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Friday 22 November 2024
Repeat Offender Sentenced for Illegal Gun Possession in Southwest GeorgiaRead the Press Release
A Southwest Georgia resident with a lengthy criminal history in the community was sentenced to prison today for illegally possessing a firearm resulting from separate a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation.
Marcus Ryan Telfair, 30, of Baconton, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 130 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on June 26. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Repeat convicted felons caught with firearms during the commission of other crimes will see their cases in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office supports the work of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to make our communities safer and hold serial offenders accountable.”
"Today’s sentence reflects our commitment to ensuring that those with a history of violent crime are held accountable for their actions. The illegal possession of firearms by convicted felons poses a significant threat to our communities, and we will continue to work tirelessly to remove these dangerous individuals from our streets,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.
“This conviction showcases the efforts that we are conducting with our state and federal partners in addressing career criminals,” said Albany Police Chief Michael Persley. “It is my desire that the message is loud and clear that if a person commits a crime and possesses a firearm, there are no limits to the full prosecution of those actions. We are focused on finding those who insist on creating an unsafe community in order for others to feel safe wherever they go.”
According to court documents and statements made in court in the Telfair case, Albany Police Department (APD) officers responded to a disorderly conduct call on Oct. 23, 2023, on West Society Avenue. A landscaper working nearby called 911 after he observed Telfair dragging a woman by her hair in the street, who was screaming for help. The landscaper attempted to intervene, but Telfair drew a gun, pointed it at the man and threatened to shoot him if he did not step away. When the police arrived, Telfair ran off and was found hiding underneath a porch. A 9mm semiautomatic pistol and a knife were located in Telfair’s backpack; the gun was stolen out of a truck earlier in the year. The female victim advised Telfair had robbed her of her belongings. In addition, another citizen contacted police on Oct. 14, 2023, after a man matching Telfair’s description flashed a gun at him while stealing items from his truck. APD recovered some of the stolen items from inside the backpack Telfair had in his possession during his arrest. Telfair has several prior criminal convictions in the Superior Court of Dougherty County, Georgia, including robbery, entering auto and interfering with government property.
These cases are 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 of Justice 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.
The Telfair case was investigated by the Albany Police Department (APD) with assistance from ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Redavid prosecuted the cases for the Government.
Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Justin L. Saunders, 27, of Mabscott, was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 30, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Saunders in Beckley on a felony warrant. During the arrest, officers found a Ruger model EC9s 9mm handgun on Saunders.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Saunders knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery and malicious wounder in Raleigh County Circuit Court on June 5, 2012.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian D. Parsons and Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-185.
President and CEO of Las Vegas-Based Company Pleads Guilty for Role in Investment Fraud Scheme Where He Stole Millions in Victim Investor FundsRead the Press Release
A Nevada man pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of wire fraud stemming from his role in a years-long fraud scheme, during which he stole more than $6.1 million in victim investor funds.
According to court documents, Mykalai Kontilai, formerly Michael Contile, 55, of Las Vegas, facilitated an investment fraud scheme involving his company, Collector’s Coffee Inc., doing business as Collector’s Café (Collector’s Coffee), a company incorporated in California and headquartered in Las Vegas. From 2012 to 2018, Kontilai made or caused to be made numerous materially false and misleading representations to induce victims to invest in Collector’s Coffee — a company he claimed was on the verge of launching an online auction house for third-party owned collectibles, such as Hollywood and sport memorabilia. As a result of Kontilai’s numerous false and misleading statements, including that investor funds would be used for legitimate business purposes, that Kontilai had personally invested millions of his own money in the company, and that he did not take a salary, Kontilai successfully raised approximately $23 million from Collector’s Coffee investors. However, rather than using the proceeds as represented, Kontilai stole approximately $6.1 million for his own personal use, including for the purchase of luxury goods, apartments, and vehicles.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began investigating Kontilai for misappropriating investor funds in or around 2017. Kontilai obstructed the investigation by forging documents that he caused to be transmitted to the SEC and lied under oath to the SEC. Kontilai was charged in connection with this conduct both in the present case on June 3, 2020, and in a separate case in the District of Colorado on March 10, 2020. While under investigation but prior to charging, Kontilai fled to Russia and was ultimately arrested on an Interpol Red Notice in Germany in 2023. He was extradited back to the United States to face the pending charges in May. As part of the plea agreement in this case, the government will move to dismiss the Colorado case at sentencing.
Kontilai pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 4 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)'s Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI and IRS-CI are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the extradition from Germany of Kontilai.
Trial Attorneys Brandon Burkart and Sara Hallmark of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section (FRD) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada prosecuted this case. Former FRD Trial Attorney Emily Scruggs provided valuable assistance.
President and CEO of Las Vegas-Based Company Pleads Guilty for Role in Investment Fraud Scheme Where He Stole Millions in Victim Investor FundsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS - A Nevada man pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of wire fraud stemming from his role in a years-long fraud scheme, during which he stole more than $6.1 million in victim investor funds.
According to court documents, Mykalai Kontilai, formerly Michael Contile, 55, of Las Vegas, facilitated an investment fraud scheme involving his company, Collector’s Coffee Inc., doing business as Collector’s Café (Collector’s Coffee), a company incorporated in California and headquartered in Las Vegas. From 2012 to 2018, Kontilai made or caused to be made numerous materially false and misleading representations to induce victims to invest in Collector’s Coffee — a company he claimed was on the verge of launching an online auction house for third-party owned collectibles, such as Hollywood and sport memorabilia. As a result of Kontilai’s numerous false and misleading statements, including that investor funds would be used for legitimate business purposes, that Kontilai had personally invested millions of his own money in the company, and that he did not take a salary, Kontilai successfully raised approximately $23 million from Collector’s Coffee investors. However, rather than using the proceeds as represented, Kontilai stole approximately $6.1 million for his own personal use, including for the purchase of luxury goods, apartments, and vehicles.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began investigating Kontilai for misappropriating investor funds in or around 2017. Kontilai obstructed the investigation by forging documents that he caused to be transmitted to the SEC and lied under oath to the SEC. Kontilai was charged in connection with this conduct both in the present case on June 3, 2020, and in a separate case in the District of Colorado on March 10, 2020. While under investigation but prior to charging, Kontilai fled to Russia and was ultimately arrested on an Interpol Red Notice in Germany in 2023. He was extradited back to the United States to face the pending charges in May. As part of the plea agreement in this case, the government will move to dismiss the Colorado case at sentencing.
Kontilai pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 4 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.
The FBI and IRS-CI are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the extradition from Germany of Kontilai.
Trial Attorneys Brandon Burkart and Sara Hallmark of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section (FRD) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada prosecuted this case. Former FRD Trial Attorney Emily Scruggs provided valuable assistance.
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Phelps County Felon Caught with Guns and Methamphetamine Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Friday sentenced a convicted felon caught with guns and methamphetamine to 15 years in prison.
Clifford Pankey, 42, pleaded guilty in July to being a felon in possession of a firearm and admitted distributing meth, making meth and possessing numerous firearms as a convicted felon, including stolen and defaced firearms.
Law enforcement officers conducting a court-approved search of Pankey’s home south of St. James on Jan. 26, 2023, encountered Pankey, who admitted possessing meth and guns. Officers found a .22 caliber revolver with a partially defaced serial number, a defaced Ruger.380 caliber semiautomatic pistol, three rifles, four pistols and a shotgun. They also found stolen property and about 230 grams of meth that Pankey said he intended to sell.
The case was investigated by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker prosecuted the case.
Parker Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact of a ChildRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Raymond Gene Aspa, Sr., 72, of Parker, was sentenced on November 5, 2024, by United States District Judge John J. Tuchi to 166 months in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Aspa pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child on October 31, 2023.
Between May 18, 2012, and May 18, 2013, Aspa engaged in abusive sexual contact with the minor victim at his residence in Parker. Both the victim and Aspa are members of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) and the abusive sexual contact occurred on the CRIT Indian Reservation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00473-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-160_Aspa# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Orlando Man Indicted for Committing Multiple Sexual Exploitation Offenses Against MinorsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Brandon Laverne Parsons (30, Orlando) with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted production of child sexual abuse material, attempted unlawful transfer of obscene material to a minor, and two counts of distributing, and one count of possessing child sexual assault material. If convicted, Parsons faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the attempted enticement offense, a minimum penalty of 15, up to 30, years for the attempted production offense, a minimum penalty of 5, up to 20, years for each distribution offense, up to 20 years for the possession offense, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the attempted transfer of obscene material.
According to court documents, between October 1 and 17, 2024, Parsons communicated with an individual whom he believed to be a 13-year-old child via a social media platform. The individual was an uncover law enforcement officer. During the course of that conversation, Parsons requested that the “child” send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM), attempted to set up a meeting with the 13-year-old, and sent the child explicit images of himself.
In addition, Parsons distributed CSAM in March and April 2024. Parsons also possessed CSAM in October 2024, including videos and images where the victim was under 12 years of age.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Orlando Police Department, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This is another case brought 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Joshua Finken, age 46, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on November 22, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Finken to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Finken will be required to complete a 5-year term of supervised release. Finken also forfeited $17,282.00 as proceeds obtained as a result of his participation in the meth distribution conspiracy.
On September 27, 2022, investigators executed a warrant to search a residence on South 45th Street in Omaha, where Finken and James Graves resided. Investigators found a safe in Graves’s upstairs bedroom containing a small quantity of meth. Finken resided in the basement of the residence, where investigators found several ounces of meth, three realistic appearing Airsoft pellet guns, and drug proceeds in the amount of $17,282.00. Graves was present at the time of the search and was arrested. Finken was not present and was therefore not immediately arrested.
Finken was arrested nearly a month later on October 23, 2022, when Omaha Police Department officers responded to a motorcycle accident at South 45th Street and Leavenworth Street in Omaha. When officers arrived, Finken, who had crashed into construction cones, was running away on foot from the scene. Officers arrested him. Finken left a backpack at the scene of a motorcycle accident. The bag was searched and found to contain several more ounces of meth.
On August 29, 2023, Chief Judge Rossiter sentenced James Graves to imprisonment for 151 months, to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Transnational Organized Crime (TOC-West) Task Force, the Bellevue Police Department, and the Omaha Police Department.
Oahu Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Fentanyl Distribution Resulting in Death and Assault of U.S. Marshals OfficerRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Clare E. Connors announced that Matthew McBraun, 38, of Oahu, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright to 96 months in prison for distributing fentanyl cut with heroin that resulted in an overdose death. McBraun was sentenced to an additional 24 months’ incarceration for assaulting a United States Marshals Service Deputy Security Officer while in custody. McBraun previously pled guilty to the assault, and a federal jury later convicted him of distribution of a controlled substance and possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute.
“McBraun’s criminal actions wholly support the serious sentenced imposed in this case,” said United States Attorney Connors. “Every day, law enforcement officers put themselves in dangerous situations to keep our community safe. We will continue to prosecute aggressively those who harm our community by distributing illegal narcotics and committing violent crimes, as well as those who harm law enforcement officers carrying out their sworn duties.”
As revealed in Court, in October 2022, McBraun sold fentanyl to an individual, Cory Germain, who was acting as a middleman for the victim. The victim overdosed and died a day later. At trial, investigators testified that drug paraphernalia at the scene of the overdose victim’s death contained a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, and a toxicology report revealed both fentanyl and metabolites of heroin in the victim’s body. Both a medical toxicologist and drug trafficking expert testified that it is extremely common for fentanyl to be cut with heroin. The medical toxicologist further testified that the fentanyl contributed to the victim’s death and the but-for cause of death was fentanyl and heroin.
While incarcerated pending trial on these drug charges, McBraun headbutted a U.S. Deputy Security Officer who was transporting him to the Honolulu Federal Detention Center (“FDC”). According to information provided to the Court, McBraun was upset because the officer braked unexpectedly during the drive. As he was being escorted from the vehicle to FDC, he lunged headfirst at the officer, who sustained injuries to his face as a result.
At sentencing, Judge Seabright imposed a significant upward variance from the advisory Sentencing Guidelines range, finding by a preponderance of the evidence that McBraun’s distribution of fentanyl cut with heroin was both the cause and a contributing factor to the victim’s death. Judge Seabright noted that to ignore McBraun’s role in the victim’s death would be to ignore reality.
Court proceedings confirmed that McBraun’s fentanyl source was Sajib Anas, who in turn received illegal narcotics from Bronson Kepaa. Anas, Kepaa, and Germain all pled guilty to various federal charges. Germain was sentenced in July 2024 to approximately one year in prison. In October 2024, Anas received 85 months in prison. Kepaa was sentenced to 151 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl and 120 months for possessing an unregistered firearm.
The drug investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Honolulu Police Department. The assault investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aislinn Affinito, Michael Nammar, and Mohammad Khatib prosecuted the case.
Nine Individuals Arrested on Federal and State ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – As part of an investigation into the transnational criminal organization 18th Street Gang operating in and around the North Shore area of Boston, four men were arrested and charged yesterday with federal drug offenses. Five individuals were also arrested for various state crimes including drug trafficking, child abuse crimes (including rape of a child, posing a child in a state of nudity and possession of child pornography) and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The following individuals have been charged in U.S. District Court in Boston with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl:
- Orlando Mancia, a/k/a Intruso, 22, of Everett, who is an alleged member of the 18th Street Gang;
- Tony Cartegena-Chacon, 46, of Chelsea;
- Hector Luis Santana Guzman, a/k/a “DJ Black,” 33, of Lawrence; and
- John Angel, 31, of Nantucket
“Fentanyl continues to devastate lives across Massachusetts, and the defendants arrested yesterday allegedly pumped this poison into North Shore communities for a profit,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “These charges represent the continued close working relationship across federal, state and local law enforcement to relentlessly investigate, identify and disrupt criminal organizations and our efforts to protect our communities from lethal narcotics.”
“With this operation, the FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force has removed alleged drug traffickers accused of pushing deadly poison onto our streets, hoping to avoid detection,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This case highlights how the FBI and our partners at every level are working together to target criminals wreaking havoc and mayhem, just to make money and a name for themselves on the street.”
“The arrest of these individuals, including a known 18th Street gang member, for dealing fentanyl in the North Shore of Boston is a critical step in combating the devastating impact of illegal drugs in our communities,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. “Fentanyl continues to claim lives at an alarming rate, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to holding accountable those who profit from this deadly substance. By working collaboratively with our federal, state, and local partners, we are sending a clear message: we will not tolerate the distribution of dangerous narcotics that endanger the lives and safety of our citizens.”
According to the charging documents, on Oct. 15, 2024, Mancia sold approximately 500 pressed fentanyl pills to a cooperating witness in Everett. Later, on Oct. 23, 2024, it is alleged that Mancia again sold another 500 pressed fentanyl pills along with cocaine to the cooperating witness in Everett. According to the charging documents, Cartegena-Chacon distributed and possessed with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl.
It is alleged that approximately 100 grams of suspected cocaine and approximately $25,000 cash were recovered from Angel’s residence on Nantucket during a search at the time of his arrest.
Additionally, as part of the investigation, the following additional individuals were arrested and charged in state court with various crimes including drug trafficking (including fentanyl and cocaine), child abuse crimes (including rape of a child, posing child in a state of nudity and possession of child pornography) and unlawful possession of ammunition:
- Elvin Martinez, 23, of Everett;
- Marlon Eduardo Varela, 20, of Everett;
- Fidel Alexis Orellana, 21, of Cheslea;
- Bryan Molina, 21, of Chelsea; and
- Luis Borja, 20, of Chelsea.
The federal charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life, of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000,000. 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.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen and ATF SAC Ferguson made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket and Revere Police Departments; Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; and the Suffolk County and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Hoefle and Timothy Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New York man pleads guilty to money laundering crimes related to nearly half million dollars stolen from local business through computer malwareRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A New York man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to crimes related to laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Columbus strength training equipment manufacturer.
Aleksandr Bogomolny, 53, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit and committing money laundering.
According to court documents, in May 2021, the FBI received a complaint to its Internet Crime Complaint Center from Rogue Fitness, which is headquartered in Columbus. The company had identified 78 outgoing transfers from a PayPal account between March 29 and April 29, 2021, totaling nearly half a million dollars.
The FBI discovered a banking Trojan that had infected the computer of a customer service employee just prior to the transfers. The specific Trojan found on the employee laptop is known by the FBI to steal banking credentials and usually targets corporate victims.
The stolen money was transferred to 22 different card numbers, including to Bogomolny’s Bank of America card.
Further investigation of Bogomolny’s bank account revealed that between December 2019 and July 2021, he laundered more than $247,000 in criminal proceeds through his account.
While executing a search warrant at the defendant’s Brooklyn residence, agents found documents that included more than 341,000 unique identifiers like names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers. The search also discovered images of driver’s licenses, U.S. passports and full lists of full credit card numbers.
Bogomolny also used the online gambling site FanDuel to conspire to launder money. He and others would steal a victim’s identity and use it to create a FanDuel account. Then criminal proceeds were deposited into the account and later withdrawn. In total, Bogomolny and others used this scheme to deposit nearly $572,000 and withdraw more than $485,000 of the criminal proceeds.
Finally, Bogomolny’s plea documents detail that, in 2023, the defendant met with undercover FBI agents and agreed to launder $20,000 for a six percent fee. The funds were represented as proceeds of illegal drug activities.
Between November 2023 and March 2024, Bogomolny sent $18,800 of the original $20,000 back to the undercover FBI agents through multiple ACH transactions.
Bogomolny later agreed to accept another $50,000 from the undercover agents. He met up with the agents in April 2024 and accepted the money, at which point he was arrested.
Money laundering and conspiring to launder money are federal crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence, and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
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 guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
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Monmouth County Man Charged with Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man made his initial court appearance today for an alleged armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 50, of Wall Township, is charged by complaint with one count of armed bank robbery. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah L. Singh in Trenton federal court and was detained. A detention hearing is scheduled for November 25, 2024.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Oct. 23, 2024, Kniffin entered a bank in Wall Township, New Jersey, and demanded cash from a bank teller before grabbing and displaying for the teller a firearm. On several occasions during the robbery, Kniffin instructed the teller and other bank employees who were present, “Don’t do anything stupid.” After taking by force and intimidation cash from the teller, Kniffin fled the bank. He was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement several minutes later. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered from Kniffin and his immediate surroundings a loaded firearm and more than $17,000 in cash.
The count of armed bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited officer of FBI Newark’s Jersey Shore Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Wall Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean O’Halloran, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
kniffin.complaint.pdfMichigan Woman Convicted of $1.4M Health Care Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
A Michigan woman was convicted today for her role in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and receive illegal health care kickbacks.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mary Smettler-Bolton, 71, of Oakland County, referred Medicare beneficiaries to several Metro Detroit home health companies in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks paid by the owners and operators of the home health companies. Over the course of four years, Smettler-Bolton and her co-conspirators caused over $1.4 million of loss to Medicare.
Smettler-Bolton was convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and receive illegal health care kickbacks and one count of violating the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy count and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the kickback count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Ryan Elsey and Assistant Chief Shankar Ramamurthy of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Mexican national sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in the United States, has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Francisco Santana Herrera, 42, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. crone on November 21, 2024.
According to information presented in court, on April 10, 2024, Herrera was stopped for speeding in a construction zone on Interstate 10 in Beaumont. During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered approximately 16 kilos of cocaine.
This case was investigated by Beaumont Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations/Customs Enforcement. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.
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Mexican National Admits Role in Smuggling and Labor Trafficking Scheme, Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that APOLINAR FRANCISCO PAREDES ESPINOZA, also known as “Pancho,” 58, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to charges stemming from his involvement in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the U.S., harbor them at Hartford area residences, force them to work, and threaten to harm them in various ways if they failed to pay exorbitant fees, interest, and other living expenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who disclosed that they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford. The investigation revealed that victims typically arranged with Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero, her co-conspirators in Connecticut, and associates in Mexico to cross the border into the U.S. in exchange for a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 that each would need to pay once they were in the U.S. In most cases, the victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico. They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, including Sanchez’s and Paredes’ residence on Madison Street in Hartford, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death.
After the victims arrived in Connecticut, they were told that they would have to pay $30,000, with interest, and that they would have to pay Sanchez and her co-coconspirators for rent, food, gas and utilities. Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area. In addition to their own jobs, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork, or to assist Paredes in his job responsibilities, without compensation and without having their debt reduced.
Victims were rarely provided with an accounting of their debt. If victims failed to make regular payments, or in amounts that Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators expected, they were sometimes threatened, including with threats to harm family members in Mexico, to take property in Mexico that had been secured as collateral, to reveal victims’ immigration status to U.S. authorities, and to raise their interest payments.
To date, investigators have identified 18 victims of this scheme.
In November 2014, Paredes was encountered in the U.S. and removed the same day via foot at Hildago, Texas. He illegally reentered the U.S. and, in December 2018, was arrested by East Hartford Police and charged with various motor vehicle offenses. He was again removed to Mexico in February 2019.
Paredes has been detained since his arrest on March 1, 2023.
Paredes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and to illegal reentry of a removed alien, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of two years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for February 28.
Sanchez and her daughter, Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, previously pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
As part of their plea agreements, Paredes, Sanchez, and Ramos, have agreed to restitution orders of $494,608.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.
Members of Massive Methamphetamine Conversion and Trafficking Ring SentencedRead the Press Release
ROME, Ga. - Rosa Elena Rangel Pantoja, Dustin Burgess, and Berzain Leal Batrez have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in operating a large methamphetamine conversion and distribution organization.
“Methamphetamine production and distribution continues to pose a grave threat to public safety, especially when trafficked using the large-scale and international operation utilized by the defendants in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the vigilance and investigative work of our law enforcement partners, this operation has been dismantled and these drug traffickers have been prosecuted for their crimes.”
“Driven by greed, these drug traffickers’ activities posed a significant threat to our communities, and to the lives of several children who lived in close proximity to this highly volatile clandestine lab,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The success of this investigation is proof that those destroying our communities with methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs will be held accountable.”
“While communities across our state continue to struggle with the ongoing drug crisis, there are criminal enterprises, like Rangel’s drug trafficking organization, whose sole purpose is to profit from addiction and suffering,” said, Mitchell Jackson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Dalton office. “The FBI is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to shut down these dangerous organizations that pump poison into our neighborhoods.”
“These sentences reflect the consequences these defendants received for their destructive impact they caused on communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta that covers Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is committed to holding those accountable who distribute their poison into our communities.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: From at least October 2021 until August 2022, Rosa Elena Rangel Pantoja (“Rangel”) led a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that manufactured crystal methamphetamine in Georgia. Members of the DTO transported liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to the Northern District of Georgia in the gas tanks of semi-trucks. The DTO members then pumped the liquid methamphetamine out of the semi-trucks and cooked it into crystal methamphetamine, using at least two clandestine laboratories to convert the methamphetamine.
In March 2022, law enforcement first began investigating the DTO when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agents were notified that a Hispanic female, later identified as Rangel, was purchasing large amounts of acetone, which is a critical component in converting liquid methamphetamine into crystal methamphetamine. Based on the substantial amount of acetone that was being purchased, agents suspected Rangel was supplying the acetone to a methamphetamine laboratory.
In August 2022, agents found one of the methamphetamine conversion laboratories in Canon, Georgia, after observing a semi-truck delivering liquid methamphetamine to the lab. A search warrant was executed and agents seized over 250 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and nearly 10 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Rangel rented the property where members of the DTO cooked the methamphetamine on the lower level of a barndominium, while she and her four children lived in the upper level of the same building. Agents also seized two firearms from Rangel’s bedroom.
In November 2022, agents found a second methamphetamine conversion laboratory in Austell, Georgia, after tracking Batrez’s movements to the Mexico border and back to Georgia. Agents later observed members of the DTO delivering liquid methamphetamine to the laboratory, and upon executing a search warrant, over 160 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and 75 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was seized at that location.
After the seizures, further investigation revealed that Rangel had been working with a “boss” based in Mexico to run the operation, with whom she had regular communication. Rangel then relayed communications to other DTO members, including threats from the boss. Rangel was also responsible for paying other DTO members, as well as giving instructions on supplying the methamphetamine labs with the acetone needed for the conversion process.
U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced the defendants in the case as follows:
Rosa Rangel, 40, of Canon, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Rangel was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on November 6, 2023, after she pleaded guilty.
Dustin Burgess, 36, of Ellijay, Georgia, was sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Burgess was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on October 5, 2023, after he pleaded guilty.
Berzain Leal Batrez, 44, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to seven years, 11 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Batrez was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on October 5, 2023, after he pleaded guilty.
Judge Ray is also scheduled to sentence two other defendants in the case, Martha Karina Rangel-Pantoja, 42, of Ellijay, Georgia on January 13, 2025, and Uriel Plancarte Mendoza, 31 of Canon, Georgia on March 21, 2025.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Bartow County Sherriff’s Office, Calhoun Police Department, Cherokee County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Murray County Sheriff’s Office, Dalton Police Department, Chatsworth Police Department, Gilmer County Homeland Security Agency, and Tennessee 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cal Leipold and Bethany L. Rupert are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Member of the Otis Sanders Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man, Quenton James Franklin, 28, was sentenced today in federal court on his conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana as a member of the Otis Sanders drug trafficking organization. Franklin is Sanders’ cousin and was charged as a co-defendant in the federal indictment. Franklin pled guilty to the conspiracy charge in August of 2024.
Sanders was convicted by a jury in May of 2023 for his participation as the leader of the organization. Evidence from the trial showed that Sanders operated a large-scale interstate drug distribution organization in south Mobile County, with ties to Biloxi, Mississippi and Houston, Texas. Sanders arranged for the acquisition of methamphetamine shipments in Houston and used couriers in private vehicles and on commercial transportation to bring the drugs to Mobile. Drug proceeds were also delivered to Houston by certain couriers. Sanders and his organization relied upon violence to further the illegal drug distribution scheme, one such incident resulting in a drive by shooting at a residence on Ramsay Road in or about May of 2023. Mobile County sheriff’s deputies responding to the call discovered Sanders’ abandoned Chevrolet Tahoe near the intersection of Highway 188 and Ramsay Road, riddled with bullet holes from return fire during the shoot-out. In July of 2024, Sanders was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for various violations of the drug laws.
Court documents show that Franklin was a courier in the organization involved in the transportation of at least one load of methamphetamine for Sanders from Texas to Sanders’ residence in Biloxi, Mississippi. Others, and sometimes Sanders himself, transported methamphetamine from that residence to other members of the conspiracy for distribution in Mobile and elsewhere. Franklin also distributed some of Sanders’ drugs to his own customer base in Mobile.
United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose sentenced Franklin to 3 years in custody. When Franklin is released from custody, he will serve a five-year term of supervised release. Franklin will be subject to search upon reasonable suspicion that he has violated the conditions of supervision, and he will also be subject to drug testing and treatment. No fine was imposed in the case, but the judge ordered that Franklin pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, the Beaumont Police (Texas) Department, the St. Tammany Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff’s Office, and the Mobile Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organization 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.
Marion Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm was sentenced November 21, 2024, to more than three years in federal prison.
James Carl Morgan, age 42, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 26, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
At the guilty plea, Morgan admitted that on June 6, 2023, he knowingly possessed a Canik TP9 SF, 9x19mm caliber pistol, as a felon. On June 6, 2023, police officers went to a Cedar Rapids motel to arrest Morgan on a warrant for possession of a firearm as a felon from 2022. When officers knocked on the motel room door, Morgan attempted to crawl out the window, but reentered the room when confronted by a police dog. After officers cleared the room, they found the loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine on the floor by the window.
Morgan was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Morgan was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Morgan is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-24.
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Man Who Shot at Nashville Police Officer Charged with Federal Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A man who shot at a Metro Nashville police officer was charged with a federal firearms violation, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Thomas J. Jaworski.
According to the complaint, Knykholas Lane, 21, of Nashville, was already on probation after having been convicted of two felony counts of Aggravated Burglary when Metro Nashville police officers responded to the 700 block of Lewis Street based on a citizen complaint that an armed man was attempting to break into a woman’s residence.
In the early morning hours of November 19, 2024, officers observed Lane as the suspect in the possible break-in and ordered him to stop. However, Lane fled on foot and, as officers pursued him, they observed a pistol in his right hand. According to the complaint, Lane then pointed the pistol at an MNPD officer and fired a shot. The officer returned fire, striking Lane twice. Officers recovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol which Lane had used to shoot at the officer. Lane was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. After the shooting, officers learned that Lane also had outstanding warrants for his arrest on charges of Domestic Violence and False Imprisonment.
“Stopping armed felons who put members of our community at risk is among our highest priorities,” said Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski. “When those individuals put not just citizens but also our police officers in danger, we will act swiftly to hold offenders accountable.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Kurtzman is prosecuting the case.
A federal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Threatening Law Enforcement and Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Machesney Park, Ill. man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for threatening to assault and murder federal law enforcement officers and unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition.
JACOB BALABUSZKO, 28, admitted in a plea agreement that after an FBI Task Force Officer and an FBI Special Agent interviewed him in 2020 and 2021 as part of an official investigation, he threatened, “Next time you two come to my house unannounced, I’m going to shoot you on sight, that is a threat.” Balabuszko made additional threats in a Signal chat group, inciting others in the group to kill law enforcement officers and collect their badges, shoot out their tires, and burn down their homes. Balabuszko admitted in the plea agreement that he had the capacity to carry out these threats by illegally possessing firearms, ammunition, and body armor in his home.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Balabuszko to 41 months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Illinois State Police assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
Man Admits Selling Fatal Dose of FentanylRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man pleaded guilty Friday and admitted selling the fentanyl that killed a 52-year-old in 2023.
Sylvester Clay, 50, admitted that on Dec. 8, 2023, he sold fentanyl to the victim on the parking lot of a gas station on the St. Louis – St. Louis County line. The victim’s friend had picked him up from a hospital in Springfield, Missouri earlier that day, and the victim asked the friend to take him to St. Louis to get something for the pain he was having. The drug transaction was captured on video. After leaving the station, the victim consumed some of the fentanyl, said it was a hard hit and then passed out. His friend drove the victim to the hospital in Hermann, Missouri. The victim was found dead in the car. He was killed by a lethal dose of both fentanyl and oxycodone, but the fentanyl alone was enough to kill him, his plea agreement says.
On Jan. 19, 2024, investigators interviewed Clay, who admitted selling the victim drugs and identified himself in photos taken from the gas station surveillance video.
Clay pleaded guilty to one felony count of distribution of a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20, 2025. Both sides have agreed to recommend 13 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerome McDonald is prosecuting the case.
Local veterinarian agrees to pay civil penalty for alleged controlled substance act violationsRead the Press Release
On Nov. 21, a civil settlement agreement was executed between Dr. Rodney Hartshorn, 58, a veterinarian in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the United States Attorney's Office. Dr. Hartshorn agreed to pay a $30,000 monetary penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Controlled Substance Act.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agents from the Cheyenne Tactical Diversion Squad and Diversion Investigators from the Rocky Mountain Field Division began investigating Dr. Hartshorn based on a tip stating that Dr. Hartshorn’s veterinary practice, Avenues Pet Hospital, routinely takes back controlled substances from clients, places the returns in an unlocked “donated” medication bin, and allows the controlled substances to be used by other clients.
On April 23, DEA conducted an inspection of Avenues Pet Hospital and found systemic recordkeeping violations and failures to safeguard controlled substances. DEA personnel also seized controlled substances found in the “donated” medication bin.
“It is through our partnership with the DEA that we can ensure DEA registrants maintain proper records and institute proper protocols so that controlled substances do not fall into the wrong hands,” said Acting United States Attorney Eric Heimann.
“DEA works diligently to ensure the safety of the public by regulating the use of controlled substances,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “We work daily to ensure DEA registrants are using their registrations in a manner consistent with the best interests and safety for the people of Wyoming.”
The case was investigated by DEA Special Agents and Diversion Investigators and handled by Assistant United States Attorney Levi Martin.
Case No. 2024-V-00086
Little Rock Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing Firearms Multiple Times Will Spend 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A Little Rock man federally convicted twice for illegal gun possession received a 15-year prison sentence for his latest crime. Combined with his previous federal sentence, Juantay Jackson, 37, will spend 20 years in federal prison following the ruling handed down Thursday by United States District Court Chief Judge Kristine G. Baker.
A federal grand jury indicted Jackson on May 3, 2023, on three charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, following an arrest on September 8, 2022. He pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on October 19, 2023.
Jackson had been previously indicted on identical charges on March 6, 2018, stemming for a separate incident that occurred in 2017 when Jackson also had a gun and drugs in his vehicle. After pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in that case, Jackson was scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2019. However, Jackson failed to appear for that hearing and evaded police until his arrest on September 8, 2022, when he again had a gun and drugs in his vehicle. Ultimately, Jackson received a 10-year sentence for his 2017 crime.
On Thursday, Judge Baker sentenced Jackson to 15 years in federal prison for his 2022 crime, plus three years of supervised release. From that 15-year sentence, 10 years are to be run consecutive to the 10 years Jackson received in his previous case, resulting in 20 years of total imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
In Jackson’s most recent case, an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) revealed that on September 8, 2022, North Little Rock police officers attempted to stop on a vehicle driven by Jackson, however Jackson fled from officers in the vehicle while driving at speeds in excess of 65 mph in a 30-mph zone before ultimately crashing into a light pole. Jackson then fled on foot but was apprehended. Officers located two bags of pills which contained methamphetamine in Jackson’s pocket. Officers also searched Jackson’s vehicle and found a loaded handgun in the driver’s side floorboard, additional ammunition, and a large-capacity magazine. Officers also located a backpack containing marijuana in the rear seat.
This case was investigated by the ATF with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shelby Shelton.
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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
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Large Scale Drug Trafficker from the Tri-Cities Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Richland, Washington – U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced that on November 19, 2024, United States District Judge Edward F. Shea sentenced Dwight Norwood, Jr., age 27, of Kennewick, Washington, to 84 months in federal prison on fentanyl distribution charges. Judge Shea also imposed 5 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in November 2021, members of the Safe Streets Task Force developed information that Norwood was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills in Eastern Washington. Investigators also learned that Norwood lived and sold drugs out of a fifth wheeler in Benton City, Washington.
Early on the morning of February 24, 2022, Norwood’s girlfriend called Benton County Sheriff’s Office and told deputies that Norwood had given her a black eye, was chasing her in a blue Mustang, and was trying to shoot her. A short time later deputies spotted Norwood driving the Mustang near a gas station in Benton City. Deputies activated their emergency lights and attempted to arrest Norwood, but he took off running.
Deputies used a K-9 to track Norwood, located him hiding near his trailer in Benton City, and arrested him. Deputies obtained a search warrant for the Mustang. Inside, deputies found a fully loaded .45 caliber pistol, over 800 hundred fentanyl laced pills, and two additional cell phones. Norwood’s DNA was later confirmed to be on the firearm; Norwood is a confirmed felon.
Agents also obtained a search warrant for Norwood’s trailer. Inside, they located a drug scale with residue, additional fentanyl-laced pills, drug ledgers, and several cell phones.
“Illicit fentanyl has a devastating impact on our community, including a close nexus with violent crime and poisoning deaths. Mr. Norwood was distributing a significant amount of these poison pills in the Tri-Cities region,” stated United States Attorney Waldref. “My office will continue to fight the fentanyl epidemic by working closely with our law enforcement partners to target those who contribute to this deadly crisis.”
“This was not Mr. Norwood’s first run in with the law” said Gregory L. Austin, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office. “His decision to distribute Fentanyl is now landing him in federal prison. Combatting the scourge of this deadly drug, which devastates communities across our country, is a priority for the FBI and our partners.”
This case was investigated by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force, which includes additional officers and detectives from the Kennewick Police Department, Pasco Police Department, Richland Police Department, Border Patrol and Department of Corrections. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.
22-cr-06009-EFS
Lafourche Parish Resident Guilty of Federal Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on November 20, 2024, FAUSTIN WILLIAMS, (“WILLIAMS”), age 46, of Thibodaux, Louisiana pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to one count of possessing, with the intent to distribute, an amount of cocaine and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms. Judge Africk scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2025.
As to the drug count, WILLIAMS faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release. As to the firearm count, WILLIAMS faces up to fifteen years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. Both counts also carry a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to court records, on June 5, 2024, multiple law enforcement agencies executed search warrants on several residences in Lafourche Parish stemming from an investigation into a cocaine and methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. This conspiracy operated throughout Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, within the Eastern District of Louisiana. WILLIAMS was found inside a residence during a search and possessed two firearms and cocaine, packaged for distribution. WILLIAMS is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior cocaine distribution convictions.
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.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the Thibodaux Police Department, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
KC Man Indicted for Computer HackingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for hacking into the computer systems at an area nonprofit and a health club business.
Nicholas Michael Kloster, 31, was charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Nov. 19. That indictment was unsealed and made public today following Kloster’s arrest and initial court appearance.
The federal indictment charges Kloster with one count of accessing a protected computer without authorization and obtaining information.
Kloster allegedly entered the premises of a business, identified in court documents as Company Victim 2, which operates multiple health clubs in Kansas and Missouri, shortly before midnight on April 26, 2024. The following day, Kloster sent an email to one of the owners of Company Victim 2, claiming that he had gained access to the computer system. Kloster also claimed to have “assisted over 30 small to medium-sized industrial businesses in the Kansas City, Missouri area” and attached a copy of his resume.
Following Kloster’s intrusion, the indictment says, employees with Company Victim 2 noted that Kloster’s monthly gym membership fee was reduced to $1, that his photograph was erased from the gym’s network, and determined that Kloster stole a gym staff nametag. A few weeks later, Kloster posted an image to a social media profile which appeared to be a screen capture of his desktop showing control of the security cameras for Company Victim 2, with a chatbox window with the message “how to get a company to use your security service.”
The federal indictment also charges Kloster with one count of causing reckless damage to a protected computer during unauthorized access.
Kloster allegedly entered the premises of a nonprofit corporation, identified in court documents as Company Victim 3, on May 20, 2024. Kloster entered an area that is not available to the public and accessed a computer with access to the company’s network. Kloster utilized a boot disk, the indictment says, which enabled him to access Company Victim 3’s computer through multiple user accounts. By accessing Company Victim 3’s computer in such a manner, the indictment says, the use of this boot disk enabled Kloster to circumvent the password requirements on Company Victim 3’s computer and change the password assigned to one or more of the users of Company Victim 3’s computer. Kloster was able to install a virtual private network on this computer. Since Kloster’s intrusion into its computer and its network, Company Victim 3 has sustained losses in excess of $5,000 in an attempt to remediate the effects from this intrusion.
In addition to these two victims, the indictment refers to a third victim, identified in court documents as Company Victim 1. According to the indictment, Kloster was employed by Company Victim 1 in March and April 2024. Kloster allegedly used a company credit card to make numerous personal purchases, including a thumb drive that was advertised as a means to hack into vulnerable computers.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Daly and Nicholas Heberle. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Justice Department's Procurement Collusion Strike Force Commemorates Fifth Anniversary with Law Enforcement PartnersRead the Press Release
Yesterday, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) commemorated the PCSF’s fifth anniversary in Washington with a celebration involving law enforcement partners and key stakeholders from across the government. Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Jonathan Kanter, PCSF Director Daniel Glad and other department officials were joined by representatives from among the PSCF’s 12 national law enforcement partners and 25 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and other key stakeholders from the law enforcement and oversight community.
The PCSF fifth anniversary event featured remarks from AAG Kanter, who noted the PCSF’s growing impact and the importance of criminal antitrust enforcement. Director Glad offered welcome remarks recounting the PCSF’s history, mission and future. Department of Interior Inspector General and Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Chair Mark Greenblatt highlighted the effectiveness of the PCSF’s collaborative model and that, even in light of its substantial gains over the last five years, more of the PCSF’s work is needed to combat the growing risks in contract and grant oversight.
The anniversary featured several panels composed of PCSF partner agency representation. Acting Department of Commerce Inspector General Jill Baisinger and U.S. Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Hull discussed present and near-future procurement oversight threats that their agencies are facing, and the mitigation tools they have deployed to address those threats. Expert panelists from Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the U.S. Agency for International Development OIG discussed global and international considerations. The anniversary concluded with a panel discussion featuring expert panelists from the Department of Transportation OIG, General Services Administration OIG and Environmental Protection Agency OIG, who discussed data, analytics and collaboration driving future PCSF enforcement efforts.
The PCSF is the Justice Department’s coordinated, joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local.
Since its inception in November 2019, the PCSF has opened more than 145 criminal investigations and trained more than 39,000 people. In that time, the PCSF and Antitrust Division have obtained over 60 guilty pleas and trial convictions and have investigated and prosecuted over 85 companies and individuals involving over $575 million worth of government contracts and contract kickbacks.
AAG Kanter’s remarks can be viewed here.
Director Glad’s remarks can be viewed here.
Chair Greenblatt’s remarks can be viewed here.
AAG Jonathan Kanter delivers remarks at the Justice Department’s PCSF Fifth Anniversary U.S. Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Hull and Acting Department of Commerce Inspector General Jill Baisinger speak during the Justice Department’s PCSF Fifth Anniversary Department of Interior Inspector General and Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Chair Mark Greenblatt delivers remarks at the Justice Department’s PCSF Fifth Anniversary Representatives from the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the U.S. Agency for International Development OIG discuss global considerations during the Justice Department’s PCSF Fifth Anniversary Representatives from the Department of Transportation OIG, General Services Administration OIG, and Environmental Protection Agency OIG, discuss data, analytics, and collaboration during the Justice Department’s PCSF Fifth Anniversary PCSF Director Dan Glad delivers closing remarks at the Justice Department’s PCSF Fifth AnniversaryJustice Department Announces an Organizational Assessment of the Marysville, Kansas Police Department under the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform InitiativeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced that it will provide an Organizational Assessment of the Marysville, Kansas Police Department through its Collaborative Reform Initiative. This is a voluntary program that is offered at the request of law enforcement agencies that are seeking to improve their services and operations. Over the next year, the Marysville Police Department will work in partnership with the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team to focus on:
- Community Policing
- Workforce Development
- Strategic Planning
- Employee Wellness
- Technology, Data, and Organizational Learning
“Requesting an Organizational Assessment review shows that an agency is being pro-active in its efforts to create the best department possible to serve the needs of its community,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “I applaud the Marysville Police Department for taking this important step, and the Department looks forward to working with them.”
“It is only by examining what’s going well, and what could be improved upon, that an agency can make strides to building a department the community wants and deserves,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office. “Ultimately, it’s the members of the Marysville Police Department and the Marysville community who will be the beneficiaries of this work.”
Regular updates on the team’s work with the Marysville Police Department will be provided at: www.cops.usdoj.gov/active-oa-site-marysville-ks-police-department as part of the transparency and public accountability of this new Organizational Assessment effort.
The Collaborative Reform Initiative encompasses three programs offering expert services to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies: the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment programs (complete details of these programs can be found at www.cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform). Managed out of the COPS Office, this continuum of services is designed to build trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve; improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness; enhance officer safety and wellness; build agencies’ capacity for organizational learning and self-improvement; and promote community policing practices nationwide.
The Organizational Assessment program provides the most intensive form of technical assistance on the continuum, involving in-depth assessments and long-term assistance to improve the fairness, effectiveness, and efficacy of agency operations that build trust with communities. A continual assessment and implementation process ensures that time and resources are used to focus on identifying areas for improvement, reinforcing agency strengths, and assisting with the implementation of improvements expeditiously. At the same time, the process provides transparency and accountability with routine public reporting and community input. Each engagement will be supported by a multidisciplinary assessment team composed of subject matter experts with diverse experience and perspectives, including in law enforcement, community engagement, research and evaluation, program management and organizational reform.
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 an Organizational Assessment of the Maryland Natural Resources Police under the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform InitiativeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced that it will provide an Organizational Assessment of the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) through its Collaborative Reform Initiative. This is a voluntary program that is offered at the request of law enforcement agencies that are seeking to improve their services and operations. Over the next year, NRP will work in partnership with the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team to focus on:
- Community Policing
- Workforce Development
- Strategic Planning
- Employee Wellness
- Technology, Data, and Organizational Learning
“The work of law enforcement encompasses a wide range of duties and responsibilities, but there are key and standard tenets to building all successful agencies,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “I applaud the Maryland Natural Resources Police for voluntarily taking on the work of applying these tenets to its operation.”
“Every law enforcement agency can benefit by taking an in-depth look at the work of its department and seeing what’s working and where there are opportunities for improvement,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office. “Focusing on key areas such as workforce development and employee wellness are critical for an agency to continue to grow and improve.”
Regular updates on the team’s work with the NRP will be provided at www.cops.usdoj.gov/active-oa-site-maryland-dnr as part of the transparency and public accountability of this new Organizational Assessment effort.
The Collaborative Reform Initiative encompasses three programs offering expert services to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies: the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment programs (complete details of these programs can be found at www.cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform). Managed out of the COPS Office, this continuum of services is designed to build trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve; improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness; enhance officer safety and wellness; build agencies’ capacity for organizational learning and self-improvement; and promote community policing practices nationwide.
The Organizational Assessment program provides the most intensive form of technical assistance on the continuum, involving in-depth assessments and long-term assistance to improve the fairness, effectiveness, and efficacy of agency operations that build trust with communities. A continual assessment and implementation process ensures that time and resources are used to focus on identifying areas for improvement, reinforcing agency strengths, and assisting with the implementation of improvements expeditiously. At the same time, the process provides transparency and accountability with routine public reporting and community input. Each engagement will be supported by a multidisciplinary assessment team composed of subject matter experts with diverse experience and perspectives, including in law enforcement, community engagement, research and evaluation, program management and organizational reform.
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.
Jury finds Columbus man guilty of leading narcotics, sex trafficking & financial fraud conspiraciesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A jury found a Columbus man guilty on all counts for leading drug, sex trafficking and financial fraud conspiracies and then attempting to obstruct justice and tamper with witnesses.
The United States proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ricco Lamonte Maye, 42, used threats, violence and manipulation of drug dependencies to ensure individuals carried out his criminal schemes.
Maye was found guilty on all 14 counts as charged. The verdict was announced on Nov. 21 following a trial that began on Oct. 31 before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.
“The jury correctly found today that Ricco Maye is a dangerous man who used violence and threats of drug withdrawal to coerce victims into engaging in illegal activity for his own profit,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “As the government proved at trial, Maye oversaw a variety of criminal endeavors, victimizing vulnerable populations, causing the death of one addicted person, and obstructing justice in an ill-fated attempt to avoid accountability. After today’s conviction, he will no longer be able to manipulate and control victims to enrich himself.”
Court documents and trial testimony detail that Maye used individuals to buy and sell drugs, sell women for sex, and fraudulently apply online for COVID-19 relief funds. Proceeds from all the crimes went to the defendant.
Beginning in at least 2018, Maye’s drug trafficking organization primarily distributed narcotics to addicts in street-level quantities. He regularly purchased narcotics from supply sources both inside and outside of Ohio and used addicts to help sell the drugs in Columbus. In addition to cash, Maye would accept stolen goods, gift cards, Social Security numbers and other items as payment for the drugs.
Maye initially gave drugs to women for free and later manipulated their addiction by requiring them to earn drug money through prostitution. Maye provided the means for the women to engage in prostitution – frequently obtaining hotel rooms, having the women driven to the hotels, providing cell phones, and directing Internet prostitution ads. Maye collected the prostitution proceeds, enforced specific rules on the women and punished the women through physical violence.
Maye was also found guilty of providing fentanyl that resulted in an overdose death. In November 2018, Maye communicated with the victim in the hours before his death. The victim had been obtaining cocaine from Maye off and on for years and sought to obtain cocaine from him again in this instance but received a fatal dose of fentanyl instead.
Trial testimony detailed that Maye used violence against victims as part of overseeing his drug trafficking organization, including “stomping victims out,” smacking them, punching them, breaking their bones and knocking out their teeth.
In a financial conspiracy, Maye and other defendants filed for and received more than $30,000 in fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Maye kept all or a portion of the others’ benefits.
Maye was originally charged by indictment in November 2020 and has remained in federal custody since. After his initial arrest, Maye attempted to obstruct the ongoing investigation into his sex trafficking and other criminal activities and conspired to tamper with witnesses. Maye’s obstruction of justice included his directing the threatened murder of a potential government witness.
Due to Maye’s prior federal drug trafficking conviction, he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison for distributing a controlled substance that resulted in death and the drug conspiracy charged in his case is punishable by a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison. The sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion conspiracy is punishable by at least 15 years and up to life in prison. Conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Conspiring to tamper with a witness carries a potential penalty of up to 30 years in prison. Obstructing a sex trafficking investigation is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
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 and Explosives (ATF); Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other officials with the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which was formed under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, announced the guilty verdicts. Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill and Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case.
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Jury Finds Convicted Sex Offender Guilty of Attempted Child Sex OffenseRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Chad Allen Pease (48, Fort Pierce) guilty of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender. Pease faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. He must also forfeit a cellphone which he used in the commission of the offense.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on February 3, 2024, Pease began communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer (UC) whom Pease believed to be the father of a 13-year-old girl. During the course of the conversation, Pease made plans to meet up with the UC and his “daughter” so that Pease could sexually assault the child. Pease drove 18 miles to the meeting location and conducted countersurveillance before fleeing the scene. Nevertheless, law enforcement was able to identify Pease, reconstruct his activities that evening, and later arrest him at his residence in Fort Pierce.
Pease was previously convicted of a sex offense in 2008 after sending explicit photographs and traveling to have sex with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. He has been required to register as a sex offender ever since.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
The 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 the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Jury Convicts Man of March 2024 Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Maurice Edwards, 20, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty on November 21, 2024, by a Superior Court jury, of armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his role in a March 2024 traffic-accident-turned-carjacking in the Deanwood neighborhood of Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The Honorable Andrea Hertzfeld scheduled sentencing for January 22, 2025. Armed carjacking carries a mandatory minimum term of fifteen years of incarceration.
According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of March 11, 2024, Edwards drove a car through a stop sign and struck the victim’s vehicle at the intersection of 48th Pl. NE and Lee St. NE, as the victim was driving home from work. After Edwards and his co-conspirator got out of their car, Edwards pulled a gun on the victim, causing the victim to retreat from his driver’s side door. Edwards’ co-conspirator got into the victim’s car and drove away, and Edwards chased after the victim and held him down, allowing his co-conspirator to make off with the victim’s car.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case was investigated, prosecuted, and tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Cocuzza and Mark Levy.
Jacksonville Man Indicted for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Mauricio Chahine (52, Jacksonville) with five counts of money laundering and attempted money laundering. If convicted, Chahine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. Chahine was arrested on a criminal complaint on November 12, 2024, and has been ordered detained while awaiting trial.
According to the indictment and other court documents, beginning in March 2024, Chahine met several times with undercover federal agents who were posing as drug traffickers. Chahine explained to the undercover agents the various ways that he could launder money for a fee on their behalf. On four separate occasions, Chahine accepted cash from the agents, totaling more than $200,000. Chahine then caused the cash to be divided up and deposited into the bank accounts of various corporate entities, only to return the money to the agents – less his fee – through a series of wire transfers to a bank account controlled by the agents. The purpose of these transactions was to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the cash, which Chahine believed to be drug trafficking proceeds. The indictment also alleges that Chahine attempted to engage in money laundering on a fifth occasion shortly before his arrest.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Milliron and Michael J. Coolican.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Jacksonville Contract Postal Carrier Pleads Guilty to Credit Card Fraud and Theft of Mail ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Daniel Diaz Garcia (35, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to credit card fraud and theft of mail. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the credit card fraud offense, up to 5 years’ imprisonment for the mail theft offense, and payment of restitution to the victims in the case. Garcia was arrested on July 29, 2024, by the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, in September 2023, Garcia began working as a highway contract carrier handling First Class mail delivery in Jacksonville. While working in that capacity, Garcia stole mail, opened it, and removed the contents to include credit cards. An investigation by the USPS-OIG determined that Garcia stole credit cards belonging to various victims on his mail route. Video surveillance from various businesses showed Garcia using the stolen credit cards to purchase more than $1,000 in merchandise. While questioning Garcia about his use of the stolen credit cards, law enforcement located an additional stolen credit card in his wallet.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Inmate Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Weapon at FCI BeckleyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jonathan Webb, 28, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley, was sentenced today to one year in prison, to run consecutively to his undischarged term of incarceration, and to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a weapon by an inmate at a federal prison.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 26, 2023, an FCI Beckley staff member conducted a pat-down search of Webb and found a handcrafted weapon commonly known as a “shank” in his right front pants pocket. The shank was a piece of metal approximately six inches long with a sharpened point on one end and a cloth handle. Webb admitted to possessing the shank, and further admitted that it was designed and intended to be used as a weapon.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-45.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Nov. 19 was:
Crystal Joy Blakely, 37, of Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Blakely faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. Blakely was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department, FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-128.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Nov. 18 was:
Patricia Marie Holcomb, 56, of Kalispell, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Holcomb faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Holcomb was released pending further proceedings. The Northwest Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-62.
Thomas Joseph Spotted Eagle, 41, of Pablo, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Spotted Eagle faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Spotted Eagle was detained pending further proceedings. The Northwest Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-48.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indiana Man Pleads Guilty in Twin Cities Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Indiana man has pleaded guilty in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between August 2022 through December 2023, Da’Shawn Natori Domena, 25, conspired with his co-defendants to distribute fentanyl in Minnesota. The co-conspirators frequently traveled to Phoenix to obtain fentanyl pills from suppliers, hid the pills inside stuffed animals, and mailed them to addresses in and around the Twin Cities. Law enforcement in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties became aware of the trafficking and initiated a joint investigation, which resulted in the seizure of six packages containing over 30,000 grams of fentanyl pills.
Domena pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court before Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Dakota County Drug Task Force, the Washington County Drug Task Force, and the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.
Indian National Charged with Conspiring to Illegally Export U.S. Aviation Components to RussiaRead the Press Release
On Nov. 20 in the District of Oregon, Sanjay Kaushik, 57, of India, was indicted for conspiring to export controlled aviation components with dual civilian and military applications to end users in Russia, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act. Kaushik is also charged with attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia through India, and with making false statements in connection with an export. He was arrested in Miami, Florida, on Oct. 17, pursuant to a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued by the District of Oregon.
According to the court documents, beginning as early as March 2023, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kaushik conspired with others to unlawfully obtain aerospace goods and technology from the United States for entities in Russia. The goods were purchased under the false pretense that they would be supplied to Kaushik and his Indian company, when in fact they were destined for Russian end users.
In one such instance, Kaushik and his co-conspirators purchased an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), which is a device that provides navigation and flight control data for aircraft, from an Oregon-based supplier. Components such as the AHRS require a license from the Department of Commerce to be exported to certain countries, including Russia. To obtain an export license for the AHRS, Kaushik and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that Kaushik’s Indian company was the end purchaser and that the component would be used in a civilian helicopter. Kaushik and his co-conspirators obtained the AHRS – which was ultimately detained before it was exported from the United States – on behalf of and with the intention of shipping it, through India, to a customer in Russia.
If convicted, Kaushik faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million for each count in the indictment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and U.S. Attorney Natalie K. Wight for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
BIS Portland is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Nyhus for the District of Oregon and Trial Attorneys Joshua E. Kurland and Dallas J. Kaplan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
This case was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 115 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm and Ammunition ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Silvis, Illinois man was sentenced yesterday to 115 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon.
According to public court documents, in July 2022, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for a vehicle and residence belonging to Quivadas Quadell-Lee Gaines, 34. At Gaines’ residence, officers seized at least 40 rounds of ammunition. The vehicle search warrant resulted in the seizure of a loaded pistol, found along with Gaines’ driver’s license and social security card. Gaines is a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
In 2019, Gaines was convicted of one felony count of second-degree theft, in the Iowa District Court for Muscatine County.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Gaines will be required to serve 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 Bettendorf Police Department.
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.
Illegal Possession of Ammunition Leads to 15-Year Prison Sentence for North Little Rock ManRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Terell Davis, a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Thursday by United States District Judge Billy Roy Wilson.
On February 20, 2024, Davis, 40, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition. Judge Wilson also sentenced Davis to three years supervised release. Davis was indicted on February 7, 2023, in a superseding indictment on one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
An investigation revealed that while investigating a shooting incident, on August 9, 2022, officers from the North Little Rock Police Department executed a search warrant on Davis’s residence in North Little Rock, Arkansas. During the search, officers recovered .45 caliber, .40 caliber, .410 caliber, .38 caliber, .357 caliber, 7.62x39 caliber, .223 caliber, and 9mm ammunition, along with multiple 50-round drum magazines.
Davis was on parole at the time of the offense and has prior convictions for manslaughter, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, battery in the first degree, fleeing in a vehicle causing danger, and possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department.
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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
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@USAO_EDAR
Illegal Export of Aviation Components from Oregon to Russia Results in Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment Wednesday charging a Delhi, India man with conspiring and attempting to export controlled aviation components and a navigation and flight control system to end users in Russia, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act.
Sanjay Kaushik, age 57, of India, has been charged with conspiring to export controlled aviation components with dual civilian and military applications to end users in Russia. Kaushik is also charged with attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia through India, and with making false statements in connection with an export.
The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Natalie K. Wight for the District of Oregon, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Special Agent in Charge Brent Burmester of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Portland Field Office.
According to court documents, beginning in early September 2023, Kaushik is alleged to have conspired with others to unlawfully obtain aerospace goods and technology from the United States for entities in Russia. The goods were purchased under the false pretense that they would be supplied to Kaushik and his Indian company, when in fact they were destined for Russian end users.
In one such instance, Kaushik and his co-conspirators purchased an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), which is a device that provides navigation and flight control data for aircraft, from an Oregon-based supplier. Components such as the AHRS require a license from the Department of Commerce to be exported to certain countries, including Russia. To obtain an export license for the AHRS, Kaushik and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that Kaushik’s Indian company was the end purchaser and that the component would be used in a civilian helicopter. Kaushik and his co-conspirators obtained the AHRS – which was ultimately detained before it was exported from the United States – on behalf of and with the intention of shipping it, through India, to a customer in Russia.
Kaushik was arrested in Miami, Florida on October 17, 2024, pursuant to a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued by the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
Kaushik made his initial appearance in federal court today before a District of Oregon U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a 7-day jury trial scheduled to begin on January 21, 2025.
If convicted, Kaushik faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and a fine of not more than $1,000,000 for each count in the indictment.
The case is being investigated by BIS Portland. It is being prosecuted by Gregory R. Nyhus, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and Trial Attorneys Joshua E. Kurland and Dallas J. Kaplan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Husband and Wife Receive Combined 45 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl That Resulted in DeathRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Terry Wayne Franklin and his wife, Mary Danielle Sheppard, will spend a combined 45 years in prison after selling fentanyl to a victim who then overdosed and died from the drug. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentences, which were handed down this week by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
Judge Moody sentenced Franklin, 39, of Conway, who had prior felony drug convictions, to 25 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release on Wednesday. Sheppard, 36, of Conway, received a 20-year sentence, also followed by three years of supervised release, on Thursday. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This couple made the decision to sell pills containing a deadly, illegal drug, unfortunately resulting in yet another loss of life from the use of fentanyl,” said Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Let this sentence serve as a warning to those who sell fentanyl in any form, that you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and the penalty is severe.”
The pair were charged on July 5, 2023, in a two-count indictment for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Sheppard pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl resulting in death on March 21, 2024, and Franklin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death on April 1, 2024.
A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation revealed that on May 15, 2022, the Greenbrier Police Department was dispatched to a possible overdose at a residence. The victim of the overdose later died at a hospital in Conway. On the scene, officers located several blue, round pills scored “M30”. Subsequent investigation by the DEA and the Conway Police Department discovered numerous text messages between the victim and Franklin discussing the victim’s purchase of fentanyl pills. Franklin directed the victim to make payment to Sheppard’s CashApp account and directed the victim to obtain the pills from Sheppard. Surveillance video also showed the victim and Sheppard meeting the night the victim obtained the pills and died.
Following the victim’s death, on September 16, 2022, a Nacogdoches, Texas, police officer conducted a traffic stop on Franklin and Sheppard, who were heading north toward Arkansas out of south Texas. During the stop, officers located numerous pills containing fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the DEA with assistance from the Greenbrier Police Department, the Conway Police Department, and the Nacogdoches, Texas, Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Gordon and Reese Lancaster.
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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
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@USAO_EDAR
Home Repairmen Plead Guilty to Tax Fraud for Failing to Report Income Earned from Elderly ClientsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A pair of repairmen that earned more than $1.5 million from elderly customers for home repair services appeared in federal court today and pleaded guilty to tax fraud, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. David Angelo Quick, 43, of Charlotte, and Tony Joshua Christo, 33, formerly of Charlotte, now residing in Florida, pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return.
Jason Krizmanich, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to plea documents and the court hearing, from 2018 to 2021, Quick and Christo provided home repair and improvement services, as well as car repair services, to elderly clients. During that time, the defendants collectively received more than $1.5 million from elderly customers but failed to report any of this income on their federal income tax returns filed with the IRS. Quick, who was not a licensed contractor, owned and operated David Quick Home Improvements, which provided roofing, painting, driveway construction and other home services. Christo worked with Quick on home repair projects. Filed documents and statements made in court show that the defendants defrauded some of the elderly clients by overcharging them for repairs. Court records also show that the defendants received payment for their services, but they failed to report their income to the IRS.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return. The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The defendants were released on bond following the plea hearings and will be sentenced at a later date.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked IRS-CI and USPIS for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Harrison County Man Admits to Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Martin Lynn Queen, age 61, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to the unlawful possession of a firearms charge.
According to court documents, during a traffic stop, officers found a firearm in Queen’s car. A subsequent search of his other properties found more firearms and ammunition. Queen is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior firearms conviction in the Northern District of West Virginia.
Queen faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
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.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Gulfport Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Possession of over 80 Videos of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - A Gulfport man was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for possession of over 80 videos of child pornography.
Roy Alexander Johnson, 31, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Johnson was ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution to victims, and $3,000 in mandatory restitution under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
According to court documents, Johnson was the user of accounts which contained visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Johnson was identified after CyberTip reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to email accounts which were traced to Johnson. The email accounts contained over 80 videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct including minors who had not attained 12 years of age.
Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 14, 2024. He pled guilty on August 15, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Cyber Crime Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones prosecuted the case.
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 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.
Greene County Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Drew Caswell, age 26, of Cairo, New York, was sentenced today to 9 years in prison for distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.
As part of his previous guilty plea, Caswell admitted that he used a file-hosting service to download child pornography and then distributed multiple image and video files of child pornography by publicly posting them to a social media site. Caswell also admitted that on August 7, 2023, he possessed child pornography on his cell phone, including nearly 300 images and videos of toddlers and infants being sexually abused.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also ordered that Caswell serve a 20-year term of post-incarceration supervised release. Caswell will be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison.
The FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force—which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including Troop F of the New York State Police and its Computer Crimes Unit—investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Grand jury indicts Pennsylvania man who allegedly sexually exploited Ohio teenager he met onlineRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury charged a Pennsylvania man with sexually exploiting a minor victim and traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with the victim.
Dustin Combs, 30, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, allegedly traveled to central Ohio on numerous occasions to engage in sex acts with a 13-year-old girl he met online.
Combs was arrested in Pennsylvania and was arraigned in federal court today in Columbus.
According to the 10-count indictment returned on Nov. 8, for at least 10 months, Combs sexually exploited the minor victim by producing child pornography that depicted the victim and filming their sex acts at various locations including at Columbus area hotels.
It is alleged that Combs traveled to Ohio on least five occasions in July, October and November 2023 and April 2024 to engage in illegal sex acts with the victim.
Sexual exploitation of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. Traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor is a federal crime that carries a potential penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Fugitive Businessman Sentenced to Prison for Fraud Scheme to Pay Alleged KickbacksRead the Press Release
MIAMI - Yesterday, Celestine “Skip” Aniekwu, 65, of Sunrise, Fla., who had been a fugitive for 15 years and surrendered earlier this year, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith to the top of the guidelines, 16 months in prison, for participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to the court filings in support of Aniekwu’s plea in September of this year, undercover FBI agents posed as asset managers who offered to help Aniekwu obtain construction contracts with local governments entities in 2008. Aniekwu told the undercover FBI agents that he needed to pay a total of $150,000 in cash to public officials with the City of Miramar for supporting the bid of Gulf Building Corporation on two projects, the Ansin Sports Complex and the Miramar Regional Service Center, in Miramar, Fla. The money was to come from a sub-contractor as part of a pre-arranged deal. The subcontractor was a subsidiary of a publicly traded company and would have difficulty drawing out the amount of cash to finance the bribe payments. Aniekwu went to the undercover FBI agents requesting their assistance with a scheme for the subcontractor to provide false invoices for work that was never performed in order to obtain cash to allegedly pay the Miramar public officials. Aniekwu and an officer of the subcontractor conspired to prepare the fraudulent invoices and submit them and thereby obtained authorization to issue two checks totaling $50,000 which were provided to the undercover FBI agents. At the request of Aniekwu, the undercover FBI agents cashed the checks and provided the cash to Aniekwu, who was to use the funds to pay the public officials in Miramar.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri for the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The FBI investigated this matter. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey N. Kaplan.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 09-cr-60317.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 192 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Samuel Hicks, 35 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady, after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Advertise and Distribute Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Hicks was sentenced to 192 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, between January and March of 2022, Hicks posted images of videos of child sexual abuse material on a dark website which facilitated the advertisement and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Allen County Sheriff’s Department Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley Miller Lowery of the Northern District of Indiana and Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz from the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.justice.gov/psc.
Fort Totten Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing ChildrenRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Wendell James Snell, age 42, from Fort Totten, ND, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison on November 21, 2024. Snell had previously pled guilty to five counts of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child. At sentencing, the Honorable Peter D. Welte, Chief Judge United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, imposed six-year, statutory maximum sentences on each count, to run consecutively. Following his thirty-year sentence, Snell will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and a number of conditions, including not having contact with minors.
Snell’s guilty pleas and sentence relate to his sexual abuse of three children, each under the age of 12 years old, between the years of 2011 to 2014 on the Spirit Lake Reservation.
“This serious sentence is seriously appropriate considering the defendant’s unforgivable abuse of multiple children,” Schneider said. “We hope it will provide some space for the victims to heal and deter this kind of abhorrent behavior in the future. Our career prosecutors and FBI partners are committed to protecting kids in Indian country and wherever we have jurisdiction, and as this case shows we will firmly hold abusers to account in federal court.”
"The depravity of Snell's actions is reflected in today's sentencing," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "When the most vulnerable of our citizens – our children – are victimized, the FBI will do everything in our power to hold the perpetrators accountable and to protect others from harm."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Lori H. Conroy.
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