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30 August 2024
Peruvian Citizen Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Possessing Fraudulent Visa and Social Security CardRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Andre Paolo Juarez-Oliva, age 27, and a citizen of Peru, pled guilty and was sentenced today to time served (over 5 months in jail) for possessing a fraudulent visa and a fraudulent social security card. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office, made the announcement.
Juarez-Oliva admitted that he entered the United States illegally and that on June 4, 2023, police arrested him in Waterford, New York, after observing him driving a vehicle with fraudulent license plates. The police then found the fraudulent visa and social security card in Juarez-Oliva’s vehicle.
HSI agents in Albany and Newark, New Jersey, investigated this case with assistance from the Waterford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted this case.
Pair Faces Attempted Kidnapping, Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A couple has been indicted and accused of kidnapping a St. Louis woman at gunpoint earlier this month.
Jervonz L. Williams, 48, and Emma M. Cunningham, 32, were each indicted in U.S. District Court Wednesday on one count of attempted kidnapping. Williams also faces one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and Cunningham faces one count of making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm and one count of transferring a firearm to a convicted felon.
They appeared in court Friday and pleaded not guilty.
The indictment accuses Williams and Cunningham of holding a woman against her will on August 5 for a financial reward. The indictment accuses Williams of possessing a firearm while a convicted felon and Cunningham of providing him a firearm, knowing that he is a felon, and falsifying paperwork while buying a gun.
A motion seeking to have both held in jail until trial says the victim was a property manager who was meeting Cunningham for a final walkthrough of her apartment. The motion alleges that Williams was armed and threatened the life of the victim in an effort to access her financial accounts via her cell phone. The victim was bound with duct tape but managed to free herself and flee.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting 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.
Oswego County Man Charged with Transportation and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – A grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Rylin Turley, age 25, of Cleveland, New York, with transportation and possession of child pornography.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that on August 3, 2024, Turley entered the United States from Canada, and knowingly possessed and transported an iPhone that contained child pornography. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Turley faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison for the transportation count, and up to 20 years for his possession of child pornography. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Turley would also have to register as a sex offender, forfeit the device used to commit the crimes and pay restitution to victims. 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.
HSI is investigating the case, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Ooltewah Man Sentenced to 32 Years Imprisonment for Exploitation of A Minor, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Today, Dewayne Douglas Price, Jr., 42, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, was sentenced to 384 months by the Honorable Travis R. McDonough, Chief United States District Court Judge, in the United States District Court at Chattanooga, to a term of imprisonment of 32 years. Following his incarceration, Price will be on a term of supervised release for life, and he will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.
Pursuant to the filed plea agreement, Price pled guilty to four counts, two counts of Exploitation of a Minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), receipt of Child Pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2), and Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(b), on February 23, 2024.
According to filed court documents, Price solicited women throughout the United States to molest their children and then send him images of the abuse. Price confessed to law enforcement, and some of the women throughout the U.S. have also been charged by federal or state authorities.
“As the court records show, Price’s conduct was depraved and outrageous,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “Our office is committed to pursuing, uncovering, and prosecuting to the full extent of the law the criminals who sexually victimize children.”
“Children are among the most vulnerable members of our community, and we must protect them in any way we can. This case is a great example of the work that can be done when state, federal, and local law enforcement agencies collaborate across state lines. We will continue to work diligently with our partners to identify and investigate those who engage in this predatory behavior to ensure the safety of our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the conviction of Price included the FBI and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney James Brooks prosecuted the case in coordination with Special Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Minor, who is assigned to the United States Department of Justice to combat child sex offenses in partnership with the Hamilton County District Attorney General’s Office.
This case was investigated 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, click on the link for “Publications & Resources.”
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Omaha Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Kasey O’Boyle, age 35, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced August 29, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, for her involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced O’Boyle to 90 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
As part of a long-term Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation involving Mexican-based meth being distributed in the Omaha area, Kasey O’Boyle was identified as an individual that was receiving large multi-pound shipments of meth that she would later distribute to local conspirators.
On April 26, 2023, investigators with the DEA, Omaha Police Department, and Bellevue Police Department were aware that O’Boyle was meeting with someone in a parking lot in the area of Fort and 78th Streets. O’Boyle had given the individual she was meeting a suitcase and then left the area. Investigators contacted this individual and identified him as Columbian national, Hugo Ruiz-Rios. Ruiz-Rios was in possession of 18 pounds of meth. Ruiz-Rios was previously detained by Border Patrol agents on October 15, 2022, in El paso, Texas, after crossing illegally from Mexico. Ruiz-Rios was released on November 28, 2022, after making a claim seeking asylum.
After arresting Ruiz-Rios, investigators went to the residence of O’Boyle. The vehicle that O’Boyle drove to meet Ruiz-Rios was located in the driveway. Investigators searched the vehicle and located an additional 41 pounds of meth.
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 DEA, Omaha Police Department, and Bellevue Police Department.
Omaha Company and Company President Sentenced for Covid Related CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced today that Quin Global, an entity incorporated in Nebraska, was sentenced on August 30, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for mail fraud and selling an unregistered pesticide. Matthew Petersen, age 39, of Omaha, the President of Quin Global, was sentenced for selling an unregistered pesticide. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Quin Global to a total term of 2 years’ probation and ordered Quinn Global to pay a $390,000 fine and $520 in special assessments. Matthew Petersen was sentenced to a 1-year term of probation and was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and a $25 special assessment.
“The defendants in this case perpetuated one of the largest COVID-19 fraud cases related to the sale of unregistered pesticides in the country,” said Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Nebraska. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that individuals and corporations will be held criminally responsible for profiting from false claims that preyed upon public health concerns during a global pandemic and for failing to ensure the integrity and safety of their products.”
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq., regulates the distribution, sale, and use of all pesticides in the United States, including antimicrobial pesticides. Antimicrobial pesticides are substances used to destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms – such as the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 – on inanimate objects and surfaces. All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States must be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”). Registrants of antimicrobial pesticide products that claim to control microbes that pose a threat to public health must additionally submit efficacy data to support these public health claims.
Quin Global is located in Omaha and is a manufacturer of adhesive and tool systems. Matthew Petersen is the President of Quin Global. In March 2020, Quin Global began efforts to expand its business by manufacturing and selling pesticides. Quin Global initially contacted a company formerly known as Lonza, Inc. seeking to become a supplemental distributor of Lonza Inc.’s product Formulation HWS-64. Lonza, Inc. informed Quin Global that it would take months to enter into a legally permissible agreement.
In response, Quin Global purchased the product from, Buckeye International, a supplemental distributor of Lonza, Inc. The product Quin Global purchased from Buckeye International was being marketed as Buckeye Sanicare Lemon Quat. Quin Global began diluting and repackaging this product into its own proprietary pressurized canister and application systems. Quin Global sold this diluted product as a Quin Global product named Ramsol-RS1 which it marketed as being “EPA-approved” and as being effective against the COVID virus. The product being sold by Quin Global was not “EPA-approved” nor was it registered with the EPA pursuant to FIFRA since Quin Global never sought registration for the product.
In April 2020, Quin Global consulted a regulatory consultant, Delta Analytical, regarding the feasibility of registering Ramsol-RS1 product, which Quin Global was already manufacturing and distributing. Quin Global was informed of the requirements and did not seek to comply with the required EPA FIFRA registration requirements.
From April 2020 through July 2020, Quin Global distributed Ramsol-RS1 to 73 of its distributors in the United States of America and Canada. These distributors then supplied the product to their own retail customers. Quin Global received numerous inquiries from customers about the product’s validity and efficacy. Quin Global repeatedly assured their customers that its product would be effective against viruses and cited to the EPA registration for the Lonza/Buckeye product.
Lonza’s Formulation HWS-64 was listed on the EPA’s List N in March of 2020 as being approved for use against SARS-CoV-2 with the instructions that the product be utilized in accordance with directions for use against Adenovirus Type 7. Similarly, Buckeye Sanicare Lemon Quat was also listed on the EPA’s List N for use against SARS-CoV-2 at a specified concentration. For most of its accepted disinfection uses it is to be diluted at a 1/64 concentration, or 2 ounces per gallon of water. For Adenovirus Type 7 it is to be used at a higher concentration dilution of 8 ounces per gallon of water.
On or about April 24, 2020, Quin Global shipped 72 22-liter containers and 20 7-L containers of Ramsol-RS1 from Omaha to a downstream distributor, Chemical Concepts Inc., in Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, using R&L carriers a commercial interstate carrier.
In June 2020, investigators with the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division conducted undercover purchases of 7-liter canisters of Ramsol-RS1 from Chemical Concepts and Panther East in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Chemical Concepts and Panther East are downstream distributors for Quin Global.
The two 7-Liter canisters of Ramsol-RS1 that were purchased from Chemical Concepts and Panther East were sent to the EPA National Enforcement Investigation Center (NEIC) for further testing. The NEIC found Quin Global’s product to be significantly diluted, with active ingredients being diluted more than 100 times than the product should be if diluted at 8 ounces per gallon. The Ramsol-RS1 product was also diluted well beyond what it should have been if diluted at 2 oz per gallon of water with active ingredients being diluted more than 25 times what they should have been. Ramsol-RS1 was diluted to a point well beyond efficacy against viruses and, specifically, the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Between April 2020 and July 2020, Quin Global, advertising this product as being EPA approved and as being effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, sold approximately $1.4 million worth of Ramsol-RS1 and $185,000 in related equipment. Specifically, Quin Global sold 1,148 7-liter containers and 3,363 22-liter containers. Quin Global stopped sales after being confronted by the EPA.
This case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division.
Okmulgee Resident Sentenced for First Degree MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Elijha Dewayne Taylor, age 34, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder. Taylor was also sentenced to ten years imprisonment consecutive to his life term for a federal firearms violation.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On April 23, 2024, Taylor was found guilty by a federal jury of first degree murder and a federal firearms violation. According to investigators, on March 4, 2023, Taylor approached a Muskogee apartment building, entered an apartment, then intentionally shot the victim in the back of the head with a .22 firearm before fleeing. The victim later died at an area hospital. The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Taylor will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard J. Lorenz and Gregory Dean Burris represented the United States.
Ohio County Man Indicted in Romance ScamRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Eugene Robert LeClear, age 52, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has been indicted for allegedly defrauding a woman he met online, announced United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld.
Court documents indicate that LeClear began an online relationship with the victim in 2022. LeClear began requesting money from her under the guise that he needed money to pay for medical expenses and to post bond in a criminal action, among other false pretenses. LeClear promised to reimburse the victim and falsely represented he had access to millions of dollars from gambling winnings and prior criminal activity. The victim lost approximately $96,000 from the scheme.
“Romance scammers are expert manipulators who develop relationships that feel very real,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Victims are understandably reluctant to come forward because they are embarrassed, but we hope they still will so that action can be taken to prevent others from being harmed.”
LeClear was charged with five counts of wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count. If convicted, a federal district court judge would determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
If you have any information you wish to report regarding LeClear, please contact the FBI via email at [email protected].
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ocala Man Charged with Seaman’s Manslaughter and Paycheck Protection Program FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Dustin Sean McCabe, 49, of Ocala, Fla., had his initial appearance yesterday on an indictment charging him with one count of seaman’s manslaughter, one count of making false statements, and three counts of wire fraud.
As alleged in the indictment, McCabe purchased a 48-foot vessel named the Southern Comfort in March 2020 and falsely claimed to the U.S. Coast Guard that he had purchased it for recreational purposes when, in truth and in fact, he purchased it to conduct paid scuba charters. In furtherance of those charters, McCabe refitted the Southern Comfort in ways that included removing the vessel’s main deck engine controls. He then operated the vessel as a passenger vessel by conducting paid scuba divers on March 28 and March 29, 2020, without authorization. The indictment further alleges that on March 29, 2020, McCabe’s negligent operation of the Southern Comfort caused someone’s death, which led to his formal suspension from being able to provide paid services with the vessel.
The indictment further alleges that after McCabe lost the ability to operate his vessel for pay, he then used the business he operated under, Florida Scuba Charters, Inc., to engage in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud by applying for two loans that he fraudulently obtained and/or had forgiven.
McCabe was arrested by the Coast Guard’s Investigative Service (CGIS) Special Agents.
If convicted of seaman’s manslaughter, McCabe faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted of making false statements and wire fraud, McCabe faces a maximum penalty of five years and 20 years, respectively. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot of the CGIS Southeast Field Office made the announcement.
CGIS Southeast Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Lake Worth and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Office of Law Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller and Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl are prosecuting this case.
An indictment contains mere allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-CR-80103.
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North Texas men sentenced to federal prison for sexually exploiting children onlineRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – Two north Texas men have been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Justin Mark Jones, 35, of Dallas pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on August 27, 2024.
According to information presented in court, between October 2022 and May 2023, Jones was communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old minor. Jones contacted the purported child on a social media application, asking for a photograph and whether they “could have a little naughty chat.” Over the ensuing months, Jones and the purported child communicated on multiple social media platforms, during which Jones repeatedly raised sexually explicit topics of conversation. For example, Jones initiated discussions about the use of sexual toys, the purported child’s sexual experience, and the types of sex acts the two could perform on and with one another. On May 17, 2023, Jones traveled to a location in Plano, to meet the child and to engage in illegal sex. Jones arrived with a backpack containing sexual objects and condoms.
This case was investigated by the Plano Police Department and the FBI-Dallas Crimes Against Children Human Trafficking Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.
Eric Victor Henry Blood, 44, of Carrollton, was convicted at trial of three counts of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on August 27, 2024.
According to information presented in court, Blood came to the attention of law enforcement when an Internet-based communications, storage, and email platform reported his email address had been used to upload images and videos of child pornography onto the company’s platform on multiple occasions. Homeland Security Investigations special agents served a federal search warrant at Blood’s Carrollton residence in May 2022, during which Blood admitted to using that account. Agents located child pornography files on multiple electronic devices he owned and possessed, including depictions of prepubescent minors and the violent sexual abuse of minors.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Miller and Lesley Brooks.
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North Carolina Residents Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that two North Carolina residents, Teon Raynard Robbins, age 45, and Antwon Marquise Williams, age 33, were sentenced for federal drug charges. Robbins was sentenced to 292 months in prison and Williams was sentenced to 78 months in prison for federal drug possession and distribution charges.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On November 29, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On December 4, 2024, Robbins pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
According to investigators, on March 1, 2023, law enforcement stopped Robbins and Williams for speeding on Interstate 40 in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. During a search of the car, officers found over 40 kilograms of methamphetamine, packaged in 100 Ziplock-type bags inside three duffle bags in the back seat.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Robbins and Williams will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.
Nigerian National Extradited from Ghana to Face Charges for an Alleged $7.5 Million Business Email Compromise Scheme Involving Two Charitable OrganizationsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Olusegun Samson Adejorin, a Nigerian national, was extradited from Ghana and arrived in the United States on August 30, 2024 to face federal charges for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorized access to a protected computer related to a $7.5 million scheme to defraud two charitable organizations. Adejorin had his initial appearance on August 30, 2024, and is currently detained pending trial.
The extradition was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Baltimore Field Office.
According to the eight-count indictment, between June and August 2020, Adejorin perpetrated a scheme to defraud Victim 1, a charitable organization located in Maryland providing investment services to other organizations, and Victim 2, a charitable organization located in New York, by gaining access to employee email accounts and impersonating employees to induce financial transactions. The indictment alleges that Adejorin posed as an employee of Victim 2 to request withdrawals of Victim 2’s funds from Victim 1. Withdrawals over $10,000 required approval from at least one of several individuals authorized by Victim 1. According to the indictment, Adejorin fraudulently obtained the credentials of employees at Victim 1 and Victim 2 and posed as those employees to send emails from their accounts, including emails making fraudulent requests for the withdrawal of investment funds. As part of the scheme, Adejorin also allegedly purchased a credential harvesting tool designed to steal email login credentials, registered spoofed domain names, and concealed the fraudulent emails from a legitimate employee by causing the fraudulent emails to be moved to an inconspicuous location within Employee 1’s mailbox.
As further detailed in the indictment, Adejorin caused more than $7.5 million of Victim 2’s funds to be sent, pursuant to fraudulent withdrawal requests, from Victim 1 to bank accounts that were not Victim 2’s bank accounts.
If convicted, Adejorin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of five counts of wire fraud; a maximum of five years in federal prison for unauthorized access to a protected computer; and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for each of the two counts of aggravated identity theft. The maximum penalty for two of the wire fraud counts could be increased by seven years for knowingly falsely registering and using a domain name. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceeding.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI, Baltimore Field Office, for its work in the investigation and thanked the FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, Ghana, the Office of Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, the Republic of Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office, the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Services - INTERPOL, and National Intelligence Bureau for their valuable assistance in this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the International Cooperation Unit of the Office of the Attorney-General of Ghana to secure the extradition of Adejorin to the United States. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Coreen Mao, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Weapons OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that DANIEL KELLY (“KELLY”), age 38, of New Orleans, was indicted for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts.
KELLY is charged in Count 1 of the indictment with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). He is charged in Count 2 with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). In Count 3, he is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
As to Count 1, KELLY faces up to twenty years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to Count 2, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison, to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to Count 3, he faces up to fifteen years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
According to court documents, on or about March 14, 2024, KELLY possessed, with the intent to distribute, cocaine and fentanyl, and illegally possessed six firearms and ammunition in furtherance of his possession with intent to distribute. Additionally, as a previously convicted felon, KELLY was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney James Ollinger of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Muskogee Resident Sentenced for RobberyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darrin Renay Kimble, age 58, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Coweta Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On August 29, 2024, Kimble pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on February 21, 2021, Kimble entered a Coweta Walmart and attempted to leave the store without paying for a large television. When stopped by an employee, Kimble pulled a knife and threatened to stab the employee and surrounding customers.
The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Kimble will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Missouri Man Found Guilty of Pandemic Fraud, Witness Tampering, Clean Air Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A jury on Friday found a business owner from Farmington, Missouri guilty of all the charges he faced in trial this week, including bank fraud, Clean Air Act violations and threatening witnesses.
The jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis convicted Christopher Lee Carroll, 54, of three counts of bank fraud, three counts of making false statements to a financial institution, one count of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act, 13 violations of the Clean Air Act and two counts of threatening a witness.
A company part owned by Carroll, Whiskey Dix Big Truck Repair LLC, was also found guilty of 16 Clean Air Act violations.
"The jury found Christopher Carroll responsible for nearly $3,000,000 in pandemic relief loan fraud, poisoning the air through Clean Air Act violations and then threatening witnesses to try and cover up his crimes," said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. “He lined his pockets with money that was supposed to save jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. He used more of the loan money to buy land and a fleet of trucks so he could start a trucking company, and then had the emissions control equipment removed to save on fuel costs. We will seek a significant prison sentence for this defendant and his company and any sentence, by law, will include mandatory restitution.”
"Christopher Carroll's company was granted millions of dollars from the PPP program but laid off dozens and dozens of its employees," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. "To add insult to injury, Carroll wouldn't have even qualified for the funds if it weren't for his employees. We thank the jury for holding Carroll accountable for fleecing the PPP program, which was designed to help people who were out of a job through no fault of their own during the pandemic."
According to evidence and testimony from the trial, Carroll and his partner, George Reed, submitted a false and fraudulent application for a $1.2 million Paycheck Protection Program loan in April of 2020 for the time share exit company they ran, Square One Group LLC. The loan application contained false statements, including that Reed and Carroll’s wives owned the company. Reed and Carroll submitted loan applications in their spouses’ names to conceal Carroll’s status as a paroled felon, which would have precluded his company from receiving PPP funds.
Carroll did not use the money to pay dozens of employees who were out of work, or keep their health insurance in effect, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll said during closing arguments Friday. Roughly two weeks later, Carroll began buying trucks and land to start a trucking company. Carroll and Reed then applied for loan forgiveness, falsely claiming that they’d spent the money on payroll and other permitted expenses.
They then sought a second loan of more than $1.6 million. When that loan was approved, Carroll and Reed took a total of $660,000 in “owner draws” from the company, the evidence showed.
But Carroll didn’t stop with pandemic loan fraud, Gwendolyn Carroll told jurors. He had emissions control equipment designed to reduce pollutants removed from Whiskey Dix’s fleet of diesel trucks. During the resulting investigation, Carroll would later ask one employee to “take the fall,” and told another that he would stop paying for his lawyer if he talked to federal agents. He did follow through on that threat.
Reed, 69, pleaded guilty to bank fraud in September of 2022 and admitted fraudulently applying for, obtaining and using the two PPP loans. He admitted that the company failed to pay a “significant number” of employees, despite their receipt of the loans that would have allowed them to do so. His plea also says Carroll terminated the health insurance benefits of at least 17 employees.
The FBI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gwendolyn Carroll and Kyle Bateman are prosecuting the case.
Minnesota Man Sentenced for Fentanyl PossessionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that De’Shuan Whitfield, age 23, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was sentenced August 29, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possessing five pounds of fentanyl. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Whitfield to 70 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On April 23, 2022, DEA Criminal Interdiction Unit investigators were at the Trailways Bus Station in Omaha when they observed Whitfield exit a bus and leave with an untagged suitcase. Whitfield was contacted and during the course of the conversation, investigators became suspicious of Whitfield due to the way he was acting and the things he said. Whitfield admitted that he had a marijuana dispensary bag. Whitfield opened his suitcase and investigators observed the marijuana dispensary bag. Whitfield also had a backpack. After seizing the marijuana in the suitcase, the backpack was searched. The backpack contained 40 plastic bags containing 4,444 grams of counterfeit M-30 pills. The pills were later tested, and it was determined that they contained fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the Nebraska State Patrol.
Meth trafficking sends Billings man to prison for 10 yearsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the community after law enforcement found meth and more than $4,000 in his residence was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Loren Dean Raver, 59, pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in February, the Billings Police Department Street Crimes Unit was attempting to locate Raver on an outstanding arrest warrant. Officers were aware that Raver was on state probation and began surveilling his residence. On Feb. 26, a detective made a traffic stop of a vehicle after seeing a woman and Raver leave the residence and drive away in the car. Officers arrested Raver on his outstanding warrant. Officers, along with state probation officers, searched Raver’s residence and located a large quantity of meth inside a box of Mountain Dew that was on a coffee table. Officers also found $4,396 in currency, plastic baggies and digital scales. The meth was determined to be approximately 283 grams, which is a little more than a half pound, of pure meth. At the time, Raver was on state probation for several previous felony convictions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation.
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.
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McIntosh County Resident Sentenced for Causing Death by Firearm During A Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Fredrick Cody Burkhalter, age 27, of Rentiesville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 222 months in prison for causing the death of a person by firearm during a crime of violence.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department.
The investigation was also aided by personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Checotah Police Department, the District 25 Violent Crime Task Force, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Attorney General’s Office, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Fire Department Hazmat Unit, the Tulsa Fire Department, the Oklahoma Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue K9 Team, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Emergency Management, and the Tulsa Humane Society HEART Team.
On March 28, 2024, Burkhalter pleaded guilty to one count of Causing the Death of a Person in the Course of a Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
According to investigators, in April of 2022, Burkhalter intentionally shot and killed the victim, then disposed of the victim’s body and attempted to cover up the crime. The victim’s remains were recovered and identified during a coordinated search of Burkhalter’s home and property conducted by a multi-agency task force. The crime occurred in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office extends its deepest gratitude to each and every one of the state, county, tribal, and federal agencies who came to the aid of investigators and offered their invaluable partnership and combined efforts to bring resolution to this case,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “It is always heartbreaking when we are unable to bring good news to the family of a missing person, but we hope that this sentence brings a measure of closure to a family and a community during their time of grief.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Burkhalter will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Flanigan and Richard Lorenz represented the United States.
McAlester Resident Sentenced to 37 Years for MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darius Alexander Presley, age 23, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to thirty-seven years and three months in prison for a 2022 murder and attempted murder in Pittsburg County.
Presley was sentenced to 327 months for one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree, 240 months for one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, and 180 months for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, with the terms of imprisonment set to be served concurrently. In addition, the Court sentenced Presley to a term of 120 months for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, to be served consecutive to the other sentences, for a total sentence of 447 months.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police and SWAT Team.
On September 13, 2023, Presley pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on December 2, 2022, Presley entered a home north of McAlester armed with a handgun. Once inside the residence, Presley shot two individuals, killing one and seriously wounding the other. Presley then fled the scene of the crime. A multi-agency search for Presley narrowed to a McAlester residence, where law enforcement discovered Presley barricaded inside. A Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police SWAT team apprehended Presley without further incident. The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“This sentencing is the result of a multi-agency effort to bring a violent offender to justice,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “We hope the community feels safer knowing Mr. Presley will spend decades behind bars for his crimes.”
“The defendant’s vicious acts stole one innocent life and shattered the lives of many others,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I know there is nothing the criminal justice system can offer to undo the tragedy or remove the heartache, but the sentence imposed will ensure the defendant will be in prison for a very long time for his senseless crimes. I commend the bravery and rapid response of law enforcement teams on the ground who capably ended the crisis, and I am grateful for the diligence of investigators and prosecutors whose teamwork led to the successful conviction of the defendant.”
The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Presley will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
McAlester Resident Sentenced to 20 Years for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brian Wayne Davis Jr., age 33, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and 120 months for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, to be served consecutive, for a total of 240 months.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the McAlester Police Department, and the Eufaula Police Department.
On February 5, 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, during an argument on March 16, 2023, Davis fatally shot the victim.
The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Davis will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Man sentenced for possessing machinegunsRead the Press Release
Steven Shobert, 49, of Worland, Wyoming, was sentenced on Aug. 28 to 18 months in prison for possession of machineguns in violation of federal law.
According to court documents, on Aug. 29, 2023, Shobert was arrested for driving under the influence. He had a holstered firearm on his hip and surrendered it to the officers. A state judge imposed bond conditions requiring Shobert to relinquish his firearms pending the DUI case. Shobert consented to a search of his residence to gather his firearms. The search resulted in the discovery of one Glock model 17, which was equipped with a machinegun conversion device commonly called a “Glock Switch.” Law enforcement also found three AR-15 type machinegun conversion devices.
Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann explained, “Machinegun conversion devices like auto sears and ‘Glock switches’ can make a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun, so they are considered machineguns under federal law. Possession of these dangerous devices is a serious crime which can result in a felony conviction and federal prison time. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove illegal machineguns from Wyoming communities.”
Shobert was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 11. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the 18-month prison sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom.
The crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office.
Case no. 23-00153
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN
Man Who Sold Methamphetamine to Undercover Agent Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold methamphetamine to an undercover agent was sentenced today to 306 months in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
James Douglas Morrison, age 40, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 22, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
In 2022, an undercover agent purchased methamphetamine from Morrison in Waterloo, Iowa. Morrison also directed others, including co-defendant Heather Sue Hartzell, to sell “ice” methamphetamine on his behalf. Approximately one month later, law enforcement officers stopped Morrison while he was driving back from Des Moines with Hartzell. Hartzell and Morrison had almost 2,000 grams of “ice” methamphetamine inside the car that Morrison had obtained from his supplier in Des Moines, Iowa. Morrison also had a gun.
Morrison was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Morrison was sentenced to 306 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Morrison is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tri‑County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Black Hawk County Sherriff’s Office, and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2045.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robberies of Hispanic Construction WorkersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Franco Rawlings Jr. pleaded guilty today to robbing several Hispanic construction workers in the Trinidad neighborhood at gunpoint throughout 2023, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced.
Rawlings pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to two counts of armed robbery, one count of robbery, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2024 before the Honorable Errol Arthur. As part of his sentence, Rawlings faces mandatory minimum sentences of five years in prison for each armed robbery offense and one year in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm offense.
According to the March 6, 2024 indictment, from May to June of 2023, Rawlings conspired with a co-conspirator to identify residential construction sites within the Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast, Washington, D.C., staffed by Hispanic workers and to rob those Hispanic workers using firearms. The indictment also charged Rawlings with a solo armed robbery that he allegedly committed in April 2023.
According to the government’s evidence, with which Rawlings agreed, on April 18, 2023, a victim was working as a welder on a home located in the 1400 block of Montello Avenue Northeast, in the Trinidad neighborhood, when Rawlings approached him in an alleyway. Rawlings pointed a gun at the victim and told him not to move. Rawlings then searched the victim and took his wallet, which contained $700 dollars in cash. On May 30, 2023, two victims were working to install a deck at a home located in the 1300 block of Montello Avenue Northeast, also in the Trinidad neighborhood, when Rawlings and his co-conspirator approached them through a rear, open gate. Rawlings and his co-conspirator pointed firearms at the victims and told them to go into the basement of the home. There, Rawlings forced one of the victims to the ground and robbed him while the co-conspirator robbed the other victim. On June 27, 2023, three victims were working to remodel a home in the 1100 block of Owen Place Northeast, also in the Trinidad neighborhood, when Rawlings and his co-conspirator entered through the rear of the residence. As Rawlings entered, he pointed a firearm at the victims and told them not to move and to put their hands up. Rawlings, with the aid of his co-conspirator, robbed a victim of U.S. currency and fled.
On June 28, 2023, police searched Rawlings' residence, which was located in the Trinidad neighborhood. There, police found Rawlings in possession of a black Glock 19 handgun, which was loaded with 12 rounds in a 17-round-capacity magazine. At the time police recovered the firearm, Rawlings had been previously convicted of a felony that prevented him from possessing a firearm in the District of Columbia.
The defendant was arrested on June 28, 2023, and has been in custody ever since.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Man Found Guilty of Hobbs Act RobberyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal jury convicted Jonathan Torres-Rojas on August 27, 2024, for Conspiracy to Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Interference with Commerce by Robbery.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Torres-Rojas, along with at least one more individual, conspired to unlawfully take and obtain property consisting in U.S. currency from the business El Rejón del Gallo in Orocovis, Puerto Rico, which resulted in the death of José Antonio Medina Meléndez, the owner of El Rejón del Gallo.
On June 12, 2015, the defendant and others, met to discuss a plan to rob El Rejón del Gallo. That same day after 10 pm, Torres-Rojas and others arrived the business wearing black long-sleeved clothing, face masks, and carrying firearms. As the owner and wife were closing El Rejón del Gallo, the assailants approached the victims, grabbed one of the victims, and demanded money. Eventually, the victims gave the assailants the money, but the assailants demanded more. As the victims begged for their lives and complied, they told the assailants to take their vehicle when they demanded the keys for the 2001 gray Toyota Sequoia; then two shots were fired killing José Antonio Medina Meléndez.
The sentencing hearing was scheduled for December 6, 2024, at 9:00 AM.
The co-defendant in this case, Juan A. Negrón-Rodríguez, pleaded guilty on April 9, 2024, for interference with commerce by robbery and carjacking resulting in death. On July 9, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé sentenced Negrón-Rodríguez to 22 years (264 months) in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez Lora is prosecuting the case.
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Madison Man Sentenced to 28 Months for Stealing Paycheck Protection Program FundsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Eric Upchurch, 36, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 28 months in federal prison for wire fraud, making false statements to the Small Business Administration (SBA), and money laundering related to the Paycheck Protection Program. Upchurch was convicted of these charges on June 13, 2024, following a jury trial.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted to provide immediate financial assistance to individuals, families, and organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This Act authorized the SBA to offer Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans to business owners negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, Upchurch submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of several businesses, including: Opportunity, Inc.; Economic Empowerment Wisconsin; One Red Feather; Madison Alliance for Black Economic Empowerment; Young, Gifted, and Black; and a sole proprietorship.
In these PPP loan applications, Upchurch falsely claimed that his businesses earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue, and paid employees tens of thousands of dollars in payroll per month. Upchurch also provided lenders with forged payroll reports and tax forms to corroborate his false statements. Evidence presented at trial proved that none of Upchurch’s companies formally employed anyone besides Upchurch, and none of the companies had the revenue necessary to cover the inflated claimed payroll.
In total, Upchurch stole $406,211 and attempted to steal an additional $400,378 in PPP loan proceeds. Upchurch also laundered a portion of his fraudulently obtained PPP funds when he purchased $19,000 worth of Bitcoin.
At sentencing, Judge Conley explained that Upchurch repeatedly lied on documents to fraudulently obtain PPP funds. Judge Conley also noted that, had the lenders not stopped Upchurch’s applications, the PPP would have incurred additional loss.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector general. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chadwick M. Elgersma and William M. Levins.
Madison Investment Advisor Sentenced to 4 ½ Years for Wire Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Thomas Demergian, 63, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 4 ½ years in federal prison for wire fraud and evading federal taxes. Demergian pleaded guilty to the charges on April 4, 2024. He was also ordered to pay restitution. Demergian will begin serving his prison term in September.
Beginning in 2000, Demergian convinced certain clients to invest money with him through “IRT Company.” He falsely told clients that he would invest their money with real estate trusts and mutual funds. In reality, once clients sent their money to Demergian, he diverted those funds to a bank account in his own name and spent the funds for his own use.
Demergian met with clients annually and provided them with fictitious Investment Portfolio Summary sheets reflecting positive growth. When clients asked him to liquate their investments, Demergian told clients that such a decision was imprudent or provide other untrue reasons why their requests could not be completed.
The fraud scheme was discovered in 2023 when a client’s family member began asking questions about the investments. Law enforcement agents eventually identified many victims who lost, in total, approximately $1.8 million. A financial investigation revealed that Demergian had used his clients’ investment funds for gambling, travel, cars, collectibles, and other personal expenses.
From 2017 to 2022, Demergian underreported his income on his tax returns by failing to disclose over $400,000 in illegally obtained income, thereby evading $104,779 in tax obligations.
As sentencing, Judge Conley said, “in terms of white-collar crime, this is the worst” because Demergian “cynically targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, many of whom he had also befriended.” Given the lengthy nature of the conduct, the amount of money stolen, and the tremendous breach of trust, Judge Conley determined that a significant sentence was warranted. Judge Conley did credit Demergian for ultimately helping investigators identify the total losses, but also noted that Demergian only did so after he knew he had already been “found out.”
The charges against Demergian were the result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Madison Police Department with assistance provided by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Securities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Duchemin handled the prosecution.
Madison Carrig Pleads Guilty to Embezzlements through the Use of Employer Credit CardsRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Madison Carrig, 30, of Whitehall, New York, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to two counts of access device fraud. Chief Judge Christina Reiss released Carrig on conditions pending sentencing, which is scheduled for January 3, 2025.
On July 12, 2024, the United States Attorney filed an information charging Carrig with two counts of access device fraud. Carrig pleaded guilty to the information at today’s court hearing. According to the charging document, from September 2022 through November 27, 2023, Carrig defrauded the three car dealerships who employed her as office manager or controller by embezzling cash receipts received from customers of the dealerships, and misusing company credit cards to purchase goods and services for her own use and benefit.
Carrig faces up to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police.
Carrig is represented by Natasha Sen, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking, and illegal possession of firearms.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Interim Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
“Outstanding investigative work by ATF, LMPD, and KSP,” said, U.S. Attorney Bennett. “The collective focus of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners is on the identification, apprehension, and full prosecution of those who traffic poison on our streets and illegally possess firearms. It will be 15 years before the defendant is released from federal prison and Louisville is a safer place as a result.”
“Drug dealers with guns have a terrible impact on our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Morrow. “A fifteen-year federal prison sentence sends a clear message to repeat offenders that the law enforcement community in Kentucky is working together to keep the commonwealth safe. I commend the excellent work of ATF Louisville, LMPD, KSP, and the United States Attorney’s Office.”
According to court documents, Charles Jermaine Gore, 40, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 6 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of fentanyl, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Between July 20, 2021, and February 9, 2022, Gore possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. On October 22, 2021, Gore distributed fentanyl to another person. Between July 20, 2021, and February 9, 2022, Gore possessed several firearms, including a Glock .45 caliber pistol, a Ruger 5.7X28 caliber pistol, a Zastava Arms 7.62x39 caliber pistol, and ammunition. Gore was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On January 12, 2011, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Gore was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense – cocaine (2 counts), trafficking in a controlled substance in the second degree, first offense – drug unspecified, criminal mischief in the first degree, and wanton endangerment in the first degree.
On March 7, 2012, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Gore was convicted of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree (cocaine), and trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree (MCMA).
On March 28, 2019, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Gore was convicted of trafficking in marijuana, more than eight ounces.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF and LMPD with assistance from the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Lawton Man Sentenced to Serve 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, CHARLES RAYMOND FRENCH, JR., 38, of Lawton, was sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On October 3, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment against French, charging him with production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. According to an affidavit filed in support of the previously filed criminal complaint, on September 6, 2023, an FBI Online Covert Employee (OCE) connected with French on a social media messaging app. During the conversation, French expressed an interest in material that depicts the sexual abuse of children, and shared several photographs and videos of child pornography with the OCE, including two photographs French claimed to have taken himself which involved three-year-old and ten-year-old victims. Authorities linked the account to French, and he was arrested at his Lawton home on September 7, 2023.
On December 1, 2023, French pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment, and admitted to producing child pornography.
At the sentencing hearing yesterday, U.S District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced French to serve 360 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the “depravity” of the crime, specifically that the defendant preyed on the most vulnerable victims in our society: children. The Court further emphasized that the sentence needed to reflect the extreme nature and seriousness of the defendant’s conduct—given the threat to the safety of the community posed by the defendant—and to send a message to the public that these crimes will be punished severely.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Lawton Division of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Joynes prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Laredoan receives max for possessing pornographic images of children, including his own minor relativeRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 33-year-old man has been ordered to prison for receipt and possession of child pornography, some of which depicted sexual abuse of babies and toddlers, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
David de los Santos pleaded guilty March 3, 2022.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana has now sentenced de los Santos to a total of 240 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court also heard that some of the images de los Santos possessed were of a two-year-old minor relative. In imposing the imprisonment, the court enhanced the sentence to the maximum possible term, noting the graphic images of the relative.
The court also noted the severity of de los Santos’ crimes. He was further ordered to pay $84,304 in restitution to known victims and will serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“A parent’s worst nightmare is to discover someone you trusted with your family, such as a relative, was actually preying on your child’s innocence,” said Hamdani. “De los Santos made that nightmare a terrifying reality, but thankfully he is now off the streets and out of our community, allowing for the possibility that his victims can start to heal.”
The investigation began when authorities discovered an IP address associated with de los Santos had uploaded child pornography online.
On July 1, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home. At that time, they found and seized several electronic devices which contained child pornography and took de los Santos into custody. He was ultimately found to be in possession of 1,038 images and 393 videos of child pornography, which included abuse of babies and toddlers.
The investigation also determined de los Santos was in possession of pornographic images of a minor relative sometimes in his care.
De los Santos will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department as part of the Child Exploitation Task Force which also includes FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service and United Independent School District Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Kissimmee Woman Indicted for Distributing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jessica Corin Mangano (34, St. Cloud) with two counts of distributing, two counts of receiving, and one count of possessing child sexual assault material (CSAM). If convicted, Mangano faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years up, to 20 years, in federal prison for each distribution and receipt offense and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession offense.
According to the indictment, on July 2, 2024, Mangano distributed multiple videos that contained CSAM. On July 14 and August 2, 2024, Mangano received videos that contained CSAM. Finally, on August 15, 2024, Mangano possessed CSAM material that involved a young child and a child who had not attained 12 years of age.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in MassachusettsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in two cities in Massachusetts for the Sept. 3 primary election. The department will monitor in the Cities of Methuen (in Essex County) and Lowell (in Middlesex County).
The Justice Department enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities across the country. In addition, the division also deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order.
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Act and Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Connecticut Department of Correction to Protect Children in Manson Youth InstitutionRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Connecticut Department of Correction addressing conditions for children at Manson Youth Institution, an adult correctional facility housing children charged in the criminal justice system.
Under the agreement, Manson will eliminate the use of disciplinary isolation to manage the behavior of children in its custody. Manson will also implement a comprehensive behavior management program that incentivizes positive behavior and provides a skills-based curriculum to help children regulate their own behaviors. The program will include a daily schedule of age-appropriate, structured activities.
“We know that isolation can cause real harm to children — increasing risk of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide — because their brains are still developing and they lack adequate coping mechanisms,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Placing a child in an ‘adult facility’ does not make children any less vulnerable to these risks. Nationally, more than 2,000 children each year are held in jails and prisons designed for adults. Too often, adult facilities fail to provide children with the age-appropriate services and care essential to development of the requisite skills to become healthy and productive adults, including educational and mental health services required by law. We are committed to protecting the constitutional and federal rights of children throughout the criminal and juvenile justice systems.”
In addition to phasing out disciplinary isolation for children, the agreement requires Manson to conduct thorough mental health assessments and provide appropriate treatment for children. The agreement also requires Manson to provide adequate special education services for children with disabilities, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
“We commend the Connecticut Department of Correction for its commitment to eliminate harmful disciplinary isolation practices and adopt age-appropriate treatment and services for children at Manson,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut. “We look forward to our ongoing collaboration as the Connecticut Department of Correction implements these reforms.”
The agreement resolves the department’s investigation of Manson under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. In December 2021, the department notified Manson that there is reasonable cause to believe that conditions for children at Manson violate the Eighth and 14th Amendments and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and that these violations are pursuant to a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of rights protected by the Constitution and federal law. Since then, Connecticut has begun to implement reforms to remedy problems at Manson.
The department recently secured a settlement agreement involving the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice’s Broad River Road Complex, the state’s only long-term post-adjudication facility for children, issued a findings report regarding conditions at five post-adjudication facilities for children in Texas, and opened an investigation of conditions at nine juvenile justice facilities in Kentucky. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work protecting children’s rights in the juvenile justice system is available at www.justice.gov/crt/rights-juveniles.
For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. You can also report civil rights violations to the section by completing the complaint form available at civilrights.justice.gov/.
Individuals with information related to compliance with the settlement agreement are encouraged to report such information by email at [email protected] or by phone at 833-223-1565.
Johnston County Resident Sentenced for MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Cecil Browning Higginbotham, age 33, of Mannsville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment for Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, the Dickson Police Department, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
On October 16, 2023, Higginbotham pleaded guilty to the murder charge. According to investigators, on August 9, 2022, Higginbotham pushed the victim to the ground, knocked the victim unconscious, and dragged the victim into his residence. Once inside, Higginbotham repeatedly assaulted the victim, causing severe blunt force trauma to the victim’s head and neck. On August 11, 2022, the victim died of injuries sustained during the prolonged attack.
The crime occurred in Johnston County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The defendant’s actions were reprehensible, violating everything we demand as members of a safe and peaceful society. The sentence handed down is most certainly deserved,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing. Higginbotham will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Caila Cleary represented the United States.
Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Princeton BankRead the Press Release
Blink points a firearm at the bank clerk during the armed robbery of First Interstate Bank.KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Promise City, Iowa, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to the armed robbery of a Princeton, Mo., bank.
Phillip Michael Blink, 67, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of armed bank robbery and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
By pleading guilty today, Blink admitted that he robbed First Interstate Bank in Princeton on May 19, 2023. Blink, wearing a cowboy hat, a red bandana over his face, gloves and a trench coat, walked into the bank and approached a teller at approximately 9:25 a.m. Blink stated in a low voice: “I’m sorry, but this is going to be a bad morning.” Blink then placed a light blue bag on the countertop and stated: “I want all the money.” The teller began placing all the bills from her teller machine into the blue bag when Blink reached into his right pocket and pulled out a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Blink stated: “I told you it was going to be a bad morning.” Blink then set the firearm on the countertop and pointed it at the teller.
After taking $4,115, Blink left the bank and got into a Ford F-150 truck. He backed out of a parking space and went northbound on Highway 65. The bank manager took photographs of Blink and his truck while Blink was fleeing the scene. Employees of the bank called 911 for law enforcement assistance.
Later on the same day, Blink was pulled over by a Knoxville, Iowa, police officer. Officers arrested Blink, who admitted to the armed bank robbery. Officers searched his truck and found the Ruger handgun and clothing linked to the bank robbery, as well as the money that was stolen.
Under federal statutes, Blink is subject to a sentence of up to 25 years in federal prison without parole for armed bank robbery and an additional mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, which must be served consecutively, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of the bank robbery. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the FBI.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared recently before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Aug. 29 was:
Thomas Larson Medicine Horse, III, 19, of Pryor, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse, strangulation and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating partner. If convicted of the most serious crime, Medicine Horse faces life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Medicine Horse was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-118.
Appearing on Aug. 20 was:
Ashley Firebear Garner, 41, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Garner faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Garner was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Billings Police Department and Bozeman Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-68.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Aug. 30 was:
Joseph Christopher Steele, 24, of Kalispell, on charges of possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Steele faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Steele was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Whitefish Police Department and Kalispell Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-43.
Appearing on Aug. 28 was:
Edward Arthur Nurse, 34, of Missoula, on charges of theft from credit union. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nurse faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release. Nurse was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-42.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Aug. 27 was:
Scott Austin McTaggart, 37, of Helena, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction. If convicted of the most serious crime, McTaggart faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. McTaggart was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Highway Patrol and Helena Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-15.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indictment Unsealed Against Mexican Woman Charged with Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Angelica Mendoza Rubio, 48, a citizen of Mexico, with conspiring to launder proceeds of wire fraud. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 28, 2023.
Rubio was arrested yesterday at the airport in Atlanta, Georgia, and made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. She was detained pending her appearance on the charges in U.S. District Court, Madison, Wisconsin.
If convicted, Rubio faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charge is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance provided by the Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin is handling the prosecution.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Harvey Man Guilty of Being Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MIGUEL KEELEN (“KEELEN”), age 35, of Harvey, La., pled guilty on August 29, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, KEELEN possessed a firearm on December 11, 2023 while at a Valero Gas Station on South Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. Specifically, KEELEN displayed and drew a pistol from his waistband before then concealing the pistol and fleeing from police. KEELEN was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions.
KEELEN faces up to fifteen (15) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing is scheduled for December 5, 2024.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney James Ollinger of the Violent Crimes Unit.
Fremont Home Construction Contractor Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 28, 2024, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Ross O. Schlomann (age: 45) to five years in federal prison after Schlomann was convicted of bank fraud and money laundering. Schlomann was also ordered to pay $2.1 million in restitution.
According to court records, Schlomann is a former home construction contractor for Refurbs Properties, LLC, which was based in Fremont, Wisconsin. As a contractor, he worked with aspiring homeowners to design homes, hire subcontractors, and manage builds in northeastern Wisconsin and elsewhere. The investigation revealed that Schlomann defrauded more than a dozen victims whose homes he had promised to build. The victims paid Schlomann substantial sums of money, yet they saw little or no work done despite Schlomann’s representations. Schlomann accepted the victims’ money, made false statements to have the money disbursed by the appliable bank, and then used the money for other purposes, including covering shortages on previous projects. In total, the victims lost $2.1 million.
”To keep his scheme going, Mr. Schlomann made repeated false statements and ultimately caused over $2 million in losses to individuals looking to build homes,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “I commend the hard work of all involved in seeking justice for the victims in this case.”
“Ross Schlomann not only betrayed the trust of his clients, but he also undermined the very foundation of the construction industry,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “His actions represent a grave violation of ethical standards and have left lasting scars on those he victimized. IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to work diligently to ensure that those who exploit and defraud others are held accountable.”
In sentencing Schlomann, Judge Griesbach stated that this was a “sophisticated Ponzi scheme” and an “egregious betrayal of trust.” Judge Griesbach stressed that Schlomann victimized young families who were seeking to design and build their dream homes.
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation and the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros prosecuted the case.
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Former tribal council employee charged with embezzlement, wire fraud, aggravated identity theftRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging a Dillingham man with federal crimes associated with a scheme to steal funds from the Curyung Tribal Council while he served as an accountant/ IT specialist.
According to court documents, from October 2023 to February 2024, William Corbett, 35, stole over $94,000 from the Tribal Council while employed as an accountant/ IT specialist. Corbett was responsible for overseeing the Tribe’s finances and had access to and control over the Tribal Council’s accounting software data, financial account, payroll information, credit cards and checkbooks.
Checks issued by the Curyung Tribal Counsel were not valid unless signed by at least two authorized signors. Corbett was not an authorized signor. The indictment alleges Corbett unlawfully issued checks from the Tribal Council’s account by forging the signatures of authorized signors. The checks were issued as payable to himself and businesses under his control. He also allegedly fabricated invoices and payroll documents by using personal information of two people, causing direct deposits to be made from the Tribal Council’s accounts to accounts controlled by Corbett.
Corbett is charged with one count of embezzlement and theft from an Indian Tribal organization, five counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance on September 3, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, in addition to up to 20 years in prison and $750,000 in fines for his other alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General and the Dillingham Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former San Gabriel Valley Teacher Charged with Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former elementary school teacher in the San Gabriel Valley is scheduled for arraignment today on a federal grand jury indictment charging him with receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material.
Steven Pilar, 47, of Las Vegas, is charged in a four-count federal indictment with two counts of receiving child pornography and two counts of possessing child pornography.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment on July 19, 2024. Pilar was arrested on August 2 in Las Vegas, where he made his initial appearance. A federal magistrate judge in Nevada ordered Pilar jailed without bond. Pilar’s arraignment is scheduled for this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the indictment, on February 8, 2020, and April 10, 2020, Pilar knowingly received and downloaded over 400 videos and images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via BitTorrent for viewership. Pilar was employed as an elementary school teacher in La Puente at the time. He no longer works at the school.
Pilar was arrested on state charges, which were later dropped so a federal case could be pursued.
“This defendant, whose former job put him in a position of trust with children, is accused of participating in an underground market that trades on the sexual exploitation of kids,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Protecting children from sexual predators is critical and my office will be unrelenting in our efforts to punish those who commit these crimes.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
If convicted, Pilar would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 80 years in federal prison.
The FBI and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua J. Lee of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Former Interim President of Puerto Rican Steel Distributor Pleads Guilty to Eight-Year Price-Fixing ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An executive of a steel distributor in Carolina, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today to conspiring with competitors to fix prices for sales of reinforcing bar, or rebar.
According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court in San Juan, Edgardo Sola Colon (Sola), of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, is the president of a steel distributor in Puerto Rico and is a former president of another steel distributor in Puerto Rico. These companies are some of the leading wholesale distributors of rebar in Puerto Rico. Rebar is commonly required for residential and commercial construction projects on the island, and nearly all rebar distributed in Puerto Rico is imported from other countries or the continental U.S. Collectively, Sola’s company and two other competitors controlled approximately 70% of the wholesale rebar market in the Commonwealth.
Between 2015 and 2022, including the period of reconstruction following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, Sola conspired with competing companies and individuals to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing prices for steel products, including rebar, which were distributed to hardware stores, building contractors and other businesses and individuals in Puerto Rico, resulting in substantial profits to the conspirators.
Among other communications, Sola and his competitors exchanged WhatsApp chat messages in which they agreed on specific rebar prices, including price increases. For example, in December 2020 Sola sent to Juan Carlos Aponte, an executive at a competing company, a chat message with the price of Turkish rebar, and Aponte responded, “The position is the following: Platform $33.95, 10 bundles $34.50, Fewer than 10 bundles: $34.95” before asking, “The question is are we on the same page?” Sola responded, “Yes, that is what I am doing.”
In his plea agreement, Sola admitted that more than $50 million in sales by his companies were affected by the conspiracy.
On Aug. 7, Aponte pleaded guilty in federal court in Puerto Rico to participation in the same price-fixing conspiracy, and now awaits sentencing.
“In pleading guilty, this defendant admitted to a long-running agreement to fix prices on rebar, a critical component of the construction supply chain for Puerto Rico,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This guilty plea demonstrates the Antitrust Division’s continued commitment to holding accountable individuals who collude to raise prices and harm all consumers and businesses in Puerto Rico. We and our law enforcement partners will continue to prosecute the people responsible for anticompetitive criminal conduct like this.”
Violating the Sherman Act, which is a federal criminal antitrust statute, is a felony. The maximum penalty for individuals convicted of violating the Sherman Act is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for corporations is a $100 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
Sola’s sentencing is set for Dec. 16. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section investigated the case, with the assistance of the FBI San Juan Field Office.
Trial Attorneys April Ayers-Perez, Alison Friberg and Taylor Bernhardt of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Senior Litigation Counsel John Davis of the Antitrust Division’s Litigation Program are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
Former Customs and Border Patrol Agent Found Guilty of Federal Civil Rights and Kidnapping Charges for Sexually Assaulting and Abducting Minor VictimRead the Press Release
After deliberating for two days, a jury found a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, Aaron Mitchell, guilty of both a federal civil rights offense and a kidnapping charge for sexually assaulting and kidnapping a victim who was a minor. The jury also found that the defendant’s conduct included aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping and resulted in bodily injury.
“The heinous crimes committed against a young middle school student by an individual sworn to uphold the law are unspeakable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant had a duty to protect his community but instead he abused his power, kidnapped, cuffed and restrained a young girl, and repeatedly sexually assaulted her in his apartment for hours. With this verdict, the jury has done us all a great service by holding accountable this former federal law enforcement official. The Justice Department will continue to stand up for sexual assault victims, especially children, and we will prosecute law enforcement officials who break the law with every tool at our disposal.”
“We count on our law enforcement officers to protect children, schools and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “This defendant dishonored his badge and his colleagues by ignoring his oath and harming the most vulnerable among us. Thanks to the Douglas Police Department and the FBI for investigating this case with dedication and compassion, and for vindicating the rights of a courageous victim.”
“Mitchell not only broke his oath, but the trust instilled in him as a law enforcement officer. Public servants, particularly in law enforcement, must be held to the highest of ethical standards. Those falling short must be rooted out and firmly held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to uncovering those who attempt to hide their acts of violence behind the badge. We would like to thank our investigators and the Douglas Police Department for their support and assistance in this case.”
During a two-week trial, jurors heard evidence that, on the morning of April 25, 2022, Mitchell traveled to Douglas, Arizona, where he abducted a 15-year-old female middle school student, restrained her, drove her to his apartment and sexually assaulted her.
According to evidence presented at trial, Mitchell found the child waiting for school to start, introduced himself as a law enforcement officer, and asked for her papers. Next, after flashing his police badge and credentials, Mitchell ordered the child into his car and explained that he was taking her to the police station. Instead, Mitchell drove the child miles away from her school, pulled over and restrained her hands and feet with two pairs of handcuffs. The victim testified that, after being handcuffed, the defendant told her to do everything he said because he didn’t want to have to hurt her.
Once the defendant forced the victim into his apartment, he repeatedly sexually assaulted her over the course of several hours. Mitchell eventually returned the victim to the area of the middle school where he had abducted her earlier that morning and reminded her not to tell anyone. The victim immediately reported the abduction and sexual assaults to her friends, family members and multiple law enforcement agencies. During an interview with police, the defendant exclaimed that the victim “better hope I don’t get out of here.”
An examination of the defendant’s cellphone revealed that the defendant had conducted numerous searches regarding rape and how to stop someone from screaming and, while he had the child captive in his apartment, he conducted an additional internet search for how long it takes to smother someone.
A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date. Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Douglas Police Department and FBI Phoenix Field Office, Sierra Vista Resident Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carin Duryee for the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Former Baltimore City Department of Finance Employee Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Joseph Gillespie, age 35, of Baltimore City, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving a scheme to defraud a financial institution and the United States Small Business Administration in order to obtain fraudulent loans under the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for various purported businesses. The Defendant also admitted to engaging in a bribery scheme for over eight years, whereby, in exchange for bribes from various property owners in Baltimore City (the “City”), the Defendant would use his official position as an employee of the City to extinguish various financial obligations owed to the City, including for water bills and property taxes.
The guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), administered through the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). According to the guilty plea, on March 4, 2021, the Defendant and co-defendant Ahmed (“Adam”) Sary submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application to Cross River Bank to obtain a PPP loan for JAG Investments (“JAG”), a company the Defendant owned. The PPP loan application contained numerous material misrepresentations, including that JAG in 2019 had 19 employees and an average monthly payroll of more than $55,000. In support of the loan application, fabricated 2019 Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) forms were submitted, which falsely stated that JAG’s total payments to employees in 2019 were more than $275,000.
Based on the false representations and fraudulent submissions made on behalf of the Defendant as the owner of JAG, the PPP loan was funded on March 6, 2021 and approximately $138,000 was distributed to a bank account controlled by the Defendant. The Defendant agreed to pay Sary kickbacks totaling $38,000 for his work in submitting the false application and obtaining the fraudulent PPP loan. After receipt of the PPP loan, the Defendant established payroll services for JAG to facilitate documentation that would later be used to substantiate a request for the PPP loan to be forgiven.
Further, according to the plea agreement, beginning in or about early 2016 and continuing until on or about September 20, 2023, the Defendant engaged in a bribery scheme in which he abused his position of trust as a public official for his own personal gain.
As an employee of the Baltimore City Department of Finance, Revenue Collections Department, the Defendant routinely accepted bribes from various property owners in the City whose property was subject to certain financial obligations and, if the obligations remained unpaid, to tax sale. The Defendant accepted these bribes -- typically 10% to 15% of the amount owed to the City -- in exchange for removing or extinguishing these financial obligations, including for citations, tax, and water obligations—thereby causing losses to the City. The Defendant also accepted bribes in exchange for delaying or postponing—without approval or permission from other City officials—due dates for the payment of outstanding financial obligations, thus forestalling the placement of a lien on the property by the City.
Once the Defendant received the bribe payment, he would extinguish the financial obligation owed to the City by marking the obligations as “paid” in the City’s record-keeping system. After removing the obligation, the Defendant would, at times, send a photograph of supporting documentation to the property owner reflecting that a payment was made towards a financial obligation owed to the City when, in fact, no such payment was made by the property owner.
As part of an FBI investigation, the Defendant engaged in multiple recorded conversations in which he discussed the specifics of the bribery scheme outlined above. For example, in response to the question “[S]o you want 100 for each property?” talking about the size of the bribe payment, the Defendant replied, “yeah that’s basically how I do.” During another recording, the Defendant stated that he had the ability to “wipe a bill off” the City’s record of outstanding obligations tied to a particular property or to “put paid next to ‘em,” even though the financial obligation had not in fact been paid. Defendant further stated that he removed additional financial obligations for this property owner, saying “There was a couple, extra miscellaneous bills that y’all had that I wiped off …. That shit gone now.”
During another recorded interaction, the Defendant stated, “Going forward, I’m just your inside man ... That’s what I do for a lot of different people around the City. You know what I mean – manage their shit for them a little bit …. I’m gonna go look at your shit.”
The Defendant’s bribery scheme continued for years thereafter, and he admitted that he enlisted the help of multiple co-conspirators in connection with his scheme. According to the plea agreement, the Defendant received more than $250,000 in connection with the bribery scheme and caused losses to the City in excess of $1,250,000.
Gillespie and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Gillespie will be sentenced to between two years’ and five years’ imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for December 9, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI for their work in the investigation, and thanked the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General, Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore City Inspector General for assistance as well. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Riley and Evelyn L. Cusson, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Fifteen Year Sentence Handed Down for Northeast ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Scotland Alston, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today before the Honorable Michael O’Keefe of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to 15 years in prison for a February 2024 shooting, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced Alston to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. When announcing Alston’s sentence, Judge O’Keefe cited the random viciousness of Alston’s actions and the devastating injuries sustained by the female victim.
Alston pleaded guilty to aggravated assault while armed on June 10, 2024.
According to the government’s evidence, with which Alston agreed, on February 28, 2024, Alston and the female victim got into a heated argument in the 2000 block of Benning Road NE, during which Alston shoved the victim and she shoved him back. During the argument, Alston took a gun from his waistband and held it at his side. A bystander tried to separate Alston and the victim, but the two continued to argue. Eventually, the victim sat down on a ledge. Alston got onto a bicycle to leave the area but then returned to where the victim sat. Alston drew his weapon again and fired numerous times at the victim. The victim tried to flee but she collapsed after being hit seven times. She spent months in the hospital recovering from her injuries.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Yarbro, who prosecuted the case.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Louisville Men for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on July 17, 2024, charging two Louisville men with illegal possession of firearms. One of the men was also charged with receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Interim Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Hassan Mohamed, 20, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm that had an overall length of less than twenty-six inches, and with a barrel of less than sixteen inches in length. Between March 27, 2024, and April 23, 2024, Mohamed possessed a Smith & Wesson, model M&P15-22P, .22 LR AR variant style pistol, an Aero Precision, model M4E1, 5.56 caliber rifle, a Smith & Wesson, model SD9, 9-millimeter pistol, and ammunition. Mohamed was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On April 23, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Mohamed was convicted of complicity to robbery in the first degree (two counts), robbery in the first degree (3 counts), complicity to assault in the first degree, and tampering with physical evidence.
On January 4, 2022, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Mohamed was convicted of robbery in the first degree, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and criminal attempt rape in the first degree.
According to the indictment, Jrome Fitch, 22, was charged with receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. Between April 11, 2024, and March 22, 2024, Fitch possessed a Smith & Wesson, model M&P15-22P, .22 LR AR variant style pistol, a Smith & Wesson, model SD9, 9-millimeter pistol, and ammunition. Fitch was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was under felony indictment for the following offenses.
On March 25, 2022, in Clark Circuit Court, Clark County, Indiana, Fitch was arraigned on an indictment for criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement, auto theft, and theft of a firearm (four counts).
The defendants made their initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered the defendants detained pending trial. If convicted, Hassan faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. However, if he is found to be an Armed Career Criminal, then he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Fitch faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Prohibited Firearm Possessor Initiative (PFP), a collaborative partnership between all levels of law enforcement and prosecutors to reduce violent crime and firearm offenses. On January 23, 2024, Louisville Metro initiated a gun crime reduction initiative focused on investigating and prosecuting illegal firearm possession. The PFP partners include the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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El Departamento de Justicia monitoreará el cumplimiento de las leyes federales de derechos electorales en MassachusettsRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que monitoreará el cumplimiento con las leyes federales electorales en dos ciudades de Massachusetts en las elecciones primarias del 3 de septiembre. El Departamento monitoreará en las ciudades de Methuen (en Essex County) y Lowell (en Middlesex County).
El Departamento de Justicia hace cumplir las leyes federales de derechos electorales que protegen el derecho de acceso a las urnas de todos los ciudadanos. El Departamento envía personal del departamento periódicamente a monitorear elecciones en comunidades a través de todo el país. Además, la División envía observadores federales de la Oficina de Administración de Personal de EE. UU. según autorizado por una orden judicial federal.
La Sección de Votación de la División de Derechos Civiles, junto con las Oficinas de los Fiscales Federales, vela por el cumplimiento de las leyes federales civiles que protegen el derecho al voto, incluyendo la Ley del Derecho al Voto, la Ley Nacional de Inscripción de Votantes, la Ley Ayudemos a Estados Unidos a Votar, y la Ley de Votación para los Uniformados y los Ciudadanos en el Extranjero.
Información adicional sobre la votación y las elecciones está disponible en el sitio web del Departamento de Justicia en www.justice.gov/crt/voting/. Aprenda más sobre la Ley del Derecho al Voto y otras leyes federales electorales en www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Denuncias relacionadas a posibles vulneraciones de las leyes federales de derechos electorales pueden presentarse mediate el formulario en línea de la División de Derechos Civiles en https://civilrights.justice.gov/ o por teléfono al (800) 253-3931.
Del Rio Man Who Posted Videos of Himself Using “Glock Switch” Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Del Rio man pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms.
According to court documents, Mark Anthony Jimenez aka M-Thang, 23, obtained a pistol attached with a machine gun conversion device, also known as a switch. The switch is designed to convert a semi-automatic weapon into a weapon that can be fired as a fully automatic weapon by a single function of the trigger. Jimenez then purchased two boxes of 9mm ammunition in Del Rio.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives discovered videos Jimenez had shared on Facebook depicting himself, a juvenile, and codefendant Alleena Nikole Soto, 20, of Del Rio, firing rounds from the pistol with the switch attached, in fully automatic mode. Jimenez knew that it was unlawful to possess a machine gun conversion device, and that it was unlawful for Soto to possess firearms because she was a convicted felon.
ATF canvassed the property where Jimenez was seen firing the automatic pistol and recovered multiple 9mm shell casings consistent with the ammunition that he purchased.
Jimenez faces up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Soto remains in custody awaiting further proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The ATF is investigating the case with support from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office, the Del Rio Police Department, and Val Verde County Adult Probation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayvee Rhoda is prosecuting the case.
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Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearms on Two OccasionsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Loveking Kitching (22, Deland) has pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Kitching faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is set for December 11, 2024.
According to court records, on May 13, 2023, Kitching was involved in a shooting while riding as a passenger in car near a gas station in Deland. Within minutes of the shooting, gas station security camera footage captured Kitching exiting the car and walking into the gas station’s convenience store while holding a loaded 9mm pistol. Law enforcement officers responded to the scene and recovered the pistol and other evidence, which indicated that Kitching had exchanged gunfire with someone outside the car. During the shooting, Kitching was shot in the mouth and hand. Shell casings found inside the vehicle where Kitching had been seated indicated that he had also fired the 9mm pistol from inside vehicle.
On December 12, 2023, law enforcement officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle Kitching was driving. Kitching failed to stop and instead led police on a car chase into an industrial park that ended when Kitching reached a dead end. On the ground along the path of the chase, officers located Kitching’s cellphone and a loaded .40 caliber pistol. Kitching’s DNA and fingerprints were found on the pistol.
Kitching had previously been convicted in 2022 of multiple felonies and therefore is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Deland Police Department, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Conspiracy to Kidnap Ends with Three South Louisiana Men Each Spending 18 to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown, along with FBI Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil, and Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber have joined together to announce that three defendants who were involved in a conspiracy to kidnap have been convicted and sentenced in the Western District of Louisiana. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced each of the defendants as follows:
Joseph Lawrence Harrison, 27, of St. Martinville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 216 months (18 years) in prison.
Cody Lajohn Williams, 31, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 300 months (25 years) in prison.
Drapper Lavar Anthony, Jr., 27, of Youngsville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison.
On February 16, 2023, law enforcement agents and investigators learned that this group of co-conspirators lured an individual from Los Angeles, California, to Lafayette, Louisiana, under the guise of executing a multi-state narcotics transaction. After the victim arrived in Lafayette, he was kidnapped at gun point. He received serval injuries including lacerations to his face after being struck with a firearm. The victim was held for several hours in an Airbnb turned safe house by co-conspirators. Several ransom demands were made that included a request for up to $300,000, 100 pounds of marijuana, and several high-end pieces of jewelry.
After constant collaboration between investigators and using multiple investigative techniques, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives were able to intercept Harrison and Williams and safely secure the victim.
Harrison pleaded guilty on March 15, 2024, and admitted to knowingly participating in the criminal venture when he aided other members of this conspiracy in demanding the ransom in exchange for the release of the victim. He participated in sending interstate communications by providing a cell phone that was used to capture proof of life photographs and videos of the victim.
Williams pleaded guilty on May 3, 2024, to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and sending interstate communications with intent to extort and admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy.
Anthony pleaded guilty on May 3, 2024, to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and sending interstate communications with intent to extort and admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy.
“The apprehension of these three defendants could not have happened without the cooperation of each of these state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as those in California, and is a testament to what is possible when we all work together,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “The kind of bad acts that these three men committed are without reproach and will not be tolerated in the Western District of Louisiana. I am proud of the men and women within our office that worked to make this prosecution successful and am grateful for the partnership we have built with our federal and local law enforcement partners. We will continue to work together to combat violent crime in the Western District of Louisiana.”
“Every day, the FBI works with its law enforcement partners to combat drugs and violent crime in this country,” said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of FBI New Orleans. “Every citizen, including those caught up in the middle of illicit activity, deserves protection from the harm that can occur when one ventures into that illegal trade. The FBI thanks all of its partners in this case for making sure some of this business was disrupted.”
“These individuals are part of fueling the violent crime problem across the country by purchasing and assembling an unserialized firearm that was used in the commission of a heinous crime,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that we will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess these firearms, remove another violent criminal from our streets, and keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Broussard Police Department and Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office (Corrections Unit). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys LaDonte A. Murphy and Daniel J. Vermaelen.
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