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Friday 30 August 2024
McAlester Resident Sentenced to 37 Years for MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darius Alexander Presley, age 23, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to thirty-seven years and three months in prison for a 2022 murder and attempted murder in Pittsburg County.
Presley was sentenced to 327 months for one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree, 240 months for one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, and 180 months for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, with the terms of imprisonment set to be served concurrently. In addition, the Court sentenced Presley to a term of 120 months for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, to be served consecutive to the other sentences, for a total sentence of 447 months.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police and SWAT Team.
On September 13, 2023, Presley pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on December 2, 2022, Presley entered a home north of McAlester armed with a handgun. Once inside the residence, Presley shot two individuals, killing one and seriously wounding the other. Presley then fled the scene of the crime. A multi-agency search for Presley narrowed to a McAlester residence, where law enforcement discovered Presley barricaded inside. A Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police SWAT team apprehended Presley without further incident. The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“This sentencing is the result of a multi-agency effort to bring a violent offender to justice,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “We hope the community feels safer knowing Mr. Presley will spend decades behind bars for his crimes.”
“The defendant’s vicious acts stole one innocent life and shattered the lives of many others,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I know there is nothing the criminal justice system can offer to undo the tragedy or remove the heartache, but the sentence imposed will ensure the defendant will be in prison for a very long time for his senseless crimes. I commend the bravery and rapid response of law enforcement teams on the ground who capably ended the crisis, and I am grateful for the diligence of investigators and prosecutors whose teamwork led to the successful conviction of the defendant.”
The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Presley will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
McAlester Resident Sentenced to 20 Years for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brian Wayne Davis Jr., age 33, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and 120 months for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, to be served consecutive, for a total of 240 months.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the McAlester Police Department, and the Eufaula Police Department.
On February 5, 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, during an argument on March 16, 2023, Davis fatally shot the victim.
The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Davis will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Man sentenced for possessing machinegunsRead the Press Release
Steven Shobert, 49, of Worland, Wyoming, was sentenced on Aug. 28 to 18 months in prison for possession of machineguns in violation of federal law.
According to court documents, on Aug. 29, 2023, Shobert was arrested for driving under the influence. He had a holstered firearm on his hip and surrendered it to the officers. A state judge imposed bond conditions requiring Shobert to relinquish his firearms pending the DUI case. Shobert consented to a search of his residence to gather his firearms. The search resulted in the discovery of one Glock model 17, which was equipped with a machinegun conversion device commonly called a “Glock Switch.” Law enforcement also found three AR-15 type machinegun conversion devices.
Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann explained, “Machinegun conversion devices like auto sears and ‘Glock switches’ can make a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun, so they are considered machineguns under federal law. Possession of these dangerous devices is a serious crime which can result in a felony conviction and federal prison time. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove illegal machineguns from Wyoming communities.”
Shobert was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 11. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the 18-month prison sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom.
The crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office.
Case no. 23-00153
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN
Man Who Sold Methamphetamine to Undercover Agent Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold methamphetamine to an undercover agent was sentenced today to 306 months in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
James Douglas Morrison, age 40, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 22, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
In 2022, an undercover agent purchased methamphetamine from Morrison in Waterloo, Iowa. Morrison also directed others, including co-defendant Heather Sue Hartzell, to sell “ice” methamphetamine on his behalf. Approximately one month later, law enforcement officers stopped Morrison while he was driving back from Des Moines with Hartzell. Hartzell and Morrison had almost 2,000 grams of “ice” methamphetamine inside the car that Morrison had obtained from his supplier in Des Moines, Iowa. Morrison also had a gun.
Morrison was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Morrison was sentenced to 306 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Morrison is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tri‑County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Black Hawk County Sherriff’s Office, and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2045.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robberies of Hispanic Construction WorkersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Franco Rawlings Jr. pleaded guilty today to robbing several Hispanic construction workers in the Trinidad neighborhood at gunpoint throughout 2023, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced.
Rawlings pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to two counts of armed robbery, one count of robbery, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2024 before the Honorable Errol Arthur. As part of his sentence, Rawlings faces mandatory minimum sentences of five years in prison for each armed robbery offense and one year in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm offense.
According to the March 6, 2024 indictment, from May to June of 2023, Rawlings conspired with a co-conspirator to identify residential construction sites within the Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast, Washington, D.C., staffed by Hispanic workers and to rob those Hispanic workers using firearms. The indictment also charged Rawlings with a solo armed robbery that he allegedly committed in April 2023.
According to the government’s evidence, with which Rawlings agreed, on April 18, 2023, a victim was working as a welder on a home located in the 1400 block of Montello Avenue Northeast, in the Trinidad neighborhood, when Rawlings approached him in an alleyway. Rawlings pointed a gun at the victim and told him not to move. Rawlings then searched the victim and took his wallet, which contained $700 dollars in cash. On May 30, 2023, two victims were working to install a deck at a home located in the 1300 block of Montello Avenue Northeast, also in the Trinidad neighborhood, when Rawlings and his co-conspirator approached them through a rear, open gate. Rawlings and his co-conspirator pointed firearms at the victims and told them to go into the basement of the home. There, Rawlings forced one of the victims to the ground and robbed him while the co-conspirator robbed the other victim. On June 27, 2023, three victims were working to remodel a home in the 1100 block of Owen Place Northeast, also in the Trinidad neighborhood, when Rawlings and his co-conspirator entered through the rear of the residence. As Rawlings entered, he pointed a firearm at the victims and told them not to move and to put their hands up. Rawlings, with the aid of his co-conspirator, robbed a victim of U.S. currency and fled.
On June 28, 2023, police searched Rawlings' residence, which was located in the Trinidad neighborhood. There, police found Rawlings in possession of a black Glock 19 handgun, which was loaded with 12 rounds in a 17-round-capacity magazine. At the time police recovered the firearm, Rawlings had been previously convicted of a felony that prevented him from possessing a firearm in the District of Columbia.
The defendant was arrested on June 28, 2023, and has been in custody ever since.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Man Found Guilty of Hobbs Act RobberyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal jury convicted Jonathan Torres-Rojas on August 27, 2024, for Conspiracy to Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Interference with Commerce by Robbery.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Torres-Rojas, along with at least one more individual, conspired to unlawfully take and obtain property consisting in U.S. currency from the business El Rejón del Gallo in Orocovis, Puerto Rico, which resulted in the death of José Antonio Medina Meléndez, the owner of El Rejón del Gallo.
On June 12, 2015, the defendant and others, met to discuss a plan to rob El Rejón del Gallo. That same day after 10 pm, Torres-Rojas and others arrived the business wearing black long-sleeved clothing, face masks, and carrying firearms. As the owner and wife were closing El Rejón del Gallo, the assailants approached the victims, grabbed one of the victims, and demanded money. Eventually, the victims gave the assailants the money, but the assailants demanded more. As the victims begged for their lives and complied, they told the assailants to take their vehicle when they demanded the keys for the 2001 gray Toyota Sequoia; then two shots were fired killing José Antonio Medina Meléndez.
The sentencing hearing was scheduled for December 6, 2024, at 9:00 AM.
The co-defendant in this case, Juan A. Negrón-Rodríguez, pleaded guilty on April 9, 2024, for interference with commerce by robbery and carjacking resulting in death. On July 9, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé sentenced Negrón-Rodríguez to 22 years (264 months) in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez Lora is prosecuting the case.
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Madison Man Sentenced to 28 Months for Stealing Paycheck Protection Program FundsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Eric Upchurch, 36, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 28 months in federal prison for wire fraud, making false statements to the Small Business Administration (SBA), and money laundering related to the Paycheck Protection Program. Upchurch was convicted of these charges on June 13, 2024, following a jury trial.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted to provide immediate financial assistance to individuals, families, and organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This Act authorized the SBA to offer Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans to business owners negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, Upchurch submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of several businesses, including: Opportunity, Inc.; Economic Empowerment Wisconsin; One Red Feather; Madison Alliance for Black Economic Empowerment; Young, Gifted, and Black; and a sole proprietorship.
In these PPP loan applications, Upchurch falsely claimed that his businesses earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue, and paid employees tens of thousands of dollars in payroll per month. Upchurch also provided lenders with forged payroll reports and tax forms to corroborate his false statements. Evidence presented at trial proved that none of Upchurch’s companies formally employed anyone besides Upchurch, and none of the companies had the revenue necessary to cover the inflated claimed payroll.
In total, Upchurch stole $406,211 and attempted to steal an additional $400,378 in PPP loan proceeds. Upchurch also laundered a portion of his fraudulently obtained PPP funds when he purchased $19,000 worth of Bitcoin.
At sentencing, Judge Conley explained that Upchurch repeatedly lied on documents to fraudulently obtain PPP funds. Judge Conley also noted that, had the lenders not stopped Upchurch’s applications, the PPP would have incurred additional loss.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector general. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chadwick M. Elgersma and William M. Levins.
Madison Investment Advisor Sentenced to 4 ½ Years for Wire Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Thomas Demergian, 63, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 4 ½ years in federal prison for wire fraud and evading federal taxes. Demergian pleaded guilty to the charges on April 4, 2024. He was also ordered to pay restitution. Demergian will begin serving his prison term in September.
Beginning in 2000, Demergian convinced certain clients to invest money with him through “IRT Company.” He falsely told clients that he would invest their money with real estate trusts and mutual funds. In reality, once clients sent their money to Demergian, he diverted those funds to a bank account in his own name and spent the funds for his own use.
Demergian met with clients annually and provided them with fictitious Investment Portfolio Summary sheets reflecting positive growth. When clients asked him to liquate their investments, Demergian told clients that such a decision was imprudent or provide other untrue reasons why their requests could not be completed.
The fraud scheme was discovered in 2023 when a client’s family member began asking questions about the investments. Law enforcement agents eventually identified many victims who lost, in total, approximately $1.8 million. A financial investigation revealed that Demergian had used his clients’ investment funds for gambling, travel, cars, collectibles, and other personal expenses.
From 2017 to 2022, Demergian underreported his income on his tax returns by failing to disclose over $400,000 in illegally obtained income, thereby evading $104,779 in tax obligations.
As sentencing, Judge Conley said, “in terms of white-collar crime, this is the worst” because Demergian “cynically targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, many of whom he had also befriended.” Given the lengthy nature of the conduct, the amount of money stolen, and the tremendous breach of trust, Judge Conley determined that a significant sentence was warranted. Judge Conley did credit Demergian for ultimately helping investigators identify the total losses, but also noted that Demergian only did so after he knew he had already been “found out.”
The charges against Demergian were the result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Madison Police Department with assistance provided by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Securities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Duchemin handled the prosecution.
Madison Carrig Pleads Guilty to Embezzlements through the Use of Employer Credit CardsRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Madison Carrig, 30, of Whitehall, New York, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to two counts of access device fraud. Chief Judge Christina Reiss released Carrig on conditions pending sentencing, which is scheduled for January 3, 2025.
On July 12, 2024, the United States Attorney filed an information charging Carrig with two counts of access device fraud. Carrig pleaded guilty to the information at today’s court hearing. According to the charging document, from September 2022 through November 27, 2023, Carrig defrauded the three car dealerships who employed her as office manager or controller by embezzling cash receipts received from customers of the dealerships, and misusing company credit cards to purchase goods and services for her own use and benefit.
Carrig faces up to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police.
Carrig is represented by Natasha Sen, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking, and illegal possession of firearms.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Interim Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
“Outstanding investigative work by ATF, LMPD, and KSP,” said, U.S. Attorney Bennett. “The collective focus of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners is on the identification, apprehension, and full prosecution of those who traffic poison on our streets and illegally possess firearms. It will be 15 years before the defendant is released from federal prison and Louisville is a safer place as a result.”
“Drug dealers with guns have a terrible impact on our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Morrow. “A fifteen-year federal prison sentence sends a clear message to repeat offenders that the law enforcement community in Kentucky is working together to keep the commonwealth safe. I commend the excellent work of ATF Louisville, LMPD, KSP, and the United States Attorney’s Office.”
According to court documents, Charles Jermaine Gore, 40, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 6 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of fentanyl, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Between July 20, 2021, and February 9, 2022, Gore possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. On October 22, 2021, Gore distributed fentanyl to another person. Between July 20, 2021, and February 9, 2022, Gore possessed several firearms, including a Glock .45 caliber pistol, a Ruger 5.7X28 caliber pistol, a Zastava Arms 7.62x39 caliber pistol, and ammunition. Gore was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On January 12, 2011, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Gore was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense – cocaine (2 counts), trafficking in a controlled substance in the second degree, first offense – drug unspecified, criminal mischief in the first degree, and wanton endangerment in the first degree.
On March 7, 2012, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Gore was convicted of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree (cocaine), and trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree (MCMA).
On March 28, 2019, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Gore was convicted of trafficking in marijuana, more than eight ounces.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF and LMPD with assistance from the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Lawton Man Sentenced to Serve 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, CHARLES RAYMOND FRENCH, JR., 38, of Lawton, was sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On October 3, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment against French, charging him with production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. According to an affidavit filed in support of the previously filed criminal complaint, on September 6, 2023, an FBI Online Covert Employee (OCE) connected with French on a social media messaging app. During the conversation, French expressed an interest in material that depicts the sexual abuse of children, and shared several photographs and videos of child pornography with the OCE, including two photographs French claimed to have taken himself which involved three-year-old and ten-year-old victims. Authorities linked the account to French, and he was arrested at his Lawton home on September 7, 2023.
On December 1, 2023, French pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment, and admitted to producing child pornography.
At the sentencing hearing yesterday, U.S District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced French to serve 360 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the “depravity” of the crime, specifically that the defendant preyed on the most vulnerable victims in our society: children. The Court further emphasized that the sentence needed to reflect the extreme nature and seriousness of the defendant’s conduct—given the threat to the safety of the community posed by the defendant—and to send a message to the public that these crimes will be punished severely.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Lawton Division of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Joynes prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Laredoan receives max for possessing pornographic images of children, including his own minor relativeRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 33-year-old man has been ordered to prison for receipt and possession of child pornography, some of which depicted sexual abuse of babies and toddlers, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
David de los Santos pleaded guilty March 3, 2022.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana has now sentenced de los Santos to a total of 240 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court also heard that some of the images de los Santos possessed were of a two-year-old minor relative. In imposing the imprisonment, the court enhanced the sentence to the maximum possible term, noting the graphic images of the relative.
The court also noted the severity of de los Santos’ crimes. He was further ordered to pay $84,304 in restitution to known victims and will serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“A parent’s worst nightmare is to discover someone you trusted with your family, such as a relative, was actually preying on your child’s innocence,” said Hamdani. “De los Santos made that nightmare a terrifying reality, but thankfully he is now off the streets and out of our community, allowing for the possibility that his victims can start to heal.”
The investigation began when authorities discovered an IP address associated with de los Santos had uploaded child pornography online.
On July 1, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home. At that time, they found and seized several electronic devices which contained child pornography and took de los Santos into custody. He was ultimately found to be in possession of 1,038 images and 393 videos of child pornography, which included abuse of babies and toddlers.
The investigation also determined de los Santos was in possession of pornographic images of a minor relative sometimes in his care.
De los Santos will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department as part of the Child Exploitation Task Force which also includes FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service and United Independent School District Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Kissimmee Woman Indicted for Distributing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jessica Corin Mangano (34, St. Cloud) with two counts of distributing, two counts of receiving, and one count of possessing child sexual assault material (CSAM). If convicted, Mangano faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years up, to 20 years, in federal prison for each distribution and receipt offense and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession offense.
According to the indictment, on July 2, 2024, Mangano distributed multiple videos that contained CSAM. On July 14 and August 2, 2024, Mangano received videos that contained CSAM. Finally, on August 15, 2024, Mangano possessed CSAM material that involved a young child and a child who had not attained 12 years of age.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in MassachusettsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in two cities in Massachusetts for the Sept. 3 primary election. The department will monitor in the Cities of Methuen (in Essex County) and Lowell (in Middlesex County).
The Justice Department enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities across the country. In addition, the division also deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order.
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Act and Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Connecticut Department of Correction to Protect Children in Manson Youth InstitutionRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Connecticut Department of Correction addressing conditions for children at Manson Youth Institution, an adult correctional facility housing children charged in the criminal justice system.
Under the agreement, Manson will eliminate the use of disciplinary isolation to manage the behavior of children in its custody. Manson will also implement a comprehensive behavior management program that incentivizes positive behavior and provides a skills-based curriculum to help children regulate their own behaviors. The program will include a daily schedule of age-appropriate, structured activities.
“We know that isolation can cause real harm to children — increasing risk of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide — because their brains are still developing and they lack adequate coping mechanisms,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Placing a child in an ‘adult facility’ does not make children any less vulnerable to these risks. Nationally, more than 2,000 children each year are held in jails and prisons designed for adults. Too often, adult facilities fail to provide children with the age-appropriate services and care essential to development of the requisite skills to become healthy and productive adults, including educational and mental health services required by law. We are committed to protecting the constitutional and federal rights of children throughout the criminal and juvenile justice systems.”
In addition to phasing out disciplinary isolation for children, the agreement requires Manson to conduct thorough mental health assessments and provide appropriate treatment for children. The agreement also requires Manson to provide adequate special education services for children with disabilities, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
“We commend the Connecticut Department of Correction for its commitment to eliminate harmful disciplinary isolation practices and adopt age-appropriate treatment and services for children at Manson,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut. “We look forward to our ongoing collaboration as the Connecticut Department of Correction implements these reforms.”
The agreement resolves the department’s investigation of Manson under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. In December 2021, the department notified Manson that there is reasonable cause to believe that conditions for children at Manson violate the Eighth and 14th Amendments and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and that these violations are pursuant to a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of rights protected by the Constitution and federal law. Since then, Connecticut has begun to implement reforms to remedy problems at Manson.
The department recently secured a settlement agreement involving the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice’s Broad River Road Complex, the state’s only long-term post-adjudication facility for children, issued a findings report regarding conditions at five post-adjudication facilities for children in Texas, and opened an investigation of conditions at nine juvenile justice facilities in Kentucky. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work protecting children’s rights in the juvenile justice system is available at www.justice.gov/crt/rights-juveniles.
For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. You can also report civil rights violations to the section by completing the complaint form available at civilrights.justice.gov/.
Individuals with information related to compliance with the settlement agreement are encouraged to report such information by email at [email protected] or by phone at 833-223-1565.
Johnston County Resident Sentenced for MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Cecil Browning Higginbotham, age 33, of Mannsville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment for Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, the Dickson Police Department, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
On October 16, 2023, Higginbotham pleaded guilty to the murder charge. According to investigators, on August 9, 2022, Higginbotham pushed the victim to the ground, knocked the victim unconscious, and dragged the victim into his residence. Once inside, Higginbotham repeatedly assaulted the victim, causing severe blunt force trauma to the victim’s head and neck. On August 11, 2022, the victim died of injuries sustained during the prolonged attack.
The crime occurred in Johnston County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The defendant’s actions were reprehensible, violating everything we demand as members of a safe and peaceful society. The sentence handed down is most certainly deserved,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing. Higginbotham will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Caila Cleary represented the United States.
Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Princeton BankRead the Press Release
Blink points a firearm at the bank clerk during the armed robbery of First Interstate Bank.KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Promise City, Iowa, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to the armed robbery of a Princeton, Mo., bank.
Phillip Michael Blink, 67, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of armed bank robbery and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
By pleading guilty today, Blink admitted that he robbed First Interstate Bank in Princeton on May 19, 2023. Blink, wearing a cowboy hat, a red bandana over his face, gloves and a trench coat, walked into the bank and approached a teller at approximately 9:25 a.m. Blink stated in a low voice: “I’m sorry, but this is going to be a bad morning.” Blink then placed a light blue bag on the countertop and stated: “I want all the money.” The teller began placing all the bills from her teller machine into the blue bag when Blink reached into his right pocket and pulled out a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Blink stated: “I told you it was going to be a bad morning.” Blink then set the firearm on the countertop and pointed it at the teller.
After taking $4,115, Blink left the bank and got into a Ford F-150 truck. He backed out of a parking space and went northbound on Highway 65. The bank manager took photographs of Blink and his truck while Blink was fleeing the scene. Employees of the bank called 911 for law enforcement assistance.
Later on the same day, Blink was pulled over by a Knoxville, Iowa, police officer. Officers arrested Blink, who admitted to the armed bank robbery. Officers searched his truck and found the Ruger handgun and clothing linked to the bank robbery, as well as the money that was stolen.
Under federal statutes, Blink is subject to a sentence of up to 25 years in federal prison without parole for armed bank robbery and an additional mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, which must be served consecutively, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of the bank robbery. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the FBI.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared recently before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Aug. 29 was:
Thomas Larson Medicine Horse, III, 19, of Pryor, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse, strangulation and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating partner. If convicted of the most serious crime, Medicine Horse faces life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Medicine Horse was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-118.
Appearing on Aug. 20 was:
Ashley Firebear Garner, 41, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Garner faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Garner was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Billings Police Department and Bozeman Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-68.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Aug. 30 was:
Joseph Christopher Steele, 24, of Kalispell, on charges of possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Steele faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Steele was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Whitefish Police Department and Kalispell Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-43.
Appearing on Aug. 28 was:
Edward Arthur Nurse, 34, of Missoula, on charges of theft from credit union. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nurse faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release. Nurse was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-42.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Aug. 27 was:
Scott Austin McTaggart, 37, of Helena, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction. If convicted of the most serious crime, McTaggart faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. McTaggart was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Highway Patrol and Helena Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-15.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indictment Unsealed Against Mexican Woman Charged with Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Angelica Mendoza Rubio, 48, a citizen of Mexico, with conspiring to launder proceeds of wire fraud. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 28, 2023.
Rubio was arrested yesterday at the airport in Atlanta, Georgia, and made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. She was detained pending her appearance on the charges in U.S. District Court, Madison, Wisconsin.
If convicted, Rubio faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charge is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance provided by the Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin is handling the prosecution.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Harvey Man Guilty of Being Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MIGUEL KEELEN (“KEELEN”), age 35, of Harvey, La., pled guilty on August 29, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, KEELEN possessed a firearm on December 11, 2023 while at a Valero Gas Station on South Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. Specifically, KEELEN displayed and drew a pistol from his waistband before then concealing the pistol and fleeing from police. KEELEN was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions.
KEELEN faces up to fifteen (15) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing is scheduled for December 5, 2024.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney James Ollinger of the Violent Crimes Unit.
Fremont Home Construction Contractor Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 28, 2024, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Ross O. Schlomann (age: 45) to five years in federal prison after Schlomann was convicted of bank fraud and money laundering. Schlomann was also ordered to pay $2.1 million in restitution.
According to court records, Schlomann is a former home construction contractor for Refurbs Properties, LLC, which was based in Fremont, Wisconsin. As a contractor, he worked with aspiring homeowners to design homes, hire subcontractors, and manage builds in northeastern Wisconsin and elsewhere. The investigation revealed that Schlomann defrauded more than a dozen victims whose homes he had promised to build. The victims paid Schlomann substantial sums of money, yet they saw little or no work done despite Schlomann’s representations. Schlomann accepted the victims’ money, made false statements to have the money disbursed by the appliable bank, and then used the money for other purposes, including covering shortages on previous projects. In total, the victims lost $2.1 million.
”To keep his scheme going, Mr. Schlomann made repeated false statements and ultimately caused over $2 million in losses to individuals looking to build homes,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “I commend the hard work of all involved in seeking justice for the victims in this case.”
“Ross Schlomann not only betrayed the trust of his clients, but he also undermined the very foundation of the construction industry,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “His actions represent a grave violation of ethical standards and have left lasting scars on those he victimized. IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to work diligently to ensure that those who exploit and defraud others are held accountable.”
In sentencing Schlomann, Judge Griesbach stated that this was a “sophisticated Ponzi scheme” and an “egregious betrayal of trust.” Judge Griesbach stressed that Schlomann victimized young families who were seeking to design and build their dream homes.
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation and the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros prosecuted the case.
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Former tribal council employee charged with embezzlement, wire fraud, aggravated identity theftRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging a Dillingham man with federal crimes associated with a scheme to steal funds from the Curyung Tribal Council while he served as an accountant/ IT specialist.
According to court documents, from October 2023 to February 2024, William Corbett, 35, stole over $94,000 from the Tribal Council while employed as an accountant/ IT specialist. Corbett was responsible for overseeing the Tribe’s finances and had access to and control over the Tribal Council’s accounting software data, financial account, payroll information, credit cards and checkbooks.
Checks issued by the Curyung Tribal Counsel were not valid unless signed by at least two authorized signors. Corbett was not an authorized signor. The indictment alleges Corbett unlawfully issued checks from the Tribal Council’s account by forging the signatures of authorized signors. The checks were issued as payable to himself and businesses under his control. He also allegedly fabricated invoices and payroll documents by using personal information of two people, causing direct deposits to be made from the Tribal Council’s accounts to accounts controlled by Corbett.
Corbett is charged with one count of embezzlement and theft from an Indian Tribal organization, five counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance on September 3, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, in addition to up to 20 years in prison and $750,000 in fines for his other alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General and the Dillingham Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former San Gabriel Valley Teacher Charged with Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former elementary school teacher in the San Gabriel Valley is scheduled for arraignment today on a federal grand jury indictment charging him with receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material.
Steven Pilar, 47, of Las Vegas, is charged in a four-count federal indictment with two counts of receiving child pornography and two counts of possessing child pornography.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment on July 19, 2024. Pilar was arrested on August 2 in Las Vegas, where he made his initial appearance. A federal magistrate judge in Nevada ordered Pilar jailed without bond. Pilar’s arraignment is scheduled for this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the indictment, on February 8, 2020, and April 10, 2020, Pilar knowingly received and downloaded over 400 videos and images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via BitTorrent for viewership. Pilar was employed as an elementary school teacher in La Puente at the time. He no longer works at the school.
Pilar was arrested on state charges, which were later dropped so a federal case could be pursued.
“This defendant, whose former job put him in a position of trust with children, is accused of participating in an underground market that trades on the sexual exploitation of kids,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Protecting children from sexual predators is critical and my office will be unrelenting in our efforts to punish those who commit these crimes.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
If convicted, Pilar would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 80 years in federal prison.
The FBI and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua J. Lee of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Former Interim President of Puerto Rican Steel Distributor Pleads Guilty to Eight-Year Price-Fixing ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An executive of a steel distributor in Carolina, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today to conspiring with competitors to fix prices for sales of reinforcing bar, or rebar.
According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court in San Juan, Edgardo Sola Colon (Sola), of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, is the president of a steel distributor in Puerto Rico and is a former president of another steel distributor in Puerto Rico. These companies are some of the leading wholesale distributors of rebar in Puerto Rico. Rebar is commonly required for residential and commercial construction projects on the island, and nearly all rebar distributed in Puerto Rico is imported from other countries or the continental U.S. Collectively, Sola’s company and two other competitors controlled approximately 70% of the wholesale rebar market in the Commonwealth.
Between 2015 and 2022, including the period of reconstruction following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, Sola conspired with competing companies and individuals to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing prices for steel products, including rebar, which were distributed to hardware stores, building contractors and other businesses and individuals in Puerto Rico, resulting in substantial profits to the conspirators.
Among other communications, Sola and his competitors exchanged WhatsApp chat messages in which they agreed on specific rebar prices, including price increases. For example, in December 2020 Sola sent to Juan Carlos Aponte, an executive at a competing company, a chat message with the price of Turkish rebar, and Aponte responded, “The position is the following: Platform $33.95, 10 bundles $34.50, Fewer than 10 bundles: $34.95” before asking, “The question is are we on the same page?” Sola responded, “Yes, that is what I am doing.”
In his plea agreement, Sola admitted that more than $50 million in sales by his companies were affected by the conspiracy.
On Aug. 7, Aponte pleaded guilty in federal court in Puerto Rico to participation in the same price-fixing conspiracy, and now awaits sentencing.
“In pleading guilty, this defendant admitted to a long-running agreement to fix prices on rebar, a critical component of the construction supply chain for Puerto Rico,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This guilty plea demonstrates the Antitrust Division’s continued commitment to holding accountable individuals who collude to raise prices and harm all consumers and businesses in Puerto Rico. We and our law enforcement partners will continue to prosecute the people responsible for anticompetitive criminal conduct like this.”
Violating the Sherman Act, which is a federal criminal antitrust statute, is a felony. The maximum penalty for individuals convicted of violating the Sherman Act is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for corporations is a $100 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
Sola’s sentencing is set for Dec. 16. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section investigated the case, with the assistance of the FBI San Juan Field Office.
Trial Attorneys April Ayers-Perez, Alison Friberg and Taylor Bernhardt of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Senior Litigation Counsel John Davis of the Antitrust Division’s Litigation Program are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
Former Customs and Border Patrol Agent Found Guilty of Federal Civil Rights and Kidnapping Charges for Sexually Assaulting and Abducting Minor VictimRead the Press Release
After deliberating for two days, a jury found a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, Aaron Mitchell, guilty of both a federal civil rights offense and a kidnapping charge for sexually assaulting and kidnapping a victim who was a minor. The jury also found that the defendant’s conduct included aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping and resulted in bodily injury.
“The heinous crimes committed against a young middle school student by an individual sworn to uphold the law are unspeakable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant had a duty to protect his community but instead he abused his power, kidnapped, cuffed and restrained a young girl, and repeatedly sexually assaulted her in his apartment for hours. With this verdict, the jury has done us all a great service by holding accountable this former federal law enforcement official. The Justice Department will continue to stand up for sexual assault victims, especially children, and we will prosecute law enforcement officials who break the law with every tool at our disposal.”
“We count on our law enforcement officers to protect children, schools and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “This defendant dishonored his badge and his colleagues by ignoring his oath and harming the most vulnerable among us. Thanks to the Douglas Police Department and the FBI for investigating this case with dedication and compassion, and for vindicating the rights of a courageous victim.”
“Mitchell not only broke his oath, but the trust instilled in him as a law enforcement officer. Public servants, particularly in law enforcement, must be held to the highest of ethical standards. Those falling short must be rooted out and firmly held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to uncovering those who attempt to hide their acts of violence behind the badge. We would like to thank our investigators and the Douglas Police Department for their support and assistance in this case.”
During a two-week trial, jurors heard evidence that, on the morning of April 25, 2022, Mitchell traveled to Douglas, Arizona, where he abducted a 15-year-old female middle school student, restrained her, drove her to his apartment and sexually assaulted her.
According to evidence presented at trial, Mitchell found the child waiting for school to start, introduced himself as a law enforcement officer, and asked for her papers. Next, after flashing his police badge and credentials, Mitchell ordered the child into his car and explained that he was taking her to the police station. Instead, Mitchell drove the child miles away from her school, pulled over and restrained her hands and feet with two pairs of handcuffs. The victim testified that, after being handcuffed, the defendant told her to do everything he said because he didn’t want to have to hurt her.
Once the defendant forced the victim into his apartment, he repeatedly sexually assaulted her over the course of several hours. Mitchell eventually returned the victim to the area of the middle school where he had abducted her earlier that morning and reminded her not to tell anyone. The victim immediately reported the abduction and sexual assaults to her friends, family members and multiple law enforcement agencies. During an interview with police, the defendant exclaimed that the victim “better hope I don’t get out of here.”
An examination of the defendant’s cellphone revealed that the defendant had conducted numerous searches regarding rape and how to stop someone from screaming and, while he had the child captive in his apartment, he conducted an additional internet search for how long it takes to smother someone.
A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date. Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Douglas Police Department and FBI Phoenix Field Office, Sierra Vista Resident Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carin Duryee for the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Former Baltimore City Department of Finance Employee Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Joseph Gillespie, age 35, of Baltimore City, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving a scheme to defraud a financial institution and the United States Small Business Administration in order to obtain fraudulent loans under the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for various purported businesses. The Defendant also admitted to engaging in a bribery scheme for over eight years, whereby, in exchange for bribes from various property owners in Baltimore City (the “City”), the Defendant would use his official position as an employee of the City to extinguish various financial obligations owed to the City, including for water bills and property taxes.
The guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), administered through the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). According to the guilty plea, on March 4, 2021, the Defendant and co-defendant Ahmed (“Adam”) Sary submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application to Cross River Bank to obtain a PPP loan for JAG Investments (“JAG”), a company the Defendant owned. The PPP loan application contained numerous material misrepresentations, including that JAG in 2019 had 19 employees and an average monthly payroll of more than $55,000. In support of the loan application, fabricated 2019 Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) forms were submitted, which falsely stated that JAG’s total payments to employees in 2019 were more than $275,000.
Based on the false representations and fraudulent submissions made on behalf of the Defendant as the owner of JAG, the PPP loan was funded on March 6, 2021 and approximately $138,000 was distributed to a bank account controlled by the Defendant. The Defendant agreed to pay Sary kickbacks totaling $38,000 for his work in submitting the false application and obtaining the fraudulent PPP loan. After receipt of the PPP loan, the Defendant established payroll services for JAG to facilitate documentation that would later be used to substantiate a request for the PPP loan to be forgiven.
Further, according to the plea agreement, beginning in or about early 2016 and continuing until on or about September 20, 2023, the Defendant engaged in a bribery scheme in which he abused his position of trust as a public official for his own personal gain.
As an employee of the Baltimore City Department of Finance, Revenue Collections Department, the Defendant routinely accepted bribes from various property owners in the City whose property was subject to certain financial obligations and, if the obligations remained unpaid, to tax sale. The Defendant accepted these bribes -- typically 10% to 15% of the amount owed to the City -- in exchange for removing or extinguishing these financial obligations, including for citations, tax, and water obligations—thereby causing losses to the City. The Defendant also accepted bribes in exchange for delaying or postponing—without approval or permission from other City officials—due dates for the payment of outstanding financial obligations, thus forestalling the placement of a lien on the property by the City.
Once the Defendant received the bribe payment, he would extinguish the financial obligation owed to the City by marking the obligations as “paid” in the City’s record-keeping system. After removing the obligation, the Defendant would, at times, send a photograph of supporting documentation to the property owner reflecting that a payment was made towards a financial obligation owed to the City when, in fact, no such payment was made by the property owner.
As part of an FBI investigation, the Defendant engaged in multiple recorded conversations in which he discussed the specifics of the bribery scheme outlined above. For example, in response to the question “[S]o you want 100 for each property?” talking about the size of the bribe payment, the Defendant replied, “yeah that’s basically how I do.” During another recording, the Defendant stated that he had the ability to “wipe a bill off” the City’s record of outstanding obligations tied to a particular property or to “put paid next to ‘em,” even though the financial obligation had not in fact been paid. Defendant further stated that he removed additional financial obligations for this property owner, saying “There was a couple, extra miscellaneous bills that y’all had that I wiped off …. That shit gone now.”
During another recorded interaction, the Defendant stated, “Going forward, I’m just your inside man ... That’s what I do for a lot of different people around the City. You know what I mean – manage their shit for them a little bit …. I’m gonna go look at your shit.”
The Defendant’s bribery scheme continued for years thereafter, and he admitted that he enlisted the help of multiple co-conspirators in connection with his scheme. According to the plea agreement, the Defendant received more than $250,000 in connection with the bribery scheme and caused losses to the City in excess of $1,250,000.
Gillespie and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Gillespie will be sentenced to between two years’ and five years’ imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for December 9, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI for their work in the investigation, and thanked the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General, Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore City Inspector General for assistance as well. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Riley and Evelyn L. Cusson, who are prosecuting 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.
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Fifteen Year Sentence Handed Down for Northeast ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Scotland Alston, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today before the Honorable Michael O’Keefe of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to 15 years in prison for a February 2024 shooting, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced Alston to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. When announcing Alston’s sentence, Judge O’Keefe cited the random viciousness of Alston’s actions and the devastating injuries sustained by the female victim.
Alston pleaded guilty to aggravated assault while armed on June 10, 2024.
According to the government’s evidence, with which Alston agreed, on February 28, 2024, Alston and the female victim got into a heated argument in the 2000 block of Benning Road NE, during which Alston shoved the victim and she shoved him back. During the argument, Alston took a gun from his waistband and held it at his side. A bystander tried to separate Alston and the victim, but the two continued to argue. Eventually, the victim sat down on a ledge. Alston got onto a bicycle to leave the area but then returned to where the victim sat. Alston drew his weapon again and fired numerous times at the victim. The victim tried to flee but she collapsed after being hit seven times. She spent months in the hospital recovering from her injuries.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Yarbro, who prosecuted the case.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Louisville Men for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on July 17, 2024, charging two Louisville men with illegal possession of firearms. One of the men was also charged with receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Interim Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Hassan Mohamed, 20, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm that had an overall length of less than twenty-six inches, and with a barrel of less than sixteen inches in length. Between March 27, 2024, and April 23, 2024, Mohamed possessed a Smith & Wesson, model M&P15-22P, .22 LR AR variant style pistol, an Aero Precision, model M4E1, 5.56 caliber rifle, a Smith & Wesson, model SD9, 9-millimeter pistol, and ammunition. Mohamed was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On April 23, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Mohamed was convicted of complicity to robbery in the first degree (two counts), robbery in the first degree (3 counts), complicity to assault in the first degree, and tampering with physical evidence.
On January 4, 2022, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Mohamed was convicted of robbery in the first degree, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and criminal attempt rape in the first degree.
According to the indictment, Jrome Fitch, 22, was charged with receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. Between April 11, 2024, and March 22, 2024, Fitch possessed a Smith & Wesson, model M&P15-22P, .22 LR AR variant style pistol, a Smith & Wesson, model SD9, 9-millimeter pistol, and ammunition. Fitch was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was under felony indictment for the following offenses.
On March 25, 2022, in Clark Circuit Court, Clark County, Indiana, Fitch was arraigned on an indictment for criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement, auto theft, and theft of a firearm (four counts).
The defendants made their initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered the defendants detained pending trial. If convicted, Hassan faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. However, if he is found to be an Armed Career Criminal, then he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Fitch faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Prohibited Firearm Possessor Initiative (PFP), a collaborative partnership between all levels of law enforcement and prosecutors to reduce violent crime and firearm offenses. On January 23, 2024, Louisville Metro initiated a gun crime reduction initiative focused on investigating and prosecuting illegal firearm possession. The PFP partners include the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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El Departamento de Justicia monitoreará el cumplimiento de las leyes federales de derechos electorales en MassachusettsRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que monitoreará el cumplimiento con las leyes federales electorales en dos ciudades de Massachusetts en las elecciones primarias del 3 de septiembre. El Departamento monitoreará en las ciudades de Methuen (en Essex County) y Lowell (en Middlesex County).
El Departamento de Justicia hace cumplir las leyes federales de derechos electorales que protegen el derecho de acceso a las urnas de todos los ciudadanos. El Departamento envía personal del departamento periódicamente a monitorear elecciones en comunidades a través de todo el país. Además, la División envía observadores federales de la Oficina de Administración de Personal de EE. UU. según autorizado por una orden judicial federal.
La Sección de Votación de la División de Derechos Civiles, junto con las Oficinas de los Fiscales Federales, vela por el cumplimiento de las leyes federales civiles que protegen el derecho al voto, incluyendo la Ley del Derecho al Voto, la Ley Nacional de Inscripción de Votantes, la Ley Ayudemos a Estados Unidos a Votar, y la Ley de Votación para los Uniformados y los Ciudadanos en el Extranjero.
Información adicional sobre la votación y las elecciones está disponible en el sitio web del Departamento de Justicia en www.justice.gov/crt/voting/. Aprenda más sobre la Ley del Derecho al Voto y otras leyes federales electorales en www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Denuncias relacionadas a posibles vulneraciones de las leyes federales de derechos electorales pueden presentarse mediate el formulario en línea de la División de Derechos Civiles en https://civilrights.justice.gov/ o por teléfono al (800) 253-3931.
Del Rio Man Who Posted Videos of Himself Using “Glock Switch” Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Del Rio man pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms.
According to court documents, Mark Anthony Jimenez aka M-Thang, 23, obtained a pistol attached with a machine gun conversion device, also known as a switch. The switch is designed to convert a semi-automatic weapon into a weapon that can be fired as a fully automatic weapon by a single function of the trigger. Jimenez then purchased two boxes of 9mm ammunition in Del Rio.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives discovered videos Jimenez had shared on Facebook depicting himself, a juvenile, and codefendant Alleena Nikole Soto, 20, of Del Rio, firing rounds from the pistol with the switch attached, in fully automatic mode. Jimenez knew that it was unlawful to possess a machine gun conversion device, and that it was unlawful for Soto to possess firearms because she was a convicted felon.
ATF canvassed the property where Jimenez was seen firing the automatic pistol and recovered multiple 9mm shell casings consistent with the ammunition that he purchased.
Jimenez faces up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Soto remains in custody awaiting further proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The ATF is investigating the case with support from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office, the Del Rio Police Department, and Val Verde County Adult Probation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayvee Rhoda is prosecuting the case.
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Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearms on Two OccasionsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Loveking Kitching (22, Deland) has pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Kitching faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is set for December 11, 2024.
According to court records, 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 car 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 in 2022 of multiple felonies and therefore 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 is being 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.
Conspiracy to Kidnap Ends with Three South Louisiana Men Each Spending 18 to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown, along with FBI Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil, and Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber have joined together to announce that three defendants who were involved in a conspiracy to kidnap have been convicted and sentenced in the Western District of Louisiana. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced each of the defendants as follows:
Joseph Lawrence Harrison, 27, of St. Martinville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 216 months (18 years) in prison.
Cody Lajohn Williams, 31, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 300 months (25 years) in prison.
Drapper Lavar Anthony, Jr., 27, of Youngsville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison.
On February 16, 2023, law enforcement agents and investigators learned that this group of co-conspirators lured an individual from Los Angeles, California, to Lafayette, Louisiana, under the guise of executing a multi-state narcotics transaction. After the victim arrived in Lafayette, he was kidnapped at gun point. He received serval injuries including lacerations to his face after being struck with a firearm. The victim was held for several hours in an Airbnb turned safe house by co-conspirators. Several ransom demands were made that included a request for up to $300,000, 100 pounds of marijuana, and several high-end pieces of jewelry.
After constant collaboration between investigators and using multiple investigative techniques, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives were able to intercept Harrison and Williams and safely secure the victim.
Harrison pleaded guilty on March 15, 2024, and admitted to knowingly participating in the criminal venture when he aided other members of this conspiracy in demanding the ransom in exchange for the release of the victim. He participated in sending interstate communications by providing a cell phone that was used to capture proof of life photographs and videos of the victim.
Williams pleaded guilty on May 3, 2024, to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and sending interstate communications with intent to extort and admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy.
Anthony pleaded guilty on May 3, 2024, to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and sending interstate communications with intent to extort and admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy.
“The apprehension of these three defendants could not have happened without the cooperation of each of these state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as those in California, and is a testament to what is possible when we all work together,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “The kind of bad acts that these three men committed are without reproach and will not be tolerated in the Western District of Louisiana. I am proud of the men and women within our office that worked to make this prosecution successful and am grateful for the partnership we have built with our federal and local law enforcement partners. We will continue to work together to combat violent crime in the Western District of Louisiana.”
“Every day, the FBI works with its law enforcement partners to combat drugs and violent crime in this country,” said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of FBI New Orleans. “Every citizen, including those caught up in the middle of illicit activity, deserves protection from the harm that can occur when one ventures into that illegal trade. The FBI thanks all of its partners in this case for making sure some of this business was disrupted.”
“These individuals are part of fueling the violent crime problem across the country by purchasing and assembling an unserialized firearm that was used in the commission of a heinous crime,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that we will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess these firearms, remove another violent criminal from our streets, and keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Broussard Police Department and Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office (Corrections Unit). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys LaDonte A. Murphy and Daniel J. Vermaelen.
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Chicago-Area Man Sentenced for Role in Nationwide Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chicago-area man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield, Mass. for his role in a nationwide wire fraud conspiracy that victimized businesses and individuals across the United States.
Demario Sorrells, 38, of Rockford, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to three years of probation, $106,000 in restitution, and $106,000 in forfeiture. In February 2024, Sorrells pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to cin December 2020ommit wire fraud. Sorrells was initially indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2020 along with five co-defendants, including rap promoter Antonio Strong and rap artists Herbert Wright and Joseph Williams.
Beginning in at least March 2017 through November 2018, Sorrells, Wright, Williams, and, allegedly, their co-defendants conspired to defraud numerous businesses and individuals throughout the United States by using unauthorized and stolen payment card account information of real individuals – including the actual cardholders' names, addresses, security codes and account expiration dates. Generally, because the payment card information was authentic, the defrauded businesses and individuals successfully processed the fraudulent transactions and provided the goods and services to Wright and his alleged co-conspirators. The actual cardholders discovered these transactions on their accounts and disputed the charges with their card companies who then charged back the transactions to the businesses and individuals, which consequently suffered losses in the amounts of the unauthorized transactions.
On certain occasions, Strong obtained valuable goods and services for the benefit of Sorrells, including private jet flights, luxury accommodations and elite automobile rentals. On other occasions, Strong contacted Sorrells to obtain illicit account information and Sorrells provided Strong with illicit account information that he obtained from the dark web. On other occasions, Strong sometimes paid Sorrells in exchange for the illicit account information. Sorrells knew the illicit account information was stolen data. In total, Sorrells was responsible for $106,000 in victim losses.
In May 2024, Strong pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 19, 2024. In July 2023, Wright pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a federal official, and in January 2024 he was sentenced to three years’ probation and was ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $139,968. In March 2024, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and in August 2024 he was sentenced to three years’ probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $155,392 and forfeiture of $102,116.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office and Trial Attorneys Andrew Tyler and Kyle Crawford of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Cherokee County Resident Sentenced to 40 Years for MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Xavier Sean Wilson, age 23, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 480 months in prison for Murder in Indian Country - Second Degree.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.
On October 4, 2023, Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of an Information charging him with Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. According to investigators, on April 30, 2022, Wilson assaulted and killed the victim with a knife inside the victim’s home. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The penalty imposed by the court today reflects the gravity of the crime,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Thanks to the efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners, the defendant will now be held accountable for his actions. The FBI is firmly committed to combating violent crime in Indian country and we hope this brings some measure of closure to the community.”
“The defendant’s shattering act of violence took the life of the victim, meriting the sentence handed down today,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Nothing makes up for the horror of such a crime, or for the sudden loss experienced within a family and a community. But it is my hope that the sentence handed down allows a measure of justice and safety to allow the family and community to confront its grief.”
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wilson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.
Charitable Foundation Treasurer Sentenced to 7+ Years for FraudRead the Press Release
A self-professed stock “trader” who also served as the treasurer of a church’s charitable foundation was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in federal prison for fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Thomas Calhoun Bain, 75, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to a felony information charging two counts of wire fraud in March. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle, who ordered him to pay $1,725,551 in restitution to various victims.
Mr. Bain, who served as the treasurer of a Dallas church’s charitable foundation from 2016 to 2022, was responsible for transmitting monetary donations to organizations that supported gospel-based initiatives.
According to plea papers, Mr. Bain recommended the foundation issue 15 large donations to an entity Mr. Bain claimed furthered the church’s mission. In turn, he told the entity that the foundation simply wanted to funnel the funds through the entity and on to other charities, in order to keep its donations anonymous. He directed the entity to transmit all funds to him, purportedly so that he could distribute the money to the charities.
Instead, Bain pocketed the funds, totaling approximately $1.4 million, and used it to support his lifestyle, including rent on a home in Highland Park, a membership to a country club, domestic and international travel, and a vacation rental in Aspen.
During the same time period, Mr. Bain also defrauded investors through his company, BainTrade. Though he had no professional licenses, certification, training, or specific educational background, he represented to investors that he was a “Trader” and falsely guaranteed an annual return of at least 8 percent on their investments with BainTrade, with a 50-50 split between himself and investors for any yearly return above 8 percent.
In fact, Mr. Bain engaged in a Ponzi-type scheme, using new investor funds to make distribution payments to prior investors. He put remaining investor funds toward his high-end rental home, country club membership, and travel, bolstering his appearance as a wealthy and successful “trader.”
To further legitimize the scheme, Mr. Bain generated fake contracts that he required investors to sign, and fraudulent account statements showing fake annual earnings and profits generated. He also falsely told investors that he was investing his own money.
Between 2010 and 2022, Mr. Bain fraudulently obtained more than $871,000 from BainTrade investors.
Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Rudoff prosecuted the case.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXIS A. VALLEJO, also known as “Boobie” and “Boobie Porter,” 33, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation of a fatal shooting outside of a Stratford nightclub in the early morning hours of December 17, 2021, identified Vallejo’s car and two other vehicles at the scene of the shooting. On December 29, 2021, Bridgeport Police located Vallejo’s car on Goddard Avenue in Bridgeport. Vallejo, who was standing by the car, ran as officers approached and threw a 9mm semiautomatic handgun into a nearby yard. Vallejo was apprehended and the firearm, which was fully loaded with a round in the chamber, was recovered. A search of Vallejo’s car revealed five firearm magazines, including high-capacity magazines, and three different types of ammunition.
Vallejo’s criminal history includes felony convictions in state court for firearm possession, robbery, larceny, and failure to appear offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Vallejo has been detained since his federal arrest on June 30, 2022. On February 23, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Ross Weingarten through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Boone County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Boone County, Ky., man, Timothy Estep, was sentenced to 174 months on Friday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in October 2023, law enforcement used a confidential informant to purchase 12.7 grams of methamphetamine from Estep. Law enforcement thereafter attempted to conduct a traffic stop but Estep fled, during which he drove into the oncoming lane of traffic.
Several days later, law enforcement took Estep into custody when he arrived for a second controlled purchase. Law enforcement found 13.8 grams of methamphetamine on Estep and an imitation revolver in his vehicle. Estep admitted that he knowingly distributed methamphetamine during the first controlled purchase and that he intended to distribute methamphetamine during the second.
Under federal law, Estep must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Director Scott Hardcorn, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by DEA and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Spievack prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Armed Carjacking Lands Moore Man in Federal Prison for More Than a DecadeRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Earlier this week, BRIAN GENE TWO-BABIES, 39, of Moore, was sentenced to serve 121 months in federal prison for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On April 16, 2024, Two-Babies was charged by Superseding Information with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and carjacking. According to public record, on December 15, 2023, Two-Babies approached a vehicle in Oklahoma City armed with a pistol. Two-Babies attempted to open a locked car door, threatened the driver multiple times, and then discharged the firearm into the air. The victim handed over their phone, keys, and wallet to Two-Babies, who pointed his firearm at the victim and threatened to take their life. Two-Babies drove away in the victim’s car and was arrested by Oklahoma City Police officers while still in the victim’s car the next morning.
On April 22, 2024, Two-Babies pleaded guilty to the Superseding Information, and admitted to taking the car by force while armed, with the intent to cause “serious bodily harm”.
At the sentencing hearing on August 28, 2024 , U.S. district Judge Bernard M. Jones sentenced Two-Babies to serve 121 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the serious and senseless nature of the offense, specifically how Two-Babies placed the victim in fear of their life and discharged a firearm during the crime.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan J. West prosecuted the case.
This case is also part of “Operation Shots Fired.” Operation Shots Fired targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Crimes on Public Lands
Jose Donaire-Duarte, age 21, from Spain, was sentenced to seven days incarceration for simple assault and two years of unsupervised probation for disorderly conduct. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Aug. 28. According to the charging documents, while leaving a social event in the Mammoth Hot Springs concession area, hosted by Xanterra the concessionaire for Yellowstone Nation Park, an intoxicated Donaire-Duarte began sexually harassing the victim. He grabbed the victim around the waist, held her tightly against him and grabbed her buttocks repeatedly. The victim felt afraid, broke away from Donaire-Duarte and began to run. He pursued the victim, grabbed her by both shoulders, preventing her from running and pulled her close to him again. Upon arrival at the dormitory where both resided, Donaire-Duarte followed the victim to her room, where he climbed on top of her in bed, with his chest on her chest and his arms on either side of the victim, while repeating the victim’s name. A third party arrived in the victim’s room, at which point Donaire-Duarte left. The crime was investigated by the National Park Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes. Case No. L:24-PO-00670-SAH-1
Firearm Offenses
James Herman Bell, 51, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to be imprisoned until May 5, 2025 and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 28. According to court documents, Bell was seen by employees stealing ammunition from a store in Riverton. The Riverton Police Department (RPD) were dispatched and given descriptions of two men. RPD located the men a few blocks away. They each turned over items they had taken without paying, including Bell who had a 20-round box of .358 rifle ammunition. Bell is convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition. Bell was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023 and pleaded guilty on May 31. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, RPD, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist. Case No. 23-CR-00162
Sexual Abuse
Skyler Sven Quiver, 29, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for sexual abuse of a person incapable of consent. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 29. According to court documents, a minor victim reported a rape in June 2012. At that time, she could not identify the person who raped her because she was extremely intoxicated. A rape examination detected semen and although the DNA did not match a prior male subject, it was kept on file. In 2021, a routine search of the FBI Combined DNA Index System (“CODIS”) database indicated a possible DNA association between biological evidence collected from the minor victim and a newly convicted offender, the defendant. Quiver was interviewed and admitted to having sex with victim and when asked if it was possible she was too intoxicated to give consent, he said, “yes.” This crime was investigated by the FBI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore. Case No. 24-CR-00015
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Thursday 29 August 2024
Worcester Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison Following a Money Laundering Conspiracy ConvictionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A man and woman from Worcester, Massachusetts were sentenced to federal prison in connection with their roles in a money laundering conspiracy, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Nafis Quaye, 47, and Sunna Sepetu, 38, both of Worcester, Massachusetts were convicted of conspiracy to money launder in March 2024 by a federal jury in Concord following an eight-day trial. Quaye was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and 2 years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliot. Quaye was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,287,220. Sepetu was sentenced last month by Judge Elliot to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment, 2 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $921,020 in restitution.
“These sentences reflect the serious emotional and financial harm these defendants caused the victim,” said United States Attorney Jane E. Young. “The defendants knowingly accepted millions of dollars in wire fraud proceeds from a victim in the United States and sent those proceeds overseas to the fraud perpetrator. Prosecuting people in the United States who facilitate the execution of international frauds committed on the internet is essential to disrupting the networks that pray on vulnerable members of our society.”
“Quaye and Sepetu conspired to move money stolen from a victim of fraud who believed they were sending funds to a romantic partner. Unfortunately, that romantic partner was later revealed to be a fictional character created by scammers overseas. The victim sent money to accounts controlled by Quaye and Sepetu, sending them over $3 million dollars before the conspiracy was stopped,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “We are dedicated to holding thieves like these defendants and their collaborators to account and are sending a clear message that facilitating the laundering of ill-gotten gains will result in federal prison time.”
The evidence at trial showed that between 2013 and 2019, the defendants received approximately $3.2 million in proceeds from a romance scam victim located in Texas. These proceeds were sent to bank accounts established by the defendants for various shell companies. The defendants then sent those fraud proceeds to the perpetrator of the fraud operating in Africa, while keeping a portion of the proceeds for themselves.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations within the United States Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau is prosecuting the case.
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Wood County Man Sentenced for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Price Javon Patterson, age 37, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 188 months for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
The investigation began when Patterson was stopped for speeding and officers smelled marijuana coming from his car. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of cash and other items indicative of drug trafficking. Officers then obtained a search warrant for Patterson’s motel room and discovered a ghost gun, ammunition, and thousands of fentanyl stamps with an approximate street value of $50,000. Due to his lengthy criminal history, Patterson was classified as a career offender, with a history of assault, firearms possession, and drug trafficking.
Patterson will serve four years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bridgeport Police Department investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Wolf Point woman sentenced to prison for meth trafficking on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Wolf Point woman who admitted to selling methamphetamine on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced on Aug. 26 to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Talayne Killeen Demarrias, 31, pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute meth.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Demarrias worked as an intermediary for a meth distributor in Wolf Point. Between January and March of 2023, Demarrias was distributing meth, and on Feb. 7, 2023, a confidential source purchased approximately 76 grams of meth from Demarrias in a monitored purchase.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Valley County Sheriff’s Office and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Wisconsin Man Sentenced to Prison for COVID-19 Program FraudRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Curtis A. Alleyne, 40, Almond, Wisconsin was sentenced on August 23, 2024 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to a year and a day in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering associated with a COVID-19 pandemic relief program. Alleyne pleaded guilty to this charge on May 9, 2024.
On April 15, 2020, Alleyne submitted an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for his business “Curtis A. Alleyne, Inc.” Alleyne claimed the business earned gross revenue of over $500,000. He also attached forged tax documents to corroborate information in his EIDL application. Actual tax forms from the Internal Revenue Service revealed that Alleyne never filed the forged tax records that he submitted to the SBA.
SBA approved Alleyne’s EIDL application and deposited $149,900 into his bank account. Investigators analyzed Alleyne’s financial records and determined that Alleyne spent the illegally obtained EIDL funds on a Cadillac CT6 and other unapproved personal expenses.
In sentencing Alleyne, Judge Conley stressed the need to send a message of general deterrence to potential white-collar criminals, especially those who target government programs during a time of crisis.
As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce – Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma prosecuted this case.
The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program, and EIDL program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.
Waterbury Gang Member Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LADERRICK JONES, also known as “Lexus,” 32, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 192 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a violent Waterbury street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging Jones and 15 other 960 gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.
On March 7, 2024, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, and admitted that he trafficked narcotics in furtherance of the 960 enterprise, and that he was aware that 960 members were engaged in violent activity and committed murders and attempted murders.
On October 11, 2018, 960 members Gabriel Pulliam and Julian Scott shot into a crowd of people, killing an innocent bystander, 30-year-old Fransua Guzman, and paralyzing a second victim. Jones was in one of two cars 960 members drove to the scene of the shooting. Guzman was the mother of four children.
Jones has been detained since his arrest on June 27, 2019.
Pulliam and Scott were found guilty of related offenses and await sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Waterbury Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Southington Police Department, Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the DEA Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Advertising Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Kent, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to advertising child pornography.
According to court records, earlier this year, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland, Maine were investigating a site on the dark web dedicated to the sexual abuse of children. During the investigation, HSI agents observed a profile, later identified as belonging to Michael Posey, 49, that held a moderator position and was responsible for approving posts submitted by others. The profile included a password that individuals could use for any files/links provided by the user. A review of the profile’s history revealed a history of postings that dated back to December 2021. Agents logged into the site, reviewed a post made by Posey regarding a collection of 70 videos of child sexual abuse, and accessed a zipped file containing numerous videos including young children. In April 2024, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Posey’s residence in Kent, Washington. During the interview, Posey confirmed he used the profile on the dark web site and provided agents with his login information.
Posey faces 15–30 years in prison followed by five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – in legal terms, "child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are shared or viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Virginia Man Indicted for Making Threats Against Public OfficialsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville returned an indictment yesterday charging a Winchester, Virginia man with making online threats to kill, kidnap, or injure Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Barrack Obama.
According to court documents, Frank Lucio Carillo, 66, is charged with 14 counts—five counts of making threats against Vice President Kamala Harris, five counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure Vice President Harris, two counts of making threats against former President Obama and two counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure former President Obama.
According to court documents, Carillo used the social media platform GETTR to post thousands of messages using the name “joemadarats1.” GTTR is publicly accessible, and users can post articles, statements, and links to other websites, as well as comment on and reply to other users’ posts.
On July 27, 2024, FBI Phoenix received information concerning a threat made against an employee of the Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder’s Office that was made on GETTR by a user with the name “joemadarats1.”
FBI searched the “joemadarats1” user account and discovered approximately 4,359 posts, comments, and replies made by the user targeting various public officials including, but not limited to Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Barrack Obama
In a February 2024 post, “joemadarats1” said he had his “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.”
Authorities used GETTR subscriber information and other investigative methods to determine that the “joemadarats1” username was used by Carillo at his residence in Winchester, Virginia.
On August 2, 2024, authorities at the FBI Richmond executed a search warrant at Carillo’s home and seized a 9 mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office made the announcement today.
The FBI in both Richmond, Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Union Official Charged with Bombing Alabama Gas PipelineRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A West Virginia man has been charged with bombing a methane gas pipeline owned and operated by Warrior Met Coal, Inc., in Brookwood, Alabama, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Jerry Gale Kerns, 52, with destruction of property used in interstate commerce by means of fire or explosive.
According to the indictment, on March 23, 2022, Kerns bombed a section of a methane gas pipeline near the intersection of Hanna Creek Road and Sandlin Mountain Road in Brookwood, Alabama. At the time, Kerns was the Region II Director of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) union. The UMWA represented striking, unionized coal miners employed by Warrior Met Coal, which operated a mine in Brookwood.
If convicted, Kerns faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of twenty years in prison.
FBI and ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan “Jack” Harrington and Lloyd C. Peeples, III are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney launches monthly podcastRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today the launch of “Feds Demystified,” a monthly podcast produced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Ross stated, “The purpose of the podcast is to help the public better understand just how the federal justice system works and the differences between the federal and state justice systems.” “In addition, it’s important to provide transparency about the federal justice system and federal law enforcement agencies.”
Episode 1 of “Feds Demystified” pulls back the curtain and introduces the public to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and how it operates. Future episodes of the monthly podcast will feature guests from investigative law enforcement agencies and the community.
You can access “Feds Demystified” at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga6OxUcP80E&t=6s.
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U.K. Man Arrested for Lying on Immigration ApplicationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A U.K. man has been arrested for allegedly making false statements in an immigration matter.
Duncan Hollands, a/k/a Duncan Herd, 58, a citizen of the United Kingdom residing in Cambridge was charged with one count of falsely swearing in an immigration matter. Hollands was arrested yesterday and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, in February 2022, Hollands applied for lawful permanent residence status (more commonly known as a green card) and attended an interview for that application. The application form requires applicants to answer various background questions, such as prior names or aliases and any criminal history, so that immigration authorities can determine whether the applicant is eligible for the sought status. It is alleged that, on his application and during his interview, Hollands falsely reported that he had never used another name and denied having any history with the criminal justice system. However, it is alleged that Hollands did in fact have a prior name, Duncan Herd, under which he was previously convicted and sentenced to over three years in prison for obtaining property by deception along with other charges. It is further alleged that Hollands also had other interactions with the criminal justice systems in the United Kingdom and France.
The charge provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of 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.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Cambridge and Woburn, Mass. Police Department and U.K. law enforcement authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine Using the United States MailRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentences of three defendants who were convicted for their participation in conspiring to distribute cocaine:
• Omar Josue Morales-Rodriguez, 45, of Freeport, Florida was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
• Marcos Aguilar Gonzalez, 50, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and Edmar Agustin Gonzalez, 34, of Crestview, Florida, were each sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Aguilar Gonzalez also pled guilty to an additional count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Each will also be required to serve a term of supervised release following their prison sentence.
“This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness and collaborative efforts of our local and federal law enforcement partners, to identify and intercept shipments of illegal substances via the United States Mail,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We remain committed to support their efforts through the investigation and prosecution of criminals bringing drugs into North Florida. The imposed sentences illustrate the significant consequences of harming our citizens through their illicit drug trafficking activities.”
A multi-agency investigation led by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office revealed that between October 2019, and June 13, 2023, the three defendants conspired together and with others to ship cocaine via the United States Mail from Puerto Rico to addresses in Okaloosa and Walton County. The United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted five packages, three of which contained
one kilogram of cocaine each, and one of which contained 125 grams of cocaine. The fifth package, which was shipped from Walton County to Puerto Rico, contained $10,000. In addition to the drugs and cash, law enforcement seized four firearms and several rounds of ammunition that belonged to Morales-Rodriguez who was previously convicted in federal court in Puerto Rico and served three years in federal prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon. At sentencing, Morales-Rodriguez was found to be the leader and organizer of the conspiracy and held accountable for causing 20 United States Mail packages containing a total of at least 14 kilograms of cocaine to be shipped via the United States Mail from Puerto Rico to Okaloosa and Walton County.
“When people choose to distribute illicit drugs in the U.S. Mail, they should know the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with our law enforcement partners, will actively pursue those responsible, and bring them to justice,” said Juan A. Vargas, Inspector In Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “The outcome of this case should serve as a significant deterrent for anyone else considering the distribution of illicit drugs through the U.S. Mail. I want to thank our partners in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration."
"The duration of this investigation highlights our commitment to fighting illegal drug activity in Walton County," said Captain Dustin Cosson of the Walton County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Bureau. "This case represents countless hours of work dedicated to holding traffickers accountable. The diligence of our narcotics investigators coupled with our strong partnerships with the DEA and the U.S. States Postal Service should send a clear message to anyone involved in similar activities."
The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.