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8 August 2024
Brownsburg Drug Dealer Sentenced to Twelve Years in Federal Prison for Continuing to Sell Methamphetamine While on ProbationRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS-- Scott Planalp, 37, of Brownsburg, has been sentenced to twelve years in in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in June of 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating Planalp’s methamphetamine trafficking activities.
On three separate occasions in June of 2022, DEA agents observed Planalp deal quantities of methamphetamine to different people in exchange for cash. For example, on June 15, 2022, Planalp sold 72.9 grams of pure methamphetamine to a person for $1,050. Planalp was recorded telling the buyer that he was currently in a drug court program as a result of a prior drug trafficking arrest and that he had to take three drug tests a week.
In total, Planalp distributed 185.1 grams of pure methamphetamine during the DEA’s investigation.
“Meth traffickers must be held accountable for the harm that their poison does to people and families impacted by substance use disorders,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This defendant was undeterred by prior arrests and shamelessly continued the criminal conduct that landed him in state court in the first place. The federal prison sentence imposed here reflects the seriousness of these repeated crimes and the need to protect the community from a drug dealer who acted with utter disregard for the law, the courts, and the harms he caused. I commend the work of the DEA for their efforts to get this meth trafficker out of our community.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted this case.
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Brooklyn Man Charged with Throwing Explosive Device into Verizon Utility Van in Road Rage AttackRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, an indictment was unsealed charging Kevindale Nurse with arson for allegedly throwing an explosive device into a Verizon utility work van during a road rage attack in Crowns Heights, Brooklyn. Nurse was arrested today and will make his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lara K. Eshkenazi.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Division (ATF), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrest and indictment.
“As alleged, Nurse deliberately threw an explosive device into the window of another vehicle on a public road, endangering the lives of the vehicle’s occupants and others in the area,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Unfortunately, road rage is an all-too common occurrence in our communities. But this dangerous and senseless attack on a busy intersection in the heart of Brooklyn was beyond the pale. We will vigorously prosecute this case.”
“The defendant committed an unconscionable act by using explosives during a road rage incident, disregarding the potentially deadly consequences when he threw an explosive device in a neighboring vehicle. Thanks to strong law enforcement partnerships and the investigative efforts of ATF NY’s Arson & Explosives Task Force comprised of ATF Special Agents, FDNY Fire Marshals and NYPD Detectives, the NYPD 71st Precinct Detective Squad, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York this defendant will now face the consequences of his horrific actions,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller.
“There is no place in civil society for the spreading of fear through intimidation, violence, and destruction,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “I commend the work of our NYPD investigators, along with our law enforcement partners at the ATF and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, for their dedication and collaboration in bringing this accused criminal to justice.”
As described in court filings, on the evening of January 31, 2024, Nurse, who was driving a white minibus, or commuter “dollar van,” also occupied by his four-year-old son, cut off a Verizon utility van. The two Verizon repairmen in the van were working that day on high-speed data lines and fiber optic equipment. Surveillance video captured Nurse driving erratically before stopping the white minibus next to the Verizon van at the intersection of President Street and Brooklyn Avenue in Crown Heights, and opening the door of the minibus. Nurse allegedly threw an explosive device into the driver’s side window of the Verizon van, causing an explosion inside the vehicle. The two Verizon repairmen inside sustained multiple injuries, and their van was extensively damaged by the blast.
The charge in the indictment is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Nurse faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Larkin is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
KEVINDALE NURSE
Age: 36
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-322 (MKB)
Brentwood-Based Dental Offices Company and Former Owners Pay $6.3 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to COVID ReliefRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – West Coast Dental Administrative Services LLC (formerly West Coast Dental Services Inc.), a Brentwood-based company which operates a network of dental offices in Southern California, and its founders and former owners, Drs. Soleyman Cohen-Sedgh, Farid Pakravan and Farhad Manavi, have paid $6.3 million to resolve allegations that they knowingly violated the False Claims Act in connection with seven improper loans that West Coast Dental Services Inc. (West Coast Dental) and affiliated dental offices received under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Additionally, City Real Estate Holdings Inc., a Beverly Hills-based real estate investment company owned by Dr. Manavi, has paid an additional $35,149.82 to resolve its potential liability under the False Claims Act in connection with a separate PPP loan.
“Companies such as these that depleted crucial pandemic-assistance funding will be held accountable under the False Claims Act,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “This resolution evidences our office’s earnest commitment to ensure that companies act with the utmost integrity and compunction.”
The PPP, an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and administered by the Small Business Administration, was intended to support small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether an applicant qualified for a PPP loan as a small business depended on various factors, including the type of business operated by the borrower and the number of employees of both the borrower and its corporate affiliates. In 2021, Congress offered a second round of forgivable loans through the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act. Under PPP rules, second draw loans were strictly limited to businesses with 300 employees or less. When applying for PPP loans and loan forgiveness, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their loan applications.
The United States alleged that West Coast Dental and six of its affiliated dental practices received seven improper second draw PPP loans and subsequent forgiveness of these loans based on false certifications that the companies qualified for the loans even though they were ineligible because the dental practices collectively employed more than 300 individuals. The United States further alleged that West Coast Dental and its affiliates failed to disclose common ownership of the affiliated dental offices in their separate PPP applications. The United States also alleged that City Real Estate Holdings Inc., which received a PPP loan, was ineligible to receive the loan under PPP rules, because it is a passive business operated for investment purposes. City Real Estate Holdings Inc. sought and received forgiveness of its total loan amount.
“PPP loans were intended to support small businesses facing difficult economic times due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold borrowers who improperly received and sought forgiveness of PPP loans accountable for their actions.”
“This settlement sends a signal to wrongdoers that evidence of improper conduct will be brought to light,” said Special Agent in Charge Weston King for Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG)’s Western Region. “Our office will remain relentless in the pursuit of those who seek to exploit SBA’s vital pandemic response programs. I want to thank the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their exceptional efforts and collaboration in pursuit of justice.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Relator LLC, a limited liability corporation formed by California attorneys Anoush Hakimi and Peter Shahriari. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Relator LLC v. West Coast Dental Services Inc., et al., CV 22-3812-MCS (MARx) (C.D. Cal.). Relator LLC will receive approximately $507,000 as its share of the total settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, with assistance from the Small Business Administration’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant United States Attorney Jack D. Ross of the Civil Division’s Civil Fraud Section and Justice Department Trial Attorney Allie Pang of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section handled the matter, with the assistance of Paralegal Heather Beckler, Investigator Maria Marsh, and Auditor John Powers for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Special Agent Samuel Huynh of SBA-OIG also provided investigative assistance.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department 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 actors committing civil and criminal fraud and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, 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 www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Braxton County Lawyer Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thomas Jason Drake, 48, of Gassaway, was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and fined $7,500 for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Drake, a lawyer, admitted that he possessed and pawned a Taurus Model G3C 9mm handgun on December 20, 2021, a Winchester Model Grand European XTR .257-caliber rifle on November 22, 2021, and a Colt Model Single Action .45-caliber revolver on December 7, 2021, at Charleston businesses.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Drake knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for embezzlement in Kanawha County Circuit Court on September 13, 2012.
Drake falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that he was not a convicted felon when he purchased the Taurus Model G3C 9mm handgun on July 25, 2021, at a Charleston business. Drake purchased two additional firearms at a Charleston business and falsely certified on the ATF Form 4473 each time that he was not a convicted felon.
Drake was in the process of petitioning for reinstatement of his law license at the time of his current offense, as his felony conviction for embezzlement resulted in his disbarment in October 2012. Drake was granted reinstatement on January 6, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Tessman, Gabriel Price and Nowles Heinrich prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-64.
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Biloxi Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 109 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Biloxi, Mississippi man pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 109 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Mark Oatis, 47, was found in possession of 109 grams of methamphetamine, a scale, and clear plastic baggies during a traffic stop in Gulfport.
Oatis is scheduled to be sentenced on November 21, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of forty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gulfport Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith is prosecuting the case.
Billings man admits to stealing guns in pawnshop burglaryRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man accused of breaking into a Billings pawnshop and stealing firearms admitted today to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Jesse Ambrose Deaguero, 42, pleaded guilty to theft from a federal firearms licensee. Deaguero faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Deaguero was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on Sept. 11, 2023, Pawnbrokers West, a federal firearms licensee, was burglarized shortly before 3 a.m. Ten firearms were stolen. A law enforcement investigation learned that Deaguero was involved in the burglary and five of the stolen firearms were recovered the next day from a residence. In an interview, Deaguero stated that he and a co-defendant, Lucious Machiavelli, went into the pawn shop and stole the firearms. Deaguero told investigators that he cut the lock off the firearms, and the guns were loaded into a car. Machiavelli pleaded guilty last month to charges in the case and is pending sentencing.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department, with assistance from the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Australian National Pleads Guilty to Participating in Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On July 29, Jordan Curry, 42, an Australian national from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to launder money and import cocaine from South America through the United States to Australia.
According to the agreed upon factual proffer, from 2019 to 2021, Curry led an international drug trafficking and money laundering organization. While based in Dubai, Curry partnered with other conspirators, to launder drug proceeds and traffic in ton-size quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from South America and Mexico, to Australia and Europe. Further, Curry, his co-defendant, and other conspirators in Australia formed a commission of high-level drug traffickers to keep drug prices up. Once the cocaine arrived in Sydney, they distributed it to Melbourne. Curry discussed having full control of drug trafficking in Australia since it was their organization who controlled the trade in-country.
On June 28, 2019, Curry coordinated two separate cash drops in Greater Sydney, Australia. The total amount delivered by Curry, via his couriers, was $1,000,200 Australian Dollars (AUD) ($692,628.50 U.S. dollars (USD)). The money was sent to various U.S. based bank accounts. Curry created a group chat on July 8, 2019, which included a co-conspirator in Colombia, to coordinate the delivery of the pesos in Bogota, Colombia. Between July 10 and July 25, 2019, there were six separate payouts in Bogota totaling $1,885,161,000 Colombian pesos, all of which were given to couriers at the direction of Curry. Each time, either Curry or his co-conspirator, or both, confirmed the payments were received. On July 23, 2019, Curry stated that he wanted to finalize laundering as quickly as possible to “get my job over the line” (to get a cocaine load released into the country).
Starting in 2020, during an undercover operation, Curry negotiated for a load of cocaine to be sent from Colombia through Mexico to the U.S., specifically Los Angeles, and from there to Australia. Curry said he wanted “powder please bricks.” On April 8, 2021, Curry was to receive 50 kilograms of cocaine for the first delivery. In order to obtain the cocaine, Curry was going to send a courier in Australia with the cash payment. Curry set up a group chat that included his money courier. In the group chat, the courier sent photos of three duffle bags all full of Australian dollars that were neatly bundled in rubber bands and sealed in cellophane wrap. Australian law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the courier’s vehicle and discovered the three bags containing a total of $2,996,610 AUD (approximately $2,284,876 USD).
Curry is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 16 before U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. He faces up to life in prison. Judge Altonaga will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division announced the plea.
DEA Miami Field Division conducted this investigation with the DEA Sydney Resident Office and the Athens County Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and DEA would like to thank international law enforcement partners including Queensland Police Service, New South Wales Police Force, Western Australia Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Hellenic Police, and the Hellenic Republic Ministry of Justice, as well as Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for their crucial assistance in this investigation.
The indictment is a result of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigations. The OCDETF mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the US, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency task force approach. OCDETF synchronizes and incentivizes prosecutors and agents to lead smart, creative investigations targeting the command-and-control networks of organized criminal groups and the illicit financiers that support them. Additional information about the OCDETF Program may be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force carried out this case and prosecution. HIDTA was established in 1990. This program, which is made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, fosters intra-agency cooperation among law enforcement agencies in South Florida and involves them in developing a strategy to target the region's drug-related and violent crime threats to public safety, as with the opioid epidemic, fentanyl, and the cocaine threat to our nation. South Florida HIDTA uses the funding provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, out of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, that sponsors a variety of law enforcement initiatives that target the region's illicit drug and violent crime threats to our community.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 21-cr-20270.
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August Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Gabino Cabrera-Martinez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cabrera-Martinez, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Feb. 2017 at or near El Paso, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-247
Bruce Mitchell Cass. Assault with the Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country (Count 1); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Count 2); Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Count 3); Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Count 4). Cass, 50, of Tulsa and a Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma member, is charged with assaulting the victim with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, and carrying, brandishing, and using a firearm while during a crime of violence. Additionally, Cass is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was previously been convicted of felonies. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Carmel is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-257
Jeffrey Alan Clain. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Clain, 57, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly attempting to coerce and entice another person he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-248
Leonardo Garcia-Martinez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia-Martinez, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Jul. 2003 at or near Calexico, California. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-247
Anderson Jaleth Gomez-Ayala. Alien Unlawfully in United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Gomez-Ayala, 19, a Honduran national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was unlawfully in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-241
Bryce Tyler Pyle. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Pyle, 26, of Bixby and a Muscogee (Creek) Nation member, is charged with breaking into an occupied home with intent to commit a crime. He is further charged with using a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. Additionally, Pyle discharged a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-249
Eder Francisco Ramirez. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Counts 2 and 3). Ramirez, 33, a Mexican national, is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from Apr. 2023 through Jul. 2024. He is further charged with knowingly distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and 50 grams of methamphetamine, on separate occasions. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. McConney is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-246
Juan Carlos Rincon-Castro. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rincon-Castro, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Mar. 2023 at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-245
Ladarion Deontrae Ladrue Tibbs. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Tibbs, 22, of Tulsa and a Seminole Nation of Oklahoma member, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema M. Onias is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-255
Matthew Lee Wilkins. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Wilkins, 35, of Galena, Kansas, and a Cherokee Nation member, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-256
Atlanta Man Sentenced to 28+ Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl that Contributed to a Poisoning DeathRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – An Atlanta resident who was supplying large quantities of fentanyl and other controlled substances to distributors in Middle Georgia was sentenced to serve more than 28 years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl in a case where investigators found evidence of an individual who overdosed and died from drugs supplied by the defendant.
Lagary Williams aka “Frog,” 40, of Atlanta, was sentenced to serve 340 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Aug. 8. Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Oct. 30, 2023. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Lagary Williams—who was recorded on wiretap mocking the death of a man who overdosed on his fentanyl supply—is now held accountable for providing kilograms of fentanyl and other deadly drugs to people living in Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat we’ve faced, and our office will continue to pour every available resource into addressing the fentanyl crisis alongside our federal, local and state law enforcement partners.”
“Fentanyl and methamphetamine have taken a terrible toll on our communities,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Division. “This drug distributor and his associates will now face the consequences of their actions.”
“A large amount of deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine was taken off the streets of Central Georgia, and a key supplier has been stopped,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Partnering with law enforcement at every level, GBI will continue to dedicate resources to investigating armed drug distribution activity in a collective effort to make the communities we serve safer.”
According to court documents, statements and evidence admitted in court, agents with the DEA Macon Resident Office (MRO), the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force (ODTF) and the GBI received credible and reliable information from multiple confidential sources regarding illegal drug activities occurring in the Milledgeville area in July 2020. Co-defendant Damon Hayes was identified as a multi-kilogram distributor of methamphetamine, powder cocaine and crack cocaine with Williams as his supply source. Through surveillance, agents observed Hayes acquire bulk quantities of narcotics from Williams’ luxury high-rise apartment in downtown Atlanta. During the course of the investigation, Williams and another distributor were recorded on wiretap discussing an overdose victim who died from fentanyl supplied by Williams. In the wiretap played during the sentencing hearing, Williams said, “You got one under your belt, boy [laughing]" to the distributor about the victim’s death by fentanyl poisoning. Williams also made statements demonstrating he was aware of the dangerously high strength of the fentanyl he was sourcing.
On Sept. 10, 2021, after intercepts on the wiretap indicated that Hayes was travelling to Atlanta to meet Williams for a drug re-supply meeting, a federal search warrant issued in the Northern District of Georgia was executed at Williams’ apartment. Agents encountered Williams and another person, who both jumped off the apartment’s balcony to evade capture. Both individuals were subsequently captured.
Agents recovered 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl in the apartment, as well as one kilogram of methamphetamine, two kilograms of cocaine, approximately 50 grams of cocaine base, approximately seven pounds of marijuana, a Glock 19 9mm pistol and a Ruger model 57 handgun. For information about the convictions of codefendants in this case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/atlanta-based-fentanyl-meth-supplier-central-georgia-pleads-guilty.
Over the past several years, the Justice Department has focused on breaking apart every link in the global fentanyl supply chain – from China to Mexico to the United States. To learn more, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/fact-sheet-justice-department-actions-counter-scourge-fentanyl-and-other-synthetic-drugs.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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.
The case was investigated by DEA, GBI, the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, the Baldwin County Sherriff’s Office, the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Atlanta-Carolina’s HIDTA Office and the Gwinnett Metro Task Force.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the Government.
Assault of Congregants Outside a Washington D.C. Synagogue Charged as a Federal Hate CrimeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON —A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Brent Wood, 35, of Toledo, Ohio, with three counts of obstructing by force or threat of force a person’s enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs, while using a dangerous weapon.
The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office.
The indictment alleges that on December 17, 2023, Wood drove a U-Haul truck around security barriers and parked on the sidewalk directly in front of Kesher Israel Congregation Synagogue, at 2801 N St NW, Washington, DC. Over the next several minutes, while in the immediate vicinity of the synagogue, Wood accosted congregants and others by spraying a noxious aerosol and yelling, “Gas the Jews!”
Wood faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the three counts. The hate crimes sentencing enhancement increases the guidelines range of the potential sentence. Wood previously was charged in D.C. Superior Court with simple assault. He is currently a fugitive in that case.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Crabb Jr.
For more information and resources about the Justice Department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Angelina County felon sentenced to federal prison for drug and gun violationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Lufkin man has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
John Richard Burch, Jr., 40, was found guilty by a jury on August 16, 2023, of four counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and intent to distribute on a premises where children are present. Burch was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 8, 2024.
According to information presented in court, in early 2022, law enforcement conducted an investigation into methamphetamine sales occurring at Burch’s Lufkin residence. During the execution of a search warrant, investigators seized a large amount of methamphetamine, marijuana, multiple digital scales used to weigh narcotics, small plastic baggies used to package methamphetamine, a methamphetamine bong, and a total of nine firearms. The firearms included a semi-automatic rifle and a gun reported stolen in Livingston as well as a fully loaded thirty round magazine. Small children, who resided at the residence, where present during the search.
Further investigation revealed Burch has a previous felony conviction for theft and a conviction for assault family violence and as a convicted felon, is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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.
This case was investigated by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald S. Carter and Lauren Gaston.
Alert to Rhode Islanders: Callers Alleging Failure to Respond to Federal Court Subpoenas are ScammersRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – The United States District Court and the United States Attorney’s Office are aware of an ongoing scam where individuals claiming to be representatives of law enforcement are calling Rhode Islanders attempting to acquire personal information (Social Security Numbers, dates of birth, etc.) or payment of fines or fees over the phone for failure to respond to a subpoena. In the course of these phone calls, the caller may claim that an order has been issued by a federal Judge, in some cases using the names of an actual Rhode Island federal Judge specifically.
The calls are scam and recipients should not provide personal or financial information to the callers. Rhode Islanders are urged not respond to these callers in any way.
U.S. District Court orders are sent by U.S. Mail, and are not communicated to the recipient over the phone; the court will not contact you by phone to collect personal information. Individuals who have questions about the authenticity of a court order or who receive a Court-related communication that you believe to be fraudulent or questionable should contact the United States District Court at (401) 752-7200.
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73-Year-Old Greenacres Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Threatening to Kill a Member of Congress and the Congressperson’s ChildrenRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Yesterday, U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz sentenced Michael Shapiro, 73, to 24 months in prison during a hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for leaving three voicemail messages threatening to kill a member of Congress and the Congressperson’s children.
According to court records, on Dec. 19, 2023, Shapiro called and left five voicemail messages at a U.S. Congressional Office in Washington, D.C. from his residence in Greenacres, Fla. In three of the messages, Shapiro threatened to kill the Congressperson and the Congressperson’s children. Specifically, Shapiro stated, “I'm gonna come after you and kill you [expletive]." In another call, Shapiro stated, “I'm gonna come and kill your children you mother-[expletive]. I'm gonna kill your children.”
Shapiro was arrested at his home on Jan. 3. On May 17, Shapiro pled guilty to the indictment charging him with transmitting threatening communications.
Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and J. Thomas Manger, Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), announced the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-80007.
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180-Month Sentence in the July 2021 Death of an Innocent Bystander Caught in the Crossfire of a NW Gun BattleRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jonathan Brown, 31, was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison for participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed crack cocaine in Northwest Washington D.C. and for his involvement in the July 31, 2021, slaying of Kervin Sanches, an innocent bystander, caught in a shootout on a street corner controlled by members of Brown’s drug trafficking conspiracy.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Brown, aka “Tsunami,” of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty on June 17 to a two-count criminal Information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and voluntary manslaughter while armed. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered Brown to serve four years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in late 2021, the MPD and FBI began investigating violent crime and drug trafficking activities near 7th Street and O Street, NW. During the investigation, Brown visited a stash house at 1221 M Street on a regular basis. Brown sold controlled substances with co-conspirators on various occasions and text messages recovered from his phone indicated that he was selling fentanyl and cocaine base. Law enforcement used undercover officers to purchase hundreds of grams of cocaine base and fentanyl from members of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
During the investigation, law enforcement determined the group was working together to control the drug trafficking activity in their territory. Their territory was primarily located at the corner of 7th and O Streets, NW, the site of the July 31, 2021, shootout that resulted in Kervin Sanches’ death.
On July 31, 2021, at about 11:20 p.m., Brown traveled by car to the area of 7th and O Streets NW with a loaded firearm. An unidentified male in a grey Pontiac followed Brown and parked nearby. Brown exited his car and then walked across the street to meet with a group of associates and others. As Brown approached the group, the unidentified male approached with a gun in his hand. Brown pulled a firearm from his waistband and began shooting at the unidentified gunman, who returned fire. The group scattered. Brown and the gunman continued to shoot at each other while taking cover behind trees and cars. As the gun battle continued, occupants of a white automobile parked near Brown’s car also began shooting at the unidentified gunman. Police later recovered more than 25 shell casings at the scene.
Sanches, who had been part of the group standing on the corner of 7th and O Streets, was struck by a bullet as he attempted to flee the gunfire. Sanches, the dean of students at a local charter school, died of his wounds at a nearby hospital.
Brown was previously sentenced in District Court case 22-cr-114 (TJK) on March 26, 2024, to 51 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. His 180-month sentenced he received today will run consecutive to that 51-month sentence.
This case was investigated by the MPD and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Rosenberg, Solomon Eppel, and Erin DeRiso of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
7 August 2024
Wiggins Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute over 250 Grams of a Substance Containing FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Wiggins man was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute over 250 grams of a substance containing fentanyl.
George Tavoris Moore, Jr., 28, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, on September 7, 2023, the Wiggins Police Department received information that Moore was expected to receive a package containing fentanyl at a Wiggins address. A subsequent investigation led to a search of the Wiggins residence and the package. The search yielded approximately 252 grams of pills containing fentanyl.
Moore was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 19, 2023. He pled guilty on February 26, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Wiggins Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Highlights Success of Drug Distribution Prosecution Efforts in Southern IdahoRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the results of three separate drug distribution cases in Southern Idaho today.
“The case results announced today reflect stellar work by our prosecutors and staff,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Together with our law enforcement partners, our office is rising to meet the challenge that drug trafficking poses to communities in Idaho. The partnerships that drive these cases will continue to make our state a terrible place for drug dealers to do business.”
1. Large Scale Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison
In one case, Luis M. Villalobos-Galdamez, 27, an immigrant from El Salvador who was living in California at the time of his arrest, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill to 120 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court records, on May 16, 2023, a detective from Deschutes County, Oregon, contacted the Idaho State Police (ISP) regarding a car traveling from California and heading towards the Magic Valley that was suspected of carrying a large quantity of controlled substances. The detective explained that they were investigating an individual named “Luis” who was believed to be a passenger in the car. An ongoing Deschutes County investigation showed that Villalobos-Galdamez had previously supplied large quantities of methamphetamine to Deschutes County and possibly Idaho on previous occasions. Based on this information, ISP detectives quickly worked to locate the car. After the car passed into Idaho, a traffic stop was conducted. During a subsequent search, police found 10 pounds of methamphetamine hidden under the spare tire in the trunk. More drugs were found hidden in the center console and backseat. In total, 21.46 pounds of methamphetamine was seized from Villalobos-Galdamez.
“This case highlights the importance and effectiveness of partnerships in our criminal justice system. It takes all of us to ensure we continue fighting to keep drugs out of our communities,” said Deschutes County Sheriff L. Shane Nelson.
Judge Winmill also ordered Villalobos-Galdamez to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. It is expected that he will be deported to El Salvador upon his release from prison. Villalobos-Galdamez pleaded guilty to the federal charge in April 2024.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the Idaho State Police and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon, for their collaboration in this investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Booker.
2. Nampa Man Convicted of Distribution of Methamphetamine Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison
In a separate case, Oswald Charles Reyna, 67, of Nampa, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court records, Reyna sold individuals methamphetamine on July 31, August 7, and August 21, in 2023, at his home in Nampa. On August 26, 2023, Reyna was contacted by police officers in Fruitland, Idaho while meeting with another individual and a juvenile for an apparent drug deal at 2:00 a.m. After a positive alert for the presence of the odor of controlled substances emanating from Reyna’s vehicle by a drug detecting K9, investigators searched his vehicle and found approximately five ounces of methamphetamine. Reyna, who has a 26-year history of trafficking controlled substances pleaded guilty to this fifth drug trafficking offense on May 9, 2024.
“I’m proud of the teamwork that went into this investigation to put a career criminal behind bars,” said Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff. “We all need to take a stand and speak up when we see unlawful activity happening. We need to let these criminals know that their illegal activity has no business in our community.”
“Methamphetamine traffickers like Mr. Reyna prey on our communities for their own gain,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “DEA and our partners at the Nampa Police, the Fruitland Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office work hard to stop methamphetamine traffickers and ensure they are held accountable for their actions. Our community is a little safer because of Mr. Reyna’s sentence in this case.”
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Reyna to pay a $500 fine, to serve four years of supervised release following his prison sentence and entered a final order of forfeiture for Reyna’s Nampa home that he used for his drug deals.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of DEA, the Nampa Police Department Special Investigations Unit, and the Fruitland Police Department, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted this case.
3. Canyon County Man Sentenced to Over 4 Years for Distributing Fentanyl
In another case, Aaron Vincent Fretz, 41, of Nampa, was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court records, in August 2023, Fretz sold a total of 5.5 grams of fentanyl and 84.1 grams of methamphetamine to another person on two occasions.
Fretz has a lengthy criminal history, which includes convictions for felony possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl, grand theft, and misdemeanor convictions for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.
“This case highlights the tireless efforts of the City County Narcotics Unit and our federal law enforcement partners when it comes to combatting the sale of illicit drugs in our community,” said Canyon County Sheriff and National Sheriffs’ Association President Kieran Donahue. “We must continue the fight against the bad actors who are actively trying to poison our citizens with dangerous drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine.”
“I am proud that as Idahoans, we are united in our efforts of upholding the rule of law and keeping our communities safe,” said Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram. “Through our relentless pursuit of justice by collaborating with our local, state, and federal partners, we can sleep well at night knowing that Idaho is safer with us all working together.”
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Fretz to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Fretz pleaded guilty on May 2, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of City County Narcotics Unit for their investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie C. Chong prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney position.
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U.S. Attorney Secures Guilty Plea in Family Shooting CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Pinehill man was pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of assault, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, admitting to a violent outburst that left two family members dead and another seriously injured.
According to court documents, on the morning of December 22, 2023, Ellery Brent Yazzie, 37, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, woke up at his family home located within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation in Pinehill, New Mexico. He went downstairs to the kitchen with a holstered firearm in his waistband.
In the kitchen, Yazzie pointed the firearm at his sister, Jane Doe 1, and threatened to shoot her and the rest of his family. This was not the first time he had made such threats. Yazzie then shot and killed his father, John Doe 1, and his brother, John Doe 2, using the firearm. He admitted to being angry and aware of the risk of causing death and to intending to do serious bodily injury.
After killing his father and brother, Yazzie turned the firearm on his sister, Jane Doe 1, shooting her in her lower extremities approximately six times, causing life-threatening injuries. He then fired shots at his mother, Jane Doe 2, who was crawling on the kitchen floor trying to escape.
Following the shootings, Yazzie went upstairs to retrieve another firearm and more ammunition before returning downstairs and shooting himself.
At sentencing, Yazzie faces up to thirty (30) years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Yazzie will be subject to up to five years of supervised release.
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 Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin L. Dillon and Jena Ritchey are prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement# # #
U.S. Attorney Secures 23-Year Sentence in Child Exploitation Case Involving Army SoldierRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A former U.S. Army soldier was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation and abuse of 13-year-old victim.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, from November 2020 to January 2021, while stationed at Fort Riley, Adrian Dale Tsinnijinnie, 37, used Facebook Messenger to groom and coerce 13-year-old Jane Doe, who resided in Shiprock, New Mexico, into producing sexually explicit images. In return, Tsinnijinnie sent the victim explicit photos and videos of himself.
In June 2021, while on leave, Tsinnijinnie traveled to Shiprock where he sexually abused Jane Doe on multiple occasions. The abuse was disclosed by Jane Doe to her father on July 5, 2021, leading to a medical examination and police report.
Upon his release from prison, Tsinnijinnie will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
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 Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McGinley and Natasha Moghadam are 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 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 Justice.gov/PSC.
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U.S. Attorney Announces Sentencing of Convicted Felon for Illegal-Firearm Possession Following Fatal ShootingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni Pueblo man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm following a deadly confrontation that left one man dead.
According to court documents, on November 7, 2021, Daryl Jay Dickson, 38, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, shot and killed 32-year-old T.B. when T.B. and three others arrived unannounced at Dickson’s location and threatened him as he repaired his bicycle.
After the incident, Dickson fled the scene with the firearm. He was apprehended three days later by Zuni Police at a friend’s home.
During a subsequent police interview, Dickson admitted to possessing the handgun used in T.B.’s death. He explained that he had obtained that handgun in July 2021 after he wrestled it from an attacker in an unrelated incident. Despite knowing he was not legally permitted to possess a firearm due to his criminal history, Dickson still kept the handgun for self-defense purposes.
The handgun used in the shooting was later recovered by Zuni Police after it was subsequently used by another individual in a separate domestic-violence incident on November 15, 2021. The firearm remains in Zuni Police evidence.
The rusted nine-millimeter handgun recovered, with its obliterated serial number highlighted in orange
Dickson has a 2010 felony conviction in the State of New Mexico for breaking and entering in which he was sentenced to an 18-month deferred sentence with supervised probation. That sentence was revoked multiple times due to probation violations.
Following release from prison, Dickson will be subject to three years of supervised release. While on supervised release, Dickson must undergo alcohol and substance-abuse testing, treatment, and counseling.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Zuni Police Department investigated the case with the assistance of Zuni Fish and Wildlife and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney Announces Sentencing of Albuquerque Man for Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for committing a series of brazen armed robberies across Albuquerque in the span of just five days while on supervised release for a previous federal conviction.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, in 2020, Brandon Sanchez, 30, was charged federally for being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 27 months’ incarceration. During his subsequent term of supervised release, Sanchez committed the following robberies in Albuquerque over a five-day period in 2023:
- January 4, 2023: Shortly before 11:00 am, Sanchez entered the Little Caesar's restaurant at Montgomery and San Pedro in northeast Albuquerque. Handing an employee a note indicating he was armed, Sanchez demanded everything within five minutes, making off with approximately $60.
- January 4, 2023: Minutes later, Sanchez struck again at a nearby Subway at San Mateo and McLeod, threatening the cashier with an apparent firearm and leaving with $91 in cash.
- January 8, 2023: Just after 1:00 pm, Sanchez targeted the Little Caesar's at Montano and Fourth in northwest Albuquerque, drawing an apparent firearm and escaping with $100.
- January 9, 2023: Sanchez entered the Starbucks at San Mateo and Pan American around 9:00 am. He handed an employee a note, lifted his shirt to reveal an apparent firearm, and left with $100. A quick-thinking employee captured a photo of the getaway vehicle's temporary plate.
- January 9, 2023: At approximately 3:45 pm, Sanchez robbed the Big 5 Sporting Goods at Wyoming and Paseo del Norte, flashing an apparent firearm and taking $200.
- January 9, 2023: Just 15 minutes later, Sanchez robbed the Domino's restaurant at Holly and San Pedro, brandishing an apparent firearm and fleeing with $75.
Law enforcement connected Sanchez to the string of robberies after reviewing surveillance footage from Big 5 Sporting Goods that provided a clear view of his face. On January 10, 2023, the Albuquerque Police Department tracked Sanchez to a Motel 6 on Pan American and executed a search warrant. Inside his room, authorities discovered a black Glock magazine, 17 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a demand note, a black wig, a toy BB gun, and two flannel shirts matching descriptions from the robberies.
Upon his release from prison, Sanchez will be subject to three years of supervised release.
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 FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and Albuquerque Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico prosecuted the case.
January 4, 2023: Brandon Sanchez robs the Subway at San Mateo and McLeod
January 4, 2023: Brandon Sanchez robs the Subway at San Mateo and McLeod
January 4, 2023: Brandon Sanchez robs the Subway at San Mateo and McLeod
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Two Tucson Men Admit to Conspiring to Travel to the Middle East to Fight for IsisRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Ahmed Mahad Mohamed, 26, and Abdi Yemeni Hussein, 25, both citizens of Somalia, who were living in Tucson at the time of the offense, pleaded guilty last week to Conspiracy to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Sentencing is scheduled for October 11, 2024, before United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps.
From late 2018 until their arrest on July 26, 2019, Mohamed and Hussein conspired with each other to travel to Egypt for the purpose of fighting for ISIS in the Sinai Peninsula.
Beginning in at least August 2018, Mohamed sought out other ISIS supporters online, stating that he wanted to travel to ISIS-controlled territory to become “the beheading guy” and martyr himself. Mohamed also stated that his only dream was to go to Syria, join ISIS, and “fight jihad,” and he indicated that his friend, Hussein, also desired to travel to ISIS territory abroad. Mohamed and Hussein met in person in 2019 to discuss their plans. Mohamed reiterated that his goal was to fight for ISIS abroad. Hussein told Mohamed that they would either reach ISIS territory “or we go to jail,” and suggested attacking the White House if they were prevented from traveling.
By June 2019, the defendants began making travel arrangements to join ISIS. They both sold their cars and purchased plane tickets from Tucson to Cairo. On the morning of July 26, 2019, the defendants checked in for their flight at the Tucson International Airport, went through security screening, and walked to the departure gate. Mohamed was carrying approximately $10,000 that he and Hussein planned to use for travel expenses and to buy firearms. Once in Egypt, the defendants intended to smuggle themselves into the ISIS-controlled area of the Sinai Peninsula so they could work under the direction and control of ISIS. Before Mohamed and Hussein could board their flight, the FBI arrested them.
A conviction for Conspiracy to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Both defendants have agreed to a judicial order of removal and will be removed from the United States to Somalia following any term of imprisonment.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-2162-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-109_Mohamed, et.al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Suburban Chicago Man Guilty of Illegally Exporting Firearm Parts to IsraelRead the Press Release
CHICAGO —A suburban Chicago man has pleaded guilty to federal export-control charges for illegally shipping firearm parts to Israel.
AMIN BETUNI admitted in a plea agreement that he shipped the firearm parts to individuals in Israel on at least three occasions in 2022. The parts included rifle barrels, gas blocks for rifles, and bolt carrier groups. Betuni put false information on the shipping labels and concealed the firearm parts in packages containing auto parts or George Foreman grills. The firearm parts were on the United States Commerce Control List and subject to federal export regulations. As such, their export from the U.S. to Israel required a license or written approval from the Department of Commerce, neither of which was obtained by Betuni prior to his shipments.
During a court-authorized search of Betuni’s residence in Palos Hills, Ill., in December 2022, law enforcement discovered more than 1,200 rounds of assorted ammunition, a shotgun, rifle, and handgun, additional bolt carrier groups, and three firearm conversion devices, also known as “Glock switches,” which equip firearms to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger.
Betuni, 37, pleaded guilty on Aug. 1, 2024, to a federal charge of knowingly and fraudulently exporting firearm parts in violation of U.S. laws and regulations. The conviction is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge John F. Kness set sentencing for Nov. 6, 2024.
The guilty plea was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations, and Aaron Tambrini, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Palos Hills, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn D. McCarthy.
“Export-control violations are critically important because they undermine federal laws and regulations that seek to protect international security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual. “Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit U.S. export-control laws for financial gain.”
“Those who illegally export firearm parts will face consequences,” said SAC Fitzgerald. “Betuni’s actions not only violated international law but also undermined global security. HSI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to uphold justice and prevent such dangerous activities. Let this guilty plea serve as a stern warning: anyone who jeopardizes peace and safety through illicit arms transfers will be held accountable.”
“The guilty plea is a testament to the excellent cooperation between our law enforcement partners effectively targeting the illegal export of firearm parts,” said SAC Tambrini. “Whether the export involves firearm parts or other controlled items, the Office of Export Enforcement is committed to vigorously investigating illegal exports and holding violators accountable.”
Betuni plea agreementSt. Louis Man Admits Committing Pandemic Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man on Wednesday admitted fraudulently obtaining $41,484 in loans intended to help struggling businesses during the pandemic.
Robert Baines, 44, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two felony counts of wire fraud. He admitted fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in 2021. He also agreed to pay full restitution.
Baines applied for a first draw PPP loan on March 31, 2021, and a second draw PPP loan on April 9, 2021. In the loan applications, Baines falsely claimed that he was self-employed and had earned gross income of $99,563 in 2019. He submitted a forged IRS form with his applications to bolster his claims. Baines was not self-employed and did not earn any of the claimed self-employment income. In his application for the second-draw loan, Baines falsely claimed that he’d suffered at least a 25% reduction in gross income between 2019 and 2020.
The PPP loans were designed to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and, accordingly, were to be used for business-related purposes, such as to cover payroll, utilities, and rent or mortgage payments. Instead, Baines instead used the money for restaurants, travel, clothing and other retail items.
Baines is scheduled to be sentenced November 12. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine.
The U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf is prosecuting the case.
Smuggler sent to prison after continuing to commit same crime while on bondRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 27-year-old Pharr resident has been sentenced for conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Anthony Lenard Williams pleaded guilty April 28, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Williams to serve 96 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court found that while on bond, Williams continued to coordinate the smuggling of undocumented aliens. Williams was ultimately found responsible for smuggling at least 560 undocumented aliens – only accounting for those authorities have apprehended. The court also heard that the actual number is likely in the thousands. Some of the loads of undocumented aliens included as many 115 people in the back of a tractor-trailer, at times including unaccompanied minors. In one smuggling attempt, some of the people had to be treated for severe dehydration because of the dangerous way they were transported.
Beginning in summer 2021, authorities began investigating an organization responsible for smuggling thousands of undocumented aliens in tractor-trailers. Through the course of that investigation, law enforcement identified Miguel Angel Hernandez and Williams as coordinators.
Hernandez, 26, Donna, was previously sentenced to 108 months for his role in the organization but is believed to have held a a higher position of leadership than Williams.
Previously released on bond, Williams was taken into custody following the sentencing where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. De Peña prosecuted the case.
Slidell Woman Sentenced for Railroad Retirement FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TONYA BUTLER (“BUTLER”), of Slidell, La., age 55, was sentenced on August 5, 2024, to four years of probation and 150 hours of community service by United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey for making false statements to the Railroad Retirement Board, in violation of Title 45, United States Code, Section 359(a).
According to court records, from January 2022 to April 2022, BUTLER made false statements to the Railroad Retirement Board to obtain sickness benefits. In truth, BUTLER was working full-time for an interstate trucking company. Her false statements caused a loss of approximately $7,345.52. BUTLER also received short term disability benefits and COVID-19 related funds, to which she was not entitled, in the approximate amount of $62,000.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Amtrak – Office of Inspector General and the Railroad Retirement Board - Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit was in charge of the prosecution.
Significant sentence handed to Corpus resident for Stripes robbery and bystander shootingRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 22-year-old Corpus Christi man has been sentenced for the robbery and shooting at a Stripes convenience store, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jose Valdez pleaded guilty April 29.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Valdez to serve 51 months in federal prison for the robbery as well as a consecutive 120 months for the shooting. His total 171-month sentence will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from the victim of the shooting, who testified about lingering effects of his injury more than a year later. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that the crimes Valdez committed were some of the most serious crimes the federal court considers.
“The Stripes store is a Corpus Christi original, a place patrons can find gas, a quick snack and a clerk’s welcoming words. No one, however, should ever have to find themselves at the wrong end of a violent criminal’s gun, turning those patrons into victims,” said Hamdani. “Today’ s sentence represents how multiple lives were put at risk only because they happened to cross paths with Jose Valdez and his gun at a local Stripes.”
On June 29, 2023, Valdez approached a Stripes convenience store on Port Street in Corpus Christi at approximately 6:40 a.m. carrying a handgun into the store. Valdez entered, pointed the gun at the clerk and demanded money from the cash register. At the same time, three customers entered the store and observed the robbery taking place.
Valdez ordered them to leave. As they were exiting the store, he shot one of the men in the leg. All three men exited with the two uninjured men taking the third to the hospital for treatment. Valdez turned back to the clerk and demanded she empty all the registers in the store. Valdez took the money, ran out of the store, got into a silver car and drove away.
Law enforcement had ongoing investigations on other aggravated robberies in Corpus Christi and identified Valdez from the Stripes surveillance footage.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case along with assistance from the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
Shelby County felon sentenced to federal prison for drug and gun violationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Timpson man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Austin Yarbrough, 31, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 7, 2024.
According to information presented in court, from 2021 through 2023, law enforcement conducted an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating throughout East Texas. Yarbrough was identified as a member of that organization and a distributor of methamphetamine, as well as a firearms trafficker. As a member of the organization, Yarbrough would receive methamphetamine transported by his co-conspirators and then distribute the methamphetamine in the Timpson area. On multiple occasions, law enforcement conducted operations leading to the purchase of methamphetamine and firearms from Yarbrough, including a modified .45 caliber rifle with a shortened barrel and an adjustable stock.
Further investigation revealed Yarbrough has previous felony convictions, including possession of a controlled substance, burglary of a building, and bail jumping. As a convicted felon, Yarbrough is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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.
This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Angelina County Sheriff's Office; Drug Enforcement Administration; and FBI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
Rochester Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Rochester man has been indicted on firearm and drug trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on or about April 28, 2024, Liban Abdikadar Abdullahi, 29, knowingly possessed a 9mm Glock model 43 semiautomatic pistol. Abdullahi also possessed with the intent to distribute fentanyl and carried the Glock pistol to further his drug trafficking crime.
Because Abdullahi has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The indictment charges Abdullahi with one count of possessing a firearm as a felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Abdullahi made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Rochester Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Recidivist Large-Scale Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Life in Prison Following Conviction at Trial for Violating Federal Kingpin StatuteRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A Jamaican national was sentenced in federal court on August 6, 2024, to life imprisonment for his conviction on six counts, including violating the federal “Kingpin” statute for leading a continuing criminal enterprise, as well as federal offenses involving cocaine trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Racoco Williams, 43. A Pittsburgh jury found Williams guilty of the six counts in September 2023 following a three-week trial.
Evidence introduced at trial established that Williams, who is originally from Jamaica, was the leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that distributed more than 150 kilograms of cocaine between 2012 and 2018. Williams obtained cocaine from near the Southwest border through a base of operations in Phoenix, Arizona. He then arranged to transport the cocaine to various cities on the east coast of the United States, including Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; New York City; and Pittsburgh. Although he relied on a variety of methods for transporting bulk cocaine, he regularly used young women—including a 16-year-old—as couriers, directing them to travel by bus or on domestic airlines with checked luggage filled with drugs. Williams then used many of these same women, who often faced dire financial circumstances, to transport cash proceeds of his cocaine trafficking back to Phoenix concealed in secret compartments in suitcases. To ensure the couriers’ obedience, Williams threatened them with violence, including threatening to kill one courier and her entire family if she cooperated with law enforcement.
“Racoco Williams orchestrated a years-long, cross-country drug trafficking and money laundering organization that distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine in various cities throughout the country, including communities in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Williams stayed behind the scenes, using couriers to transport bulk cocaine and cash to fuel his enterprise, and he maintained obedience through threats of violence, including a threat to kill a courier and her family. This prosecution makes clear yet again that our office and our law enforcement partners, here and across the country, are dedicated to identifying the most dangerous offenders and holding them accountable to the fullest extent of federal law.”
“This sentence is the culmination of years of investigative and prosecutorial work, diligence, and expertise,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Sara Bay. “As a result of this investigation, special agents and prosecutors were able to dismantle a vicious transnational drug trafficking organization and free the young women who Racoco Williams controlled through threats of violence. The partnership that HSI Pittsburgh has developed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania is truly remarkable and continues to work to ensure the safety of communities in western Pennsylvania.”
During the conspiracy, Williams was associated with multiple seizures involving large quantities of drugs, cash, and jewelry, with a total of approximately $895,000 in cash seized from Williams and his associates throughout the investigation. In 2012, for example, a search of the home he used for a drug transaction revealed $337,000 in cash concealed in secret compartments in eight suitcases. Although he pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal syndicate and received a sentence of two years of probation, Williams’s drug trafficking continued unabated. In 2014, he was again arrested in Arizona, and a search of two suitcases in his vehicle revealed approximately $160,000 in cash.
Evidence at trial further established significant trafficking activity in 2017. In April of that year, a search of an acquaintance’s home in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, uncovered six kilograms of cocaine and $78,500 in cash. Williams previously had arranged for a courier to travel with the same suitcase filled with cocaine from Las Vegas two days earlier. Less than a month later, in May 2017, a traffic stop by the Swissvale Police and later search of Williams’s car and hotel room revealed approximately $120,000 in cash and valuable jewelry. About three months later, a search of Williams’s Monroeville, Pennsylvania, hotel room revealed 17 kilograms of cocaine concealed in two suitcases, and approximately $192,000 in cash and $150,000 in jewelry concealed in another suitcase. Williams’s cross-country operation involved other individuals, including co-conspirators working out of the Penn Hills area of Pennsylvania who distributed cocaine supplied by Williams.
The evidence presented at trial further established that, even after he was incarcerated, Williams continued to arrange for shipments of cocaine from Phoenix to the Pittsburgh area. One such shipment in March 2018 comprised five kilograms of cocaine concealed inside a BMW sport utility vehicle on a car carrier destined for Pittsburgh that was seized by Arizona law enforcement officials. At trial, the jury further concluded that approximately $400,000 in cash, $200,000 worth of jewelry, and that BMW sport utility vehicle were forfeitable to the government.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Karen Gal-Or prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams. Numerous other law enforcement agencies and departments in Pennsylvania and Arizona assisted in the investigation, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Allegheny County Police Department, Swissvale Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff’s Office, and Yavapai County (Arizona) Sheriff’s Office.
Real Estate Professional Pleads Guilty to $55 Million Mortgage Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Tjoman Buditaslim pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco yesterday to wire fraud conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey; Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), Western Region Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Kaminsky; U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector-in-Charge Steve Sherwood; and Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), Western Region Special Agent-in-Charge Herminia Neblina.
In his plea agreement, Buditaslim, 52, of Daly City, California, admitted that from 2018 through 2022 he conspired with others—including Jose Tellez, Jose de Jesus Martinez, and Travis Holasek, all of whom previously pleaded guilty—to originate 102 home mortgage loans worth more than $55 million based on false and fraudulent loan application information, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Buditaslim admitted he worked with his co-conspirators to create fraudulent documents—including judicial divorce decrees, alimony/child supports checks, bank statements, and loan applications—and submitted those documents to multiple loan companies, which relied on falsely inflated income information in the fraudulent documents to extend mortgages. Buditaslim also admitted that many of the mortgage loans were insured by the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”), and he admitted that the FHA lost approximately $486,484.38 to keep some of the fraudulent loans from going into foreclosure.
Tellez, 27, of San Jose, pleaded guilty on July 24, 2024, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Tellez admitted in his plea agreement that, from 2019 through 2022, he worked as a loan officer at a mortgage company, where his job was to receive home mortgage loan applications and supporting documentation to determine if applicants qualified for mortgages based on his employer’s and FHA rules and guidelines. He also admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he helped originate approximately 30 home mortgage loans worth more than $17 million based on what he knew to be false and fraudulent income information in loan applications submitted by Buditaslim and others working with him. He also admitted that he knew he was required to stop and flag applications that contained false and fraudulent representations about income, but that he instead knowingly assisted in originating and funding the fraudulent loans and that he earned a commission on each of the 30 fraudulent loans he helped originated. Finally, Tellez admitted that many of the mortgage loans he helped originate were insured by the FHA, which he admitted lost approximately $265,457 to keep some of the fraudulent loans from going into foreclosure.
Martinez, 59, of Daly City, also pleaded guilty on July 24, 2024, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. In his plea agreement, Martinez admitted that, from 2018 through 2022, he worked as a licensed real estate agent representing buyers looking to purchase homes. Martinez further admitted that, to earn commission payments for himself, he referred clients he knew would not otherwise qualify for home mortgage loans to Buditaslim, who he knew would qualify the clients for home mortgage loans based on false and fraudulent loan application materials and information. Ultimately, Martinez admitted that as a result of his involvement in the conspiracy, his clients fraudulently received 49 loans worth a total of approximately $27.7 million for which he earned nearly $590,000 in real estate broker commissions. Finally, Martinez admitted that many of the mortgage loans his clients obtained as part of this scheme were insured by the FHA, which he admitted lost approximately $265,457 to keep some of the fraudulent loans from going into foreclosure.
“These defendants used their professional knowledge of the mortgage industry to perpetrate a fraud on unsophisticated home buyers, funneling these victims into loans for which they were not qualified,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “My office is committed to protecting all victims of fraud, whether federal agencies, Northern California residents, or—as happened here—both.”
“The defendants took advantage of their knowledge and training in the mortgage industry to circumvent the rules and abused the positions of trust they held as real estate professionals and gatekeepers of FHA-insured loans in order to line their own pockets,” said Western Region Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Kaminsky with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. “They created and passed false documents to qualify individuals unaware of their schemes for loans those individuals would not have otherwise qualified for. HUD OIG will continue to work with its prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who seek to profit by abusing HUD-funded programs.”
“FHFA OIG will vigorously investigate criminal offenses that impact the integrity of the residential mortgage market. In this case, a loan officer and real estate broker each had a duty to conduct business honestly but instead chose to engage in mortgage fraud, and some of those loans were later sold in mortgage-backed securities,” said Herminia Neblina, Special-Agent-in-Charge of FHFA-OIG’s Western Region. “We are proud to have partnered with our colleagues and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the effort to prosecute these financial criminals.”
Buditaslim, Tellez, and Martinez, and Holasek, 51, of San Francisco, were originally indicted by a federal grand jury on November 7, 2023. All four defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. All of the defendants were also charged with multiple counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343: Buditaslim and Tellez were each charged with five counts of wire fraud; Holasek was charged with four counts of wire fraud; and Martinez was charged with three counts of wire fraud. Buditaslim, Holasek, and Martinez were also each charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a)(1).
Buditaslim, Tellez, and Martinez are scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2024, in San Francisco by the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, Senior U.S. District Court Judge. They each face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the crime, plus restitution, following their wire fraud conspiracy convictions. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Holesek’s next scheduled appearance is for a status conference before Judge Breyer on November 6, 2024.
The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud and General Crimes Sections of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Christiaan Highsmith is the Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Lance Libatique and Aarian Beti. The prosecution is the result of a multi-year investigation by FHA-OIG, HUD OIG, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the California Department of Justice.
Readout of Justice Department Officials’ Participation in National Night OutRead the Press Release
Yesterday, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer participated in the 41st Annual National Night Out (NNO). Their participation in NNO events highlights the Justice Department’s partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement that have played key roles in its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, which focuses federal resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime.
Established in 1984 from a Justice Department Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant, NNO aims to build relationships with and between communities and law enforcement, promote police-community partnerships, and enhance neighborhood camaraderie. The community-building campaign provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
This year, NNO takes place as violent crime continues to decline nationwide, following an uptick during the pandemic in 2020. FBI data shows a decrease in violent crime in communities across the country in 2023 compared to the previous year, including an over 13% reduction in homicides. That is the steepest yearly decline in homicides, in over 50 years. Early data from 2024 indicates that this trend is continuing.
“Each year, National Night Out gives communities across the country the chance to celebrate and strengthen their partnerships with law enforcement,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This was a particularly meaningful National Night Out because it came after our country experienced one of the lowest nationwide violent crime rates in 50 years this past year. The Justice Department will never stop working to build on this progress because every person, in every neighborhood, in every community deserves to be safe from violent crime.”
The Attorney General participated in National Night Out events in Des Moines, Iowa. He was joined by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kahl for the Southern District of Iowa at an event hosted by the Urbandale Police Department, where they had an opportunity to engage with local law enforcement and community members.
This week, Attorney General Garland met with prosecutors and law enforcement partners from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Nevada, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Northern District of Iowa, and Southern District of Iowa. The Attorney General met with U.S. Attorney Jason Frierson for the District of Nevada and discussed his Office’s work as part of the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program (OCDETF), which seeks to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level criminal and drug trafficking organizations. In Wisconsin, he spoke with federal, state, and local law enforcement leaders, including Milwaukee Sheriff Denita Ball and Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, about efforts to continue to decrease violent crime and reduce fentanyl on streets in the Milwaukee area. Attorney General Garland also touted the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northen District of Iowa to secure sentences for multiple gun and drug crime offenders.
Deputy Attorney General Monaco attended two National Night Out events in Cincinnati with U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Kenneth Parker and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge. She visited the Westwood and Roselawn neighborhoods, where she spoke with local community leaders and law enforcement officials about how they are partnering together to keep Cincinnati safe. Prior to her NNO stops, the Deputy AG attended roll-call at the Cincinnati Police Department’s (CPD) Third District to thank the women and men of the force for their commitment to public safety.
While in Cincinnati, the Deputy AG visited the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio to hear from the dedicated prosecutors and professional staff of the office about their work to carry out the Justice Department’s mission, especially tackling violent crime. The Deputy AG also toured the Cincinnati Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC), which imbeds ATF special agents and analysts with local law enforcement and prosecutors to swiftly identify unlawfully used firearms and their sources. Like the many other crime gun intelligence centers nationwide, the Cincinnati CGIC harnesses cutting-edge technologies – including the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and eTrace systems — to rapidly develop and pursue investigative leads in order to drive case clearance rates up, which in turn can help drive violent crime rates down.
Prior to traveling to Cincinnati, the Deputy Attorney General delivered the keynote address at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, where she emphasized the crucial role women in law enforcement play in protecting communities nationwide.
Acting Associate Attorney General Mizer joined U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr. for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Special Agent in Charge Benny Mims of the ATF Charlotte Field Division, and U.S. Marshal Glenn McNeill Jr. for the Eastern District of North Carolina to attend two National Night Out events in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Acting Associate Attorney General visited Tarboro Road Community Center and The Village at Washington Terrace, where he met with law enforcement partners and community members and discussed issues of importance in Raleigh.
In addition to the federal, state, local, and Tribal partners, the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country are invaluable partners in the Department’s work to combat violent crime. All of the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices visited this week by the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and Acting Associate Attorney General maintain ongoing participation in the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which builds on existing programs in each district to reduce gun violence, gun crime, and sustain those reductions.
Editor’s Note: A previously posted photo was removed at the request of the subject(s).
Pleasant Gap Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Morelli, age 55, of Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information on August 6, 2024, with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the information charges Morelli with knowingly using a facility of interstate and foreign commerce to attempt to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in prostitution and sexual activity for which any person can be charged under Pennsylvania criminal laws, specifically aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and statutory sexual assault under Pennsylvania criminal laws.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Phoenix Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Threatening to Kill a Federal JudgeRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Clinton Mark Lewis, 52, of Phoenix, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash, to 51 months in prison. Lewis pleaded guilty to one count of Influencing, Impeding, or Retaliating Against a Federal Official by Threat on May 8, 2024.
On July 25, 2022, Lewis was in federal court for sentencing after a jury found him guilty of possessing child pornography. As the district judge was pronouncing his sentence, Lewis erupted in court, shouting profanities and racial slurs at the judge. During his tirade, Lewis threatened to kill the judge and the judge’s grandchildren. As a result, Lewis was removed from the courtroom.
On April 27, 2023, Lewis was indicted on three separate charges: Influencing, Impeding, or Retaliating Against a Federal Official by Threat, Obstruction of Justice, and Contempt. On May 8, 2024, Lewis pleaded guilty to Influencing, Impeding, or Retaliating Against a Federal Official.
At the sentencing hearing, Lewis was sentenced to 51 months in prison, which the court ordered to run consecutive to the 151 months in prison Lewis is currently serving for possession of child pornography.
“Due process demands that a defendant have a meaningful opportunity to speak with a District Judge at sentencing,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “But the right to allocute is not a license to antagonize or intimidate. We will continue to separately charge those who threaten judicial officers during court proceedings, and to seek additional, consecutive sentences to discourage and deter this criminal behavior.”
“The sentence handed down today underscores the seriousness of threatening a U.S. Marshals Service protectee,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Van Bayless. “Our very democracy is based on the premise that the Judiciary operate free from harm and intimidation of any type. I am grateful to our investigators and the U.S. Attorney’s prosecutors for their continued dedication and diligence in the protection of the judicial process.”
The United States Marshals Service Judicial Security Unit conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-583-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-110_Lewis# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Owner of Spokane Valley Medical Supply Company Agrees to Pay $224,620 to Resolve Allegations of Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced Justin Leland has agreed to pay $224,620.88 to resolve allegations he participated in a kick-back scheme to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment.
Medicare provides health insurance to elderly and disabled United States citizens. Medicare pays for covered health services, including durable medical equipment, under certain conditions. Durable medical equipment are supplies ordered by a health care provider for a patient’s everyday or extended use, such as oxygen equipment, wheelchairs, crutches or blood testing strips for diabetics. In order for durable medical equipment to be covered under Medicare, it must be ordered by a physician who is treating the beneficiary for a specific medical problem and must be used as part of the course of treatment for that specific medical problem.
According to court documents, in June of 2018, Leland registered US Professional Medical Supply LLC (USPMS) with the Washington Secretary of State. Leland also obtained a National Provider Identifier as a durable medical equipment and medical supply company and listed himself as the owner.
In September 2019, Leland submitted approximately 400 durable medical equipment billing claims to Medicare from USPMS, which all listed Leland as the provider and were ordered by doctors who solicited and received kickbacks in exchange for ordering the durable medical equipment. In total, Medicare paid out $112,310.44 for these claims.
During the investigation, Federal investigators learned patients received phone calls from telemarketers, provided brief statements to the callers, never actually saw or were examined by a provider, and received durable medical equipment that they did not actually need.
“This settlement puts durable medical equipment suppliers on notice that they will be held accountable if they attempt to defraud the United States,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “These schemes compromise patient care and result in payment for services that are not medically necessary. Such services not only drive-up medical costs for everyone, but in some instances may even prove harmful to patients. My office is committed to stopping health care fraud, protecting the resources of the federal government, and protecting the well-being of patients.”
“Durable medical equipment businesses that participate in illegal kickback schemes to boost their profits undermine the public’s trust and jeopardize the integrity of the Medicare program," said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This settlement demonstrates HHS-OIG’s enduring commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to combat health care fraud and aggressively pursue those who exploit federal health care programs.”
The settlement was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Seattle Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremey Kelley handled this matter on behalf of the United States.
The settlement agreement can be viewed here:
Leland Settlement AgreementOhio Man Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Offense Related to Dentistry PracticeRead the Press Release
An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to not paying more than $750,000 in employment taxes and not filing employment tax returns.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2014 through 2020, Eric Moesle, of Pickerington, served as the office manager for Elemental Dental in Pataskala, Ohio. At Elemental Dental, Moesle was responsible for payroll, bookkeeping and tax return preparation.
During that period, at Moesle’s direction and with his full knowledge, Elemental Dental was withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from its employees’ wages, which were reflected on paystubs and Forms W-2 issued to employees. However, from 2014 through 2020, Elemental Dental did not pay over those taxes to the IRS nor did it file employment tax returns. During the same period, the business also failed to pay over the employer’s share of those taxes. When interviewed by IRS representatives in 2022, Moesle falsely claimed that he did not know that the employment taxes had not been paid and that Elemental Dental’s employment tax returns and Forms W-2 had not been filed, and falsely stated that any such failures or omissions were unintentional.
In all, Moesle’s criminal conduct caused a tax loss to the IRS of $760,255.
The plea was offered today to U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King for the Southern District of Ohio. Once accepted by a U.S. district court judge, a sentencing date will be set. Moesle faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Hayter Whitman and Jeffrey McLellan of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Ohio Doctor Sentenced for Conspiring to Accept Kickbacks in Connection with Fraudulent Telemarketing Scheme that Harmed Medicare and TRICARE Patients in Eastern WashingtonRead the Press Release
Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Thomas Andrew Webster, M.D., age 51, of Sylvania, Ohio, pleaded guilty to conspiring to accept kickbacks in connection with a fraudulent telemarketing and medical supply scheme throughout Washington and in other states. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 24 months in federal custody to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, as well as restitution of $839,566.44. In addition, Judge Dimke imposed a fine of $50,000.
The Medicare program provides health insurance coverage for elderly and disabled Americans. The Department of Defense’s TRICARE program provides health benefits to United States Armed Forces military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents. Medicare and TRICARE provide health insurance coverage for eligible health services, including, under certain conditions, for durable medical equipment. Durable medical equipment are supplies ordered by a health care provider for a patient’s everyday or extended use, such as oxygen equipment, wheelchairs, crutches, or blood testing strips for diabetics. For durable medical equipment to qualify for reimbursement, the durable medical equipment is required to be ordered by a physician who is treating the beneficiary for a specific illness or injury and is required to be part of the course of that treatment.
During the relevant time period, Dr. Webster lived in Olympia, Washington, and was a licensed physician in Washington. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, between May 2021 and September 2023, Dr. Webster participated in a telemarketing scheme and conspiracy. A company identified as “Company A” obtained Medicare and TRICARE beneficiary information by using telemarketers to contact patients in Eastern Washington and elsewhere to obtain their personal and health information. Company A then used the information to create a fake medical record that falsely and fraudulently reflected doctor visits and treatment supposedly performed by Dr. Webster that did not exist, and fraudulent medical orders for durable medical equipment. Dr. Webster then signed the fraudulent medical documentation and durable medical equipment orders, which were then sold by Company A to companies that used the orders to falsely bill Medicare and TRICARE. Company A and Dr. Webster also falsely and fraudulently billed Medicare and TRICARE for the fictitious doctor visits and exams that did not take place.
Medicare and TRICARE paid more than $14.6 million for durable medical equipment fraudulently ordered by Dr. Webster for more than ten thousand beneficiaries in Eastern Washington and elsewhere, including beneficiaries who lacked the limb for which Defendant supposedly performed the exam and ordered the durable medical equipment, because it had been previously amputated. Dr. Webster also admitted to directly receiving at least $839,565 from Medicare and TRICARE for fraudulent doctor visits and exams that never took place. As part of the sentence, the court also ordered forfeiture of funds in Dr. Webster’s bank and investment accounts representing the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Dr. Webster to pay restitution to the Medicare and TRICARE programs.
“By placing his personal financial benefit ahead of his duty to patients, Dr. Webster violated the oath he took as a doctor and caused more than $14.6 million dollars to be lost from critical health care programs designed to care for elderly and disabled Americans, as well as for military servicemembers and their families,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Telemarketing schemes that target and exploit the elderly and our servicemembers are especially pernicious because they prey on those who are often most in need of a doctor’s independent judgment that is not tainted or biased by the doctor’s own personal financial interest.”
“Illegal kickback arrangements can corrupt the legitimate medical decision-making process and undermine the integrity of federal healthcare programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s sentence demonstrates the commitment of HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners to hold those who exploit these programs for personal gain accountable.”
“Today’s sentencing is a clear signal that those who corrupt federal healthcare programs, including the Department of Defense’s TRICARE program, will be held accountable.” said Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “Dr. Webster’s greed siphoned off tax dollars meant to provide health care for members of the U.S. Military and their families. DCIS and our investigative partners will relentlessly pursue those who steal from the government at the expense of taxpayers, our nation’s warfighters, and their families.”
“I want to especially thank and commend the outstanding investigative work by our partners with HHS-OIG and DCIS,” continued U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Their skill and dogged determination throughout this complex investigation made this result possible. We will continue to work hand-in-glove with our law enforcement partners to hold fraudsters accountable.”
The case was investigated by HHS OIG’s Seattle Field Office and DCIS’ Western Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Fruchter prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States; Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Donovan is handling the forfeiture action.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TRAVIS JACKSON (“JACKSON”), age 34, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on August 6, 2024, before United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion, to conspiring to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a gun, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made several controlled purchases of drugs from JACKSON and his co-defendant. The FBI then conducted wire intercepts of two phones belonging to the co-defendant. During the wiretaps, the FBI heard multiple calls related to drug trafficking, including calls with buyers, calls with other larger-scale dealers, and calls warning other dealers of police activity. The FBI later executed search warrants, arresting the co-defendant with a gun and fentanyl and, also, arresting JACKSON with a gun. JACKSON’s prior felony convictions prohibit him from possessing a firearm.
Judge Papillion set sentencing for November 12, 2024. On the drug conspiracy count, JACKSON faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of forty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000 and, at least four years of supervised release. On the felon in possession of a firearm count, JACKSON faces a maximum of fifteen years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. As to each count, he also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator.
Mt. Lebanon Resident Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on August 6, 2024, to 23 years of incarceration, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, on his conviction related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Andrew Kalyl Foxx, a/k/a James Andrew Liles, a/k/a Andrew James Liles, 43. Foxx pleaded guilty to two counts on May 15, 2024.
According to information presented to the Court, on or about March 3, 2023, Foxx secretly recorded himself sexually abusing a minor. On March 9, 2023, the defendant knowingly possessed this video file depicting the child sexual exploitation.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Pittsburgh Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, Allegheny County Police Department, and Mt. Lebanon Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Foxx.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Million-dollar PPP scheme sends Sugar Land man to prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 43-year-old man has been sentenced for submitting fake and fraudulent Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application documents and collecting the money for personal use, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Zain Khan pleaded guilty April 10.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Khan to serve 48 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony that described how Khan almost immediately lost the money he stole in various stock trading maneuvers. Khan was further ordered to pay $1 million in restitution to the SBA. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rosenthal noted the severity of Khan’s criminal activity at a time when the country was suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In or around April 2021, Khan created a fictitious temporary workforce business and payroll documents to qualify for program funds. Khan then converted the program funds for personal use to be invested in stock trading.
The federal government created the PPP under the CARES Act to protect jobs during the 2020 pandemic. The PPP allows entities to apply for low-interest private loans to pay for payroll and certain other related costs.
The scheme caused a loss of more than $1 million.
Khan was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig M. Feazel and Thomas Carter prosecuted the case.
Mexican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Virgilio Cisneros-Mayo, age 45, of Mexico, was indicted on August 7, 2024, by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Cisneros-Mayo was previously removed from the United States on July 12, 2021 through Brownsville, Texas, and it is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. The indictment also alleges that on June 28, 2024, Cisneros-Mayo was encountered in York County, Pennsylvania.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dukes is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Las Vegas Man Indicted for Sending Threatening Text MessagesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury in Las Vegas returned an indictment Tuesday charging a Las Vegas resident with sending threatening text messages to injure and kill two people and their families in California.
Idriss Qibaa, 28, is charged with two counts of interstate communications. An arraignment and plea hearing is scheduled before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler on Friday, August 16, 2024. He was previously charged by a criminal complaint on July 23, 2024; and he remains in custody.
According to allegations contained in court documents, on July 19, 2024, Qibaa sent text messages containing threats to injure and kill a victim and members of the victim’s family. Later, on July 24, Qibaa sent text messages containing threats to injure and kill another victim.
If convicted, Qibaa faces a maximum sentence of five years confinement and a $250,000 fine on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Las Vegas Field Office and the Beverly Hills Police Department are investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Travell Lamar Johnson, 45, of Big Chimney, was sentenced today to four years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 14, 2023, Johnson sold approximately 3.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Charleston gas station. Johnson admitted to the transaction and to arranging it beforehand with the confidential informant.
The confidential informant arranged two additional fentanyl transactions with Johnson that month. Johnson sold the confidential informant approximately 4.8 grams of fentanyl at the Charleston gas station for $500 on June 16, 2023. Johnson agreed to sell 10 grams of fentanyl to the confidential informant on June 21, 2023, at the same location. Co-defendant Alexis Nicole Davis stopped that transaction after recognizing the would-be buyer as a confidential informant. Law enforcement officers apprehended Johnson and Davis following the interrupted drug transaction and seized approximately 9.8 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl.
Johnson has a long criminal history that includes at least six prior convictions for drug-related offenses and other crimes.
Davis, 26, of Charleston, pleaded guilty on May 2, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and awaits sentencing.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-177.
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Kalamazoo Man Indicted for Possessing A Firearm as A Felon Before Fleeing into Crowd of Runners at Kalamazoo MarathonRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jaeontae Moore, 23, of Kalamazoo, with possessing a loaded handgun when he was ineligible to possess firearms because of a prior felony conviction, before fleeing into a crowd of runners at the Kalamazoo Marathon on Sunday, May 5, 2024
“This allegation is serious, and the circumstances of the defendant’s arrest are very troubling,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Every person, regardless of where they live, deserves to live their life and enjoy their community free from the fear of gunfire – especially at an event like the Kalamazoo Marathon that brings so many people together around a love of running.”
The indictment charges Moore with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The maximum possible penalty for felon in possession of a firearm is 15 years in prison.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers attempted to contact Moore while he was in a car during the Kalamazoo marathon in May. Moore fled from the scene and was apprehended a short distance away. Officers located the firearm he is alleged to have illegally possessed at that time.
“I am extremely grateful to have such dedicated and committed officers who work hard every day to keep our community safe. Detective Ondreya Anderson was off-duty and was running in a marathon when she observed an armed individual who was extremely agitated. Instead of continuing with the marathon that she had worked and trained so hard for, she called herself to duty,” said KDPS Chief Dave Boysen. “Thanks to her quick actions, no one was injured. The suspect was safely taken into custody and the firearm that he illegally possessed was recovered. I am also grateful for our partnership with the ATF and U.S. Attorney's Office for helping to ensure that Mr. Moore will face the consequences for his actions.”
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney LaToyia Carpenter is prosecuting it.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Investment Banker Sentenced to Prison for Violating Consent JudgementRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today for violating a consent judgment that prohibited him from participating in the offer or sale of securities.
Craig Medoff, 64, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 20 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Medoff was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine. In May 2024, Medoff pleaded guilty to one count of criminal contempt for violating a court order.
Medoff was a long-time investment banker who previously worked at multiple investment firms, including Nova Capital International, LLC and Sabrex Development, LLC. In 2012, Medoff was accused of securities fraud in a lawsuit brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC v. BioChemics, Inc., et al., 12 Civ. 12324 (D. Mass.).
In 2016, Medoff resolved the civil case against him by agreeing to a consent judgement that prohibited Medoff from participating in the offer or sale of securities for a period of 10 years. Shortly thereafter, Medoff created Nova Capital International, LLC, as well as an alias, “Alexander Carlin,” that he used to continue operating in the securities industry notwithstanding the consent order. Between 2016 and 2023, Medoff used his company and alias to operate as an investment banker on behalf of multiple private companies that were raising money through the sale of securities. In total, Medoff’s company received millions in income, more than $1.6 million of which went to Medoff personally.
In September 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a motion seeking an order of civil contempt and sanctions based on Medoff’s violation of the 2016 consent judgment. In February 2024, the Court found that there was probable cause to believe Medoff knowingly and willfully violated the 2016 consent judgment, charged Medoff with criminal contempt and appointed the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts to prosecute the case. In May 2024, Medoff pleaded guilty to the criminal contempt charge. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s civil case remains ongoing.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy made the announcement. The Securities and Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance in the criminal case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie A. Wright and Christopher J. Markham of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Inmate indicted for escapeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Wichita, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a man with escaping from a federal detention center.
According to court documents, Lee Owen Hallford, 42, is charged with one count of escape from custody.
Hallford is accused of unlawfully leaving the custody of the Bureau of Prisons while at the Residential Reentry Center — Correctional Solution Group, LLC in Wichita. He was detained based on a conviction in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma for assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country.
The U.S. Marshals Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lanny Welch and Aaron Smith are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Houston resident sentenced for having pornographic images of childrenRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 32-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Cody Wayne Burke pleaded guilty April 15.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now sentenced Burke to 180 months for both convictions to be served concurrently. At the hearing, the court heard additional information about the vast collection of child pornography discovered on electronic devices seized during a March 2022 search.
Burke will be ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date to identified victims and must serve rest of his life on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Burke will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Burke came to the attention of law enforcement based on a cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. An IP address appeared to be uploading child pornography to cloud storage servers. The investigation led to Burke and his residence in Houston.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant and seized electronic devices to include cellphones. Further analysis ultimately revealed Burke possessed a total of 850 images depicting child pornography. His collection included prepubescent minors, bondage and bestiality involving minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherin Daniel is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Fraud Ringleader and Former Fugitive William Mize Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that William Oldham Mize pleaded guilty to conspiracy, tax fraud, and failing to appear at court proceedings. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice accepted Mize’s guilty plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing for November 6, 2024, in Spokane, Washington.
According to the plea agreement and other court filings, Mize was the ringleader of a massive insurance fraud scheme to intentionally cause automobile and boat collisions as well as staged home “accidents” in order to file false and fraudulent insurance claims and collect the proceeds. According to court documents, the scheme took place between 2013 and 2018, involved numerous staged collisions in Washington and Nevada, and obtained more than $6 million, most of which was kept by Mize.
Mize originally appeared in federal court on his indictment on January 9, 2019. Following his initial appearance, he was released pending trial. In July 2019, Mize fled from supervision and became a fugitive, living under a number of false identities.
On November 28, 2023, the U.S. Marshals apprehended Mize in Jacksonville, Florida based on a lead that Mize, using a false identity, was attempting to sell a yacht in which was living in the Jacksonville area. Mize was then located and arrested at a marina in central Florida and transported to Eastern Washington, where he has remained in custody.
U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “Mr. Mize attempted, but ultimately failed, to avoid the consequences of his fraudulent and dangerous schemes. Over the course of several years, Mr. Mize defrauded insurance companies out of millions of dollars by staging fake accidents that caused real, physical harm to his co-conspirators and others. These schemes greatly increase insurance premiums and costs for everyone, making it more expensive for ordinary Americans to own a car and to have reliable transportation for themselves and their families. I am grateful for the excellent investigative work by our law enforcement partners and prosecutors in my office, as well as the tireless dedication of the U.S. Marshals to locate and return Mr. Mize to the Eastern District, where he finally will be held accountable for the great harm caused by his fraudulent scheme.”
“This case demonstrates the dedication of the FBI, the U.S. Marshals, IRS Criminal Investigation, and all our law enforcement partners to hold fraudsters and fugitives accountable no matter how long the process takes or how far they run,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Mr. Mize pleaded guilty today after a multi-year, multi-million dollar scheme, followed by years of hiding from the law.”
“Preventing auto accidents requires communal effort, and safety is something we all strive for. Mr. Mize, on the other hand, chose to travel a different path,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), Seattle Field Office. “Going on the run, Mr. Mize tried to escape the consequences of his actions. Today, however, is the end of the road, and Mr. Mize is being held accountable for his crimes.”
“The United States Marshals Service worked as one team with the IRS and the FBI in this case to relentlessly pursue this fugitive until he was apprehended, in spite of his resources and intent to avoid capture, stated Gavin K. Duffy, Chief Deputy United States Marshal for Eastern Washington. “While this case has garnered significant attention, the partnership and teamwork between local, state, and federal agencies occurs every day in Eastern Washington to maximize both the benefit to our community and to ensure the Rule of Law is maintained.”
The FBI, Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Jeremy J. Kelley are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Franklin County Man Admits Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Franklin County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted exchanging cash and other items of value for sex with a 14-year-old girl.
Theodore “Ted” John Sartori Sr., 63, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to a felony charge of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He admitted that from the winter of 2013 to the summer of 2016, he provided cash, a car, a motorcycle, Christmas presents and vacations to a friend in exchange for access to the victim, a 14-year-old girl.
As part of his plea, Sartori has also agreed to pay more than $25,000 in restitution to his victim.
Sartori is scheduled to be sentenced November 6. The charge carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated jointly by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Four Individuals Charged in Connection with Armed Robbery of U.S. Postal Service EmployeeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Four Essex County, New Jersey, men have been charged in connection with an armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service employee, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Troy D. Corbett Jr., 28, Dyshawn Williams, 28, and Antwuan Brown, 24, all of Newark, are charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Corbett and Williams are also charged with assaulting or impeding a federal officer using a deadly weapon. Brown and Karieem Stamps, 25, also of Newark, are charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Corbett is also charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Stamps is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Corbett, Williams, and Stamps were arrested in Newark on Aug. 1, 2024, and made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court. Corbett, Williams, and Stamps were detained. Brown was arrested on Aug. 1, 2024, in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, and made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler in North Carolina federal court. Brown was detained.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
In November 2023, three individuals – including Corbett and Williams – robbed a U.S. Postal Service employee at gunpoint in Newark. The assailants stole the victim’s cell phone, keys, and wallet – including a credit card and debit card. The robbery impeded the victim from delivering mail, which interfered with interstate commerce. Shortly after the robbery, Stamps and Brown used the stolen debit card to make separate purchases. Both transactions passed through servers located outside of New Jersey.
On Jan. 18, 2024, Corbett – who was convicted of felony offenses in 2018 – possessed a distribution quantity of suspected methamphetamine and a pistol loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition that was manufactured outside of New Jersey. On Aug. 1, 2024, Stamps – who was convicted of a felony offense in 2020 – possessed a Glock 29 Gen5 handgun with an extended magazine and approximately 25 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition.
The counts of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and assaulting or impeding a federal employee carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The counts of wire fraud carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The counts of aggravated identity theft carry a mandatory two-year prison sentence. The counts of possession of ammunition or a firearm by a convicted felon carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory five-year prison sentence – which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed – and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, with the investigation. He also thanked special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; deputies of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos Jr.; police officers and detectives of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Fritz G. Fragé; officers of the New Jersey State Parole Board, under the direction of Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri Jr.; and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli Jacobs of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
corbettetal.complaint.pdfFort Washakie man sentenced for assault with a golf clubRead the Press Release
Aaron Clair Bigknife, age 58, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on August 6 in Cheyenne.
According to the complaint filed in the case, Bigknife was at a friend’s house playing cards on the night of August 27, 2023, when he hit one of his friends in the head with a golf club. The attack was unprovoked. When detectives interviewed Bigknife he admitted to drinking heavily before arriving at his friend’s house and continued to drink when he got there. He claimed to not remember anything that happened until he was arrested by the police.
This crime was investigated by the FBI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore.
Case No. 23-CR-00134