of the traceable fraudulent funds were used to make loan payments on personal items such as a house and a car. Through his scheme, Schouest misappropriated more than $250,000 from Regions customer accounts.
This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the U.S. Secret Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner, who also serves as Deputy Criminal Chief.
Former Ohio Jail Deputy Charged with Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
A three-count indictment was unsealed yesterday charging a former Franklin County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office deputy with two counts of depriving an inmate of his civil rights and one count of conspiring to do the same.
According to the indictment, in March 2022, Matthew Carey, 27, of Grove City, Ohio, was employed as a deputy with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and he worked in the Franklin County Corrections Center. While he was working, it is alleged that Carey intentionally disclosed a pretrial detainee’s pending charges to another detainee.
The indictment details that Carey knew the victim detainee had been charged with a sex offense, and that individuals charged with sex offenses were at increased risk of being physically assaulted by other detainees. It is alleged that the other detainee understood Carey’s words and gestures to be directing and authorizing an attack on the victim.
The indictment charges that Carey had no legitimate law enforcement reason to disclose the victim’s charges, and that, after disclosing that information, Carey took no reasonable steps to protect the victim from the predictable and expected assault by other inmates that Carey had set in motion.
In addition to the conspiracy, Carey is charged with two counts of depriving the victim of his constitutional rights under color of law, first by depriving the detainee of his right to be free from unreasonable force and second by depriving the detainee of his right to be free from a deputy’s deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of serious harm. The indictment charges that the crimes resulted in bodily injury.
If convicted, Carey faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Cincinnati Field Office investigated the case.
Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Long Island Resident Pleads Guilty to Massive Fraud Scheme Involving Sports BettingRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Cory Zeidman pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with a yearslong scheme to defraud prospective sports bettors in New York and Florida by claiming to have inside information on sporting events. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst. When sentenced, Zeidman faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, as well as forfeiture and restitution of approximately $3.6 million.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York (USPIS) and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), announced the guilty plea.
“Zeidman and his partners baited unsuspecting victims with false claims of an edge in sports betting only to feed them lies and pocket millions of dollars from their savings and retirement accounts,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today’s guilty plea sends a message to all those who would prey upon the public by falsely advertising gambling as an ‘investment opportunity’: the only sure bet here is that this Office will work tirelessly to root out sources of disinformation and fraud and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Sports bettors sought Corey Zeidman’s advice before gambling their money— but it was Zeidman himself who was scoring big through his deceptive practices, outright lies, and high-pressure tactics that exploited unsuspecting clients,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Walker. “Today, HSI New York and our law enforcement partners brought Zeidman’s racket to an end. The public deserves to know the truth concerning where their money is going, and HSI is committed to working with our partners to protect the community wherever and whenever possible from illicit schemes.”
“Today’s guilty plea is proof that this individual gambled and lost when he thought his illegal activities would fly under the radar,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Brubaker. “Illegal gambling is not a victimless crime, Zeidman and his partners were able defraud so many individuals with their lies and had them pay these exorbitant fees for nothing. USPIS will continue to investigate individuals who are intentionally skirting federal regulations for their own selfish desires. I would like to thank Homeland Security Investigations, Nassau County Police Department, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York for their collaborative effort on this massive investigation,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Brubaker.
“The guilty plea of defendant Cory Zeidman is a reminder that crimes against our residents will not go unpunished. Numerous victims lost millions of dollars after being given fraudulent and misleading information regarding online betting. We need to set an example and continue to investigate and arrest offenders who commit fraud and any other crimes against our residents. I would like to thank the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance in this case,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder.
As alleged in court documents, Zeidman helped run an organization that placed national radio advertisements to lure prospective bettors to retain the organization for sports betting advice. Using fake names and high-pressure sales tactics, Zeidman and his partners falsely led the bettors to believe that their organization had access to non-public information—bettors were often told, for example, that Zeidman’s organization had access to non-public player injury information, “dirty” referees, or that professional sporting events were “fixed” and that media executives’ shares predetermined outcomes with Zeidman’s organization. This information, the bettors were told, made gambling on sporting events a low or no-risk proposition. Victims were required to pay exorbitant fees to obtain this supposedly privileged information which, unbeknownst to them, was fictitious or based on the conspirators’ open-source internet research. Over the course of several years, Zeidman and his partners reaped millions in fees from victims.
Any individuals who believe they may have been the victim of the alleged crimes perpetrated in connection with this release can contact HSI at 1-866-347-2423.
In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including the sort of predatory fraud perpetrated by Zeidman and his partners.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Anthony Bagnuola are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder and FSA Supervisory Paralegal Melissa Thorpe.
The Defendant:
CORY ZEIDMAN
Age: 63
Boca Raton, FloridaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-228 (JS)
Former Chairman of Health Care Company Board of Directors Sentenced to Prison for Selling Unregistered SecuritiesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former chairman of Massachusetts-based company Arch Therapeutics, Inc. was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for three felony securities offenses, two of which concerned his undisclosed sale of over $1.3 million worth of company shares.
Avtar Singh Dhillon, 63, of Long Beach, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to four months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release, with the first six months on home detention. Dhillon was also ordered to forfeit $1,493,500. In December 2022, Dhillon pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to disclose stock sales, one count of aiding and abetting the sale of unregistered securities and one count of touting compensation nondisclosure conspiracy.
Dhillon and his then attorney, Daniel V. Martinez, placed 2.75 million Arch Therapeutics shares that Dhillon beneficially owned into a limited liability company that Martinez created. Dhillon and Martinez then worked together to sell the shares in the open market without a valid exemption under the relevant securities laws and to distribute the approximately $1.34 million in proceeds. The proceeds were distributed primarily to third parties for Dhillon’s benefit, with a small portion distributed to Martinez directly. Dhillon thereafter willfully failed to report the stock sales to the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the investing public, as he was required to do.
In October 2023, Martinez was sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service. Martinez was also ordered to pay a fine of $7,500 and forfeit $110,999.
Separately, Dhillon also participated in a securities conspiracy involving the nondisclosure of compensation paid to a subscription newsletter analyst. Specifically, Dhillon agreed with others to cause Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals (EHP), a life sciences company in San Diego, to indirectly compensate a subscription newsletter analyst to tout a securities offering by EHP without the analyst or the newsletter disclosing the compensation, as required under securities laws. Dhillon was both a one-time board member of and an indirect shareholder in EHP, which raised tens of millions of dollars in the securities offering.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission headquarters, Boston and Los Angeles regional offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Box Elder Teacher’s Aide Indicted and Detained for Sexual Exploitation and Enticement of a Minor StudentRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Box Elder, South Dakota, woman for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography.
In August 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Duncan Sioux Witt, age 28, originally from Kansas. She was extradited from South Carolina after being arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service while working in a private school. Witt appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on November 22, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 15 years up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Witt was previously employed at Douglas High School in Box Elder as a special education paraprofessional teacher’s aide. The alleged victim was a student receiving special education services at the time of Witt’s crimes. In February 2024, Witt began sending the boy sexually explicit messages, and sexually explicit images and videos of herself, using Snapchat. She induced the boy to send her sexually explicit pictures and videos of himself, which she saved in her Snapchat account.
The charges are merely accusations and Witt is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation is being conducted by the Box Elder Police Department and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox is prosecuting the case.
Witt was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for January 28, 2025.
Foreign national sentenced to prison after escaping custody to avoid deportationRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Salvadoran national was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison for obstructing an agency proceeding.
According to court documents, in July 2016, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials encountered Dennis Arnoldo Zeledon Hernandez at the U.S.-Mexico border near Hidalgo, Texas. Zeledon claimed to ICE officials that he feared gang members in El Salvador. ICE officials served Zeledon with a Notice to Appear and a warning that failure to appear may result in a removal order and arrest and detention by the Department of Homeland Security. On Sept. 13, 2016, an Immigration Judge ordered Zeledon released on bond.
In May 2018, the Immigration Court mailed a Notice of Hearing to Zeledon’s address, notifying him of his master hearing in Immigration Court on Dec. 9, 2019, in Arlington, Virginia. In addition, Zeledon made a phone call to an Immigration Court hotline that informed him of the date, time, and location of his master hearing. Zeledon failed to appear at the Dec. 9, 2019, hearing, however, and the Immigration Court ordered Zeledon removed in absentia.
On May 14, 2023, Zeledon was arrested in York, Virginia, for driving under the influence, carrying a concealed weapon, and child neglect. ICE officials received notice that Zeledon had been arrested and issued a Warrant of Removal, resulting in Zeledon’s transfer to the Caroline Detention Facility (CDF) in Bowling Green, Virginia, under ICE custody on May 17, 2023.
On July 2, 2023, Zeledon exited a building within CDF, ran across a field, scaled a fence using sheets he had tied to serve as rope, and climbed onto the roof of CDF’s Administration Building. He ran across the roof to a side facing a public parking lot, jumped to the ground, and ran across the parking lot into the nearby woods.
After Zeledon escaped from CDF, he walked for two or three days until he met a Spanish-speaking man in a parking lot outside of a restaurant. The man allowed Zeledon to use his cell phone, which Zeledon used to call his friend who lived in North Carolina. Zeledon’s friend agreed to travel to pick up Zeledon and take him back to North Carolina.
Over 100 members of law enforcement, including state, local, and federal officials, participated in the fugitive search for Zeledon. On July 7, 2023, members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested Zeledon in an apartment complex in Durham, North Carolina.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Liana Castano, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Day and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike C. Moore prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-122.
Florida Inmate Pleads Guilty to Mailing Threats to Prosecutor and JudgeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Taylor Ryan Hill (27, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to mailing threatening communications. Hill faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on February 12, 2024, Hill was a state inmate at Hardee Correctional Institution in Bowling Green. On that date, he mailed a threatening letter to an Assistant State Attorney in Clay County who had prosecuted Hill for his underlying convictions of violent crimes. The letter threatened to have that prosecutor, as well as the judge who had sentenced him, killed. It was signed “Taylor Ryan Hill” and was mailed in an envelope with a return address of Taylor Hill, his inmate number, and the address for the Hardee Correctional Institution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with the Office of the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Lasry and Michael J. Coolican.
Fatal Stabbing of 23-year-old Northeast Man Results in Guilty PleaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Matthew Walker, 26, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today in Superior Court to the charge of second-degree murder while armed, stemming from the April 29, 2019 stabbing of 23-year-old Jamal Greenlee, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. As a result of the stabbing, Mr. Greenlee was left paralyzed and ultimately passed away from his injuries on November 4, 2020.
Walker will be sentenced by Judge Marisa Demeo on January 10, 2025.
Earlier this year, Walker was sentenced to 50 years of incarceration after being found guilty during a bench trial of, among other charges, the first-degree murder of David Remen, which occurred on February 14, 2019, at Trojan Labor, 1717 Hamlin Street NE.
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Seidel, who prosecuted the case.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un proveedor de viviendas para ancianos que resuelve acusaciones de discriminación relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio con Watercrest Community Management LLC (Watercrest), el cual resuelve la determinación del Departamento de que Watercrest infringió la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) en su sucursal en Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. El Departamento determinó que Watercrest discriminó a una trabajadora no ciudadana de los EE. UU. al rechazar su documento válido que muestra su permiso para trabajar y solicitar documentos adicionales e innecesarios debido a su estatus de ciudadanía.
«En virtud de las leyes federales, los empleadores no pueden discriminar en función del estatus de ciudadanía al verificar el permiso de una persona para trabajar», dijo Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles se compromete a proteger a los trabajadores de la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y a eliminar barreras innecesarias al trabajo en los Estados Unidos».
Después de iniciar una investigación basada en la queja de una trabajadora, la Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés), de la División de Derechos Civiles, determinó que Watercrest se negó, de forma indebida, a respetar el documento válido que una no ciudadana de los EE. UU. proporcionó para demostrar su permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos. La investigación de la IER también reveló que Watercrest pidió a la trabajadora documentos adicionales e innecesarios que Watercrest dijo que eran requeridos por el programa de software comercial que la empresa utilizó para el Formulario I-9. Watercrest solicitó esos documentos de forma incorrecta y repetida. El Formulario I-9 es un formulario gubernamental que los empleadores y trabajadores deben completar y que verifica que un trabajador tiene permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos.
Un empleador debe seguir todos los requisitos legales a la hora de verificar el permiso de trabajo de alguien y el uso de un programa de software para completar este proceso electrónicamente no garantiza el cumplimiento con las leyes federales. En virtud de la INA, los empleadores no pueden rechazar documentación válida ni solicitar más documentos de los necesarios al verificar el permiso de trabajo de un trabajador debido a la ciudadanía o el estatus migratorio de tal trabajador.
Según los términos del acuerdo, si Watercrest encuentra dificultades para usar su programa de software para completar el Formulario I-9 de un empleado, completará un Formulario I-9 impreso para ese empleado en lugar de rechazar los documentos válidos del empleado que muestren su permiso para trabajar. Watercrest también pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos, capacitará a sus empleados en cuanto a los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de la INA, revisará sus políticas de empleo y se someterá a supervisión por parte del Departamento.
La IER es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, la ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
Obtenga más información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación al verificar el permiso de alguien para trabajar en el sitio web de la IER. También hay información disponible sobre cómo evitar la discriminación ilegal y otras infracciones del Formulario I-9 al utilizar programas comerciales o de propiedad exclusiva para completar el Formulario I-9 electrónicamente o participar en E-Verify. Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda mediante este vídeo corto. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; visualizar una presentación a la carta; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de la IER.
Eighteen Cleveland Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Federal Charges for RICO Conspiracy, Murder, Kidnapping, Assault, Firearms Violations, and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
A federal district court in the Northern District of Ohio today unsealed a second superseding indictment against 18 members and associates of a violent street gang known as the Fully Blooded Felons, who have been charged with various federal crimes, including racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, firearms violations, and drug trafficking offenses.
The investigation that led to the second superseding indictment took place over the last two years. Agents apprehended individuals in a series of coordinated arrests. They seized cocaine, methamphetamine, over 400 grams of fentanyl, and 15 illegally possessed firearms throughout the investigation.
“The superseding indictment alleges that these 18 defendants were leaders, members, or associates of the Fully Blooded Felons, a violent gang that — for more than a decade — made money and controlled territory in Northern Ohio through murder, arson, robbery, drug trafficking, and firearms possession,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Violence and other gang activities make communities less safe for all of their residents. Addressing violent crime — including through the arrests announced today — is one of the Criminal Division’s highest priorities. I am proud of the outstanding work done by our Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, in partnership with our federal, state, and local partners, to make our communities safer places to live by targeting the most violent offenders on our streets.”
“As the indictment alleges, the Fully Blooded Felons styled themselves after a Mafia crime family, terrorizing Cleveland’s streets and operating an open-air illegal drug market in the Cedar Central neighborhood for years. I commend the valiant efforts of our brave law enforcement partners who have worked diligently to win back our streets and protect our community by taking down these bad actors,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “The USAO will aggressively continue to pursue — through RICO prosecutions and other federal charges — violent criminals who seek to secure territory, power, and money by ruthlessly harming others, peddling poisons, and creating an atmosphere of fear. Members of FBF or other violent gangs in this district who have yet to be caught should think twice before continuing to engage in such illegal and destructive behavior.”
“For several years, according to the indictment, these individuals committed a homicide, armed robberies, and unlawfully imported and distributed fentanyl and other dangerous opioids throughout the community,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. “The Fully Blooded Felons, a subset of the Heartless Felons criminal network, has been identified as Cleveland’s most significant gang threat and their reign of terror is over thanks to the collaborative efforts of FBI and the Safe Streets Gang Task Force. We will not waver in our mission to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle gangs not only in the larger cities across America, but also right here in northern Ohio.”
As alleged in the second superseding indictment, the Fully Blooded Felons have been in existence in Ohio since approximately 2012, operating primarily out of the east side of Cleveland, as well as Akron, Youngstown, and elsewhere. They are also allegedly active in the Ohio prison system.
According to the facts alleged in the indictment, the Fully Blooded Felons’ structure includes a “Commission,” which is a group of members tasked with maintaining the structure and organization of the enterprise through physical discipline and by determining which illicit means the organization would use to make money.
As alleged in the indictment, the Fully Blooded Felons had rules that members were required to abide by. The rules were disseminated to members online, by text message, and in face-to-face communications. Members were required to abide by “omerta,” or the code of silence. Members were also required to memorize and recite at meetings the “Fully Five,” a set of rules that included following all orders issued by the Commission, pledges of loyalty to fellow members, and being respectful to Capos, a position held by senior gang members. If a member did not know the “Fully Five,” they were punished. Members were also expected to know and abide by the “Fully Commandments,” a similar set of rules.
Fully Blooded Felon members allegedly utilized different two separate stash-houses at a local apartment complex. According to court documents, during the execution of two search warrants, law enforcement recovered over 300 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as seven firearms.
Members and associates of the Fully Blooded Felons allegedly came together for the common purposes of making money through robberies and drug trafficking, preserving and promoting Fully Blooded Felon territory, and promoting and enhancing the Fully Blooded Felon enterprise and its members and associates’ activities.
According to the indictment, on Sept. 12, 2023, three Fully Blooded Felon members — Raven Mullins, Henry Burchett, and James Clemons — and another individual shot and killed a victim on the west side of Cleveland. After killing the victim, the defendants allegedly fled the scene in a stolen Honda Pilot, which Fully Blooded Felon members later burned.
The second superseding indictment alleges a years-long pattern of racketeering and violence including a murder, kidnapping, assaults, and drug trafficking.
The defendants and their charges are:
- Raven Mullins, 35, also known as Dunny and Dun, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Henry Burchett, 29, also known as Noodles, Noo, and Omerta, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Elijah Johnson, 37, also known as Loon, of Youngstown, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Demarcus Elliott, 37, also known as Moo and Fast Lane, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Dontez Hammond, 35, also known as Donny and Tez, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and illegal receipt of a firearm and ammunition by a person under indictment.
- Jeffrey Lee, 24, also known as Fatty, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Jerrell Jones-Ferrell, 25, also known as Ruga, of Cleveland, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, felon in possession of a firearm, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Devonte Johnson, 32, also known as D Nut and Nut, of Euclid, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and felon in possession of a firearm.
- Jerome Williams, 29, also known as Jay, and JT, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Christepher Horton, 41, also known as Cam and Killa, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Deeundra Perkins, 33, also known as Drizzy, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Deon Blackwell, 38, also known as White Boy, of Cleveland, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- James Clemons, 32, also known as Flock, Pope, and Fully Pope Flock, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering.
- Alex Darden, 23, also known as Lil’ Pee Wee, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Esmond Williams, 35, also known as Relle, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Adrionna Null, 27, also known as Ali, of Cleveland, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering.
- Myeasha West, 31, also known as Action, of Lorain, Ohio, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering.
- Kyla Sharie Tyler, 27, also known as Yayeo, of Cleveland, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering.
The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police, U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Trial Attorneys Brian W. Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Hanna and Robert F. Corts for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
December Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the December Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Malachi Bernard Carson. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Carson, 24, of Tulsa, is charged with engaging in a sexual act by fear, force, and threat. Further, Carson allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a minor child under 16 years old. The FBI and Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-377
Adrian Hatfield. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Hatfield, 24, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Flynn is prosecuting the case.
24-CR-378Jordan Shay Ryan Kelly. Robbery in Indian Country. Kelly, 34, of Miami and a member of the Shawnee Tribe, is charged with taking property of value from another person by force, violence, and intimidation. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Miami Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-379
Roberto Lopez Manuel. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Manuel, 46, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Apr. 2015. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-380
Mario Albert Ordaz, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Ordaz, 49, of Riverbank, California, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema M. Onias is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-381
Council Bluffs Individuals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Two Council Bluffs individuals were sentenced to federal prison for possessing firearms as felons.
According to public court documents, in December 2022, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the joint Council Bluffs residence of Anthony Michael Huff, 37, and Bobbie Jo Adkins, 37. Inside the residence, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun was in a bedroom, where a marijuana grow lab was also located, as well as ammunition found in the living room. On Adkins’s cell phone, law enforcement later located photos of the shotgun where Huff told Adkins “we got the gun.”
Huff and Adkins are both felons and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. In 2012, Huff was convicted of two felony counts of terroristic threats in the Nebraska District Court for Dodge County. In 2015, Adkins was convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon, in the Iowa District Court for Page County.
Huff received a 37-month sentence, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Adkins received a 48-month sentence, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement (SWINE) Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 3 ½ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BIRMIHGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and United States Marshal Martin Keely.
U.S. District Court Judge Annmarie C. Axon sentenced Ro’Daryus Donell Mitchell, 27, of Center Point, to 42 months in prison. In August, Mitchell pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, on May 31, 2023, the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force (GCRFTF) was looking for Mitchell for multiple arrest warrants. Mitchell had arrest warrants for 22 counts of Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle; four counts of Theft of Property, Second Degree; one count of Receiving Stolen Property, Second Degree; and a probation revocation warrant for Violation of the State Firearms Act. USMS GCRFTF deputies found Mitchell at a residence in Birmingham and arrested him on the outstanding warrants. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of a Glock 9mm pistol loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition, an American Tactical .300 pistol, a Taurus .45 caliber pistol loaded with five rounds of ammunition, and multiple loaded and unloaded firearm magazines. The American Tactical .300 pistol had been reported stolen to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office on May 12, 2023. The Taurus .45 caliber pistol had been reported stolen to the Birmingham Police Department on May 25, 2023. At the time of this incident, Mitchell had been convicted of two counts of Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County.
USMS GCRFTF and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples.
U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Waymon Lanar Robinson, Jr., 31, of Birmingham, to 140 months in prison. In September, Robinson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on March 1, 2023, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted surveillance on a house in Tarrant, Alabama, associated with the gang “Hard2Kill.” Officers conducted a traffic stop in an alleyway behind the house. Officers saw Robinson place something inside his pants and walk away from the house. They approached Robinson and asked if he had any weapons on him. Robinson said he did and showed the officer a Glock .40 caliber pistol in his waistband. Robinson also had fentanyl, methamphetamine, hydrocodone pills, heroin, and marijuana inside of a Crown Royal Bag in his pants.
The FBI investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Byrd prosecuted the case.
Clay County White Supremacist Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 10 Years on Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Danny Ray Boree (39, Keystone Heights) to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Boree to forfeit a Raven Arms pistol traceable to the firearm offense. Boree was arrested on September 8, 2023, and ordered detained. He entered a guilty plea on July 10, 2024.
According to court documents and proceedings, Boree is a member of the Unforgiven, a violent white supremacy gang. On June 8, 2023, a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) pulled over a vehicle for a stop sign violation in Keystone Heights. Upon approaching the car, the deputy observed Boree in the passenger seat with a meat cleaver/hatchet directly in front of him and a knife in a sheath by his feet. For his safety, the deputy directed Boree to step out of the car. As Boree exited the vehicle, the deputy observed part of a clear baggie in the waistline of Boree’s shorts. During a pat down of Boree, the deputy removed the baggie which contained a large amount of methamphetamine. During a subsequent search of the car, the CCSO located a Raven Arms pistol and additional methamphetamine.
At the time of the offenses, Boree had previously been convicted in Florida state court of 10 felonies, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2007, 2019). As a convicted felon, Boree is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. Boree was released from the Florida Department of Corrections in January 2023 for his last firearm conviction.
“We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office as we continue our shared commitment to combating drugs and preventing the violence that often accompanies them,” said Sheriff Michelle Cook. “Together, we are making significant strides in keeping Clay County safe.”
“Residents of Northeast Florida are much safer with this violent criminal in federal prison,” said ATF Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “Disrupting the Unforgiven’s nefarious activities takes unwavering commitment and we’re proud to have helped the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and federal prosecutors with this huge win.”
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Charges Filed in the Armed Robbery of a Postal Maintenance Worker and Multiple High-Volume Thefts of U.S. Mail from Multi-Family Luxury Residences in D.C., Virginia, and MarylandRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ibrahim Emmanuel De La Cruz, 25, of Washington D.C., was extradited to face charges filed by criminal complaint with the alleged high-volume thefts of U.S. Mail in Washington D.C., Arlington Va., and Bowie, Maryland, as well as an armed robbery of a Postal maintenance worker, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Special Agent-in-Charge Jacob Cameron, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Washington Field Office.
The 43-page complaint, filed in September 2024 in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, charges De La Cruz with multiple counts of theft or receipt of stolen mail and the August 10, 2024, armed robbery of a postal maintenance worker.
“The defendant is charged with robbing a postal worker and repeatedly raiding mail collection boxes, apparently seeking to use the checks, credit cards, and personal identifying information he stole for his financial benefit. We stand ready to partner with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to hold accountable those who assault postal carriers and those who steal the valuable letters and items we depend on the Postal Service to ship,” said U.S. Attorney Graves for the District of Columbia.
“The safety and security of the U.S. mail, our employees and customers remain central to the mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood. “Protecting postal workers from crimes of violence and bringing those criminals who perpetuate these crimes to justice is of great importance. This case highlights the critical work of Postal Inspectors in safeguarding the integrity of the mail and pursuing individuals who commit theft or fraud against individuals. We will continue collaborating with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to ensure that criminals are held accountable.”
According to the complaint, beginning in December 2023, multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD), began investigating multiple high-volume mail thefts from mailboxes at multi-family luxury residences and the potentially related robberies of letter carriers and other victims in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
The investigation found that a man was using stolen U.S. Postal Service “arrow keys” to access USPS collection boxes, outdoor parcel lockers, cluster box units, and apartment mailbox panels. The suspect in the thefts resembled a man who had robbed a postal maintenance worker of his arrow keys on August 10, 2024, while the suspect appeared to be gripping a pistol tucked into his waistband.
Through surveillance camera footage, Instagram posts, and cell phone tracking, De La Cruz was tied to a theft of mail from two apartment complexes on February 19, 2024, on the 2300 block of Champlain Street NW; the theft of mail from collection box units on February 29, 2024, from the 1600 block of R Street NW; the theft of mail using a stolen arrow key on March 3, 2024, from an outdoor locked mail area on the 2200 block of 17th Street NW; the theft of mail using a stolen arrow key on March 4, 2024, from the 2400 block of Ontario Road, NW; the theft of mail on March 5, 2024, from the 2100 block of California Avenue NW; theft of mail on March 5, 2024, from the National Landing in Arlington, Va.; the theft of mail from cluster boxes using an arrow key on March 21, 2024, on the 1500 block of Pointer Ridge Place in Bowie, MD; and theft of mail on August 10, 2024, from the 700 block of Parkside Place, NE.
De La Cruz is also suspected of using personal identifying information gleaned from the stolen mail to obtain bank accounts and credit cards in other people’s names. The defendant allegedly used money stolen from accounts to pay for student tuition, rent, utilities, and cell phone bills. According to the complaint, De La Cruz also posted a rap on YouTube boasting of his exploits.
This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Army Criminal Investigation Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar.
An complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
24mj00286
Canal Winchester man sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for drug, gun, fraud crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Thomas O. Crowell, 35, of Canal Winchester, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 188 months in prison for committing narcotics, firearms and financial fraud crimes. A federal jury convicted Crowell in January 2024.
Crowell, who is also known as “T-Mack,” was a significant drug trafficker in the Columbus area who was investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies.
According to court documents and trial testimony, Crowell possessed with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana in June 2021. During a search warrant of Crowell’s residence, investigators discovered fentanyl and cocaine hidden in the grill in the backyard. Throughout the house, Crowell kept drug packaging material and drug cutting agent.
Crowell also illegally possessed firearms in his home, namely, a rifle and a Glock. Crowell is a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Finally, Crowell was also convicted of wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining COVID-relief Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding by falsely claiming to own a trucking business called “Thomas Crowell.” In April 2021, Crowell applied for the PPP loan and received nearly $20,000.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; and Hilliard Police Chief Michael Woods announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Damoun Delaviz are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Bryan County Resident Pleads Guilty to Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kyle Duffner, age 26, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.
The Information alleged that on June 27, 2021, Duffner unlawfully killed a child with malice aforethought during the perpetration of child abuse.
The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Durant Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Duffner will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Brockton Man Arrested for Selling Fentanyl; Multiple Machineguns and Kilograms Recovered During SearchRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was arrested today for allegedly selling over 100 grams of a fentanyl analogue to a cooperating witness. At the time of the alleged offense, the defendant was on probation for a 2019 fentanyl conviction and on pretrial release for a separate March 2024 drug arrest.
Joshua Tavares, 29, was charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl analogue. Tavares was arrested this morning and following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was detained pending a hearing scheduled for Dec. 6, 2024.
According to the charging documents, on Nov. 1, 2024, Tavares sold 100 grams of a fentanyl analogue to a cooperating witness which was captured on video recording.
During searches of Tavares’s residence and multiple suspected stash houses, approximately four kilograms of suspected fentanyl, cocaine, packaging materials for distribution of controlled substances and over $89,000 in cash were recovered. A .40 caliber Glock firearm and a 9mm Glock firearm with a machinegun conversion device were also located at Tavares’ residence.
A 9mm Glock firearm with a machinegun conversion device and a tactical laser sight was allegedly recovered from a stash location along with numerous rounds of ammunition and multiple loaded magazines, including a 50 round “drum” style magazine. Machinegun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “switches,” are designed to convert firearms into fully automatic weapons.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Brockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bradenton Man Sentenced to More Than 27 Years for Producing Child Sex Abuse Material via Hidden Camera in Smoke DetectorRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced Joshua Scott Landers (48, Bradenton) to 27 years and 3 months in federal prison for producing and possessing child sex abuse material. A federal jury found Landers guilty on August 27, 2024.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Landers installed a video camera inside a smoke detector on the ceiling of the teenage victim’s bedroom. Landers then manipulated the footage to save photos and videos of the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was investigated by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Courtney Derry.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Bowling Green Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison in Fentanyl Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – The final member of a two-man fentanyl distribution case was sentenced this week to 10 years in prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Director Tommy Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force made the announcement.
According to court documents, on December 2, 2024, Faisl Alzharani, 27, of Warren County, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and on April 23, 2024, Ahmed Al-Duliami, 25, of Warren County, was sentenced to 7 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for attempting to possess with the intent to distribute a fentanyl mixture. On August 11, 2022, in Warren County the defendants picked up a package which they believed contained fentanyl, but that package had previously been seized by law enforcement and the fentanyl removed.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The USPIS Louisville Domicile, Bowling Green Office, HSI Bowling Green, and the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the United States Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office prosecuted the case.
###
Bank contractor indicted for loading debit cards with fraudulent fundsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Houston woman who worked as a contractor for a national bank has been taken into custody on wire fraud and conspiracy charges, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jaysha Victorian, 23, has already made her initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo.
A federal grand jury returned the two-count indictment Nov. 20, which was unsealed upon her arrest.
In the span of just a few weeks in January 2021, Victorian allegedly utilized her access to the victim bank’s systems to load prepaid debit cards with fraudulent credits when she knew no such credits were warranted. The charges allege the debit cards included prepaid cards that were used to provide unemployment benefits, including for the state of California.
According to the indictment, cardholders were able to withdraw the fraudulent funds from bank branches and ATMs before the credited money could be rescinded.
Victorian’s conduct allegedly resulted in over $8 million of fraudulent credits, over $7 million of which were withdrawn or used.
If convicted, Victorian faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charge as well five years for the conspiracy. Both convictions also carry fines of up to $250,000.
The FBI, Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General (OIG) and Department of Labor-OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Karen Lansden are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Albany Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kamaro Campbell, age 42, of Albany, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for possessing cocaine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute them and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division, made the announcement.
Agents found 105 grams of fentanyl, 95 grams of cocaine, and a fanny pack containing a loaded pistol and $15,000 inside of Campbell’s bedroom closet when executing a search warrant on June 28, 2023. A separate search of Campbell’s storage unit led to the recovery of an additional 105 grams of cocaine. Campbell admitted to selling an additional 155 grams of cocaine and 74 grams of methamphetamine.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a 5-year-term of supervised release and ordered Campbell to forfeit the pistol seized in his apartment.
The DEA investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted.
18 Ohio Gang Members and Associates Charged in Second Superseding IndictmentRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio today unsealed a second superseding indictment against 18 members and associates of a Cleveland-based, violent street gang known as the Fully Blooded Felons or “FBF.” The defendants charged are alleged to have committed numerous federal crimes, including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, firearms violations, conspiracy, and drug trafficking. The investigation that led to this second superseding indictment took place throughout the last two years, with the initial indictment issued on Dec. 20, 2023, followed by a superseding indictment on April 4, 2024.
According to court documents, members of FBF have engaged in criminal activity for more than a decade in Ohio, since approximately 2012. The gang was primarily based on the east side of Cleveland, but also established strongholds in Akron, Youngstown, and other areas. The scope and reach of the gang’s alleged criminal operations included attempts to infiltrate the Ohio prison system.
Federal and local law enforcement agents and officers apprehended individuals in a series of coordinated arrests. They seized several controlled substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and more than 400 grams of fentanyl. They also confiscated 15 illegally possessed firearms throughout the investigation.
“The superseding indictment alleges that these 18 defendants were leaders, members, or associates of the Fully Blooded Felons, a violent gang that — for more than a decade — made money and controlled territory in Northern Ohio through murder, arson, robbery, drug trafficking, and firearms possession,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Violence and other gang activities make communities less safe for all of their residents. Addressing violent crime — including through the arrests announced today — is one of the Criminal Division’s highest priorities. I am proud of the outstanding work done by our Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, in partnership with our federal, state, and local partners, to make our communities safer places to live by targeting the most violent offenders on our streets.”
“As the indictment alleges, the Fully Blooded Felons styled themselves after a Mafia crime family, terrorizing Cleveland’s streets and operating an open-air illegal drug market in the Cedar Central neighborhood for years. I commend the valiant efforts of our brave law enforcement partners who have worked diligently to win back our streets and protect our community by taking down these bad actors,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “The USAO will aggressively continue to pursue—through RICO prosecutions and other federal charges—violent criminals who seek to secure territory, power, and money by ruthlessly harming others, peddling poisons, and creating an atmosphere of fear. Members of FBF or other violent gangs in this District who have yet to be caught should think twice before continuing to engage in such illegal and destructive behavior.”
“For several years, these individuals committed a homicide, armed robberies, and unlawfully imported and distributed fentanyl and other dangerous opioids throughout the community, said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “The Fully Blooded Felons, a subset of the Heartless Felons criminal network, has been identified as Cleveland’s most significant gang threat and their reign of terror is over thanks to the collaborative efforts of FBI and the Safe Streets Gang Task Force. We will not waver in our mission to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle gangs not only in the larger cities across America, but also right here in northern Ohio.”
During the investigation, law enforcement officials uncovered the defendants’ patterns of racketeering activity, which included their establishment of an organizational structure for their criminal enterprise involving gang membership hierarchy, titles, and rules. The FBF’s framework was allegedly created by its highest-ranking member, Raven Mullins, who held the self-proclaimed position of “Godfather.” The gang structure included a “Commission” made up of a member subgroup known as “Commissioners.” Together, they maintained the enterprise’s organization through physical discipline and by determining which illicit means they would pursue to generate income. To accomplish their goal of promoting and enhancing their criminal enterprise and its members’ and associates’ activities, and preserving and protecting their territories, FBF members and associates conspired to commit and did commit a murder, assaults, robberies, and drug trafficking.
As the indictment alleges, each FBF member was expected to follow a set of rules that Mullins primarily established. Mullins and the Commission disseminated these expectations to FBF members online, in text messages, and by face-to-face communications. Members were required to memorize and recite a set of rules, known as the “Fully Five,” at meetings, and they faced punishment if they answered incorrectly. Rules included following all orders issued by the Commission, pledging their loyalty to fellow members, and being respectful to the “Capos,” who were FBF members in leadership roles beneath the Commissioners. They were also expected to know and adhere to the “Fully Commandments,” another set of rules similar to the “Fully Five.”
Investigators discovered that gang members occupied two separate units at a local apartment complex that they used as stash-houses to facilitate drug trafficking. While executing two search warrants, law enforcement officers recovered more than 400 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and multiple firearms from these locations.
According to the second superseding indictment, on Sept. 12, 2023, Raven Mullins, Henry Burchett, and James Clemons, along with another unidentified individual, shot and killed a victim on the west side of Cleveland. After killing the victim, the defendants fled the scene in a stolen vehicle that was later set on fire.
The second superseding indictment alleges a years-long pattern of racketeering and violence, including a murder, kidnapping, assaults, and drug trafficking. The defendants and their charges are as follows:
- Raven Mullins, aka Dunny, aka Dun, 35, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Henry Burchett, aka Noodles, aka Noo, aka Omerta, 29, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Elijah Johnson, aka Loon, 37, of Youngstown, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Demarcus Elliott, aka Moo, aka Fast Lane, 37, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Dontez Hammond, aka Donny, aka Tez, 35, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Jeffrey Lee, aka Fatty, 24, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Jerrell Jones-Ferrell, aka Ruga, 25, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Devonte Johnson, aka D Nut, aka Nut, 32, of Euclid, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Jerome Williams, aka Jay, aka JT, 29, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Christepher Horton, aka Cam, aka Killa, 41, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- Deeundra Perkins, aka Drizzy, 33, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Deon Blackwell, aka White Boy, 38, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
- James Clemons, aka Flock, aka Pope, aka Fully Pope Flock, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering.
- Alex Darden, aka Lil’ Pee Wee, 23, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Esmond Williams, aka Relle, 35, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Adrionna Null, aka Ali, 27, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering.
- Myeasha West, aka Action, 31, of Lorain, Ohio, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering.
- Kyla Sharie Tyler, aka Yayeo, 27, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering.
An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
The specific mission of the OCDETF Cleveland Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle major criminal organizations and subsidiary organizations, including criminal gangs, transnational drug cartels, racketeering organizations, and other groups engaged in illicit activities that present a threat to public safety and national security and are related to the illegal smuggling and trafficking of narcotics or other controlled substances, weapons, humans, or the illegal concealment or transfer of proceeds derived from such illicit activities in the Northern District of Ohio. The OCDETF Cleveland Strike Force is composed of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF), and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Border Patrol, along with task force officers from numerous local law enforcement agencies, including the Cleveland Division of Police. Prosecutions are led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, the Cleveland Division of Police, USMS, the DEA, and the ATF.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul E. Hanna and Robert F. Corts for the Northern District of Ohio, and Trial Attorneys Brian W. Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
Tuesday 3 December 2024
Wilkinsburg Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing and Attempting to Prevent Seizure of FirearmsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and attempting to take action to prevent seizure, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Javon Pope, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on the morning of November 19, 2019, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) discovered Pope inside a Wilkinsburg residence at which another individual had just been arrested and officers had observed several firearms in plain view. The agents detained and searched Pope, finding a digital scale, a small amount of marijuana, and a cellular telephone. Upon the execution of a search warrant for the residence, agents found four firearms, but in different locations from where they had been initially observed by officers and with one of the rifles now disassembled.
A search warrant for Pope’s cellular telephone revealed an internet search for “how long does it take to get a search warrant” during the morning of November 19, as well as several telephone calls between Pope and a resident of the home that took place shortly after the first defendant’s arrest, along with pictures of Pope with several of the firearms from the residence. Pope previously had been convicted of two felony offenses. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for March 26, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and United States Postal Inspection Service, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pope.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Waterloo Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Check Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Waterloo woman who stole nearly $250,000 from three financial institutions between 2020 and 2022 was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison. Angela Celina Hernandez, formerly known as Angela Celina Sermeno, age 40, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 31, 2024, guilty plea to one count of bank fraud.
In a plea agreement, Hernandez admitted that she was the sole signatory on a checking account for a roofing company at a credit union in Dubuque. In January 2020, Hernandez repeatedly redeposited previously cleared checks from a Wisconsin contractor in order to falsely and temporarily inflate the balance of the account. Hernandez then caused over $150,000 in rapid transfers and withdrawals on this fraudulently and temporarily inflated balance. Then, in July 2021, Hernandez passed bad checks at a second credit union, resulting in over $75,000 in loss to that credit union. Finally, in February 2022, defendant passed more bad checks at a third financial institution, resulting in an additional $12,000 in loss.
Hernandez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Hernandez was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $248,005.28 in restitution the three financial institutions. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hernandez was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-1031.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Warren Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime Offense for Defacing Predominantly Black ChurchRead the Press Release
DETROIT - A Warren, Michigan man pleaded guilty today to defacing a predominantly Black church in Roseville, Michigan, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Chevoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, in October 2021, David Bluer, 34, spray-painted several swastikas, the word “die,” and other graffiti on the Roseville church because of the race and color of individuals associated with the church. Specifically, the defendant admitted that he intentionally defaced the church because the church serves a predominantly Black congregation and has a Black pastor.
For this, Bluer pleaded guilty to one count of damaging religious property. Bluer faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
“Today’s guilty plea should send a clear message that our office will aggressively protect our district’s houses of worship, including against attacks motivated by race and color,” U.S. Attorney Ison said.
"Racially motivated crimes have no place in our society," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. "Hate crimes are message crimes intended to sow fear and terror in communities. Through this prosecution, the Justice Department sends its own message — that we will protect communities from such hate-fueled violence and use every tool at our disposal to investigate and prosecute those who perpetrate these heinous attacks."
“David Bluer's guilty plea to a hate crime for defacing a predominantly Black church underscores the FBI's steadfast commitment to addressing civil rights violations and holding individuals accountable for acts of hate. This targeted criminal act, coupled with Mr. Bluer's admission of harboring hatred based on race and ethnicity, highlights the FBI's dedication to safeguarding faith-based communities in Michigan," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI plays a critical role in investigating hate crimes, especially those targeting vulnerable communities. Acts of hate and violence, such as defacing places of worship, not only violates the law but also seek to instill fear and division in our communities. The FBI's involvement in this case, in collaboration with the Roseville and Warren Police Departments, exemplifies the FBIs proactive approach to protecting individuals from hate-fueled acts and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their despicable actions. By working closely with local law enforcement, the FBI ensures that those who commit hate crimes are identified, investigated, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Their continued efforts demonstrate an unwavering commitment to protecting all communities, upholding civil rights, preserving the safety of places of worship, and ensuring justice for victims of intolerance.”
Bluer is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2025.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson of the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.