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16 August 2024
Bradenton Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Bradenton, Florida– U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Jamal Trevorah (31, Bradenton) to 20 years and 8 months in federal prison for possessing various controlled substances with the intent to distribute them and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Trevorah entered a guilty plea on June 30, 2022.
According to court documents, on the morning of on May 4, 2021, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) observed Trevorah exit a motel room in Manatee County carrying a brown and red shoebox. Agents watched Trevorah as he traveled throughout Manatee County. Trevorah made multiple stops in the area. Agents believed, based on their training, experience, and knowledge of the investigation, that the multiple stops were narcotics transactions where Trevorah distributed narcotics to others.
Trevorah eventually parked at a residence on 16th Street W. in Bradenton and entered the home through the front door. Agents then executed a search warrant at the location and encountered Trevorah standing in the residence approximately five feet inside the open door. Trevorah was in the residence. In the same room where Trevorah was initially observed, officers found three plastic baggies containing white and tan powder. Also, in the same room, agents located the red and brown shoebox that Trevorah had with him earlier in the day. Inside the box officers located multiple plastic baggies containing narcotics. Lab testing confirmed the drugs to be 66 grams of cocaine base, 83 grams of cocaine, 40 grams of methamphetamine, and 18 grams of fentanyl.
In a cabinet in the same room as the narcotics, investigators located a loaded American Tactical .45 caliber handgun loaded with eight rounds of ammunition. Various rounds of ammunition were also strewn throughout the home. Agents also located a cutting agent, razor blades, scales, and white powdery residue in that same room, all indicative of drug trafficking.
Later that afternoon, agents executed a search warrant at the motel room where Trevorah was seen leaving earlier. Agents located a lunchbox inside a trash bag full of clothes. The lunchbox contained approximately $22,540 in cash.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.
Bogalusa Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MARK AMOS (“AMOS”), age 26, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was sentenced today to serve 60 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. AMOS previously pled guilty to illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
According to court records, on July 7, 2022, Bogalusa Police Department Violent Crimes Task Force deputies attempted to stop a 2015 Chevrolet Corvette. AMOS, the driver of the Corvette, refused to stop and sped through a heavily residential area of Bogalusa at more than 100 miles per hour, disregarding traffic signs and people.
The vehicle pursuit lasted approximately five minutes before coming to an end at a residence near the intersection of Main Street and North Avenue in Bogalusa. Eventually, AMOS then exited the vehicle, fled, then hid underneath a nearby residence. Agents saw a backpack under the residence where AMOS was hiding.
Upon searching the backpack incident to AMOS’s arrest, officers found two bags of marijuana that weighed approximately 522 grams. An additional clear plastic baggie containing 2.6 grams of marijuana recovered from AMOS’s front right pocket. The backpack also contained two handguns, a Springfield Model XDM, nine-millimeter pistol, and a stolen Sig Sauer Model SP2022, nine-millimeter pistol.
AMOS was a rap artist in Bogalusa, who used the name “FG Famous” and was a close associate of another rap artist, Javarious Scott, a.k.a. “Jaydayougan,” who was shot and killed in 2022.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Bogalusa Police Department. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice Landrieu of the Narcotics Unit.
Bellows Falls Man Charged with Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Stephen Loewe, 42, of Bellows Falls, Vermont, was charged by complaint with robbing the Claremont Savings Bank in Springfield, Vermont, on August 13, 2024. Mr. Loewe had his initial appearance in federal court yesterday afternoon and is currently detained in federal custody. A hearing will be held next Thursday to determine whether he will remain detained pending trial.
According to court records, Mr. Loewe committed a burglary of a Springfield, Vermont store in the early hours of August 13, 2024. Later that morning, he entered an M&T Bank branch in Springfield and demanded cash. Later that afternoon, he entered the Claremont Savings Bank in Springfield and demanded $500, stating in a note that it was a robbery. Mr. Loewe then stole a car from a gas station in Springfield. The next morning, on August 14, 2024, he entered an M&T Bank branch in Putney, Vermont, and again demanded cash, this time, $1500. Mr. Loewe was apprehended later that day and admitted to robbing the banks and using the money he stole to purchase cocaine base.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Mr. Loewe faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Any actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigative collaboration among the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Vermont State Police, Springfield Police Department, Brattleboro Police Department, Windham County Sheriff’s Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Assistant U.S. Attorney handling the prosecution is Corinne Smith. The Office of the Federal Public Defender has been appointed to represent Mr. Loewe.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 192 Months in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Allen Ambrose, age 47, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 192 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the Court further sentenced Ambrose to serve five years of supervised release.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office narcotics agents were investigating the drug trafficking activities of Ambrose and his live-in girlfriend, which included physical surveillance, ping warrants, and controlled purchases of methamphetamine. On June 22, 2022, agents located Ambrose at a hotel on Energy Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and planned execution of an arrest warrant and several search warrants. Ambrose fled when he saw agents, and during the pursuit, he discarded approximately three ounces of methamphetamine over a fence.
During execution of the search warrants and Ambrose’s person, agents located over four kilograms of methamphetamine, $4,850 in various denominations, a scale, a pill press, and a quantity of suspected marijuana, LSD, and MDMA.
The defendant was questioned after his arrest and admitted knowing and intentional possession of the narcotics located in the hotel room.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as Deputy Chief of the Organized and Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Armed Robber Who Used Facebook Marketplace to Lure Victims Gets 10-Year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Isaiah Green, 19, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for committing two gunpoint robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Green pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery while armed on May 2, 2024, before the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Judge Leibovitz also ordered Green to serve five years of supervised release.
According to the evidence, with which Green agreed, he robbed two victims at gunpoint on August 19 and December 3, 2023. In the days leading up to the August 19, 2023, robbery, Victim 1 had seen a Stihl brand saw advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Victim 1 contacted the advertiser and arranged to meet on the 5100 block of B St. SE. When Victim 1 arrived, Green and an accomplice grabbed the victim and robbed him at gunpoint, taking his cell phone, wallet, credit and debit cards, and checks totaling $1,500. A citizen came to the victim’s aid after the robbery and called 911.
In the days leading up to the December 3, 2023, robbery, Victim 2 spotted an item advertised on Facebook Marketplace, a Hilti Laser, and contacted the advertiser to buy it. Victim 2 agreed to meet the advertiser in the 3600 block of Highwood Drive, SE. Victim 2 drove with his wife to Highwood Drive, where a man then got out of his car with a box. As Victim 2 got of his car to inspect the item, two assailants approached him, held him at gunpoint, and took his wallet, containing cash and bank cards, and an iPhone 13. The gunmen then pointed their guns at Victim 2’s wife and rifled through the center console of the car taking additional cash and a card. All three men then drove off together.
Working in tandem with Prince George’s County Police, MPD Detectives obtained evidence from Facebook and used that information to identify Green. Police executed a search warrant at Green’s residence on December 21, 2023. During the search, police found a phone that was linked to the Facebook account used in the robbery of Victim 1, Victim 2’s wallet, credit cards and identification card on a dresser in the same room, and the Hilti laser and box used to lure Victim 2 from his car.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris McCranie and Elizabeth Van Haasteren, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Albany County Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Taykwun Smoaks, age 32, of Albany, pled guilty today to receipt of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.
Smoaks admitted that from February to March 2023, he received and possessed images and videos of child pornography on his computer and external hard drive. Smoaks admitted that he downloaded more than 600 images, including images of prepubescent minors, images that involved sadistic and masochistic conduct, and images involving the sexual abuse of toddlers.
At sentencing scheduled before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci on December 16, 2024, Smoaks faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Smoaks may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his offenses and forfeit the devices used in the offenses. Smoaks would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
HSI and the State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
15 charged in Brazoria County narcotics ringRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Several individuals are set to appear for detention hearings for their alleged roles in two large-scale conspiracies to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Those taken into custody include Clute residents Joseph Andre Luna, 40, Jacklyn Luna, 37, and David Allen Nunez, 37; Houston resident Eloy Tre Delarosa, 27; Juan Manuel Lara, 42, Angleton; James Wayne Andrews, 40, Bay City; Andrew Bryan Compian, 41, Wharton; and Luis Angel Rodriguez, 45, Lake Jackson. All are scheduled for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett at 9 a.m.
Co-conspirator Mary Alice Galindo, 48, Oyster Creek, is set to make an initial appearance Aug. 21, while Edward Villarreal Humphrey, 43, Oyster Creek, is in custody in another county and will appear in Houston in the near future.
Also charged are Irvin Lopez, 33, Clute, and Lake Jackson residents Monissa Shayla Najera, 35, Liliana Contreras, 35, Jordan Rodriguez, 18, and Robert Blake Partlow, 30, who have already made initial appearances.
The indictment, returned Aug. 7 and unsealed Aug. 8 upon the arrests, stems from a months-long investigation into narcotics distribution organizations working within Brazoria County.
All are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance with several facing substantive counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
If convicted of any of the charges, each faces up to life prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, police departments in Houston and Aransas Pass, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service and San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian J. Hrach and Lisa M. Collins are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
15 August 2024
법무부가 언어 접근 및 보복 수사를 해결하기 위해 뉴저지 사법부와 합의에 도달하다Read the Press Release
법무부는 오늘 제한된 언어 능력을 가진(LEP) 사람들을 위한 법원 서비스로의 접근을 개선하기 위해 뉴저지 사법부와 합의에 도달했다고 발표했습니다.
본 합의는 법무부의 민권국과 뉴저지 지방 검찰청이 뉴저지 사법부의 일부인 몬머스(Monmouth) 주변 법원(MVC)이 1964년 민권법(제6편) 위반인 제한된 영어 능력을 가진 법원 이용자들에 대해 그들의 출신 국가에 기반한 차별을 했다는 혐의들과 법무부에 본 차별 혐의에 관해 고발한 법원 직원에 대해 보복한 것에 대한 수사를 해결합니다.
“제한된 영어 능력을 가진 사람들은 우리 법원 제도에서 언어 장벽에 직면할 경우, 그들의 자녀, 가정 및 기본권을 잃을 수도 있습니다”라고 법무부 민권국의 크리스틴 클라크(Kristen Clarke) 국장은 말했습니다. “민권국은 법원이 반드시 대중을 위한 언어 장벽을 제거하도록 하기 위해 계속 싸울 것입니다.”
“법을 공정하고 공평하게 시행하는 건 우리 민주주의 제도의 초석”이라고 뉴저지 지방 검찰청의 검사장 필립 R. 셀린저(Philip R. Sellinger)는 말했습니다. “우리는 뉴저지에 있는 모든 소송 당사자가 언어 장벽과 상관없이 뉴저지 법원 제도에 평등한 접근성을 갖도록 보장하기 위해 전념할 것입니다. 본 합의는 제한된 영어를 구사하는 법원 이용자들이 몬머스 카운티에 있는 뉴저지주 법원에서 평등한 접근성을 갖도록 보장합니다.”
제6편은 뉴저지 사법부와 같은 연방 재정 지원의 수혜자에 의한 인종, 피부색 또는 출신 국가에 기반한 차별을 금지합니다. 법무부의 수사는 언어 장벽이 제한된 영어 능력을 가진 사람들에게 법원 제도에 대한 접근성을 저해했다는 것을 밝혀냈습니다. 이러한 장벽은 서류 양식 작성을 돕기 위한 통역 제공 거부, 제한된 영어 능력을 가진 법원 이용자에게 중요한 문서를 번역하거나 설명하지 못한 것과 언어 접근 정책 및 절차를 직원에게 충분히 알리지 않은 것을 포함합니다.
본 합의문에 따라, 뉴저지 사법부는 중요한 법원 서류 양식 및 자료를 번역하고 사용할 수 있도록 법원에 배포할 것입니다. 뉴저지 사법부는 또한 향후 1년간 자체적으로 언어 접근 계획 검토, 법원을 위한 의무적인 언어 접근 교육 개발, 제6편의 보복 교육 제공, 제6편의 보복 금지 정책 및 영어 이외의 언어로 제6편의 신고 절차를 설명하는 공지를 발행할 것입니다. 법무부는 이러한 사항들과 기타 요건을 2년간 주시할 것입니다. 뉴저지 사법부는 또한 보복 혐의를 제기한 개인에게 $89,718의 금액에 해당하는 손해배상금을 지급하기로 합의했습니다.
제6편의 집행은 민권국과 뉴저지 지방 검찰청의 최우선 과제이고, 양측은 개인이 보복으로부터 자유롭게 수사에 항의하거나 협조할 수 있도록 보장하기 위해 전념합니다. 민권국에 관한 추가 정보는 www.justice.gov/crt 웹사이트에 있고, 제한된 영어 능력자 및 제6편에 관한 정보는 www.lep.gov에 있습니다. 민권국은 법원 언어 사용에 관한 정보를 www.lep.gov/state-courts에서 제공합니다.
일반인은 civilrights.justice.gov/report/에 잠재적인 민권 위반 사항을 신고할 수 있습니다.
뉴저지 지방 검찰청에서의 민권국을 포함한 민권 집행에 관한 추가 정보는 www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement에 있습니다.
Woodford County Man Sentenced for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., man, Francisco Camacho, Jr., 31, was sentenced on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 198 months in prison, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, Camacho agreed with others to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Eastern District of Kentucky and the Southern District of West Virginia. During an investigation conducted by law enforcement officers from the AHIDTA Northeast Kentucky Drug Task Force, ATF, and the DEA, Camacho was identified as a source of supply of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Kentucky and West Virginia. From March 2021 to April 2022, law enforcement officers uncovered evidence that Camacho was responsible for the distribution of over 400 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of methamphetamine. Camacho had previously been convicted by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, of conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
Under federal law, Camacho must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Field Division; and the AHIDTA NKDTF, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the ATF, and the AHIDTA NKDTF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Woman Sentenced for Interfering with Housing Rights of St. Louis FamilyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Missouri woman on Thursday pleaded guilty and admitted interfering with the housing rights of a St. Louis family.
U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel then sentenced to Judy Kline, 55, to five years of probation, the maximum term of probation available for the crime. During that time, she must remain in the nursing home where she is currently living and undergoing mental health treatment, or a similar facility. She is also forbidden from contacting the victims or approaching the house where they live. Kline once lived in the home decades ago and mistakenly believed her family still lived there, according to court documents.
Kline admitted as part of her plea that on Jan. 5, 2022, she broke into the victim family’s home while armed with a hammer. She entered the basement, struck the dryer with the hammer and then ran up the stairs towards one of the residents, who was able to close and lock the door before she reached the top of the stairs. Kline left the basement, went to the front of the house and hit the front door and lock with the hammer. She shouted a series of statements demanding that the Hispanic family leave the home. She admitted intimidating or interfering with the family based on their race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or natural origin.
Kline apologized during the hearing and said that she is getting help for her mental illness.
“This plea agreement holds Judy Kline accountable for her actions, while also allowing her to receive the mental health treatment she needs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “We all have a right to live freely and safely in our homes without threats or fear for our safety. FBI St. Louis is committed to protecting all members of our community, including those targeted for who they are.”
The FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug prosecuted the case.
White Plains Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of A Child, Production of Child Pornography, and Distribution of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that FRED MASTROIANNI was sentenced to 35 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern for sexual exploitation of a child and distribution and possession of child sex abuse material. MASTROIANNI previously pled guilty to one count of receiving and distributing child sex abuse material and one count of sexual exploitation of a child.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The sentencing of Fred Mastroianni holds him accountable for years of horrific sexual abuse of children and for distributing and possessing a massive collection of child sex abuse material. Mastroianni is being punished for the devastating harm and trauma he inflicted on his minor victims and their families. This Office will do everything in its power to protect children and bring those who sexually exploit them to justice.”
According to the Information, plea agreement, other public court filings, and statements made in court:
MASTROIANNI repeatedly victimized a young child (“Victim-1”) for his own sexual gratification. MASTROIANNI’s sexual abuse of Victim-1 began when Victim-1 was just 10 years old and continued until MASTROIANNI’s arrest. On multiple occasions until Victim-1 turned 14 years old, MASTROIANNI directed ISMET KORAC to coerce Victim-1 to engage in sexual activities on live video calls with MASTROIANNI. MASTROIANNI recorded that abuse and kept the recordings, as well as other nude photographs of Victim-1, for years. MASTROIANNI broke Victim-1’s will and spirit to resist the abuse through a combination of threats and promises of gifts.
When Victim-1 was 17 years old, MASTROIANNI continued offering Victim-1 money and clothes in exchange for more photos and videos of Victim-1 engaging in sex acts. After years of victimizing and grooming Victim-1, as soon as Victim-1 turned 18, MASTROIANNI, who was 48 years old at the time, began paying Victim-1 to have sex with himself and other men, which continued until MASTROIANNI’s arrest.
In addition, for more than a decade, MASTROIANNI amassed and maintained an extensive collection of child sex abuse material, which he shared with others online. These videos involved rape, incest, and unspeakable abuse to very young children.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, MASTROIANNI, 53, of White Plains, New York, was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release and ordered to pay a total of $10,000 in assessments and restitution in an amount to be determined.
Co-defendant ISMET KORAC, 49, of White Plains, New York, previously pled guilty to enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and was sentenced to 25 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas on April 16, 2024.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney Heavey and Ryan W. Allison are in charge of the prosecution.
Waite Park Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ST PAUL, Minn. – A Waite Park man has been sentenced to 78 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $8,210 in restitution for the 2021 robbery of a St. Cloud bank, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on May 6, 2021, Ray Reco McNeary, 39, entered a Wells Fargo Bank in St. Cloud and alleged that there was fraud on his bank account. After the bank manager was unable to locate any accounts belonging to McNeary, McNeary became enraged and demanded that $60,000 in cash be taken from the vault and placed in a bank bag. The bank manager activated the silent panic alarm, notifying law enforcement of a problem at the bank.
According to court documents, upon arrival, St. Cloud police officers learned that five employees of the bank were being held hostage by McNeary. Multiple times throughout the incident, McNeary held a pair of scissors against the bank manager’s neck and back. FBI hostage negotiators spoke with McNeary repeatedly during what turned out to be an eight-hour standoff. During the course of negotiations, four of the employees were allowed to leave the bank. The standoff ended at approximately 10:24 p.m. when the bank manager fled the bank and law enforcement moved in to arrest McNeary.
On March 29, 2024, McNeary pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the St. Cloud Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp prosecuted the case.
Utah Restaurant Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID FraudRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah restaurant owner who obtained over $1.88 million by defrauding the COVID-19 Relief program was sentenced today to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment.
Giuseppe Mirenda, 29, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nelson, Jr. after pleading guilty in February 2024 to two counts of conversion of government property. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Mirenda was sentenced to three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
According to court documents and statements made at the change of plea hearing, Mirenda, a co-owner of five Utah restaurants and Sicilia Restaurant Management, fraudulently applied for and signed agreements for six Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL loans) between March 2020 and June 2020. In 2021, Mirenda also applied for another $520,000 in EIDL loans, but those loans were denied. Under the CARES Act, EIDL loans were for small businesses struggling from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the EIDL loan applications, Mirenda represented and agreed that the loan proceeds would be used solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the pandemic, when in fact he used the loan money for his own personal benefit. Mirenda also misrepresented the citizenship status of his co-owners to improperly obtain the loans.
In total, Mirenda unlawfully obtained $1,889,400 in EIDL loan funds. In less than a year, he used over $1.1 million of the fraudulently obtained funds to buy a house in West Jordan, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada. Mirenda also misused at least another $81,781 in EIDL loan funds to buy luxury cars, including a BMW M3 and a Jaguar F-PACE, and $39,000 in cryptocurrency.
Mirenda repaid about $680,000 of the EIDL funds. The United States also recovered approximately $1,251,469.29 from the seizure of the profits made from the forced sale of the two homes in Utah and Nevada.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The Utah Federal COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force is investigating the case, which includes Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Office of Inspector General’s U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). The public is encouraged to share information about the abuse of the Paycheck Protection Program or other SBA programs by submitting a complaint here.
Assistant United States Attorney Todd C. Bouton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney’s Office and Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Reach Agreement with New Jersey Judiciary to Resolve Language Access and Retaliation InvestigationRead the Press Release
NEWARK – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, together with the New Jersey Judiciary, have reached agreement to improve access to court services for people with limited English proficiency (LEP).
This agreement resolves an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and into allegations that Monmouth Vicinage Courts (MVC), part of the New Jersey Judiciary, discriminated against court users with LEP based on their national origin and retaliated against a court employee who complained to the department about this alleged discrimination, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI).
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Dispensing justice fairly and equitably is a cornerstone of our democratic system. We remain committed to ensuring that all litigants in New Jersey have equal access to New Jersey’s court system regardless of language barriers. This agreement will ensure that limited English court users will have equal access to the New Jersey state courts in Monmouth County.”
“People with limited English proficiency can lose their children, homes and fundamental rights when they face language barriers in our court systems,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue fighting to ensure that courts remove language barriers for the public.”
Title VI prohibits race, color or national origin discrimination by recipients of federal financial assistance, such as the New Jersey Judiciary. This investigation uncovered language barriers that impeded access to the court system for people with LEP. These barriers included refusing to provide an interpreter for assistance with forms, failing to translate or explain vital documents to court users with LEP and failing to adequately inform staff of language access policies and procedures.
Under the agreement, the New Jersey Judiciary will translate vital court forms and materials and make them available for distribution at courthouses. The New Jersey Judiciary will also review its language access plan over the next year, develop mandatory language access training for its courts, provide Title VI retaliation training and issue public notices that explain the Title VI nonretaliation policy and Title VI complaint process in non-English languages. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division will monitor these and other requirements for two years. The New Jersey Judiciary also agreed to pay damages in the amount of $89,718 to the individual who alleged retaliation.
The enforcement of Title VI is a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, and both are committed to ensuring that individuals can complain or cooperate with investigations free from retaliation. Additional information about civil rights enforcement at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, including the Office’s Civil Rights Division, is available at www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.
Additional information about the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and information about limited English proficiency and Title VI is available at www.lep.gov. The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division provides information about courts language access at www.lep.gov/state-courts. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Horan Florio, Senior Civil Rights Counsel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division, and Attorney Advisor Linda Quash, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section.
nj_courts_final_moa_508.pdfSpanish translation:
https://www.justice.gov/es/opa/pr/el-departamento-de-justicia-llega-un-acuerdo-con-la-judicatura-de-nueva-jersey-para-resolver
U.S. Attorney ’s Office and FBI Charge Bloomfield Woman with Child AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Bloomfield woman has been indicted on multiple counts for allegedly placing a child in a dangerous situation earlier this year.
Avondale Johnson, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, between March 1 and March 14, 2024, Johnson allowed a child under the age of 18 to be placed in a dangerous situation that could seriously harm the child's health and safety.
If convicted, Johnson faces five years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case.
View the IndictmentAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two New York Men Admit Committing Three Gunpoint Robberies and Conspiring to Commit Additional RobberiesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two Brooklyn, New York, men admitted their roles in three gunpoint robberies of check cashing locations in different parts of New Jersey in 2021 and 2022, as well as conspiring to commit robberies in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Ramel Harris, 42, of Brooklyn, and Neville Brown, 40, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty on Aug. 14, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to three counts of an indictment charging them with Hobbs Act conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, namely the Hobbs Act robbery.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between January 2021 and January 2022, Harris and Brown attempted to rob a check cashing location in Nanuet, New York, and thereafter successfully robbed three check cashing locations in different parts of New Jersey while brandishing a firearm and using zip ties to restrain employees at each location. During those robberies, Harris and Brown stole over $578,00.
Law enforcement learned that the conspirators surveilled check cashing locations in the following locations: Mount Kisco, New York, Allentown, Pennsylvania and West Chester, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement obtained video surveillance footage that ultimately linked Harris and Brown to the robberies. Cell phone records indicate that Harris’s and Brown’s cellular telephones were around the locations of the various robberies around the times that they were committed.
The Hobbs Act conspiracy and Hobbs Act robbery counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence count carries a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offenses, whichever is greatest. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for Dec. 17, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited members of the FBI’s New Jersey field office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; members of the FBI’s New York field office, under the leadership of Assistant Director In Charge James Smith; members of the FBI’s Philadelphia field office, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs; members of the Hackettstown Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Aaron Perkins; members of the Old Bridge Police Department, under the leadership of Chief of Police Thomas J. Montagna; members of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, under the leadership of Police Chief Richard Pantina; members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the leadership of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll; members of the Clarkstown Police Department, under the leadership of Police Chief Jeffrey Wanamaker; members of the Westchester County (New York) Department of Public Safety; and members of the Borough of West Chester (Pennsylvania) Police Department, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Co-Chief of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
harrisbrown.indictment.pdfTreasurer of Labor Union Charged with EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Leominster man was arrested today for embezzling from a labor union.
Joe Scott, Jr., 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester on one count of embezzlement from a labor union. Following an initial appearance this afternoon in federal court in Worcester, Scott was released on conditions.According to the indictment, Scott was the Treasurer of the International Union of Electrical Workers, Communication Workers of America, Local 81154 (“IUE-CWA Local 81154”), a labor union chapter based in Gardner, Mass., that represents union members from various employers in Massachusetts. It is alleged that Scott used his position as Treasurer to embezzle approximately $49,000 from IUE-CWA Local 81154, by making debit card expenditures, withdrawing funds and issuing checks, from union bank accounts, all for Scott’s personal benefit. It is alleged that Scott used the money to pay for, among other things, storage costs, home internet and cell phone services, electrical and gas services, home improvement tools, dumpster rental and personal expense while on vacation.
Scott faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jonathan Russo, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Theft of Firearm from Pawn Shop and Numerous Loaded Firearms Found in Possession of Convicted Felon Leads to Federal Prison for Two Shreveport MenRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that two Shreveport men were sentenced today by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. for illegally possessing firearms.
John Morgan, Jr., 22, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of firearms by a convicted felon. On April 9, 2023, Shreveport Police Department Community Response Unit (CRU) was conducting a pro-active patrol when an officer observed a red Mercedes Benz travel westbound on Valley View Drive in Shreveport and saw the driver commit a traffic violation. The officer initiated a traffic stop but the driver of the Mercedes Benz did not immediately stop. Instead, the vehicle would begin to stop and then get back on the roadway and accelerate. The driver of the Mercedes Benz turned multiple times further into a neighborhood before stopping in a driveway on Liaison Street. Once there, the driver’s side door opened, and the officers made contact with the female driver. The driver and the front passenger, who was a juvenile, were ordered out of the vehicle and defendant Morgan, who was in the back seat behind the passenger’s seat was ordered out as well. Officers conducted a pat down of Morgan for weapons and observed an AK-47 style weapon protruding from underneath the front passenger seat, directly in front of where Morgan was seated. He was placed in handcuffs and the officer could see in plain view a clear extended handgun magazine underneath the front of the front passenger seat and marijuana residue on the front passenger floorboard. A search of the vehicle was conducted by Shreveport Police Department officers.
The search yielded four firearms: a Glock pistol, model: 23 Gen 4, .40 caliber; a Glock pistol, model 21 Gen 4, .45 caliber; a Bushmaster SBR model XM15-E2S 223-5.56mm caliber; and a Century Arms International AOW, model: Micro Draco, 7.62x39mm caliber. All of the firearms were loaded. The Micro Draco was found to have been stolen in 2019. Morgan has a previous felony conviction for illegal use of a firearm in 2023 and was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was indicted and pleaded guilty to the charge on December 15, 2023.
Roriguse Jordan, 30, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On January 6, 2023, around 4:30 pm, Jordan entered the Discount Jewelry and Loan (a Federal Firearms Licensee) at 2738 Mackey Lane in Shreveport. He spoke to an employee and recovered a TV he had pawned earlier and sold some jewelry. While he was there, he had to go back to his car and get his driver’s license. Jordan came back and pawned the jewelry and left. After he left, the employee noticed that a Glock 23, Model: Gen 4, Caliber: 40 pistol that had been on the counter was missing. After viewing the store’s surveillance video, Jordan can be seen at the counter, and while the store worker is distracted, taking the Glock firearm and tucking it in his waistband. The video then shows Jordan walk out of the store and retrieve his driver’s license. Jordan has a previous felony conviction for simple burglary in 2014 and was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was charged in an indictment and pleaded guilty February 26, 2024.
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.
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Tampa Woman Pleads Guilty to Smuggling over $100,000 into the United States from CubaRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Mirtza Ocana (39, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to one count of bulk cash smuggling and one count of conspiracy to commit bulk cash smuggling. Ocana faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Ocana returned to the United States on a flight from Cuba on February 5, 2024. Despite telling U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents that she had no cash to declare, Ocana concealed more than $31,000 in her luggage. After agents found this cash, Ocana admitted that she frequently smuggled cash into the United States from Cuba and that she had done so two to three times per month since June 2023. She also told agents that she was paid between $1,000 and $2,500 each time she smuggled cash. Agents searched Ocana and discovered an additional $71,300 in cash hidden in her clothes. In total, agents found approximately $102,700 in cash concealed both in Ocana’s clothes and in her luggage.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan.
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years for Threatening to Kill A Federal ProsecutorRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Dempsey Emmanuel Gilmore (33, Tampa) to six years and five months in federal prison for threatening to kill an Assistant United States Attorney. Gilmore pleaded guilty to this offense on March 29, 2024.
According to court documents, Gilmore was found guilty during a federal jury trial at the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse in Tampa on March 9, 2023. After the jury was polled, Gilmore got up from his table to approach the jury and began to threaten them. Once the jurors left the courtroom, Gilmore continued to approach the Assistant United States Attorney who prosecuted the case, lunged at her, and threatened to kill her. Gilmore was eventually restrained by multiple court security personnel and federal agents. The six year and five-month sentence that was imposed will include an additional term of 24 months’ imprisonment, to be served after Gilmore’s previously imposed sentence of 30 years.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.
St. Lawrence County Man Sentenced for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Skyler Keleher, age 23, of St. Lawrence County, was sentenced today to serve 30 years in federal prison for his conviction on two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.
In his prior guilty plea, Keleher admitted that on at least two separate occasions in 2017 he sexually abused a two-year-old child and livestreamed the abuse to others over the Internet, using Facebook Messenger and Facebook Live. Since then, video recordings of the abuse have been widely circulated over the Internet, and recovered by law enforcement in at least 26 separate investigations across the United States and abroad. While the videos were first documented by law enforcement in 2018, Keleher’s identity was not confirmed until 2022, at which time he was arrested by authorities.
Following his term of imprisonment, Keleher will be placed on a term of supervised release for life, and will be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by FBI Operation Rescue Me, the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, and the New York State Police, Troop B. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Northern District of New York, prosecuted the case.
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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Springfield, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Adam J. Heintzman, 26, was sentenced today to 228 months of imprisonment for the offenses of distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography.
At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Heintzman, who is formerly of Emden, Illinois, possessed over 200,000 images of child pornography, and that he engaged in online messaging where he declared a preference for children under the age of 10. The government also established that Heintzman had engaged in conversations where he expressed a desire to engage in the sexual abuse of a child.
During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless noted that the sentence was appropriate based upon the quantity of images, the ages of the children involved, the fact that the depictions included images of sadistic or masochist conduct, and the transfer of obscene material to minors. Judge Lawless ordered Heintzman be remanded to the custody of the United States Marshall Service at the conclusion of today’s sentencing hearing. Judge Lawless further ordered that Heintzman serve seven years of supervised release following his sentence of imprisonment and that he pay over $80,000 in restitution to his victims.
On December 21, 2023, Heintzman appeared in federal court, waived indictment, and pleaded guilty to an information before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. McNaught.
The statutory penalties for distribution of child pornography are not less than five years and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution. The statutory penalties for receipt of child pornography are not less than five years and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution. The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution.
“Each person who shares, receives, and possesses the lasting evidence of the sexual assaults suffered by children depicted in child pornography contributes to the irreparable harm suffered by these victims,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs. “These predators value their own satisfaction at the expense of children. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their commitment to these investigations and cases.”
The Logan County Sherriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Logan County State’s Attorney’s Office. AUSA Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Heintzman was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.gov.
Spring resident admits to embezzling over $900,000 from local HVAC companyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 51-year-old woman has pleaded guilty in a wire fraud embezzlement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
For approximately 26 years, Sonia Yvonne Rodriguez worked as an office manager for a local heating, ventilating and air-conditioning company.
As part of her plea, Rodriguez admitted to embezzling $938,387.26 in business funds allocated for federal tax payments from 2015 to 2020. Rodriguez would key payments into the company’s accounting software for tax payments and subsequently clear out the payments from the check register upon making the payments into her personal bank account.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the plea and has set sentencing for Nov. 21. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherin Daniel and James Hu prosecuted the case.
Spokane Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery of Kalispel MarketRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Bryan Wokal, 61, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced on one count of Robbery Affecting Commerce. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed a sentence of 72 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information disclosed at sentencing, on January 2, 2024, Wokal walked into the Kalispel Market on the Kalispel Indian Reservation in Airway Heights. Wokal approached the cashier, pulled out a gun, pointed it at the cashier, and demanded $400. When the cashier did not immediately respond, Wokal cocked the gun and repeated his demand. The cashier removed the money from the cash register and gave it to Wokal. Wokal then left the market. The next day, Wokal was arrested by the Spokane Police Department.
“Mr. Wokal’s armed robbery put employees and shoppers in grave danger and left the cashier with lasting trauma,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I am grateful for the quick work of the FBI, Kalispel Tribal Police, Spokane Police Department and Spokane Sheriff’s Office to identify Mr. Wokal and ensure he would be held accountable for the danger and harm he caused to the Kalispel Tribal Community.”
“The Kalispel Tribal Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our community,” said Kalispel Tribal Police Chief Rodney Schurger. “By working closely with the FBI, Spokane Police Department, and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, we are combining resources and expertise to bring criminals to justice more swiftly and effectively.”
“The safety and security of our guests, Tribal Members, and Team Members continues to be our number one priority,” says Kalispel Tribal Council Vice Chair Curt Holmes. “We recognize that violent crime continues to escalate across the nation, as well as right here in our own communities. We are grateful for the quick efforts of our Kalispel Tribal Police Department, as well as the assistance of the FBI, Spokane Police Department and the Spokane Sheriff’s Office in making this arrest. We also appreciate the diligent work of the US Attorney’s Office in prosecuting offenders like Mr. Wokal to the fullest extent of the law.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Kalispel Tribal Police, Spokane Police Department, and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Ellis and Nowles Heinrich.
Southeast Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A southeast Missouri man on Thursday admitted receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material.
Justin Wade Welker, 40, pleaded guilty in U.S District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of receipt of child pornography. He admitted receiving and viewing child sex abuse material, including pictures and videos, on his phone.
The investigation began when the FBI office in Detroit alerted their counterparts in St. Louis that two people were discussing engaging in sex acts with a minor on the Kik messaging and chat app. The FBI had traced one of the participants to Welker’s home in the village of Sedgewickville, in Bollinger County, Missouri. FBI agents approached Welker at work, and he admitted viewing child pornography via Kik.
Welker is scheduled to be sentenced November 12. The charge carries a penalty of five to 20 years in prison.
The FBI and the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter 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 Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who 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.
South Carolina Residents Ordered to Pay $50,000 Fine and More Than $400,000 in Restitution Following Their Conviction in “Rent-A-Vet” Construction Fraud Scheme Targeting the United States Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Two residents of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, each were sentenced in federal court on August 13, 2024, to a one-year term of probation, including 100 hours of community service, and ordered to pay a fine of $50,000 along with $403,142 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs following their guilty pleas to committing a major fraud against the United States, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentences on Edward DiGorio Jr., 66, and Edward Kessler, 69. Both men formerly resided in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the Court in connection with the defendants’ earlier guilty pleas, DiGorio and Kessler were the owners of two construction companies, ADDVETCO, Inc., and Hi-Def Contracting, Inc., operating in Pittsburgh. DiGorio and Kessler formed the companies for the purpose of bidding on and acquiring “set-aside” contracts issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to small businesses owned and operated by service-disabled veterans of the U.S. military and pre-certified by the VA as Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOBs). Neither DiGorio nor Kessler had served in the military, nor were they service-disabled. DiGorio and Kessler executed a classic “Rent-A-Vet” scheme, in which they paid service-disabled veterans to falsely represent themselves as the primary owners and operators of ADDVETCO and Hi-Def, and to falsely attest to ownership of the companies on critical documents submitted to the VA as part of the SDVOB certification process. During the period of 2007 to 2018, ADDVETCO and Hi-Def were awarded 67 contracts that were intended for SDVOBs, 50 of which were valued at $1 million or more. The two charges to which DiGorio and Kessler each pleaded guilty in March 2024 arose from the two most recent contracts awarded to the companies, for which the defendants received more than $400,000 in profits.
“For more than a decade, the defendants in this case cheated a laudable and important program established by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and designed to benefit service-disabled veterans,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “DiGorio and Kessler profited shamelessly while defrauding the United States government and depriving many deserving veterans of the opportunity to perform lucrative construction work for the government. We are grateful for the important law enforcement partnerships that helped bring the defendants’ scheme to light and hold them accountable under federal law.”
“These sentencings hold the defendants accountable for their role in an elaborate scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in government contracts from programs designed to benefit service-disabled veteran business owners,” said Special Agent in Charge Kim R. Lampkins of the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “The VA OIG remains committed to diligently pursuing these cases in an effort to maintain the integrity of VA programs. The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the FBI for their partnership in this joint investigation.”
“The actions of these two individuals to manipulate a system meant to help honest, legitimate veteran-owned businesses not only defrauded the government, but also undermines the integrity of these programs,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “The FBI and our partners will not tolerate the exploitation of the honor and sacrifice of those who have served for personal gain.”
In imposing the sentences, Judge Stickman emphasized the serious nature of the defendants’ offenses and their shameful disregard for the disabled servicemembers who had served their country, characterizing the defendants’ conduct as akin to “stolen valor.” Judge Stickman further opined that he viewed the defendants’ crimes as driven by “greed and pride.”
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of DiGorio and Kessler.
Sioux City Man Who Stole Firearm from Fleet Farm and Escaped on a Bicycle Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who fled Sioux City Fleet Farm with the firearm was sentenced today, to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Lythung Thach, age 23, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a April 3, 2024, guilty plea to possession of a stolen firearm.
Evidence in the case revealed in June, 2023, Thach was inside Fleet Farm and requested assistance from an employee to view a handgun. An employee removed the firearm from the case, removed the magazine and handed it to Thach. Thach observed the firearm for a moment before suddenly fleeing out the front doors with the gun, where he got on a bicycle and fled the area. Upon review of surveillance cameras, officers were able to identify Thach. Two days after the incident, officers observed Thach on his bicycle at the intersection adjacent to the police department, where he was taken into custody for the stolen firearm. Thach had the firearm on his person and a magazine he acquired from an unknown source and further admitted to stealing the firearm for “fun”.
Thach had previously attempted to gain access to the Sioux City Police Department through the personnel only secure entrance where he was directed to leave. Thach then entered through the public entrance where he advised that he was a new hire and was there to pick up his uniform. Command staff spoke with Thach where it became apparent Thach was not a new hire and he further advised that he had, in fact, not completed an application due to a prior domestic abuse conviction.
Thach was previously arrested in December, 2022, for serious assault. Sioux City officers were dispatched for a physical disturbance between siblings. The victim had several lacerations on his back and advised that Thach had been hit several times with a PVC pipe.
Thach was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Thach is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice-Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Sioux City Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4054.
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Saudi Arabian National Admits Interstate Transportation of Stolen School BusRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Saudi Arabian man admitted transporting a stolen school bus across state lines, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Bader Alzahrani, 24, of Saudi Arabia, pleaded guilty on Aug. 14, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to one count of an indictment charging him with interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.
According to documents filed in this case:
On Jan. 15, 2023, a break-in was reported in an unoccupied residential home in Livingston, New Jersey. During a search of a backpack in that home, law enforcement saw a Saudi Arabian passport with the name Bader Alzahrani, along with other items that appeared to belong to Alzahrani. On Jan. 17, 2023, the Livingston, New Jersey Board of Education reported that a school bus was stolen from a parking lot across the street from the unoccupied residential home where the break-in was reported. During the ensuing investigation, law enforcement located Alzahrani in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. After Alzahrani was taken into custody, law enforcement searched Alzahrani and recovered the keys to the stolen school bus.
The count of possession of a stolen vehicle is punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and carries a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI and task force officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked special agents of the FBI Field Office in Washington, D.C., under the direction of Assistant Director in Charge David Sunberg; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; members of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II; members of the Monroe County, Pennsylvania Office of the District Attorney, under the direction of District Attorney Mike Mancuso; members of the Livingston Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Gary Marshuetz; and members of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Co-Chief of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
alzahrani.indictment.pdfSanford Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Drugs and GunsRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Jose’Luis Gabriel Villanueva (32, Sanford) to seven years and eight months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court also ordered Villanueva to forfeit firearms and ammunition which were used in the commission of the offense. Villanueva entered a guilty plea on May 31, 2024.
According to court documents, in January 2022, law enforcement began monitoring Villanueva’s social media accounts on which he was seen in photos with large sums of money and suspected illegal narcotics, mostly bottles of promethazine and marijuana. Promethazine is a Schedule V prescription drug commonly used to treat allergies and motion sickness. Over the course of several months, law enforcement monitored Villanueva’s activities and observed what appeared to be drug trafficking activity.
On August 17, 2023, law enforcement executed a search at Villanueva’s residence during which they located the following items: 4 firearms and ammunition, including one short-barrel rifle; 19 (16-ounce) bottles of promethazine; one bag of powder cocaine weighing approximately 103 grams; and $6,935 in cash.
Prior to the search, Villanueva had been convicted of several felony offenses, including fleeing and eluding law enforcement, driving while his license was suspended, and driving while his license was revoked. As a previously convicted felon Villanueva is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Gang Enforcement Unit. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.
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.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois, man, Kenneth W. Holobaugh, 43, was sentenced on August 14, 2024, to fifteen years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor. He was also ordered to serve a fifteen-year term of supervised release upon completion of his term of confinement.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Joe B. McDade, the government established that from April 2023 through January 2024, Holobaugh, a registered sex offender, communicated on an internet-based social media platform with an individual he believed to be a thirteen-year-old female, expressing multiple times that he wanted to engage in sex with her. In January 2024, Holobaugh drove to a location in Peoria to meet with the girl for the purpose of having sex. Federal law enforcement agents arrested him when he arrived at the location.
Holobaugh was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024 and entered a guilty plea in April 2024.
The statutory penalties for attempted enticement of a minor are a minimum of ten years to life imprisonment, followed by a minimum five-year to maximum life term of supervised release. Holobaugh has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest, pending the resolution of the case. He was previously convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in July 2001 and is required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa P. Ortiz and Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Holobaugh was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.gov.
Readout of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Participation in a Tribal Roundtable with Nine South Dakota Tribal Nations at the Yankton Sioux NationRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland met yesterday with Tribal leaders and Tribal law enforcement officials from the nine South Dakota Tribal Nations at a roundtable held at the Yankton Sioux Nation to discuss public safety issues. The Attorney General was joined by Senator Mike Rounds. The visit highlighted the Department’s efforts to address public safety and justice in Tribal communities across South Dakota, including combating violent crime and drug-related crime, and the crisis of missing or murdered Indigenous persons.
The roundtable discussion also included representatives from the offices of Senator John Thune and Representative Dusty Johnson. Representatives from the nine South Dakota Tribal Nations, including the Yankton Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, discussed the public safety challenges facing each of their communities. Acting Director Daron T. Carreiro of the Justice Department’s Office of Tribal Justice and U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota also participated in the roundtable. Discussion topics included the Department’s efforts to address pressing public safety needs, including violent and drug-related crime experienced by the Tribes.
Recognizing that progress on public safety issues depends on successful partnerships, the Department — primarily through the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Attorney’s Office — has launched joint operations to address violent and drug-related crimes in Tribal communities. These include FBI’s Safe Trails Task Forces to conduct joint investigations to combat drug trafficking in Tribal communities; FBI’s Operation Not Forgotten to surge resources into Tribal communities to address unsolved crimes; and the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which provides for the placement of an MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney and an MMIP Coordinator in five designated regions with Indian Country across the United States, including South Dakota.
In addition to increased operational support, since 2021, the Department has provided over $19 million in funding specifically for Tribes in South Dakota to support Tribal public safety programs. This funding has gone toward hiring, equipping, and training officers; improving the handling of child abuse cases; combating domestic and sexual violence; supporting Tribal youth programs; and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities.
Addressing the crises of missing or murdered Indigenous people and human trafficking of Indigenous people continues to be a priority for the Justice Department. In addition to rolling out the MMIP Regional Outreach Program and addressing cold cases through the FBI’s Operation Not Forgotten, the Department continues to be guided by the recommendations in the Not Invisible Act Commission’s final report. The Departments of Justice and the Interior issued a joint response in March and are working to implement new commitments and strengthen ongoing efforts.
Other topics raised during the Attorney General’s visit to Indian country included the need for increased public safety and justice finding and improvements to grant resources and officer training.
Earlier in the day, Attorney General Garland met with prosecutors and federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota. During the meeting the Attorney General highlighted the Department’s work to decrease violent crime and combat the fentanyl epidemic. The Attorney General met with U.S. Attorney Ramsdell and discussed her office’s work to address violent crime and public safety in Indian Country.
Photo credit: Senator Rounds’ office. Photo credit: Senator Rounds’ office. Photo credit: Senator Rounds’ office.Pulaski County Man to Serve More Than 11 Years on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Pulaski County, Virginia man, who is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his previous felony convictions, will serve more than 11 years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms and approximately 1,200 grams of methamphetamine.
Lardadian Javon Banian, 32, of Fairlawn, Virginia, was sentenced last week to 138 months in federal prison. He pled guilty in May 2024 to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on November 23, 2022, members of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the parking lot of a business in Fairlawn following a 911 call and report of a domestic dispute. Upon their arrival, deputies observed Banian standing near the driver’s side of a van. He matched the physical description provided by the caller. When deputies approached Banian, he fled on foot, ignoring commands to stop. Banian was eventually taken into custody.
A search of Banian’s person revealed $3,500 in cash and two baggies containing approximately 35 grams of methamphetamine. Deputies subsequently obtained a search warrant for Banian’s van.
Inside the van, deputies discovered a 7.62 caliber AK-47-style rifle with a loaded magazine, multiple bags of methamphetamine totaling 1,200 grams, as well as digital scales and plastic baggies.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Pulaski Police Department, the Radford Police Department, and the Pulaski County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson prosecuted the case for the United States.
Pair indicted for RICO and RICO Conspiracy for string of violent robberies targeting Asian families across three Washington countiesRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two men, who were in state custody on other charges, have been indicted federally for RICO and RICO Conspiracy for a series of violent home invasion robberies targeting Asian families, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. 28-year-old Kevin Thissel and 23-year-old Christopher Johnson are in state custody and have or will be transferred to federal custody. The RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) indictment outlines a pattern of violent crimes allegedly committed by Thissel, Johnson, and their co-conspirators.
“The indictment alleges that in the summer of 2022, these men targeted certain families for robberies. To create a climate of fear, these men burst into their homes in the middle of the night, dressed in black, claiming to be police, and with guns drawn,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “The primary motive for this robbery crew was money – stealing any valuables they could ransack from these homes. Tragically, they shot and killed one young mother as her 7-year-old child lay next to her in bed. This indictment seeks to hold them accountable for the terror they visited on our community.”
“These traumatic robberies and assaults occurred in the victims’ own homes where their families should have been safe," said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "During these crimes, children were restrained and were present during the violence, including the death of one child’s mother. I’m proud of the work of our investigators and prosecutors to ensure those responsible are held accountable, building a case across jurisdictions and with multiple law enforcement partners.”
The indictment details that the robbery crew often targeted Asian families and committed the robberies between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM in King, Snohomish, and Skagit Counties. The conspirators would kick in doors or windows and disable any security cameras. The robbery crew dressed in black and wore masks. They would often yell “Police” when entering the homes to confuse the victims into thinking it was a law enforcement raid. The robbers would restrain all the victims, even children as young as nine years old, with zip ties. On one occasion, the robbers kidnapped a woman and forced her, at gunpoint, to go to bank ATMs in the middle of the night in an effort to withdraw funds from her bank account.
Each member of the robbery crew had a certain job: surveilling the target homes; serving as a driver; kicking in the door; corralling the family; holding the victims at gunpoint; and ransacking the homes for valuables. Some of those participating in this violent robbery scheme were juveniles.
Count one of the indictment lists seven distinct racketeering acts:
- May 24, 2022 – the armed robbery of a family in Mount Vernon, Washington.
- May 24, 2022 – the kidnapping of a young boy in connection with the Mount Vernon robbery.
- July 14, 2022 – the armed robbery of a couple in Burien, Washington.
- July 28, 2022 – the armed robbery of a woman in Kent, Washington.
- July 28,2022 – the abduction of the victim in the Kent robbery to force her to obtain cash from ATMs.
- August 19, 2022 – the Everett armed robbery of a couple and their child.
- August 19, 2022 – the murder of one of the Everett robbery victims.
RICO and RICO conspiracy are punishable by up to life in prison.
“These senseless acts of violence have profoundly affected our community, leaving a young child without his mother,” said Snohomish County Sheriff Susanna Johnson. “This investigation was exceptionally complex, and we would not have reached this point without the dedicated efforts of numerous agencies working together to identify the suspects and hold them accountable. We extend our sincere thanks to the Kent Police Department, the FBI, the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their invaluable assistance in this homicide investigation.”
“This indictment demonstrates those who victimize members of our community will be held accountable,” said Chief Daniel Christman of the Mount Vernon Police. “I am very proud of the work Mount Vernon police detectives did to advance this case, and the partnerships with other Washington law enforcement agencies (both local and federal) that were a force multiplier for administering the rule of law, and ensuring those who engage in criminal activity are tirelessly pursued and aggressively prosecuted.”
Johnson was in custody in Snohomish County serving a more than 90-month prison sentence for domestic violence convictions. He was transferred to federal custody this morning and will appear on the indictment today. Thissel has a pending federal charge for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Thissel is prohibited from possessing firearms due to several prior convictions, including three counts of Assault in the Second Degree involving a firearm. He is pending trial in Pierce County for Assault in the First Degree for another shooting. Thissel is currently in custody in Pierce County.
“Any crime targeting a particular group of people is particularly disturbing and atrocious,” said King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. “Joining forces with fellow law enforcement agencies is key to our efforts in stopping such violent acts. We are grateful to have played a part in bringing these criminals to justice and hope this can help bring even a small comfort to the affected families.”
“The indictments of the two violent repeat offenders for RICO is a significant step towards bringing justice to the families that were victimized by this criminal group in Kent and across our region,” said Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. “I am incredibly grateful for the immense work done by our detectives to identify and establish criminal charges for the portion of the crime spree that impacted Kent Residents. I also want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for stepping in and seeking indictments at the federal level. Our communities benefit from the strong partnerships and collaboration amongst the local and federal public safety entities in Washington State.”
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI with significant assistance from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Kent Police Department, and the King County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Mike Lang are prosecuting the case with assistance from the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
thissel-johnson_indictment.pdfOwner of Suburban Chicago Construction Company Sentenced to Five Years in Prison on Bribery ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The owner of a suburban Chicago construction company has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiring to bribe an employee of the Cook County Assessor’s Office in return for favorable property assessments.
ALEX NITCHOFF, 57, of Lemont, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiring to corruptly give something of value to influence and reward a public official, and one count of using an interstate facility to facilitate bribery. U.S. District Judge John F. Kness imposed the sentence on Wednesday during a hearing in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by IRS Criminal Investigation and the City of Chicago Inspector General’s Office. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Peabody.
Nitchoff admitted in a plea agreement that from 2016 to 2019 he conspired with others to corruptly provide home improvement services and materials to Cook County Assessor’s Office employee LAVDIM MEMISOVSKI, who assessed property values and reviewed property tax appeals for Cook County commercial properties. Nitchoff and others provided free home improvement services and materials at Memisovski’s personal residence, including a concrete pad, decking materials, gas lines, sprinkler system heads, tiles, and other items, the plea agreement states. In return for the benefits, Memisovski took official action to reduce the property taxes owed for Nitchoff’s properties by at least $550,000, Nitchoff’s plea agreement states.
Memisovski, of Burbank, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a conspiracy charge and is awaiting sentencing.
O Departamento de Justiça Chega a um Acordo com o Judiciário de Nova Jérsei para Resolver a Investigação sobre Acesso Linguístico e RetaliaçãoRead the Press Release
O Departamento de Justiça anunciou hoje que chegou a um acordo com o Judiciário de Nova Jérsei para aprimorar o acesso aos serviços do tribunal para pessoas com proficiência limitada em inglês (sigla em inglês LEP).
Este acordo encerra uma investigação da Divisão de Direitos Civis do Departamento de Justiça e da Procuradoria-Geral dos Estados Unidos para o Distrito de Nova Jérsei sobre alegações de que os Tribunais da Vicinagem de Monmouth (MVC), parte do Judiciário de Nova Jérsei, discriminaram usuários com LEP do tribunal, com base em sua origem nacional e retaliaram um funcionário do tribunal que fez uma reclamação ao departamento sobre a alegada discriminação, em violação ao Título VI da Lei de Direitos Civis de 1964 (Título VI).
“As pessoas com proficiência limitada em inglês podem perder seus filhos, suas casas e seus direitos fundamentais, ao se depararem com barreiras linguísticas no nosso sistema judiciário”, disse a procuradora-geral adjunta, Kristen Clarke, da Divisão de Direitos Civis do Departamento de Justiça. “A Divisão de Direitos Civis do Departamento de Justiça continuará lutando para garantir que os tribunais removam as barreiras linguísticas para o público.”
“A distribuição da justiça de forma justa e equitativa é uma pedra angular do nosso sistema democrático”, disse o procurador-geral dos EUA para Distrito de Nova Jérsei, Philip R. Sellinger. “Continuaremos empenhados para garantir que todos os litigantes de Nova Jérsei tenham acesso igualitário ao sistema judicial de Nova Jérsei, independentemente das barreiras linguísticas. Este acordo garantirá que os usuários do tribunal, com inglês limitado, tenham acesso igualitário aos tribunais estaduais de Nova Jérsei no Condado de Monmouth.”
O título VI proíbe discriminação por raça, cor ou origem nacional pelos recipientes de assistência financeira federal, tal como o Judiciário de Nova Jérsei. A investigação do departamento revelou barreiras linguísticas que impediam o acesso ao sistema judicial pelas pessoas com LEP. Tais barreiras incluíam a recusa em fornecer um intérprete para auxiliar com formulários; deixar de tradução ou explicar documentos vitais para os usuários dos tribunais com LEP; e a falta de informação adequada aos funcionários sobre as normas e os procedimentos referentes ao acesso linguístico.
Nos termos do acordo, o Judiciário de Nova Jérsei traduzirá formulários e materiais vitais dos tribunais e os disponibilizará para distribuição nos fóruns. O Judiciário de Nova Jérsei também revisará o seu plano de acesso linguístico durante o próximo ano, desenvolverá treinamento mandatório de acesso linguísticos para os seus tribunais, fornecerá treinamento contra retaliação do Título VI e emitirá avisos públicos para explicar a norma de não retaliação do Título VI e o processo de reclamação do Título VI em outras línguas que não o inglês. O departamento irá monitorar estes e outros requisitos por dois anos. O Judiciário de Nova Jérsei também concordou em pagar uma indenização no valor de US$89.718 para a pessoa que alegou retaliação.
A implementação do Título VI é uma das principais prioridades da Divisão de Direitos Civis e do gabinete do procurador-geral dos EUA para o Distrito de Nova Jérsei, ambos empenhados em garantir que as pessoas possam reclamar ou cooperar com investigações sem sofrer retaliação. Informações adicionais sobre a Divisão de Direitos Civis estão disponíveis no site: www.justice.gov/crt, e informações sobre proficiência limitada em inglês e o Título VI estão disponíveis em www.lep.gov. A divisão oferece informação sobre o acesso linguístico dos tribunais em www.lep.gov/state-courts.
O público poderá denunciar possíveis violações aos direitos civis através do site civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Informações adicionais sobre a aplicação dos direitos civis no gabinete do procurador-geral dos EUA para o Distrito de Nova Jérsei, incluindo a Divisão de Direitos Civis do gabinete estão disponíveis no site www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.
New Mexico Man Who Sexually and Physically Abused a Young Teen Following Abduction from a Kennewick Home, Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Richland, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Lucas Daniel Murphy, age 38, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Online Enticement of a Minor. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 240 months imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
Judge Dimke called Murphy’s actions “ugly” and noted few offenses are more serious or cause more harm than this. Directly addressing the victim, Judge Dimke said: “Thank you for being here today. You are incredibly strong and brave to be here today. If you can be here today to stand up for yourself, you can do anything.”
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in August of 2021, Murphy met a 13-year-old minor using an online application. Despite knowing the victim was 22 years his junior, Murphy began communicating regularly with the victim on SnapChat. At first, Murphy and the victim discussed shared interests in music. Over time, the communications changed, and involved Murphy instructing the victim to engage in sex acts over live Snapchat video. He also directed the victim to send specific sexually explicit photos. Murphy expressed a desire to be with the victim, which culminated in a plan to travel to the victim’s location, pick up the victim and transport the victim back to Murphy’s home in New Mexico.
In December of 2021, the victim was staying with friends at a location in Kennewick, Washington. On or about December 18, 2021, Murphy drove from New Mexico to Kennewick, Washington, where he took the 13-year-old victim from a residential area. Murphy drove the victim to his residence in New Mexico. During the drive, Murphy provided the victim with alcohol and marijuana and sexually abused the victim.
The two remained at Murphy’s residence in New Mexico for several days. Murphy returned to work while the victim remained at Murphy’s residence. During this time, Murphy continued to sexually abuse the victim.
On December 22, 2021, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and local New Mexico law enforcement officers and surrounded Murphy’s residence. The victim was rescued from the location and Murphy was taken into custody. The victim was taken to the hospital interviewed by a certified forensic interviewer. Investigators documented bruises on the victim’s neck and leg. Months later, when the victim was ready, Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children investigators traveled to the victim’s location and conducted a painstaking interview, documenting the extent of Murphy’s abuse.
“As a parent, I am horrified by Mr. Murphy’s conduct. Mr. Murphy meticulously planned the abduction of his young victim and took steps to make it difficult for law enforcement to track his whereabouts. Mr. Murphy repeatedly physically and sexually abused his victim resulting in significant trauma for the victim and their family. While no sentence can replace the horrors the victim faced, hopefully, it will serve as an important step on a long road to healing,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I want to commend the excellent work done by the Kennewick Police Department in the initial steps of this case, as well as the stellar follow-up investigation undertaken by our federal and local partners in Washington and New Mexico.”
“The collaboration between our local and federal law enforcement agencies brought this victim home. Today, that victim stood before the Court and the community, addressed the harm the Defendant caused, and demonstrated that this harm will not define the victim’s life,” said Assistant United States Attorney Laurel Holland. “I am humbled by the strength of the victim and the victim’s family, and grateful for all of the community partners who enabled this outcome.”
“Child sex offenders' prey on the most vulnerable victims. While today’s sentencing cannot erase the harm inflicted upon the victim, I hope that it will serve as the first step towards closure,” said FBI-Albuquerque Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will never stop working to put predators who harm children behind bars. These are incredibly disturbing cases to investigate, but each time we're able to step in and protect a child victim from further sexual abuse, it's a good day.”
“Today’s sentencing reflects our unwavering commitment to justice and the protection of our community’s most vulnerable members,” said Richland Police Department Interim Chief, Craig Meidl. “The actions of this individual were heinous and will have lifelong impacts on the victim and her family. We remain dedicated to ensuring that perpetrators of such crimes are held accountable and that victims find the support they need to begin their healing process. Our thoughts are with the survivor and their family as they move forward from this traumatic experience.”
“This was a targeted assault on a child, trading away their innocence and safety for a lifetime of scars,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “It is my intent that HSI, alongside our partners in federal and local law enforcement will not only hold child predators like Murphy accountable for their crimes, but increase our methods of educating the public on ways to identify potential abusers lurking online.”
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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Kennewick Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurel Holland.
National Constitutional Militia Member Sentenced for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A convicted felon and member of an anti-government extremist group who took part in online discussions to kidnap and attack federal officials on Thanksgiving Day 2022 was sentenced to prison for illegally possessing firearms during a trip to Georgia.
Joshua Colston, 50, of Corinth, Mississippi, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on Aug. 15. Colston previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Oct. 18, 2023. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Safeguarding our communities from all threats is the top priority of our office and of law enforcement at every level,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Illegally armed convicted felons will face federal prosecution when they are caught with guns in the Middle District of Georgia.”
“Thanks to the hard work and collaboration of our law enforcement partners, Colston will spend time behind bars where he will not be able to carry out any of his extremist plans to harm members of our community,” said Rich Bilson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Albany office. “FBI is determined to hold convicted felons illegally possessing firearms accountable for their crimes.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, FBI learned that Colston and others participated in discussions on a Zello chat channel titled “NCM Leadership.” Zello is an encrypted push-to-talk application used on cellular phones. “NCM” stands for National Constitutional Militia, an anti-government extremist organization. Colston and other NCM members discussed a plan to kidnap or attack elected federal officials on Thanksgiving Day 2022. Ultimately, the Thanksgiving Day plan was never developed due to the group’s lack of resources and the poor health of the members.
FBI agents took Colston into custody in Fitzgerald, Georgia, on Dec. 14, 2022, where Colston went to purchase horses. He told agents that he planned to travel horseback across the country for several years, and he was preparing to go “off the grid.” Colston, who has prior felony convictions, was found to be in illegal possession of five firearms: a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a .40 semiautomatic pistol, a .22 semiautomatic rifle, a semiautomatic shotgun and a .44 lever-action rifle. The semiautomatic rifle was reported stolen in Alcorn County, Mississippi. In addition to the firearms, Colston had a bulletproof vest and more than 3,500 rounds of ammunition, including armor-piercing rounds, in his vehicle. FBI believed that Colston had training in explosives. Colston has prior state convictions in Texas for felony theft and felony criminal mischief. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess firearms.
This case was investigated by FBI and the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the Government with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division.
National Constitutional Militia Member Sentenced for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
A convicted felon and member of an anti-government extremist group who took part in online discussions to kidnap and attack federal officials on Thanksgiving Day 2022 was sentenced to prison for illegally possessing firearms during a trip to Georgia.
Joshua Colston, 50, of Corinth, Mississippi, was sentenced today to serve 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Colston previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Oct. 18, 2023.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, the FBI learned that Colston and others participated in discussions on a Zello chat channel titled “NCM Leadership.” Zello is an encrypted push-to-talk application used on cellular phones. “NCM” stands for National Constitutional Militia, an anti-government extremist organization. Colston and other NCM members discussed a plan to kidnap or attack elected federal officials on Thanksgiving Day 2022. Ultimately, the Thanksgiving Day plan was never developed due to the group’s lack of resources and the poor health of the members.
FBI agents took Colston into custody in Fitzgerald, Georgia, on Dec. 14, 2022, where Colston went to purchase horses. He told agents that he planned to travel horseback across the country for several years, and he was preparing to go “off the grid.” Colston, who has prior felony convictions, was found to be in illegal possession of five firearms: a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, .40 semiautomatic pistol, .22 semiautomatic rifle, semiautomatic shotgun and .44 lever-action rifle. The semiautomatic rifle was reported stolen in Alcorn County, Mississippi. In addition to the firearms, Colston had a bulletproof vest and more than 3,500 rounds of ammunition, including armor-piercing rounds, in his vehicle. FBI believed that Colston had training in explosives. Colston has prior state convictions in Texas for felony theft and felony criminal mischief. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess firearms.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement.
The FBI and Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case with assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Montgomery Man Found Guilty of Selling Fentanyl Pills that Resulted in Another Man’s DeathRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On August 15, 2024, a federal jury convicted 37-year-old Lawrence Coley, III, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, on charges of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute the illegal drug, announced United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross.
According to court records and evidence presented during Coley’s trial, on August 26, 2022, law enforcement received a report of an unresponsive person inside a vehicle at a Montgomery residence. Officers arrived at the location and found a truck in the driveway. The truck’s ignition was on, and doors were locked. Inside they found a lifeless man with no visible signs of trauma or injury that would have caused his death. A medical examiner concluded that the victim died due to the toxic effects of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. The jury heard expert testimony stating that the quantity of fentanyl found in the victim’s blood was four to five times the lethal dose.
An investigation into how the victim obtained the fentanyl revealed that, for over a year, Coley had been supplying the victim with illegal narcotics. These transactions occurred almost daily and sometimes even multiple times a day. The jury also heard testimony verifying that the victim purchased narcotics from Coley on the very morning of his death. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Coley’s residence and found 70 blue pills with “M” marked on one side, and “30” on the opposite side. The pills’ color and markings made them look like pharmaceutical oxycodone tablets. However, lab tests determined the pills were counterfeit and contained fentanyl instead of oxycodone. When officers arrested Coley during a traffic stop, they found him in possession of five additional counterfeit fentanyl pills.
In finding Coley guilty, the jury determined that the fentanyl sold by Coley to the victim caused his death and that Coley intended to distribute the fentanyl pills in his possession.
“Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl have become commonplace in Alabama and throughout the United States,” said United States Attorney Ross. “Everyone should assume that any pill that does not come from a doctor or pharmacy may contain a fatal dose of fentanyl or another deadly drug. My office is committed to holding accountable individuals who sell these dangerous pills.”
“The top priority of the Drug Enforcement Administration is to hold accountable those individuals and drug trafficking organizations who poison our communities with deadly drugs like fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer. “Today’s conviction is a step forward in our mission to build teams that save lives and make communities safer. While we celebrate this victory, we must remember the tragic death caused by the callous disregard for human life exhibited by this individual. The conviction sends a clear message: those who choose profit over people will be held accountable.”
Following this conviction, Coley faces a sentence of 20 years to life in federal prison. A sentencing hearing for Coley will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, a federal district court judge will determine Coley’s sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Christopher P. Moore are prosecuting the case.
Mobile Woman Sentenced for Felony Theft from Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile woman who lied about her living situation was sentenced today five years of probation for unlawfully receiving Social Security benefits for many years, a felony offense.
According to court documents, Cheryl Bradley, 64, accompanied her husband to the Social Security office in Mobile in January 2023, for her husband to apply for benefits. At the time, she told a clerk that she and her husband were married and had lived together since 1988. This was contrary to what she had told the agency in June 2007, when she applied for benefits and said that they were separated. The agency approved her application for benefits. In 2012, she had told the agency that she and her husband had been separated since about 1990. Those two representations were important because her living situation and her spouse's earnings should have been but were not factored into whether she remained eligible for benefits or as much benefits. The Social Security benefits paid to her over the years were from a needs-based program.
In 2021 and 2022, Bradley's husband had substantial earnings as a truck driver, and she had the benefit of those earnings since they were married and lived together. As a result, she was ineligible for benefits in those years, and she was eligible for lesser benefit amounts in the years between 2007 and 2020.
The court also ordered that Bradley pay the agency restitution in the amount of $88,626.94, and pay a $100.00 Special Assessment.
The Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration investigated the case. “For over a decade, Cheryl Bradley falsely reported her marital status and living arrangements to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and fraudulently obtained over $88,000 in needs-based Supplemental Security Income benefits that she should not have gotten. This sentence holds her accountable for her criminal actions and I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance in prosecuting this case,” stated Rodregas W. Owens, Special Agent in Charge SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Atlanta Field Division.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex F. Lankford, IV prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of MachinegunsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing machineguns, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on February 8, 2023, law enforcement observed a silver Mazda CX9 commit multiple traffic violations and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, abruptly stopped to allow three occupants to flee on foot, and then drove away. Antanie Syre Alonzo Johnson, 21, was one of the individuals that fled on foot. Law enforcement quickly located Johnson running through an adjacent parking lot. He ultimately surrendered and informed officers that he was armed. Law enforcement subsequently recovered two firearms, a stolen 9 mm Glock and a 9 mm “ghost gun” or a “privately made firearm” (PMF). Both weapons were fully loaded with extended magazines and equipped with “switches” that allowed the firearms to be fired as fully automatic weapons with the single pull of the trigger.
On November 8, 2023—after obtaining presentence release—law enforcement observed Johnson engaging in what appeared to be hand-to-hand drug transactions. The officers attempted to engage Johnson, who fled on foot through a covered parking garage. A witness in the parking garage indicated Johnson had dropped something while he ran. Law enforcement recovered a loaded 9 mm Glock equipped with a “switch.” In a subsequent search of Johnson’s backpack, agents also discovered 100 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and cash.
On April 25, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to his unlawful possession of machineguns on both occasions. U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Tostrud sentenced Johnson yesterday to a guidelines sentence and specifically admonished him for squandering the rare opportunity that presentence release had provided.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing prosecuted the case.
Minneapolis Daycare Worker Charged with Producing Child Pornography After Taking Photos of Children in His CareRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been charged with producing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between June 17, 2024, and June 18, 2024, Eric Phillip Allen, 39, of Minneapolis, used a minor to produce sexually explicit images. Allen also faces charges in Hennepin County related to these same allegations.
The federal complaint charges Allen with one count of production of child pornography. Allen made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz. He was ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright.
Investigators believe there may be other victims relevant to this investigation. If your minor dependent(s) have been in contact with Eric Phillip Allen, please contact the Minnesota BCA’s Tip Line at 1-877-996-6222 or email [email protected].
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melinda A. Williams and Thomas Calhoun-Lopez are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
allen_indictment.pdf allen_complaint.pdfMercer County Man, Former Pilot, Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison and Lifetime Supervised Release for Travelling to Philippines for Illicit Sexual ConductRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Mercer County, New Jersey, man formerly of Ocean County, New Jersey – a cargo pilot who traveled abroad frequently – was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for illicit sexual conduct abroad, including production of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Frank Maile, 68, of Hamilton, New Jersey, and formerly of New Egypt, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to Count Four of a five-count indictment, charging him with illicit sexual conduct abroad, that is, a sexual act with a person under 18 years of age, a commercial sex act, and production of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From as early as 2013, Maile traveled to the Philippines and had sexual contact with two minor sisters. Maile had extensive, explicit chats with the minors’ pimp to arrange these meetings. Maile created images and videos of the two minor females engaging in multiple sex acts, in which Maile also participated. These sex acts constituted commercial sex acts because they were performed for compensation. Maile also possessed additional images of child sexual abuse when he was searched upon entering the United States in Alabama on April 6, 2018, and at the time of his arrest in New Jersey on May 1, 2018. Maile also admitted that he had distributed some of the child pornography to his then-roommate/tenant Dennis Nerolich. Nerolich pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before Judge Martinotti on June 20, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6, 2024.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Maile to lifetime supervised release, registration as a sex offender, a $5,000 assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and a $50,000 fine. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa T. Wiygul of the Criminal Division in Camden.
Mason City Man with Three Prior Drug Trafficking Convictions Sentenced to More Than 18 Years’ Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute MethRead the Press Release
Andrew Snyder, age 56, from Mason City, Iowa, was sentenced today to more than 18 years in federal prison after a March 13, 2024, guilty plea to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual pure methamphetamine, and 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual pure methamphetamine. Evidence in the case revealed that between July 2023 and August 2023, Snyder conspired to distribute pound-quantities of methamphetamine in the Mason City area. Law Enforcement utilized a confidential source to conduct a controlled purchase where Snyder exchanged approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine for cash and was in possession of approximately a pound more. On another occasion, during a traffic stop, Snyder was found to have six baggies containing approximately 25 grams of methamphetamine. Snyder has three previous convictions for trafficking methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Snyder was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 220 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Snyder is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3033.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Maryland Man Sentenced for Role in Scheme to Steal More Than $1.5M from Victims Throughout the United StatesRead the Press Release
A Maryland man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison in Baltimore federal court for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
According to court documents, Theodore Sapperstein, age 67, formerly of Pikesville, and his coconspirators unlawfully debited money from the bank accounts of unknowing victims throughout the United States without their authorization by creating shell companies and falsely representing to banks that debits against consumer-victims’ bank accounts were authorized as payment for services allegedly provided by those shell companies. To both conceal and continue conducting unauthorized debits, the scheme’s shell companies generated “micro debits” against other bank accounts controlled and funded by the scheme. The micro debits artificially lowered shell companies’ return rates to levels that conspirators believed would reduce bank scrutiny and lessen potential negative impact on the scheme’s banking relations. Sapperstein facilitated the scheme’s use of fraudulent micro debits and helped broker payment processing services for the scheme, securing a payment processor whose company processed the unauthorized debits. The scheme caused more than $1.5 million in loss to victims throughout the United States.
“Those who knowingly participate in schemes to use personal financial information about American consumers to steal money from their accounts will be held accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who facilitate such schemes.”
“For those who think they can take the easy road to financial gains by stealing money people have worked hard for, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service wants you to know we will hold you accountable for the pain and losses you cause,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “Today’s sentencing of Mr. Sapperstein along with others who knowingly participated in these schemes is the culmination of relentless teamwork by law enforcement to bring these criminals to justice and continue to vigilantly protect the American public.”
“My office is committed to ferreting out and punishing the predatory conduct of white collar fraudsters who utilize, and often hide behind, shell companies and phony accounting and bookkeeping practices to steal money from unsuspecting victims,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland.
In July, Shoaib Ahmad of Canada was charged in the Central District of California with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud for his role in the scheme. That matter remains ongoing.
According to court documents, the scheme is related to a longer-running scheme that has been the subject of multiple cases filed in Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas. In May 2023, a grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment in United States v. Courdy, et al. charging 14 defendants with RICO conspiracy and other charges in the Central District of California. On July 30, a grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment in United States v. LoConti, et al. charging six additional scheme participants with RICO conspiracy and other charges. These indictments allege that the defendants and associates debited consumer-victims’ bank accounts without authorization and used shell entities and “micro debits” to conceal the activity from banks. The “Information for Victims in Large Cases” section on the Consumer Protection Branch’s website contains additional information on United States v. Courdy, et al. In December 2023, scheme participant Luis Ramirez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud in federal court in San Diego. On May 22, Ramirez was sentenced to 51 months in prison for the access device conspiracy, with 24 months to run concurrently to his sentence in a separate case. A related scheme participant, Harold Sobel, pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy in federal court in Las Vegas. In December 2022, Sobel was sentenced to 42 months in prison.
USPIS is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Wei Xiang, Meredith Healy and Amy Kaplan of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl Tarver for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case against Sapperstein, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Consumer complaints can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Maryland Man Sentenced for Role in Scheme to Steal More Than $1.5 Million from Victims Throughout the United StatesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man was sentenced today to thirty months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release in Baltimore federal court for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”) Washington Division.
According to court documents, Theodore Sapperstein, age 67, formerly of Pikesville, and his coconspirators unlawfully debited money from the bank accounts of unsuspecting victims throughout the United States by creating shell companies and falsely representing to banks that debits against the consumer-victims’ bank accounts were authorized as payment for services allegedly provided by those shell companies. To both conceal and continue conducting unauthorized debits, the scheme’s shell companies also generated “micro debits” against other bank accounts controlled and funded by or for the scheme. The micro debits artificially lowered shell companies’ return rates to levels that conspirators believed would reduce bank scrutiny and lessen potential negative impact on the scheme’s banking relations. Sapperstein facilitated the scheme’s use of fraudulent micro debits, and helped broker payment processing for the scheme, securing a payment processor whose company processed the unauthorized debits.“My Office is committed to ferreting out and punishing the predatory conduct of white-collar fraudsters who utilize, and often hide behind, shell companies and phony accounting and bookkeeping practices to steal money from unsuspecting victims,“ said U.S. Attorney Barron.
“Those who knowingly participate in schemes to use personal and financial information about American consumers to steal money from their accounts will be held accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who facilitate such schemes.”
In July 2024, Shoaib Ahmad of Canada, was charged in the Central District of California with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud for his role in the scheme.
U.S. Attorney Barron and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for its work in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for its assistance in the prosecution of the case. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant United States Attorney Darryl Tarver and Trial Attorneys Wei Xiang, Meredith Healy, and Amy Kaplan of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Maryland Man Charged with Wire Fraud in Hampshire CountyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Duane Dixon, Jr., age 34, of Towson, Maryland, was indicted by a grand jury on wire fraud charges.
Dixon is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, the fraud scheme originated when an individual impersonating a landowner claimed to have authority to sell a parcel of real estate in Hampshire County, West Virginia. Although having no legal rights to the property, the impersonator listed the property for sale through a realtor. Dixon is accused of assisting the conspirator in attempting to defraud a law firm of the proceeds from the sham transaction, As part of the scheme, Dixon provided deposit information to a bank account controlled by Dixon for the purpose of receiving the funds.
Dixon faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Marion Man Sentenced to 97 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE–Kenneth E. Smith, 46 years old, of Marion, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Smith was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on March 12, 2020, Smith possessed crack cocaine intended for distribution. On this same date, Smith was carrying a firearm as a means of protecting his drug trafficking activity. Smith’s possession of the firearm was also prohibited because he was previously convicted of a felony offense.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Indiana State Police, and the Grant County Joint Effort Against Narcotics (JEAN), which is a task force composed of the Grant County Sheriff’s Department and the Marion Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
Man from Hawaii Sentenced to 20 Years for Sextortion of Missouri TeenRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a man from Hawaii to 20 years in prison for the sextortion of a 14-year-old Missouri girl and the distribution of explicit images of other minors.
Gerardo Javier Montes traded child sexual abuse material with others online, including images of his former girlfriends when they were minors and other child victims that he provided with money, gift cards, clothes, sexual toys or electronics in exchange for nude images. Those victims include one girl in Oklahoma, one in Texas and one in Colorado.
Montes made posts and comments in teen-focused Reddit groups, as well as groups discussing depression and rape fantasies. He also admitted seeking child sexual abuse material from other minors online. In February of 2021, he asked someone who said she had been sexually abused as a minor for nude images of herself when she was 13. In December 2021, Montes asked a 12-year-old girl if she wanted to see his genitals and asked to see her nude.
Between Dec. 6, 2021, and Jan. 14, 2022, Montes communicated with the 14-year-old Missouri victim via Reddit. She thought he was 21 but later found out that he was 31. Montes turned their conversations to sexual matters and gave her advice on how to create nude images. He also sent her an explicit image of a 15-year-old that he said was an ex-girlfriend. At one point, she sent him an image of herself in a bra and a picture of herself topless. Montes requested more pictures from the victim. She later told Montes her full name.
On Jan. 13, 2022, the victim tried to cut off contact with Montes. He threatened to post nude photos of her on multiple social media sites and send those images to “every school in the state.” He demanded more pictures, providing a detailed list of what he wanted, and tried to get her to engage in sexual activity with a dog. He also created a fake Reddit account, pretending to be a 15-year-old girl, to try and trick the victim into providing nude images. On Jan. 15, 2022, he sent images of the victim to someone else via Discord.
An investigation began after the FBI received a tip about the sextortion and traced the blackmailer to Hawaii. They performed a court-approved search of his home and seized electronic devices that contained child sexual abuse material.
“We are not only holding Gerardo Montes accountable for his crimes, we have stopped him in his tracks from exploiting more victims,” said Acting Special Agent in Charger Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Montes spent significant time hunting and manipulating young girls who were vulnerable to his abuse. Children in our community are safer today with Montes behind bars.”
Montes, 33, pleaded guilty in March to one felony count of distribution of child pornography.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman prosecuted the case.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has detailed information on resources for sextortion victims, including videos and discussion guides to help explain the problem to children and adults. They also have a step-by-step guide on how to report pictures or videos of children to social media companies and flag pictures so that the companies will seek out and remove the images.
To report sextortion, contact local law enforcement or the FBI by calling Call 1-800-CALL-FBI, contacting your local FBI office, or reporting it online at tips.fbi.gov or cybertipline.org.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who 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.
Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Thursday sentenced a man who sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant to 10 years in prison.
Adrian L. Lewis, 43, of Charleston, Missouri, pleaded guilty in May to one count of distribution of methamphetamine. He admitted selling two ounces of meth to a confidential informant working for the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force on Oct. 10, 2023.
Lewis was deemed a “career offender” due to prior drug offenses.
The Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter is prosecuting the case.