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Thursday 30 May 2024
Twenty-Four Members and Associates of Jersey City Street Gang Charged with Gang-Related Offenses, Including Drug Distribution, Armed Robbery, and Financial FraudRead the Press Release
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Twenty-four people have been charged for their respective roles in gang-related offenses, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud; conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine; Hobbs Act robbery; and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
The defendants are scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court; four defendants remain at large. (See chart below.)
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Street gangs that are allegedly engaged in violence and narcotics distribution drastically diminish quality of life for those who live in affected communities. As alleged, members and associates of the Booker T street gang committed serious crimes, including using a firearm to commit a robbery, conspiring to distribute fentanyl, and conspiring to commit bank fraud. The charges in this case against 24 defendants demonstrate that, along with our law enforcement partners, we will work tirelessly to root out alleged gang-related criminality in order to make our communities safer.”
“ATF remains unwavering in our pursuit of trigger pullers and firearms traffickers,” Ross A. Marchetti, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said. “Utilizing crime gun intelligence allows law enforcement to disrupt the shooting cycle by focusing on those individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the gun violence that plagues our neighborhoods. The arrests today demonstrate ATF’s commitment to working with our local, state, and federal partners to address the violent gang and drug-related activity that endangers the safety of our communities. Our collaborative efforts are essential in bringing accountability to violent offenders, combatting threats to the public, and reducing violent crime.”
“These arrests underscore the importance of collaborative work in law enforcement,” Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. “No one should feel unsafe in their own neighborhood, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office remains committed to addressing the public safety concerns of our residents. By working closely with our local, state, and federal partners, we are expanding and sharing resources that will ensure that those who commit a crime are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“As law enforcement officers, our most important job is to protect the citizens of the communities we serve,” Jenifer L. Piovesan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, said. “Today’s arrests are a great example of how we, along with our law enforcement partners, can make a positive impact in our communities by going after and arresting bad actors who plague the communities law abiding citizens call home.”
“Today’s large-scale operation serves as a great example of the strong partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in New Jersey,” Christopher Nielsen, Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division for the US. Postal Inspection Service, said. “The ability to share resources and intelligence has resulted in dismantling a criminal network involved in violent crimes, narcotics trafficking, and bank fraud schemes – which impacts all citizens in our state. Postal Inspectors are proud to be part of the task force working to combat and prevent these crimes.”
“The successful takedown of this criminal network and removal of violent actors from our community is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our law enforcement officers as well as the critical partnerships between the Jersey City Police Department and leading state and federal agencies in protecting public safety,” Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea said.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Several defendants are members and associates of a neighborhood-based street gang that operates in the area of the Booker T. Washington Housing Complex in Jersey City. The Booker T street gang is responsible for multiple acts of gang-motivated violence in Jersey City, including homicides and shootings. The investigation revealed that the gang runs a drug trafficking operation in and around the housing complex and distributes large quantities of controlled substances, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Eleven members and associates of the organization are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, more than 40 grams of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine.
In addition, from December 2022 through May 2024, members, associates, and individuals affiliated with the Booker T street gang engaged in a fraudulent check scheme. The defendants charged in the bank fraud conspiracy obtained fraudulent checks, including checks they had printed; stolen checks they had altered; or checks that had been purchased from, or traded with, other conspirators or third parties in exchange for a fee or percentage of profits. The defendants then deposited the fraudulent checks into bank accounts that they controlled in order to gain access to the funds. The bank fraud scheme resulted in losses exceeding $100,000. Fifteen defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Two individuals associated with the Booker T street gang – Juan Hemingway, aka “Hort,” and Stephon Murphy, aka “Turk,” are charged with Hobbs Act robbery and unlawful use of a firearm arising from an armed robbery that occurred on May 6, 2024, during which Hemingway and Murphy robbed the victim of items including controlled substances.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the supervision of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti in Newark; investigators of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; and detectives of the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked special agents of the DEA’s New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; deputy United States marshals of the United States Marshals Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos; Officers with Customs and Border Protection, New York Field Office, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Francis J. Russo; officers of the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Matthew Eiskant; officers of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Anthony Cureton; officers of the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Director Fritz Fragé; officers of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura; officers of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone; officers of the Port Authority Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Edward T. Cetnar; and members of the Bayonne Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Geisler.
The investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The Jersey City VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Barchini and Christopher Fell of the Office’s OCDETF/Narcotics Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
bookert.complaint.pdf*denotes at-large
Defendant
Age
Charges
Potential Penalties
Joseph Dupont,
aka “Tips”
30
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
Up to 30 years
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
Darion Hemingway, aka “A-boog”
33
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
Juan Hemingway, aka “Hortz,”
aka “Glizzy”
27
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
Hobbs Act robbery
Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence
Up to 30 years
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
Up to 20 years
7 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Abdin Reed,
aka “Dean”
50
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
Up to 30 years
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
*Darius Hemingway, aka “Debo”
29
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
*Aswad Williams, aka “Ock”
33
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
Daquan Franklin,
aka “Big Trigga”
22
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
Up to 30 years
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
Darius McGeachy, aka “Black”
27
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
*Khalis Dutton,
aka “Kha”
39
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
Aziz Rourk,
aka “Ock”
29
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
David Bryant,
aka “Hood”
35
Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
5 year mandatory minimum; up to 40 years
Kai Robinson,
aka “Kai Glizz”
26
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Tony Page,
aka “Tony Cz”
28
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Chajuan Hemingway,
aka “Juan”
36
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Stephon Murphy, aka “Turk”
23
Hobbs Act robbery
Brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence
Up to 20 years
7 year mandatory minimum; up to life
Muhammado Diokhane,
aka “Mo”
23
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Logan Jamison, aka “Lo”
24
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Danique Simpson, aka “Biz”
31
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Alvin Burroughs
34
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
*Robert Fletcher, aka “Chevy”
27
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Jermain Young
39
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Messiah Green, aka “Half”
22
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Jasuan Posey,
aka “Jah”
23
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Linda Graham
34
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Up to 30 years
Trenton Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Spree of Armed Carjackings, Armed Robbery, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Trenton man was sentenced today to 192 months in prison for committing a series of carjackings, armed robberies, and firearms offenses, U.S. Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Joshua M. Perez, 25, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner to a five-count Superseding Information, charging him with two counts of carjacking, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Judge Castner imposed sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case:
On Oct. 10, 2020, Perez and his unidentified conspirators carjacked two individuals in Trenton. As the victims were exiting their car, Perez and his conspirators got out of a white sedan, pointed handguns at the victims and robbed them of their money, cell phones, and vehicle.
On Dec. 5, 2020, Perez and an unidentified conspirator carjacked another individual in Trenton. As the victim was sitting in his parked car, Perez and his conspirator ran up to the victim’s window, pointed handguns at the victim, and ordered the victim out of the car. They stole the victim’s money and cell phone and fled the scene in the victim’s car.
Approximately one hour later, Perez and multiple unidentified conspirators used the victim’s carjacked vehicle as the getaway car in the armed robbery of a nearby gas station. Perez and his conspirators arrived at the gas station in the victim’s vehicle. As Perez entered the gas station, one of his conspirators ordered two victims outside the station to the ground at gunpoint and pistol-whipped them. Upon entering the gas station, Perez robbed the attendant at gunpoint, emptying the cash register.
On Dec. 7, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to Perez’s residence to execute a search warrant. During the court-authorized search of Perez’s residence, Perez pointed a firearm at the officers and was placed under arrest.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Castner sentenced Perez to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution to the victims of his offense.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti, and officers of the Trenton Police Department under Police Director Steve Wilson, with the investigations leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Ramey and Ashley Super Pitts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
Three Men Sentenced for Trafficking Drugs and FirearmsRead the Press Release
ROME, Ga. - James Lewallen Meeks, a Georgia Department of Corrections inmate, and two conspirators, Jamey Michael Latty and Mark Anthony Powell, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in trafficking firearms, methamphetamine, and fentanyl in Northwest Georgia.
“While serving a sentence for a violent crime in a Georgia Correctional Facility, Meeks continued his criminal activity by brokering a number of illegal firearm and drug transactions with his co-defendants in Northwest Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Meeks will now serve two decades in federal prison after completing his state sentence, and his co-defendants are headed to federal prison as well.”
“This case exemplifies our commitment to prevent drug trafficking and criminal activity from poisoning our communities,” stated ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “It also sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute the leaders and members of these violent drug enterprises.”
“Our communities remain under attack by criminal drug trafficking organizations with no regard for the harm and destruction they cause,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This investigation and subsequent arrests of the individuals in this violent drug trafficking organization demonstrate DEA’s commitment to protecting our community by destroying these drug trafficking organizations.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Starting around February 2022, James Lewallen Meeks, an inmate at Wheeler Correctional Facility in Alamo, Georgia, used a contraband cell phone to coordinate with Jamey Michael Latty and Mark Anthony Powell to sell firearms and drugs. Specifically, in March 2022, Meeks worked with Latty to sell methamphetamine in Rockmart, Georgia, and later sell methamphetamine and a Glock pistol to an individual in Cave Springs, Georgia. Meeks also coordinated repeatedly with Powell to sell methamphetamine and what turned out to be a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine to the same individual in Carrollton, Georgia. Along with the drugs, Powell sold ammunition and five firearms, including an UZI .22 caliber long rifle with a silencer, at the direction of Meeks. In April 2022, Latty separately sold ammunition and four firearms, including an AR-style rifle designed as a machine gun, to the same individual in Rome, Georgia.
On June 2, 2022, Latty was arrested in Hiram, Georgia in possession of approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine. That same day, Powell was arrested in Carrollton after leading law enforcement on a vehicle chase during which approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine was thrown out of Powell’s truck window. A pistol and a substance containing fentanyl was found in Powell’s vehicle at the time of his arrest. Agents also executed a federal search warrant at a residence in Carrollton, where some of the drug and firearms transactions had occurred, and seized six firearms from the residence, including rifles, shotguns, and a pistol. Latty and Powell were prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because each had previously been convicted of a felony offense.
After Latty was indicted, he fled the state and assumed a false identity. Through the efforts of multiple state and federal agencies, Latty was eventually located and apprehended by U.S. Deputy Marshals in Collinsville, Alabama.
After pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced the three men as follows:
- James Lewallen Meeks, 39, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by eight years of supervised release, consecutive to the time he is already serving in state custody.
- Jamey Michael Latty, 45, of Centre, Alabama, was sentenced to 15 years and one month in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
- Mark Anthony Powell, 43, of Jackson, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years, seven months in prison to be followed by eight years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with invaluable assistance from the Georgia State Patrol, Haralson Paulding County Drug Task Force, Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Polk County Police Department, Michigan State University Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force Office, and the Special Response Team of DeKalb County, Alabama Sherriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebeca M. Ojeda prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia recommends that parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov; www.operationprevention.com/; and www.dea.gov/onepill.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Three Men Plead Guilty to Role in Fraudulent Scheme to Defraud Chain of Home Improvement StoresRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Donovan Young, 60, of Hartsville, Aaron Young, 34, of Florence, and James Hoffman, 47, of McBee, have pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for their role in a scheme to defraud a chain of home improvement stores.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Youngs and Hoffman would purchase Lowe’s merchandise cards, for a discounted value, from known coconspirators who had fraudulently obtained the merchandise cards. Evidence presented shows that the Youngs and Hoffman were aware that the merchandise cards had been fraudulently obtained by the known coconspirators by stealing merchandise from the home improvement stores throughout the District of South Carolina and then, through fake identities, returning the stolen merchandise for merchandise cards.
The Youngs and Hoffman face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. They also face a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Donovan Young, Aaron Young, and James Hoffman after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.
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Texas Man Faces 10 Years to Life for Online Sexual Exploitation of Maine ChildRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Texas man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to coercing and enticing a minor.
According to court records, in December 2021, Juan Jose Torres, 26, coerced and enticed a 13‑year-old to produce and send him sexually explicit images and videos. Torres had first found the child on Snapchat and sent a friend request. They also communicated through Instagram, text, phone, and FaceTime. Torres knew the victim was 13 years old and sent the child explicit images of himself, pressuring the victim to do the same. He became angry or threatened to harm himself if the victim did not comply. The child’s father intercepted disturbing Instagram messages Torres sent to the victim and notified his local police department in Maine. Numerous sexually explicit images and videos were later found on Torres’ phone in Texas.
Torres faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, to be followed by five years to life of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.
Online enticement is increasing: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported an alarming 300% increase in online enticement reports between 2020 and 2023. “Online enticement” involves an individual communicating with someone believed to be a child via the internet with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction. This type of victimization takes place across every platform, including social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, etc. Learn more about online enticement, including red flags and risk factors, at https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/onlineenticement. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project iGuardian program available to Maine communities: The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) program Project iGuardian is focused on keeping children and teens safe from online predators through education and awareness. The in-person educational outreach effort was created to share information about the dangers of online environments, how to stay safe online, and how to report abuse and suspicious activity. Schools, parent groups, and other community groups interested in bringing the program to their community can find more information at: https://www.dhs.gov/know2protect/training.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Overstating Business Expenses and Charitable Contributions in Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for falsely overstating in personal tax returns the amount of his business expenses and charitable contributions.
A federal jury earlier this year convicted NIKKO D’AMBROSIO, 32, of Des Plaines, Ill., of making false statements in his personal income tax returns for the tax years 2019 and 2020. D’Ambrosio, who worked as a salesperson for an Illinois-based electronic sweepstakes kiosk operator, falsely claimed to have driven more than 474,000 miles on business-related travel for those two years. He also falsely claimed to have incurred more than $263,000 in business-related meal expenses during those years. D’Ambrosio’s false claims about his charitable contributions involved alleged donations of more than $63,000 to a Catholic church in Chicago. Financial and vehicle records presented at trial revealed that the mileage and meal expenses were vastly overstated, and a church representative testified that D’Ambrosio was not a parishioner and that the church had no record of any donations by D’Ambrosio in those years.
U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin imposed the year-and-a-day sentence during a hearing Wednesday in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Rothblatt and Brandon D. Stone.
St. Albans Man Charged with Possessing Firearm as Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on May 2, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Quentin Suggs, 37, of St. Albans, Vermont, with possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony.
Suggs entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on May 29, 2024, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Suggs be detained pending further proceedings in this matter.
According to court records, Milton, Vermont police responded to reports of an active home invasion on March 25, 2024. Upon arrival, officers located an injured man later identified as Suggs. Interviews of witnesses and bystander video footage revealed that Suggs had broken into the backdoor of a residence while brandishing a handgun, resulting in an occupant of the residence resisting Suggs and ultimately disarming him. Law enforcement recovered a .380 Bersa handgun at the scene with a defaced serial number, which witnesses reported Suggs had possessed, as well as a backpack attributed to Suggs that contained zip ties and a hammer. Suggs is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2012 conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Suggs is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Suggs faces up to 15 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Milton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Suggs is represented by Jessica L. Burke, Esq. and Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven L. Barth.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Springfield, Illinois Man Convicted of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on May 29, 2024, against James Russwinkel of the 20th block of Country Lake Road, Springfield, Illinois, for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon. Sentencing for Russwinkel is scheduled for October 2, 2024, at 1:30 P.M., at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield, Illinois before U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless.
During two days of testimony, the government presented evidence that, on May 8, 2020, Russwinkel, a convicted felon, was stopped while driving and subsequently arrested by Springfield Police Officers because he had an outstanding warrant. During a search of Russwinkel, officers found a loaded 9mm magazine, a loose 9mm round, and a large amount of U.S. Currency. Police Officers then searched the vehicle and located within arm’s reach of Russwinkel, a black backpack containing over 26 grams of methamphetamine in multiple bags, a 9mm pistol without its magazine, and an even larger amount of U.S. Currency. In total, $14,637 was seized. The jury found that the defendant possessed the methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug distribution. The jury also found Russwinkel possessed the firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Russwinkel remains in the custody of U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing. At sentencing, Russwinkel faces statutory penalties of not less than five years and up to forty years in prison for possession with intent to deliver five grams or more of methamphetamine; not less than 5 years in prison consecutive to the possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute charge for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and not more than 10 years in prison, for possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon.
The prosecution was the result of an investigation by Springfield Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner K. Jacobs and Sierra Senor-Moore represented the government at trial.
The case against Russwinkel 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.
South Dakota Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol BreachRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A South Dakota man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including for allegedly assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
William George Knight, 37, of Rapid City, South Dakota, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, both felony offenses.
In addition to the felonies, Knight is charged with five misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.
The FBI arrested Knight on May 26, 2024, in Rapid City. He is expected to make his initial appearance today in the District of South Dakota.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Knight attended the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., and witnessed the United States Park Police (USPP) take an individual into custody. A crowd of others, including Knight, allegedly pursued the USPP to a screening facility, a glass structure, and Knight aggressively approached the glass wall four times over approximately seven minutes, each time pushing himself off the wall and gesturing toward police. Knight then put his middle fingers up to the glass and pointed menacingly at the police inside the Screening Center.
Knight later made his way toward the Capitol and entered the Capitol grounds via the Maryland Avenue walkway. Knight and others were allegedly among the first rioters to breach the restricted perimeter and arrive at the West Plaza at approximately 12:57 p.m. A short while later, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officers arrived to reinforce Capitol Police and set up a barrier using bike racks on the West Plaza. It is alleged that Knight grabbed one of the bike rack barriers and fell backward because he had pulled on the barrier so forcefully.
At about 1:14 p.m., Knight allegedly attempted to pull a second bike rack barrier away from a different nearby police line. After initially grabbing the second bike rack, Knight retreated before charging toward the police line and diving to grab the barrier. Court documents say that MPD officers had to deploy chemical spray to stop Knight. Knight then jeered at the police line for several minutes, pointed at them aggressively multiple times, and yelled at the police, “We ain’t leaving! We ain’t going nowhere!” and “Here are the b—. Here are the b—.”
Court documents allege that at about 1:40 p.m., Knight and a large group of other rioters pushed a giant metal-framed sign toward the police line. After ramming the sign at police, Knight allegedly shoved an MPD officer and again grabbed a bike rack barrier and pulled it into the crowd, depriving the police of its use. Knight remained at the vanguard of rioters confronting officers, chanting, “Stop the steal! Stop the steal!” with other rioters.
Later, at approximately 2:08 p.m., Knight is alleged to have been part of a group of rioters that pushed together against the police line on the Lower West Plaza. The police line collapsed at approximately 2:30 p.m., and Knight and other rioters made their way up one level to the Lower West Terrace. Knight remained on the Lower West Terrace for at least two hours.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Minneapolis Division, Rapid City Resident Agency, and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 40 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,424 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 500 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South Carolina Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Transporting Arizona Minor with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual ConductRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Timothy Mikell Schultheis, 26, of Hilton Head, South Carolina, was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 27 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Schultheis also will have to register as a sex offender. Schultheis pleaded guilty to Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity on January 10, 2024.
Schultheis, aka Jackson Oden, transported a 12-year-old minor, from Arizona to South Carolina, with the intent to engage in sexual activity. After using social media to meet and groom the minor, Schultheis drove from South Carolina to Safford to pick up the minor and drive her back to his South Carolina residence. The investigation revealed Facebook communications between the minor and then-24-year-old Schultheis, which included his travel plans and detailed his intention to participate in sexual conduct with her. When Schultheis was arrested at his apartment in South Carolina on March 30, 2022, the minor was found inside.
“Our efforts to protect the public start with safeguarding our youth from predators on social media” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Defendant will have a long time in custody to reflect on his crimes, and upon release decades from now, his supervised release conditions will restrict his use of smart phones and encryption technology to further protect the community.”
“This sentencing puts a stop to Timothy Schulthies and his repeated offenses. He can no longer hurt children or their families across the country,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Akil Davis. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to follow the evidence wherever it leads. We will use all tools available to bring to justice those who seek to harm children. We are extremely grateful for the swift actions of our law enforcement partners who worked nonstop to locate and apprehend Schultheis.”
Schultheis had been previously arrested and released by South Carolina authorities for similar conduct involving a different 12-year-old and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of his offense in this case. The plea agreement in this case required that Schultheis plead guilty to the South Carolina charges of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
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 Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Sierra Vista and the Graham County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carin Duryee, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00973-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-071_Schultheis# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Slidell Man Guilty for Making False Statements to Small Business AdministrationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DEAN MEILLEUR (“MEILLEUR”), age 57, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long on May 28, 2024, to making or using false writings or documents to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(3).
According to court documents, MEILLEUR, submitted false writings and documents to the SBA to obtain Economic Impact Disaster Loans (“EIDL”). In his EIDL applications, among other things, MEILLEUR falsely represented that he was the owner of a trucking business that was formed in 2017 and that he was eligible for EIDL funds. As a result of these false submissions, MEILLEUR obtained $147,400 from SBA to which he was not entitled.
MEILLEUR is to be sentenced on September 17, 2024, and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. After imprisonment, he faces up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. MEILLEUR has also agreed to pay restitution to the SBA, which amount shall be determined and ordered by the court.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
U.S. Attorney Evans commended the Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on May 29, 2024.
Shane Allan Nelson, age 38, was sentenced to five years 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.
Nelson was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 13, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between March 13, 2020, and March 18, 2020, when Nelson received materials containing child pornography. Nelson used his Apple iPhone to access the internet and direct a 16-year-old female in Delaware to send him nude photos of herself.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Nelson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Since February 2024, one defendant pled guilty and five others have been charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in deathRead the Press Release
MIAMI – U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), Sheriff Eric Flowers of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO), Chief Joe DeGiulio of the Boynton Beach Police Department (BBPD), Chief Dominick Pape of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, and Chief Sean Scheller of the Lantana Police Department announced the results of their continuing efforts to combat the distribution of fentanyl crisis in South Florida.
Since March 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, with assistance from law enforcement partners, has indicted five defendants with distributing fentanyl resulting in death. Their charges follow another defendant’s guilty plea to the same charge in February 2024. Pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 841, the distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death is an offense that upon conviction is punishable by a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life.
According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment, synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, are poisoning our nation. Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced, killing 38,000 Americans in the first six months of 2023 alone. Just one fentanyl pill can kill, as noted in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially fatal dose and laboratory testing indicates seven out of 10 pills seized by the DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. The public is encouraged to be cautious.
“Drug traffickers who distribute fentanyl are handing out a death sentence to drug users and those who unknowingly come in contact with this dangerous and deadly synthetic drug,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will continue to target those who fuel the opioid epidemic, to include the Chinese companies and employees that manufacture and introduce the raw chemicals at the start of the fentanyl supply chain, the associates and members of the drug cartels that manufacture fentanyl, and, as we have seen with today’s announcement, the South Florida suppliers who handout the fatal fentanyl overdoses. We commend our partner agencies for their skill and resourcefulness, as we work collectively to prosecute the distributors of the fentanyl poison and protect the public.”
“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat facing our country. Whether in a fake pill, in powdered form, or laced in other illicit drugs, the effects of illicit fentanyl are devastating on our Florida communities as drug distributors put profits over the lives of people,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter. “DEA will continue our collaborative efforts, working with our local, state, and federal partners, to target the entire illicit fentanyl supply chain and hold those who threaten the safety and health of our communities responsible for their actions.”
“I commend all of our law enforcement partners in this investigation for their dedication and perseverance. The Boynton Beach Police Department remains steadfast in its commitment to combatting the distribution of dangerous narcotics. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those responsible for the distribution of these drugs are brought to justice," said BBPD Chief Joseph DeGiulio.
“The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department appreciates the working partnership with our federal law enforcement partners to combat these dangerous drugs that are harming residents of our community. These efforts will hopefully result in reducing the impact of fentanyl and keep our community safe,” said Chief Dominick Pape of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department.
The following cases exemplify the continued commitment between federal, state, and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute drug dealers who distribute deadly fentanyl.
U.S. v. Keyon Lewis, Case No. 23-CR-14030
On Feb. 20, 2024, Keyon Lewis, 27, of Indian River County, Florida pled guilty to distribution of fentanyl, the use of which resulted in the death of another person. According to the plea documents filed with the Court, on Nov. 5, 2021, Lewis sold fentanyl to a man in a parking lot in Vero Beach. The next day, the man’s wife found him dead on the kitchen floor of their residence.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 11, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon in Fort Pierce. IRCSO and DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Roberto Delgado is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Samantha Hana Yi and Darnell Julio Mendez,
Case No. 24-cr-80041
On March 28, 2024, Samantha Yi, a/k/a “China,” 32 and Darnell Julio Mendez, 31, of Lake Worth, Florida, were indicted for distributing fentanyl causing death, following the fatal ingestion of fentanyl by a 10-month old baby in Boynton Beach, Florida. According to allegations in the court record, Yi and Mendez sold the fentanyl to the baby’s mother, who was a drug addict, the day before the baby’s death. Undercover officers also subsequently purchased fentanyl from Yi and Mendez. When the couple was arrested at their home, they were found in possession of fourteen firearms. Both Yi and Mendez were also charged in the indictment with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Yi and Mendez are detained pending trial, scheduled for Sept. 9, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg. A plea hearing is scheduled for Yi on June 11, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart. BBPD, PBSO, and DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam McMichael and Shannon O’Shea Darsch are prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Klco is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Alfonso Guerrero, Case No. 24-cr-14013
On April 11, 2024, Alfonso Guerrero, 37, of Vero Beach, Florida, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, resulting in death, distribution of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, resulting in death, and possession of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl with intent to distribute, following the death of a 37-year-old male in Vero Beach on May 16, 2023. According to allegations in the court record, Guerrero delivered a white powdery substance to the victim hours before he died. Toxicology results determined that the victim died from a combination of dimethylpentylone, pentylone, and fentanyl. Two days after the victims’ death, Guerrero sold more fentanyl to an undercover officer.
Guerrero is detained pending trial. A status conference is scheduled for June 26, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg. A trial date has not been scheduled in this matter. IRCSO and DEA investigated the case. Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Stone is handling asset forfeiture.
U.S. v. Gito St Fort, Case No 24-cr-80063
On May 16, 2024, Gito St Fort, 30, of West Palm Beach, Florida, was charged by indictment with distributing fentanyl on Dec. 24, 2023, to a young man who was visiting his parents in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. According to allegations in the court record, the victim took an Uber from his parent’s house to St Fort’s apartment in the early morning hours of December 24, 2023, to buy heroin capsules and cocaine. Tragically, the victim was found dead by his parents the next morning, on Christmas Day along with leftover capsules that tested positive for fentanyl. A toxicology report confirmed fatal levels of fentanyl in the victim’s blood.
St Fort is detained pending trial, scheduled for July 1, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon. The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, PBSO and DEA investigated the case. FBI Miami provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ralston is prosecuting it.
U.S. v. Anthony Raul Del Valle, Case No. 24-cr-80062
Today, Anthony Raul Del Valle, 29, of Lantana, Florida, was charged in a superseding indictment with distributing acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl causing the death of two sisters in Lantana, Florida. According to the criminal complaint, Del Valle sold counterfeit pills to the victims on April 8, 2024. According to the superseding indictment, the counterfeit pills contained acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl, quantities of which were found in the victims’ toxicology findings by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office. Del Valle has also been charged with possessing additional fentanyl which he intended to distribute on April 10, 2024, along with a firearm he possessed in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
Del Valle is detained pending trial, which is scheduled for June 24, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. The Lantana Police Department and DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon O’Shea Darsch is prosecuting it.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners thank the Office of State Attorney Dave Aronberg for the 15th Judicial Circuit and the Office of State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl for the 19th Judicial Circuit for their invaluable assistance with fentanyl cases.
Anyone with information regarding the distribution of fentanyl is encouraged to contact 911 or call the DEA at 1-877-792-2873.
A number of these prosecutions are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through the PSN program a broad spectrum of law enforcement and community 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 to reduce violence crime and gun violence, and to make our local neighborhoods safer for everyone.
An indictment and complaint contain mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under the corresponding case numbers.
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Shelburne, Vermont Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 29, 2024, Michael Burton, 48, of Shelburne, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Burton previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on April 3, 2023, Burton was arrested by law enforcement in South Burlington, Vermont following a lengthy investigation for drug trafficking. At the time of his arrest, Burton possessed a black backpack which contained, among other things, more than 100 grams of cocaine base, approximately 200 fentanyl pills, a digital scale, and additional drug paraphernalia used for the distribution of controlled substances. Later on April 3, 2023, law enforcement executed a federal search and seizure warrant at Burton's residence in Shelburne, Vermont. Inside of Burton's room, investigators found more than 30 grams of cocaine base, ammunition, magazines, and three firearms, specifically: a Ruger EC9S 9x19mm semi-automatic pistol; a HS Produkt XD9 9x19mm semi-automatic pistol; and a Smith & Wesson M&P9 9x19mm semi-automatic pistol.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. Burton was represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
San Antonio Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Robbing Pawn Shop and Selling Stolen Firearms OnlineRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court to 192 months in prison for the armed robbery of a Federal Firearms Licensed pawn shop, as well as conspiring to traffic firearms stolen during the robbery.
According to court documents, Antonio Hinojosa Jr., 21, conspired with others over a social media chat to rob a San Antonio pawn shop. On May 18, 2023, the group, wearing gloves, masks, and dark clothing, robbed the pawn shop and threatened store employees by brandishing firearms. They succeeded in stealing 14 firearms and more than $8,600 worth of jewelry before fleeing in a getaway truck. After the robbery, Hinojosa posted photos of the stolen firearms on social media to advertise and sell them to his contacts.
Hinojosa was arrested June 26, 2023. He pleaded guilty March 7 to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms.
Co-defendant, Joshua Michael Govea, whose role in the robbery was to detain the store workers at gunpoint, pleaded guilty to the robbery conspiracy and brandishing charges. Govea was sentenced to 117 months last week. Two additional co-defendants, Cesar Alan Garcia and Sebastian Louis Xavier Suarez, are pending trial and remain in custody. As is customary in the judicial process, Garcia and Suarez are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve prosecuted the case.
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Richmond County man sentenced to prison for trafficking heroin, illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Richmond County man has been sentenced to nearly 15 years in federal prison after his conviction on drug trafficking and gun possession charges.
Kelvin Laron Howard, 68, of Augusta, was sentenced to 175 months in prison after a U.S. District Court jury convicted him on charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also fined Howard $2,500 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Kelvin Howard was identified as a significant distributor of illegal drugs in the Augusta area, and held to account through a jury trial,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “His sentence demonstrates there is no tolerance for armed drug dealers in our community.”
A U.S. District Court jury convicted Howard on all charges in December 2023. As presented at trial, an investigation by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office identified Howard as a heroin distributor in the Augusta area. During a search of his apartment investigators found enough heroin for more than 700 individual doses, along with drug scales and packaging materials, nearly $1,000 in cash, and a loaded semiautomatic pistol.
“There is nothing more critical to ATF than increasing the safety of our communities. Cases which result in the arrests and prosecution of violent criminals are fundamental to continuing to show criminals that ATF and its law enforcement partners will not falter in this mission,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “We will pursue criminals wherever they may operate, and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The arrest and subsequent conviction of Kelvin Howard by way of a jury trial is an example of the community’s support we have in Richmond County,” said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “Mr. Howard was not only identified as participating in illegal drug activity, but he was also found to have a firearm in his possession as a convicted felon. His conviction has the potential to save lives by having one less illegal firearm on the streets and illegal drugs in our community.”
The case was investigated by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and L. Alexander Hamner.
Pontotoc County Resident Sentenced for Arson in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shyla Faye Pittman, age 38, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for one count of Arson in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On October 16, 2023, Pittman pleaded guilty to one count of Arson in Indian Country. According to investigators, on March 11, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a call about a housefire and arrived to discover Pittman on the porch of the burning building, with a butane torch nearby. After firefighters extinguished the blaze, ATF Fire Investigators discovered multiple points of origin for the fire, indicating that Pittman had purposefully set fires throughout the home. The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pittman will remain in 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.
Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced for Conspiring to Violate Export LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court on his conviction of conspiring to violate export laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman imposed the sentence of one year of probation and a $2,500 fine on Derby Clerfe, 44.
According to information presented to the Court, Clerfe purchased nine handguns and provided them to another individual who would arrange for their export to Haiti without filing the export information required by federal law.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Bengel prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Export Enforcement’s New York Field Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Clerfe.
Philadelphia Man Who Robbed Armored Truck Sentenced to More Than Eight Years ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Philadelphia man was sentenced yesterday to 97 months in federal prison for robbing an armored truck and stealing more than $100,000. The Honorable Richard G. Andrews, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, imposed the sentence.
According to court documents, Tayion Spencer, 32, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation after he robbed an armored truck used to collect and deliver U.S. currency in Wilmington, Delaware. Spencer previously worked for the armored truck company and wore his former employer’s uniform while committing the robbery. When Spencer brandished and aimed a firearm at the armored truck driver, a scuffle ensued. Spencer tasered the driver, stole the driver’s firearm, and drove away in the armored truck.
After absconding to Florida, Spencer fled the scene of a traffic stop and, while being pursued by law enforcement, crashed into a marked police vehicle. Palm Beach Gardens Police recovered a loaded Glock semi-automatic handgun, a taser matching the one used during the Wilmington robbery, a ski mask, Spencer’s employment paperwork, and approximately $3,200.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The defendant’s brazen robbery and reckless flight from law enforcement endangered the lives of innocent civilians. Thankfully, law enforcement stopped him before anyone was hurt. I want to commend the Delaware State Police and the FBI for their tireless effort to bring the defendant to justice.”
“Tayion Spencer’s aggressive crime spree and attempt to avoid justice put anyone who happened to be around him at risk. This sentence holds him accountable for his dangerous and violent actions,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “We want everyone to know the FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to help make Delaware safer.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin P. Pierce. The case was investigated by the Delaware State Police and FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force with assistance from the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department.
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.
Pekin Man Charged with Possessing Homemade Explosive Devices and a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
Peoria, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois man, Dalton Lee Mattus, of the 30th block of S. 2nd Street, has been charged by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of homemade explosive devices and possessing a firearm as a felon, announced the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Gregory K. Harris.
The complaint alleges that, following a traffic stop on May 17, 2024, police located several syringes, a small scale, and a padlocked bag in the passenger area of Mattus’s car. Inside the bag, police located a stolen handgun and two homemade destructive devices. The devices were cylinder-shaped and were each equipped with yellow pyrotechnic fuses. Each device was glued shut on both ends with metallic BBs mixed throughout the glue. Police later searched Mattus’s apartment where they located three additional explosive devices, live firearm ammunition, and additional materials used in the construction of destructive devices.
Mattus, whose record includes multiple felony convictions, was arrested on May 17, 2024, and charged in Tazewell County state court with felon in possession of a firearm. Mattus was detained following a detention hearing in state court. A preliminary/detention hearing is scheduled for June 4, 2024, at 2:30 P.M. at the U.S. Courthouse in Peoria, Illinois.
Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
If convicted, Mattus faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Springfield Field Office, Pekin Police Department, and Peoria Police Department. Ronald L. Hanna is representing the government in the prosecution.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Imprisonment for Animal Crushing Videos and Possession and Transportation of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
TOLEDO - Lucas Russell Vanwoert, 27, of Celina, Ohio, was sentenced to 97 months (more than eight years) in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp, II for possession and transportation of child pornography, transportation of obscene materials and creating an animal crush video. Vanwoert was additionally ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release, required to register as a sex offender, and is prohibited from owning or possessing a pet in the future.
Vanwoert created an animal crush video in 2022 with intent to distribute according to court documents. An animal crush video is defined as any photograph, motion picture, film, video or digital recording, or electronic image that depicts actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians is intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury, or bestiality and is obscene.
Authorities seized three severely emaciated dogs that Vanwoert was abusing, and one recently deceased dog in the backyard of the residence. Authorities also seized several electronic devices that were found to contain videos of child pornography, which involved prepubescent children, as well as animal crush videos, as part of an executed search warrant at Vanwoert’s residence in Celina. At least one of Vanwoert’s dogs was used to create the animal crush videos.
Homeland Security Investigations Agent Jason Guyton was the lead investigator. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Michelle M. Baeppler.
North Dakota Man Sentenced to 40 Years Imprisonment for Receiving Videos of Toddlers Being Sexually AbusedRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on May 30, 2024, Nicholas Morgan-Derosier, age 36 of Grand Forks, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison; lifetime supervised release; $700.00 in special assessments; and ordered to pay $39,000 in restitution to the 13 victims for Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography.
Morgan-Derosier pled guilty to one count of Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, and six counts of Possession of Child Pornography on September 29, 2023. The charges stemmed from videos and images that Grand Forks Police and HSI found during a search warrant at Morgan-Derosier’s residence. The search warrant was based on Morgan-Derosier’s fraudulent lawn service business activity. Officers located more than 6,000 images and videos of graphic sexual abuse of prepubescent minors on at least six devices. Morgan-Derosier also possessed nude images of prepubescent family members, along with explicit chats about raping them. The evidence at sentencing showed that Morgan-Derosier raped or sexually assaulted several other individuals when those individuals were minors. Morgan-Derosier’s total offense level was 42 and he fell into a criminal history category II, yielding a recommended guideline range of 360 months – 120 years in prison. The Receipt of Child Pornography Count carried a minimum-minimum sentence of five years.
“The monstrous conduct of this defendant towards children makes this strong sentence an appropriate one,” said Mac Schneider, United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota. “This defendant preyed on kids online and in real life, and the public is safer now that he is in the long-term custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I commend our office’s First Assistant United States Attorney, Jenifer Puhl, our colleagues at Main Justice, and our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement for ensuring this defendant faced justice.”
“Morgan-Derosier was a significant threat to the community, and his conviction and sentencing highlights the fact that predators like him will face significant penalties for their crimes that leave victims and families traumatized,” said Jamie Holt, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “HSI special agents work tirelessly to combat child predators like Morgan-Derosier. We will continue to fight against the exploitation of children and support victims by providing critical resources and services. Well done to the special agents and law enforcement community partners for bringing him to justice for his reprehensible crimes.”
Homeland Security Investigations, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Grand Forks Police Department investigated the case. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl and Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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New York City Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Role in Burglary Conspiracy Targeting Asian Small Business OwnersRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy that targeted Asian and Asian-American small business owners for burglaries, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
James Hurt, 48, of New York, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. Judge Padin imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From Dec. 2, 2016, to March 20, 2019, Hurt and others participated in a conspiracy to burglarize the residences of certain Asian small business owners living in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware of large sums of money, valuable jewelry, and other items, and then transport the stolen goods in interstate commerce, including to residences in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Padin sentenced Hurt to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited FBI Newark’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. He also thanked the South Plainfield Police Department, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of State, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Bernards Township, Bethlehem Township, Cherry Hill, Cinnaminson, Clark, Colonial Regional, Cranford, Delaware State Police-Troop 2, Delran, Edison, East Brunswick, East Hanover, Eatontown, Elizabeth, Essex County Sheriff’s Office-Bureau of Narcotics, Evesham Township, Exeter Township, Fair Lawn, Forks Township, Fort Lee, Franklin Township, Glassboro, Gloucester Township, Hackensack, Haverstraw, Hazlet, Highland Park, Hillside, Hillsborough Township, Howell Township, Jackson, Kenilworth, Lawrence Township, Linden, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Marlboro Township, Maywood, Middletown, Montgomery County, Montville, Morris Township, Mount Laurel, Mountainside, New Castle County, New Providence, New York Police Department’s 105th Detective Squad, North Brunswick, North Plainfield, Old Bridge, Paramus, Parsippany, Phillipsburg, Piscataway, Pocono Mountain Regional, Pocono Township, Raritan, Roselle Park, Sayreville, Somerville, South Brunswick, South River, South Whitehall Township, Spotswood, Town of Tuxedo, Tinton Falls, Toms River, Township of Ocean, Union, Upper Macungie Township, Wall Township, Warren, Washington Township, Watchung, Westfield, Whitehall Township, and Woodbridge Township police departments.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dong Joo Lee of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
Naval Commander Sentenced for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Retaining Classified National Defense InformationRead the Press Release
Gregory Edward McLean, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida, was sentenced today to 160 months for distributing child sexual abuse material and 120 months for unlawfully retaining classified national defense information. The sentences will be served concurrently.
According to court documents, state law enforcement in Rhode Island received a cyber tipline report that a user of a particular messaging application had shared videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children. The investigation identified the user as McLean, who was at that time an active-duty officer in the U.S. Navy, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and serving as the executive officer of a ship stationed aboard a Naval Station Mayport in Florida. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) continued the investigation and identified additional instances where McLean had distributed child sexual abuse material. On Nov. 4, 2021, agents executed a federal search warrant at McLean’s residence, during which they seized numerous electronic devices and storage media. A forensic review revealed that several of these items contained files depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
The forensic review also identified a flash drive which had been recovered from McLean’s kitchen counter that contained approximately 150 documents containing national defense information classified at the secret level and 50 documents containing national defense information classified at the confidential level. An investigation by NCIS and the FBI revealed that throughout his service as a naval officer, McLean had access to classified information and held a top-secret security clearance. McLean had entered into various agreements with the United States regarding the protection and proper handling of classified information and was aware that his home was not an authorized location to store classified national defense information. In particular, court documents identify two documents McLean unlawfully retained which contained national defense information related to foreign governments and their combat aircraft and naval capabilities. Disclosure of this information could reasonably be expected to cause damage and, in some instances, serious damage to the national security of the United States.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch and Special Agent in Charge Barbara Jackson of the NCIS Southeast Field Office made the announcement made the announcement.
The FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Heather Schmidt of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Mesrobian and Kirwinn Mike for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Naval Commander Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Retaining Classified National Defense InformationRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan sentenced Gregory Edward McLean (40, Jacksonville) today to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material and 10 years’ imprisonment for unlawfully retaining classified national defense information. The sentences are to be served concurrently. McLean entered a guilty plea on December 6, 2023.
According to court documents, state law enforcement in Rhode Island received a cyber tipline report that a user of a particular messaging application had shared videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children. The investigation identified the user as McLean, who was at that time an active-duty officer in the U.S. Navy, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and serving as the Executive Officer of a ship stationed aboard a Naval Station Mayport in Florida. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) continued the investigation and identified additional instances where McLean had distributed child sexual abuse material. On Nov. 4, 2021, agents executed a federal search warrant at McLean’s residence, during which they seized numerous electronic devices and storage media. A forensic review revealed that several of these items contained files depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
The forensic review also identified a flash drive – which had been recovered from McLean’s kitchen counter – that contained approximately 150 documents containing national defense information classified at the Secret level and 50 documents containing national defense information classified at the Confidential level. An investigation by NCIS and the FBI revealed that throughout his service as a naval officer, McLean had access to classified information and held a Top-Secret security clearance. McLean had entered into various agreements with the United States regarding the protection and proper handling of classified information and was aware that his home was not an authorized location to store classified national defense information. In particular, court documents identify two documents McLean unlawfully retained which contained national defense information related to foreign governments and their combat aircraft and naval capabilities. Disclosure of this information could reasonably be expected to cause damage and, in some instances, serious damage to the national security of the United States.
“Protecting our children from abuse and safeguarding our national security interests are of paramount importance to my office,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “The cooperation and diligent investigation by our law enforcement partners in this case ensured that both of those priorities were upheld through the successful federal prosecution of this case.”
“The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is dedicated to combatting the exploitation of the vulnerable members of our community and protecting the integrity of classified national security information,” said Special Agent in Charge Barbara Jackson, NCIS Southeast Field Office. "This sentencing serves as an example that such behavior will not be tolerated within the Navy ranks.”
“Gregory McLean’s retention of classified national defense information documents in an unauthorized location posed a significant risk to our country and military,” said Coult Markovsky, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “Let this sentence serve as a pledge to all Americans that the FBI and our partners will doggedly pursue those who exploit their position of trust and risk our national security. In addition, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify and hold those accountable who also pose a danger to the most vulnerable members of our society.”
This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Rhode Island State Police, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David B. Mesrobian and Kirwinn Mike and Trial Attorney Heather Schmidt of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Muskogee Resident Sentenced to 35 Years for Kidnapping, Carjacking and RobberyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Patrick Wayne McHenry, age 30, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping, 360 months for one count of Kidnapping, 180 months for one count of Carjacking, and 180 months for one count of Robbery in Indian Country. Those terms will be served concurrently. In addition, McHenry was sentenced to 60 months for Use and Carry of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. That term will be served consecutively.
The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muskogee Police Department.
On December 21, 2022, McHenry was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury at trial. According to investigators, on September 11, 2021, McHenry kidnapped an individual from a motel in Muskogee, on the Muscogee (Creek) Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and held the victim captive during an ordeal that lasted over two days. On September 12, 2021, McHenry, armed with a sawed-off shotgun, targeted, robbed, and carjacked a second victim from the same motel in Muskogee.
“I applaud the work of law enforcement and prosecutors for their roles in holding McHenry accountable for his spate of violence,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. McHenry 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 Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.
Morgan County Man Admits to Firearms Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Russell Allen Perry, 44, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, pled guilty today to his role in a firearms trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the scheme involved another defendant purchasing firearms at licensed dealers in Morgan and Berkeley Counties and distributing those firearms for resale. Perry and others assisted in illegally selling nearly 50 firearms.
Perry faces up to 5 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Mobile Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Kelvontae Brown, a Mobile, Alabama man, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The sentence was imposed by Senior United States District Judge Callie V. S. Granade.
According to court documents, in January 2024, Kelvontate Brown plead guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In March 2023, concerned neighbors called 911 because Brown was acting erratically and was in the street with a firearm. When members of the Mobile Police Department arrived, they located Brown, took him into custody, and collected the Glock pistol he had attempted to hide nearby. Brown admitted he had possessed the firearm and that he had hidden it. Brown has prior convictions for domestic violence and theft offenses and was on state probation at the time of this firearms offense.
At sentencing, Judge Granade imposed a 30-month sentence of incarceration and a three-year term of supervised release upon Brown’s discharge from prison. Brown will also be required to undergo mental health evaluation upon release.
The Mobile Police Department 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.
Mexican man admits to possessing images and videos of child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 21-year-old Mexican citizen has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
On June 30, 2023, Kevin Alejandro Santos-Moya attempted to enter the United States through the Los Indios Port of Entry. Law enforcement referred him to secondary inspection where they conducted a search of his iPhone and located child pornography.
Forensic analysis of the phone resulted in the discovery of a total of 31 images and 37 videos of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. accepted the plea and has set sentencing for Sept. 5. At that time, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Santos-Moya has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Mexican National, illegally residing in London, Rafael Martinez, 41, was sentenced on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, to 77 months in prison, for illegal reentry to the United States following a conviction for an aggravated felony.
According to his plea agreement, Martinez was ordered removed to Mexico from the United States, on August 30, 2004, following his conviction and service of a sentence for child molestation from Grant County, Indiana. At the time of his conviction, Martinez was unlawfully present in the United States. On September 14, 2018, Martinez was arrested in Laurel County, Kentucky, on new state charges, and he was identified as a previously removed alien who had made no attempt to apply for re-admission to the United States. Martinez was ultimately convicted on these Kentucky charges and his federal sentence was ordered to run consecutively to this prior Kentucky sentence.
Under federal law, Martinez must serve 85 percent of his federal prison sentence.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and LaDeon Francis, Director, Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, (ICE-ERO) Chicago Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ICE-ERO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Parman prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Mexican Man Charged with Illegal Re-entry of a Removed Alien Previously Convicted of a FelonyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that IGNACIO SORIANO-RUIZ, age 29, was charged on May 24, 2024, in a bill of information, with reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the bill of information, IGNACIO SORIANO-RUIZ reentered the United States after being previously deported on January 14, 2018.
He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Mexican Man Charged with Illegal Re-entry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BALTAZAR GARCIA-MENDOZA, age 33, was charged on May 24, 2024, in a bill of information, with reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the bill of information, BALTAZAR GARCIA-MENDOZA reentered the United States after being previously deported on February 3, 2014.
He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years followed by up to one (1) year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Mexican Man Charged with Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BALTAZAR GARCIA-MENDOZA, age 33, was charged on May 24, 2024, in a bill of information, with reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the bill of information, BALTAZAR GARCIA-MENDOZA reentered the United States after being previously deported on February 3, 2014.
He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years followed by up to one (1) year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Member of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston-area man pleaded guilty today to his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.
Devante Lopes, a/k/a “D-Lopes,” 30, of Boston and Quincy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy); conspiracy to distribute marijuana; and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Oct. 3, 2024.
According to court documents, the Cameron Street gang is a violent criminal enterprise whose members and associates are involved in a variety of criminal activities – including murders, attempted murders, armed robberies, carjackings, home invasions, human trafficking, as well as drug and firearms trafficking, among other offenses – in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston and surrounding areas. It is alleged that Cameron Street members use violence against rival gangs and witnesses, typically with the use of firearms, to maintain and enhance their status and the overall reputation of the gang, as well as to protect the gang’s power, reputation and territory. Members engage in drug trafficking activity and distributed kilograms of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine), oxycodone and marijuana throughout Massachusetts. During the investigation, 21 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were allegedly seized from 11 of the defendants.
Lopes was identified by several cooperating witnesses as a member of Cameron Street. From 2019 through 2020, Lopes regularly received large quantities of marijuana from California, for which he shipped packages containing between $40,000 to $50,000 in cash in exchange.
During a search of Lopes’ residence in April 2022, 800 grams of cocaine was seized from inside a bench by his bed. Also discovered during the search were two hidden compartments in Lopes’ apartment, including one concealed inside a shelf that contained approximately $5,000 in cash, a box of ammunition and foam cut-outs for a firearm. The second hidden compartment was found inside a mirror and contained a foam insert.The charge of RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force or violence each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; United States Postal Inspection Service; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force 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 to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Sentenced to 20 Years’ Imprisonment for Attempting to Engage in Sexual Activity with a MinorRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A federal judge in southern Illinois sentenced an Indiana man to 20 years’ imprisonment after he admitted to traveling across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
Diego A. Montes-Roldan, 27, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty in February to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Following imprisonment, he will serve a lifetime term of supervised release.
“Predators are actively scouting for victims online, but quick detection by parents and strong action by law enforcement can help to safeguard children,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to work with our partners to help keep children safe.”
According to court documents, Montes-Roldan’s charges stem from conversations he had via text message with two 14-year-old victims he met through social media. In separate conversations, Montes-Roldan discussed having sexual intercourse with both victims.
“The FBI prioritizes protecting our most vulnerable and, in this case, combined law enforcement efforts saved young victims from irreparable harm,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Rodriguez. “This sentence puts Montes-Roldan behind bars for a significant amount of time and prevents further exploitation of innocent children.”
In October 2021, police received reports of Montes-Roldan’s conversations with one of the minors. Following an FBI investigation, he was arrested by law enforcement.
“Preying on youth is a diabolical crime and ISP is relentless when it comes to investigating predators,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at all levels to identify child predators and successfully bring them to justice."
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, with assistance from the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation and the Porter County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Bloodworth prosecuted the case.
Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Child Sex Abuse Following Extradition from SpainRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Kristian Ignacio Feliz, age 24, of Connecticut, was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child. Feliz was indicted in March 2023, and extradited from Spain to face federal charges in November 2023. In sentencing Feliz, U.S. District Court Judge Jane Beckering emphasized the “manipulative” and violent nature of his crimes, which the Court stated will impact the victim “for the rest of her life.”
“Every child deserves to grow up safe, healthy, and free from abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “In this case, a sexual predator living abroad targeted a child in Kalamazoo, traveled here to abuse her, and then left the country. Working closely with state, federal, and international partners, we made sure Feliz was hauled back to Michigan to face justice in our courts. Let today’s sentence serve as a warning that my office takes the protection of children extremely seriously.”
In October 2022, Feliz was a 23-year-old graduate student in Barcelona, Spain, studying quantum physics. He had also struck up an online relationship with a 12-year-old girl living in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Feliz told the girl that he loved her and called her “my little wife,” while at the same time repeatedly pressuring her to create and send him pornographic videos. Then, in January 2023, Feliz traveled to Kalamazoo and recorded videos of himself abusing the girl in her home over a three-day period. After he left town, Feliz instructed the girl to sell the videos online, and to have the money sent to his accounts.
“Today's sentencing is a shining example of the brilliant interagency and international coordination between the FBI's Western Michigan Violent Crime Task Force, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the Government of Spain,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. No matter how far away those who commit these crimes may be, we will use all of our available resources to extradite you to the U.S. to face justice.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) to prepare and submit a request for Kristian Ignacio Feliz’s provisional arrest, with a plan to seek his extradition soon after. U.S. Attorney Totten and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan Cheyvoryea Gibson extend their appreciation and thanks to Spain’s Ministry of Justice, Spanish National Police, and Guardia Civil.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following website: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Castle, and investigated by the FBI the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State provided critical assistance in securing Feliz’s arrest and extradition.
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Lone Grove Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Danny Ray Gordon, III, age 33, of Lone Grove, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The Indictment filed on March 13, 2024, charged Gordon with one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
At the plea hearing, Gordon admitted that on December 16, 2024, he was found in possession of a Colt, Model 1903, .32ACP caliber, semi-automatic pistol, and several rounds of ammunition. Gordon also admitted that at the time he possessed the firearm and ammunition, he knew he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Gordon will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshall pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Local man sent to prison for trying to intimidate witnessesRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 20-year-old Mission man has been ordered to federal prison for obstructing justice by threatening communication and assault on a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Hector Reyes Jr. pleaded guilty March 18,2024.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered him to serve 30 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release.
“The Gulf Cartel is a brutal and violent organization, one that this office seeks to disrupt and dismantle,” said Hamdani. “So, there is no patience in my office when criminals, like Reyes, use the cartels to intimidate law enforcement and scare witnesses. We take such attempts seriously and will vigorously pursue those who, through such intimidation, seek to subvert our system of justice.”
At the time of his plea, Reyes admitted he had uploaded a threatening message from Commandante Siete, a high-ranking member of the Gulf Cartel to SnapChat. This message was transmitted on handheld radios the Gulf Cartel used and warned certain people to stand down while they still “had time.”
Reyes posted this message intending to intimidate individuals who were searching for his father and hoped that it would impede his arrest. He also wanted the message to intimidate those individuals intending to cooperate with the government.
Reyes also admitted that after a detention hearing for another individual, he spit at a federal officer in the courthouse parking lot. Reyes also admitted that in a jail house phone call he had bragged to his father that the agent had gotten scared, in part because of the things that were said at the detention hearing.
Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation with the assistance of local task force officers. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Cook Profit and Ted Parran prosecuted the case.
Local Rapper Sentenced to over 14 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A local rapper was sentenced to 170 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute over 37 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Ronald Cobbs, Jr. a/k/a Lil Ron a/k/a Reverend Bankroll, 39, of Jackson, was distributing narcotics at his t-shirt business located in North Mart Plaza in Jackson.
Cobbs was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty in February 2024 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, and Ridgeland Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Jackson, Mississippi, and surrounding areas. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Leaders of Drug Trafficking Organization That Distributed Fentanyl Linked to Eight Overdose Deaths in the Bronx Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JESUS CABRERA, a/k/a “Gee,” and MICHAEL AMAYA, a/k/a “Miz,” pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and fentanyl analogue, and CABRERA also pled guilty to a related firearm count. As part of the conspiracy, CABRERA and AMAYA distributed the fentanyl and fentanyl analogue that resulted in the death of Malik Rahman on August 25, 2021. CABRERA and AMAYA pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “In broad daylight, Jesus Cabrera and his lieutenant, Michael Amaya, sold massive amounts of fentanyl in New York City, feeding addiction and causing untold tragedy. Their drugs were in the fatal dose that killed Malik Rahman, and glassines stamped with the defendants’ logo ‘Supreme’ were found at the scene of multiple other overdoses in the Bronx. This Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable the dealers who peddle this poison, exploit addiction, and cause senseless death in our community.”
As alleged in the charging instruments, court filings, and statements in the public record:
CABRERA and AMAYA were the leaders of a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) that operated principally from a block on 142nd Street between Brook Avenue and St. Ann’s Avenue in the Bronx (the “Set”), where its members sold glassines of fentanyl in bulk to dealers who then re-distributed the DTO’s product on the Set and in other areas of the Bronx. Members of the DTO also sold individual glassines to users who lined up on the Set on an almost daily basis. CABRERA was the ultimate leader of the DTO, and AMAYA worked as the second in command, managing and overseeing the DTO’s various street-level dealers, baggers, and lookouts, including the other defendants charged in this case. In the fall and winter of 2021 alone, the DTO distributed an estimated five to six kilograms of fentanyl per month.
The DTO frequently used a signature “stamp” on the glassines of fentanyl it sold. For many months, the DTO stamped its glassines with a “Supreme” logo. Starting in or around December 2021, the DTO began using an “Off White” logo and then switched to a “Thriller” logo.
Despite the DTO’s leadership’s awareness of the potential deadly impact of fentanyl, members of the DTO continued pushing the DTO’s product. For example, as early as about January 2019, CABRERA sent AMAYA a link to a news article that described law enforcement’s crackdown on heroin dealers in the Bronx who were “pushing a deadly cut of heroin . . . using a new drug known as fentanyl,” which had led to a rash of overdose deaths.
On about August 25, 2021, one of CABRERA and AMAYA’s co-defendants, Alberto Concepcion, sold a quantity of loose “Supreme”-stamped glassines to an individual on the Set, who subsequently provided one of those glassines to Rahman. Rahman died from an overdose shortly after ingesting the substances in the “Supreme”-stamped glassine, the residue of which later tested positive for, among other things, fentanyl and fentanyl analogue. Both CABRERA and AMAYA were directly involved in overseeing Concepcion’s narcotics sales at that time. Indeed, in the days leading up to Rahman’s fatal overdose, AMAYA and CABRERA exchanged text messages referencing certain quantities of narcotics that were going to Concepcion for resale on the Set.
Including Rahman’s fatal overdose, between around March 2021 and around December 2021, there were at least eight confirmed fatal overdoses in the Bronx at which the DTO’s “Supreme”-stamped glassines were found on the scene.
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JESUS CABRERA, 44, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and to using, carrying, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
MICHAEL AMAYA, 42, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Intelligence Analysts for their support and assistance in this matter. He also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in the case.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. King, Kaylan E. Lasky, and David J. Robles are in charge of the prosecution.
Lawrence Man Sentenced to More Than One Year in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Fredis Manuel Guerrero Guzman, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV to 21 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. In March 2024, Guzman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and aiding and abetting.
Guzman was indicted by a federal grand jury along with Melvin Antonio Perez Medina and Fraily Rodriguez Morillo in November 2022.
Between March 2022 and August 2022, Guzman, Morillo and Medina conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, in Lawrence, Woburn, Wilmington and Andover. Specifically, in March 2022, Guzman and Morillo met with a cooperating witness to negotiate future drug deals, including the price that Guzman would charge for fentanyl and cocaine. Thereafter, Guzman and Morillo distributed 50 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness in April 2022. In July 2022, Morillo and Perez Medina distributed an additional nearly 130 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness on one occasion, as well as over 560 grams of a fentanyl and fentanyl analogue mixture to cooperating witnesses on another occasion.
In August 2022, Perez Medina was arrested and found in possession of nearly two kilograms of a mixture containing fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue hidden inside of a cereal box.
On Jan. 18, 2024, Perez Medina was sentenced to 64 months in prison and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy. Morillo pleaded guilty on Feb. 12, 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 31, 2024.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The Massachusetts Department of Correction; the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office; and the Watertown, Reading, Peabody, Hudson, Concord and Waltham Police Departments provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Lawrence Man Indicted for Drug Conspiracy Involving 32 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Victor Berroa Mercedes, 31, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Berroa Mercedes will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging document, on May 4, 2024, Berroa Mercedes allegedly met with a cooperating source and accepted delivery of 32 kilograms of suspected cocaine in a Woburn parking lot. During his subsequent arrest, it is alleged that Berroa Mercedes dropped a plastic bag containing $32,800 in cash while attempting to flee from officers. He was immediately apprehended.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police, Massachusetts State Police and Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Mulcahy is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department and State Coalition Restore Competition for College Athletes at NCAA Division I InstitutionsRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department filed a proposed consent decree to prohibit the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the largest national organization regulating intercollegiate athletics, from enforcing the Transfer Eligibility Rule, from enforcing the Rule of Restitution against anyone in connection with the Transfer Eligibility Rule and from implementing rules imposing similar restrictions between Division I colleges and universities.
On Jan. 18, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division joined a civil lawsuit under the Sherman Act against the NCAA to end the NCAA’s Transfer Eligibility Rule. The department alleged that the rule limited competition for college athletes and restricted their ability to transfer to colleges and universities that provided better educational and athletic opportunities for them. The amended complaint, filed by the Justice Department, 10 states and District of Columbia, also alleged that the NCAA’s Rule of Restitution was anticompetitive because it deterred college athletes from challenging anticompetitive rules in court.
The proposed consent decree, if approved by the court, enjoins the NCAA from enforcing the Transfer Eligibility Rule and from adopting any similar rule in the future. In order to remedy harms caused to college athletes by the Transfer Eligibility Rule, the proposed consent decree requires the NCAA to issue an additional year of eligibility to certain qualifying college athletes who were previously deemed ineligible to participate as a result of the Transfer Eligibility Rule for a season or any portion of a season.
“Free from anticompetitive rules that unfairly limit their mobility, Division I college athletes will now be able to choose the institutions that best meet their academic, personal and professional development needs,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This resolution is a testament to the benefits of federal and state enforcers working together to ensure free markets and fair competition for all Americans.”
The amended complaint alleged that the NCAA’s one-time-transfer rule unreasonably restrained competition in the markets for athletic services in men’s and women’s Division I basketball and Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football, as well as for athletic services in all other men’s and women’s Division I sports. The rule forced college athletes who transfer more than once to sit on the sidelines for an entire season before they were eligible to compete in NCAA athletic competitions at their new school. The amended complaint further alleged that the restriction limited college athletes’ bargaining power and harmed both their educational and athletic experiences. The NCAA’s Division II, which had a similar Transfer Eligibility Rule, has already revised its rule to remove a year-in-residence requirement for transfer students.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Chief, Media, Entertainment & Communications, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 7000, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Anyone with information about anticompetitive conduct in college sports or any other violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or [email protected].
View the complaint here.
View the consent decree here.
View the competitive impact statement here.
Johnson, Vermont Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 30, 2024, George Goins, 66, of Johnson, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III to a term of 57 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Goins previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on June 8, 2022, Goins was arrested following an investigation into a shooting that occurred outside of Goins’ apartment complex in Johnson, Vermont on June 7, 2022. In the early morning hours of June 7, 2022, the victim, who lived in the same apartment building as Goins, confronted Goins near his apartment. Goins took a handgun from his pocket, shot the victim in the neck, and fled. Law enforcement later obtained a warrant to search Goins’ apartment where they recovered a Smith & Wesson SD9 VE 9mm semi-automatic pistol. From a riverbank behind the Johnson apartment complex, investigators recovered a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol. Based on the caliber and characteristics of the weapon, investigators believe that the gun found near the riverbank was used to shoot the victim. The victim was treated at a hospital for injuries and later released. Goins is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his criminal history.
On June 8, 2022, law enforcement located Goins outside of a hotel in South Burlington, Vermont. Law enforcement recovered fentanyl and cocaine base in Goins’ hotel room. Goins also had four bags of fentanyl on his person at the time of his arrest.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department, the Morristown Police Department, the South Burlington Police Department, and the Burlington Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. Goins was represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Jersey City Attorney Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Jersey City attorney was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for defrauding his clients of more than $2 million dollars and other crimes, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
James R. Lisa, 68, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to a superseding information charging him with one count of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, one count of obstructing the IRS, one count of failing to file an individual income tax return, and one count of wire fraud while on pretrial release. U.S. District Judge Julien X. Neals imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
“James Lisa used his law license to execute a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme and rip off clients who placed their trust in him. Then, after being charged for that fraud, Lisa committed another when, posing as his own lawyer, he sent a bogus letter to a lender that falsely described the status of his criminal case. Lisa’s multiple criminal acts were serious violations of his oath as an officer of the court and a betrayal of his clients’ trust. The sentence imposed today is his just punishment for these crimes.”
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In 2014, Lisa was retained by a family to help repatriate millions of dollars that had been transferred by other family members to offshore bank accounts decades earlier. Lisa was also retained to help resolve the tax issues related to the repatriation of the funds. In 2015, Lisa successfully repatriated more than $6 million of the family’s funds, but proceeded to falsely advise the family that the funds remained offshore. In 2017, Lisa provided $4 million of the repatriated funds to the family but continued to falsely represent that the remaining $2 million remained beyond his control.
Lisa falsely told the family that he successfully resolved the tax implications of repatriating the funds. In 2016, Lisa sent the family a fraudulent IRS “closing agreement” reflecting an agreement with the IRS for the family to pay $3 million in taxes and penalties for the repatriated funds. In 2018, Lisa sent the family another fraudulent closing agreement reflecting an agreement with the IRS for the family to pay $2 million in taxes and penalties because only $4 million was purportedly repatriated. In fact, the IRS never entered into these agreements and the IRS employees who purportedly signed the documents never did so. When one member of the family was audited by the IRS, the IRS issued Lisa a summons for records related to the family’s assets. In response to the summons, Lisa produced false and fraudulent documents suggesting that the IRS had agreed to closing agreements with the family.
In January 2023, Lisa was arrested after being charged with this fraud scheme and placed on pretrial release. One condition of his pretrial release was that he not commit another crime. In April 2023, Lisa committed wire fraud when he applied for a $22,000 loan. In order to obtain the loan, Lisa caused the creation and submission to the lender of a fraudulent document that purported to be a letter from the attorney then representing him in his criminal prosecution. Lisa caused the letter to be sent in order to defraud the lender about the status of the criminal prosecution so that the lender would approve the loan.
Lisa also admitted that he failed to file individual income tax returns for tax years 2015 through 2022, and as a result, caused a tax loss to the IRS of at least $550,000.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Neals sentenced Lisa to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $2.05 million in restitution to his fraud victims and $550,000 to the IRS.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Mid Atlantic Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay; and IRS - Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
Irvine Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Firebombing Planned Parenthood Clinic and Plotting to Attack Electrical Substation in O.C.Read the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for firebombing a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa in March 2022 and planning to attack an electrical substation in Orange.
Tibet Ergul, 22, of Irvine, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney, who also ordered him to pay $1,000 in restitution.
Ergul pleaded guilty on February 29 to one felony count of conspiracy to damage an energy facility and one misdemeanor count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility.
“This defendant’s hatred toward others led him to plotting and carrying out violence,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We will not allow bigoted intolerance to divide us. My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes motivated by hate in order to keep our community safe.”
“Mr. Ergul chose violence and destruction while targeting a wide array of innocent victims with whom he disagreed ideologically, putting their lives at risk,” said Amir Ehsaei, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI and our partners on the JTTF will continue to seek out violent extremists before they strike and ask anyone with information about potential attacks to contact us immediately.”
“I'm proud of the successful interagency coordination as seen in this case to prevent further acts of violence by Mr. Ergul,” said Special Agent in Charge Todd Battaglia of the NCIS Marine West Field Office. “NCIS, along with our partners, remain committed to deter domestic terrorism against our fellow Americans.”
In February and March of 2022, Ergul and Chance Brannon, 24, of San Juan Capistrano, agreed to use a Molotov cocktail to damage a Planned Parenthood clinic in Orange County. Ergul and Brannon, who at the time was an active-duty United States Marine, targeted the clinic because it provided reproductive health services and they wanted to encourage others to engage in similar violent acts. Ergul and Brannon also wanted to make a statement about abortion, scare pregnant women away from obtaining abortions, deter doctors, staff, and employees at the clinic from providing abortions, and intimidate the clinic’s patients.
On March 12, 2022, in Ergul’s garage, Ergul and Brannon knowingly assembled a Molotov cocktail. During the early morning hours of March 13, Ergul and Brannon – disguised in dark clothing, masks, hoods, and gloves – drove to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa, ignited the Molotov cocktail and threw it at the clinic’s entrance, intentionally starting a fire. Due to the fire and the resulting damage, the clinic was forced to temporarily close and reschedule approximately 30 patient appointments.
Ergul further admitted in his plea agreement that in June 2022, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, he and Brannon planned to use a second Molotov cocktail to attack another Planned Parenthood clinic. Ergul and Brannon abandoned this plan after seeing law enforcement near the targeted clinic.
Ergul also conspired with others, including Brannon, to damage a Southern California Edison electrical substation to debilitate Orange County’s power grid. Ergul and his accomplices planned to attack the substation by using firearms or a Molotov cocktail that Ergul possessed in his garage. Ergul and Brannon consulted with an associate about surveillance, drone operations and firearms. In March 2023, Ergul messaged an associate to say he had found a substation in Orange to target. Ergul sent the associate aerial photographs of the substation and suggested doing a “drive-thru” at 3 a.m. At one point, Ergul also sent Brannon a letter in which he wrote: “The rifle is in a box in my room waiting to be used in the upcoming race war” and discussed a desire to murder politicians and journalists. Ergul and Brannon did not carry out this attack prior to their arrest in this case.
During the early summer of 2023, Ergul and Brannon also discussed and researched how to attack the Dodger Stadium parking lot or the stadium’s electrical room on a night celebrating LGBTQ pride, including by using a device that could be detonated remotely, Ergul admitted in his plea agreement. Brannon and Ergul exchanged sabotage manuals and discussed doing “dry runs” to “case” the stadium. Law enforcement arrested Ergul and Brannon two days before Dodger Stadium’s scheduled “Pride Night.”
Ergul, who has been in federal custody since June 2023, is the third and final defendant to be sentenced in this case.
Last month, Brannon was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in the attack and plots. Brannon pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of conspiracy, one count of malicious destruction of property by fire and explosives, one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device, and one count of intentionally damaging a reproductive health services facility in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.
On May 13, Judge Carney sentenced Xavier Batten, 21, of Brooksville, Florida, to 3½ years in federal prison for advising Ergul and Brannon on how to construct the Molotov cocktail used in the Planned Parenthood attack. Batten pleaded guilty on January 19 to one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigated this matter. The Costa Mesa Police Department and the Costa Mesa Fire Department provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Kathrynne N. Seiden of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section is prosecuting this case with substantial assistance from Justice Department Trial Attorney Jacob Warren from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Illinois Resident Charged with Online Crimes Aimed at ChildrenRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 29, 2024, a federal grand jury returned] an indictment alleging that Terrence E. Fabino (age: 61) of Grayslake, Illinois, engaged in the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and attempted transfer of obscene matters to a minor in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1470 and 2251(a) and (e).
The indictment alleges that on November 20, 2023, Fabino “knowingly attempted to employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor” to engage in sexually explicit conduct. It further alleges that on October 26, 2023, Fabino attempted to transfer obscene material to a minor under 16 years of age. Fabino faces a mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment if convicted of the enticement charge. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment if convicted of the transfer of obscenity charge.
This case was investigated by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Lake County Illinois Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Illegal Possession of Drugs and Guns and Threatening Communications Being Sent Result in Federal Prison Sentences for Three Alexandria Area MenRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of three separate cases in the Alexandria Division of the Western District of Louisiana late yesterday. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell has sentenced the following defendants:
Kenneth Wayne Williams, Jr., 33, of Pineville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 180 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on drug and firearms charges. Williams was arrested on May 23, 2023, after a Louisiana State Police trooper stopped his vehicle for a traffic violation. When Williams exited the vehicle, the trooper observed Williams put a plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance into his pocket. After an open-air K-9 sniff of Williams’ vehicle, the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of two bags of methamphetamine. Meanwhile, a search warrant was obtained and executed at Williams’ residence. Law enforcement agents searched Williams’ room and found more than one kilogram of methamphetamine, digital scales, over $20,000 in cash, an AK-style rifle, and a Glock 22 semi-automatic pistol. The total amount of methamphetamine seized was approximately 1,305.85 grams.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Moody.
Daniel Lee Ellsworth, 33, of Alexandria, was sentenced to a total of 42 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On November 16, 2022, Ellsworth was a passenger in a vehicle fleeing from an Alexandria Police Department officer. The vehicle was pursued by police across the City of Alexandria. Once the vehicle stopped, Ellsworth attempted to flee on foot, and was subsequently arrested. Law enforcement officers found a loaded Manual Escodin revolver on his person. Ellsworth was previously convicted in the Western District of Louisiana in 2020 of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was on supervised release at the time of his arrest. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. As a result of this offense, Ellsworth’s supervised probation was revoked.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Alexandria Police Department and prosecuted by Criminal Chief Allison L. Duncan.
James Gantt, 55, of Alexandria, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for sending threatening communications to a Social Security Administrative Law Judge. On December 15, 2022, Gantt placed a handwritten letter into an authorized depository for United States Mail matter in Alexandria. The letter written and signed by Gantt contained a threat to injure the Administrative Law Judge. Gantt pleaded guilty to the charge on February 5, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig R. Bordelon.
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Houston fraudster heads to prison for possessing counterfeit identities, checks and credit cardsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 43-year-old man has been sentenced for possessing counterfeit or unauthorized access devices, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Wade Zollinger pleaded guilty Nov. 13, 2023.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered Zollinger to serve 63 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted it had a duty to issue a fair sentence on behalf of Zollinger’s victims.
At the time of the plea, Zollinger admitted to fleeing from law enforcement in a stolen vehicle. They apprehended him and located numerous counterfeit identification documents. These included credit and debit cards, personal checks belonging to others, counterfeit U.S. currency as well as counterfeit U.S. currency plates used for the manufacture of currency. They also found multiple ledgers detailing the personal identifiable information of others.
Shortly thereafter, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Zollinger’s residence and recovered additional evidence of the same type.
Secret Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grace Murphy and James Hu prosecuted the case.
Honduran Man Charged with Transporting AliensRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that WILFREDO GARCIA-HERNANDEZ, age 31, was charged on May 24, 2024 in a bill of information with transporting illegal aliens within the United States, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii).
According to the bill of information, WILFREDO GARCIA-HERNANDEZ was encountered during a traffic stop, knowing that the passengers he was transporting were in the United States illegally. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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