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Friday 1 November 2024
Brooksville Woman Who Lied to ATF Agents in Connection with Murder of High School Student Is Sentenced to One Year in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William Jung has sentenced Janet Williams (44, Brooksville) to one year in federal prison for lying to federal agents. Williams entered a guilty plea in June 2024.
According to court documents, on February 8, 2023, Williams’ son, Sheldon Robinson, was arrested in connection with the murder of I.S., a 17-year-old Hernando County High School student. Immediately after his arrest, Williams found approximately $6,000 that Robinson had hidden in two difference places in her home, money Robinson had been paid to murder I.S.
On August 9, 2023, Williams was interviewed by ATF special agents and detectives from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. Williams repeatedly denied finding any money that belonged to Robinson in her home. The following week, Robinson spoke to Williams. During this call, Williams told Robinson about ATF’s visit, telling him; “Feds came to the house. They took over the case.” At one point, she says, “They were asking me…did you come into a whole bunch of money? I said No. But you did come into a whole bunch of money.”
On September 20, 2023, during the execution of a federal search warrant at Williams’ residence, Williams again told federal agents that she had not found any money belonging to Robinson in her home. Williams also denied ever seeing Robinson with a firearm or knowing he possessed one. Agents also executed a search warrant on Williams’ phone which contained numerous photos of Robinson routinely possessing firearms, including possessing them in her own home. During the execution of the search warrant at Williams’ home, agents recovered a firearm partially buried in her backyard. A forensic examination confirmed the firearm was used to murder I.S.
This case was investigated by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with substantial assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
Bridger Mother and Son Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison on Murder and Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, sentenced a Bridger, South Dakota, woman and her son, both convicted of Second-Degree Murder, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencings took place on October 28, 2024.
Theodora Belt, age 48, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on the murder charge and 10 years in prison on each of the remaining assault charges, all to run concurrently. Bailey Belt, age 23, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison on the murder charge and 10 years in prison on the assault charges involving two separate victims, all to run concurrently.
Both defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. On, June 28, 2024, mother and son were convicted following a federal jury trial of all counts in the Indictment.
The convictions stem from an incident that occurred on May 27, 2023, in Bridger, in the Cheyenne River Reservation. Theodora and Bailey Belt were at the victims’ home socializing. An argument began between the parties and the defendants assaulted victim #1 by punching, kicking, and beating him with a shovel. As victim #1 lay on the ground outside the home he was run over with Theodora’s car, which ultimately killed him. In addition, Bailey Belt struck victim #2 in the head with a shovel, causing him to be life-flighted to Rapid City for medical treatment. He survived the assault.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Troy R. Morley and Brian J. Murphy prosecuted the case.
The defendants were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Baton Rouge Man Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced that a Bill of Information was filed charging James S. Burland, age 69, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession of child pornography.
According to the Bill of Information, between on or about November 11, 2022, and April 9, 2023, Burland did knowingly possess material that contained images of child pornography involving prepubescent minors who had not attained 12 years of age.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese.
NOTE: A Bill of Information is an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty.
15 Charged in Lorain County Drug Trafficking Ring That Distributed More Than 42,000 Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND - Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials have unsealed an indictment that charged 15 members of a Drug Trafficking Operation (DTO) based in Lorain County, Ohio.
According to court documents, the DTO was allegedly trafficking fentanyl in counterfeit pill form in the cities of Elyria and Lorain and the surrounding Northeast Ohio areas. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko, DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene, FBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen, and Lorain Police Department Chief James P. McCann.
The investigation that led to the indictment took place over the last year and a half. Agents apprehended individuals in a series of coordinated arrests. They seized large quantities of fentanyl that included thousands of fentanyl pills made to look like legitimate prescription medications. Agents also discovered cash and several illegally possessed firearms during the investigation.
“Given its extreme potency, fentanyl is extraordinarily dangerous—it has poisoned and killed over 3,500 Ohioans in 2023 alone. Distributing it disguised as legitimate prescription medication, as the indictment alleges the defendants did here, is particularly condemnable because it heightens the overdose danger for those who ingest it,” said United States Attorney Lutzko. “I commend the incredible cooperation among our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to take thousands of these deadly pills off the streets. Their dedication and hard work led to a successful disruption of this organization, helping to make our neighborhoods safer and free from the criminals who peddle these poisons on our streets.”
The following defendants were charged in the 19-count indictment:
Ronald Whittaker, 31, Cleveland, Ohio
Tyvez McCullum, 30, Elyria, Ohio
Ivan Barrios, 45, Lorain, Ohio
Tavon Martin, 28, Lorain, Ohio
Jaivon Wint, 27, Lorain, Ohio
Katlynn Caudill, 22, Lorain, Ohio
Nicholas Thomson, 47, Elyria, Ohio
Max Kennedy, 19, Wellington, Ohio
Jordan Johnson, 29, Elyria, Ohio
Angela Shuck, 35, Lorain, Ohio
Stacey Thomson, 48, Elyria, Ohio
Tyrone Phillips, 25, Elyria, Ohio
Joseph Kushner, 32, Berea, Ohio
Nicholas Burkholder, 29, Elyria, Ohio
Aubrey Brown, 29, Elyria, Ohio
According to the indictment, from about May 2023 to October 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, mixtures and substances containing amounts of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.
It is alleged that McCullum and Whittaker led the conspiracy. After receiving pill supplies from Whittaker, McCullum would redistribute the fentanyl pills to the others listed in the indictment. Those individuals would, in turn, further distribute the fentanyl pills to their own networks throughout the Elyria and Lorain region. The named defendants are allegedly responsible for the distribution of at least 4,406.25 estimated grams of fentanyl and/or 42,793 blue fentanyl pills.
“We will continue leveraging every available resource to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Drug Trafficking Organizations spreading deadly poisons in Ohio. Our collaboration with local, state and federal partners is not just about enforcement, but it’s about safeguarding the future of our communities and ensuring they remain safe and drug-free,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene.
“Illegal drugs are devastating lives and corrupting communities all across northern Ohio,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “This indictment underscores the commitment not only of the FBI, but our multi-agency partners who work collaboratively to identify local drug traffickers and disrupt and dismantle their drug trafficking networks.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, each defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the DEA, FBI Cleveland Division, HSI, City of Lorain Police Department, City of Elyria Police Department, Lorain County Drug Task Force, United States Marshals Service, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, and the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert F. Corts and Paul Hanna for the Northern District of Ohio.
Thursday 31 October 2024
“OkieMalePerv007” Sentenced for Possessing and Distributing Thousands of Images and Videos of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Randal Dewayne Davis, 48, of Salina, for Receipt, Distribution, and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Davis to serve a total of 121 months of imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Davis will be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Hill further ordered Davis to pay $44,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, investigators received several tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to Davis sharing sexually explicit content of children being abused under the screen names “OkieMalePerv007” and “randyman.” After a search warrant was served on his home, the investigation revealed that Davis possessed and distributed thousands of images and videos of minor victims being sexually abused and exploited. Davis admitted that some of the sexually explicit content was of infants.
Davis will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshals Service, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
“Bearded Bandit” Bank Robber Admits Striking the Same Rhode Island Bank AgainRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Cranston man, previously convicted in federal court and incarcerated for more than six years for robbing nine banks in 2012, admitted to a federal judge on Wednesday that he participated in the robbery of an East Providence bank on New Year’s Eve in December 2019, a bank he had previously robbed during his 2012 spree, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Justin Worley, 44, known previously as the “Bearded Bandit,” admitted that he entered the bank late in the afternoon of December 31, 2019 with another person, and that they each approached a teller and demanded that they empty their money drawers. The second man, later identified as Nicholas Lage, 38, brandished a knife during the robbery. Between them, the two men fled the bank with approximately $12,000. They were spotted and arrested later in the evening at Twin River casino.
Worley pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2025. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Nicholas Lage pleaded guilty on April 1, 2021, to charges of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery. He was sentenced on August 6, 2021, to 36 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
The matter was investigated by East Providence Police Department and the FBI.
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Youngstown, Ohio, Resident Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court to committing firearm and drug trafficking crimes, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Antoine Tate, 43, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and oxycodone and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime on October 31, 2020.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for March 19, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $2,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Union Township Police Department, New Castle Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Tate.
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 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.
York County Man Charged with Sorna Violation, Drug Trafficking, and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eric C. Haggins Jr., age 39, of Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, was indicted on August 7, 2024, by a federal grand jury for failure to register as a sex offender, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that between April 2022 and July 2024, Haggins knowingly failed to register and update a registration as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). It alleges Haggins was required to register under SORNA because of prior convictions for Rape in the Second Degree and Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the state of Maryland. The indictment also alleges that Haggins possessed cocaine, and marijuana with the intent to distribute, possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possessed a firearm while he was prohibited from doing to because of his previous convictions.
This case was investigated by United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dukes is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that James Tyra Bowman, age 30, of Appleton, Wisconsin, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. As a result of his convictions, Bowman faces potential life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to a lifetime period of supervised release—which includes sex offender registration requirements.
According to admissions made during his plea, Bowman used social media applications and the name “Genius_Outlaw” to attempt to convince someone he believed was an 11-year-old girl to have an illegal sexual relationship with him. Bowman offered her gifts to entice her to engage in the sexual acts. The 11-year-old girl was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Bowman also sent the undercover officer a picture of himself and his penis and demanded that she send him sexually explicit videos and images of her. Bowman also planned an arrangement where Bowman would have the supposed 11-year-old girl (undercover officer) for a period to train her in illegal sex acts in Wisconsin. Bowman was arrested by law enforcement in January of this year.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner, who also serves as Deputy Criminal Chief.
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 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Waterloo Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing GunRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who displayed a firearm at others in a threatening manner was sentenced on October 28, 2024, to eight years in federal prison.
Rodney Lavern Thein, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 30, 2024 guilty plea to one count of possession of firearms by a felon.
Evidence disclosed at sentencing showed that, on July 13 and 14, 2023, Thein displayed a firearm in a threatening manner at people during confrontations over a trailer at Thein’s residence in Waterloo. During the investigation into the confrontations, law enforcement officers searched Thein’s residence, and seized nine firearms. Six of the firearms were loaded, and at least one of the firearms had been reported stolen. At the time, Thein was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had previously been convicted of three felony offenses.
Thein was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Thein was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment, and he must serve a three‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Thein 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 Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office; and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23‑CR‑02074.
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Washington man sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for trafficking eagles, hawks killed on the Flathead Indian Reservation and sold on black marketRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Washington man who conspired to hunt and kill bald and golden eagles and hawks on the Flathead Indian Reservation to sell on the black market was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $777,250 restitution, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Travis John Branson, 49, of Cusick, Washington, and formerly of the Flathead Reservation, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy, two counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles and violation of the Lacey Act, which prohibits interstate trade in wildlife that has been taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of federal or state law. The Lacey Act also prohibits any person from making or submitting any false record, account, label for or identification of wildlife that has been or was intended to be transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court ordered Branson to self-report to the Bureau of Prisons.
“The bald eagle, adopted as America’s national symbol in 1782, represents our country’s core ideals of freedom, strength, and justice. Once on the brink of extinction, eagles recovered only because of conservation efforts by the American people and federal laws protecting them. None of that mattered to Travis Branson. Instead, Branson went on self-described ‘killing sprees’ for thousands of eagles and hawks, butchered them, and sold the parts and feathers for profit on the black market. He knew he was committing felonies and even joked his cost to kill them was the price of a bullet. But his conduct was no laughing matter. With today’s sentence, the cost to Branson was more than a bunch of bullets – he forfeited the very freedom the bald eagle symbolizes,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“The unlawful killing of these majestic birds violates federal law and is a profound offense against our nation's cherished natural heritage,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “Travis Branson's blatant disregard for the law and the sanctity of these protected species highlights the urgent need for stringent enforcement and greater public awareness regarding wildlife trafficking. His actions are particularly egregious, considering the significant number of bald and golden eagles he killed for personal profit, and such behavior will not be tolerated. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect America's wildlife and hold accountable all who are engaged in these illicit activities.”
“We are going to feel the impacts of the Flathead Reservation’s raptor loss for years to come,” said Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Chairman Mike Dolson. “We hope this helps put a stop to illegal poaching on our homelands and gives these birds a chance to recover. Eagles are not only a treasured and important part of the Reservation’s ecosystem, but they also have a profound place in CSKT cultural and spiritual practices.”
In court documents, the government alleged that from about January 2015 until about March 2021, Branson and others hunted and killed eagles on the Flathead Reservation. Branson then sold the eagles on the black market across the United States and elsewhere. Brandon traveled from Washington to the Flathead Reservation, where he met co-defendant, Simon Paul. Branson and Paul would then shoot, transport and ship bald and golden eagles for future black-market sales. Co-defendant Paul remains a fugitive.
The government sought restitution values of $5,000 per eagle and $1,750 per hawk.
The government estimated that from 2009 until 2021, Branson made between $180,000 and $360,000 by selling eagles feathers and parts for profit on the black market.
The government’s investigation showed that Branson and others killed approximately 3,600 birds during the conspiracy. At least 118 eagles and 107 hawks killed were directly traceable to Branson and documented through his own text messages. Branson had taken up to nine eagles at a time. The photograph below shows nine sets of feathers, with one set stacked on top of the other in the upper left corner.
Law enforcement also recovered text messages from Branson stating he was specifically looking to shoot a baby eagle.
Not only did Branson kill eagles, but he also butchered them into pieces to sell. On March 13, 2021, Branson shot and killed a golden eagle near Polson. Law enforcement stopped Branson and recovered from Branson’s vehicle the feet and feathers of the golden eagle and later recovered the remainder of the carcass in a field. The claws are identified here:
Branson knew killing and selling eagles was illegal and that he did not have a permit for any of the activities. When negotiating a purchase price for eagle feathers with a potential buyer, Branson said:
“I don’t get em for free though ..out hear committing felonies”
Branson told another potential buyer he would obtain other eagle tails by “[g]oing on a killing spree.”
Further, Branson acknowledged that international shipping was illegal:
“International is still illegal ..I just get em for 99 cents ..price of a bullet..lol”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Fish and Game Department conducted the investigation.
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Vallejo Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Assaulting Federal Agents with a Firearm and VehicleRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sean Thomas Delapp, 38, of Vallejo, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 24, 2023, Delapp assaulted two FBI special agents by pursuing them with his car, pulling up alongside them, and aiming a firearm at them through the window, making a recoil motion with the firearm. A subsequent search warrant at his residence resulted in the discovery of a Glock 29 firearm, ammunition, and various firearm parts. Delapp is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he was previously convicted of a felony evasion offense.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella 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 U.S. 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.
United States Files Suit for Unpaid Duties and Penalties for Alleged Failure to Pay Duties on Imported Chinese Bedroom FurnitureRead the Press Release
The United States has filed a civil lawsuit against Lawrence Bivona, who was the President of LaJobi Inc., a Delaware corporation that imported Chinese-manufactured children’s bedroom furniture into the United States. The lawsuit alleges that Bivona made false statements to customs officials and, as a result, avoided paying antidumping duties owed on the imported furniture.
At the time merchandise is entered into the United States, the importer is responsible for providing all information necessary to enable Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess the applicable duties owed on the goods, including any antidumping duties applicable to the merchandise. Antidumping duties are trade remedies that help protect domestic industries from unfair trade practices by foreign businesses and countries, such as government subsidies or below market sales.
The United States’ complaint contends that Bivona caused LaJobi to misrepresent the identity of the manufacturers of the children’s furniture imported from China. In particular, the United States alleges that Bivona falsely represented that the furniture was manufactured by Chinese entities subject to duty rates of approximately 7% or less, and failed to disclose that the furniture was actually manufactured by entities subject to duty rates of 216%.
“Anti-dumping duties play an important role in countering illegal foreign trade practices and protecting U.S. manufacturers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue those who seek to gain an unfair advantage by violating our trade laws.”
“These civil penalties support the seriousness of CBP’s trade mission and protect the U.S. economy, while maintaining fair trade and preserving American jobs from predatory practices,” said Executive Director Susan Thomas of CBP’s Cargo and Conveyance Security, Office of Field Operations. “CBP’s antidumping and countervailing duties enforcement aims to mitigate harm by anti-competitive behavior and supports a level playing field for U.S. companies injured by unfair trade practices.”
“We take very seriously our role in protecting the U.S. economy from illegal and predatory trade practices,” said Assistant Director Ivan J. Arvelo of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Global Trade Investigations. “HSI is committed to working alongside CBP and partners to stop those who engage in fraud to circumvent U.S. trade laws.”
The complaint seeks the recovery of over $7 million in import duties and over $15 million in civil penalties.
HSI Newark led the investigation with CBP Trade Regulatory Audit Newark, CBP Associate Chief Counsel New York, CBP Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising (CPMM) Center of Excellence and Expertise. CBP and HSI are the agencies responsible for enforcing U.S. laws related to the importation of merchandise into the United States, including the collection of duties and assessment of penalties.
Trial Counsel Daniel Hoffman of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, National Courts Section, is handling the case.
The case is filed in the Court of International Trade and captioned United States v. Lawrence Bivona No. 24-00196.
To combat trade fraud, including avoidance of import duties, the Justice Department created a Trade Fraud Task Force. The Task Force partners with CBP and other law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with U.S. trade laws.
The claims in the complaint are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
United States Attorney Designates Election Officer for Eastern District of OklahomaRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – Christopher J. Wilson, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Cameron McEwen will lead the Eastern District’s efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA McEwen has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District, which is comprised of twenty-six counties in eastern, southeastern, and southcentral Oklahoma. In that capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
“The right and ability to vote is the cornerstone of our American democracy,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “We all must ensure that those entitled to participate in the election process can exercise that right if they choose, and those who seek to corrupt it are held accountable. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA McEwen will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by calling 918-684-5174.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The FBI National Threat Operations Center can be reached by the public at 1-800-CALL-FBI [(800) 225-5324].
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington Observes Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington proudly commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) this October. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, Vanessa R. Waldref, joins the U.S. Department of Justice in reaffirming its unwavering commitment to supporting survivors, raising awareness, and promoting justice for all affected by domestic violence.
DVAM serves as a crucial opportunity to shed light on the profound impacts of domestic violence and emphasize the importance of collective action. Each year, millions of individuals are impacted by intimate partner violence, and far too many families endure the tragic consequences of domestic abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring that survivors are heard, and perpetrators are held accountable.
This year is a special year to commemorate DVAM because it is also the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. In 1994, the passage of this landmark, bipartisan legislation transformed the way our nation addresses domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by increasing protections for survivors, providing critical federal resources to support a coordinated community response to these crimes, and awarding grants at the local, state, territory, Tribal, and national levels. Recent grant awards include $350,000 to the City of Yakima to combat domestic violence and sexual assault and $600,000 the Kalispel Tribe of Indians to respond to and prevent sexual assault.
“Everyone deserves to live in a safe home free of domestic violence,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Domestic violence victims often struggle to access the justice system and get the protection and resources they need, which is why we use all the tools at our disposal—including leveraging our partnerships with local law enforcement, domestic violence advocacy organizations, and local prosecutors—to ensure victims have a viable path to safety and justice.”
Domestic violence is one of the root causes underlying the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis. Prosecuting cases on Tribal lands that involve intimate partner violence is a critical tool to bringing justice to victims and safety to Tribal communities. Recent cases include:
- United States v. Marvin Samson Butterfly, 2:23-cr-00110-TOR: Butterfly was found guilty of assaulting and suffocating his partner, as well as Attempted Witness Tampering.
- United States v. James Edward Kensler, 2:18-cr-00096-TOR: Kensler was sentenced to 60 months in prison for violently assaulting his girlfriend.
- United States v. Branden Scott Higgins, 1:23-cr-02056-SAB: Higgins was sentenced to nearly three months in federal prison for choking his pregnant girlfriend
- United States v. Xander Lee Ostenberg, 2:23-cr-00031-TOR: Ostenberg was sentenced to 60 months in prison for violently assaulting his partner and tribal elders.
Another crucial part of combatting domestic violence and reducing violent crimes includes enforcing federal firearm prohibitions. Domestic violence abusers with access to a gun are five times more likely to kill their partners. In addition to their lethality, firearms are used by abusers to inflict fear, intimidation, and coercive control. Under federal law, people with domestic violence misdemeanor and felony convictions and those subject to domestic violence protective orders are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms.
In October 2022, U.S. Attorney Waldref announced her office’s Safe Homes, Safe Community Initiative to prevent domestic violence homicides and prevent abusers who have previously been convicted of domestic violence offenses from having access to firearms. Partnering with the Yakima Police Department, Yakima County Prosecutor’s Office, Spokane Police Department, and Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office, and domestic violence prevention advocates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office focuses enforcement on individuals identified as repeat domestic violence abusers who unlawfully possess firearms.
Recent cases charged as part of the Safe Homes, Safe Community Initiative include:
- United States v. Benjamin D. Cliett, 1:22-cr-02111-MKD: Pleaded guilty to Person Subject to a Court Order in Possession of Firearms, in connection to violating a no-contact order and possessing more than a dozen firearms.
- United States v. Tyler Jonas Senator, 1:23-cr-02027-SAB: Sentenced to 84 months on one count of Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and one count of Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner by Strangling or Suffocating, in connection with a violent attack on his partner.
- United States v. Michael Brian Ross, 2:23-cr-00021-MKD: Sentenced to 4 years on count of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in connection with threating his partner with a firearm.
“Federal prosecutors witness the devastating impacts of domestic violence on the lives of victims and their families, who may endure long-term trauma and are at increased risk for returning to abusive relationships. Firearms are used by abusers to control their victims through fear and intimidation. Law enforcement responding to active domestic violence scenes are also at increased risk when firearms are present,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref.
Video Message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRNct8hfuxw
U.S. Attorney Waldref continued, “My Office’s Safe Homes, Safe Community Initiative focuses on curbing gun violence by removing firearms unlawfully possessed by individuals with a track record of violent crime and domestic violence – these efforts protect victims, law enforcement, and the entire community.”
Facing domestic violence? Find support in your state through @OVWJustice's Local Resources: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/resources-for-survivors
Immediate help for domestic violence victims: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (@ndvhofficial) at 1-800-799-7233 or Strong Hearts Native Helpline (@strongheartsdv) at
1-844-762-8483.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Hosts “Protecting Places of Worship” Forum to Enhance Safety and Support for Religious CommunitiesRead the Press Release
On October 24, the U.S. Attorney’s Office held a “Protecting Places of Worship” forum to address security concerns faced by religious communities in the current climate of increased threats. The forum is part of a U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS) program that focuses on safeguarding religious institutions from violence, discrimination, and hate-based incidents. Leaders from diverse faith communities, law enforcement, and federal agencies gathered to discuss collaborative strategies for enhancing security and promoting unity.
Community leaders and stakeholders gathered on October 24 to discuss collaborative strategies for enhancing security and promoting unity in faith communities. The PPOW forum included a panel discussion with faith and community leaders on assessing community safety and ways to prevent targeted violence.Key speakers at the event underscored the importance of fostering resilient partnerships between law enforcement and religious communities. Discussions centered on best practices for threat assessment, active shooter response, and emergency preparedness. Additionally, representatives from CRS and the Department of Homeland Security provided insights into federal resources, such as grants, and other support mechanisms available to religious organizations.
In addition to security, the forum also addressed the need for greater understanding and respect among communities of different faiths. Religious leaders expressed concerns over rising incidents of hate crimes and emphasized the value of building trust with local authorities to ensure swift, effective responses to potential threats.
Representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the rights of all individuals to worship freely and safely. They highlighted the Office’s proactive role in prosecuting hate crimes and supporting communities through educational initiatives, outreach, and collaboration with religious organizations.
This forum serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility to safeguard places of worship and promote inclusivity within communities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains dedicated to working with community leaders and law enforcement to protect the freedoms that define our nation.
For more information on resources available to religious institutions, please visit our grant resources page.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Mescalero Man with AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man has been charged by criminal complaint with assault resulting in serious bodily injury after allegedly attacking a friend with a beer bottle, leaving the victim with severe facial injuries.
According to the criminal complaint, on January 5, 2024, Lewis Michael Bigmouth, 27, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, allegedly assaulted another enrolled tribal member on the Mescalero Apache Reservation, striking the victim multiple times in the face with a beer bottle. The victim suffered severe injuries, including a partial amputation of his nose requiring multiple reconstructive surgeries.
Bigmouth appeared before a federal judge and will remain in custody pending trial, which is has not been set.
If convicted, Bigmouth faces up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Joni Autrey Stahl and Kirk Williams are prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Bigmouth).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Successful Child Exploitation Prosecution Efforts in North IdahoRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the results of three separate child exploitation cases in Northern Idaho today.
“I am proud of my office’s efforts to partner with law enforcement throughout our state to locate and bring to justice child predators,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “These cases involving defendants in North Idaho and North Central Idaho shows the reach of our collaborative efforts, and Idaho’s children are safer because of these results.”
- Registered Sex Offender in Moscow Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography
In one case, David William Peer, 47, of Moscow, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.
According to court records, in early 2024, law enforcement received cybertips from an email provider indicating that somebody using its email service was distributing child pornography from multiple related email addresses. Law enforcement traced the email addresses to a Moscow address where Peer lived. Peer was a registered sex offender on federal supervision for prior convictions in another state related to child pornography. In February 2024, law enforcement searched Peer’s home and found a cell phone belonging to Peer. A forensic analysis of that phone revealed that it contained over 1,000 images of child pornography. Analysis of the phone also showed that Peer was using privacy-focused search engines to access child exploitation websites on the phone while on federal supervision.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Peer be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life following his prison sentence. Peer pleaded guilty to the charge on June 17, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Moscow Police Department, the Latah County Sheriff’s Office, the Lewiston Police Department, the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI, which led to the charges.
- Lewiston Man Who Distributed Hundreds of Videos Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography
In another case, Eric Marshall Villa, 39, of Lewiston, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.
According to court records, in 2023, the FBI began investigating an individual who was exchanging child pornography with others online under aliases on Instagram and Telegram. The FBI determined that Villa was behind the accounts and, following the issuance of multiple federal search warrants, searched Villa’s Lewiston home and vehicle in early 2024. Law enforcement found a phone belonging to Villa in his vehicle. A court-authorized forensic analysis of Villa’s phone revealed that he had received more than 750 videos of child pornography, distributed more than 550 videos, and distributed more than 100,000 files totaling more than 460 GB of data through links to an online file-hosting service.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Villa be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Villa pleaded guilty to the charge on July 15, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the Lewiston Police Department, the Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office, the Moscow Police Department, and the FBI for their collaboration in this investigation.
- Rathdrum Man Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Federal Prison Following Online Child Enticement Sting
In another case, Donovan Vinton Nagle, 62, of Rathdrum, was sentenced to a total of 90 months in federal prison for two counts of attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor.
According to court records, between June 30 and August 24, 2023, Nagle engaged in explicit online communications with an undercover agent from the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, who was posing as the mother of an 11-year-old girl. Nagle expressed sexual interest in the fictional child, sent explicit photographs, and arranged to meet the mother and child for a sexual encounter at a hotel in Coeur d’Alene. On the day of the arranged meeting, Nagle drove from his work to the hotel, parked his vehicle, and began walking towards the hotel. Nagle, who was carrying a bag containing candy, ice cream bars, and energy drinks, was then arrested in the parking lot.
Chief District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Nagle be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life following his prison sentence. Nagle pleaded guilty to the charges on July 15, 2024.
“Every child deserves to grow up safe, unscarred, in communities free of the threat posed by child predators,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “This sentence helps keep a dangerous predator off the street, and if we are to be effective at protecting our most vulnerable, it will take everlasting vigilance from HSI, our law enforcement partners, and the public to identify those that would attempt to exploit children.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by of Homeland Security Investigations and thanked the Idaho State Police for their assistance in apprehending Nagle.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted all three cases.
These cases were 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 Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, 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.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Guilty Plea in Shiprock Assault CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty in federal court to charges stemming from a highway shooting in Shiprock, New Mexico, that left one person seriously injured.
According to the plea agreement, on January 9, 2024, Larence Cambridge, 34, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, flashed a firearm at the occupants of a vehicle before repeatedly shooting at it. As a result of the shooting, the vehicle was struck repeatedly, and one of the occupants was seriously injured. The shooting occurred on U.S. Highway 64 in Shiprock, New Mexico.
Cambridge pled guilty to one count each of assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Cambridge will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Cambridge faces seven to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Cambridge will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement (Cambridge).pdf# # #
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Guilty Plea in Fatal Drunk Driving CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault in connection with a drunk driving crash on the Navajo Nation reservation that resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries.
According to court documents, on December 1, 2023, Brian Gonnie, 44, of the Navajo Nation, was driving under the influence of alcohol on Highway 64 in Shiprock, New Mexico. Gonnie was traveling at approximately 86 mph in a 35-mph zone when he crossed into the oncoming lane and struck another vehicle head-on. The collision resulted in the deaths of Gonnie's passenger and the driver of the other vehicle. A passenger in the struck vehicle sustained serious injuries, including broken ribs, a broken pelvis, and a leg fracture that required surgery.
Gonnie’s blood alcohol concentration was .267% and his vehicle was littered with empty alcohol containers. When interviewed by FBI agents, Gonnie admitted to drinking and driving that night.
Gonnie will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Gonnie faces up to ten years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Gonnie will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
This case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Guilty Plea in Fatal DUI Crash on Navajo NationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Vanderwagen man pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal drunk driving crash that occurred on the Navajo Nation reservation in 2022.
According to court documents, on October 2, 2022, Sheldon Carlton Daye, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, drove while impaired by alcohol. He knew that driving drunk would pose a risk to others on the road. While driving on Highway 602 near Bread Springs, New Mexico, within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation reservation, Daye struck and killed two motorists who were stopped on the side of the highway changing a tire.
Daye will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Daye faces up to 16 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Daye will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark A. Probasco and Meg P. Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow Announces $4.8 Million in United States Department of Justice Grants to Support Victims of Domestic Violence and Related CrimesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – In addition to the $12.1 million in grants announced on September 23, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico announces another $4,803,662 in grants related to protecting vulnerable victims from domestic violence and related crimes, as listed below:
- Puerto Rico Department of Justice received $1,265,216 from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program Formula Solicitation.
- Coordinadora Paz Para la Mujer, Inc. received $693,750 from the Office on Violence Against Women for the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Program.
- Solo Por Hoy received $450,000 from the Office on Violence Against Women for the Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Program.
- Proyecto Matria, Inc. received $400,000 from the Office on Violence Against Women for the Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Program.
- Hogar Nueva Mujer Santa María de la Merced, Inc. received $400,000 from the Office on Violence Against Women for the Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Program.
- Puerto Rico Instituto de Ciencias Forenses received $294,696 from OJP BJA for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program and $600,000 for the Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction.
- Hogar Ruth, Inc. received $200,000 from OJP BJA for the Meeting the Basic Needs of Underserved Crime Victims.
- Puerto Rico Department of Justice received $500,000 from the Office on Violence Against Women for the Local Law Enforcement Grants for Enforcement of Cybercrimes Program.
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and SMART Office – can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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U.S. Attorney Easley Announces Appointment of District Election OfficerRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr., announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Karen Haughton will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Haughton has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with the Justice Department in Washington.
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combating discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying, and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, the DEO will be on duty in this district while the polls are open. The DEO can be reached by the public at the following telephone number, 919-856-4530 or 919-856-4808, or by email at [email protected].
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public by calling 704-672-6100 or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or by email at tips.fbi.gov.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
Please note, however, that in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown Announces Election Day Program to Prevent Voter Fraud and Protect Voting RightsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/MONROE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) Jabrina Edwards will lead the efforts of our office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Edwards has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Louisiana, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Brown stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Edwards will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. AUSA Edwards can be reached by the public at our Shreveport office at 318-676-3600.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public in Shreveport at 318-861-1890, Monroe at 318-387-0773, Alexandria at 318-443-5097, Lafayette at 337-233-2164 and Lake Charles at 318-433-6353.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Brown said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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U.S. Attorney Avery Announces 2024 Election Day ProgramRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery today announced that Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Francis will lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Francis serves as the District Election Officer for the District of Connecticut and is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of Election Day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.”
U.S. Attorney Avery noted that in order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Francis will be on duty while the polls are open and will be in regular communication throughout the day with the FBI and with state election and law enforcement authorities.
The Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) is staffing a hotline during polling hours on Election Day. Anyone with knowledge of election fraud or voting rights abuses is encouraged to call 1-866-733-2463 (1-866-SEEC-INFO) to report suspected violations. The SEEC staff will answer questions, advise on complaint procedures and, if appropriate, request the assistance of state criminal or federal law enforcement authorities in the investigation and possible prosecution of the matter.
The FBI in Connecticut and across the country will have special agents available to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI field office in New Haven can be reached directly at 203-777-6311.
In addition, complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the public,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, individuals should call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
More information on the Justice Department’s efforts to protect the right to vote and make elections secure is available here.
Two Violent Sex Traffickers Sentenced to Combined 39 YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – D’Angelo Taborn, of Durham, was sentenced today to 27 years in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. Following an FBI sting operation in Jacksonville, NC, Taborn and his co-defendant, Imani Franco, were arrested for using threats to coerce women into sex trafficking. Taborn, 31, pled guilty to the charge on July 24, 2024. Franco, 30, pled guilty on April 25, 2024, and was sentenced on September 23, 2024, to 12 years.
“Our Human Trafficking Task Force brings agencies together to expose traffickers, rescue victims, and dismantle the illicit networks that traffic in human beings for sex or labor,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “These defendants treated their victims like animals, deprived them of food, and threatened them with violence if they did not comply. Thankfully the FBI, NCIS, and local law enforcement acted swiftly, to hold the traffickers accountable and help put the survivors on their path of healing.”
“It is difficult to hear these victims literally felt “caged” by these offenders. To be forced into sex trafficking, to have to ask for food, those are deplorable conditions for any human being to endure,” said Robert M. DeWitt the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. “The FBI and our local law enforcement partners will never stop working to combat human trafficking.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on August 12, 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Task Force conducted a proactive sting operation in Jacksonville, based on online advertisements for commercial sex. An undercover officer responded to an advertisement and was directed to a hotel in Jacksonville. The undercover officer encountered a young female depicted in the advertisement, later identified as Victim 1.
A short time later, law enforcement observed the defendants step out of a hotel room just down the hall. When they saw law enforcement, Taborn and Franco attempted to leave, but they were detained while officers obtained search warrants for their hotel room and vehicle. Taborn and Franco carried three phones between them, and when officers called the number listed in the commercial sex advertisement for Victim 1, one of the phones rang.
When Taborn and Franco were arrested, Victim 1 became visibly relieved. She explained that Taborn and Franco had recruited her a month earlier and that they expected her to engage in commercial sex to make money for them. Taborn required Victim 1 to perform oral sex on him twice to ensure she was a “good product.” Taborn and Franco controlled all aspects of the commercial sex operation and took all the money that Victim 1 earned. They transported Victim 1 to different cities—Jacksonville, Charlotte, Durham, and Danville, Virginia—to find additional customers for commercial sex. Investigators located numerous commercial sex advertisements and obtained hotel receipts and surveillance footage that confirmed Victim 1’s account.
Victim 1 described how she feared Taborn and felt “like an animal in a cage.” She was not allowed to leave her room and had to request food and water from Taborn and Franco. When officers recovered her, it had been more than 24 hours since she had last eaten—a meal that consisted of four leftover chicken wings from Taborn’s and Franco’s dinner. On one occasion, Victim 1 witnessed Taborn and Franco recruit another female victim, Victim 2, who they picked up in South Carolina and transported back to North Carolina. Victim 2 had not known they wanted her to engage in commercial sex in North Carolina. When Victim 2 said she did not want to participate, Taborn threatened her with his black handgun in front of Victim 1. Officers found a firearm with an extended magazine and laser matching the description in the glovebox of Taborn’s car.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) undertook this investigation as part of “Operation Cross Country,” a nationwide sex-trafficking enforcement campaign, with assistance from the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Police Department, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.
This case was part of our Human Trafficking Task Force created to expose and prosecute anyone who exploits North Carolinians for sex or forced labor. Our victim-centric approach focuses on stabilizing victims, getting them resources, and helping them through the court process. If you have a tip about trafficking, text 233733.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-cr-0092-D.
Twelve indicted in connection with violent drug trafficking gang that distributed fentanyl in Seattle and EverettRead the Press Release
Seattle – A coordinated law enforcement operation over the last 48 hours has resulted in eleven arrests of members of a drug trafficking ring that set up shop in the University District of Seattle, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. A year-long wire-tap investigation led to the indictment of 11 defendants on drug distribution and weapons charges. A twelfth defendant with ties to the organization was indicted on illegal weapons possession in connection with a deadly shooting at a Hookah bar in South Seattle. The defendants arrested over the last two days have or will be making appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
“These defendants were prolific fentanyl dealers who were frequently armed when guarding their stash or distributing their drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “The danger to the community cannot be overstated in this case. The leader of the drug crew was gunned down last summer – right in front of one of the U District locations where members of the crew distributed their poison, and continued do so, following the deadly shooting.”
"This operation exemplifies the power of collaboration among law enforcement agencies at all levels,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “By uniting our resources and expertise, we have successfully dismantled a criminal network that has endangered our communities through violent acts and the distribution of fentanyl. Together, we will continue to fight against violent crime and protect the lives of our citizens."
“There’s no true relief for those who have lost loved ones to drug-related crime or rising overdoses,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke of IRS-CI Seattle. “We stand with our law enforcement partners to stop groups that profit from the fentanyl epidemic by following the money.”
Thirty-one locations were searched yesterday by some 600 law enforcement officers from ten different agencies. A total of eleven people were arrested: nine of those indicted and two additional defendants were arrested on criminal complaints.
Three defendants are indicted for both gun and drug crimes:
Cooper Sherman, aka “Coop,” 27, of Seattle is charged with conspiracy, two counts of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Alvin Whiteside, aka “Mafia, 51, of Federal Way is charged with conspiracy, one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Whiteside is in state custody and will be transferred to federal custody.
Muhamed Ceesay, aka “Mo,” 27, of Lynnwood is charged with conspiracy, two counts of distributing fentanyl, one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Ceesay remains a fugitive.
These eight defendants are charged in the indictment for the drug conspiracy and various drug distribution crimes:
Ali Kuyateh, aka “Pops,” 49, of Seattle
Lamin Saho aka “Buck,” 38, of Everett, Washington
Oche Poston, 31, of Everett, Washington
Jaquan Means, 45, of Bellevue, Washington
Dominque Sanders, 34, of Everett, Washington – remains a fugitive.
Patrick Smith, 27 of Edmonds, Washington – remains a fugitive.
Matthew Robinson, 37, of Everett, Washington
Yohannes Wondimagegnehu, aka “Jon,” 35, of Seattle
Finally, Khaliil Ahmed, aka “Bossup,” 26, of Kent, Washington, was identified as someone who supplied guns to members of the conspiracy. He is charged in a separate indictment with three counts of illegal possession of firearms, and one count of illegal possession of ammunition. Two of the charges relate to guns he possessed on August 20, 2023, at the time of a fatal shooting at a hookah bar in South Seattle. Ahmed was injured in the shooting and three others were killed. The final two charges relate to a firearm and ammunition he possessed on May 30, 2024. Ahmed is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2022 conviction for illegally possessing firearms.
Two defendants – Anteneh Tesfaye, 39, of Edmonds, Washington, and Michael Janisch, 25, of Mercer Island, Washington, were arrested on criminal complaints.
Over the course of the investigation law enforcement has seized more than 19 kg of fentanyl, 12 firearms, and more than $130,000 in cash. In the operations yesterday they seized over 50 firearms to include fully automatic weapons and handguns with Glock switches; thousands of rounds of ammunition, including high capacity drum magazines, and armor-piercing rounds; several hundred thousand dollars of bulk cash and jewelry; 1 kilogram of fentanyl and 4 kilograms of cocaine.
The charges contained in the indictments are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case 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 .
This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with significant participation by Seattle Police Department (SPD), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington State Patrol (WSP), FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Bellevue Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Everett Police Department, Renton Police Department, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Washington State National Guard, Washington State Gambling Commission, Yakima County Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D) Narcotics and Gang Task Force, and Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Jensen and Joseph Silvio.
Transporting and Possessing Child Pornography Nets District Man More Than 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Stephen Rattley Johnson, 37, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 7.5 years in prison for uploading and possessing videos in 2020 depicting the rape and sadistic sexual abuse of prepubescent girls.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Johnson was found guilty by a federal jury on April 17, 2024, of five counts of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. On the possession count, the jury further found that the child pornography involved minors under 12 years of age, an aggravating circumstance that doubles the statutory maximum sentence. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Johnson to pay $52,600 in restitution and special assessments. Upon release from his prison term, Johnson will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender.
According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, on September 21, 2020, and October 1, 2020, Johnson uploaded hundreds of child pornography files to his Google Drive cloud storage account. Google identified 220 of the files as known child pornography and closed Johnson’s account. Consistent with its statutory obligations, Google reported the material to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which in turn referred the matter to law enforcement. As part of its investigation, investigators obtained the contents of Johnson’s Google account, which included hundreds of child pornography files.
Law enforcement arrested Johnson on October 7, 2021, and searched his then-residence in the H Street Corridor of Northeast Washington. Among other evidence, law enforcement seized his cellphone and the laptop Johnson had used to upload the child pornography. Although Johnson deleted the child pornography from his computer after Google closed his account, digital forensics experts were able to recover artifacts showing that Johnson had downloaded many of the files as early as April 2020 and that he had opened and watched them. Many of the files are videos depicting the rape and sadistic sexual abuse of prepubescent girls. In addition, Johnson’s web browser history showed that he had navigated to child pornography online—including several of the files he later uploaded to Google—and evidence from his cellphone showed that he continued to seek out child pornography even after Google closed his account.
The case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and Metropolitan Police Department’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force; the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; and the High Technology Investigative Unit of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).
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 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.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Janani Iyengar and Jocelyn Bond.
22cr176
Three Defendants Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Three defendants charged in separate cases with illegal possession of a firearm were sentenced today in federal court, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney presided over the hearings.
The cases are being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence and making communities safer for everyone.
Tyree Lashawn May, 31, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents filed in the case, in 2015, May was convicted of robbery. As a result of that conviction, he is prohibited from possessing firearms. Court records show that, on October 6, 2022, two individuals reported to law enforcement that someone they knew as “Scooter” had stolen their vehicle. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Scooter was May. The next day, on October 7, 2022, officers found the stolen vehicle and observed May carry a black bag to the car and place it in the trunk. The officers stopped May who falsely claimed his name was Jerome Drummond and he was from Virginia. Law enforcement conducted a search of the vehicle and found a 9mm firearm in the bag May had put in the trunk.
Victor Angel Ortiz, 42, of Matthews, N.C., was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court records, in April 2023, law enforcement began an investigation into Ortiz, after the defendant made reference to a “strap,” which is a slang term for a firearm, during a conversation with an inmate in the North Carolina Department of Correction. On May 4, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ortiz’s residence, where they located a 9mm firearm hidden behind the oven in the defendant’s home. Ortiz is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior criminal convictions.
Zaire Edreece Lucky, 24, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents and proceedings, on November 22, 2023, Lucky was arrested on outstanding state arrest warrants by CMPD officers at the train station in Charlotte. During the arrest, Lucky was found to be in possession of a Glock firearm with a loaded 17-round magazine. At the time,CMPD detectives were investigating Lucky for his role in motor vehicle thefts in the region. In addition to the firearm, Lucky also possessed an Autel handheld key programmer, frequently used in vehicle thefts, as well as three key fobs. Lucky has multiple criminal convictions and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The ATF and CMPD investigated the cases against May and Lucky. The FBI handled the investigation into Ortiz.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Sielaff is in charge of the prosecution of May and Ortiz. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Bozin is handling Lucky’s prosecution.
Texas Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Traveling to Florida to Have Sex with A MinorRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Tyler Colton Rock (26, Texas) to 30 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for coercion/enticement of a minor and transferring obscene material to minors. Rock entered a guilty plea on March 1, 2024.
According to court documents, Rock was 25 years old when he engaged in an online relationship with a 13-year-old in Pinellas County. Rock had the child produce explicit images of herself and sent her various images of his genitalia and videos of him masturbating. In anticipation of traveling to meet the child, Rock texted the child that it was either going to be the best trip ever or he would end up in federal prison, but he was excited. In February 2023, Rock traveled from Texas to Pinellas County to engage in sexual intercourse with the child. He brought with him a bag filled with condoms, morning-after emergency contraception pills, and stuffed animals. Rock provided the child with marijuana prior to engaging in sexual intercourse with her.
“This man knew what he was doing was a federal crime, and yet, continued to prey on the young victim,” said FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor. “This investigation is another example of the tenacious commitment of our agents and analysts to rescue children from these sexual predators.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.
This case was 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 victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Ten-Time Convicted Felon, Who Fled from Girlfriend’s Violent Death, Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Albert Ayala (34, Orlando) to 14 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Ayala entered a guilty plea on May 21, 2024.
According to court records, Ayala was driving a vehicle on I-4 when his girlfriend, the sole passenger in the vehicle, was ejected from the car. The woman was struck by multiple vehicles, causing her death. Ayala continued driving and crashed the vehicle at the base of an I-4 exit. Ayala then fled the scene on foot, leaving behind a pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition in the vehicle. Ayala’s DNA was located on the firearm and airbag that had deployed during the crash. Prior to possessing the firearm, Ayala had been convicted of 10 felonies. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
“We’re proud to have helped put this heartless suspect behind bars for a long time,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff.
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.
Tahlequah Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Dale Lea, age 43, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months for illegally possessing a firearm.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On February 14, 2024, Lea pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to investigators, on April 9, 2023, Lea was found in possession of two loaded semi-automatic pistols during the search of a vehicle by Tahlequah Police. At the time of the investigation, Lea had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
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.
The Honorable John C. Coughenour, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Lea will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
St. Louis County Woman Accused of Three Different FraudsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A woman from St. Louis County, Missouri was indicted Wednesday and accused of aiding a romance fraud conspiracy and committing a nearly $40,000 pandemic relief loan fraud as well as a separate mortgage fraud.
Shirley Waller, 42, was indicted on three counts of wire fraud, two counts of mortgage fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and use of an assumed name to commit mail fraud.
The indictment accuses Waller of applying for and receiving a Paycheck Protection Program loan of $19,235 for a Michigan business in 2021, as well as a second loan for a St. Louis resale shop. Waller used the proceeds of the first loan on personal flights to Ghana, Germany and Jamaica instead of approved business purposes, the indictment says.
On May 14, 2022, Waller applied for a home loan of more than $196,000 by lying about her marital status, salary and job and by submitting counterfeit W-2 forms and paystubs, the indictment says.
Finally, the indictment accuses Waller of aiding scammers who tricked a 71-year-old St. Louis County woman into believing that she was in an online relationship with a U.S. military surgeon deployed overseas. Scammers told the victim to send $30,000 in cash to Waller’s address, the indictment says. The shipment was tracked on its journey by several IP addresses in Nigeria. In a two-week period, at least 35 Express Mail shipments sent to Waller’s address by other victims were also tracked by Nigerian IP addresses, the indictment says. Waller would open the packages and forward the cash to others via cryptocurrency transactions and other means, it says.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others in order to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims, including the multiple individual consumer and business victims in this investigation,” said Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.
Each mail theft charge carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Town and Country Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.
Springfield woman pleads guilty to embezzling over $250,000 from prisoner of war organizationRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Springfield woman pled guilty today to wire fraud relating to her scheme to embezzle over $250,000 from her employer.
According to court documents, Jennifer Giorffino, 53, served as the administrator for an organization dedicated to accounting for prisoners of war. The organization is financed by donations. Giorffino’s duties included processing donor checks and paying bills of the organization. Only Giorffino and the Chairman of the Board had access to the organization’s bank accounts.
Beginning in approximately October 2022, Giorffino began using debit cards associated with the organization’s bank accounts to make unauthorized personal purchases and payments, including hundreds of purchases from Amazon, payments to her husband’s bank account, payments made through PayPal to Walmart, PlayStation, DoorDash, Instacart, BarkBox, and Stich Fix.
Beginning in October 2023, Giorffino, using the identification of the organization’s Chairman without her approval, applied for at least 30 credit cards and lines of credit, including with Lane Bryant, Kohls, TJ Maxx, LL Bean, B&H Photo, and Mission Lane. Giorffino used one of the fraudulently-opened credit cards to make $36,278.29 in purchases. Giorffino paid off the credit cards every month until April 2024 using the organization’s bank accounts.
Between Oct. 3, 2023, and April 14, 2024, Giorffino checked the Chairman’s credit through a major credit reporting company 37 times to maintain an understanding of the Chairman’s creditworthiness for credit applications. During the same period, using the Chairman’s identification, Giorffino sought preapproval for small business loans and lines of credit 78 times.
In February 2024, Giorffino opened a checking account in the organization’s name. Giorffino added that account to the organization’s online donation platform and began diverting donations meant for the organization into her fraudulently-opened account. In total, Giorffino diverted $29,746.67 in organization funds into her account, including online donations and 121 checks totaling $13,844.59. The checks were forwarded from the organization’s official address to a UPS mailbox controlled by Giorffino.
By March 2024, Giorffino had largely emptied the organization’s bank accounts and began forging bank statements and writing checks she knew would be returned for insufficient funds. Around the same time the theft of funds was discovered, the Chairman’s credit card was declined at a restaurant because of Giorffino’s activity. At an April 2024 board meeting, Giorffino provided the Board falsified bank statements showing that the organization’s accounts had approximately $206,000 when the actual account balance was only $10,000.
In total, Giorffino misappropriated approximately $257,259 from the organization and the organization’s bank accounts.
Giorffino is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth R. Simon Jr. is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-224.
Son of Sinaloa Cartel Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – On October 30, 2024, United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Brian Jesus Zazueta, age 23, of Sunnyside, Washington, to 160 months in federal prison on drug trafficking charges. Judge Rice also imposed 5 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) developed information that Zazueta was working as a mid-level manager for a drug trafficking organization out of Mexico that was responsible for distributing drugs in Spokane and across Eastern Washington. Zazueta is the son of Adolfo Zazueta-Bueno, a significant member of the Sinaloa cartel. Zazueta-Bueno was a previous resident of the Tri-Cities area, but now resides in Sinaloa, Mexico where he runs his drug trafficking organization. Zazeuta was operating as his father’s eyes and ears in the United States; he is a U.S. Citizen and could travel freely to and from Mexico. Judge Rice found that Zazueta is a leader and organizer for his father’s operation and sentenced him accordingly.
On March 9, 2023, the DEA and the Spokane Police Department executed a federal search warrant on a stash house in Kennewick, Washington. Zazueta was in the apartment along with more than 42,000 fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and heroin. Additionally, DEA found $6,000 in cash, receipts showing money transfers to Sinaloa, Mexico, drug scales, and ledgers with information about drug transactions.
“By targeting drug trafficking organizations, we disrupt the supply of deadly drugs that are causing harm in our neighborhoods,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “Mr. Zazueta was responsible for an organization distributing a large amount of illegal narcotics. Thanks to the excellent work by DEA, the Spokane Police Department, and federal prosecutors, Mr. Zazueta is headed to federal prison, and as a result, our communities are safer and stronger.”
“Mr. Zazueta sowed the seeds of despair in Eastern Washington while he reaped the profits of his methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin distribution,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Thanks to the DEA, Spokane Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Zazueta learned that these actions had consequences and the sentence in this case should make others pause before selling drugs that harm our communities.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Spokane Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard.
2:23-cr-00036-TOR
Sixth Defendant Sentenced for Role in International Scam Targeting the ElderlyRead the Press Release
50 Elderly Victims Lost $11 million
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Everette Jhamal Thibou, 32, of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced to 168 months in prison for participating in a fraud scheme that stole $11 million from 50 victims in West Michigan and around the country. Most of the victims were elderly.
“The victims in this case suffered anxiety, fear, humiliation and devastating financial loss,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “The defendants were relentless, preying on the elderly, often revictimizing their targets. They didn’t care that they were stealing from vulnerable senior citizens; all they cared about was making money. In this case and beyond, we are committed to holding fraudsters accountable, especially when they target vulnerable members of our communities.”
Thibou is the sixth defendant to be sentenced as part of the fraud scheme. The Court previously imposed the following sentences:
- Jmyla Elaine Sha’taria White, of Thonotosassa, Florida, was sentenced to 97 months in prison;
- Jayesh J. Panchal, of Hicksville, New York, was sentenced to 78 months in prison;
- Jorrel Tyler Jackson, of Riverview, Florida, was sentenced to 78 months in prison;
- Vijaya C. Shetty, of Jackson Heights, New York, was sentenced to 63 months in prison;
- McKhaela Katelynn McNamara, of Flint, Michigan, was sentenced to 51 months in prison.
A seventh defendant, Pragneshbhai M. Patel, of Amityville, New York was charged as a member of the fraud scheme and a warrant for his arrest was issued in 2023, but he has not yet been located. He is presumed innocent of the charges until proven guilty in a court of law.
According to court records, victims of the conspiracy received a pop-up or other message on their computers warning that a virus had infected their devices. The messages urged the victims to call a number to get help. When the victims called the number provided, they got a response from someone claiming to work for a tech company, such Microsoft or Apple. In truth, they were scammers located in India, who scared the victims into giving money to the conspiracy with a variety of different ruses.
In one version of the scam, victims were told that their bank accounts had been compromised and they needed to withdraw all their cash and give it to fake “federal agents” for safekeeping. In another version, victims were told that their computers had been infected by a virus and they needed to pay for technical support. In a third version, victims were told that they had been identified in a criminal investigation and needed to turn over money to clear their names. Regardless of which ruse was used, the end result was the same: victims were convinced to give $11 million to the scammers. Victims did this during in-person meetings with fake “federal agents,” by mailing boxes of cash to addresses provided by the scammers, by wire transfers to bank accounts controlled by the scammers, or through gift cards they purchased at the direction of the scammers.
According to court records, the defendants were the U.S.-based members of the conspiracy who collected fraud proceeds from victims on behalf of the conspiracy.
The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The best method for prevention, however, is by sharing information about the various types of elder fraud schemes with relatives, friends, neighbors, and other seniors who can use that information to protect themselves.
The investigation was conducted jointly by FBI Detroit, Grand Rapids Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Lake County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Clay Stiffler.
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Selma Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing Firearms Recently Reported as StolenRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Daniel Joseph Valencia, 26, of Selma, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on April 28, 2024, Valencia was found to be in possession of three firearms that had recently been reported as stolen. Valencia cannot legally possess firearms because he has been previously convicted of several felony offenses, including aggravated assault and domestic violence.
This case is the product of an investigation by the California Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke Baty is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Valencia faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 U.S. 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.
San Antonio Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for tax evasion and aiding and abetting.
According to court documents, Rachel Olivia Markum, 41, and her husband, Robert Franklin Markum Jr., 47, prepared and signed a false and fraudulent form 1040 joint tax return for calendar year 2016, which was then submitted to the Internal Revenue Service. The fraudulent tax return reported the couple’s sole income as gross receipts or sales from the business Camping and Fishing Outlet as $3,530,473, while she was aware that the true amount of gross receipts exceeded $4 million.
Rachel pleaded guilty May 28, 2024, to one count of tax evasion and aiding and abetting. Robert pleaded guilty on April 1, to one count of tax evasion, and was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on Aug. 28. The husband and wife were also ordered to pay $359,108 in restitution.
“This sentencing underscores the serious consequences of defrauding the federal government through false tax returns,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “By concealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the IRS, this married couple betrayed the integrity of our tax system. We will continue to protect the financial interests of the United States with our IRS Criminal Investigation partners and hold accountable those who seek personal gain through deceptive, illegal means.”
“Robert and Rachel Markum created false identities and businesses to hide their income from the IRS, but they failed to realize that money always leaves a trail. Their years in prison will give them an opportunity to reflect on their actions,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan for IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “Prosecuting federal tax crimes remains a priority in Texas, and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas underscores our commitment to holding tax criminals accountable.”
IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chung prosecuted the case.
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Perry County man sentenced to 23 years in prison for soliciting pornography from hundreds of minors while pretending to be teen girl on SnapchatRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Junction City, Ohio, man was sentenced in federal court in Columbus today to 276 months in prison for sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography.
Since 2018, Clay Thomas Wolfe, 28, solicited child pornography from more than 300 victims via the mobile application Snapchat. Approximately 100 exploitation victims who provided sexual content to Wolfe have been identified by law enforcement as minors thus far from across multiple states including Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.
Wolfe pretended on Snapchat to be a 15-year-old female named “Ally” who lived in Ohio and used this persona to solicit child pornography from primarily middle school and high school aged boys. Wolfe’s Snapchat account also contained sexually explicit photographs and videos of minor males as young as 10 and 11 years old.
The investigation was initiated in April 2022, when law enforcement officials in Pennsylvania learned that a sixth-grade student was sharing a nude photograph of a classmate that he had received from Wolfe while Wolfe was pretending to be “Ally.”
As part of his online persona, Wolfe sent the male victims photos and videos of pubescent female’s naked breasts and genitalia that he found on adult pornography sites or public social media accounts. He would use that content to entice the minors he chatted with to send content of their own including image and video files of primarily minor males, some as young as twelve-years-old, engaged in sexually explicit conduct such as bestiality, masturbation, and sexual acts including oral and anal penetration. Wolfe would also extort the victims by threatening to send the nude images of his victims to their friends and family unless they sent him additional images.
In total, Wolfe received approximately 850 images and 570 videos depicting child pornography.
Wolfe was arrested and charged federally in June 2023 and pleaded guilty in April 2024.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. U.S. Attorney Parker and Special Agent in Charge Iatarola commended the cooperation of the Perry County Sheriff’s Office and Perry County Prosecutor. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch and are representing the United States in this case.
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Press Release by United States Attorney Relating to November 2024 General ElectionRead the Press Release
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands announced today the assignment of Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) who will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Marivic P. David will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Guam and AUSA Eric S. O’Malley will serve as the DEO for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands. They are responsible for overseeing each district’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington DC.
United States Attorney Anderson said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Anderson stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, DEOs will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. Ms. David can be reached by the public at (671) 479-4120. Mr. O’Malley can be contacted at (670) 236-2986.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The public can contact the FBI at the following numbers:
- Honolulu Field Office 24/7 (808) 566-4300
- Guam Office (671) 472-7465
- Northern Mariana Islands Office (670) 322-6934
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Anderson said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. Local police has primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always has faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
Owner of Arkansas Tree Service Business Sentenced for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
An Arkansas man was sentenced yesterday to 20 months in prison for filing a false individual income tax return.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Carlos Gonzalez, 59, of Rogers, filed false tax returns that underreported the gross receipts from his tree-trimming and removal business, Charley’s Tree Service. From 2014 through 2020, Gonzalez cashed more than $3 million in customer checks instead of depositing them into his business’ bank account, knowing that his return preparer relied on the bank account records when preparing his returns. In addition, he did not tell his return preparer about the cashed checks. As such, the return preparer prepared tax returns that underreported gross receipts from his business resulting in a tax loss to the IRS of more than $900,000.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Brooks for the Western District of Arkansas ordered Gonzalez to serve one year of supervised release and to pay approximately $1.4 million in restitution to the United States and the State of Arkansas.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Curtis Weidler and Wilson Stamm of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Marshall for the Western District of Arkansas prosecuted the case.
Orange County man sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Bridge City man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
On September 12, 2023, Dereck Wayne Winstead, 34, was found guilty by a jury of possession of child pornography following a trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone. Winstead was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by Judge Crone on October 31, 2024.
According to information presented in court, in 2020, federal agents received two cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) with information that an individual in Orange County, Texas, had been accessing and possessing images of child pornography. An investigation revealed the accounts accessing the child pornography were connected to Winstead. On March 30, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a consensual search at Winstead’s residence and located four electronic devices, including a custom-built gaming computer. A search of the custom-built gaming computer by a computer forensic analyst revealed over 300 images of child pornography including images of children under the age of 12.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Beaumont Resident Agency and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Grove and Jonathan Lee.
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Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Serve 84 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession Following Domestic Violence CallRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – GREGORY LAMONT BRIGHT, 37, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On February 8, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment against Bright, charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and witness tampering. According to public record, on May 12, 2023, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department were dispatched to the leasing office of a local apartment on a reported domestic violence incident. Officers spoke with the victim in the office, who told authorities Bright slapped her and then pushed her onto a bed and strangled her with his hands until she believes she lost consciousness. Bright then left the apartment. Officers observed bruising on the victim’s neck and face, and the victim asked police to make sure the defendant was no longer in her apartment. Oklahoma City Police searched the victim’s residence and found Bright concealing himself in a bathroom. Officers also found a handgun and a shotgun in the apartment, which Bright later admitted to possessing.
Bright was arrested, and in the days that followed, he made several phone calls to the victim in an attempt to convince the victim not to testify against him and claim the firearms belonged to her. Bright also spoke with his friends and family members, instructing them to also try to influence the victim to change her story.
On May 15, 2024, Bright pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment and admitted he possessed two firearms despite his previous felony conviction.
At the sentencing hearing on October 24, 2024, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones sentenced Bright to serve 84 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Jones noted the nature and circumstances of the offense, along with Bright’s violent criminal history. Public record reflects that Bright holds previous felony convictions, including convictions for illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2015-6513 and at least one felony conviction for robbery out of Michigan.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary E. Walters and Jackson D. Eldridge prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. In October 2017, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop crime-reduction strategies that incorporate lessons federal law enforcement has learned since the program’s launch in 2001. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of PSN, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. For more information about PSN, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Okfuskee County Resident Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse, Child Neglect, Maiming, and Possessing A Firearm as A FelonRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Daniel Levi Magness, age 35, of Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Child Abuse, one count of Child Neglect, one count of Maiming, and one count of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The Indictment alleged that between January 1, 2023, and January 31, 2024, Magness maliciously caused and threatened harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured two children for whom Magness was responsible. The Indictment also alleged that during that same time, Magness willfully failed to provide adequate nurturance, food, shelter, hygiene, medical care, and supervision to those same children. Additionally, the Indictment alleged that during that same time, Magness, intending to torture, maim, and disfigure, cut the ear of one child. Finally, the Indictment alleged that on January 31, 2024, Magness knowingly possessed a Ruger semi-automatic pistol, one .22 caliber revolver, one .22 WMR caliber, bolt action rifle, and one 20 gauge shotgun after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The crimes occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Magness was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Ocean County Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for illegally laundering the proceeds of a wire fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Eli Schamovic, 43, of Lakewood, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with money laundering. U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Schamovic made or caused others to make numerous fraudulent financial transactions through at least two entities that Schamovic formed and established as merchants that used multiple credit card processing companies. These transactions resulted in more than $1 million in losses to a multinational financial services corporation that specialized in payment cards. Schamovic laundered portions of the proceeds of this scheme, including through an approximately $500,000 wire transfer from a bank account under his control.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Schamovic to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $1.68 million.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
Nine Men Arrested in Maine and Massachusetts for Fentanyl, Methamphetamine and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Nine men have been arrested for fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking.
Ernesto Arberty Mendez Herrera, 43, of Roxbury; Ricky Junior Rodriguez Reynoso, 24, of Boston; Cristofel Baez Guerrero, 25, of Dorchester; Luis Castillo, 24, of Dorchester; Yomerli Mendez Arias, 22, of Lawrence; Estarling Perez Almonte, 28, of Roslindale; Raidyn Hernandez Montero, 24, of Dorchester; Ricardo Canela Soto, 20, of Dorchester; and Waldo Lara Arias, 19, of Boston are charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. All nine defendants made their initial appearances in federal court in Boston and Bangor, Maine on Oct. 29, 2024.
According to the charging documents, the defendants were part of a drug trafficking operation that regularly transported fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine from areas in Boston, Lawrence and Malden, Mass. to locations in Waldo County, Maine. It is alleged that the defendants distributed the narcotics in Maine and then return to Massachusetts with the narcotics proceeds. During the course of the investigation, approximately 10 kilograms of fentanyl and multiple firearms were seized.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances 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. 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 United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police, Maine State Police; Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; Waldo, Maine County Sherriff’s Office; Boston Police Department; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hassink of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is 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.
Nigerian National Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Alex Ogunshakin, age 41, a Nigerian citizen, was sentenced on October 31, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Senior United States District John M. Gerrard sentenced Ogunshakin to a total of 45 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ogunshakin’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release and is subject to removal from the United States.
From sometime no later than January 2015, continuing to the September 2016, Ogunshakin participated in a scheme to defraud U.S. based businesses. As a part of the scheme, Ogunshakin and other individuals participated in a business e-mail compromise scheme in which co-conspirators used compromised e-mail accounts to send spoofed e-mails to thousands of business employees who handled accounting, to include authorizing and sending wire transfers. A spoofed e-mail is one in which the e-mail appears to be originating from a sender other than who is truly the sender. Co-conspirators spoofed e-mail addressed to pose as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or other business executives and would direct recipients of the e-mail to complete wire transfers. The business employee, thinking the wire transfer request was legitimate, would comply with the wire transfer and send money to a location providing in wiring instructions. Ogunshakin and other co-conspirators provided bank account information to the co-conspirators who sent the spoofed e-mails to the business executives.
In February 2015 and May 2015, two Nebraska based businesses were targeted by the scheme. The investigation into the scheme revealed over 70 U.S. based business were victimized and the loss amount exceed $6 million, with attempted losses exceeding $30 million.
Ogunshakin and the co-conspirators committed the offense from outside the United States, mostly from Nigeria. At the request of the United States, Nigerian authorities arrested Ogunshakin for the purpose of his extradition in October 2020, a court in Nigeria found him extraditable in July 2023, and Nigerian authorities extradited him to the United States in September 2023. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Ogunshakin in coordination with the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Abuja, Nigeria’s Office of the Attorney General and Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Ogunshakin’s co-conspirator, Adewale Akinloye, was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment in February 2019. Co-conspirators Richard Uzuh, Felix Okpoh, and Nnamdi Benson all remain at large. Co-conspirator Abiola Kayode’s extradition proceedings are ongoing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lecia E. Wright for the District of Nebraska.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Staged Automobile Accident ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that ANTOINE CLARK (“CLARK”), age 34, of New Orleans, pled guilty on October 30, 2024, to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted for staging collisions in “Operation Sideswipe” to 49.
According to court documents, CLARK,and others, conspired to fraudulently stage an automobile collision to obtain money. CLARK, Shirley Harris (“Harris,”) and other co-conspirators intentionally collided with a tractor-trailer on April 24, 2017, in Interstate 10 near the Crowder Boulevard exit in New Orleans. CLARK and Harris made false police reports, filed a fraudulent lawsuit, lied during deposition testimony, and sought unnecessary medical treatment, to further their fraudulent claims. The United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance set sentencing in this matter for January 29, 2025.
CLARK faces up to five (5) years of imprisonment; up to three (3) years of supervised release; and a fine of up to $250,000.00. A $100 mandatory special assessment fee is also applicable.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Carboni, and Edward Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit.
New Hampshire Man Charged with Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on October 31, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Douglas Reynolds, 36, recently of New Hampshire, with one count of possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. An arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
Reynolds is currently in New Hampshire state custody, and his arraignment will occur once he is brought into federal custody.
According to court records, Reynolds illegally possessed three firearms on or about January 17, 2024.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Reynolds is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Reynolds faces up to 15 years of incarceration if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Bradford, Vermont Police Department.
The prosecutor in this matter is Assistant United States Attorney Joshua L. Banker. Reynolds has not yet retained nor been appointed counsel.
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.
New Britain Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Distribution Offense, Admits Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that AKEEM MANOO, 34, of New Britain, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine. He also admitted that he committed the offense while on supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 26, 2016, Manoo was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 120 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for his participation in a gang-related narcotics trafficking conspiracy. He was released from federal prison in November 2022. On May 11, 2023, Manoo was arrested after Hartford Police stopped his vehicle and found him in possession of nearly a half-kilogram of cocaine.
Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for January 22, at which time Manoo faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years for the cocaine distribution offenses, and a maximum term of imprisonment of five years for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
Manoo is detained pending sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe.