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30 July 2024
Eufaula Resident Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Danny Gene Kirby, age 66, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On June 28, 2023, a federal jury found Kirby guilty of causing the death of the victim. According to investigators, on July 23, 2022, Kirby crashed his motorcycle while leaving the Fountainhead Marina Bar in Checotah, Oklahoma. Kirby’s passenger was thrown from the motorcycle and later died from injuries sustained in the crash. A blood sample was drawn and tested as part of the investigation and revealed that Kirby had alcohol, marijuana, amphetamine, tramadol, citalopram, trazodone, and oxycodone in his system. The crime occurred in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Kirby was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Eight Members and Associates of Philadelphia Gang Known as Omerta Indicted on Federal Racketeering and Related ChargesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that an indictment charging eight members and associates of a local Philadelphia gang known as Omerta was unsealed today. The indictment charges various crimes including racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit counterfeiting, and mail and wire fraud.
The defendants charged in the nine-count indictment are Jahlil Williams, aka “Bill,” “25th Street Bill,” “Kill Bill,” age 25; Rakiem Savage, aka “Roc,” “Fat Roc,” “roc30st_,” age 26; Kyair Garnett, aka “Ky Jefe,” “Jefe,” age 23; Haneef Roberson, aka “Haneef Robinson-Tucker,” “Neef,” “Black Neef,” “BlackNeef25st,” age 23; Biheis Moore, aka “Heis,” “Klay,” “klay_30st,” “heis.30st,” age 24; Rakiem King, aka “Cat,” “Hellcat,” “Hellcat30st,” age 25; Ward Roberts, aka “Rob,” “YoungWard25,” age 25; and Harry Draper, aka “Coach,” “Unk,” age 46.
The indictment alleges that the defendants were part of a racketeering enterprise that was engaged in murder, murder for hire, shootings, firearm possession, counterfeiting, money laundering, illegal gambling, robbery, drug trafficking and mail and wire fraud related to COVID-19 relief payments. The conspiracy spanned from 2018 to 2023, and during that time, members of the conspiracy engaged in multiple acts of violence and fraud to enrich their enterprise, protect their gang territory and their reputation. The Omerta organization is based in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of Philadelphia, and is also closely aligned with another, larger Philadelphia gang named “Zoo Gang.” Omerta used social media, music, and music videos to enrich its members, promote their identity and image, recruit new members, brag about their own violent acts, and insult rival gangs and gang members.
Specifically, in September 2021, members of the conspiracy murdered C.J. and shot two other women in a murder-for-hire gone wrong. Then, in November 2021, members of the conspiracy murdered fourteen-year-old S.J. on a street corner in broad daylight because they felt he had either mocked their gang or was related to someone who killed one of their gang members. In addition, mentioned in the indictment are at least two other shootings that members of Omerta committed during the course of the conspiracy to protect their territory, as well as plans to commit murder for hire.
To fund Omerta, members of the conspiracy committed over $1.5 million worth of counterfeiting by visiting stores throughout Pennsylvania and up and down the eastern seaboard to illegally change counterfeit currency for U.S. currency. In addition, members of the conspiracy filed fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications, receiving a total of over $443,000 to fund their illegal enterprise.
If convicted, some defendants face a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, while others face a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI, United States Secret Service, Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Lanni, Everett Witherell, and Shayna Gannone.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Dominican Republic Resident Admits Role in Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A resident of the Dominican Republic today admitted participating in a conspiracy to distribute and transport bulk quantities of fentanyl into northern New Jersey communities from a drug mill located in the Philadelphia area, as well as possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Hector Luis de la Cruz Nunez, 32, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Two other individuals, Emmanuel F. Almonte Mejia, 39, and Loanny F. Duran Hiciano, 43, were also charged in March 2022 for the same offense. Their cases are pending.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In February 2022, law enforcement officers learned that a drug-trafficking organization was utilizing a private residence in the Philadelphia area to operate a large-scale fentanyl production and distribution mill from which they were regularly transporting bulk quantities of fentanyl into northern New Jersey communities. On March 8, 2022, law enforcement officers observed Nunez exit the mill carrying a large, weighted bag which he placed in a clandestine compartment hidden inside of his private vehicle. Nunez then departed in the vehicle and left the Philadelphia area before proceeding onward into New Jersey.
Law enforcement agents stopped Nunez’s vehicle in Union, New Jersey and discovered four large, wrapped bricks each of which contained approximately 100 individual packages of fentanyl, for a total of 400 individual packages, which Nunez stated were destined to be distributed to individuals located in northern New Jersey.
The two charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl each come with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $1 million. Sentencing for Nunez is scheduled for Dec. 5, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, HSI Philadelphia, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Katie Bay, and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincent D. Romano of the Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges against Almonte Mejia and Duran Hiciano are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
nunez.information.pdfDelaware Man Convicted of Kidnapping, Hobbs Act Conspiracy, and Firearm Charges for Multi-State Crime Spree, Which Ended in Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that on July 25, 2024, a federal jury convicted Tonnaire McNair-Matthews, 24, on charges of Kidnapping, Carjacking, Hobbs Act Robbery and Conspiracy, and Brandishing and Use of a Firearm in Relation to Hobbs Act Robbery and Kidnapping. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly accepted the verdict.
According to court records and evidence presented at the four-day trial, McNair-Matthews together with David Hinson, 23, Michael Caldwell, 21, and Mahkiya Powell, 20, conspired to rob unsuspecting drivers by rear-ending them with a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee (“the Jeep”) with the intent to rob the drivers when they got out to inspect their cars for damage. After three unsuccessful carjacking attempts, McNair-Matthews, while driving the Jeep, rear-ended the victim, then approached the victim’s car and abducted the victim at gunpoint.
McNair-Matthews then drove the victim, against her will, in the victim’s car from Delaware back into Pennsylvania where he had rear-ended her. During the ride, McNair-Matthews forced the victim to disrobe, demanded the victim’s PIN code, and digitally penetrated her against her will. After arriving in Pennsylvania, McNair-Matthews then forcibly raped the victim at gunpoint. McNair-Matthews then abandoned the victim and drove the victim’s car to Delaware convenience stores, withdrawing money from the victim’s bank accounts via ATM transactions using the stolen PIN code.
McNair-Matthews then reunited with Hinson, Powell, and Caldwell in Wilmington, Delaware. Once there, McNair-Matthews provided them the victim’s bank cards, PIN, and the firearm he used in the carjacking and rape. Hinson, Powell, and Caldwell then cleaned the victim’s car and stole her purse. After McNair-Matthews changed clothes to try and evade detection, the four men met up at a Wilmington gas station, where law enforcement tracked them. On sight, McNair-Matthews and Powell led law enforcement on a high-speed chase in the Jeep and evaded capture. McNair-Matthews was arrested three days later after fleeing to Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The defendants engaged in a heinous crime spree with devastating consequences. Coordination between my office and our state and federal law enforcement partners to bring Mr. McNair-Matthews and his coconspirators to justice was swift and exceptional. We will continue to work together to remove violent offenders from our streets. I commend the victim’s bravery and hope that the jury’s guilty verdict brings some measure of closure.”
“The amount of harm and senseless violence McNair-Matthews and his coconspirators carried out in a single day is astonishing said,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “I am deeply grateful for the expert help of Deputy Attorney General Diana Dunn and the rest of our team, as well as the Delaware and Pennsylvania State Police, and our partners with the FBI in bringing them to justice and holding them accountable for the harm they’ve so callously inflicted.”
“There is no place in our society for a violent rapist, kidnapper, and criminal like Tonnaire McNair-Matthews. This conviction ensures he will spend time behind bars for the horrible and cruel attack he viciously inflicted upon an innocent woman,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “I am proud of the work the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force does with our local, state and federal partners to identify and arrest dangerous criminals like McNair-Matthews and bring them to justice.”
McNair-Matthews faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Weiss, Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, and the Delaware State Police (DSP) Troop 2 Commander commended the work of those who investigated the case, including DSP, the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce, Wilmington Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Delaware Department of Justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Samuel S. Frey, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Dunn are assigned to prosecute the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 23-68.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to Seventeen Years in Federal Prison for Coercion and Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced defendant Paul Francis Blaisse, 65, of Walkersville, Maryland, to seventeen years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release for one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. Judge Maddox also ordered Blaisse to pay $83,694 in restitution to his victims and, after his release from prison, to register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student.
The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Nicole M. Argentieri; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and J. Charles Smith III, State’s Attorney for Frederick County, Maryland.
According to court documents, beginning as early as 2011, Blaisse engaged in live video chats with minor children who were engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Mr. Blaisse exchanged messages with hundreds of individuals on video chat sites who offered access to minor children via webcam. During these chats, Blaisse discussed his sexual interest in children and distributed child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office identified Blaisse after receiving a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual using an IP address associated with Blaisse’s residence uploaded CSAM to a video chat account.
In October 2018, Blaisse used an online video chat application, to entice a minor child in the Philippines to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Records of Blaisse’s activity show that he communicated with an adult in the Philippines who arranged for the minor child to participate in a video chat with Blaisse. In addition to these chats, Blaisse’s electronic devices contained hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including prepubescent minors.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI Baltimore Field Office, the Justice Department’s High Technology Investigative Unit, and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Leading the prosecution of this case are Department of Justice Trial Attorney Eduardo Palomo, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Aubin, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce King. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Convicted Health Care Fraud defendant sentenced to an additional six-month sentence for failing to report to prison as directedRead the Press Release
Seattle – The former co-owner of a defunct medical testing company, who failed to report to prison as directed last spring, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to an additional six months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Richard Reid, 55, was convicted in March 2022, of five federal felonies connected to his scheme to profit from illegal kickbacks in the medical testing industry. In January 2023 he was sentenced to two years in prison.
At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said Reid’s persistent failure to accept responsibility “takes my breath away.”
Reid had repeatedly petitioned the judge to delay his prison reporting date, claiming to have COVID-19 and then long COVID. Judge John C. Coughenour refused to delay the date past the end of April 2023. Rather than report to prison, Reid left his home in Astoria, Oregon and went on the run. The FBI issued a “Wanted” poster.
On May 7, 2023, a member of the public reported seeing Reid, and he was arrested in Taylorsville, Oregon.
In asking for an additional ten months in prison, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Dion wrote to the court, “Richard Reid refused to accept responsibility for his role in a healthcare kickbacks scheme, and then refused to serve the sentence imposed by the Court. He exploited the Court’s generosity in granting him two extensions of his reporting date, and simply ignored the Court’s rejection of this third request. Many hours of law enforcement resources were wasted in a multi-day fugitive investigation that ended with Reid being arrested in a bar.”
The activities of Bellevue-based Northwest Physicians Laboratory (NWPL) have been the subject of extensive civil and criminal litigation. Richard Reid was one of the owners and the Vice President of Sales for NWPL. Reid helped NWPL obtain more than $3.7 million in kickback payments by steering urine drug test specimens to two labs that could bill the government for testing.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Dion
Convicted Felon Indicted on Federal Charges for Armed CarjackingsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rasheed Jenkins, 25, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges arising out of armed carjackings he allegedly committed in August 2023 and January 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The superseding indictment, unsealed today, charges Jenkins with two counts of carjacking, two related counts of using, carrying, possessing, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that Jenkins committed armed carjackings on August 25, 2023, and January 26, 2024. The indictment further alleges that on August 26, 2023, and February 2, 2024, Jenkins unlawfully possessed semi-automatic pistols and ammunition. Federal law prohibits Jenkins from possessing firearms and ammunition because he was previously convicted, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland, of offenses that are punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
According to Court documents, on August 25, 2023, Jenkins carjacked a man at gunpoint outside a residence in Southeast Washington, D.C., taking a Dodge Charger. After MPD’s Air Support Unit spotted the carjacked vehicle and illuminated it with a spotlight, Jenkins fled through the District before abandoning the vehicle in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Northwest Washington, D.C. MPD officers found Jenkins hiding near the basement entrance of a row home in the block, and they recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield 9mm semi-automatic pistol from a mailbox just feet away. On January 26, 2024, Jenkins and an unidentified accomplice carjacked a woman at gunpoint outside of a convenience store in Capitol Heights, Maryland, taking a BMW 328i. A week later, on February 2, 2024, officers with the Forest Heights Police Department spotted the carjacked BMW in Oxon Hill, Maryland, and attempted a traffic stop. Jenkins fled at a high rate of speed, leading officers on a chase into the District of Columbia. He ultimately abandoned the vehicle in the Eastern Market neighborhood of Southeast Washington, D.C., and was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. Officers recovered a loaded Glock 30 Gen4 .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol from the vehicle’s backseat. DNA testing and analysis linked Jenkins to the firearms recovered during his August 2023 and February 2024 arrests. In addition, ATF Special Agents later obtained historical cell site location data for Jenkins’ cellphone, which revealed that Jenkins’ phone was present near the scenes of both the August 2023 and January 2024 armed carjackings.
A federal grand jury previously indicted Jenkins for his February 2, 2024, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Jenkins was arrested on July 4, 2024, and has remained detained ever since. The case is assigned to the Honorable Dabney L. Friedrich of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Jenkins faces a mandatory minimum of 14 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed in this case will be determined by the Court after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Division’s Strategic Pattern Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension Group (SPARTA). Valuable assistance was provided by MPD, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Forest Heights Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul V. Courtney and Cameron A. Tepfer with significant assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Toth.
Charlotte Man Charged with Illegal Possession of A Firearm Appears Before A Federal JudgeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – D’Angelo De’Mara McNeil, 34, of Charlotte, appeared in federal court today on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations in the indictment and today’s court proceedings, on June 2, 2022, CMPD responded to a 911 call at an apartment complex in Charlotte, about an individual shooting at children. The caller indicated that after the incident, the individual – later identified as McNeil – had fled the scene in his vehicle. CMPD located McNeil in his parked vehicle in the parking lot of another apartment complex in the area. CMPD officers approached McNeil and the defendant was taken into custody. The arresting officers also retrieved a handgun from underneath the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The firearm’s magazine was empty and there was one round in the chamber.
According to court records, investigating officers spoke with an individual who had witnessed the shooting. The witness told the officers that two young boys had run up to him and told him that McNeil was allegedly shooting at them. The witness also indicated that he then observed McNeil chasing children, heard two gunshots, and saw McNeil put a firearm in his pocket before driving away. A second witness told the officers that two children had run up to her and asked to be let into the apartment complex’s leasing office because a man with a gun was chasing them.
Following the court hearing, McNeil was remanded into federal custody. The charge of possession of a firearm by a felon carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charge in the indictment is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The ATF and CMPD investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shavonn Bennette of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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.
Canadian Man Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Steal Millions of Dollars from Bank Accounts of Thousands of Victims in the United StatesRead the Press Release
A Canadian man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Las Vegas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme to steal millions of dollars from thousands of victims in the United States.
According to court documents, Poupak Jannissar, 52, of Quebec, Canada, operated and controlled sham companies that used fake checks and other fraudulent debits to steal from victims’ accounts at banks in the United States. The defendant and his co-conspirators used various names for the sham companies, including Computer Run, EBooks, Joreeb, Memo Storage, Our Online Backup, You Can Fax Too and Your E-Library. These companies pretended to sell various internet-based services for consumers, such as cloud storage, internet faxing and online books. However, the sham companies did not actually provide any real products or services. Instead, the sham companies served to conceal the theft of money from bank accounts by Jannissar and his co-conspirators.
According to court documents, Jannissar and his co-conspirators bought lists containing misappropriated personal information belonging to thousands of potential victims. Jannissar and his co-conspirators then falsely represented to banks and others that individual victims had authorized debits from their bank accounts. If the individual victims did not notice and dispute initial charges made by the sham companies, the sham companies would fraudulently debit bank accounts multiple times. Jannissar and his co-conspirators transferred money they stole to accounts in Canada.
Jannissar pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of money laundering in front of U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.
Jannissar was arrested on Jan. 22, at the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Florida based on a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued in the District of Nevada by U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler. He was subsequently indicted on the charges to which he pled guilty today.
“Through various sham entities, the defendant and his accomplices stole consumers’ hard-earned money directly from their bank accounts,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will use all of the tools at its disposal to apprehend and prosecute criminals, whether located inside or outside the United States, who steal from Americans.”
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates our commitment to finding and prosecuting individuals who steal from consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Defrauding consumers and stealing their hard-earned dollars is a crime against the individuals but it also violates the trust we have in free commerce. With our law enforcement partners, we are committed to holding accountable those who violate federal law. We thank our partners for their investigative efforts to help bring justice for victims.”
“Mr. Jannisar and his co-conspirators used sham companies to steal from unknowing victims by accessing their bank accounts using personal identifiable information from illegally obtained lists, and sadly nothing more than a keystroke on a computer,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations (USPIS-CI). “His actions and those of his co-conspirators represent a crime of greed and opportunity but will not go unpunished thanks to the law enforcement community, who have dedicated their mission to uncovering and putting an end to devious schemes like these.”
"The defendant's guilty plea holds him accountable for perpetrating a fraudulent scheme that stole funds from thousands of victims' bank accounts,” said Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG) Chicago Regional Office. “The FDIC OIG continues to work closely with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who cause financial harm to consumers and threaten to undermine the integrity of our Nation's banking system."
Jannissar faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per charge. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
USPIS-CI and FDIC OIG are investigating the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided valuable assistance.
Senior Trial Attorney Daniel Zytnick of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Consumer complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Canadian Man Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Steal Millions of Dollars from Bank Accounts of Thousands of Victims in the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Canadian man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Las Vegas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme to steal millions of dollars from thousands of victims in the United States.
According to court documents, Poupak Jannissar, 52, of Quebec, Canada, operated and controlled sham companies that used fake checks and other fraudulent debits to steal from victims’ accounts at banks in the United States. The defendant and his co-conspirators used various names for the sham companies, including Computer Run, EBooks, Joreeb, Memo Storage, Our Online Backup, You Can Fax Too and Your E-Library. These companies pretended to sell various internet-based services for consumers, such as cloud storage, internet faxing and online books. However, the sham companies did not actually provide any real products or services. Instead, the sham companies served to conceal the theft of money from bank accounts by Jannissar and his co-conspirators.
According to court documents, Jannissar and his co-conspirators bought lists containing misappropriated personal information belonging to thousands of potential victims. Jannissar and his co-conspirators then falsely represented to banks and others that individual victims had authorized debits from their bank accounts. If the individual victims did not notice and dispute initial charges made by the sham companies, the sham companies would fraudulently debit bank accounts multiple times. Jannissar and his co-conspirators transferred money they stole to accounts in Canada.
Jannissar pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of money laundering in front of U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.
Jannissar was arrested on Jan. 22, at the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Florida based on a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued in the District of Nevada by U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler. He was subsequently indicted on the charges to which he pled guilty today.
“Through various sham entities, the defendant and his accomplices stole consumers’ hard-earned money directly from their bank accounts,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will use all of the tools at its disposal to apprehend and prosecute criminals, whether located inside or outside the United States, who steal from Americans.”
“Yesterday's guilty plea demonstrates our commitment to finding and prosecuting individuals who steal from consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Defrauding consumers and stealing their hard-earned dollars is a crime against the individuals but it also violates the trust we have in free commerce. With our law enforcement partners, we are committed to holding accountable those who violate federal law. We thank our partners for their investigative efforts to help bring justice for victims.”
“Mr. Jannisar and his co-conspirators used sham companies to steal from unknowing victims by accessing their bank accounts using personal identifiable information from illegally obtained lists, and sadly nothing more than a keystroke on a computer,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations (USPIS-CI). “His actions and those of his co-conspirators represent a crime of greed and opportunity but will not go unpunished thanks to the law enforcement community, who have dedicated their mission to uncovering and putting an end to devious schemes like these.”
"The defendant's guilty plea holds him accountable for perpetrating a fraudulent scheme that stole funds from thousands of victims' bank accounts,” said Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG) Chicago Regional Office. “The FDIC OIG continues to work closely with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who cause financial harm to consumers and threaten to undermine the integrity of our Nation's banking system."
Jannissar faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per charge. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
USPIS-CI and FDIC OIG are investigating the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided valuable assistance.
Senior Trial Attorney Daniel Zytnick of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Consumer complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
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Buffalo woman pleads guilty to filing a false tax returnRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Maureen Holleran, 61, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to filing a false tax return, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A.C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that between September 2015 and October 2023, Holleran worked remotely as a worker’s compensation claims handler for Insurance Company 1, which is headquartered in Canada. In this role, Holleran evaluated and, if appropriate, paid workers compensation claims for policies issued by Insurance Company 1. If a claim was determined to be eligible, Holleran had authority to send payment to the claimant. She had the authority to send payments of up to $2,000 without further approval by her supervisor. Between July 2020 and June 2023, Holleran submitted more than 1,200 fraudulent claims in Insurance Company 1’s claim processing system, with each claim below the $2,000 threshold. Claims were then paid into bank accounts controlled by Holleran.
Holleran created fictious expenses, such as claims for lost wages and reimbursements for medical supplies and copays, to justify the fraudulent payments. In total, she submitted approximately $2,370,848.24 in fraudulent claims. To carry out the scheme, she created fictitious email accounts that superficially appeared to be associated with the policy claimant. Holleran then used these email addresses to sign up for Insurance Company 1’s client portal. She would then input her own banking information into the portal. For the tax years 2020 through 2022, Holleran embezzled approximately $1,592,095 from Insurance Company 1 that she did not report on her income tax returns for those years. The Internal Revenue Service estimates tax due and owing for these tax years is $545,792.
The plea sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 4, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Brooklyn Business Owner Convicted of Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business, Bank Fraud, Money Laundering and Other Felony ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Brooklyn today convicted David Motovich of perpetrating a years-long scheme to establish and conceal a massive illegal check-cashing operation. Motovich was found guilty on 16 counts of an indictment charging him with operating an illegal money transmitting business, failure to file currency transaction reports, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. The verdict followed a three-week trial before United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II. When sentenced, Motovich faces up to 30 years in prison.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced the verdict.
“Taken behind the façade of a seemingly legitimate lumber business in Brooklyn, the jury followed the trail of evidence to find an infestation of crimes,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Motovich operated an illegal money transmitting business that funneled millions of dollars to himself to get rich, evade taxes and fund a lavish lifestyle of luxury cars, jewelry and a spectacular penthouse apartment. With today’s verdict, the defendant finds there is a very high price to pay for his blatant disregard for the law.”
“David Motovich developed an illicit scheme using his family’s business to launder more than $55 million through construction companies to finance lavish purchases. For seven years, Motovich funneled his proceeds through falsely named bank accounts to conceal the profits and evade authoritative oversight. Despite his efforts to disrupt our investigation into his unlawful activity, today’s verdict highlights the FBI’s tireless dedication to apprehending criminals who employ fraudulent tactics to fund expensive lifestyles,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Curtis.
“Motovich made millions from his back office deals, cashing checks for clients who paid more in fees just to know their transactions were hidden from the government. But we found out. And although his shady business allowed him to lease a high-end apartment with expensive renovations and luxury cars, today’s verdict will ensure that his next lease is only for a prison cell, no renovations required,” said Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of IRS CI New York.
As proven at trial, Motovich used his family-run business in the Midwood section of Brooklyn as a front for an illegal, unlicensed check-cashing operation. From the second floor of Midwood Lumber on Coney Island Avenue, Motovich offered his services primarily to the owners and operators of construction companies, cashing millions of dollars in checks to fund off-the-books payrolls for those businesses. As part of the scheme, Motovich cashed checks for his customers in exchange for a fee or a percentage of the face amount of the checks, ranging between four and 15 percent. Motovich’s customers paid a higher fee to Motovich than the fees charged by licensed check cashing businesses because the customers understood that Motovich would not file Suspicious Activity Reports or Currency Transaction Reports for cash transactions in amounts greater than $10,000, as required by federal anti-money laundering statutes. Motovich supplied his check cashing customers with fraudulent documents that they could use to disguise the transactions as payments by the customers for materials and/or subcontracting work if the customers were audited by the New York State Workers Compensation Board or tax authorities.
In furtherance of his scheme, Motovich created shell companies for the sole purpose of facilitating his illegal check cashing business and instructed his customers to issue checks drawn against their business accounts and make the checks payable to one of the companies. Motovich then deposited the checks into bank accounts that he created at several financial institutions. To conceal his control and ownership of the funds in the accounts, and to avoid detection of his scheme, Motovich opened the accounts in the names of other individuals.
In total, between 2012 and 2019, Motovich deposited more than $55 million into the accounts that he had opened in the names of other individuals and used the funds to purchase real estate; pay personal and corporate credit card accounts; purchase luxury items, including millions of dollars of diamonds, watches, jewelry and clothing; make lease and purchase payments for Porsche and Lexus luxury vehicles; pay premiums on multi-million dollar life insurance policies for himself, his wife and others; renovate his penthouse apartment in Manhattan to include a swimming pool; and to fund other business ventures.
Motovich’s co-defendants Marina Kuyan, Kemal Sarkinovic, and Joshua Markovics, all previously pleaded guilty to various charges in connection with the scheme. They are awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Polemeni, Erik Paulsen, Andrew Grubin and Matthew Skurnik are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Eastern District of New York Special Agent George Dietz and Paralegal Specialist Kavya Kannan.
The Defendant:
DAVID MOTOVICH
Age: 49
New York, NYE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-497 (WFK)
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Drug Distribution and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JONATHAN BONAPARTE, 36, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 80 months of imprisonment, followed by seven years of supervised release, for drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 30, 2022, law enforcement stopped Bonaparte’s vehicle after he was observed conducting hand-to-hand drug transactions. Bonaparte was arrested after a search of his person revealed fentanyl, cocaine, and $2,382 in cash, and a search of his vehicle revealed 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The next day, a court-authorized search of a home in Derby where Bonaparte resided revealed six firearms, eight extended magazines, ammunition, fentanyl, cocaine, and items used to process and package narcotics.
Bonaparte’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for robbery and firearm offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On March 20, 2024, Bonaparte pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition by a felon. He is currently detained.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives (ATF), and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins, through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice 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 www.justice.gov/psn.
Bounthavong Sonthikoummane Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont. The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Bounthavong Sonthikoummane, 42, of White River Junction, pleaded not guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to an indictment charging him with possessing seven firearms as an unlawful user of controlled substances. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle released Sonthikoummane on conditions pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
On June 12, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a multi-count superseding indictment charging Sonthikoummane and his partner with bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy, money laundering and making false statements. At the same time, the court issued a warrant for Sonthikoummane’s arrest. On the morning of June 13, federal and local law enforcement officers went to Sonthikoummane’s White River Junction home to arrest the defendant. While inside, officers and agents noticed a number of firearms and quantities of ammunition. They also learned that Sonthikoummane was a heroin addict who soon went into withdrawal. As an unlawful user of controlled substances, Sonthikoummane is prohibited from possessing firearms. Law enforcement seized the weapons and ammunition, which included three pistols, three AR-style rifles and a shotgun. On July 24, a federal grand jury returned an additional one-count indictment charging Sonthikoummane with unlawfully possessing those weapons and ammunition.
The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charge in the new indictment is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.
If convicted on this charge, Sonthikoummane faces up to 15 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Sonthikoummane is represented by Christoper Dall. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.This case is being 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 https://www.justice.gov/psn
29 July 2024
Vian Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathan Colby Williams, age 47, of Vian, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On July 26, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to the crime. On October 28, 2022, Williams was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony offense punishable by more than one year and knowing of the conviction.
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 Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Williams will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
United States Attorney Ritz Announces Nine Federal Indictments for Firearm and Violent CrimesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced today that, on July 25, 2024, nine individuals were charged with federal gun and violent crime offenses in West Tennessee. United States Attorney Ritz also reinforced his office’s commitment to federal prosecution of individuals who commit violent crimes, illegally possess machine gun conversion devices (also known as “switches”), or commit other federal firearm offenses.
“Violent crime is not just a threat to physical safety—it is a threat to our citizens’ ability to go about their day-to-day lives,” said United States Attorney Ritz. “The citizens of Memphis deserve to feel safe, and that’s why there is no higher priority for my office than reducing violent crime in our city. Our prosecutors will continue to work with law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who violate federal firearm laws.”
The following defendants were charged with federal crimes involving switches:
- Kaderion Stokes, 19. Stokes was previously charged with stealing guns from a federally licensed firearms dealer and possession of stolen firearms. In a superseding indictment on July 25, 2024, Stokes was also charged with possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.
- Keelon Shields, 28. Shields was indicted on July 25, 2024, on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.
- Jamario Bobo, 21. Bobo was indicted on July 25, 2024, on one count of possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.
- Jarvis Clayborn, 25. Clayborn was indicted on July 25, 2024, on one count of possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device.
The following defendants were charged with other firearm or violent crime offenses:
- Davonte Vortis, 26. Vortis was indicted on July 25, 2024, for committing an armed carjacking and an armed business robbery, both on August 31, 2023. He is charged with one count of carjacking, one count of robbery of a business in interstate commerce, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to these crimes.
- Michael Kelly, 27. Kelly was indicted on July 25, 2024, for committing an armed carjacking and illegally possessing a firearm on January 16, 2022. He is charged with one count of carjacking, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the carjacking, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Markel Strong, 28. Strong was indicted on July 25, 2024, on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, after having been previously convicted of three serious drug offenses or violent felonies.
- Turante Nunn, 32. Nunn was indicted on July 25, 2024, on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, after having been previously convicted of three serious drug offenses or violent felonies.
- Demetrius Williams, 28. Williams was indicted on July 25, 2024, on two counts of possessing stolen firearms. The indictment alleges Williams possessed a total of 21 stolen firearms.
These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force; the Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Task Force; and the Memphis Police Department. Anyone with information about switches or other federal gun crimes can call 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867).
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
These indictments are 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, using data-driven methods to set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked the Assistant United States Attorneys who are prosecuting these cases, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the cases.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Partners with Area Nonprofit to Raise Awareness About Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Attorney Michael Easley is partnering with the local chapter of A21 to host a training to raise awareness and provide tools on how to recognize and combat human trafficking. The training is being held on July 30, a day proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to be “World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.” The event is open to the public and will include how to recognize indicators of human trafficking (both labor and sex). The program will also highlight a new campaign to promote the U.S. Human Trafficking Hotline encouraging citizens to report suspected labor trafficking featured on signs at the airport.
“We are prioritizing human trafficking prosecution like never before. Our new task forces bring law enforcement and service providers to the table for the dual mission of locking up traffickers and rescuing victims. Survivors across North Carolina can have faith that we will help them find resources and have their backs. But we can’t do it alone,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This training gives the public the tools to identify and report the signs of human trafficking. Together we are building a community that is safer and more free, one survivor at a time.”
“Labor trafficking remains a profound challenge, necessitating continuous education and community engagement,” said Robin Seitz, Chief Marketing Officer of A21. “Through initiatives like A21's Can You See Me? campaign, we can visually communicate the signs of trafficking to the public, empowering individuals to recognize and report suspicious activities. This partnership underscores the importance of collective action in safeguarding vulnerable individuals and communities. We are resolute in our commitment to drive meaningful change and ensure that North Carolina becomes a safer place for all. We commend the U.S. Attorney's Office for their leadership and look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts in the fight against human trafficking.”
Event Details:
When: Tuesday, July 30 from 9:30 a.m. to noon
Where: Hope Community Church – Raleigh Campus – 321 Buck Jones Road in Raleigh
Individuals who wish to participate in the training, can register online.
Media interested covering the event can contact [email protected].
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U.S. Attorney and FBI Charge Albuquerque Man with Drug Distribution and Assault on Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been charged with multiple federal crimes, including drug trafficking and assaulting federal officers during a high-speed pursuit.
Nicholas Mares, aka “Youngster,” 22, appeared before a federal judge today for a detention hearing, and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint, on May 28, 2024, Mares sold 5,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover FBI agent during a controlled purchase.
Photograph of MARES, taken during the May 28, 2024, controlled drug buy
On July 18, 2024, FBI agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Mares in Albuquerque. Mares allegedly rammed his vehicle into an FBI vehicle occupied by four special agents, then fled at high speed in oncoming traffic with a child in his car. During the pursuit, approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills were allegedly discarded onto the roadway from Mares’ vehicle before he eluded capture.
Photograph from the July 18, 2024, attempted FBI contact with Mares where he discarded approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills, while recklessly fleeing
If convicted of the current charges, Mares faces up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Violent Gang Task Force of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Elena Stiteler.
A criminal complaint 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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U.S. Attorney and FBI Announce Charges Against Two Zuni Men for Firearm Assault on Four VictimsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Two Zuni men were charged by indictment with multiple federal firearms offenses for assaulting 4 victims.
Kamron Kallestewa, 23, and Kaden Panteah, 18, enrolled members of the Pueblo of Zuni, appeared before a federal judge and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, on April 8, 2023, Kallestewa and Panteah assaulted John Doe 1, John Doe 2, Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 with a firearm with the intent to do bodily harm.
If convicted of the current charges, Kallestewa and Panteah face up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mia Ulibarri-Rubin is prosecuting the case.
View the IndictmentAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney Secures 14-Year Sentence for Second Assailant in 2021 Kidnapping and Death of Gallup ManRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison and order to pay $19,498.71 in restitution for her role in luring and abducting a man who was later found dead in Mentmore, New Mexico after a week-long community search.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on the afternoon of September 16, 2021, Shannon Etsitty, 23 (an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation), Elias Viola, and Halbert Sam were using methamphetamine and drinking alcohol. Viola learned Etsitty had been in a relationship with John Doe and expressed a desire to harm Doe. The group devised a plan to lure John Doe to them, under the pretense of a meeting with Etsitty, who would pick Doe up alone to avoid suspicion.
After picking up Doe in Viola’s car, Etsitty drove Doe to where Viola and Sam were waiting. Viola entered through the car’s missing windshield and assaulted John Doe. Sam entered through the back passenger door and held Doe against the front passenger seat so Viola could beat Doe without Doe being able to defend himself. During the assault, Doe grabbed the steering wheel, causing the car to veer off the road and become stuck.
The attack upon Doe continued outside the vehicle, with Viola using a screwdriver and baseball bat. After beating and stabbing Doe, the party hid Doe’s body in nearby bushes. Law enforcement—unaware of Doe’s condition—arrived at the scene of the disabled car and helped Etsitty and Viola get the car unstuck; Sam, meanwhile, hid in the bushes with Doe’s body. Once the car was unstuck, Etsitty and Viola went to Etsitty’s mother’s house, leaving Doe’s body and hidden with Sam by the roadside.
Later, Etsitty, Viola, Etsitty’s sister, and Etsitty’s sister’s boyfriend returned to the location where the group had hidden Doe’s body. They then moved Doe to a field near Etsitty’s mother’s house.
On September 23, 2021, John Doe’s body was located in that Mentmore field. OMI found Doe to have multiple injuries, including a stab wound to his chest and severe head trauma. The manner of his death was ruled a homicide. Evidence linked Etsitty and Viola to the crime scene and Doe’s last known whereabouts.
On September 18, 2023, Viola pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Upon her release from prison, Etsitty 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 Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, the Gallup Police Department and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Jones is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney Announces Sentencing in $1.2 Million Real Estate Trust Fund Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A former Roswell escrow company owner was sentenced to 46-months in prison for defrauding his clients of over $1.2 million.
According to court documents, Christopher Adam Jensen-Tanner purchased Roswell Escrow Services, Inc. in 2013 and began conducting business as a servicer of real estate contracts, holding significant sums of money in trust for clients.
In January 2017, Jensen-Tanner began illegally using customer funds to finance an extravagant lifestyle beyond his means. To conceal his actions, Jensen-Tanner commingled funds between corporate accounts, moving money held in trust to operating accounts and vice versa.
By fall 2019, the scheme unraveled when Jensen-Tanner could no longer hide the shortfall created by his misuse of client funds. A victim complaint led to an examination by the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division, exposing the full extent of the fraud.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico are seeking individuals who may have been victims of a wire fraud scheme involving Jensen-Tanner and Roswell Escrow Services, Inc. (RES) between January 2017 and October 2019. If you were a client of Jensen-Tanner and/or RES and believe you are a victim, please contact the FBI tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.
A restitution hearing will be set at a later date. If you would like to attend the hearing, please contact Victim Specialist Jacquie Gutierrez at (575) 522-2304 for more information.
The Roswell Division and Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the Securities and Financial Institutions Divisions of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Ry Ellison and Richard Williams are prosecuting the case.
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Two Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Kanawha County woman and a Michigan man were sentenced today for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia.
Ladonna Rae Abner, 50, of Nitro, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. Trevon Eaarle Godfrey, also known as “Trey,” 28, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, for use of a communications facility in committing, causing, and facilitating a felony controlled substance offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 4, 2023, Abner sold approximately 1 gram of fentanyl for $120 to a confidential informant in Nitro. Abner admitted to that transaction and to selling a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant on October 17, 2023. On November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Abner and searched her residence, where they seized approximately 3.5 grams of suspected fentanyl.
On September 4, 2023, Godfrey received a call from another individual who asked Godfrey to conduct a drug transaction with a specific customer. The individual told Godfrey to distribute 10 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of methamphetamine to the customer, who would be bringing $500 for the controlled substances. Godfrey admitted that he met the customer at a location in Huntington pre-arranged by the individual and conducted the transaction.
Abner admitted that DTO ringleader Derrell Cashawn Massey or others working at this direction supplied her with approximately 10 grams of fentanyl a week to distribute from June 2022 until her arrest. Godfrey admitted that he participated in the DTO from at least August 2023 through November 2023.
Massey, also known as "Rell" and "Fat Rell,", 34, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on April 22, 2024, to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and awaits sentencing. Abner, Godfrey and Massey are among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Abner, Godfrey and Massey are also among 21 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
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. 3:23-cr-180.
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Two Defendants Convicted at Trial on All Counts in Fraudulent Check Scheme Targeting Pittsburgh-Area BusinessesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A federal jury in Pittsburgh convicted Rodney Blake, 39, of Baltimore, Maryland, and Robert Morrisey Jr., 32, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and multiple counts of possessing forged securities in federal court in Pittsburgh, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
According to evidence introduced during the four-day trial, from March 2019 to March 2020 and again from June 2021 to April 2022, the defendants orchestrated a fraudulent check scheme in which they and their conspirators stole mail to obtain valid business checks, which were then used to create large numbers of forged checks drawing on the businesses’ bank accounts. The fraudulent checks were made payable to individuals—many of whom were homeless or struggling with addiction—who had been recruited by Blake and Morrisey to cash the checks in exchange for a small share of the proceeds. At trial, the government introduced evidence concerning 115 fraudulent checks with a combined value of more than $225,000, drawn on the bank accounts of over 20 Pittsburgh-area businesses and organizations.
“Robert Morrisey Jr. and Rodney Blake used people addicted to drugs and otherwise living on the margins to cash hundreds of thousands of dollars in counterfeit checks drawn on the business accounts of more than 20 victims,” stated U.S. Attorney Olshan. “This prosecution and the jury’s verdict brought the defendants out of the shadows, shining a light on their conduct and holding them accountable for a brazen fraud scheme. Businesses in this district should be able to mail checks without fear that this simple act will lead to financial ruin, and this office and our law enforcement partners remain committed to ensuring that they can.”
Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge of the Pittsburgh Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, said: “As a primary focus of our mission, Postal Inspectors worked aggressively on this case to track down and identify the subjects involved with stealing mail and committing fraud. It’s our job to protect the sanctity of the mail and ensure the public’s trust in using it. I commend the collaborative efforts of all the agencies involved to bring these individuals to justice.”
“The investigation of Rodney Blake and Robert Morrisey Jr. highlights Homeland Security Investigations’ focus on dismantling financial fraud networks. Together with our partner agencies, we have successfully removed two predators who preyed on business owners and struggling citizens alike,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Nathan R Abel. “This investigation and prosecution is a testament to the power of interagency cooperation and the strength of our partnership with the prosecutors of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of
Pennsylvania.”Conspiracy to commit bank fraud is punishable by a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Possession of a forged security is punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey R. Bengel and William B. Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service, and Richland Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the convictions in this case.
Texas Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Illegally Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Hunter Bixler, a Texas man, has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose.
According to court documents, in December 2023, Bixler was pulled over for a traffic violation by a deputy with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. Bixler had previously been convicted of two felonies in Texas and was the subject of outstanding warrants active in Texas. When asked for a driver’s license, Bixler did not provide one and instead provided the deputy with a false name and incorrect personal identifiers. While the first deputy continued to investigate the traffic violation and Bixler’s identity, another deputy arrived to provide assistance. The deputies observed that Bixler was attempting to conceal a firearm under his leg. Bixler bladed his body towards the passenger, then abruptly turned back to the first deputy, who was at the driver side window. Fearing for his personal safety and that he was about to be fired upon by Bixler, the deputy at the driver side window discharged his service weapon and hit Bixler in the hand. Bixler was taken into custody and transported to the hospital to receive treatment for his hand. While in the hospital, the Defendant attempted to escape from the custody of the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and was quickly re-apprehended. An Escape in the First Degree charge is pending before the Mobile County Grand Jury based on Bixler’s actions at the hospital.
At sentencing, Judge DuBose imposed a 46-month sentence of incarceration and a three-year term of supervised release upon Bixler’s discharge from prison. During his term of supervised release, Bixler will be subject to substance abuse testing and treatment as well has mental health treatment.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Beth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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.
Teen Admits Two St. Louis Area CarjackingsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man on Monday admitted committing two carjackings in the St. Louis area a year apart.
Ramon D. Davis, 19, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of carjacking and two counts of brandishing and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Davis admitted stealing a Mazda 3 at gunpoint in 2021 and a little over a year later, a Mercedes SUV.
On Nov. 7, 2021, Davis, Montrell Jackson and a juvenile male were walking past an alley when they saw an older man unloading his 2006 Mazda 3 and decided to carjack the man. Davis was armed with a stolen handgun. Jackson was also armed with a handgun. They demanded the victim’s keys, then sped off down the alley.
Hours later, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center cameras spotted the stolen Mazda. After a chase involving both St. Louis police and officers from the Hazelwood Police Department, Davis crashed and was arrested after hiding under a semitrailer nearby. Officers recovered two handguns from the stolen car.
On Nov. 11, 2022, Davis and others were in a stolen BMW when they saw a 2017 Mercedes GLS550 SUV parked in front of a CVS on Watson Road in Webster Groves. Davis had a red/burgundy AR-style pistol and confronted an occupant of the Mercedes with it before pushing her to the ground. Davis and one of the others, Tristan T. Davis, then drove off in the stolen SUV. They were arrested four days later.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 7. The carjacking charges carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and the brandishing charges carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of seven years consecutive to any other sentence.
Jackson, 20, and Tristan Davis, 20, have pleaded guilty to carjacking and brandishing charges.
The St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, the Webster Groves Police Department and the Hazelwood Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sturgis Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 25, 2024.
Jeffery Dean Sipe, 31, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Sipe will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
In November of 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Sipe for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Receipt of Child Pornography. He pleaded guilty on May 3, 2024.
In May of 2022, a local minor reported that Sipe had solicited images of child pornography from her and had forcibly raped her when she was between the ages of 15 to 17. Law enforcement found sexually explicit messages from Sipe in his Snapchat account which directed the victim to pose in certain ways and send him sexually explicit images of her. Multiple sexually explicit images of the minor were located on Sipe’s electronic devices.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Sipe was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Stockton Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Elmer Yusay Ngo, 28, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Ngo utilized social media to sexually exploit female minors. This sexual exploitation included attempting to coerce, entice, and persuade the minors to produce child pornography for Ngo.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from state and local police departments nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott is prosecuting the case.
Ngo is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Nov. 4, 2024. Ngo faces a minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, supervised release and restitution. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
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 U.S. 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 those 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.
Spartanburg County Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Missing Woman CaseRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Da’Ron Jerome Collins, 47, of Boiling Springs, has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and witness tampering in connection with an ongoing federal kidnapping investigation.
Evidence obtained during the investigation revealed that 44-year-old Casey Lavonne Young was last seen on May 15, 2023, after she left work and arrived at the residence she shared with Collins in Boiling Springs. Collins initially stated that Young did not come home after work, but later admitted to investigators that he last saw Young when she arrived home at approximately 5:00 p.m. on May 15, 2023. The same day, Collins was captured on security cameras as he wiped surfaces of Young’s car down and hid it in a parking lot away from their residence. Two days before Young disappeared, police responded to the couple’s residence after a 911 caller reported a domestic violence incident where Collins was accused of strangling Young. No arrest was made at that time.
During the guilty plea, prosecutors stated that the evidence showed Collins destroyed and attempted to hide and destroy physical and electronic evidence, including home security video clips, Young’s vehicle and other personal identifying items, material to the federal investigation. Collins also provided investigators with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office false and misleading information to prevent the communication of information relevant to the investigation to federal law enforcement. To date, Young has not been found.
Collins was denied bond on the federal charges, and he remains in custody. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment as to each offense. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and up to six years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Collins after he reviews a presentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia Field Office, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leesa Washington is prosecuting the case.
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South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced three men convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Chris Janis, a/k/a “Izzy” Janis, age 50, of Manderson, South Dakota, was sentenced on July 25, 2024, to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Dalton Fiala, age 24, of Buffalo, Wyoming, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Richard Glover, age 43, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, to 17 years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Janis was indicted by a federal grand jury in the summer of 2023, and pleaded guilty on March 15, 2024. Glover and Fiala were indicated by a federal grand jury in the fall of 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 26, 2024.
These convictions stemmed from activities involving the large-scale distribution of methamphetamine in Rapid City, South Dakota, and on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Glover and his significant other, Teresa Goodroad, were the source of supply for Mark Bond and Todd Pape in South Dakota. During the course of the conspiracy, Bond and Pape would make trips to Colorado to pick up pounds of methamphetamine from Goodroad and Glover. Other times Goodroad and Glover would deliver the drugs to Bond and Pape in South Dakota. Once the drugs were in South Dakota it would be further distributed by multiple individuals, including Janis and Fiala. Between 15 and 45 kilograms of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of this criminal enterprise.
Goodroad, Bond, and Pape were sentenced earlier this summer. Goodroad received a sentence of 17 years and six months in prison; Bond received a sentence of 26 years and eight months in prison; and Pape received a sentence of 25 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, Martin Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan N. Dilges and Edward Tarbay prosecuted the case.
All three men were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following their respective sentencings.
Slidell Woman Sentenced to Year and a Day in Prison and Ordered to Repay the Government over $1.2 Million in Restitution for Pandemic-Related Healthcare FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MELISSA J. WATSON (“WATSON”), of Slidell, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Darrel J. Papillion to twelve months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, and payment of restitution totaling $1,281,818.
This sentencing followed WATSON’s previous plea of guilty to theft of public money, in connection with a scheme to misappropriate over $780,000 from the Provider Relief Fund (“PRF”). The PRF was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
According to court documents, WATSON operated a primary care clinic. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, WATSON submitted false and fraudulent attestations on behalf of her clinic to obtain PRF funds, to which she was not entitled. WATSON’s fraudulent attestations included falsely affirming that funds would only be used by the clinic to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus, and reimburse health care related expenses or lost revenues attributable to coronavirus. Instead, WATSON used the PRF funds for personal purposes, including making numerous cash withdrawals and purchasing, among other items, hundreds of thousands of dollars in real estate, a luxury vehicle, a boat, a trailer, and a time share.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General.
Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters and Assistant Chief Justin Woodard, both of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, Healthcare Fraud Coordinator for the Eastern District of Louisiana, prosecuted the case.
Salvadorian Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LORENZO ALEXANDER BENITEZ (“BENITEZ”), age 40, a citizen of El Salvador, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2024, to illegal reentry of a deported alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a).
According to the court documents, BENITEZ admitted to reentering the United States illegally after being previously deported on July 27, 2018.
BENITEZ faces a sentence of up to 2 years imprisonment, up to 1 year of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan has set the sentencing for November 7, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Rock Valley Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Terrance Buescher, 59, from Rock Valley, Iowa, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, to 5 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Buescher pled guilty on March 15, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from April 2022 through January 2023, Buescher was involved in a conspiracy that distributed at least 20 pounds of methamphetamine in the Rock Valley, area. Buescher admitted to obtaining pounds of methamphetamine about every ten days from a source in Colorado to distribute in Northern Iowa, during 2022 and 2023.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Buescher was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Buescher remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Rock Valley, Iowa Police Department and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4014.
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Rapid City Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 25, 2024.
Tell Logan Cadotte, 33, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $12,000 in restitution. Cadotte will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
In July of 2021, Cadotte was indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography. On May 3, 2024, he pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography.
For several years, Cadotte sexually abused a female minor he was asked to babysit. Cadotte recorded the sexual abuse using his cellular phone. When law enforcement executed a search warrant on Cadotte’s residence in February of 2021, they located images and videos of the minor female being sexually abused by Cadotte. He also possessed hundreds of sexually explicit depictions of other minors, some of whom were identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Cadotte was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 26, 2024.
Marvin Brings Plenty, age 34, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Brings Plenty was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2024.
In October of 2023, at Rapid City, Brings Plenty, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was found to be in possession of a Tisa-Trabzon, Luger caliber, 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol after a search warrant was executed at his home. Brings Plenty was also a user of methamphetamine and fentanyl during the time he possessed the firearms. The investigation began when law enforcement learned Brings Plenty was distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl from his residence. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home where drugs, distribution material, and the two firearms were recovered.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Brings Plenty was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 26, 2024.
Darian Libert, age 26, was sentenced to one year and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Libert was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in February of 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 1, 2024.
In July of 2023, at Rapid City, Libert, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was found to be in possession of Sturm, Ruger & Company .380 AUTO caliber semi-automatic pistol. The investigation began when Libert was driving a four-wheeler on Deadwood Avenue and was involved in an accident. Libert fled the scene but was later located by law enforcement officers and was found in possession of the firearm in his pocket.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Libert was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ralston Man Sentenced to More than 17 Years for Receipt and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Travis J. Bodfield, 28, of Ralston, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for receipt and distribution of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Bodfield to 211 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bodfield’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Chief Judge Rossiter ordered Bodfield to pay $28,000 in restitution.
On March 8, 2022, Ralston police executed a search warrant at Bodfield’s residence in Ralston after receiving an earlier report regarding an ongoing domestic disturbance involving Bodfield and a minor. During search of the residence, law enforcement recovered Bodfield’s phones. Forensic examination and analysis of Bodfield’s phones found more than 2,400 pictures and 40 videos depicting child pornography. The approximate age range of the minor children were of infant through 12 years old.
Additional review of the cellphone uncovered conversations between Bodfield and other users of Kik, a communication application, engaging in communications that included the exchange of child pornography. During one of the Kik conversations, Bodfield sent a picture of a partially nude, prepubescent female, also about 8-10 years old.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Ralston Police Department.
Putnam County Man Sentenced to Prison for FHA Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jason Trador, 46, of Scott Depot, was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $65,302.16 in restitution for making a false statement to federal agents, willfully overvaluing property on a loan application, and three counts of making a false statement to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
A federal jury convicted Trador of the five felony offenses on April 10, 2024, after a two-day trial. Evidence at trial proved that Trador fraudulently obtained a $223,870 home mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) from his then-employer, Victorian Finance LLC, a mortgage lending business. At the time he applied for the FHA loan in August 2018, Trador was delinquent on paying his federal taxes for a prior tax year. Because of the tax debt, Trador was not eligible for an FHA loan under existing FHA program rules. Trador deceived Victorian Finance into approving the application and the FHA into insuring the mortgage by providing a series of falsified documents including a falsified Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax transcript purporting to show a payoff of the delinquent $8,151 tax debt.
Trador also submitted three heavily edited bank statements to Victorian Finance. Each falsified bank statement substantially inflated the balances in Trador’s bank accounts. Two of the falsified statements reported balances of approximately $27,000 and $15,000 for Trador’s personal bank account when in fact the account had negative balances. Line items, such as for insufficient funds fees, were removed from the falsified bank statements and a line item was added to deceive Victorian Finance into believing that he had paid off the delinquent $8,151 tax debt. Evidence at trial proved the purported payoff never occurred and that Trador was still delinquent on the federal tax debt as of March 2024.
On September 4, 2018, Trador willfully overvalued his assets on a loan application when he signed a Uniform Residential Loan Application that included the false balances from the falsified bank statements.
On May 6, 2022, Trador lied to investigators with HUD’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) when they interviewed Trador at his Scott Depot residence about his application for the FHA-insured mortgage. Trador denied submitting false bank statements with his loan application, and blamed his fellow employees of the mortgage lending business for the inclusion of the false bank statements in the FHA loan file.
“Jason Trador was a loan officer with a duty to keep fraud out of the mortgage lending industry when he betrayed that position of trust and tricked his then-employer with his sophisticated criminal scheme,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Since the fraud was discovered, Mr. Trador has chosen to attempt to deceive rather than own his mistakes. He lied to federal investigators. He took the stand and made over 30 false statements during his trial. He has shown no acceptance of responsibility or remorse for any of his crimes.”
Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“Jason Trador took advantage of his knowledge of the mortgage industry to circumvent the rules and abused the position of trust he held as a loan officer and gatekeeper of FHA-insured loans. He created and passed false documents allowing him to qualify for a loan he knew he would not otherwise qualify for,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. “The sentence handed down today serves as a warning that significant penalties await those willing to commit fraud involving HUD-funded programs. HUD OIG remains committed to working with our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of HUD programs.”
“Fraud activity of any kind has far-reaching consequences, and showing no remorse underscores the seriousness of this crime. The FBI will not stand for individuals who abuse their position for personal gain at the expense of others,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “The FBI remains resolute in safeguarding our financial landscape, providing a level playing field for honest consumers, and ensuring the public maintains trust in the integrity of our institutions.”
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Tessman, Jonathan T. Storage and Erik S. Goes 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. 3:23-cr-117.
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Ohio man sentenced for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in MississippiRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – A Dayton, Ohio man was sentenced on Friday to 96 months in prison for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute it while he resided in Oxford, Mississippi in April 2021.
According to court documents, Justin Elkins, 35, previously pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi to one count of attempting to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute the drug in Oxford in April 2021 after officers intercepted a package sent through the U.S. mail containing the drug. Elkins was sentenced Friday afternoon by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock to 96 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
“The U.S. mail should never be used as a vehicle for distributing illicit drugs.” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We will do everything in our power to see that people who choose to illegally distribute dangerous drugs like fentanyl into our communities are held accountable.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to ensuring the U.S. Mails are not used as a tool to distribute deadly fentanyl to our communities,” said Scott Fix, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division. “The sentence handed down today should serve as a reminder to other perpetrators that we remain steadfast with our law enforcement partners to bring those who engage in this activity to justice.”
The U.S Postal Inspection Service, Oxford Police Department, and Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office’s Metro Narcotics Unit investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Roberts prosecuted the case.
Nigerian Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Tope Gbenga Opaogun, 43, of Nigeria, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for wire fraud conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Opaogun to 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Opaogun’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Chief Judge Rossiter ordered Opaogun to pay restitution in the amount of $193,458.21. Opaogun will be deported to Nigeria after serving his sentence.
Between October 21, 2013, and November 5, 2013, Opaogun and a co-defendant, both who were located outside of the United States, compromised the email account of an individual who had a personal bank account at a bank located in the District of Nebraska. Opaogun used the compromised email account to fraudulently induce employees at the bank to wire funds from the individual’s personal bank account to a third-party bank account controlled by Opaogun and a co-defendant. Opaogun’s use of the compromised email account induced bank employees to make six unauthorized wire transfers totaling $234,990 to the third-party bank account. Opaogun attempted three additional unauthorized wire transfers totaling $182,000, but those attempts were unsuccessful.
On May 22, 2018, an Indictment charging Opaogun and a co-defendant was filed in the United States District Court in the District of Nebraska. On August 11, 2022, Opaogun was arrested in Senegal on the District of Nebraska warrant. He was extradited from Senegal, where Opaogun was vacationing at the time, to the United States under the supervision of the FBI.
The FBI continues to seek the co-defendant for arrest and prosecution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KENNETH TATE (“TATE”), age 43, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on July 25, 2024, before United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe, to a violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, law enforcement conducted surveillance near Tara Lane in New Orleans East when they saw TATE, armed with a rifle, as he stood in the breezeway of an apartment building. The officers observed as TATE conducted a hand-to-hand drug transaction, while armed with that rifle. When officers moved in to arrest TATE, he fled into the apartment complex, and entered a particular apartment. Police surrounded the apartment, and TATE eventually surrendered. During a subsequent search of the apartment, the police found the rifle and another handgun. TATE had prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
Judge Ashe set sentencing for October 24, 2024. TATE faces a maximum term of 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and 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.
New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Machinegun OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LOVON WHITE (“WHITE”), age 21, of Slidell, Louisiana, was charged on July 26, 2024, in a three-count indictment. WHITE is charged in Count 1 with possession with intent to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D). He is charged in Count 2 with possessing a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(B)(ii). Finally, he is charged in Count 3 with possession of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).
As to Count 1, WHITE faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to Count 2, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years up to a maximum sentence of life in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. As to Count 3, he faces up to 10 years in prison, up to a $ 250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
According to the indictment, on or about June 12, 2024, WHITE possessed tapentadol and marijuana with the intent to distribute those substances. WHITE also possessed an Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 rifle and Glock Model 21 pistol, both equipped with machinegun conversion devices, in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Monroe Man Found with Several Firearms and Extended and High-Capacity Magazines Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Vonterrius D. White, 32, of Monroe, Louisiana, has been sentenced for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced White today to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to information presented in court, on June 30, 2022, officers with the Monroe Police Department responded to a 911 call at an apartment complex in Monroe. Upon arrival, officers observed White with an extended magazine appearing out of his right pants’ pocket. Officers made contact with White and found a Glock 19 9mm pistol in his pocket. White then admitted to officers that he was in possession of two other firearms, a Glock 20 10mm pistol and a DPMS Panther Arms A-15 rifle, as well as ammunition and 6 magazines, 3 of which were high-capacity magazines. Officers seized all of the firearms and ammunition from inside White’s vehicle.
White has prior felony convictions for illegal possession of a stolen firearm in 2012 and accessory after the fact possession of a firearm by a felon in 2014. White knew that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was charged and pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm on April 26, 2024.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Monroe Police Department and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Catherine L. Semmes.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
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Missouri Man Admits Being Caught on Interstate 44 with Nearly 3 Pounds of MethRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A western Missouri man on Monday admitted being caught with nearly three pounds of methamphetamine after a high-speed police chase that started and ended on Interstate 44 in Franklin County.
Antonio D. Braxton, 49, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He admitted intending to distribute the drug.
On July 2, 2022, a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over a dark blue Pontiac Trans Am for improperly passing a tractor-trailer. The Trans Am also bore a license plate that was “not on file.” Braxton initially refused to provide his registration and argued with the deputy. When that deputy called for backup, Braxton sped off. He led law enforcement officers on a 23-mile pursuit that involved several major roads and speeds exceeding 100 mph. He eventually stopped on Interstate 44 and was arrested by officers from the Eureka Police Department. When officers approached the car, they saw three cellophane-wrapped packages on the passenger side floorboard. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators recovered the packages, which contained 1.339 kilograms of nearly pure meth.
Braxton is scheduled to be sentenced October 30. The meth distribution charge carries a penalty of ten years to life in prison, a $10 million fine or both prison and a fine.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Eureka Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the St. Louis County Police Department and the Pacific Police Department investigated or assisted with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Voss is prosecuting the case.
Member of Tulalip Tribes pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and using a firearm in a crime of violence, for fatal shooting in garage on tribal landRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 38-year-old member of the Tulalip Tribes pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to voluntary manslaughter, and using a firearm in a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Abdul Qasim Ray Zahir admits that he shot and killed a friend who had been helping him work on a car in a detached garage at his home on the Tulalip reservation. Zahir says he shot the victim in the midst of a sudden quarrel over noise from the auto work. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Zahir can ask for a sentence of no less than ten years in prison and prosecutors can ask for no more than 18 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez scheduled sentencing for November 1, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, on May 28, 2022, the victim, Zahir and others were in the detached garage, when Zahir’s cousin complained about the noise the victim was making. The victim and the cousin were arguing and as the victim walked towards Zahir’s cousin, Zahir pulled out a gun and fired three shots killing the victim.
At the time of the shooting, Zahir was facing charges in King County Superior Court: attempted robbery, illegal possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen vehicle. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Zahir will plead guilty to those charges and the state prosecutor will recommend that the sentence in state court will run concurrent to Zahir’s sentence in federal custody.
Voluntary manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Using a firearm in a crime of violence is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison.
The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Martinez after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The judge is not bound by the recommendations of the defense and prosecution and can impose any sentence allowed by law.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Tulalip Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London. Mr. London serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.
Madison Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Christopher S. Wilson, 28, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 5 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Wilson pleaded guilty to this charge on April 11, 2024.
The government’s investigation revealed a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was responsible for bringing over 4 kilograms of fentanyl pills into Madison from Arizona. Law enforcement began investigating the organization in January 2022, following the seizure of two mail packages that each contained one kilogram of fentanyl pills (almost 20,000 pills in total). The packages had been mailed by the same individual in Arizona to addresses in Madison.
Between March and October 2022, undercover officers purchased fentanyl pills from members of the organization on twenty-three occasions in the Madison area. Wilson was involved in thirteen of those drug sales.
In October 2022, another mail package destined for members of the Madison drug organization was seized and found to contain 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl pills.
On November 28, 2022, law enforcement officers searched Wilson’s residence. In the home, officers found a loaded Glock .40 caliber handgun, over $5,000 in cash, and a small bag of fentanyl pills. In Wilson’s Jeep, officers found a loaded Glock 9mm handgun under the driver’s seat.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson said he was concerned about Wilson’s gun possession at the time he was also fentanyl dealing, which was an aggravating factor.
Four co-defendants were previously sentenced by Judge Peterson for their roles in the fentanyl pill trafficking organization. Dejon C. Glover was sentenced on May 16, 2024, to 4 ½ years in federal prison for attempting to possess fentanyl intended for distribution. Lloyd M. McKire-Bennett was sentenced on May 17, 2024, to more than 13 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. Deshawn P. Davis was sentenced on May 22, 2024, to 5 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Yoshi R. Walker was sentenced on July 24, 2024, to 6 years in federal prison for attempting to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Two others were charged in connection with this trafficking organization, Jessica E. Leyvas and Dantrell T. Stevenson. Leyvas has pleaded guilty and her sentencing hearing is yet to be scheduled. Stevenson’s case is scheduled for trial, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge against Wilson was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Dane County Narcotics Task Force. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case
Louisville Man Sentenced to over 29 Years for Methamphetamine Distribution, Illegal Firearms Possession, and Witness Tampering OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville, Kentucky, man was sentenced last week to 29 years and 2 months in federal prison for methamphetamine distribution, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and witness tampering.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Interim Chief Paul Humphreys of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Kendall Shaw, 41, was sentenced to 29 years and 2 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of engaging in a conspiracy to tamper with a witness. The witness tampering count was part of a superseding indictment in this case. After Shaw was originally indicted on the methamphetamine and gun offenses, he engaged in a series of phone calls with others for the specific purpose of ensuring that a person he believed to be a witness against him would not appear at future court proceedings.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Porter and Frank E. Dahl, III prosecuted the case.
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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Kern County Woman Pleads Guilty to 6-Year, $825,000 Credit Card Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Karina Arceo, 34, of Wasco, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges for her role in a long-running credit card fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court records, from February 2016 through August 2022, Arceo and her partner and co-defendant, Miguel Leyva, stole the personally identifiable information (PII) for over 125 victims. They stole much of the PII from patient files at health care providers in Kern County where Arceo worked. Leyva previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years and five months in prison.
Arceo and Leyva used the stolen PII to open thousands of fraudulent credit cards in the victims’ identities. They used false identification documents to open the credit cards and provided billing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses over which they had control so that any communications related to the credit cards would go to them instead of the victims. They then made hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases on the credit cards in Kern County and elsewhere. The fraudulent purchases included home appliances, automobile accessories, designer clothing, tickets to concerts and sporting events, and travel, among other items.
Arceo and Leyva often resold the items that they fraudulently purchased for cash and reaped a windfall because they did not actually pay for the items. They also used checks that had been stolen from companies in Kern County to access the companies’ bank accounts and make fraudulent payments towards the credit cards so as to keep their scheme going. Altogether, their scheme caused a total actual loss of more than $825,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Arelis Clemente are prosecuting the case.
Arceo is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6, 2024. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge, and a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to other counts, for the identity theft charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the applicable statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Kern County Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Receiving and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Marcus Tatum, 32, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 12 years and five months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $45,000 in restitution, for receipt and distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between February 2012 and March 2018, Tatum used a laptop computer to knowingly receive and distribute over 600 files containing visual depictions of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The files contained images of children under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct, as well as engaging in sado-masochistic conduct.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter prosecuted 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 U.S. 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 those 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.
KC Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who threatened his co-workers with a firearm while he was on bond was sentenced in federal court today for distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms.
Reggie McDowell, also known as “Dime,” 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 14 years and three months in federal prison without parole.
On Oct. 14, 2023, after McDowell was indicted and while he was on bond in this federal case, law enforcement officers responded to a disturbance with a firearm at a Raytown, Mo., restaurant where he was employed. McDowell was involved in an argument with a co-worker and brandished a firearm, which he retrieved from a bag he was wearing.
According to court documents, McDowell began pacing around the kitchen area and threatened to “kill everyone in here.” Restaurant employees contacted law enforcement and McDowell fled from the restaurant, but left the bag behind. Officers located the bag, which contained a loaded FN 9mm handgun, a loaded Glock .40-caliber firearm, a loaded Glock 10mm handgun, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. McDowell’s bond was revoked and he was returned to federal custody.
On March 3, 2024, McDowell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of receiving a firearm while under felony indictment and while on release.
By pleading guilty, McDowell admitted that he participated in the drug-trafficking conspiracy from Jan. 1, 2016, to June 23, 2022. McDowell sold methamphetamine to an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on seven different occasions in 2021 and 2022. McDowell, who was visibly armed during four of those transactions, admitted to carrying a Glock .357-caliber handgun on at least one occasion.
McDowell and his co-conspirators used social media sites to arrange and facilitate the sale of illegal drugs. They held the pills out as purported ecstasy (MDMA), rather than methamphetamine.
On June 23, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at McDowell’s residence. Agents seized a Glock .40-caliber handgun loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition on the living room floor, approximately 240 grams of marijuana in a backpack on the living room floor, a fanny pack in the living room that contained 23 methamphetamine pills and approximately 41 grams of marijuana, an Arsenal 7.62-caliber pistol loaded with 61 rounds of ammunition under a bed in the bedroom, a Glock 10mm handgun loaded with 34 rounds under a bed in the bedroom, a Glock .40-caliber handgun loaded with 51 rounds under a bed in the bedroom, numerous methamphetamine pills in various locations in the bedroom, and assorted firearms magazines and ammunition.
McDowell is the eighth defendant to be sentenced in this case. Two co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie C. Bradshaw. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
KC Metro Strike Force
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in ArizonaRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Maricopa County, Arizona, for the July 30 primary election.
The Justice Department enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country. In addition, the division also deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order.
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Act and Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.