Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
13 December 2024
Inver Grove Heights Man Indicted on Multiple Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Inver Grove Heights man has been charged with multiple counts related to the production of child sexual abuse material and for coercing minors to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Samuel Eric Snell, 45, a.k.a. “Storm Blackwood” and “Candy Man Sam MN,” was a member of an online community on the gaming platform Discord that sold “services” to adult customers. Specifically, minor girls, referred to as “kittens,” would sell online companionship to adults, referred to as “masters,” in exchange for monetary payments, usually made through CashApp or as in-kind gifts. These Discord channel names included “Fun Time Kitty Klub,” “Pretty Kitty Hangout,” “Safe Kitten Konnection,” and “Kitten Server Name.” Direct messages obtained from Snell’s Discord account show he actively solicited illicit images from his chat partners—many of whom self-identified as minors and indicated that they were grappling with gender identity, sexuality, and mental health concerns.
In general, Snell followed the same script when soliciting images from these minors, beginning with a request for photos of the minors’ inner thigh and then progressing to their pubic region. In several instances, Snell solicited and received sexually-explicit images of minor victims in an intent to groom them to eventually produce child sexual abuse material. Snell also sent his minor victims electronic sex toys that he controlled remotely, and then solicited and received depictions of them using the devices. On at least two occasions, Snell took a minor to a hotel, paid them $100 to engage in sexual intercourse, and provided emergency contraception afterwards.
Investigators believe there may be other victims relevant to this investigation. If your minor dependent(s) have been in contact with Samuel Eric Snell, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.
The indictment charges Snell with six counts of production of child pornography and two counts of coercing a minor to engage in prostitution. Snell made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court yesterday before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster. A detention hearing has been scheduled for December 17, 2024.
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. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.justice.gov/psc.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the Inver Grove Heights Police and Woodbury Police Departments.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Polachek is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Dec. 13 was:
Jerod John Chambers, 35, of Miles City, on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. If convicted of the most serious crime, Chambers faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Chambers was detained pending further proceedings. The Miles City Police Department, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-24.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan pleading not guilty on Dec. 10 was:
Jeremy Allen Malloy, 42, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Malloy faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Malloy was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-145.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
XXX
Hugo Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Mark McAnally, age 65, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of possessing certain material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.
The Indictment alleged that in July 2023, McAnally knowingly possessed visual depictions from the internet of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which McAnally accessed with intent to view.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. McAnally was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.
Houstonian ordered to prison for sending threatening emails to Harris County officials and othersRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 42-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for his role in the transmission in interstate commerce containing a threat to injure the person of another, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jeremy James Joseph represented himself at the re-arraignment and sentencing and entered a guilty plea Dec. 13.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Joseph to serve 16 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing the sadistic way Joseph repeatedly threatened his victims. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Joseph did not show remorse for his actions or the harm he caused his victims.
Joseph admitted during his plea hearing to sending threatening emails to multiple victims, including judges, lawyers and court personnel in the Harris County judicial system over a two-year period. These messages included explicit threats, including a threat to “rage gunfire and bombs on Harris County,” as well as graphic descriptions of the violence he intended to commit.
Joseph also admitted to sending similar emails to news media outlets, universities and hospitals both within and outside the Houston area. The emails contained not only threats but also numerous racial, homophobic and ethnic slurs, amplifying the severity of his actions.
Joseph declined the opportunity to address the court during his sentencing, opting not to speak on his own behalf.
“Jeremy James Joseph's despicable actions involved sending heinous threats through emails to judges, lawyers and public officials over two years, expressing intentions to commit unparalleled violence and chaos,” said Hamdani. “His conduct breached the safety and peace of mind essential for public servants to carry out their duties effectively. My office’s commitment to protecting public officials from such unparalleled threats ensures the integrity and continuous functioning of our justice system, prevents fear and chaos from taking root in its operations and keeps Mr. Joseph off the streets for the next 16 years.”
Joseph will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. Hanes is prosecuting the case.
Honduran Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Federal Prison for Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Marvin Martinez-Ruiz, age 42, of Honduras, to 63 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the Court further sentenced Martinez-Ruiz to serve three years of supervised release.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on August 21, 2023, deputies with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a white van for improper lane use. The driver of the van was identified as Martinez-Ruiz and after obtaining consent to search the van, deputies located 416.1 grams of methamphetamine, 150.9 grams of cocaine, and two digital scales inside the van. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Martinez-Ruiz admitted that the narcotics belonged to him.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Baton Rouge Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy S. Johnson.
HOPE Family Drug SummitRead the Press Release
Click here to register for this IN-PERSON only Summit
HOPE Family Drug Summit
(Healing, Opportunities and Possibilities to Empower)
January 15, 2025
University of Charleston
West Virginia families impacted by Substance Use Disorder (SUD) are welcome and encouraged to attend the West Virginia HOPE Family Drug Summit. The Summit will provide opportunities for SUD survivors, families and professionals who support them to share information, build connections, foster collaboration and strengthen partnerships to provide HOPE to those suffering from SUD and their children and families.
This free event will convene a wide range of stakeholders, including families impacted by the drug crisis in West Virginia, to better meet the comprehensive needs of families and those seeking recovery.
Audience: Individuals and family members impacted by SUD, recovery and treatment professionals, probation, parole, courts, social workers, school personnel, victim advocates, and others providing services and support to SUD impacted individuals and families.
Sponsored in partnership with:
Drug Enforcement Administration, Louisville Division
Federal Public Defender’s Office, SDWV
First Choice Services
Jobs & Hope West Virginia
Legal Aid of West Virginia
Mission West Virginia
West Virginia Center for Children’s Justice
West Virginia Department of Homeland Security
West Virginia Fusion Center
West Virginia Public Defender Services
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
hope_family_drug_summit_program_final.pdfGenovese Crime Family Member Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for RacketeeringRead the Press Release
Today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Carmelo Polito, also known as “Carmine Polito,” a former acting captain and soldier in the Genovese organized crime family, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano for racketeering in connection with operating an illegal gambling business at the Gran Caffé in Lynbrook, Long Island, and attempting to extort an individual who owed him money stemming from a separate online sports betting business.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Anne T. Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney, announced the sentence.
“Today’s sentence makes clear to the defendant that the outcome for participating in illegal gambling and making extortionate threats is the loss of something very valuable — your freedom,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Thanks to the outstanding work of prosecutors in my Office and law enforcement, the alliance of the Genovese and Bonanno organized crime families’ rackets was a bust.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department and the Nassau County Police Department for their invaluable assistance in the investigation.
“The cards did not favor Carmelo Polito's illicit gambling parlor or his extortionate methods,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “His illegitimate business and death threats financed the operations of two crime families. May today’s sentencing reaffirm the FBI’s commitment to doubling down on all organized crime activity plaguing our communities.
“This defendant, along with other associates of the Genovese family, operated illegal gambling businesses in Nassau County that funneled money straight into organized crime,” stated District Attorney Donnelly. “Extortion, threats, and violence have no place in Nassau County. I thank our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their collaboration in dismantling this illicit operation and working to rid organized crime from our communities.”
Polito is a longtime, inducted member of the Genovese organized crime family. As detailed in earlier court filings, for years, numerous members and associates of the Genovese and Bonanno organized crime families operated several illegal gambling operations in the Eastern District of New York. Beginning in at least May 2012, the Genovese and Bonanno families jointly operated a lucrative illegal gambling parlor concealed inside a coffee shop called the Gran Caffé in Lynbrook. Polito and co-defendant Joseph Macario, also known as “Joe Fish,” on behalf of the Genovese crime family, and Anthony Pipitone, also known as “Little Anthony,” on behalf of Bonanno crime family, successfully negotiated a profit split for the gambling location, which ensured that each crime family benefited from the illegal gambling operation. In addition to the Gran Caffé, the Genovese crime family—through Polito, Macario, Joseph Rutigliano, also known as “Joe Box,” Salvatore Rubino, also known as “Sal the Shoemaker,” and others—operated illegal gambling parlors at establishments called Sal’s Shoe Repair and the Centro Calcio Italiano Club. Rutigliano and Rubino collected the proceeds for the Genovese crime family and distributed them up to higher ranking members, including Polito and Macario. Polito was surveilled distributing proceeds to higher ranking members on numerous occasions.
Polito and co-defendant Mark Feuer also operated an illegal online gambling scheme in which bets were placed on sporting events through a website called “PGWLines.” In connection with his operation of PGWLines, Polito attempted to extort an individual who lost several thousand dollars in bets using death threats and other threats of violence. For example, during a September 2019 call concerning the debtor, Polito instructed another individual to tell the debtor that Polito would “break” the debtor’s “face.” When the debtor still did not pay Polito, Polito instructed the same individual to relay a new message to the debtor: “Tell him I’m going to put him under the f------g bridge.”
Polito is the first defendant sentenced in this case and a related case against four members and associates of the Bonanno organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra. Macario, Rutigliano, Rubino and Feuer are awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar, Drew Rolle, Anna Karamigios and Sean M. Sherman are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Eleanor Jaffe-Pachuilo.
The Defendants:
CARMELO POLITO (also known as “Carmine Polito”)
Age: 64
Whitestone, QueensDefendants Awaiting Sentencing:
JOSEPH MACARIO (also known as “Joe Fish”)
Age: 69
West Islip, Long IslandSALVATORE RUBINO (“Sal the Shoemaker”)
Age: 60
Bethpage, Long IslandJOSEPH RUTIGLIANO (also known as “Joe Box”)
Age: 65
Commack, Long IslandMARK FEUER
Age: 61
Oceanside, Long IslandE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-356 (ENV)
Gardena Street Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Murdering Victim in Front of the Victim’s HomeRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A member of the Gardena 13 street gang was sentenced today to life in federal prison for murdering a 29-year-old man in furtherance of the Gardena 13 gang in front of the victim’s family home in November 2020.
Justin Arteaga, 24, a.k.a. “Hitta,” of Gardena, was sentenced by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr., who also ordered Arteaga to pay $37,554 in restitution.
At the conclusion of a five-day trial, a jury on July 1 found Arteaga guilty of one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder. He has been in federal custody since December 2020.
“This defendant senselessly took a promising young life and will now spend the rest of his days in federal prison,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Gang violence brings devastation on our most vulnerable communities and immeasurable pain on hard-working families. My heart goes out to the victim’s family, and I applaud them for their courage in supporting justice and accountability.”
“This sentencing ensures that the defendant will no longer pose a threat to the community,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “I hope that today will bring some peace and comfort to a family that has lost so much. HSI Los Angeles and law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our dedication to fighting violent crime and ensuring that justice is served.”
On November 13, 2020, the victim and his brother were seated in a parked car in front of their home when they were confronted by three men on foot – Arteaga, Antonio Yanez, 26, a.k.a. “Tank,” and George Hernandez, a.k.a. “Lil Vampy” – who were all armed with handguns. Yanez and George Hernandez were members of the Gardena 13 street gang, and Arteaga was an associate of the gang.
Following the victim’s perceived disrespect of Gardena 13 and the three assailants, all three assailants pulled out guns and began shooting the victim. After the victim had been shot, the victim’s father stepped out to help his son at which point a shootout between the victim’s father and the assailants, including Gardena 13 gang member Jesus Hernandez, 31, a.k.a. “Rowdy,” occurred.
Police and paramedics responded and treated the victim who died at the scene from gunshot wounds. George Hernandez, who was found lying on the street with gunshot wounds to his head and chest, was brought to a hospital, where he later died.
Arteaga was arrested four days later at Los Angeles International Airport as he was preparing to board a one-way flight to Mexico.
Jesus Hernandez, who participated in the shootout, pleaded guilty in May 2022 to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and is serving a 110-month prison sentence. Yanez pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of VICAR, one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He is scheduled for sentencing on January 31, 2025.
“These trigger pullers in the gangs who use intimidation in the form of murder will always be sought out and prosecuted,” said Christopher Bombardiere, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of the Los Angeles Field Division. “The senseless gun violence and lack of regard for life is inexcusable. My condolences goes out to the family who has suffered an unimageable loss.”
“Today’s sentencing underscores the unwavering commitment of law enforcement and prosecutors to deliver justice for victims and their families,” said Gardena Police Chief Michael Saffell. “We sincerely appreciate the collaboration and hard work of the United States Attorney's Office and Homeland Security Investigations in pursuing this case. Their dedication ensured that those responsible for this senseless act of violence were held accountable, sending a clear message that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated in our community.”
Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Gardena Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys, including Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Varun Behl of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking Motorist in FullertonRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Fresno man has pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge for carjacking a motorist last year in Fullerton and throwing her out of the car before leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit in which he hit a police car, then fled on foot before officers apprehended him, the Justice Department announced today.
Deshawn Ricks, 35, pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of carjacking.
According to court documents, on the afternoon of June 14, 2023, Fullerton Police officers were dispatched to the scene of a carjacking that occurred in a parking structure in downtown Fullerton. The victim told officers she was sitting in her parked 2022 Mazda CX-5 SUV with the vehicle turned off when Ricks approached her, opened her car’s door, and ordered her out of the SUV.
When the victim refused, Ricks placed one of his hands on her lower back and brandished a metal object – which the victim described as a “shank” – in his other hand. Ricks threatened to stab the victim, then pulled her out of the vehicle by her hair and body.
Ricks then got into the vehicle and while he attempted to get it to start – the SUV had a “push to start” feature – the victim reached into the vehicle, grabbed her purse, and then walked away to get help. Ricks then drove the car within five feet of the victim and left the area.
Approximately 10 minutes after being notified of the carjacking, Fullerton Police officers located Ricks driving the victim’s stolen SUV. Despite officers’ attempt to make a traffic stop, Ricks led police on a high-speed pursuit in Fullerton in which he ran red lights, drove into oncoming traffic, and hit a marked police vehicle. Later during the chase, when Ricks lost control of the speeding Mazda that then was struck by a police vehicle, he exited the SUV and fled on foot before officers apprehended him.
After law enforcement stopped the vehicle, officers found a pointed, serrated metal stake type object – approximately 12 inches long – near the front driver’s seat.
United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong scheduled an April 11, 2025, sentencing hearing, at which time Ricks will face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Orange County Violent Crimes Task Force (OCVCTF), which is comprised of federal and local law enforcement agencies, including, but not limited to, the ATF, the Santa Ana Police Department, the Brea Police Department, the Fullerton Police Department, the Placentia Police Department, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jena A. MacCabe and Chelsea Norell of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 144 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – David L. Reynolds, 42 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to distributing controlled substances, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Reynolds was sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Reynolds distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and less than 40 grams of fentanyl in August 2023.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey Speith.
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.
Fort Pierce Duo Sentenced to Prison for Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On Dec. 4, two Fort Pierce men were sentenced to prison by Senior U.S. District Judge Donald L. Graham following convictions on gun and drug charges.
Joseph Acevedo, 40, was sentenced to 101 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release.
Stanley Rumowski, 49, was sentenced to 96 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Rumowski was also ordered to pay a fine of approximately $20,000.
On July 18, a jury sitting in Fort Pierce, convicted both men of trafficking cocaine and Rumowski was convicted of possessing a firearm during the drug trafficking offense. According to evidence presented during the trial, Acevedo and Rumowski were business partners in a failing marijuana cultivation business. When the two men were driving back to Fort Pierce, from Miami, they were pulled over in Martin County, Florida by Martin County Sheriff’s Deputies. Following a canine sniff of their vehicle, law enforcement discovered a loaded firearm and approximately half a kilogram of cocaine. During the trial, text messages between the two men were introduced to prove their knowledge and intent to possess and distribute the cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, and Sheriff William D. Snyder of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
HSI Fort Pierce investigated this matter with significant assistance from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Breezye Telfair.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-14010.
###
Former Secret Service Agent Pleads Guilty to Theft of Cryptocurrency from Evidence VaultRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Anthony Joseph Evans, 32, of Tucson, pleaded guilty last week to Officer or Employee of the United States Converting Property of Another. Evans is scheduled to be sentenced on February 19, 2025, before United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez.
Evans admitted that while working as a Special Agent for the United States Secret Service in the Phoenix, Arizona Field Office in early 2022, he accessed cryptocurrency on a hard wallet held in the agency’s secure evidence vault. Evans then transferred the cryptocurrency, worth approximately $56,000, to two wallets he owned or controlled. Evans moved the cryptocurrency through various exchanges, converted most of it into U.S. dollars, and transferred the proceeds to multiple bank accounts he owned. Evans later used the money to pay for personal expenditures, including repayment of debt.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Evans faces up to a year and a day in prison and is required to pay restitution to the victim for the value of the cryptocurrency, including any appreciation in value incurred prior to sentencing.
The United States Secret Service’s Cyber Investigative Section in Washington, DC conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 24-6868-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-175_Evans# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Former Postal Employee Guilty of Delaying and Stealing Contents of U.S. MailRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on December 4, 2024, RANDY BROWN, JR. (“BROWN”), age 31, a resident of Gretna, Louisiana, pled guilty to the four-count indictment filed against him. BROWN is charged with unlawful delay of U.S. Mail matter by a postal employee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703(a), and theft of U.S. Mail matter by a postal employee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709.
According to court documents, between on or about July of 2022, through October 4, 2022, BROWN unlawfully secreted, detained, and delayed U.S. mail, entrusted to him as a postal employee; and on September 26, 2022, September 27, 2022, and October 3, 2022, BROWN did knowingly embezzle, steal, abstract, and remove checks from U.S. mail, entrusted to him as a postal employee.
At sentencing, as to Counts 1-4, BROWN faces a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. BROWN also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each individual count.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Former Orange County Resident Linked to White Supremacy Group Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Rioting at Political RalliesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former resident of Huntington Beach who has been linked to a white supremacy extremist group was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for planning and engaging in riots at political rallies across California.
Robert Paul Rundo, 34, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton.
Rundo pleaded guilty on September 13 to one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Riot Act.
“This defendant sought to further his white-supremacist ideology by plotting riots and engaging in violence at political rallies,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Hate and violence are antithetical to American values and tear at our community. It is therefore critical that we protect the civil and constitutional rights of our community against those who promote divisiveness.”
“After a lengthy investigation, during which the defendant became an international fugitive, Mr. Rundo has now been held accountable for his criminal activity which was motivated by his extremist dogma,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “Mr. Rundo's movement did not ‘rise above’ whatever differences Americans may have, but was divisive, harmful to others and ultimately led him to prison. The FBI will continue to pursue those whose ideology leads to violence and lawlessness.”
From March 2017 to May 2018, Rundo and others participated in an organization that ultimately was rebranded as the “Rise Above Movement” (RAM). RAM representing itself as a fighting group of a new nationalist and white supremacy identity movement. As part of their membership in RAM, Rundo and others attended rallies with the intent to provoke and engage in violence.
To prepare for violent physical conflicts, Rundo and others held hand-to-hand and other fighting training sessions, which they organized through telephone calls, social media, and text messages. Rundo organized and attended several such training sessions in 2017. On various social media platforms, Rundo and others posted messages and photographs of themselves preparing for or engaging in violence, accompanied by statements such as “#rightwingdeathsquad.”
In March 2017, Rundo and other RAM members held a training in San Clemente to prepare to engage in violence at political events, including a rally on March 25, 2017, in Huntington Beach. At the Huntington Beach rally, Rundo and other RAM members pursued and assaulted other persons, including one protestor whom Rundo tackled and punched multiple times. Following the event, Rundo and his co-conspirators posted online photographs and videos celebrating the assaults they had committed.
Rundo also helped organize training for RAM members in anticipation of a rally scheduled to occur on April 15, 2017, in Berkeley. At the Berkeley rally, there were several violent clashes throughout the day. In one such instance, Rundo and several of his co-conspirators crossed a police barrier erected to separate opposing groups. They then punched and kicked several people. Following the event, Rundo and his co-conspirators again posted online photographs and videos celebrating the assaults they had committed.
On June 10, 2017, Rundo and others attended a rally in San Bernardino, at which they confronted and pursued protesters.
In the months following these events, Rundo and his co-conspirators continued to publicly celebrate their assaults, including through online posts with photos and videos of RAM members assaulting people.
Two other defendants have been charged in this case:
- Robert Boman, 31, of Torrance, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Riot Act and one count of rioting, and has a trial date of February 18, 2025, scheduled; and
- Tyler Laube, 28, of Redondo Beach, who pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of interfering with a federally protected right and later was fined $2,000 and sentenced to time already served in custody.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kathrynne N. Seiden and Anna P. Boylan of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Former Mustang Public Schools Payroll Services Director Pleads Guilty to Defrauding School District Out of More Than $471,000 and Filing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, KIM WEINRICH, 67, of Mustang, pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On December 3, 2024, Weinrich was charged by Information with wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. Public records reflect that between 2014 and April 2022, Weinrich was employed by Mustang Public Schools (the “District”) as Payroll Supervisor and was later promoted to Director of Payroll Services in 2021. In her roles with the District, Weinrich was responsible for administering, processing, and reconciling the bi-monthly payroll for the District’s employees. According to the Information, beginning in July 2016, Weinrich manipulated the District’s payroll accounting software to increase her net pay each pay period, and deposited the stolen funds into her personal bank account. Weinrich’s scheme resulted in several District employees underreporting their federal and state withholdings, which reduced the amount of their tax refunds. In all, between July 2016 and April 2022, Weinrich defrauded the District out of approximately $471,657.91.
Additionally, public records indicate that Weinrich manipulated the District’s payroll accounting software to make it appear as if she paid substantial amounts in federal income taxes, when in reality, Weinrich had no federal income taxes withheld. On April 5, 2022, Weinrich filed a federal tax return where she reported an income that was substantially lower than the actual income received due to the fraud.
On December 12, 2024, Weinrich pleaded guilty to the Information, and admitted that she adjusted payroll amounts to herself to increase her income, manipulated payroll software to make it appear as if she were paying substantial amounts in federal and state income taxes when in fact she wasn’t, and filed a federal tax return declaring she made $91,295 while knowing the actual income received was substantially more.
At sentencing, Weinrich faces up to 23 years in federal prison and fines up to $350,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown is prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Former Harlem Globetrotter Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison in COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Quentin Allen Jackson, 58, was sentenced to 84 months in prison and ordered to pay three million dollars in restitution. Jackson pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering with respect to the fraudulent proceeds Paycheck Protection Act (“PPP”) COVID-19 loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration.
“We in the Carolinas idolize our basketball stars, especially the ACC greats who played on Tobacco Road,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “As a college point guard and Harlem Globetrotter, Jackson’s crossover was deadly. But he drew a foul when he used his talents and reputation to recruit people into a multi-million-dollar fraud on our nation’s pandemic relief program. This seven-year prison sentence should stand as a warning to anyone who took advantage of our nation’s generosity in a time of need. We are patient, persistent, and willing to use every second on the shot clock.”
“Schemes to fraudulently obtain federal funds meant to provide assistance to small businesses is unacceptable,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) in the Charlotte Field Office. “The defendant took advantage of critical aid programs intended to provide relief for businesses affected during the pandemic by fraudulently applying for and obtaining COVID-19 program funds. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue to pursue individuals who try to exploit federal relief programs for their personal gain.”
This sentence follows the recent guilty plea following four days of trial testimony of Earl Lamont Taylor, who worked with Quentin Jackson and Edward Whitaker to obtain fraudulent PPP loans. Mr. Jackson is the 27th defendant to be sentenced in this investigation, with five others awaiting sentencing.
Jackson conspired with others to obtain fraudulent PPP loans in the names of several companies under Jackson’s control. After receiving the proceeds of the fraudulent PPP loans, Jackson carried out a series of steps detailed by his co-conspirators to make it appear as though the borrower’s company was paying bi-weekly payroll to its employees. These actions made it appear as though Jackson’s companies were paying regular wages as intended by the CARES Act. Jackson instructed his purported employees to cash the checks, and then return the illicit cash to him.
In addition to directly engaging in the PPP fraud described above, Jackson also served as a middleman, earning a fee from his co-conspirators for each additional fraudulent borrower he recruited. He ultimately recruited over a dozen individuals who obtained fraudulent PPP loans. Those Jackson recruited engaged in the same scheme described above to launder the proceeds of the fraudulent loans. Nearly $4 million of fraudulent PPP disbursements are attributable to Jackson or to individuals he recruited to the scheme.
In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act and additional appropriations authorized up to $649 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Financial institutions issued the PPP loans, which were guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after United States District Judge James C. Dever III announced the sentence. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David G. Beraka and William M. Gilmore are prosecuting the case.
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. 5:22-cr-00180-D.
Former Department of Defense Deputy Chief Sentenced to Federal Prison for Dogfighting ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Frederick Douglass Moorefield, Jr., age 64, Arnold, Maryland, to 18 months in federal prison, six months of home detention, and a $20,000 fine, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in a multi-state dogfighting conspiracy. In addition to the fine, Judge Bennett ordered Moorefield to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $21,576.
Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland announced the sentence with Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Field Office- Criminal and Cyber Division; Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General; Defense Criminal Investigative Service – Mid-Atlantic Field Office; U.S. Marshal for Maryland Clinton Fuchs; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad.
According to the guilty plea, federal agents began investigating Moorefield’s connection to dogfighting after officers from Anne Arundel County Animal Control responded to a report of two dead dogs found in a plastic dog food bag in Annapolis, Maryland in November 2018. Investigators found mail addressed to Moorefield inside the bag and a necropsy determined that the dogs bore wounds and scarring patterns consistent with dogfighting.
Eventually, investigators determined that Moorefield was affiliated with a dogfighting enterprise known as the “DMV Board,” which operated in and around Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Numerous other members of the DMV Board have been convicted on dogfighting charges in the Eastern District of Virginia. Moorefield operated under the kennel name “Geehad Kennels” and used his home in Arnold to keep, train, and breed dogs for dogfighting for more than 20 years.
A review of Moorefield’s phone and iCloud account showed numerous message exchanges regarding dogfighting with other members of the DMV Board. In addition to arranging fights and wagers, Moorefield and other members of the DMV Board discussed the breeding and training of fighting dogs, procuring supplies for the maintenance and feeding of fighting dogs, and criminal investigations and prosecutions of dogfighters. Additionally, it was discovered that Moorefield and others discussed the indictments of DMV Board members and speculated about the identity of a “snitch” in the group.
Moorefield’s messages also contained several exchanges arranging, or “hooking,” dogfights. In these conversations, Moorefield would “call out a weight” by identifying the weight and sex of the dog he wanted to sponsor in the fight. Other dogfighters would then propose a fight against their own dogs or match Moorefield with another contact who had a dog in the same weight class. The dogfighters then agreed on wagers and set a date for the fight, usually six to eight weeks after the match was made. In addition to stating the amount to be paid to the winner of the fight, dogfighters agreed on forfeit, or “fit” payments, to be made if a dogfighter backed out of the fight prior to the scheduled date.
After hooking a fight, Moorefield trained his dogs in a process known as a “keep.” Moorefield’s typical keep schedule for a dog involved physical training (using treadmills, weighted collars, and other accessories), a diet plan, and the use of steroids. Moorefield obtained steroids and other veterinary drugs through various contacts in his dogfighting network instead of through legitimate veterinary prescriptions.
When Moorefield sponsored a dog in a fight, the fight ended only when a dog died or when the owner forfeited the match—either through the dog “quitting” the fight or the owner “picking up” the dog. If one of Moorefield’s dogs lost a fight, but did not die, Moorefield killed the dog. One method Moorefield used to kill the dogs was utilizing a device that consisted of jumper cables connected directly to an ordinary plug. Moorefield plugged the device into a wall socket and attached the cables to the dog, electrocuting it.
Between January 2019 and October 2023, Moorefield sent and received monetary payments related to dogfighting through CashApp. Sometimes, transactions were given misleading labels to disguise the true nature of the transferred money. For example, in 2022, Moorefield received a $1,000 transaction labeled as a “housewarming gift” from a known dogfighter. It was determined that Moorefield has lived at the same address for over two decades.
On September 6, 2023, agents searched Moorefield’s residence, recovering five pit-bull-type dogs from large metal cages in a windowless room in the basement. Additionally, agents found several containers of animal medication, dog food, and protein powder in the same room, in addition to the jumper-cable device Moorefield used to kill dog. Law enforcement also seized a large folded-up, blood-stained piece of carpet from a shed on the property. Moorefield used the carpet as the floor of an arena to stage dogfights or “rolls” (brief test fights between dogs to evaluate the dogs’ fighting ability).
When interviewed by agents, Moorefield stated that he had only obtained four of the five dogs found on the property within the past week. The fifth dog, which Moorefield did not obtain within the past week, exhibited calloused skin, an old injury, and fleas. As a result, the dog was humanely euthanized after exhibiting extreme aggression toward both human caretakers and other dogs. Moorefield bred and/or trained all five dogs recovered from his property for the purposes of sponsoring them in dogfights.
At the time Moorefield was charged in this case, he was the Deputy Chief Information Officer for Command, Control, and Communications for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Animal Control, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for their valuable assistance in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Levin who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Former CNMI Bar Association Executive Director Sentenced to 18 months in Federal Prison for Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAIPAN, C.N.M.I. – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that on December 10, 2024, defendant Peonie Cabrera, age 40, from Saipan was sentenced by the Honorable Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood in the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to 18 months imprisonment for two counts of Bank Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2), and two counts of Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. The Court also ordered five years of supervised release following imprisonment, 100 hours of community service, $249,706 in restitution, and a mandatory $400.00 special assessment fee.
From January 2019 to August 2023, Cabrera served as the Executive Director of the Northern Mariana Bar Association (NMBA). Her duties included managing membership fees for the office. During that time, she diverted over $200,000 of NMBA funds through federally insured bank accounts for personal use. She presented fraudulent payroll documents and paychecks for signature by NMBA board members. These were drawn upon NMBA’s bank account and made payable to Cabrera. She also withdrew cash from NMBA’s savings account for personal use on 13 occasions. She further used NMBA’s bank accounts to make over 150 payments to her PayPal account for personal use. During 2020 through 2023, Cabrera also diverted payments from NMBA members via other electronic payment accounts for her personal use.
“Cabrera’s lengthy criminal conduct left a trail of victims,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Bar members should expect that their mandatory payments are put to good use in support of the legal profession. Additionally, these funds often provide critical support for many bar-related activities, including mock trials, that benefit our communities. Hopefully the sentence imposed by the Court will act as a deterrent for this defendant.”
“This sentencing is a reminder that the FBI and our law enforcement agency partners are dedicated to rooting out corruption within our communities,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill, “Peonie Cabrera was in a trusted role when she stole over $150,000 from her colleagues for her own personal use. Let this serve as a reminder to all who are tempted to use their positions of power to unjustly enrich themselves. We will continue to investigate allegations of fraud at all levels.”
The investigation was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Eric S. O’Malley, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Odometer Tampering ChargesRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – Drew Mitchell Schreiber, of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida to three counts of odometer tampering.
Schreiber, owner of Central Florida Automotive Group (now-named Southeastern Credit Union Solutions), in Winter Garden, Florida, purchased high-mileage used vehicles from wholesale automobile auctions throughout Florida. The vehicles’ odometers were then rolled back as much as 428,000 miles and resold to unsuspecting used-vehicle dealers via auto auctions or by online direct sales. The rolled-back vehicles were then sold to victims throughout the United States enriching Schreiber with fraudulent gains. In all, Schreiber sold rolled-back vehicles. Because many of these vehicles were more than 10 years old, Schreiber obtained so-called “exempt” titles that did not reveal the actual mileage of the vehicles.
“Just because a motor vehicle may be exempt from mileage recording on a title does not give a dealer the right to roll back odometers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “With vehicles remaining in use for longer periods of time, many Americans rely on older vehicles as their primary mode of transportation. Used car buyers deserve peace of mind knowing that the odometer reading in their vehicle is correct.”
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation investigated this case.
Trial Attorney David Sullivan of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kara Wick for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
plea_agreement.pdfFlorida Man Pleads Guilty to Odometer Tampering ChargesRead the Press Release
Drew Mitchell Schreiber, of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida to three counts of odometer tampering.
Schreiber, owner of Central Florida Automotive Group (now-named Southeastern Credit Union Solutions), in Winter Garden, Florida, purchased high-mileage used vehicles from wholesale automobile auctions throughout Florida. The vehicles’ odometers were then rolled back as much as 428,000 miles and resold to unsuspecting used-vehicle dealers via auto auctions or by online direct sales. The rolled-back vehicles were then sold to victims throughout the United States enriching Schreiber with fraudulent gains. In all, Schreiber sold rolled-back vehicles. Because many of these vehicles were more than 10 years old, Schreiber obtained so-called “exempt” titles that did not reveal the actual mileage of the vehicles.
“Just because a motor vehicle may be exempt from mileage recording on a title does not give a dealer the right to roll back odometers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “With vehicles remaining in use for longer periods of time, many Americans rely on older vehicles as their primary mode of transportation. Used car buyers deserve peace of mind knowing that the odometer reading in their vehicle is correct.”
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation investigated this case.
Trial Attorney David Sullivan of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kara Wick for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to Eight YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Wake Forest man was sentenced to 96 months in prison for dealing fentanyl in Raleigh. On September 23, 2024, Michael Anthony Weidner pled guilty two counts of distribution of a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Michael Weidner, 31, sold cocaine, and fentanyl and Adderall pills from October 2022 through April 2024. In addition, in November of 2022, Weidner, a convicted felon, was found intoxicated and asleep in the driver’s seat of a car with a loaded AR-15 style firearm on the passenger seat. When a Wake County Sheriff’s Deputy approached and awakened Weidner, Weidner reached for the firearm and was taken into custody. As a previously convicted felon, Weidner cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, 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.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Raleigh Police Department, and Wake County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Loeser prosecuted the case.
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. 5:24-CR-85-M-KS.
Federal Jury Convicts Berrien County Man of Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a federal jury convicted Willie David Lark, 53, of Benton Township, Michigan, of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and quantities of cocaine and cocaine base. Lark will be sentenced at a later date.
“Illicit street drugs can kill,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “In particular, xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. Just a speck of fentanyl can be lethal, and naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse the potentially deadly effects of xylazine. While we can never prosecute our way out of a drug epidemic, my office is committed to disrupting the flow of these poisons into our communities.”
According to evidence admitted at trial, in August 2022, investigators searched Lark’s residence in Benton Township, Michigan in connection with an ongoing drug investigation. Inside Lark’s safe, investigators found over 188 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” over 100 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and xylazine, over 70 grams of cocaine, and over 31 grams of cocaine base. Investigators found additional evidence inside the house that proved Lark intended to sell these drugs.
The jury also heard that approximately two weeks later, in September 2022, when investigators arrested Lark, they found additional quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base in his pants pocket that he intended to sell. In Lark’s truck, investigators also found a key to the safe in his residence that was previously searched and found to contain drugs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (see here), in 2023 at least 107,543 people died from drug poisoning across the United States, which is near the all-time high of 111,029 deaths in 2022. In Michigan, at least 2,931 people died from drug poisoning in 2023. Approximately 75% of the 2023 drug poisoning deaths across the United States were due to fentanyl. While 2024 data shows the number of deaths has started to decline, the number remains high. Learn more about the dangers of xylazine, a non-opioid sedative or tranquilizer, here.
The following services are available for people experiencing addiction, or their friends and loved ones:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, www.samhsa.gov/find-support/in-crisis.
- Cope Network (providing free Naloxone and other harm reduction services in Barry, Berrien, Branch, Cass, Calhoun, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties), 269-580-8290, www.copenetwork.org.
- The Grand Rapids Red Project (providing free Naloxone and other harm reduction services in Kent and Muskegon Counties), 616-456-9063 (Kent County), 231-563-6865 (Muskegon County), www.redproject.org.
- The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has a webpage that identifies county-by-county services.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team are investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Austin J. Hakes is prosecuting it.
This case is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program. 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
# # #
Federal Indictment Charges Four Men with Robbery and Firearm Offenses in Connection with Heist of Electronics Equipment in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Four men have been indicted on federal robbery and firearm charges for allegedly participating in a heist of electronics equipment in Chicago.
KAHDAFFIE GREEN, JAHJUAN GREEN, CHAQWON BIRDEN, and MARQUISE RAMYYEH conspired to rob Meade Electrical Company on the South Side of Chicago on Dec. 6, 2023, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Wearing hoods and ski masks, the four defendants brandished firearms and robbed employees of a RIDGID camera and a Digitrak locator box, the indictment states.
The indictment charges Kahdaffie Green, 25, Jahjuan Green, 27, Birden, 26, and Ramyyeh, 20, all of Chicago, with robbery conspiracy and brandishing firearms during a crime of violence. Kahdaffie Green and Ramyyeh are also charged with illegally possessing firearms as previously convicted felons.
Arraignments in federal court in Chicago are scheduled for Jan. 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily C.R. Vermylen.
Valuable assistance was provided by ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement hub that focuses exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. The CGIC is an interagency collaboration that brings together - under one roof - federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and intelligence analysts to move quickly to investigate and prosecute violent crimes.
Holding firearm offenders accountable through federal prosecution is the centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative that brings together law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive solutions to the most pressing violent crime problems in a community. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence is punishable by a minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and a maximum of life. The robbery conspiracy charge is punishable by up to 20 years, while illegal possession of a firearm by a felon carries a maximum of 15 years.
0001_-_0000_-_indictment_as_to_kahdaffie_green_1_counts_1-2.pdfFederal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer Sentenced for Three Counts of Sexual Abuse of a WardRead the Press Release
A Kentucky man was sentenced today to 100 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release and restitution of $21,000 to each of the three victims for three counts of sexual abuse of a ward.
According to his plea agreement, from Sept. 5, 2020, to Dec. 21, 2020, Jacob Salcido, 40, of Lexington, while employed as a correctional officer at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, knowingly engaged in sexual acts with three inmates. Salcido admitted that, based on his training and experience, he was aware that any sexual contact between FMC staff and inmates was strictly forbidden and constituted a criminal offense.
“Jacob Salcido exploited his power as a correctional officer by sexually abusing three women in his custody,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “This conviction and significant sentence reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to eradicating sexual abuse in federal prisons, bringing to justice those who violate the public trust by abusing those in their custody.”
“Salcido’s duty as a Correctional Officer was to foster a safe and humane environment for inmates,”said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. “Instead, Salcido sexually abused three inmates in his custody and care. Salcido’s lengthy prison sentence sends a clear message that federal Correctional Officers who abuse inmates will be brought to justice.”
“Instead of securing and caring for those in his custody, the defendant preyed on vulnerable individuals and betrayed an important public charge,” said U.S Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This despicable conduct has done enduring damage to his victims. And beyond that, when public officials act with such disregard for those in their care, it erodes faith in all law enforcement. We will continue our efforts to protect these individuals, and to combat abuses by those violating the public trust.”
The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General and FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted the case.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is committed to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and working with law enforcement partners to prosecute violations of federal law. The numerous FBOP employees working diligently to ensure justice for the victims of misconduct are critical to the department’s reform efforts.
Doctor Charged for Unlawful Distribution of Oxycodone and Other Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
A New Jersey doctor was arrested yesterday for unlawfully distributing oxycodone and other controlled substances.
According to court documents, Larry Pettis, 76, of Westampton, owned a medical practice that had multiple locations in New Jersey that purported to provide pain management and other services. Pettis allegedly pre-signed prescriptions for controlled substances so that another individual, who was not allowed to issue such prescriptions, could issue them when Pettis was out of the office. Pettis allegedly caused prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids such as oxycodone, to be issued to patients even though Pettis had failed to assess the patients. Pettis is also alleged to have issued prescriptions for controlled substances when a patient’s drug test results raised red flags for substance abuse and drug diversion and to have caused medical records to be altered and fabricated.
Pettis is charged with four counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office, South Jersey Resident Agency; Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Division, Camden District Office made the announcement.
FBI, HHS-OIG, and DEA are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Nicholas Peone and Hyungjoo Han of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Victims with questions may contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Assistance Unit by calling the Victim Assistance phone line at 1-888-549-3945 or by emailing [email protected]. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit: www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
DeLand Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearms on Two OccasionsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Loveking Kitching (22, DeLand) to three years and five months in federal prison for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Kitching to forfeit the firearms and ammunition. Kitching entered a guilty plea on August 21, 2024.
According to court documents, on May 13, 2023, Kitching was involved in a shooting while riding as a passenger in car near a gas station in DeLand. Within minutes of the shooting, gas station security camera footage captured Kitching exiting the car and walking into the gas station’s convenience store while holding a loaded 9mm pistol. Law enforcement officers responded to the scene and recovered the pistol and other evidence, which indicated that Kitching had exchanged gunfire with someone outside the car. During the shooting, Kitching was shot in the mouth and hand. Shell casings found inside the vehicle where Kitching had been seated indicated that he had also fired the 9mm pistol from inside vehicle.
On December 12, 2023, law enforcement officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle Kitching was driving. Kitching failed to stop and instead led police on a vehicle chase into an industrial park that ended when Kitching reached a dead end. On the ground along the path of the chase, officers located Kitching’s cellphone and a loaded .40 caliber pistol. Kitching’s DNA and fingerprints were found on the pistol.
Kitching had previously been convicted (2022) of multiple felonies and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the DeLand Police Department, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
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.
Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison After Police Find Gun and Drugs While Serving Arrest WarrantRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Shiloh Wright, 42, of Columbia, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Sept. 1, 2022, officers with the City of Columbia Police Department went to a local truck stop to arrest Wright on an outstanding warrant. The officers found Wright driving a vehicle and took him into custody. Officers searched Wright in preparation to take him to the detention center and found plastic baggies containing crack cocaine and cocaine in his underwear. Officers also searched Wright’s vehicle and found a digital scale, a black bookbag containing a loaded firearm, fentanyl pills, marijuana, and a debit card belonging to Wright.
Wright has previous convictions for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine, resisting arrest, domestic violence, and assault and battery.
United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Wright to 84 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. 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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.
###
Charleston Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Weapon and Drug ViolationsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Antwon Rashad Brown, 30, of Charleston, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Brown engaged in a multiple year conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Between May 2021 and July 2022, Brown was arrested four times and charged with multiple narcotics and firearms violations.
On July 22, 2021, law enforcement searched Brown’s residence and located more than 1.5 kilograms of marijuana, extended firearm magazines, ammunition, digital scales, a money counter, more than $1,000 in cash, a loaded AR-15 style pistol, and a loaded 9mm pistol throughout the residence and his bedroom.
Brown had multiple felony convictions preventing him from legally possessing a firearm and ammunition, including multiple violent acts involving firearms.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Brown to 1o years imprisonment followed by four years of court-ordered supervision.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Charleston Police Department, and Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
###
Calhoun County Man Sentenced for a Firearms ConvictionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Victor L. Carpenter, 57, of Mt. Zion, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 57 months in federal prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Carpenter was on state probation for malicious assault and drug charges in Calhoun County. During a probation home visit, officers located a 16-gauge shotgun and ammunition. The gun had been altered with a shortened stock and barrel. Carpenter is prohibited from having firearms because of the felony convictions in Calhoun County.
Carpenter will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Cabarrus County Business Owner Sentenced to Prison for Tax CrimeRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A Concord, North Carolina man has been sentenced to prison for willfully failing to collect or pay over taxes, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
RONALD JAMES McMURPHY, age 50, was sentenced on December 12, 2024, to 18 months in prison by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. At the conclusion of his active term of imprisonment, McMURPHY will be subject to a three -year term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $712,017 in restitution. McMURPHY pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024, to failing to truthfully account for and pay over trust fund taxes, a violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7202.
According to court documents, McMURPHY was the president of McMurphy Hydraulics, Inc. and was required under law to account for and pay to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employment taxes consisting of Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes. From the first quarter of 2016 up to and including the third quarter of 2022, McMURPHY willfully failed to do so on behalf of McMurphy Hydraulics, Inc.’s employees and amassed $438,502 in employer tax liability. McMURPHY was also the president of Powertek Equipment, Inc. and required under law to account for and pay to the IRS employment taxes. From the fourth quarter of 2019 up to and including the third quarter of 2022, McMURPHY willfully failed to do so on behalf of Powertek Equipment, Inc.’s employees and accrued $273,515 in employer tax liability.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Jeanne Dildine.
###
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brooklyn was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to steal over $3 million in COVID relief tax credits using the stolen identity of a corporate executive in New Jersey.
Isaiah Aaron Tenryk, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2024, Tenryk pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Tenryk and his co-conspirators used a fraudulent driver’s license and the New Jersey executive’s name and Social Security number to open an account at a bank in Boston. Tenryk then deposited an approximately $3 million Employee Retention Tax Credit check, payable to the executive’s company, into the fraudulent account. In the days after Tenryk deposited the check, co-conspirators tried unsuccessfully to transfer the funds out of the account. Tenryk was arrested when he returned to the bank to attempt to wire money out of the account.
A co-conspirator, Linval Jackson, of Queens, was arrested in July 2024.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jonathan Wlodyka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Brooklyn Man Convicted of Threatening to Shoot and Kill Employees of the New York State Department of LaborRead the Press Release
Earlier today, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Quadri Garnes of transmission of threats to injure. The verdict followed a five-day trial before United States District Judge Nina R. Morrison. When sentenced, Garnes faces up to five years in prison.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), announced the verdict.
“The defendant used threats of violence as a weapon to terrorize government employees because he couldn’t get what he wanted and today, the jury’s verdict spoke loudly that such conduct will not be tolerated,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “My Office is committed to protecting civil servants who are subjected to work-related threats, and we will do so by vigorously prosecuting offenders like the defendant and demonstrating that there are consequences for such conduct.”
“Today’s guilty verdict should signal to anyone who makes threats of violence against federal employees, or through creating an environment of fear, attempts to impede or obstruct the services these employees provide to the American people, that your actions will absolutely not be tolerated on any level. Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, will bring anyone who attempts or threatens to harm these dedicated employees to justice,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Brubaker.
As proven at trial, Garnes was employed as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service (USPS) at the Homecrest post office in Brooklyn from March 26, 2022 to May 29, 2022. After crashing his postal truck into two vehicles, Garnes was terminated on May 31, 2022. Garnes subsequently applied for unemployment benefits but was denied because he had worked for the USPS for fewer than 60 days and was thus ineligible to receive benefits. On the morning of September 29, 2022, Garnes called the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) and was advised that he had worked for the USPS for too short a period to be eligible to receive benefits. In response, he threatened to shoot and kill employees of the USPS and DOL. During the 45-minute recorded call with two DOL employees, Garnes’s statements included:
- If I go back to the post office, I’m gonna shoot somebody.
- Y’all gonna make me go to jail for killing somebody.
- Do the city want me to kill five or six different people?
- I got 18 and a half years in jail. It don’t bother me to be in jail. I made myself, meaning like I’m made, as long as I’m in the New York City jail, I’m good.
- You might see this s--t on TV. Just remember my name. You might see it on TV tonight. You, just remember my name!
- Somebody might get shot today coming out of Department of Labor.
- Believe me, I’ll be at the New York State Department of Labor down on Schermerhorn or Livingston Street and I will make a big f----ng deal out of it.
Garnes’s threats triggered an immediate response by the DOL, the New York State Police and by Postal Inspectors, who took precautions against Garnes’s return to the postal facility where he had briefly worked and the DOL office he named. Garnes was arrested approximately two weeks after making his threats.
Assistant United States Attorneys Antoinette N. Rangel and Alexander Mindlin are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Rebecca Roth.
The Defendant:
QUADRI GARNES
Age: 48
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-487 (NRM)
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploiting MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester to child exploitation offenses.
Jalen Latimer, 26, of Roxbury, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2025. Latimer is currently in state custody on related offenses. The defendant was previously charged by criminal complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor on Feb. 16, 2024.
In July 2023, Latimer conspired with another individual to sex traffic a minor victim. In July 2022, Latimer used two other minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.
Latimer was arrested in February 2024 and is facing charges by state authorities in Worcester Superior Court of rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and battery of a child, human trafficking of a minor and depicting a minor in sexual conduct.
The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides of a sentence of up to life in prison, up to a lifetime supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier; and Oxford Police Chief Michael K. Daniels made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Rhode Island State Police and Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Carrying Loaded Firearm at MBTA Station in BostonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to illegally carrying a loaded pistol. The defendant, a felon who also possessed armor-piercing ammunition, was first identified when his online purchasing history showed that he was acquiring firearm accessories and various chemicals that could create incendiary or explosive compounds.
Pepo Herd El a/k/a Pepo Wamchawi Herd, 51, of Dorchester, pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Jan. 2, 2025. Herd El was arrested on Thanksgiving Day 2020 and has been detained in custody since that time.
For about a year preceding his arrest, Herd El made many online firearms-related purchases, including buying a laser sight, magazines and a concealable holster. Herd El also purchased extended magazine plates, which allow magazines to hold more rounds, and a Glock firing pin safety, which reduces the force required to pull the trigger. Manufacturers claim that this modification decreases the fatigue that a user may experience when firing multiple rounds. According to court documents, Herd El adhered to the sovereign citizen ideology, which is generally considered anti-government and anti-authority.
On Nov. 26, 2020, Herd El took a bus from his house in Dorchester to the Ruggles MBTA station. At Ruggles, Herd El was detained and searched pursuant to a search warrant. During that search, a loaded semi-automatic pistol, a laser sight, three spare magazines, 45 rounds of ammunition, a knife, and an infrared camera were discovered. Herd El was also wearing a bullet-proof vest and a jacket that had “security” written on it. He told law enforcement officers that he was on his way to Thanksgiving dinner.
During a subsequent search of Herd El’s Dorchester residence, another magazine loaded with armor-piercing rounds was recovered. Additionally, various drawings of gun barrel designs, firearms suppressors and bullets were on the apartment walls. In the kitchen and dining area, various tools that could manufacture ammunition were found. A chemistry book containing handwritten notes about the materials needed to make TNT and C-4 was also found.
Due to several 2004 state convictions for possessing firearms without permits and other crimes, Herd El is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Beck and Timothy Kistner of the National Security Unit are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Tolkoff of the Criminal Division also assisted in the prosecution.
Berkeley Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A Berkeley man was sentenced this week to 72 months in federal prison for possession of firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a felony. The Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., U.S. District Judge, imposed the sentence following the defendant’s guilty plea on one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of felon in possession of ammunition.
According to his plea agreement, Rufus Rogers, 45, admitted to possession of firearms and ammunition when he knew he was a convicted felon. On Feb. 17, 2023, Rogers approached another person outside of a liquor store on San Pablo Avenue in Oakland with a loaded firearm between Rogers’s hands. Rogers followed the other person around the corner and engaged in a verbal altercation. After the other person fired one shot into the air, Rogers raised his gun towards the person and fired three rounds. Rogers also admitted to having multiple firearms in his possession on or about Aug. 2, 2023.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Gilliam also sentenced Rogers to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered Rogers to forfeit his interest in the recovered firearms and ammunition. The defendant was remanded into custody on Dec. 11, 2024.
United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani made the announcement.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Jillian Harvey is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by ATF.
Bank Fraud Lands Former Bank Senior Vice President in Federal Prison for 16 MonthsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, JOHN PADILLA, 44, of Lawton, was sentenced to serve 16 months in federal prison for bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On May 7, 2024, Padilla was charged by Information with bank fraud. According to the Information, between February 2013 and December 2019, Padilla served as senior vice president and commercial loan officer for a federally insured bank located in Lawton. During that time, Padilla executed a scheme in which he recruited borrowers to apply for loans, many of which were not creditworthy and were in fact Padilla’s friends and associates. Padilla told the borrowers he would use the loan proceeds to invest in his real estate ventures, and that he would pay the borrowers a percentage of the profit. In reality, Padilla would use most of the loan proceeds to support his gambling habit, while also using proceeds to make payments toward prior loans issued as part of the scheme. In all, Padilla’s actions cost the bank more than $1,000,000.
On June 17, 2024, Padilla pleaded guilty, and admitted to recruiting an associate to apply for a loan, knowing the proceeds were for his own personal use.
At the sentencing hearing today, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Padilla to serve 16 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. In announcing her sentence, Judge Dishman noted the seriousness of the offense and that it had spanned several years. Judge Dishman further explained that the fraud Padilla committed against his former, long-time employer, caused a significant loss to the bank. The Court also ordered Padilla to pay $1,092,135.50 in restitution.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Atlanta Woman Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Coretta Bates (31, Atlanta, GA) has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Bates faces a mandatory term of two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on April 18, 2023, Bates opened an account at a credit union in the name of “SLD.” She used a counterfeit North Carolina driver license with her photo and “SLD’s” identifying information to open that account. The credit union approved the application and issued a credit card to “SLD” with a $20,000 credit limit.
Between May 9 and July 7, 2023, “SLD” completed 22 cash withdrawals via ITM (interactive teller machine) from those checking and savings accounts at the credit union totaling $75,700. “SLD” had taken those funds from the credit union under false pretenses and representations by using the identity of another without authorization.
A joint U.S. Secret Service and Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office investigation revealed that there were numerous accounts in different names that the same individual depicted in the “SLD” driver license had opened during the same time. They contacted the real “SLD” and confirmed that she had not contacted the credit union or opened any accounts there. The bank fraud activity from the “SLD” and other related accounts caused the credit union to suffer actual losses of approximately $165,117.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
Assistant United States Attorney Laurel Holland Named HSI Prosecutor of the Year for Eastern WashingtonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – United States Attorney Vanessa Waldref announced Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Laurel Holland was selected as the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Prosecutor of the Year for the Eastern District of Washington.
AUSA Holland is a founding member of the U.S. Attorney’s Branch Office in Richland, Washington, joining the office in June 2023. Throughout her career, which has included service as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Benton County and as an AUSA in Yakima, Washington, AUSA Holland has been recognized for her extensive work prosecuting cases involving the exploitation of young children.
A recent example is the prosecution of Lucas Murphy. In August 2024, Murphy was convicted of Online Enticement of a Minor for abducting a minor from Kennewick, Washington, to New Mexico. AUSA Holland’s relentless pursuit of justice was instrumental to holding Murphy accountable.
In just the past year alone, AUSA Holland prosecuted several significant child exploitation offenders. For example, she obtained a significant sentence for Tri-cities man, who attempted to meet a 13-year old for sex in United States v. Julio Cesar Anaya. She obtained a fifteen year sentence in United States v. Gerald Alan Nott against a repeat offender, who distributed more than 1600 child pornography images, using his parents’ home internet in Richland, Washington. In United States v. Bret Michael Emineth and Malesa Hale, she and co-counsel obtained a 30 year sentence and a 28 year sentence for two co-defendants who had sexually and physically abused their victim for over four years. Her efforts provide victims with a sense of resolution, supported by the victim assistance resources she ensures are available throughout the legal process.
AUSA Holland stated, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office could not do this important work without the support of HSI and the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The dedication of these agents and officers to protecting vulnerable children makes a lasting impact to our communities, keeping Eastern Washington safe and strong.”
“Assistant United States Attorney Laurel Holland is tireless in her pursuit of justice on behalf of the young and most vulnerable among us. She approaches each case with compassion for the victim and is dedicated to holding offenders accountable,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Her skill expands beyond her advocacy. AUSA Holland spends considerable time training and mentoring law enforcement and prosecutors. I am proud to count AUSA Holland as a member of our office and offer my sincere congratulations for this well-deserved honor.”
Assault of Two Senior Citizens Gets DC Man 26 Year Prison TermRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Travon Eliy, also known as Travon Jackson, 38, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced for assault with intent to kill a senior citizen in a gun-free zone and other charges stemming from a robbery and daytime shooting that took place behind an elementary school in Southeast Washington. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On December 9, 2024, the Honorable Milton C. Lee sentenced Eliy to 26 years in prison for his role in the attacks on both elderly victims. These charges carry an enhancement for crimes against senior citizens, which resulted in the above-guidelines sentence. Eliy was found guilty on April 18, 2019, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The jury also found him guilty of a total of 18 charges, including armed robbery of a senior citizen in a gun-free zone, and related assault and firearms offenses.
According to the government’s evidence, on the afternoon of April 1, 2016, the victim, a 67-year-old woman, was walking home when she was followed by Eliy into an apartment building in the 600 block of Savannah Street S.E. Once inside, Eliy put a gun to her head and began pulling at her purse. Eliy dragged her out of the building and down a walkway before getting away with her purse. The woman screamed for help and a Good Samaritan, a 61-year-old man, intervened. The man was able to stop Eliy by pushing him up against a parked car. It was then that Eliy fired his gun one time at close range into the man’s chest before fleeing the scene. The shooting took place in broad daylight behind Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School.
MPD officers stopped the defendant within 10 minutes of the shooting.
In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Lenerz; former Special Counsel for DNA and Forensic Evidence Litigation Michael Ambrosino; former Forensic Operations Program Specialist Elizabeth Marrero; former Paralegal Specialists Kathryn Hoey, Sabrina Turner; former Victim/Witness Services Coordinator La June Thames, and former Finance Specialists Karen Lee-Putt, Marquetta Little and Sallie Rynas and Paralegal Specialists Lynda Randolph and Lashone Samuels.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah C. Santiago, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Arizona Man Associated with Online Terror Network Arrested for Production of Child Sex Abuse Material and CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
Baron Martin, 20, of Tucson, Arizona, was arrested on Dec. 11 for producing child sexual abuse material and cyberstalking offenses carried out as part of his participation in online violent terror networks known as 764 and CVLT.
“764 remains a dangerous network of violent extremists who systematically target children and weaponize child sexual abuse material for the purpose of furthering an accelerationist agenda, destroying civilized society, and causing the collapse of the U.S. Government,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “The Department of Justice is fully committed to stopping 764’s acts of terrorism and disrupting the 764 network.”
”The Department’s Project Safe Childhood strives to protect America’s youth, whether from individual stalkers or organized, virtual networks,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “This case serves not only to deter unlawful conduct, but also to encourage parents and children to remain vigilant and seek help when they encounter predatory and violent activity in the online world.”
“The details in this case are simply horrific as the defendant allegedly coerced children to harm themselves multiple times,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and we take that especially seriously when it comes to the young and vulnerable. The FBI will use all of our authorities to investigate and hold accountable anyone who preys on children.”
The unsealed complaint alleges that 764 is a network of violent extremists who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and abroad. Those involved with the 764 network, individually and as a network, methodically target vulnerable, underage populations across the United States and the globe by using known online social media communications platforms to support the possession, production, and sharing of extreme gore media and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with vulnerable, juvenile populations. Members of 764 seek to desensitize young people to violence and break down societal norms regarding violence, and they normalize the possession, production, and sharing of explicit CSAM and gore material to corrupt and groom their victims toward future violence.
Historically, members of 764 systematically target underage females, groom them, extort them, and force them to mutilate themselves or others and either film or photograph such activity, at times while streaming it online for other members of the network. The network members will then commonly edit compilation photographs or videos of their victims, share these photographs or videos on their social media platforms to gain notoriety among other members of the network, and spread fear among their victims all for the purpose of accelerating chaos under the 764 ideology with an aim toward the disruption of society. The network has shifted names over time and spawned known offshoot networks. Although the network moves between social media channels and changes its name, the core goals and membership remain consistent and appear under the overarching threat of 764.
Since approximately 2021, "Convict" has appeared as a participant in chatrooms related to the online terror networks 764 and CVLT. According to the complaint, Martin admitted to using the moniker “Convict” on social media platforms and, on multiple occasions, claimed online to be an owner of 764 and CVLT, teaching 764 members how to extort victims, describing himself as the “king of extortion,” and boasting he was “the catalyst for thousands of extortions” in 764. Martin also created and posted on a social media platform a detailed guide on how to identify, groom, and extort vulnerable juveniles.
The complaint accuses Martin of producing child sex abuse material on Discord, a chat and gaming platform, in September 2022, by making two separate minors self-mutilate for him. On one occasion, Martin had a 13-year-old child cut his name “in every possible place” she could to include her chest, stomach, and thighs, and threatened to “leak” pictures of her if she did not comply. On other occasions, Martin directed this same minor child to cut certain designs into her body to include swastikas and satanic symbols.
Martin also directed another minor victim, 16, on Discord, to scratch herself with her nails, ordering her to "draw blood,” saying “I want it dripping.” He then told her to pour rubbing alcohol over the wounds. Martin later sent three videos of this sadistic abuse of the minor to another Discord user. In the videos, the minor is scratching her forearm with her nails and pouring rubbing alcohol onto the scratches before curling up in apparent pain with a rag in her mouth.
Martin is also accused of cyberstalking a different 13-year-old minor for threats he sent over Discord in September 2022. Martin told this minor victim he put a “hit” on her grandmother, and he solicited individuals to kill the victim’s grandmother. Martin agreed to pay one person $3,000 to kidnap and murder the victim’s grandmother, whose address he provided. The complaint alleges that in a separate server chat, Martin posted the phone numbers of both the minor and her grandmother and told the network to contact both numbers to harass them.
If convicted, Martin faces a penalty of up to 30 years in prison for producing child sexual abuse material and a penalty of up to 10 years in prison for cyberstalking when the victim is a minor and no bodily injury resulted from the conduct. Each offense also carries a fine of up to $250,000 and up to a lifetime of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liza Granoff and Carin C. Duryée for the District of Arizona and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
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.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Alleged Crabtree Valley Mall Shooter Indicted for Possessing a Firearm and Ammo as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – On November 21, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Durham man after allegedly being involved in an October shootout at Crabtree Valley Mall.
“The holiday season is a time for peace on earth – not shootouts in the parking deck,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “Our Violent Crime Team is working even more closely with local law enforcement this holiday, including using federal tools to keep our community safe.”
According to the indictment and information presented to the court, Jamarion Burton, 22, allegedly possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon when he engaged in a shootout with another group of individuals at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh on October 26, 2024. The Raleigh Police Department (RPD) quickly responded to the scene where the shooting occurred and apprehended one suspect. After speaking to multiple witnesses and viewing surveillance footage from the mall, RPD allegedly identified Burton and learned that he and his companion had gotten into a verbal altercation with another group of individuals while inside the mall. The alleged altercation continued into the parking deck where both groups exchanged gunfire. Upon law enforcement arriving, Burton’s group allegedly fled the scene. Burton was later apprehended in Durham by the RPD with the assistance of the Durham Police Department. Burton had one of the firearms allegedly used in the mall shooting on his person at the time of his arrest.
Burton is charged with one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative which is a collaborative effort with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP involves focused and strategic enforcement, and interagency coordination and intelligence-led policing.
It is also a case that 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.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and RPD are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaren E. Kelly is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
ASD Specialty Healthcare (D/B/A Besse Medical) Agrees to Pay $1.67 Million for Allegedly Paying Kickbacks to Retina PracticesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – ASD Specialty Healthcare, LLC (ASD), doing business as Besse Medical (Besse), has agreed to pay $1.67 million to resolve allegations that it provided inventory management systems to retina practices at no cost to induce them to purchase drugs from Besse, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. ASD, headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, distributes specialty medical and pharmaceutical products nationwide, including ophthalmological injections that treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).
As part of the settlement agreement, ASD admitted and accepted responsibility for certain facts providing the basis of the settlement. In May 2017, ASD acquired an inventory management system known as PODIS, which was specialized for retina practices to manage inventory of, and reimbursements for, high-cost injectable medications such as drugs that treat wet AMD. Through November 2023, ASD offered PODIS at no cost to customers who entered into “prime vendor agreements” that required them to purchase a certain percentage of their specialty drugs from ASD. ASD required customers who did not enter into prime vendor agreements to pay a monthly fee for access to PODIS. Following its acquisition of PODIS, ASD then discontinued access to PODIS for non-ASD customer retina practices that had used PODIS prior to the acquisition, including customers who offered to pay a monthly fee to continue using PODIS. The government alleges that ASD caused physicians to submit false claims to Medicare, TRICARE and the Department of Veterans Affairs induced by these kickbacks.
“Pharmaceutical distributors cannot violate the law to gain a financial advantage,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Offering improper incentives to health care customers can increase health care costs and disadvantage competitors who are playing by the rules. Our office is committed to continue pursuing these investigations with our federal law enforcement partners.”
“According to the allegations in today’s settlement, ASD purchased a commercially available product and leveraged it to gain business in violation of the AKS,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will pursue kickbacks at all levels of the distribution chain to preserve the integrity of federal health care programs.”
“Improper financial inducements can compromise medical judgement and threaten the integrity of the Medicare program,” said Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “We are committed to pursuing allegations of kickbacks and false claims as we work to protect the integrity of the taxpayer-funded Medicare program, and we encourage the public to come forward with information about such conduct.”
“Today’s settlement resolves allegations that Besse Medical paid kickbacks to medical practices treating patients with age-related macular degeneration in an effort to drum up business for the drugs they sold and increase their revenue,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This case highlights the FBI’s commitment to rooting out health care fraud, one case at a time, and ensuring accountability for those who run afoul of the law.”
“Investigating schemes that undermine the integrity of TRICARE, the healthcare system for military members and their families, is a top priority for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS)," stated Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to work with our partner agencies and the Department of Justice to pursue those individuals and corporations that submit false claims to the TRICARE system.”
“Investigations such as these help safeguard the integrity of the healthcare industry marketplace and protect taxpayer funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the Department of Justice and our federal law enforcement partners for their collaboration in this joint investigation.”
The settlement resolves, in part, claims brought under the whistleblower or qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by former employees of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., also a named defendant in the case, which manufactures and sells a drug to treat wet AMD. The government intervened in the qui tam and filed a complaint against Regeneron concerning separate allegations, and the parties currently are litigating that matter in U.S. District Court. Under the FCA, private parties may sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The whistleblowers will receive $250,705.20 from the proceeds of the settlement. The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Nunnelly et al. v. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al., No. 20-cv-11401-PBS (Dist. Mass.).
U.S. Attorney Levy, AAG Boynton, FBI SAC Cohen, HHS-OIG SAC Coviello, DCIS SAC Hegarty and VA-OIG SAC Algieri made the announcement today. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Ross and Diane Seol of the District of Massachusetts and Trial Attorneys Douglas Rosenthal and Samuel Lehman of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
5 Men from Grand Strand and Pee Dee Region Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking and Related Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Five men from across the Pee Dee and Grand Strand were sentenced to multi-year terms in federal prison after pleading guilty to a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy operating in and around Horry County and related firearms crimes.
- Joshua Rodriguez, 33, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
- Derrick Adrien Hooks, Jr., 27, of Chesterfield, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
- Christopher Brown, 32, of Pawleys Island, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
- Jonathan Thien Ta, 32, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; Ta’s federal sentence will run consecutive to a state sentence he is serving on separate firearms-related conduct; and
- Neil Alexander Torres, 32, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.
Rodriguez and Brown’s terms of imprisonment will be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. Hook’s term of imprisonment will be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. Ta and Torres’s terms of imprisonment will be followed by three-year terms of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
As to Ta and Torres, evidence presented to the court showed that on Nov. 26, 2020, officers with Myrtle Beach Police Department arrived at a restaurant in Myrtle Beach with a warrant to arrest Ta. Officers tried to take Ta into custody, but Ta disobeyed law enforcement commands, reaching into his waistband and pulling out a loaded 9mm handgun, which he passed to Torres before Ta attempted to flee on foot. At the time of the incident, both Ta and Torres were convicted felons who could not legally possess either the firearm or the ammunition with which it was loaded.
Additional evidence presented to the court showed that from 2018 to 2023, Rodriguez, Hooks, and Brown were involved in trafficking pressed pills containing fentanyl in and around Horry County. Fentanyl is potentially lethal in very small doses.
Rodriguez, who was a high-level distributor, was accountable for distributing some 14 kilograms of fentanyl over the course of the conspiracy. He frequently possessed firearms in connection with his drug trafficking and threatened to use violence against others.
On July 1, 2021, law enforcement in Horry County attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a car driven and solely occupied by Hooks. Hooks fled from officers and threw pills and suspected marijuana out of the car during the ensuing chase. Law enforcement then obtained a search warrant for the home in Little River Hooks had come from just prior to the traffic stop. In Hooks’ room at the house, law enforcement found approximately 3.5 kilogram of pills, multiple kilograms of suspected marijuana, a 5.56 caliber firearm, assorted magazines, and ammunition and more than $10,000 in cash. Further investigation revealed that over the course of his involvement in the conspiracy, Hooks was accountable for trafficking 1.6 kilograms of fentanyl.
Investigation showed Brown was involved as a lower-level distributor within the conspiracy. In approximately five years, Brown was accountable for trafficking 2.7 kilograms of fentanyl. Like Hooks, Brown had a history of fleeing from law enforcement. In 2023, Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Brown in Pawleys Island. Brown fled, reaching speeds of 91 miles per hour while trying to evade law enforcement.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III, sentenced all five men.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, Horry County Police Department, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, and the 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.
###
12 December 2024
West Seneca man going to prison for 15 years for receipt of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Corey Beasley, 39, of West Seneca, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that in June 2022, Beasley took sexually explicit photographs of himself and a minor female (Victim) with his cellphone. In January 2023, a West Seneca police officer received a report that the sexually explicit images were found on a tablet belonging to Beasley. Subsequently, search warrants were executed at Beasley’s residence, during which investigators seized multiple devices. A forensic review of Beasley’s cellphone recovered multiple sexually explicit images of the Victim. The forensic review also recovered other images of child pornography, which Beasley received and possessed.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward Baker and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
# # # #
Washington, Indiana Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling over $1 Million Dollars and Dodging over $300,000 in TaxesRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE— Brandon Alford, 47, of Washington, Indiana, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, after pleading guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and five counts of tax evasion. Alford has also been ordered to pay $1,006,500 in restitution to the victim, and $319,793.02 in restitution to the IRS.
According to court documents, between 2017 and 2023, Alford was employed as a service writer for a heavy equipment supplier located in Indiana. In this role, he acted as a liaison between customers and service providers, one of which was a machine parts retailer located in Indiana that occasionally sold parts to Alford’s employer.
In 2017, Alford devised a scheme to defraud his employer by creating a fake company, A&D Distributing LLC. He convinced a manager at the retailer to sell machine parts to his employer through A&D Distributing, positioning the retailer as a middleman. Alford claimed he would handle all logistics, including shipping the parts to his employer, while the retailer would simply invoice the employer for the parts, plus a profit margin.
Between December 2017 and January 2023, Alford submitted 25 fraudulent invoices to the retailer for parts that were never ordered or delivered. The retailer paid Alford $939,500 through 22 wire transfers to A&D Distributing’s account. The retailer then invoiced Alford’s employer based on these false invoices, resulting in the employer paying a total of $1,006,500 for non-existent parts.
Alford exploited his position at the company where he worked to ensure the fraudulent invoices were approved and paid, despite no parts ever being delivered.
Additionally, Alford attempted to cover his tracks by willfully failing to report the income derived from the fraud scheme for tax years 2017 through 2022, thereby causing a tax loss of $253,459.00. For each tax year, Alford took affirmative actions to evade the government, including preparing, signing, and filing false federal income tax returns, using a business bank account in the name of A&D Distributing to receive the fraud proceeds, and structuring transactions to avoid the filing of certain transaction reports.
“This defendant abused his position of trust and professional relationships to steal a million dollars from his unsuspecting employer, cheat on his taxes, and cover up his crimes,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Trusted insiders can cause tremendous damage to businesses large and small when they choose to lie and steal. Combatting economic crimes on behalf of Hoosier businesses and individuals is a top priority of federal law enforcement, and the serious prison sentence imposed here demonstrates the commitment of IRS-CI, FBI, and our federal prosecutors to aggressively prosecute financial offenses and hold fraudsters and tax cheats accountable.”
“Tax evasion and financial fraud undermine trust and hurt real people,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Brandon Alford’s fraudulent scheme caused significant harm to his employer and evaded taxes owed to the government. IRS-CI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold criminals accountable for their actions.”
“These are not victimless crimes. The defendant chose to intentionally create a false business and abuse his position of trust with his employer for his own personal gain and this sentence should serve as a deterrent to others,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to defraud others and ensure they are held accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.
###
Wareham Resident Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Wareham resident was sentenced yesterday for selling fentanyl to a 42-year-old man who died of an overdose.
Troy Jones, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 92 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $7,868 in restitution to the family of the victim for funeral expenses. In August 2024, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distributing fentanyl resulting in death. In October 2020, Jones and his co-conspirator, Kayla Nightingale were indicted by a federal grand jury.Jones and Nightingale worked together from January 2019 through at least April 3, 2019 to distribute fentanyl in Wareham, including to a 42-year-old Wareham resident. On April 2, 2019, that resident died of a fentanyl overdose.
Nightingale pleaded guilty in August 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 8, 2025.U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Wareham Police Chief Walter Correia made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Wagoner Resident Pleads Guilty to Child NeglectRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Salasha Fae Bosley, age 25, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Child Neglect in Indian Country.
The Indictment alleged that between September 2023 and June 16, 2024, Bosley failed to provide two children with adequate nurturance, affection, food, shelter, sanitation, hygiene, medical care, supervision, and sanitary living conditions while responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of the children.
The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Bove and Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.
Undocumented Jamaican Citizen Sentenced to Federal Prison for Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Alandrae David Brown (30, Jamaica) to seven months in federal prison for identity theft. Brown entered a guilty plea on August 27, 2024.
According to court documents, in September 2017, Brown obtained a Florida driver license in the name of another person. When he applied for the license, Brown represented that he was a United States citizen and that he was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In support of the application, he provided a purported U.S. Virgin Islands birth certificate and a valid Social Security number.
In April 2024, Brown was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, at which time he identified himself as, and presented the driver license in the name of, the other person. Suspecting that Brown was not who he said he was, immigration authorities interviewed him about his identity and citizenship, but he insisted that he was in fact the person in whose name he had obtained the license. Federal agents obtained passport records and U.S. Virgin Islands driver license records for the person whose identity Brown had adopted and the photographs in the records were not of Brown. Virgin Islands authorities confirmed that the birth certificate Brown used to obtain the license was a forgery.
After conducting this investigation, agents interviewed Brown and confronted him with the evidence they had collected, but he insisted that he really was the person whose identity he had stolen. After being charged, Brown admitted that his name was Alandrae David Brown, that he was from Jamaica, and that he was illegally present in the United States. Agents confirmed his identity with the Jamaican government.
“This recidivist criminal’s pattern of disregard for the law and identity theft is a betrayal of conscience and a direct assault on the victim’s life,” said Tim Hemker, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville assistant special agent in charge. “Identity theft is never a victimless crime as it devastates people emotionally and financially. HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, are dedicated to uncovering the truth, no matter how criminals try to conceal it.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
U.S. Citizen Who Fought for ISIS Pleads Guilty to Receiving Military Training from a Foreign Terrorist OrganizationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON -- Lirim Sylejmani, 48, a Kosovo-born naturalized U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., to receiving military training from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division.
“As the threat from terrorist groups such as ISIS persists, we will continue to work aggressively with our law enforcement partners to bring those who would seek to join and receive training from these groups to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “This prosecution demonstrates that those who seek to support terrorism will pay a heavy price.”
According to court documents, from November 2015 through February 2019, Sylejmani received military training from ISIS in Syria. Sylejmani was captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in 2019, and spoke to a number of media outlets about his time with ISIS.In November 2015, Sylejmani, a naturalized U.S. citizen living in Kosovo, decided to travel to Syria with his family to join ISIS. After entering Syria, Sylejmani completed his ISIS intake process. He adopted the name Abu Sulayman al-Kosovi and trained to be a soldier with other ISIS recruits. Sylejmani’ s military training included instruction on how to assemble and fire an AK-47 rifle, as well as how to use a PK Machine gun, M-16 rifle and grenades.
Upon completion of the 21-day military training, ISIS assigned Sylejmani to a battalion in Mosul, Iraq, and issued him an AK-47, four AK-47 magazines, a belt to hold the magazines and two grenades. Sylejmani pledged “bayat”(allegiance) to Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, and to the ISIS organization, in front of an Iraqi ISIS member. In May 2016, the defendant reported for ribat (guard) duty on the front line of the Manbij offensive. The defendant brought his gun belt, AK-47 and magazines to his ribat assignment. During a battle with Coalition Forces he was hit with shrapnel in his legs. After receiving these injuries, he eventually was reassigned to a new battalion in the fall of 2017. Sylejmani also received payments from ISIS for his services. Between November 2017 and February 2019, Sylejmani moved his family southeast to Baghouz, Syria, as the territorial Caliphate of ISIS collapsed.
On February 27, 2019, Sylejmani and his family were captured by Coalition Forces. Sylejmani was jailed by the SDF in Syria at the Dashisha prison. He was transferred to United States law enforcement personnel on September 15, 2020, to face criminal charges in the District of Columbia.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorneys Brenda J. Johnson, Steven Wasserman and Kimberly Paschall of the National Security Section, and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Guilty Plea and 15-Year Sentence for Gallup Duo in 2021 Armed Robbery CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup woman has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her role in the armed robbery of a local business in 2021, while her brother has pleaded guilty to robbery and federal firearms charges, joining two other co-conspirators involved in the crime.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on the afternoon of December 4, 2021, Gallup Police responded to a robbery at C & R Insurance on US Highway 491. A woman and two men entered the business, demanding money while brandishing firearms. The female suspect fired a shot into the ceiling, causing panic among employees and customers. Witnesses reported hearing a loud pop and seeing the suspects dressed in dark clothing.
Surveillance footage showed Amber Yazzie, 29, and her brother Gregory Yazzie, 28, both armed. Amber Yazzie fired a gun into the ceiling and demanded cash while Gregory Yazzie stood guard by the door as an accomplice collected over $4,000 from the registers. Following the incident, the suspects fled to Albuquerque, where they used stolen funds for shopping. Law enforcement obtained receipts and video evidence of their purchases.
The robbery forced C & R Insurance to close for a week, significantly impacting its operations. The business serves around 60,000 customers across New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado.
The Yazzie’s co-defendants Randy Joe and Chadyne Tohe pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing.
At sentencing, Gregory Yazzie faces up to life in prison followed by up to five years of supervised release.
Upon her release from prison, Amber Yazzie will be subject 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 Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, the Navajo Nation Police Department, the Gallup Police Department and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.