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23 August 2024
Sixth Tri-Cities cocaine trafficker sentenced to 16 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Hopewell man was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine throughout the Tri-Cities region of Central Virginia.
According to court documents, from at least May 2021 through October 2023, Cleveland Lamont Parson, 51, conspired with Aaron Larde Heath, 39, of Chester, and others to broker the purchase of kilogram quantities of cocaine from various sources in Virginia, North Carolina, Mexico, and elsewhere and to coordinate cocaine shipments. Parson used his residence in Hopewell as a stash house to distribute, store, and transfer the cocaine. Parson and Heath were held responsible for distributing between 50-150 kilograms of cocaine during the course of the conspiracy.
On May 18, 2023, Jerrell Stanley Bugg, 46, of Chester, purchased three kilograms of cocaine from Parson. After Bugg left Parson’s residence with the cocaine, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, during which Bugg recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun to law enforcement. When a K-9 unit alerted to narcotics in the vehicle, Bugg attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended at the scene. Law enforcement then recovered the cocaine from the vehicle. On Dec. 8, 2023, Bugg pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and, on May 7, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
In August 2023, Parson and Heath received 18 kilograms of cocaine, but upon inspection, determined a portion of the cocaine was of poor quality and decided to return that portion. On Aug. 6, 2023, couriers Jose Misael Reyes, 33, of El Salvador, and Corina Chavez, 31, of Bailey, North Carolina, transported the low-quality cocaine to their residence in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. On Aug. 7, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence and recovered the cocaine. On Jan. 12, Reyes pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on June 13, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison. On Jan. 19, Chavez pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on June 13, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison.
On Aug. 20, 2023, Heath traveled from Virginia to Charlotte, North Carolina, and acquired 20 kilograms of cocaine. Heath recruited Antonio Shaw, 61, of Hopewell, to serve as a courier for Heath and agreed to pay Shaw to transport the cocaine to Virginia. At a hotel in Charlotte, Heath provided the 20 kilograms of cocaine to Shaw. As Shaw traveled to Virginia, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop in Randolph County, North Carolina, and recovered the cocaine from the trunk of Shaw’s vehicle. On Jan. 16, Shaw pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on July 12, was sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
On Oct. 25, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Parson’s residence. During the search, law enforcement recovered a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, a .38 caliber revolver, a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended 30 round magazine, a .762 caliber AK-47 semiautomatic rifle, two shotgun magazines, a money counter, $37,261, and multiple cellphones.
On Dec. 5, 2023, Heath pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on May 3, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik S. Siebert, Shea M. Gibbons, Jessica Wright, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation Deep Dope Well. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-133.
Second Former Memphis Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights and Conspiracy Charges Tied to Death of Tyre NicholsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A former Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department (MPD) officer facing federal civil rights charges for the tragic killing of Tyre Nichols pleaded guilty in federal court today.
Emmitt Martin III, pleaded guilty to civil rights and conspiracy charges arising out of the Jan. 7, 2023, incident. Martin is the second MPD officer to plead guilty in this case.
On Sept. 12, 2023, a federal jury returned a four-count indictment against Martin and four co-defendants. The charges included using excessive force resulting in the death of Nichols; aiding and abetting each other in using that excessive force; failing to intervene to stop the excessive force; failing to render medical aid; and conspiring or taking action to cover up their misconduct. On Nov. 2, 2023, co-defendant Desmond Mills entered a guilty plea to civil rights and conspiracy charges.
The remaining three defendants will face a federal trial scheduled for Sept. 9.
In today’s court appearance, Martin pleaded guilty to counts one and three of the indictment. Count one charged Martin with using excessive force and failing to intervene in the unlawful assault. Count three charged Martin with conspiring to cover up his use of unlawful force by omitting material information and by providing false and misleading information to his supervisor and to others. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Elizabeth Rogers for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert, Trial Attorney Andrew Manns and Deputy Chief Forrest Christian of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
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Topic
CIVIL RIGHTS
Components
Civil Rights Division
Civil Rights - Criminal Section
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
USAO - Tennessee, Western
Press Release Number: 24-1049
Second Former Memphis Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights and Conspiracy Charges Tied to Death of Tyre NicholsRead the Press Release
A former Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department (MPD) officer facing federal civil rights charges for the tragic killing of Tyre Nichols pleaded guilty in federal court today.
Emmitt Martin III, pleaded guilty to civil rights and conspiracy charges arising out of the Jan. 7, 2023, incident. Martin is the second MPD officer to plead guilty in this case.
On Sept. 12, 2023, a federal jury returned a four-count indictment against Martin and four co-defendants. The charges included using excessive force resulting in the death of Nichols; aiding and abetting each other in using that excessive force; failing to intervene to stop the excessive force; failing to render medical aid; and conspiring or taking action to cover up their misconduct. On Nov. 2, 2023, co-defendant Desmond Mills entered a guilty plea to civil rights and conspiracy charges.
The remaining three defendants will face a federal trial scheduled for Sept. 9.
In today’s court appearance, Martin pleaded guilty to counts one and three of the indictment. Count one charged Martin with using excessive force and failing to intervene in the unlawful assault. Count three charged Martin with conspiring to cover up his use of unlawful force by omitting material information and by providing false and misleading information to his supervisor and to others. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Elizabeth Rogers for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert, Trial Attorney Andrew Manns and Deputy Chief Forrest Christian of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Scottsville Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay $873,107 in Restitution for Defrauding Former EmployerRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY –A Scottsville, Kentucky, woman was sentenced yesterday to two years in federal prison for engaging in a scheme to defraud her former employer.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
According to court records, Reda W. Tabor, 67, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for one count of wire fraud. The charges in this case stemmed from Tabor’s scheme in which, from 2014 to 2020, while employed as Vice President in Charge of Finance/Accounting and Human Resources at Beneke Wire Company in Louisville, Kentucky, Tabor used her position to access the company’s bank accounts and make unauthorized transfers of company funds to her personal bank account.
Tabor was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $873,107 and a fine in the amount of $10,000.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory prosecuted the case.
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San Diego Man Charged with Using Explosives to Burglarize ATMsRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 23, 2024
SAN DIEGO – Son Nguyen of San Diego was arrested early today and charged in federal court with two counts of damaging property in connection with using explosives on two ATMs.
Nguyen, who unsuccessfully attempted to steal money from the machines, was tracked through surveillance video, vehicle registration and facial features, the complaint said. He was taken into custody by the FBI at his Mira Mesa residence and is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court Monday.
According to the complaint, at approximately 3:24 a.m. on June 8, 2024, Nguyen drove up to an ATM outside of California Coast Credit Union on Governor Drive in San Diego. Nguyen got out of his car and brought a five-gallon blue plastic container with a white spout to the area in front of the ATM. He then appeared to insert a black polyvinyl chloride plastic (“PVC”) hose into the ATM. A short time later, a small explosion occurred inside the ATM. Despite efforts to pull money out of the machine, Nguyen left empty handed.
San Diego Police officers responded to an alarm at the credit union and observed a white PVC pipe connected to a black PVC pipe with two batteries taped to it. They also observed pieces of what looked like a blue balloon around the ATM. Approximately 20 feet from the ATM was another plastic pipe.
According to the complaint, a few weeks later, at approximately 2:10 a.m. on June 28, 2024, Nguyen drove up to another ATM in Rancho Bernardo outside of a First Citizen’s Bank branch in San Diego. He then repeated the same steps. After electrical components caught fire and smoke started coming out of the ATM, Nguyen returned and attempted to extract cash from the machine but was unsuccessful.
Investigators used surveillance camera video to track the defendant and his vehicle. While serving a court-authorized search warrant at Nguyen’s home, investigators found gas, black powder, potassium nitrate sulfur, explosive pre-cursor chemicals, a paper that explains how to make black powder and a firearm in Nguyen’s residence, among other equipment and clothing items consistent with those used during the attempts.
“Fortunately, neither of these incidents resulted in injury or successful theft of cash,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “With the discovery of chemicals and equipment in the search today, future attempts were also thwarted.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Sherwood and Shital Thakkar.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24-mj-03215
Son Thanh Nguyen Age: 44 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Use of an Explosive to Damage Property – 18 U.S.C., Section 844(i)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad
City of San Diego’s Hazmat Team
A complaint itself is not evidence that the defendant committed the crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the Government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
- St. Thomas Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 25 Years in $2.1 Million Dollar Cocaine Seizure Case
Rutland Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Distribution of Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 20, 2024, Bradley Saldi, 44, of Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 27 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Saldi previously pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine base.
According to court records, between May 15, 2023, and June 14, 2023, Saldi made four sales of controlled substances, cocaine base or fentanyl, to a confidential informant at the Highlander Motel in Rutland, Vermont, where Saldi was employed as a handyman. Prior to these controlled purchases from Saldi, court records indicate that Saldi was involved in the drug trafficking activities of Jose Maldonado and Edgar Correa, who were previously convicted and sentenced in the District of Vermont for their illegal activities. Saldi also participated with Maldonado and Correa in the assault of an individual related to a presumed drug debt.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and Rutland City Police Department.The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt and Jason Turner. Saldi was represented by Mark Oettinger, Esq.
Rosebud Man Convicted for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Eugene Hollow Horn Bear, age 64, of Rosebud, South Dakota, of two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on August 21, 2024.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of three years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hollow Horn Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2024.
According to the evidence presented at trial, the victim awoke to Hollow Horn Bear touching her vagina and breasts after she had gone to sleep in an abandoned carwash in Mission, South Dakota, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. The victim called out for help and another individual pulled Hollow Horn Bear off the victim and forced him to leave the carwash.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A sentencing date has not been set.
Romanian Man Sentenced for Possession of Device Making Equipment and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Ciprian Amariutei, 37, a Romanian citizen whose address is unknown, was sentenced on August 23, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession of device making equipment with intent to defraud and aggravated identity theft. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Amariutei to 16 months in prison for possession of device making equipment with intent to defraud and a consecutive 24 months in prison for aggravated identity theft. There is no parole in the federal system. After Amariutei’s release from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release.
On March 8, 2024, Amariutei’s co-defendant, Mona Maria Tataru, 32, also a Romanian citizen, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for possession of device making equipment with intent to defraud and a consecutive 24 months in prison for aggravated identity theft, to be followed by two years of supervised release.
In April 2023, surveillance video showed Amariutei, accompanied by Tataru, placing a skimming device and pinhole camera on an ATM in Omaha. Omaha police officers found the vehicle shown in the video and contacted Amariutei and Tataru at a local motel. Officers located in Amariutei’s and Tataru’s possession more skimming devices and cameras, equipment to generate phony debit and ATM cards, and several cards that had been encoded with stolen bank account information that enabled them to be used as ATM cards. In total, officers located approximately 220 sets of bank account information corresponding to accounts at more than a dozen different banks.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Omaha Police Department.
Rashad Trice Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Kidnapping Resulting in Death of Wynter Cole-SmithRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Rashad Maleek Trice was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping resulting in the death of 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith.
“Today we have achieved a measure of justice,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We can’t bring back the precious life of Wynter Cole-Smith, but we can do our best to ensure her killer is found guilty and spends the rest of his life in prison, which is what we’ve done today.” Totten continued: “I am so grateful to the hundreds of officers from over two dozen law enforcement agencies who came running to join the statewide search for Wynter Cole-Smith. Their commitment to protect and serve was overwhelming.”
According to the initial complaint, on July 2, 2023, a woman reported to the Lansing Police Department that she had been attacked by Trice and ultimately fled her apartment to escape him. When police responded to her apartment, Trice and the woman’s daughter, Cole-Smith, were no longer present. A white Chevrolet Impala had also allegedly been stolen. On July 3, police attempted to stop the white Chevrolet Impala in St. Clair Shores and the driver attempted to flee. Police apprehended the driver, Trice, but Cole-Smith was not in the car. Cell site information showed the approximate path Trice’s phone had recently taken, which prompted law enforcement to start conducting searches for Cole-Smith in specific areas. On July 5, 2023, law enforcement found Cole-Smith’s body in Detroit. On March 22, 2023, U.S. Attorney Totten announced that Trice pled guilty to the charge of kidnapping resulting in death.
“Our hearts still break for little Wynter. She should still be here,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Dawn N. Ison. “The tireless search and coordination by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the state, over several days, to bring her home safely, truly demonstrated the committed, collaborative effort with which we work every day to protect and serve our citizens. Although nothing will bring little Wynter back, I hope her family takes some solace in that effort and today’s sentence.”
“This was a senseless tragedy that shook our community to its core,” said Lansing Police Chief Rob Backus. “While nothing can replace the loss of Wynter Cole-Smith, I hope today’s sentencing offers some solace to Wynter’s family who have endured unimaginable pain. I’m grateful for the hard work and dedication of U.S. Attorney Mark Totten and his team.”
“The sentencing of Rashad Trice is the direct result of an exhaustive investigation conducted by members of the FBI in Michigan, our law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western Michigan,” stated Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners underscores the power of teamwork. While this may not provide immediate closure to the family of Wynter Cole-Smith, we are hopeful it will begin the healing process. Rashad Trice will spend the remainder of his life in prison, and we are optimistic this sentencing will serve as a deterrent, preventing another family from enduring the pain experienced by Wynter Cole-Smith's family.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Doaa Al-Howaishy and investigated by the FBI and Lansing Police Department, along with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Air Marshal Service, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, Michigan State Police, Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety, Michigan Department of Corrections, Ingham County Sheriff’s Office, Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office, Eaton County Sheriff's Office, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Macomb County Sheriff's Office, Detroit Police Department, Detroit Public Schools Community District Department of Public Safety, Eastpointe Police Department, St. Clair Shores Police Department, Bloomfield Hills Police Department, Dearborn Police Department, Sterling Heights Police Department, West Bloomfield Police Department, Bloomfield Police Department, Southfield Police Department, Northville Township Police Department, and Clinton Township Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan issued the previous press releases in this case:
- July 7, 2023 – U.S. Attorney Totten Announces Federal Charges in the Kidnapping of 2-Year-Old Wynter Cole Smith.
- July 26, 2023 – Trice Indicted for Kidnapping Resulting in Death and Kidnapping a Minor in Wynter Cole-Smith Case.
- August 7, 2023 – Trice Pleads Not Guilty During Arraignment in Wynter Cole-Smith Case.
- November 3, 2023 – Rashad Trice Trial Date Set for April 16 in Wynter Cole-Smith Case.
- March 22, 2024 – Rashad Trice, Who Killed Two-Year-Old Wynter Cole-Smith, Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping Resulting in Death.
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- July 7, 2023 – U.S. Attorney Totten Announces Federal Charges in the Kidnapping of 2-Year-Old Wynter Cole Smith.
Previously Convicted Felon from Pittsburgh Indicted for Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Keith Harris, 25, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on June 11, 2024, Harris possessed a firearm and ammunition. Harris has a number of prior felony convictions, including a 2022 conviction as a felon in possession of firearm and/or ammunition. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Port Richey Brothers Plead Guilty to Trafficking 100 Kilograms of FentanylRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Marcus Fowler (33) and Pierre Fowler (35), both of Port Richey, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, over 500 grams of methamphetamine, and cocaine. Marcus Fowler also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, beginning in 2006, Marcus and Pierre Fowler conspired with others to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in the Middle District of Florida. Co-conspirators reported receiving over 100 kilograms of fentanyl and 500 pounds of methamphetamine from the brothers between 2020 and 2022. In January 2023, agents seized more than 13 pounds of methamphetamine and 3 kilograms of fentanyl through postal intercepts that were bound for members of the conspiracy. On February 8, 2023, agents recovered more than a kilogram of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in addition to numerous firearms—including a machinegun—from the brothers’ stash house in Tarpon Springs.
Marcus and Pierre Fowler used drug proceeds to purchase several properties in Pasco and Pinellas Counties. As part of their plea agreement, they have agreed to forfeit the following properties which are traceable to the offenses:
1. 7715 Topay Lane, Port Richey, Florida 34668
2. 4152 Memphis Avenue, New Port Richey, Florida 34652
3. 5606 Sunshine Park Drive, New Port Richey, Florida 34652
4. 4330 Kibler Lane, Holiday, Florida 34691
5. 2141 Speck Drive, Holiday, Florida 34691
6. 4240 Oakfield Avenue, Holiday, Florida 34691
7. 710 North Avenue, Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689
8. 122 East Lime Street, Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689
9. 1522 Elite Court, Holiday, Florida 34691,
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Tarpon Springs Police Department, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman, and the asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James Muench.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Pittsburgh Felon Serving Life Sentence Found Guilty at Trial of Contempt of Court and Assault of Court-Appointed AttorneyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - After the conclusion of a non-jury trial, a federal judge on August 22, 2024, found James Taric Byrd guilty of one count of contempt of court by misbehavior that obstructs the administration of justice and one count of assault for striking his court-appointed attorney in a courtroom at the Joseph F. Weis Jr. U.S. Courthouse, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Byrd, 47, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was tried before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville in Pittsburgh. Byrd is currently serving a life sentence plus 20 years of incarceration on a 2022 conviction for violating federal narcotics and firearm laws.
The evidence presented at trial established that, on July 18, 2022, while Byrd was in trial before another federal judge on unrelated charges, Byrd struck his attorney in the head. The defendant’s assaultive conduct disrupted and delayed the trial proceedings and obstructed the orderly administration of justice. The Court also heard evidence suggesting that the defendant’s motive in striking his attorney was to prompt a mistrial and delay the 2022 jury trial proceedings.
Four months after his January 2023 sentencing of life imprisonment, Byrd was tried and found guilty by a federal jury of one count of possession of contraband in prison. He subsequently was sentenced to an additional eight months of incarceration on that May 2023 conviction.
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for Byrd’s contempt of court and assault conviction for December 18, 2024. Byrd will remain in custody pending sentencing. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to life in prison, a fine, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys DeMarr W. Moulton and Soo C. Song prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Byrd.
Pennsylvania man going to prison for gun trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christian Arroyo Collazo, 28, of New Castle, PA, who was convicted of conspiracy to traffic in firearms, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who handled the case, stated that between July 2022, and March 2023, Collazo transported, or attempted to transport, firearms to the Jamestown, NY, area. These firearms included pistols, AR-style rifles, handguns, revolvers, and high-capacity magazines. Collazo trafficked a total of approximately 40 firearms. Collazo utilized social media to conduct firearm related conversations and effectuate his firearms trafficking activities. During these conversations, Collazo would send photos of firearms to potential buyers.
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 is being prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, III, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Bryan Miller, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Erie, PA, Police Department, under the direction of Chief Daniel Spizarny Sr.
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Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Traveling Across State Lines for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – Soumya Rudra, 41, of Whitehall, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and to possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), also referred to as child pornography.
According to court documents, Rudra met the 14-year victim on a dating game app called “Kiss Kiss.” He then messaged her via Snapchat text and video calls throughout several months. Rudra drove more than 400 miles from Pennsylvania to Ohio in November 2023 to meet the victim. He transported her to a hotel where he proceeded to engage in criminal sexual activities. Investigators also discovered CSAM involving other minors on his electronic devices which were recovered at the hotel room.
Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 11, 2024. Rudra faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Canton Field Office and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Pass Christian Woman Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss.- A Pass Christian, Mississippi woman pled guilty to production of child pornography.
According to court documents, Sarah Jane Bennett, 43, was identified by law enforcement as an individual in lawful custody of a minor child who was using the child to produce visual depictions of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Further investigation revealed that Bennett’s cell phone contained multiple videos and images of child sexual abuse material involving the minor child.
Bennett is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10, 2024, in Gulfport, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case, with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crimes Division, the Gulfport Police Department, and the Biloxi Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.
Oviedo Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Carl Vecchione, (62, Oviedo) has pleaded guilty to receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material. Vecchione faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, on June 9, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Vecchione’s residence after identifying the home’s Internet Protocol (IP) address as sharing child sexual abuse material online. HSI located more than 900 images and videos of child sexual abuse material on Vecchione’s laptop.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 210 Months for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Neon Chang, age 41, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on August 23, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for production of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Chang to 210 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Chang will be required to complete a 10-year term of supervised release. Chang was also ordered to pay a special assessment in the amount of $5,000 pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
An investigation into the online sharing of child pornography led law enforcement officers to obtain a warrant for the search of Chang’s residence in November 2023. Chang was not present but was later interviewed at his place of employment. Chang told investigators that he used a specific software program to receive and download child pornography. Among the child pornography files made available for sharing by Chang through the peer-to-peer program included prepubescent minors, minors under the age of twelve, and files showing sexual abuse or exploitation of toddlers. Chang also admitted that in 2019, he recorded sexual encounters involving himself, his spouse, and a minor victim.
Investigators were able to locate 28 video files on a computer seized from the basement of the residence. The investigator viewed the video files and found they were created in January and February of 2019, when the minor victim was approximately thirteen years old. The videos corroborated Chang’s statements regarding the sexual encounters involving him, his spouse, and the minor victim. One of the videos recorded from a stationary camera depicts the minor victim having sexual intercourse with Chang’s spouse at Chang’s direction, while Chang was also using a cell phone camera to record the sexual encounter. During the sentencing hearing, Chief Judge Rossiter characterized Chang’s conduct as “beyond horrible.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Omaha Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Anthony Stephens, age 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced August 23, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Stephens to 188 months’ imprisonment. Stephens also agreed to the forfeiture of $10,500. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
On September 9, 2022, law enforcement was called to the Microtel Inn and Suites in Bellevue, Nebraska to remove a party from one of the rooms. The hotel manager informed the officers that a male occupant in the room had rented the room for one night and was supposed to check out by noon but had not. The manager and officers went to the room. After gaining access, they found Stephens unresponsive with no pulse. Defendant was ultimately shaken awake.
In the hotel room, officers located $10,500 in United States currency, drug paraphernalia, a black baton, brass knuckles, baggies, two vehicle fobs, digital scales, two cell phones, approximately 465.5 grams of marijuana, 851 grams of pure meth, and a smattering of pills. Stephens was arrested and told officers that he had been dealing pound quantities of meth since April 2022.
This case was investigated by the Bellevue Police Department.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that John C. Shores, Jr., age 55, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 23, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for attempted sexual exploitation of a child. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Shores to 240 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Shores’ release from prison, he will begin a 20-year term of supervised release. Shores was also ordered to pay $7,600 in special assessments as part of his sentence.
In pronouncing his sentence, Chief Judge Rossiter told Shores “I don’t discount what you’ve done with the community in the light, but what you’ve done here was in the dark.”
From August 4, 2023, through August 10, 2023, Shores used his cell phone to engage in an online conversation via the chat application Whisper and text messages with an undercover officer who was purporting to be a 13-year-old girl. During the conversations, Shores asked who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl to exchange naked and sexually explicit pictures for the purpose of masturbation. Shores also sent sexually explicit images to the other user.
On August 10, 2023, Shores made arrangements to meet with who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl and arrived at the meeting location in Omaha as arranged. Law enforcement contacted Shores and seized four cell phones from Shore’s vehicle. Forensic examinations of Shore’s cell phones revealed numerous sexually explicit online conversations to include conversations with individuals claiming to be as young as 11 years old. In one conversation, occurring primarily between July 7, 2020, and July 27, 2020, Shores contacted and conversed with 13-year-old female who resided in southeastern Nebraska.
This case was investigated by law enforcement agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office as part of the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –HORACE WASHINGTON (“WASHINGTON”), age 55, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on August 21, 2024 by United States District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle for violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) received information from a confidential source that WASHINGTON, who had previously been convicted of a federal drug trafficking offense, was again dealing drugs. Through investigation, DEA agents learned that WASHINGTON was getting the drugs from sources near the Texas/Mexico border. These sources would fly to New Orleans, while another co-conspirator drove a car with the drugs to New Orleans. The agents eventually seized ten kilograms of cocaine that WASHINGTON’s coconspirator left in a car in a Westbank parking lot.
Judge Lemelle sentenced WASHINGTON to 121 months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –KENTRELL HUBBARD (“HUBBARD”), age 25, of New Orleans, was sentenced on August 22, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to 70 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) and, to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, on June 9, 2023, a confidential informant for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, purchased fentanyl from HUBBARD after meeting him near a supermarket that was a known hotspot for drug trafficking in the Iberville housing project. The next week, special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation saw HUBBARD with a handgun as they were executing an unrelated search warrant.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
New Franklin Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A New Franklin, Mo., man has pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to rob a local bank but being foiled when the front door was locked.
Jacob Lowell Hessing, 26, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. on Thursday, Aug. 22, to one count of attempted bank robbery. Hessing has been detained in federal custody since his arrest.
By pleading guilty, Hessing admitted that he attempted to rob Exchange Bank of Missouri in New Franklin on Sept. 9, 2023.
According to today’s plea agreement, the Howard County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department received calls from concerned citizens about a masked man dressed in black walking in downtown New Franklin, which has a population of about 1,000 residents. The man, later identified as Hessing, was reportedly carrying an AR-style rifle and attempted to enter Exchange Bank of Missouri. On Saturdays, however, the bank’s lobby is open by appointment only, and the outer door is locked.
Surveillance video showed Hessing walk to the bank and attempt to open the lobby door. He then got back into a red Chevy Equinox, which drove off at a high rate of speed. Investigators traced the vehicle to Hessing and executed a search warrant at his residence (about a block and a half from the bank) on Oct. 30, 2023. Federal agents found a Diamondback rifle, hidden in the basement, with a loaded magazine capable of holding more than 40 5.56mm cartridges, which was consistent with the weapon Hessing carried when he attempted to rob the bank. Ammunition also was found in the kitchen utensil drawer and several cartridges for the Diamondback rifle were found in the Equinox. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Hessing must forfeit the Diamondback rifle to the government.
Under federal statutes, Hessing is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. 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 Melissa A. Pierce. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Howard County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Nevada, Mo., Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Leading Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Nevada, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for leading a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Trenton D. Wallace, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 20 years in federal prison without parole.
On Dec. 14, 2023, Wallace pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and attempting to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
An Oklahoma State Highway Patrol trooper stopped Wallace, who was driving a Chevrolet Impala, on Interstate 44 on Feb. 16, 2022. Wallace denied being in possession of any firearms, but the trooper seized a Freedom Arms .22-caliber pistol (disguised to look like a belt buckle) when Wallace reached for it as a drug-sniffing dog was being deployed. Wallace also was in possession of $4,206 in cash.
When a police dog alerted to the presence of drugs, troopers searched the vehicle and found a duffel bag that contained approximately 25 pounds (9.9 kilograms) of methamphetamine, packaged in 10 large plastic bags. Troopers also found a loaded H&K 9mm semi-automatic pistol under the driver’s seat and a loaded Sig Sauer .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol under the passenger’s seat.
According to court documents, Wallace is an admittedly active and high-ranking member of the Southwest Honkey’s prison gang. The methamphetamine seized from Wallace would be enough to supply two doses (.25 grams) of methamphetamine to every man, woman, and child in Vernon County, Mo.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team.
Nashua Felon Sentenced to 68 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Nashua man was sentenced today in federal court in connection with a firearm-related charge, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Joshua Smith, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 68 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. On February 6, 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In March 2022, Nashua Police detectives were executing a warrant for the defendant’s arrest. Detectives apprehended and arrested the defendant as he was leaving a building to get into a taxi. At the time of his arrest, the defendant was carrying a duffle bag that contained a 40 mm caliber riot gun. The defendant had previously been convicted of several felonies, including a robbery in 2013, and was therefore was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping guns out of the hands of felons,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “This office will continue to hold felons possessing firearms accountable for their continued disregard of the law and will ensure that they pay the penalty for their recidivism.”
“Getting firearms away from convicted felons not allowed to have them is vital as we work to combat violent crime in New Hampshire,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Joshua Smith has a lengthy criminal record and wasn’t permitted to have a gun. The FBI’s Major Offender Task Force will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to imprison criminals who refuse to respect the law in an effort to make our communities safer.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Nashua Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Charles Rombeau are 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.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Daniel Hernandez-Casiano (44, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a deported alien. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 4, 2024.
According to court records, Hernandez-Casiano was found in the United States on January 9, 2024, after being arrested and convicted on state charges for possession of fentanyl and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license. Hernandez-Casiano was previously removed from the United States to Mexico on three separate occasions.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie McNeff.
Mesa Business Owner Who Exploited the American Indian Health Plan Sentenced to over 5 Years for AHCCCS FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. –Diana Marie Moore, 44, of Mesa, was sentenced this week by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 66 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Moore was also ordered to pay restitution to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (“AHCCCS”) in the amount of $21,730,674.04. In addition, the Court ordered the forfeiture of four single-family homes owned by Moore as well as 117 other items, including seven luxury vehicles, designer apparel, luxury jewelry, and artwork. All the items were purchased by Moore using the proceeds of her fraud scheme. Moore pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud and Money Laundering on July 10, 2023.
Moore admitted that she owned two behavioral health counseling services, Harmony Family Services (HFS) and Harmony Family Services II (HFS II) and that she had also submitted the application for a third behavioral health counseling service, Logan Family Health, LLC (“LFH”). All three then applied to be medical providers for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid agency- HFS applied in 2019, HFS II applied in 2020, and LFH applied in 2022. AHCCCS approved all three applications. At the time HFS and HFS II applied to AHCCCS, Moore failed to disclose her ownership interest in the other entity. Moore also failed to disclose her prior felony conviction, which was required to be disclosed on the AHCCCS application form.
Moore further admitted that she engaged in a fraudulent billing practice targeting AHCCCS and exploiting a program that enables Native Americans to seek behavioral health treatment without first obtaining a pre-payment review. Specifically, starting in January 2020, Moore began obtaining AHCCCS identification numbers for AHCCCS enrollees by paying other providers to transport AHCCCS enrollees to the HFS or HFS II facility for a single day, and then obtaining enrollees’ identification numbers once they arrived. Nearly all of the AHCCCS enrollees billed for by Moore were members of the American Indian Health Plan. After these AHCCCS enrollees left the HFS or HFS II facility, Moore would submit bills to AHCCCS, which falsely claimed that HFS and HFS II continued providing services to those same enrollees for up to 90 days. Moore regularly claimed that HFS or HFS II provided counseling services to a given AHCCCS enrollee for eight or more hours each day, five days a week, for months in a row, even though Moore knew such services were not provided. In addition, Moore submitted claims to AHCCCS, which falsely claimed that HFS or HFS II provided services to certain AHCCCS Enrollees who were, in fact, deceased or imprisoned at the time Moore claimed to have provided services.
At the sentencing hearing, the Court noted the particular harm done to the Native American populations in Arizona as a result of this type of fraud.
“The American Indian Health Plan exists to help an underserved community surmount barriers to treatment,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Defendant misused this program, and the unique identification numbers generated by it, to benefit herself -- in some cases by billing for patients she never treated, and in other cases by falsely inflating the duration of treatment. Thanks to the Internal Revenue Service for its financial acumen in bringing defendant to justice, and to the AHCCCS Inspector General’s Office for its valuable assistance.”
“The sentencing of Diana Moore should be a reminder there are serious consequences to this type of criminal behavior,” said Carissa Messick, IRS CI Special Agent in Charge, Phoenix Field Office. “IRS CI methodically works to bring fraudsters to justice and restore confidence in our public programs.”
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aron Ketchel, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-0040-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-116_Moore# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Member of "Black Rain" Drug Crew Pleads Guilty, Admits to his Involvement in Three Queens Cold Case MurdersRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Jerome Jones, also known as “Sha,” pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, to murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking for his participation in the 1991 murder of Oscar Flow. As part of his plea, Jones, 60, also admitted to his role in the 1992 murders of Robert Arroyo and Dorothy Taylor. Today’s proceedings took place before United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis. When sentenced, Jones faces 20 years to life in prison. He was indicted in February 2019.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.
“After over 30 years, Jones has finally admitted his role in the calculated murders of three individuals,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Despite the passage of time, my Office persisted in pursuing all leads to seek justice for the victims and their families. This case should stand as a reminder that even when the trail appears to have gone cold, we will never waver from our mission of holding wrongdoers, especially violent actors, accountable.”
“Today’s admission of guilt reflects the tireless dedication of NYPD detectives to hold criminals accountable, no matter how much time passes, because a cold case is never a forgotten case,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “The NYPD will continue to work with the FBI, the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and our other law enforcement partners to ensure that no investigative stone goes unturned as we work to establish justice for all crime victims and their families.”
Jones was a high-ranking member of a Queens-based crew, known as “Black Rain,” that sold narcotics at several locations on Rockaway Boulevard in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The crew spread its poison in the community by trafficking in massive quantities of drugs, selling heroin under the brand name “Black Rain,” cocaine under the brand name “White Lightning” and crack cocaine under the brand name “Thunder.” In the early 1990s, a single Black Rain drug spot brought in approximately $15,000 per day in narcotics sales. To protect its profitable operation, the gang committed serious acts of violence, including murder.
The murder of Oscar Flow took place in Springfield Gardens, Queens, in December 1991, after Jones learned that Flow had stolen from Black Rain. Jones and a co-conspirator shot Flow multiple times in the head and body.
The murder of Robert Arroyo took place in the vicinity of 128th Street and Rockaway Boulevard in South Ozone Park, where Jones managed a drug spot. In August 1992, Jones recruited and paid two co-conspirators to murder Robert Arroyo, whom Jones believed was a drug-trafficking competitor and a police informant. In their first attempt, the recruits mistakenly shot and seriously injured another man they incorrectly believed to be Arroyo. The victim survived his wounds. On September 8, 1992, at Jones’s direction, the recruits located Arroyo on a crowded street and shot him multiple times, killing him.
In November of 1992, Jones ordered the killing of Dorothy Taylor, who he blamed for having a Black Rain drug spot shut down by law enforcement when she failed to pay the rent. Jones again paid a co-conspirator to commit murder. On November 2, 1992, Jones’s recruit hid in Taylor’s driveway and shot her to death when she arrived home.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar, Emily J. Dean, Lindsey R. Oken and Raffaela S. Belizaire are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Theodore Rader.
The Defendant:
JEROME JONES (also known as “Sha”)
Age: 60
West VirginiaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-54 (NGG)
Maryland Man Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Stealing More Than $32,000 in High-End GoodsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Maryland man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for stealing thousands of items from a high-end outlet store in Wrentham, Mass.
Nathaniel Owens, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Owens also was ordered to pay $32,000 in restitution to the Gucci store in Wrentham, Mass. In April 2024, Owens pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce and one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods.
On the evening of Sept. 16, 2021, Owens, along with his co-defendant Linworth Hayes Crawford III and allegedly others, traveled from the Washington D.C. area to the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in Massachusetts. In the early morning hours of Sept. 17, 2021, Owens, Crawford and allegedly others entered the Gucci store by smashing the store’s glass front door and stole $32,000 in high-end merchandise including handbags, duffle bags, backpacks and sunglasses.
Owens was captured on mall security videos inside the mall visiting the Nike Store. After the robbery, the car used by the defendants crossed the George Washington Bridge going south. During a stop on their way to Washington, D.C., a store video surveillance camera filmed one of the men allegedly taking a Gucci bag out of the car to examine it.
The day after the theft, another codefendant allegedly posted on his Instagram account that he had Gucci bags available for sale. Images of the bags appeared to be identical to the Gucci bags stolen during the burglary earlier that day.
At his sentencing, the government alleged and Owens did not contest that he had participated in approximately 10 other similar burglaries throughout the East Coast of the United States and that the total value of merchandise stolen was in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Crawford pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy in February 2024 and was sentenced on Aug. 20, 2024 to eight months in prison. The government alleged at sentencing that Crawford had participated in one other similar burglary.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Wrentham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Man Charged with Threats Against the President, the Vice President, and a Former PresidentRead the Press Release
MEMPHIS, TN - United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz today announced that a Memphis-area man has been charged with making threats against President Joseph R. Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Barack Obama.
On July 27, 2024, Kyl Alton Hall, 37, made numerous posts on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). Specifically, in the posts, he threatened to kill, assassinate, shoot, and crash the plane of President Biden; assassinate Vice President Harris; and assassinate former President Obama.
A federal indictment returned on August 20, 2024, charged Hall with two counts of threats to a sitting President and Vice President in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 871(a), and one count of a threat to a former President under Section 879(a)(1). Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison.
The United States Secret Service investigated this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Will Crow of the National Security and Civil Rights Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Lodge Grass man admits sexually abusing child on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass man accused of sexually abusing a child on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Marty Edward Plenty Hawk, 29, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact of a child as charged in an indictment. Plenty Hawk faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release on each crime.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Plenty Hawk was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that between 2021 and May 2023 near Lodge Grass, on the Crow Indian Reservation, Plenty Hawk forced the victim, identified as Jane Doe 1, who was under the age of 12, to engage in a sexual act and caused the victim to engage in sexual conduct. On May 2, 2023, law enforcement arrested Plenty Hawk after a domestic disturbance at his residence. While in custody, Plenty Hawk notified jail staff that he wanted to write a confession and wrote that he had been carrying on a sexual relationship with Jane Doe 1. A sexual assault examination of Jane Doe 1 noted injuries consistent with child sexual abuse. In an interview with the FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs, Plenty Hawk again admitted to having a sexual relationship with Jane Doe 1 and having sexual intercourse with the victim multiple times.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.
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Lehigh Acres Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Roberney Julien (26, Lehigh Acres) to six years in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The court also ordered Julien to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he possessed during the offense. Julien entered a guilty plea on May 14, 2024.
According to court documents, on the morning of January 30, 2024, an officer from the Fort Myers Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Julien along Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. Before approaching the vehicle, the officer observed something being thrown out of the vehicle’s window by one its occupants. The officer later identified the item tossed from the vehicle as a plastic baggie containing cocaine. The officer also found a loaded GSG handgun adjacent to the vehicle which had been discarded during the traffic stop as well. A subsequent investigation identified Julien as a local cocaine distributor who had unlawfully possessed the loaded firearm recovered from the scene.
This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.
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.
Latham Man Sentenced to More Than 8 Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Scott Weinbloom, age 49, of Latham, New York, was sentenced today to 97 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Weinbloom admitted that on May 18, 2022, he possessed hundreds of images and videos of child pornography on a USB flash memory stick found in his residence and that two computers recovered from his residence had also been used to store and view child pornography.
In addition to the imprisonment and supervised release terms, Weinbloom was ordered to pay a total of $72,000 in restitution to child victims depicted in the files he possessed, and will be required to register as a sex offender upon release from imprisonment.
The FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated this case. The Task Force includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Dustin C. Segovia prosecuted 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 Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locates, 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.
Lander man sentenced on methamphetamine and fentanyl chargesRead the Press Release
Brennon Scott, 25, of Lander, Wyoming was sentenced Aug. 20, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl to 60 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Feb. 2, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Scott after witnessing him swerve and drive over the fog line. Officers could see drug paraphernalia in plain view and Scott appeared to be impaired. A search of the vehicle recovered approximately two ounces of methamphetamine, one fentanyl pill, baggies commonly used in the distribution of controlled substances, and a digital scale with methamphetamine residue on it. Scott was arrested and initially charged through the Fremont County Attorney's Office.
Scott was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 12, and pleaded guilty on May 3.
This crime was investigated by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, with assistance by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.
Case No. 24-CR-00041
Lakeland Man Indicted for Possessing Ammunition as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Solomon Smith (22, Lakeland) possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Smith that the United States intends to forfeit assorted rounds of ammunition, which are alleged to have been used in the commission of the offense.
According to the indictment, on July 2, 2024, Smith, knowing that he had been previously convicted of felony offenses – including carrying a concealed firearm – was in possession of assorted rounds of ammunition. As a convicted felon, Smith is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
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 is part of the 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 for 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 Lakeland Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Lake Forest Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Defrauding Buyers of Medical-Grade Gloves During COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Orange County man was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for defrauding companies who in mid-2020 paid more than $3 million for COVID-related medical protective equipment that was never delivered.
Christopher John Badsey, 63, of Lake Forest, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton, who also ordered him to pay $1,938,990 in restitution.
Badsey pleaded guilty in April 2023 to four counts of wire fraud.
In June and July of 2020, Badsey lied to three victim companies when he told them he had access to millions of boxes of nitrile gloves through his Irvine-based company, First Defense International Security Services Corp. (FDI). This type of personal protective equipment was in high demand and short supply during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Badsey agreed by contract to sell millions of boxes of gloves to each of the three companies. But he told the companies’ representatives that before they could inspect the gloves, which he claimed were stored in a Los Angeles warehouse, the companies would be required to pay deposits of upwards of $1 million to FDI. In fact, Badsey did not have any gloves stored in any warehouse.
Badsey instructed the companies to wire the deposits to accounts controlled by himself, FDI or a co-schemer. Relying on Badsey’s false statements, the companies wired a total of $3,231,990 to these accounts.
“[Badsey]…used the deposit money to make expensive purchases, all while stringing would-be purchasers along with false stories, including absurd claims that government agents were blocking access to his warehouse of gloves,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.
He has forfeited all title and interest in money or items derived from his crimes, including a yacht, a pontoon boat, two Mercedes-Benz automobiles, two Ford pickup trucks, an RV, a tractor, three ATVs, miscellaneous fishing equipment, and $58,923 in cash.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin N. Spencer and Melissa S. Rabbani of the Santa Ana Branch Office prosecuted this case.
LaBelle Felon Sentenced to Prison for Unlawfully Possessing A Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Angel Gabriel Hernandez (29, LaBelle) to two years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Hernandez entered a guilty plea on April 26, 2024.
According to court documents, on August 9, 2023, Hernandez—a previously convicted felon—unlawfully possessed a loaded Beretta handgun, which he then sold to an undercover officer in a supermarket parking lot in LaBelle. As a convicted felon, Hernandez is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.
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.
Kanawha County Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Benson Cline II, 49, of Cedar Grove and a convicted sex offender, was sentenced on August 22, 2024, to seven years and eight months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $8,800 in restitution for possession of prepubescent child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between on or about July 24, 2023, to on or about November 6, 2023, Cline possessed 22 images and 134 videos of child sexual abuse material on his instant messaging app account that he accessed through his cell phone. The child pornography included digital files depicting infant, toddler and prepubescent males and females being sexually assaulted and also included instances of bestiality, sadomasochism and torture.
Cline is a registered sex offender, as a result of his conviction for soliciting a minor via computer in Kanawha County Circuit Court on February 24, 2011.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-42.
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Justice Department Sues RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Millions of American RentersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, together with the Attorneys General of North Carolina, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today against RealPage Inc. for its unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing and to monopolize the market for commercial revenue management software that landlords use to price apartments. RealPage’s alleged conduct deprives renters of the benefits of competition on apartment leasing terms and harms millions of Americans. The lawsuit was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and alleges that RealPage violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.
The complaint alleges that RealPage contracts with competing landlords who agree to share with RealPage nonpublic, competitively sensitive information about their apartment rental rates and other lease terms to train and run RealPage’s algorithmic pricing software. This software then generates recommendations, including on apartment rental pricing and other terms, for participating landlords based on their and their rivals’ competitively sensitive information. The complaint further alleges that in a free market, these landlords would otherwise be competing independently to attract renters based on pricing, discounts, concessions, lease terms, and other dimensions of apartment leasing. RealPage also uses this scheme and its substantial data trove to maintain a monopoly in the market for commercial revenue management software. The complaint seeks to end RealPage’s illegal conduct and restore competition for the benefit of renters in states across the country.
“Americans should not have to pay more in rent because a company has found a new way to scheme with landlords to break the law,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We allege that RealPage’s pricing algorithm enables landlords to share confidential, competitively sensitive information and align their rents. Using software as the sharing mechanism does not immunize this scheme from Sherman Act liability, and the Justice Department will continue to aggressively enforce the antitrust laws and protect the American people from those who violate them.”
“Today’s complaint against RealPage illustrates our corporate enforcement strategy in action. We identify the most serious wrongdoers, whether individuals or companies, and focus our full energy on holding them accountable,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “By feeding sensitive data into a sophisticated algorithm powered by artificial intelligence, RealPage has found a modern way to violate a century-old law through systematic coordination of rental housing prices — undermining competition and fairness for consumers in the process. Training a machine to break the law is still breaking the law. Today’s action makes clear that we will use all our legal tools to ensure accountability for technology-fueled anticompetitive conduct.”
“RealPage’s egregious, anticompetitive conduct allows landlords to undermine fair pricing and limit housing options while stifling necessary competition,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “The Department remains committed to rooting out illegal schemes and practices aimed at empowering corporate interests at the expense of consumers.”
“As Americans struggle to afford housing, RealPage is making it easier for landlords to coordinate to increase rents,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today, we filed an antitrust suit against RealPage to make housing more affordable for millions of people across the country. Competition – not RealPage – should determine what Americans pay to rent their homes.”
The complaint cites internal documents and sworn testimony from RealPage and commercial landlords that make plain RealPage’s and landlords’ objective to maximize rental pricing and profitability at the expense of renters. For example:
- RealPage acknowledged that its software is aimed at maximizing prices for landlords, referring to its products as “driving every possible opportunity to increase price,” “avoid[ing] the race to the bottom in down markets,” and “a rising tide raises all ships.”
- A RealPage executive observed that its products help landlords avoid competing on the merits, noting that “there is greater good in everybody succeeding versus essentially trying to compete against one another in a way that actually keeps the entire industry down.”
- A RealPage executive explained to a landlord that using competitor data can help identify situations where the landlord “may have a $50 increase instead of a $10 increase for the day.”
- Another landlord commented about RealPage’s product, “I always liked this product because your algorithm uses proprietary data from other subscribers to suggest rents and term. That’s classic price fixing…”
The complaint alleges that RealPage’s agreements and conduct harm the competitive process in local rental markets for multi-family dwellings across the United States. Armed with competing landlords’ data, RealPage also encourages loyalty to the algorithm’s recommendations through, among other measures, “auto accept” functionality and pricing advisors who monitor landlords’ compliance. As a result, RealPage’s software tends to maximize price increases, minimize price decreases, and maximize landlords’ pricing power. RealPage also trained landlords to limit concessions (e.g., free month(s) of rent) and other discounts to renters. The complaint also cites internal documents from RealPage and landlords touting the fact that landlords have responded by reducing renter concessions.
The complaint separately alleges that RealPage has unlawfully maintained its monopoly over commercial revenue management software for multi-family dwellings in the United States, in which RealPage commands approximately 80% market share. Landlords agree to share their competitively sensitive data with RealPage in return for pricing recommendations and decisions that are the result of combining and analyzing competitors’ sensitive data. This creates a self-reinforcing feedback loop that strengthens RealPage’s grip on the market and makes it harder for honest businesses to compete on the merits.
RealPage Inc., is a property management software company headquartered in Richardson, Texas.
Justice Department Sues RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Millions of American RentersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department, together with the Attorneys General of North Carolina, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today against RealPage Inc. for its unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing and to monopolize the market for commercial revenue management software that landlords use to price apartments. RealPage’s alleged conduct deprives renters of the benefits of competition on apartment leasing terms and harms millions of Americans. The lawsuit was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and alleges that RealPage violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.
The complaint alleges that RealPage contracts with competing landlords who agree to share with RealPage nonpublic, competitively sensitive information about their apartment rental rates and other lease terms to train and run RealPage’s algorithmic pricing software. This software then generates recommendations, including on apartment rental pricing and other terms, for participating landlords based on their and their rivals’ competitively sensitive information. The complaint further alleges that in a free market, these landlords would otherwise be competing independently to attract renters based on pricing, discounts, concessions, lease terms, and other dimensions of apartment leasing. RealPage also uses this scheme and its substantial data trove to maintain a monopoly in the market for commercial revenue management software. The complaint seeks to end RealPage’s illegal conduct and restore competition for the benefit of renters in states across the country.
“Americans should not have to pay more in rent because a company has found a new way to scheme with landlords to break the law,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We allege that RealPage’s pricing algorithm enables landlords to share confidential, competitively sensitive information and align their rents. Using software as the sharing mechanism does not immunize this scheme from Sherman Act liability, and the Justice Department will continue to aggressively enforce the antitrust laws and protect the American people from those who violate them.”
“Today’s complaint against RealPage illustrates our corporate enforcement strategy in action. We identify the most serious wrongdoers, whether individuals or companies, and focus our full energy on holding them accountable,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “By feeding sensitive data into a sophisticated algorithm powered by artificial intelligence, RealPage has found a modern way to violate a century-old law through systematic coordination of rental housing prices — undermining competition and fairness for consumers in the process. Training a machine to break the law is still breaking the law. Today’s action makes clear that we will use all our legal tools to ensure accountability for technology-fueled anticompetitive conduct.”
“RealPage’s egregious, anticompetitive conduct allows landlords to undermine fair pricing and limit housing options while stifling necessary competition,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “The Department remains committed to rooting out illegal schemes and practices aimed at empowering corporate interests at the expense of consumers.”
“As Americans struggle to afford housing, RealPage is making it easier for landlords to coordinate to increase rents,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today, we filed an antitrust suit against RealPage to make housing more affordable for millions of people across the country. Competition – not RealPage – should determine what Americans pay to rent their homes.”
The complaint cites internal documents and sworn testimony from RealPage and commercial landlords that make plain RealPage’s and landlords’ objective to maximize rental pricing and profitability at the expense of renters. For example:
- RealPage acknowledged that its software is aimed at maximizing prices for landlords, referring to its products as “driving every possible opportunity to increase price,” “avoid[ing] the race to the bottom in down markets,” and “a rising tide raises all ships.”
- A RealPage executive observed that its products help landlords avoid competing on the merits, noting that “there is greater good in everybody succeeding versus essentially trying to compete against one another in a way that actually keeps the entire industry down.”
- A RealPage executive explained to a landlord that using competitor data can help identify situations where the landlord “may have a $50 increase instead of a $10 increase for the day.”
- Another landlord commented about RealPage’s product, “I always liked this product because your algorithm uses proprietary data from other subscribers to suggest rents and term. That’s classic price fixing…”
The complaint alleges that RealPage’s agreements and conduct harm the competitive process in local rental markets for multi-family dwellings across the United States. Armed with competing landlords’ data, RealPage also encourages loyalty to the algorithm’s recommendations through, among other measures, “auto accept” functionality and pricing advisors who monitor landlords’ compliance. As a result, RealPage’s software tends to maximize price increases, minimize price decreases, and maximize landlords’ pricing power. RealPage also trained landlords to limit concessions (e.g., free month(s) of rent) and other discounts to renters. The complaint also cites internal documents from RealPage and landlords touting the fact that landlords have responded by reducing renter concessions.
The complaint separately alleges that RealPage has unlawfully maintained its monopoly over commercial revenue management software for multi-family dwellings in the United States, in which RealPage commands approximately 80% market share. Landlords agree to share their competitively sensitive data with RealPage in return for pricing recommendations and decisions that are the result of combining and analyzing competitors’ sensitive data. This creates a self-reinforcing feedback loop that strengthens RealPage’s grip on the market and makes it harder for honest businesses to compete on the merits.
RealPage Inc., is a property management software company headquartered in Richardson, Texas.
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Justice Department Sues California Towing Company for Auctioning a Servicemember’s Vehicle in Violation of Federal LawRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Tony’s Auto Center Inc., doing business as Tony’s Auto Center, in Chula Vista, California, alleging that it illegally auctioned off a deployed U.S. Navy Lieutenant’s car, in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The SCRA prohibits a towing company from auctioning off a vehicle owned by a servicemember unless it first obtains an order from a court allowing it to do so.
“When towing companies ignore their legal obligations under the SCRA, it can have serious financial consequences for servicemembers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We hope that bringing this case encourages other towing companies to review and improve their policies and ensure that the rights of all servicemembers are honored and respected.”
“The law provides specific and necessary protections to active duty servicemembers so they can dedicate themselves to protecting our freedom,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California. “As the filing of this complaint demonstrates, we will fight to enforce those protections.”
The department’s lawsuit, which was filed today in the Southern District of California, alleges that Tony’s Auto Center illegally auctioned the Lieutenant’s 2011 Mazda 6 while he was deployed at sea aboard the USS Bunker Hill. Prior to deployment, the Lieutenant placed some personal belongings in his car and parked it in front of a friend’s house. While the Lieutenant was at sea, Chula Vista Police Department impounded the car due to an expired registration, and Tony’s Auto Center towed the car to its facility. About two months later, Tony’s Auto Center, through its agent, sold the Lieutenant’s car at auction without obtaining a court order authorizing the sale.
According to the complaint, in March 2023, the Lieutenant returned home from deployment to find that his car had been towed. He then contacted Tony’s Auto and learned that they had sold his car. Even though he no longer had the car, he had to continue making his monthly car loan payments to Navy Federal Credit Union, which totaled over $2,500.
Individuals with information that may be relevant to this case should call the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California at 619-546-7516.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe their SCRA rights have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil/.
The Justice Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the department has obtained over $481 million in monetary relief for over 147,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. Additional information on department’s enforcement of the SCRA and other laws protecting servicemembers is available at www.servicemembers.gov.
Jessamine County Man Sentenced for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Lenny Needy, 66, was sentenced on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, to 18 months in prison, for bank robbery by intimidation.
According to his plea agreement, on August 17, 2023, Needy robbed Traditional Bank on Nicholasville Road in Lexington. Specifically, Needy approached the teller window and handed her a note, then saying words to the effect: “This is a robbery, give me everything you have!” A teller was able to hit a silent alarm; but as she hit the alarm, Needy said not to hit any buttons and to hurry up with the money. Needy obtained $6,943 in cash from the teller and fled the scene. Law enforcement later identified Needy through cameras and DNA testing on his clothing.
Under federal law, Needy must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Chapman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Jacksonville Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that William Earl Union, Jr. (32, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to possessing firearms as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on November 25, 2023, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD), and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) responded to a 911 call of shots fired at a residence located along Rugby Road in Jacksonville. Upon their arrival, JFRD and EMTs encountered Union, Jr., who had sustained what appeared to be penetration wounds near his chest and multiple injuries to his hands, including burns. EMTs transported Union, Jr. to the hospital for medical treatment.
JSO officers observed blood drops on the front porch of the residence and a blood trail leading toward the center of the backyard. Officers entered the backyard to conduct a protective sweep of the area and followed the blood trail to what appeared to be a blast site near a stone fire pit. The JSO Hazardous Devices Unit (HDU) examined the blast site and observed a single drywall screw partially submerged in the dirt. Officers also found two live 12-gauge shotgun shells on the ground.
JSO detectives secured a search warrant for the residence for explosives, firearms, and ammunition. Inside the residence, JSO found three firearms, including a Taurus International P22 (22 caliber pistol), a Smith and Wesson 642 Airweight (38 caliber revolver), and a Mossberg 500A 12-gauge shotgun.
Prior to November 25, 2023, Union, Jr. had been convicted of several felony offenses, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, dealing in stolen property, burglary, grand theft auto, and possession of cocaine. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh.
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.
Iowa Man Charged with Distributing Videos Depicting Monkey Torture and MutilationRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in which an individual was charged based on his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.
Philip Colt Moss, of Iowa, was charged with conspiracy to create and distribute so-called “animal crush videos,” and with distributing animal crush videos. According to court documents, in March and April 2023, Moss allegedly conspired with Nicholas Dryden and Giancarlo Morelli to create and distribute videos depicting acts of sadistic violence against baby, adolescent and adult monkeys. Dryden and Morelli were previously indicted and are awaiting trial.
The videos alleged to have been created as part of the conspiracy included depictions of monkeys having their genitals burned, having their genitals cut with scissors, being sodomized with a wooden skewer and being sodomized with a spoon.
If convicted, Moss faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of seven years in prison for the charges related to the creation and distribution of animal crush videos. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio made the announcement.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Houtzdale Woman Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Houtzdale, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Joanna Shylock, 36, pleaded guilty to Count Two of the Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around March 2020 to in and around April 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Shylock conspired with others to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Shylock was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that she distributed to others.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for January 22, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Shylock. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Houston custom home builder admits to misusing construction fundsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 39-year-old Houston man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Brett Michael Detamore, operating as a custom home builder under Detamore Development LLC, fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million for his personal use by misusing funds intended for the construction of private residences.
Detamore pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with one count of wire fraud. Detamore submitted false and fraudulent invoices to banks holding construction loans for single-family residences he had been contracted to build. The false invoices caused the banks to send funds to bank accounts Detamore controlled. Detamore then used the funds for his personal benefit.
As part of his plea agreement, Detamore agreed to forfeit at least $1.5 million he illegally obtained.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks will impose sentencing Nov. 5. At that time Detamore faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine as well as full restitution to the victim home owners.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the West University Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Lansden and Suzanne Elmilady are prosecuting the case.
Honduran National and Florida Sex Offender Found Illegally in the United StatesRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Teofilo Samuel Molina-Espinoza (39, Palm Coast) with illegal reentry by a deported alien and failure to register as a sex offender. If convicted on all counts, Molina-Espinoza faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, in February 2012, Molina-Espinoza was convicted of lewd/lascivious battery on a child (12-16 years old). He was deported from the United States to Honduras on April 16, 2012, but was found to be back in the United States illegally on July 18, 2024. Additionally, after returning to the United States, Molina-Espinoza failed to register as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
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 Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Marshals Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie McNeff.
It 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.jutice.gov/psc.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Georgia man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 60 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for Receipt of Child Pornography.
According to court documents, Jacob Adam Waldroup, 32, of LaGrange, Ga. had been communicating with a 14-year-old female using an online instant messaging program from on or about April 1, 2020 through about June 15, 2020. The chats were sexual in nature, with Waldroup repeatedly referencing sexually explicit acts he desired to perform with the child victim, sending sexually graphic photos of himself, and repeatedly asking the child victim for sexually explicit photos and videos of herself in return. In response, the child victim sent three videos to Waldroup that contained child pornography.
Additionally, the child victim reminded Waldroup of her age, to which Waldroup advised her to not tell her mother and asked the child victim to mail items to his address in Georgia.
Waldroup was arrested Oct. 14, 2020. He pleaded guilty May 11, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District for Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Del Rio Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley prosecuted the case with valuable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Tonkin and Katy Garner.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Fort Dodge Man to Federal Prison for Illegal Purchase of Firearm ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who illegally purchased three firearms was sentenced on August 20, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Hunter Collier, 22, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on April 1, 2024, to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Collier, a marijuana user, purchased a .380 ACP pistol in July of 2022, from a federally firearms licensed business, in Fort Dodge. At the time of the purchase, Collier represented on the federal purchasing form that he was not a marijuana user, and that he was purchasing the firearm for himself, when in fact he was purchasing the firearm for another. The next day, Collier illegally purchased two additional firearms in Des Moines, Iowa.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Collier was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and must serve a two-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Collier was taken into U.S. Marshals custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Webster County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3035.
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Former Fulton Varsity High School Coach Sentenced to 12 Years for Receiving, Transporting and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Joshua Demars, age 38, of Fulton, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 12 years in federal prison following his conviction for multiple charges of receipt, transportation, and possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Demars admitted that he communicated with minors using the Snapchat application to receive images and videos of child pornography. Demars also admitted that he used his Dropbox account to upload a video of a 5–7-year-old female being sexually abused by an adult male. Moreover, Demars acknowledged that he possessed hundreds of videos and images of child pornography on several of his personal devices.
Following his term of imprisonment, Demars will be placed on supervised release for 10 years, and will be required to register as a sex offender. Demars was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims that he solicited on Snapchat.
HSI, the NYSP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the NYSP Troop D Computer Crime Unit investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Carbone prosecuted Demars 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.