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Friday 16 August 2024
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Joe Paul Shultz, age 40, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced August 16, 20224 in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Shultz to 114 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Shultz is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On April 27, 2020, Shultz delivered fentanyl to a victim, which contributed to an overdose death. Law enforcement investigated the overdose and located Shultz as the suspect. An autopsy was conducted on the victim, and the cause of death was buprenorphine and fentanyl toxicity. Law enforcement contacted Shultz, who admitted to the delivery of two fentanyl pills to the victim before the overdose. Law enforcement could not locate the source of the buprenorphine as it was not prescribed by a doctor. Shultz was also known to sell fentanyl pills to other individuals in the Lincoln, Nebraska metro area.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.
Lexington Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sex Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — James Austen Gillespie, 33, of Lexington, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production of child sex abuse materials. *
Evidence presented to the court showed that on July 11, 2021, Gillespie used his cellphone to edit himself into two compromising images of a nude minor child.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Mr. Gillespie to 180 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Mr. Gillespie was ordered to pay a total of $25,000 in restitution to his victims and to register as a sex offender.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.
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NOTE: While the current federal statutes still contain the term “child pornography,” experts in the field now recognize “child sexual abuse materials” as the more accurate terminology.
Lanesborough Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lanesborough man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Robert Kend, 63, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 68 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2024, Kend pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. Kend was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Sept. 12, 2023.
During a search of Kend’s residence on Sept. 12, 2023, law enforcement located an iPhone and MacBook, both containing numerous videos showing minors performing lewd acts, with Kend, sometimes appearing in a picture-in-picture box also performing lewd acts. Law enforcement found similar videos in Kend’s iCloud account as well.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Justice Department Transfers Approximately $300,000 in Forfeited Criminal Proceeds to BonaireRead the Press Release
The Justice Department shared $300,921.09 in forfeited criminal assets with Bonaire, a special Dutch Caribbean municipality within the country of the Netherlands, in recognition of Bonaire’s assistance to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s investigation of, and the department’s forfeiture of criminal proceeds derived from, the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business that was active in the black market for exchanging Venezuelan bolivars for U.S. dollars.
This transfer marks the first international sharing of forfeited assets involving the Governments of the United States and Bonaire. Bonaire’s Public Prosecutors Office intends to use the funds to support ongoing criminal justice efforts.
The funds transferred are a share of net assets forfeited by U.S. authorities from an investigation into the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business run by Hjalmar Gibelli Gomez. A U.S. law enforcement investigation revealed that Gibelli was engaging in unlicensed money transmitting through his business, a Venezuelan insurance agency called Resguardo Sociedad de Corretahe. The unlicensed money transmitting business exchanged Venezuelan bolivars for U.S. dollars on a black market currency exchange in violation of U.S. law. The funds were used to promote Gibelli’s illegal money transmitting business and were utilized in money laundering transactions. As part of his illegal scheme, Gibelli transferred $2,486,525 from the scheme to purchase a luxury yacht named the “Navigante,” among other transactions.
On Dec. 22, 2017, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri filed a civil forfeiture complaint against the yacht and other assets held by Gibelli. As described in court documents, the yacht is subject to forfeiture as property involved in a transaction or attempted transaction in violation of U.S. money laundering statutes, or as property traceable to such property. Bonaire authorities provided important law enforcement assistance in the seizure and forfeiture by restraining the Navigante in their territory, safely offloading the yacht’s crew, and assisting in the yacht’s transfer to the United States. Gibelli consented to the forfeiture of the Navigante and other property.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Casey for the Eastern District of Missouri prosecuted the case, with substantial assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and U.S. Marshals Service. The DEA and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
The Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) provided assistance in connection with the international sharing process.
The Criminal Division, through MLARS’ International Unit, administers the department’s international asset forfeiture sharing program. Pursuant to federal law, and in coordination with the Departments of the Treasury and State, the department may share proceeds of successful forfeiture of property with foreign countries that participate in the seizure or forfeiture of the property.
Jury Finds Calhoun Falls Man Guilty in Threat CaseRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. —Johnathan C. McCaslan, 51, of Calhoun Falls, was found guilty by a federal jury of stalking, mailing threatening communications and perpetuating letter hoaxes.
Evidence presented to the jury showed that while McCaslan was in divorce proceedings, he attempted to have his wife arrested by sending threatening letters to a Calhoun Falls police officer and to the Calhoun Falls Police Department. Both letters contained a white powdery substance and were written to appear as if his wife was the author. The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) twice deployed the bomb squad to investigate the powder, which law enforcement feared was fentanyl, anthrax, or another deadly substance. Fortunately, powder was harmless.
The SLED laboratory examined the letters and found McCaslan’s DNA on the stamps of the letter sent to the police officer. SLED investigators also determined that some of the information contained in the letters was known only by McCaslan and not his wife.
“The letter hoaxes in this case had the potential to have an innocent woman arrested for a crime she did not commit,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for this District of South Carolina. “Caslan’s criminal actions were a terrible abuse law enforcement resources, and we are committed to prosecuting such abuse.”
“The United States Postal Inspection Service is always proud to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who misuse the U.S. Mail, to elicit fear and frame the innocent victims we work so diligently to protect,” said US Postal Inspector in Charge Tommy D. Coke of the Atlanta Division.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community, and targeting law enforcement to frame someone for a crime is appalling,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “The hard-working professionals at SLED are subject matter experts committed to conducting thorough investigations. I’m grateful that no one was hurt, and that SLED could help find the facts that led to justice.”
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins presided over the trial and will sentence McCaslan after the United States Probation Office prepares a presentence report. McCaslan faces a statutory maximum of five years on each of the four counts of the indictment.
This case was investigated by SLED and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Marosek and Bill Watkins prosecuted the case.
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Judge Sentences Man to 78 Months in Prison for Robbery and Assault of Delivery DriverRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Emerson Goldring, Jr., 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for a robbery and assault he committed with a firearm on July 21, 2023. Sutasha Miller, 34, of Washington, D.C. was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration for attempted robbery in connection to the same events; however, the 18 months were suspended on the condition that Miller complete one year of supervised probation. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Goldring, Jr. pleaded guilty on June 14, 2024, to one count of robbery, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Miller pleaded guilty on the same date to one count of attempted robbery.
According to the government’s evidence, the victim was working as a Domino’s delivery driver when he parked in the 4800 block of North Capitol Street NE to deliver pizza to Miller. As the victim remained in the car, Miller and Goldring Jr. approached the victim’s car. Miller went to the driver’s side of the car, while Goldring Jr. went to the front passenger side. Goldring Jr. asked the victim to roll down the passenger side window, and Miller then reached inside to open the driver’s door. Goldring Jr. then pulled out a firearm, punched the victim, and hit the victim in the face with the butt of the firearm as Miller remained standing outside the driver’s side door. Goldring Jr. and Miller then took multiple pizza boxes and the pizza warmer bag from the victim. Goldring Jr. and Miller then went back together to Miller’s nearby apartment.
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 commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Goldstein, Randle Wilson, and Lauren “Luca” Winer who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Jamestown man arrested on multiple fentanyl chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Duane Lowery, 29, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and distribution of fentanyl. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donna M. Duncan and Joshua A. Violanti, who are handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Lowery was identified by investigators as a fentanyl and cocaine trafficker in and around Jamestown, NY. In November and December 2022, law enforcement conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl from Lowery. On December 7, 2022, a search warrant was executed at Lowery’s Jamestown residence, during which law enforcement recovered suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and $1,140 in cash.
Lowery made an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing on August 19, 2024.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan for a preliminary hearing on a criminal complaint on Aug. 16 was:
Rene Montenegro-Virrey, 50, of Bozeman, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Montenegro-Virrey faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Montenegro-Virrey was detained pending further proceedings. The Missouri River Drug Task Force and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-47.
Appearing on Aug. 14 and pleading not guilty was:
Dean Allen Wallowing Bull, 45, of Crow Agency, on charges of sexual abuse and attempted sexual abuse. If convicted of the most serious crime, Wallowing Bull faces life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release. Wallowing Bull was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Northern Cheyenne Criminal Investigative Services and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-110.
Kelly Duane Davis, 42, of Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Davis faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Davis was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-66.
Channon Nicole Freemont, 35, of Lame Deer, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Freemont faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. The FBI conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-95.
Derrick Lee Moore, 39, of Fairview, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Moore faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Moore was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-59.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Aug. 13 was:
Charles Clifford Hamlin, 60, of Helena, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hamlin faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Hamlin was detained pending further proceedings. The Missouri River Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-16.
Appearing on Aug. 12 was:
Stevenson Metelus, 35, of Margate, Florida, on charges of attempted coercion of a minor and use of facility in aid of racketeering. If convicted of the most serious crime, Metelus faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years to life of supervised release. Metelus was released pending further proceedings. The FBI, Missoula Police Department and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-34.
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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Illegal Possession of Machine Gun and Handgun Leads to Federal Prison Time for Two North Louisiana MenRead the Press Release
MONROE/SHREVEPORT, La. – Two men charged with illegal possession of firearms were sentenced in the Western District of Louisiana today, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown.
Timothy L. Elliott, 36, of West Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty in Monroe to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On November 24, 2022, officers with the Monroe Police Department received a call that Elliott was holding a silver and black handgun and had concealed the handgun in his waistband. Upon the arrival of officers at the scene, Elliott fled, and a police chase ensued. Elliott was soon after apprehended and placed in handcuffs. Law enforcement officers searched his car and found a silver and black handgun in the center console of his car. Elliott has three prior felony convictions and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Monroe Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Moody.
In a separate and unrelated case, L’Mykal Rashard Hicks, 22, of Shreveport, was sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote in Shreveport to 25 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a machine gun. On April 10, 2022, officers with the Shreveport Police Department received a complaint of drugs being sold near the intersection of Coyth and Lynbrook Streets in Shreveport. When officers arrived at the scene, they observed two vehicles parked at the dead end of the street. Officers attempted to make contact and one of the vehicles, a black pickup truck, fled the scene and a police chase ensued. The black truck began driving throughout the neighborhood, running stop signs and only slowed down to make turns. Officers continued following the truck and the passenger, later identified as Hicks, attempted to jump out of the moving truck, injuring himself in the process. Hicks jumped back in the truck, and they continued to flee from police through the neighborhood. Eventually, Hicks jumped out of the truck again and began to flee on foot. Law enforcement officers began to chase Hicks and observed him pull a firearm out of his waistband and run with it in his right hand before dropping it to the ground. As Hicks attempted to turn around and grab the gun he had dropped, the police officer pulled out his firearm and commanded Hicks to get on the ground with his hands behind him. Hicks continued to try and reach for the firearm before the officer was able to kick the firearm out of reach. He was subdued and brought to the front of the police car to be handcuffed but he escaped and ran on foot again. Officers caught up to Hicks and tased and handcuffed him. Hicks was charged with possession of a loaded Glock Gen 4 .45 caliber pistol with a conversion device attached making it a machine gun.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.
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Havre woman admits lunging at airplane flight controls during landing at Havre airportRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Havre woman who was a passenger on a small commercial airplane admitted on Thursday to interfering with the flight by lunging at the controls as the plane was landing, causing it to accelerate and turn on the runway, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Tracy Lynn Eagleman, aka Tracy Badmoccasin, 36, pleaded guilty to interfering with an aircraft in flight. Eagleman faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Dec. 11. Eagleman was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on March 21, 2023, Eagleman was a passenger on Cape Air flight 1793, a small passenger plane that departed from Billings and was bound for Havre. On the final approach into Havre, about 10 miles out, Eagleman stood up and started yelling about the landing. The flight crew – a captain and first officer – were able to calm Eagleman down and get her back into her seat. However, just as the plane touched down, Eagleman lunged forward from her seat and hit the flight controls. Eagleman hit the throttle for one of the two engines, causing it to accelerate and prompting the plane to “yaw” or turn on the runway. At the time, the plane was traveling between 70 and 75 knots, which is approximately 80 mph. The flight crew regained control of the plane without further incident, stopped on the tarmac and eventually taxied safely to the airport terminal. One of the passengers recorded the incident on a cellphone. While the recording failed to capture the moment, Eagleman lunged at the control deck, other passengers are heard yelling in fear that they could have been killed. In later interviews, the flight crew indicated that yawing at 70 knots in an unbalanced aircraft could cause it to roll and crash.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Hill County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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Hart County Company Sentenced to 3 Years of Probation and Fined $100,000 for Federal Criminal Violation of the Safe Drinking Water ActRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – Yesterday, Logsdon Valley Oil, Inc., a/k/a Hart Petroleum, a Hart County, Kentucky, company was sentenced to 3 years of probation and fined $100,000 for violating the Safe Drinking Water Act.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Acting Special Agent in Charge Leslie Carroll of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division covering Kentucky made the announcement.
According to court documents, in 2019 Logsdon Valley Oil, Inc., a/k/a Hart Petroleum, illegally discharged produced fluid also known as brine water from oil and gas production into sinkholes without a permit in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Logsdon Valley Oil, Inc. was previously convicted of violating the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2013.
“The enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act is vital to keeping Kentucky’s groundwater safe,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “We will continue to pursue, in partnership with the EPA, those who violate federal environmental laws in order to keep our citizens safe and to protect Kentucky’s natural resources.”
“Illegally injecting brine water into an unpermitted well violates the Safe Drinking Water Act and threatens the quality of groundwater,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Carroll. “Our nation’s environmental laws are designed to protect public health and safety, and the sentencing of Logsdon Valley Oil demonstrates that the EPA and its law enforcement partners will take action to protect communities and their local water supplies.”
This case was investigated by the Environment Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Judd prosecuted the case.
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Hagerstown Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges of Possessing Sexually Explicit Images of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Yesterday, Chad Christopher Langgle, age 30, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron of the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced Langgle’s guilty plea.
According to his guilty plea, in December 2022, Langgle emailed more than 50 videos containing child pornography. He also possessed images of child pornography on his cell phone and had additional videos stored in his email account.
Langgle was previously convicted of sex abuse of a minor and second-degree assault on a minor in the Circuit Court for Calvert County, Maryland. Additionally, he was previously convicted of second-degree sex offense in the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County, Maryland.At sentencing, Langgle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison followed by up to lifetime of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin has scheduled sentencing for October 10, 2024 at 10 a.m.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended HSI, the Maryland State Police, and the United States Marshals Service for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Reema Sood, who is prosecuting the 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.
Guilty Verdict for Man Who Killed 13-Year-Old Karon BlakeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jason Lewis, 42, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a Superior Court jury today for the January 2023 killing of 13-year-old Karon Blake in the 1000 block of Quincy Street, NE, Washington D.C. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Lewis was found guilty of three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed, committed against a minor.
Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein scheduled sentencing for October 25, 2024. For committing voluntary manslaughter while armed against a minor, Lewis faces a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison.
According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, at approximately 4:00 a.m., on January 7, 2023, Lewis armed himself with a fully-loaded handgun and went outside his home in the 1000 block of Quincy Street, NE. Lewis is on video leaving his house, aiming and firing at two young people who were involved in breaking into cars. After Lewis fired at those two people, hitting the car that one was driving, Karon Blake then ran in Lewis’s direction and Lewis fired two shots into Karon’s left side, killing him. Lewis claimed that he acted in self-defense because the two people that he initially fired at threatened him. In finding Lewis guilty of the assaults with a dangerous weapon, the jury rejected his claim of self-defense.
Lewis was arrested on January 31, 2023, and was initially held until he was released in March 2023, over the government’s objection.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
This case was prosecuted and tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Wojcik and Shauna Payyappilly.
Former Knox County Teacher Sentenced to Twenty Years for Attempted Production and Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE Tenn. – Today, Zachariah Luaie Albaba, 33, a former teacher with the Knox County School system, currently of Rocky Top, Tennessee, was sentenced to two hundred and forty months in prison by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his incarceration, Albaba will be on supervised release for his lifetime and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Albaba agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and one count of attempted production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2251(a).
According to the filed plea agreement, on September 11, 2022, in the Eastern District of Tennessee, in two separate communications, Albaba contacted two minor boys in different locations via OMEGLE, an internet application which provides real-time video communications. The real-time video communications with the two boys were located on Albaba’s cell phone. In each of the two videos, Albaba appears in the right-hand corner of the video requesting a male child to engage in sexual conduct and Albaba promises he will do likewise when the child is finished. One video shows a child engaging in sexual conduct, the other video does not. Neither boy has been identified.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge, Rana Saoud of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Acting Resident Agent in Charge, Lesley Cochran of the United States Secret Service (USSS) - Knoxville and Kentucky made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the HSI; USSS; Knoxville Police Department-Internet Crimes Against Children Unit; Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children; Kentucky Office of Attorney General; Campbell County Sheriff’s Office; and Rocky Top Police Department. This investigation was led by HSI Task Force Agent Thomas Evans.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.”
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Former California Resident Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Role in Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Oxnard, California, was sentenced in federal court on August 14, 2024, to five years of imprisonment on his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Christopher Andrew Salgado, 24.
According to information presented to the Court, between March 2022 and September 2022, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in the Western District of Pennsylvania. The investigation revealed that a cocaine source of supply in California would mail parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine to a residence in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. After investigators seized a parcel containing two kilograms of cocaine before it reached the Aliquippa residence, the source of supply began sending the parcels to Salgado in West Virginia. Thereafter, mobile and electronic surveillance confirmed that Salgado would drive the parcels from West Virginia to the Pittsburgh International Airport, pick-up co-defendant Jose Sanchez, who would arrive on flights from California, and transport both the parcel and Sanchez to another co-defendant, Romaro Foster Sr., in Aliquippa.
Following one re-supply of cocaine to Foster, law enforcement followed Salgado as he drove Sanchez back to the Pittsburgh airport, and observed Salgado dispose of a box in the trash of a fast food restaurant parking lot. Investigators recovered the box, observing a shipping label with Salgado’s West Virginia address as well as drug packaging material within the box. A field test of the packaging revealed the presence of cocaine.
In August 2022, investigators seized a parcel sent from California to Salgado in West Virginia. The parcel contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine. Investigators conducted a controlled delivery operation of the parcel at Salgado’s residence, executing a federal search warrant at the residence in conjunction with the operation. From Salgado’s bedroom, investigators recovered a separate parcel sent from California to Salgado containing approximately two kilograms of cocaine, along with a loaded 9mm handgun, an empty pistol magazine, a box of ammunition, and a digital scale.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Salgado.
This prosecution is part of an OCDETF investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Former Alabama Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Offense for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – A former Daleville, Alabama, Police Department sergeant, Ryan Phillips, pleaded guilty yesterday to depriving an arrestee of his civil rights under color of law.
“When police officers violate the law and abuse their power, it erodes the community’s trust in the ability of law enforcement to keep them safe and to preserve their rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant abused his power by entering the cell of an arrestee to violently strike him in the face and upper body without cause or reason. The Justice Department is steadfast in its determination to protect the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, including people who are incarcerated, and to hold accountable law enforcement officials who use excessive force.”
“Although police officers are granted authority to maintain law and order, that authority has its limits,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama. “The defendant lost his composure and beat an arrestee inside his cell. This type of excessive force cannot be tolerated. By holding accountable those who disparage the profession by breaking the law, we will protect the reputations of the countless officers who serve honorably.”
“Ryan Phillips clearly violated his position of public trust,” said Acting Assistant Director Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve all people and Phillips betrayed that trust. The law enforcement community relies on each other to uphold that sacred oath, and the FBI remains committed to holding those accountable should that oath be violated."”
According to documents submitted and statements made in court, Phillips willfully used unreasonable force against an arrestee identified as D.M. Specifically, while D.M. was inside a jail cell, he and Phillips had a verbal altercation. Phillips removed his badge and firearm, entered D.M.’s cell and hit D.M. in the upper body and face multiple times resulting in bodily injury to D.M., including lacerations and bruising. With the plea agreement, Phillips admitted that he had no legitimate law enforcement purpose for engaging in this conduct, that he acted willfully and that D.M. suffered bodily injury.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Phillips faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
Former Alabama Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Offense for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
A former Daleville, Alabama, Police Department sergeant, Ryan Phillips, pleaded guilty yesterday to depriving an arrestee of his civil rights under color of law.
“When police officers violate the law and abuse their power, it erodes the community’s trust in the ability of law enforcement to keep them safe and to preserve their rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant abused his power by entering the cell of an arrestee to violently strike him in the face and upper body without cause or reason. The Justice Department is steadfast in its determination to protect the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, including people who are incarcerated, and to hold accountable law enforcement officials who use excessive force.”
“Although police officers are granted authority to maintain law and order, that authority has its limits,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama. “The defendant lost his composure and beat an arrestee inside his cell. This type of excessive force cannot be tolerated. By holding accountable those who disparage the profession by breaking the law, we will protect the reputations of the countless officers who serve honorably.”
“Ryan Phillips clearly violated his position of public trust,” said Acting Assistant Director Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve all people and Phillips betrayed that trust. The law enforcement community relies on each other to uphold that sacred oath, and the FBI remains committed to holding those accountable should that oath be violated."”
According to documents submitted and statements made in court, Phillips willfully used unreasonable force against an arrestee identified as D.M. Specifically, while D.M. was inside a jail cell, he and Phillips had a verbal altercation. Phillips removed his badge and firearm, entered D.M.’s cell and hit D.M. in the upper body and face multiple times resulting in bodily injury to D.M., including lacerations and bruising. With the plea agreement, Phillips admitted that he had no legitimate law enforcement purpose for engaging in this conduct, that he acted willfully and that D.M. suffered bodily injury.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Phillips faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
Foreign national heads to prison for trafficking over 17 kilograms of meth in the Conroe areaRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 36-year-old Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
A federal jury deliberated for less than five hours before convicting Alberto Ramos-Nogueda Feb. 7.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Ramos-Nogueda to serve 210 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In imposing sentence, Judge Lake noted that credible evidence showed Ramos-Nogueda played an essential role in the conspiracy and made the choice to participate in the distribution of a large quantity of a dangerous substance that affects many people.
“Seventeen kilos of crystal meth is a lot of deadly meth for any size city, no matter how large,” said Hamdani. “Had Ramos-Nogueda been successful in bringing the drugs into Conroe, many there and in other nearby communities north of Houston, such as The Woodlands and Kingwood, could have fallen victim to meth’s deadly effects. Thanks to law enforcement’s surveillance and hard work, including chasing him down into the woods, Ramos-Nogueda’s efforts to destroy lives for his own personal profit came up short and left him in prison.”
In May 2022, law enforcement conducted surveillance at a hotel in north Houston believing a large amount of meth was going to be transported through Houston into the Conroe area. Authorities observed Ramos-Nogueda arrive at the hotel carrying a large cardboard box into one of the rooms. Shortly thereafter, he left with Hector Hernandez-Velasquez.
He then placed the box into his vehicle and began to drive north on Highway 45 toward Conroe with Hernandez-Velasquez. When authorities attempted to stop them, both fled on foot. Law enforcement quickly took Hernandez-Velasquez into custody, but Ramos-Nogueda fled into a wooded area. They were able to apprehend him as well just a few hours later.
Law enforcement seized the box and discovered over 17 kilograms of crystal meth.
Hernandez-Velasquez, 49, illegally residing in Pharr, previously pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing Oct. 24. At that time, he faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
Ramos-Nogueda will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Houston Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Conroe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Stabe and Jimmy Leo prosecuted the case.
Federal Prisoner Sentenced to Six Years for Assaulting His Cellmate Causing Serious Bodily HarmRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Walter Lamar Jackson (43, Georgia) to six years for assault within the special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States (a federal prison) resulting in serious bodily harm. A federal jury found Jackson guilty on January 30, 2024.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Jackson was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex Coleman in Sumter County, Florida. On July 15, 2021, he was housed in a cell with another inmate inside the facility’s special housing unit. At approximately 5:50 p.m., correctional officers responded to an emergency alarm and discovered Jackson’s cellmate lying on the floor unconscious. Jackson was standing over his cellmate and slamming the man’s head into the concrete floor, which resulted in severe injuries. The officers immediately stopped the assault and restrained Jackson in handcuffs. Jackson subsequently stated to medical personnel that he had attacked his cellmate after giving him three warnings to be quiet.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah Nowalk and William S. Hamilton.
Federal Jury in Louisville Finds Man Guilty of Drug Offenses Involving CocaineRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Today a federal jury convicted a Louisville man of one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek G. Davodowich of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Interim Chief Paul Humphreys of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Reginald Brown, age 38, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. On September 23, 2022, the Louisville Metro Police Department executed a search warrant at 8805 Beulah Church Road. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement recovered approximately seven (7) kilograms of cocaine, and evidence consistent with drug trafficking. Brown was one of the individuals present during the execution of the warrant, and the evidence revealed he was a member of the conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.
Brown is scheduled for sentencing on November 13, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered Brown remain detained pending sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia P. Gomez and Marisa J. Ford are prosecuting the case with assistance from paralegal Adela Alic.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Federal Jury Finds Convicted Felon Guilty of Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Antoine Johnson (45, Indialantic) guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Johnson faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2024. Johnson was indicted on July 26, 2023.
According to the evidence presented at trial, after being stopped for violating a Florida traffic law on May 9, 2023, Johnson was found with a loaded firearm in his waistband. Johnson admitted to law enforcement that he knew he was a convicted felon and should not have been carrying a firearm. In a special finding, the jury found that before being stopped by the police, Johnson had been convicted three different times in the State of Florida, including robbery and two the sale of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Palm Bay Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie McNeff.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Eastern Oregon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting Girlfriend on the Burns Paiute Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Baker City, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for assaulting his then-girlfriend on the Burns Paiute Indian Reservation in March 2023.
Skyhawk Teeman Garcia, 29, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on March 11, 2023, Garcia went to his then-girlfriend’s house on the Burns Paiute Indian Reservation while intoxicated and demanded access to her phone. When she refused, Garcia, a former mixed martial arts fighter, became angry and put the victim in a chokehold, strangling her. The victim’s child intervened, causing Garcia to release the victim, and then called 911. Garcia punched multiple holes in a wall before leaving the residence.
Police arrived as Garcia was walking away from the house. He told the officer he had an argument with his girlfriend and punched some walls, but denied assaulting the victim.
On April 20, 2023, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Garcia with one count of assault by strangulation. One year later, on April 24, 2024, he pleaded guilty to the single charge.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Sweet.
Domestic violence can include both physical and emotional abuse, and it is frequently hidden from public view. Many survivors suffer in silence, afraid to seek help or not knowing where to turn. The traumatic effects of domestic violence also extend beyond the abused person, impacting family members, friends, and communities.
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you need assistance or know someone who needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Many communities throughout the country have also created support networks to assist survivors in the process of recovery.
The StrongHearts Native Helpline offers culturally specific support and advocacy for American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence. Please call 1-844-762-8483 or visit www.strongheartshelpline.org for more information.
Dubuque Woman Sentenced for Participating in Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
A woman who was involved in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, in which a young woman died from using cocaine distributed by the conspirators, was sentenced on August 15, 2024, to more than nine years in federal prison.
Whitaker Jo Ingles, age 30, from Dyersville, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 14, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine between 2019 and February 17, 2021, near Madison Park in Dubuque, Iowa.
At the guilty plea and sentencing, Ingles admitted she was a member of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the Dubuque area. She helped get the cocaine from the individual who brought it from Chicago, and then worked with others to distribute the cocaine to customers in Dubuque. On February 14, 2021, one of her partners distributed cocaine to a young woman in Dubuque who went home, used the cocaine and died from using the cocaine.
Ingles was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Ingles was sentenced to 115 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $13,911.02 in restitution to the victim’s family. She must also serve an eight-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ingles is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Nicole Nagin and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department
of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force, comprised of Dubuque Police Department, Dubuque Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-01006.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
DOJ and eating disorder clinic resolve allegation the program violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)Read the Press Release
Seattle – An eating disorder clinic, The Emily Program P.C. (TEP), and the U.S. Department of Justice have entered into a voluntary settlement agreement to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Under the terms of the settlement, the clinic is making several changes to address the needs of clients seeking eating disorder treatment but who have dietary restrictions due to their disabilities. These changes include: adding staff training; appointing a specific ADA Dietary Designee at each clinic; and logging requests for dietary modifications.
The agreement is in response to an investigation of a complaint by a person with a disability alleging discriminatory treatment, but The Emily Program admits no wrongdoing and chooses to voluntarily enter into the settlement to avoid the uncertainty of litigation.
“We are pleased that The Emily Program is making important changes to its procedures to ensure it respects the rights and needs of disabled clients,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “The former client, who is disabled, effectively advocated for changes which will assist others going forward.”
Under the terms of the settlement, TEP will allow patients with disabilities the opportunity to request exceptions to its dietary program rules as reasonable modifications to its policies and procedures. TEP agrees not to penalize or admonish or discourage a patient from requesting a modification. TEP will ensure it maintains foods and beverages that do not contain ingredients which are commonly restricted for people with disabilities such as sugar, caffeine, nuts, lactose or dairy products, gluten, eggs, soy, and fish/shellfish.
TEP is designating one person at each location to serve as the ADA Dietary Designee. This person will be specially trained to review requests for accommodation in diet and will know about common food restrictions for people with various disabilities, including but not limited to diabetes, epilepsy, autism, and food allergies. The staffer will maintain a log of all requests for dietary modification. The staffer will investigate and resolve complaints about ADA compliance and will ensure the location has foods that do not contain ingredients commonly restricted for people with disabilities.
DOJ will review training for TEP employees and will receive compliance reports every six months to ensure TEP is following the settlement agreement. TEP will alert DOJ if it receives any other complaints or is served with any lawsuits alleging violation of the ADA. The settlement terms are in force for 18 months after the settlement was signed.
The former client, who brought the matter to the attention of the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been offered $15,000 by The Emily Program.
The matter was investigated, and the settlement was negotiated, by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Kas, who serves as the Civil Rights Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.
For more information on our Civil Rights and ADA work, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/civil-rights
Convicted Felon Is Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – John Edward Bradley, 50, of Cherokee, N.C., was sentenced yesterday to seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to court documents and court proceedings, Bradley was previously convicted of a federal firearms offense in the Western District of North Carolina and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. After serving his prison term, Bradley was placed under court supervision on conditions of federal supervised release. In June 2023, Bradley’s federal probation officer obtained a warrant for Bradley’s arrest on allegations that Bradley had violated the terms of his supervision.
According to court documents, on June 13, 2023, law enforcement observed Bradley driving his vehicle in Cherokee. Knowing that there was an active arrest warrant against Bradley, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Bradley’s vehicle and Bradley was taken into custody. While in custody, Bradley told law enforcement that he had narcotics hidden in his underwear. Law enforcement searched Bradley and retrieved two baggies containing a controlled substance. Following a lab analysis of the substances it was determined that the larger baggie contained fentanyl and the smaller baggie contained methamphetamine. Bradley admitted that he possessed the fentanyl with the intent to distribute it to others.
On December 20, 2023, Bradley pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
This prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the DEA, the Cherokee Indian Police Department, and the Cherokee Alcohol Law Enforcement, with the assistance of the U.S. Probation Office in the Western District of North Carolina.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Scott with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
Chicago Man Charged in Federal Court with Plotting to Kill Two Witnesses in Cousin’s Murder TrialRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been indicted on federal murder-for-hire charges for allegedly plotting to kill two potential witnesses in his cousin’s upcoming murder trial.
An indictment returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges CHRISTOPHER YATES, 39, with two counts of murder-for-hire and one count of unlawful transfer of a firearm and ammunition.
According to the indictment and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case, Yates sought the killings of two individuals he believed would testify against his cousin in a state murder trial. Yates’s cousin is currently detained in state custody on murder and attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting two individuals, one fatally, in 2020. The trial was set to begin this fall.
Last month, Yates allegedly recruited a man to carry out the killings and provided him with a handgun and ammunition. Yates allegedly told the man, “I want them both off the board. Both of them got to [expletive] go.” Yates provided the man with $250 in cash and said he could offer more money later as payment for the killings, the charges allege. “Whatever you charge, I’m working on that,” Yates allegedly said.
Yates was arrested on July 31, 2024, and he remains detained in federal custody without bond. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment Thursday in federal court in Chicago.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. Substantial assistance was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Moran.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The unlawful transfer charge is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison, while each murder-for-hire count is punishable by up to ten years.
Yates complaint Yates indictmentCharlotte Man That Traded Guns for Drugs Is Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man who was trading guns for drugs was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for distributing fentanyl, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Reginald Williams, 36, of Charlotte, was also ordered to serve four years under court supervision after he is released from prison.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to documents filed with the court, on July 9, 2020, law enforcement learned that Williams was trafficking narcotics, including fentanyl, in the Charlotte area. Over the course of the investigation, Williams communicated with an undercover officer (UC) posing as a drug supplier. During a conversation with the UC, Williams told the UC that he wanted to buy two kilograms of cocaine and indicated that he would pay for one kilogram of cocaine in cash and would trade firearms as payment for the second kilogram. On August 12, 2020, Williams met with the UC to execute the drug transaction. At that meeting, Williams and another individual placed four firearms – two rifles and two semiautomatic pistols – in the trunk of the UC’s vehicle, and a bag containing $37,800 in cash in the vehicle of a second UC who was also present for the transaction. Williams was arrested on scene soon thereafter.
A federal search warrant was executed at an apartment Williams used to store drugs. Law enforcement seized fentanyl, plastic baggies, and other items consistent with drug distribution, as well as 28 rounds of ammunition. A search of Williams’s residence yielded quantities of fentanyl, heroin, marijuana, a revolver and ammunition, and $23,748 in cash drug proceeds. During the investigation, Williams admitted to buying kilogram quantities of fentanyl and heroin, which he further distributed to others. He also admitted to illegally obtaining firearms from a gun trafficking source.
On December 20, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana. He remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shavonn Bennette of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte 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.
Charlotte Car Dealership Owner and Sales Manager Plead Guilty to Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The owner of a Charlotte area car dealership and a sales manager have pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. John Harvey Martin, 50, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty today, and Vincent Emmanuel Jefferson, Jr., 47, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office, and Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, Martin was the owner of iNetwork Auto Group Inc. (iNetwork), a car dealership located in Charlotte. Martin owned and operated The Scorpio nightclub, also located in Charlotte. Martin employed Jefferson as a sales manager for iNetwork. Court documents show that, from July 2017, through January 2021, Martin and Jefferson engaged in a money laundering scheme by selling approximately 20 luxury vehicles to G.D., an individual who the defendants knew was a drug dealer or of whom they were willfully blind to that fact. The defendants received cash payments from G.D., also knowing or being willfully blind to the fact that the cash represented property derived from some form of criminal activity. Jefferson and Martin further facilitated the fraud by allowing G.D. to buy the vehicles using the names of straw purchasers in order to conceal G.D.’s identity and hide the illicit source of the cash G.D. was using to pay for the vehicles. To further the conspiracy, Martin and Jefferson at times forged the signatures of straw purchasers on sales, registration, and title paperwork for the vehicles sold to G.D., and frequently notarized the paperwork knowing that the straw purchasers were not the true purchasers of the vehicles. Court records show that Martin and Jefferson received from G.D. cash payments for the vehicles totaling over $520,000.
According to court documents, Martin used at least $200,000 in cash that he received from G.D. to pay for renovations to a building adjacent to iNetwork. Martin also solicited and received at least $100,000 in cash from G.D. to buy The Scorpio nightclub, while concealing G.D.’s ownership interest in The Scorpio. As Martin admitted in court today, he subsequently bought out G.D.’s ownership interest in The Scorpio for at least $100,000 in cash. G.D. gave that money to another individual, identified in court documents as J.M., who then attempted to drive the money to G.D.’s drug trafficking source of supply in California. After law enforcement seized the money from J.M., J.M. – at G.D.’s direction – submitted a fraudulent claim to the United States government under penalty of perjury falsely representing that J.M. was the lawful owner of the money and that he legally obtained the money from the sale of The Scorpio. Court documents show that Martin provided fraudulent documentation and made false representations in support of J.M.’s false and fraudulent claim.
Martin and Jefferson have been released on bond. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
The prosecution was the result of a joint investigation by IRS-CI and the DEA.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Taylor Stout and Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
Career criminal sentenced to 27 years in prison for federal drug trafficking and firearms crimesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico man was sentenced today to 27 years in prison for fentanyl distribution and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, from Feb. 10, 2022, to March 3, 2022, law enforcement in Richmond conducted three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Jason Dominic Coley, 38.
On March 22, 2022, law enforcement executed search warrants for locations and vehicles associated with Coley. During a search of Coley’s residence, investigators recovered two semiautomatic handguns, a semiautomatic rifle, 13.8 ounces of fentanyl, and 4.3 ounces of cocaine. At another residence associated with Coley, investigators recovered $16,085, and a .45 caliber handgun. The same day, law enforcement detained and arrested Coley, whom they found in possession of a .40 caliber handgun. Coley admitted that for the past year, he had been purchasing approximately two kilograms of fentanyl from California for distribution.
Coley is a career criminal with previous felony convictions, including in federal court. As a convicted felon, he cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-126.
Buffalo man arrested on multiple child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Sean Braven, 37, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum of 20 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on July 26 and August 17, 2018, an undercover law enforcement officer identified an IP address that had made available suspected child pornography on a peer-to-peer file sharing network. The officer downloaded eight files which constitute child pornography. Subsequent investigation determined that the IP address belonged to Braven. In October 2018, a search warrant was executed at Braven’s residence, during which investigators seized several items, including a computer. A forensic review of the computer recovered more than 420 image files and 540 video files containing child pornography, some of which included depictions of violence against children.
Braven made an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released on conditions.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger, and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Buffalo man arrested on drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Robert Green, 34, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute a methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna M. Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on January 23, 2024, Green was observed by law enforcement in a rental vehicle on Central Avenue in Salamanca, NY, engaged in what appeared to be drug distribution. Deputies from the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office witnessed Green commit multiple traffic infractions and initiated a traffic stop, and as they approached, they observed Green with glassy and bloodshot eyes. There was also a strong odor of burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle. After deputies conducted standardized field sobriety tests, Green ran on foot, but was taken into custody a few blocks away. During a search of the area where Green ran, deputies recovered a bag full of several smaller bags of suspected methamphetamine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and hydrocodone.
On April 5, 2024, Cheektowaga Police responded to a call for service at a Kensington Avenue apartment building. Inside one apartment, they recovered five loaded handguns and a rifle, as well as evidence indicative of a narcotics processing and packaging operation. Detectives seized numerous bags of narcotics packaged in varying weights, including suspected methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack cocaine. Green’s DNA was found on at least one of the firearms. In 2007 and 2015, Green was convicted of felonies in Erie County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Green made an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing on August 20, 2024.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Coons.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Vehicle Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TAD CARR, 22, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to charges stemming from a series of vehicle thefts from dealerships using personal information from identity theft victims.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in approximately September 2020, Carr’s alleged co-conspirator utilized personal information stolen from residents of Connecticut and other states to apply for vehicle loans at dealerships in Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Rhode Island for motorcycles, an all-terrain vehicle, and other performance vehicles. Once the loan was approved by the dealership using the identity theft victim’s information, Carr’s co-conspirator would send a series of runners, including Carr, to pick up the vehicle utilizing a fictitious driver’s license that included the identity theft victim’s information and a photograph of the runner. The vehicle was then transported back to Connecticut for resale on Facebook Marketplace.
Carr pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall on November 8, 2024.
Carr was arrested on December 7, 2023. He is released on a $75,000 bond pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, the Hopkinton (R.I.) Police Department, the Westtown – East Goshen Regional (Pa.) Police Department, and the Washington Township (N.J.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Heather M. Cherry.
Bradenton Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Bradenton, Florida– U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Jamal Trevorah (31, Bradenton) to 20 years and 8 months in federal prison for possessing various controlled substances with the intent to distribute them and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Trevorah entered a guilty plea on June 30, 2022.
According to court documents, on the morning of on May 4, 2021, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) observed Trevorah exit a motel room in Manatee County carrying a brown and red shoebox. Agents watched Trevorah as he traveled throughout Manatee County. Trevorah made multiple stops in the area. Agents believed, based on their training, experience, and knowledge of the investigation, that the multiple stops were narcotics transactions where Trevorah distributed narcotics to others.
Trevorah eventually parked at a residence on 16th Street W. in Bradenton and entered the home through the front door. Agents then executed a search warrant at the location and encountered Trevorah standing in the residence approximately five feet inside the open door. Trevorah was in the residence. In the same room where Trevorah was initially observed, officers found three plastic baggies containing white and tan powder. Also, in the same room, agents located the red and brown shoebox that Trevorah had with him earlier in the day. Inside the box officers located multiple plastic baggies containing narcotics. Lab testing confirmed the drugs to be 66 grams of cocaine base, 83 grams of cocaine, 40 grams of methamphetamine, and 18 grams of fentanyl.
In a cabinet in the same room as the narcotics, investigators located a loaded American Tactical .45 caliber handgun loaded with eight rounds of ammunition. Various rounds of ammunition were also strewn throughout the home. Agents also located a cutting agent, razor blades, scales, and white powdery residue in that same room, all indicative of drug trafficking.
Later that afternoon, agents executed a search warrant at the motel room where Trevorah was seen leaving earlier. Agents located a lunchbox inside a trash bag full of clothes. The lunchbox contained approximately $22,540 in cash.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.
Bogalusa Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MARK AMOS (“AMOS”), age 26, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was sentenced today to serve 60 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. AMOS previously pled guilty to illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
According to court records, on July 7, 2022, Bogalusa Police Department Violent Crimes Task Force deputies attempted to stop a 2015 Chevrolet Corvette. AMOS, the driver of the Corvette, refused to stop and sped through a heavily residential area of Bogalusa at more than 100 miles per hour, disregarding traffic signs and people.
The vehicle pursuit lasted approximately five minutes before coming to an end at a residence near the intersection of Main Street and North Avenue in Bogalusa. Eventually, AMOS then exited the vehicle, fled, then hid underneath a nearby residence. Agents saw a backpack under the residence where AMOS was hiding.
Upon searching the backpack incident to AMOS’s arrest, officers found two bags of marijuana that weighed approximately 522 grams. An additional clear plastic baggie containing 2.6 grams of marijuana recovered from AMOS’s front right pocket. The backpack also contained two handguns, a Springfield Model XDM, nine-millimeter pistol, and a stolen Sig Sauer Model SP2022, nine-millimeter pistol.
AMOS was a rap artist in Bogalusa, who used the name “FG Famous” and was a close associate of another rap artist, Javarious Scott, a.k.a. “Jaydayougan,” who was shot and killed in 2022.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Bogalusa Police Department. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice Landrieu of the Narcotics Unit.
Bellows Falls Man Charged with Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Stephen Loewe, 42, of Bellows Falls, Vermont, was charged by complaint with robbing the Claremont Savings Bank in Springfield, Vermont, on August 13, 2024. Mr. Loewe had his initial appearance in federal court yesterday afternoon and is currently detained in federal custody. A hearing will be held next Thursday to determine whether he will remain detained pending trial.
According to court records, Mr. Loewe committed a burglary of a Springfield, Vermont store in the early hours of August 13, 2024. Later that morning, he entered an M&T Bank branch in Springfield and demanded cash. Later that afternoon, he entered the Claremont Savings Bank in Springfield and demanded $500, stating in a note that it was a robbery. Mr. Loewe then stole a car from a gas station in Springfield. The next morning, on August 14, 2024, he entered an M&T Bank branch in Putney, Vermont, and again demanded cash, this time, $1500. Mr. Loewe was apprehended later that day and admitted to robbing the banks and using the money he stole to purchase cocaine base.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Mr. Loewe faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Any actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigative collaboration among the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Vermont State Police, Springfield Police Department, Brattleboro Police Department, Windham County Sheriff’s Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Assistant U.S. Attorney handling the prosecution is Corinne Smith. The Office of the Federal Public Defender has been appointed to represent Mr. Loewe.
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.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 192 Months in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Allen Ambrose, age 47, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 192 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the Court further sentenced Ambrose to serve five years of supervised release.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office narcotics agents were investigating the drug trafficking activities of Ambrose and his live-in girlfriend, which included physical surveillance, ping warrants, and controlled purchases of methamphetamine. On June 22, 2022, agents located Ambrose at a hotel on Energy Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and planned execution of an arrest warrant and several search warrants. Ambrose fled when he saw agents, and during the pursuit, he discarded approximately three ounces of methamphetamine over a fence.
During execution of the search warrants and Ambrose’s person, agents located over four kilograms of methamphetamine, $4,850 in various denominations, a scale, a pill press, and a quantity of suspected marijuana, LSD, and MDMA.
The defendant was questioned after his arrest and admitted knowing and intentional possession of the narcotics located in the hotel room.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as Deputy Chief of the Organized and Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Armed Robber Who Used Facebook Marketplace to Lure Victims Gets 10-Year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Isaiah Green, 19, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for committing two gunpoint robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Green pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery while armed on May 2, 2024, before the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Judge Leibovitz also ordered Green to serve five years of supervised release.
According to the evidence, with which Green agreed, he robbed two victims at gunpoint on August 19 and December 3, 2023. In the days leading up to the August 19, 2023, robbery, Victim 1 had seen a Stihl brand saw advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Victim 1 contacted the advertiser and arranged to meet on the 5100 block of B St. SE. When Victim 1 arrived, Green and an accomplice grabbed the victim and robbed him at gunpoint, taking his cell phone, wallet, credit and debit cards, and checks totaling $1,500. A citizen came to the victim’s aid after the robbery and called 911.
In the days leading up to the December 3, 2023, robbery, Victim 2 spotted an item advertised on Facebook Marketplace, a Hilti Laser, and contacted the advertiser to buy it. Victim 2 agreed to meet the advertiser in the 3600 block of Highwood Drive, SE. Victim 2 drove with his wife to Highwood Drive, where a man then got out of his car with a box. As Victim 2 got of his car to inspect the item, two assailants approached him, held him at gunpoint, and took his wallet, containing cash and bank cards, and an iPhone 13. The gunmen then pointed their guns at Victim 2’s wife and rifled through the center console of the car taking additional cash and a card. All three men then drove off together.
Working in tandem with Prince George’s County Police, MPD Detectives obtained evidence from Facebook and used that information to identify Green. Police executed a search warrant at Green’s residence on December 21, 2023. During the search, police found a phone that was linked to the Facebook account used in the robbery of Victim 1, Victim 2’s wallet, credit cards and identification card on a dresser in the same room, and the Hilti laser and box used to lure Victim 2 from his car.
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 commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris McCranie and Elizabeth Van Haasteren, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Albany County Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Taykwun Smoaks, age 32, of Albany, pled guilty today to receipt of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.
Smoaks admitted that from February to March 2023, he received and possessed images and videos of child pornography on his computer and external hard drive. Smoaks admitted that he downloaded more than 600 images, including images of prepubescent minors, images that involved sadistic and masochistic conduct, and images involving the sexual abuse of toddlers.
At sentencing scheduled before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci on December 16, 2024, Smoaks faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Smoaks may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his offenses and forfeit the devices used in the offenses. Smoaks would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
HSI and the State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
15 charged in Brazoria County narcotics ringRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Several individuals are set to appear for detention hearings for their alleged roles in two large-scale conspiracies to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Those taken into custody include Clute residents Joseph Andre Luna, 40, Jacklyn Luna, 37, and David Allen Nunez, 37; Houston resident Eloy Tre Delarosa, 27; Juan Manuel Lara, 42, Angleton; James Wayne Andrews, 40, Bay City; Andrew Bryan Compian, 41, Wharton; and Luis Angel Rodriguez, 45, Lake Jackson. All are scheduled for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett at 9 a.m.
Co-conspirator Mary Alice Galindo, 48, Oyster Creek, is set to make an initial appearance Aug. 21, while Edward Villarreal Humphrey, 43, Oyster Creek, is in custody in another county and will appear in Houston in the near future.
Also charged are Irvin Lopez, 33, Clute, and Lake Jackson residents Monissa Shayla Najera, 35, Liliana Contreras, 35, Jordan Rodriguez, 18, and Robert Blake Partlow, 30, who have already made initial appearances.
The indictment, returned Aug. 7 and unsealed Aug. 8 upon the arrests, stems from a months-long investigation into narcotics distribution organizations working within Brazoria County.
All are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance with several facing substantive counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
If convicted of any of the charges, each faces up to life prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, police departments in Houston and Aransas Pass, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service and San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian J. Hrach and Lisa M. Collins are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Thursday 15 August 2024
법무부가 언어 접근 및 보복 수사를 해결하기 위해 뉴저지 사법부와 합의에 도달하다Read the Press Release
법무부는 오늘 제한된 언어 능력을 가진(LEP) 사람들을 위한 법원 서비스로의 접근을 개선하기 위해 뉴저지 사법부와 합의에 도달했다고 발표했습니다.
본 합의는 법무부의 민권국과 뉴저지 지방 검찰청이 뉴저지 사법부의 일부인 몬머스(Monmouth) 주변 법원(MVC)이 1964년 민권법(제6편) 위반인 제한된 영어 능력을 가진 법원 이용자들에 대해 그들의 출신 국가에 기반한 차별을 했다는 혐의들과 법무부에 본 차별 혐의에 관해 고발한 법원 직원에 대해 보복한 것에 대한 수사를 해결합니다.
“제한된 영어 능력을 가진 사람들은 우리 법원 제도에서 언어 장벽에 직면할 경우, 그들의 자녀, 가정 및 기본권을 잃을 수도 있습니다”라고 법무부 민권국의 크리스틴 클라크(Kristen Clarke) 국장은 말했습니다. “민권국은 법원이 반드시 대중을 위한 언어 장벽을 제거하도록 하기 위해 계속 싸울 것입니다.”
“법을 공정하고 공평하게 시행하는 건 우리 민주주의 제도의 초석”이라고 뉴저지 지방 검찰청의 검사장 필립 R. 셀린저(Philip R. Sellinger)는 말했습니다. “우리는 뉴저지에 있는 모든 소송 당사자가 언어 장벽과 상관없이 뉴저지 법원 제도에 평등한 접근성을 갖도록 보장하기 위해 전념할 것입니다. 본 합의는 제한된 영어를 구사하는 법원 이용자들이 몬머스 카운티에 있는 뉴저지주 법원에서 평등한 접근성을 갖도록 보장합니다.”
제6편은 뉴저지 사법부와 같은 연방 재정 지원의 수혜자에 의한 인종, 피부색 또는 출신 국가에 기반한 차별을 금지합니다. 법무부의 수사는 언어 장벽이 제한된 영어 능력을 가진 사람들에게 법원 제도에 대한 접근성을 저해했다는 것을 밝혀냈습니다. 이러한 장벽은 서류 양식 작성을 돕기 위한 통역 제공 거부, 제한된 영어 능력을 가진 법원 이용자에게 중요한 문서를 번역하거나 설명하지 못한 것과 언어 접근 정책 및 절차를 직원에게 충분히 알리지 않은 것을 포함합니다.
본 합의문에 따라, 뉴저지 사법부는 중요한 법원 서류 양식 및 자료를 번역하고 사용할 수 있도록 법원에 배포할 것입니다. 뉴저지 사법부는 또한 향후 1년간 자체적으로 언어 접근 계획 검토, 법원을 위한 의무적인 언어 접근 교육 개발, 제6편의 보복 교육 제공, 제6편의 보복 금지 정책 및 영어 이외의 언어로 제6편의 신고 절차를 설명하는 공지를 발행할 것입니다. 법무부는 이러한 사항들과 기타 요건을 2년간 주시할 것입니다. 뉴저지 사법부는 또한 보복 혐의를 제기한 개인에게 $89,718의 금액에 해당하는 손해배상금을 지급하기로 합의했습니다.
제6편의 집행은 민권국과 뉴저지 지방 검찰청의 최우선 과제이고, 양측은 개인이 보복으로부터 자유롭게 수사에 항의하거나 협조할 수 있도록 보장하기 위해 전념합니다. 민권국에 관한 추가 정보는 www.justice.gov/crt 웹사이트에 있고, 제한된 영어 능력자 및 제6편에 관한 정보는 www.lep.gov에 있습니다. 민권국은 법원 언어 사용에 관한 정보를 www.lep.gov/state-courts에서 제공합니다.
일반인은 civilrights.justice.gov/report/에 잠재적인 민권 위반 사항을 신고할 수 있습니다.
뉴저지 지방 검찰청에서의 민권국을 포함한 민권 집행에 관한 추가 정보는 www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement에 있습니다.
Woodford County Man Sentenced for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., man, Francisco Camacho, Jr., 31, was sentenced on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 198 months in prison, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, Camacho agreed with others to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Eastern District of Kentucky and the Southern District of West Virginia. During an investigation conducted by law enforcement officers from the AHIDTA Northeast Kentucky Drug Task Force, ATF, and the DEA, Camacho was identified as a source of supply of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Kentucky and West Virginia. From March 2021 to April 2022, law enforcement officers uncovered evidence that Camacho was responsible for the distribution of over 400 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of methamphetamine. Camacho had previously been convicted by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, of conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
Under federal law, Camacho 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 10 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Field Division; and the AHIDTA NKDTF, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the ATF, and the AHIDTA NKDTF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Woman Sentenced for Interfering with Housing Rights of St. Louis FamilyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Missouri woman on Thursday pleaded guilty and admitted interfering with the housing rights of a St. Louis family.
U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel then sentenced to Judy Kline, 55, to five years of probation, the maximum term of probation available for the crime. During that time, she must remain in the nursing home where she is currently living and undergoing mental health treatment, or a similar facility. She is also forbidden from contacting the victims or approaching the house where they live. Kline once lived in the home decades ago and mistakenly believed her family still lived there, according to court documents.
Kline admitted as part of her plea that on Jan. 5, 2022, she broke into the victim family’s home while armed with a hammer. She entered the basement, struck the dryer with the hammer and then ran up the stairs towards one of the residents, who was able to close and lock the door before she reached the top of the stairs. Kline left the basement, went to the front of the house and hit the front door and lock with the hammer. She shouted a series of statements demanding that the Hispanic family leave the home. She admitted intimidating or interfering with the family based on their race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or natural origin.
Kline apologized during the hearing and said that she is getting help for her mental illness.
“This plea agreement holds Judy Kline accountable for her actions, while also allowing her to receive the mental health treatment she needs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “We all have a right to live freely and safely in our homes without threats or fear for our safety. FBI St. Louis is committed to protecting all members of our community, including those targeted for who they are.”
The FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug prosecuted the case.
White Plains Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of A Child, Production of Child Pornography, and Distribution of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that FRED MASTROIANNI was sentenced to 35 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern for sexual exploitation of a child and distribution and possession of child sex abuse material. MASTROIANNI previously pled guilty to one count of receiving and distributing child sex abuse material and one count of sexual exploitation of a child.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The sentencing of Fred Mastroianni holds him accountable for years of horrific sexual abuse of children and for distributing and possessing a massive collection of child sex abuse material. Mastroianni is being punished for the devastating harm and trauma he inflicted on his minor victims and their families. This Office will do everything in its power to protect children and bring those who sexually exploit them to justice.”
According to the Information, plea agreement, other public court filings, and statements made in court:
MASTROIANNI repeatedly victimized a young child (“Victim-1”) for his own sexual gratification. MASTROIANNI’s sexual abuse of Victim-1 began when Victim-1 was just 10 years old and continued until MASTROIANNI’s arrest. On multiple occasions until Victim-1 turned 14 years old, MASTROIANNI directed ISMET KORAC to coerce Victim-1 to engage in sexual activities on live video calls with MASTROIANNI. MASTROIANNI recorded that abuse and kept the recordings, as well as other nude photographs of Victim-1, for years. MASTROIANNI broke Victim-1’s will and spirit to resist the abuse through a combination of threats and promises of gifts.
When Victim-1 was 17 years old, MASTROIANNI continued offering Victim-1 money and clothes in exchange for more photos and videos of Victim-1 engaging in sex acts. After years of victimizing and grooming Victim-1, as soon as Victim-1 turned 18, MASTROIANNI, who was 48 years old at the time, began paying Victim-1 to have sex with himself and other men, which continued until MASTROIANNI’s arrest.
In addition, for more than a decade, MASTROIANNI amassed and maintained an extensive collection of child sex abuse material, which he shared with others online. These videos involved rape, incest, and unspeakable abuse to very young children.
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In addition to the prison term, MASTROIANNI, 53, of White Plains, New York, was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release and ordered to pay a total of $10,000 in assessments and restitution in an amount to be determined.
Co-defendant ISMET KORAC, 49, of White Plains, New York, previously pled guilty to enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and was sentenced to 25 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas on April 16, 2024.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney Heavey and Ryan W. Allison are in charge of the prosecution.
Waite Park Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ST PAUL, Minn. – A Waite Park man has been sentenced to 78 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $8,210 in restitution for the 2021 robbery of a St. Cloud bank, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on May 6, 2021, Ray Reco McNeary, 39, entered a Wells Fargo Bank in St. Cloud and alleged that there was fraud on his bank account. After the bank manager was unable to locate any accounts belonging to McNeary, McNeary became enraged and demanded that $60,000 in cash be taken from the vault and placed in a bank bag. The bank manager activated the silent panic alarm, notifying law enforcement of a problem at the bank.
According to court documents, upon arrival, St. Cloud police officers learned that five employees of the bank were being held hostage by McNeary. Multiple times throughout the incident, McNeary held a pair of scissors against the bank manager’s neck and back. FBI hostage negotiators spoke with McNeary repeatedly during what turned out to be an eight-hour standoff. During the course of negotiations, four of the employees were allowed to leave the bank. The standoff ended at approximately 10:24 p.m. when the bank manager fled the bank and law enforcement moved in to arrest McNeary.
On March 29, 2024, McNeary pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the St. Cloud Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp prosecuted the case.
Utah Restaurant Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID FraudRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah restaurant owner who obtained over $1.88 million by defrauding the COVID-19 Relief program was sentenced today to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment.
Giuseppe Mirenda, 29, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nelson, Jr. after pleading guilty in February 2024 to two counts of conversion of government property. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Mirenda was sentenced to three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
According to court documents and statements made at the change of plea hearing, Mirenda, a co-owner of five Utah restaurants and Sicilia Restaurant Management, fraudulently applied for and signed agreements for six Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL loans) between March 2020 and June 2020. In 2021, Mirenda also applied for another $520,000 in EIDL loans, but those loans were denied. Under the CARES Act, EIDL loans were for small businesses struggling from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the EIDL loan applications, Mirenda represented and agreed that the loan proceeds would be used solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the pandemic, when in fact he used the loan money for his own personal benefit. Mirenda also misrepresented the citizenship status of his co-owners to improperly obtain the loans.
In total, Mirenda unlawfully obtained $1,889,400 in EIDL loan funds. In less than a year, he used over $1.1 million of the fraudulently obtained funds to buy a house in West Jordan, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada. Mirenda also misused at least another $81,781 in EIDL loan funds to buy luxury cars, including a BMW M3 and a Jaguar F-PACE, and $39,000 in cryptocurrency.
Mirenda repaid about $680,000 of the EIDL funds. The United States also recovered approximately $1,251,469.29 from the seizure of the profits made from the forced sale of the two homes in Utah and Nevada.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The Utah Federal COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force is investigating the case, which includes Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Office of Inspector General’s U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). The public is encouraged to share information about the abuse of the Paycheck Protection Program or other SBA programs by submitting a complaint here.
Assistant United States Attorney Todd C. Bouton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
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’s Office and Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Reach Agreement with New Jersey Judiciary to Resolve Language Access and Retaliation InvestigationRead the Press Release
NEWARK – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, together with the New Jersey Judiciary, have reached agreement to improve access to court services for people with limited English proficiency (LEP).
This agreement resolves an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and into allegations that Monmouth Vicinage Courts (MVC), part of the New Jersey Judiciary, discriminated against court users with LEP based on their national origin and retaliated against a court employee who complained to the department about this alleged discrimination, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI).
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Dispensing justice fairly and equitably is a cornerstone of our democratic system. We remain committed to ensuring that all litigants in New Jersey have equal access to New Jersey’s court system regardless of language barriers. This agreement will ensure that limited English court users will have equal access to the New Jersey state courts in Monmouth County.”
“People with limited English proficiency can lose their children, homes and fundamental rights when they face language barriers in our court systems,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue fighting to ensure that courts remove language barriers for the public.”
Title VI prohibits race, color or national origin discrimination by recipients of federal financial assistance, such as the New Jersey Judiciary. This investigation uncovered language barriers that impeded access to the court system for people with LEP. These barriers included refusing to provide an interpreter for assistance with forms, failing to translate or explain vital documents to court users with LEP and failing to adequately inform staff of language access policies and procedures.
Under the agreement, the New Jersey Judiciary will translate vital court forms and materials and make them available for distribution at courthouses. The New Jersey Judiciary will also review its language access plan over the next year, develop mandatory language access training for its courts, provide Title VI retaliation training and issue public notices that explain the Title VI nonretaliation policy and Title VI complaint process in non-English languages. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division will monitor these and other requirements for two years. The New Jersey Judiciary also agreed to pay damages in the amount of $89,718 to the individual who alleged retaliation.
The enforcement of Title VI is a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, and both are committed to ensuring that individuals can complain or cooperate with investigations free from retaliation. Additional information about civil rights enforcement at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, including the Office’s Civil Rights Division, is available at www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.
Additional information about the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and information about limited English proficiency and Title VI is available at www.lep.gov. The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division provides information about courts language access at www.lep.gov/state-courts. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Horan Florio, Senior Civil Rights Counsel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division, and Attorney Advisor Linda Quash, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section.
nj_courts_final_moa_508.pdfSpanish translation:
https://www.justice.gov/es/opa/pr/el-departamento-de-justicia-llega-un-acuerdo-con-la-judicatura-de-nueva-jersey-para-resolver
U.S. Attorney ’s Office and FBI Charge Bloomfield Woman with Child AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Bloomfield woman has been indicted on multiple counts for allegedly placing a child in a dangerous situation earlier this year.
Avondale Johnson, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, between March 1 and March 14, 2024, Johnson allowed a child under the age of 18 to be placed in a dangerous situation that could seriously harm the child's health and safety.
If convicted, Johnson faces five years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case.
View the IndictmentAn 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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Two New York Men Admit Committing Three Gunpoint Robberies and Conspiring to Commit Additional RobberiesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two Brooklyn, New York, men admitted their roles in three gunpoint robberies of check cashing locations in different parts of New Jersey in 2021 and 2022, as well as conspiring to commit robberies in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Ramel Harris, 42, of Brooklyn, and Neville Brown, 40, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty on Aug. 14, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to three counts of an indictment charging them with Hobbs Act conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, namely the Hobbs Act robbery.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between January 2021 and January 2022, Harris and Brown attempted to rob a check cashing location in Nanuet, New York, and thereafter successfully robbed three check cashing locations in different parts of New Jersey while brandishing a firearm and using zip ties to restrain employees at each location. During those robberies, Harris and Brown stole over $578,00.
Law enforcement learned that the conspirators surveilled check cashing locations in the following locations: Mount Kisco, New York, Allentown, Pennsylvania and West Chester, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement obtained video surveillance footage that ultimately linked Harris and Brown to the robberies. Cell phone records indicate that Harris’s and Brown’s cellular telephones were around the locations of the various robberies around the times that they were committed.
The Hobbs Act conspiracy and Hobbs Act robbery counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence count carries a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offenses, whichever is greatest. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for Dec. 17, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited members of the FBI’s New Jersey field office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; members of the FBI’s New York field office, under the leadership of Assistant Director In Charge James Smith; members of the FBI’s Philadelphia field office, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs; members of the Hackettstown Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Aaron Perkins; members of the Old Bridge Police Department, under the leadership of Chief of Police Thomas J. Montagna; members of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, under the leadership of Police Chief Richard Pantina; members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the leadership of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll; members of the Clarkstown Police Department, under the leadership of Police Chief Jeffrey Wanamaker; members of the Westchester County (New York) Department of Public Safety; and members of the Borough of West Chester (Pennsylvania) Police Department, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Co-Chief of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
harrisbrown.indictment.pdfTreasurer of Labor Union Charged with EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Leominster man was arrested today for embezzling from a labor union.
Joe Scott, Jr., 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester on one count of embezzlement from a labor union. Following an initial appearance this afternoon in federal court in Worcester, Scott was released on conditions.According to the indictment, Scott was the Treasurer of the International Union of Electrical Workers, Communication Workers of America, Local 81154 (“IUE-CWA Local 81154”), a labor union chapter based in Gardner, Mass., that represents union members from various employers in Massachusetts. It is alleged that Scott used his position as Treasurer to embezzle approximately $49,000 from IUE-CWA Local 81154, by making debit card expenditures, withdrawing funds and issuing checks, from union bank accounts, all for Scott’s personal benefit. It is alleged that Scott used the money to pay for, among other things, storage costs, home internet and cell phone services, electrical and gas services, home improvement tools, dumpster rental and personal expense while on vacation.
Scott faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jonathan Russo, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Theft of Firearm from Pawn Shop and Numerous Loaded Firearms Found in Possession of Convicted Felon Leads to Federal Prison for Two Shreveport MenRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that two Shreveport men were sentenced today by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. for illegally possessing firearms.
John Morgan, Jr., 22, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of firearms by a convicted felon. On April 9, 2023, Shreveport Police Department Community Response Unit (CRU) was conducting a pro-active patrol when an officer observed a red Mercedes Benz travel westbound on Valley View Drive in Shreveport and saw the driver commit a traffic violation. The officer initiated a traffic stop but the driver of the Mercedes Benz did not immediately stop. Instead, the vehicle would begin to stop and then get back on the roadway and accelerate. The driver of the Mercedes Benz turned multiple times further into a neighborhood before stopping in a driveway on Liaison Street. Once there, the driver’s side door opened, and the officers made contact with the female driver. The driver and the front passenger, who was a juvenile, were ordered out of the vehicle and defendant Morgan, who was in the back seat behind the passenger’s seat was ordered out as well. Officers conducted a pat down of Morgan for weapons and observed an AK-47 style weapon protruding from underneath the front passenger seat, directly in front of where Morgan was seated. He was placed in handcuffs and the officer could see in plain view a clear extended handgun magazine underneath the front of the front passenger seat and marijuana residue on the front passenger floorboard. A search of the vehicle was conducted by Shreveport Police Department officers.
The search yielded four firearms: a Glock pistol, model: 23 Gen 4, .40 caliber; a Glock pistol, model 21 Gen 4, .45 caliber; a Bushmaster SBR model XM15-E2S 223-5.56mm caliber; and a Century Arms International AOW, model: Micro Draco, 7.62x39mm caliber. All of the firearms were loaded. The Micro Draco was found to have been stolen in 2019. Morgan has a previous felony conviction for illegal use of a firearm in 2023 and was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was indicted and pleaded guilty to the charge on December 15, 2023.
Roriguse Jordan, 30, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On January 6, 2023, around 4:30 pm, Jordan entered the Discount Jewelry and Loan (a Federal Firearms Licensee) at 2738 Mackey Lane in Shreveport. He spoke to an employee and recovered a TV he had pawned earlier and sold some jewelry. While he was there, he had to go back to his car and get his driver’s license. Jordan came back and pawned the jewelry and left. After he left, the employee noticed that a Glock 23, Model: Gen 4, Caliber: 40 pistol that had been on the counter was missing. After viewing the store’s surveillance video, Jordan can be seen at the counter, and while the store worker is distracted, taking the Glock firearm and tucking it in his waistband. The video then shows Jordan walk out of the store and retrieve his driver’s license. Jordan has a previous felony conviction for simple burglary in 2014 and was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was charged in an indictment and pleaded guilty February 26, 2024.
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.
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