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24 June 2024
Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for 2023 Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — John Henry Stack, 76, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison after being convicted of committing a 2023 bank robbery. At the time of the 2023 robbery, Stack was on supervised release from previous federal bank robbery convictions.
Evidence presented by the Government at a two-day jury trial in March established that around midday on March 10, 2023, Stack entered the Anderson Brothers Bank in Aynor wearing a blue medical scrub shirt over a black jacket, a winter hat, sunglasses, and a medical-style mask. Stack placed a pillowcase on the teller’s counter, and pulled a long-handled lighter from his pocket. Stack concealed the lighter under his hand to look like a gun, pointed it at the teller, and demanded money. The teller placed $2,130 in cash in the pillowcase, and Stack took the money and left the bank.
Following the robbery, local, state, and federal law enforcement worked together to identify and apprehend the suspect. Law enforcement identified the vehicle the robber drove to and from the robbery as a Ford Focus with significant passenger side damage; Stack had recently purchased the Focus. About 10 p.m. on March 10, an officer with Myrtle Beach Police Department stopped the Focus driven by Stack. On the rearview mirror of the Focus was hang tag for a nearby hotel. Hotel records showed Stack had rented a room that afternoon and paid in cash.
Law enforcement searched the Focus and the hotel room and found clothing consistent with that worn by Stack during the robbery, including a blue medical scrub shirt, pillowcases like the one Stack placed on the teller’s counter, a bag that contained Stack’s medications and $765 in cash, and a red long-handled lighter.
Following the traffic stop, Stack confessed to law enforcement that he robbed the bank. He detailed for them how he robbed the bank, what he wore while robbing the bank, and explained that he concealed the lighter under his hand to make it look like a gun and “fake out” the teller, so that she would hand over the money.
Stack previously served time in federal prison for multiple bank robberies in South Carolina and North Carolina. He was released in 2022.
“Even after a significant sentence for the same crime, Mr. Stack continued to threaten the safety of the community by committing another bank robbery,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We commend the work of Aynor and Myrtle Beach Police Departments in responding to this incident and the assistance of SLED and the FBI Columbia Field Office to bring this defendant to justice.”
“Stack’s actions put innocent lives in harm’s way,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “This sentence reflects the weight of the crime and should serve as a reminder that such criminal behavior will be met by swift justice. The FBI, along with our local, state, and federal partners, reaffirm our commitment to maintaining public safety and upholding the rule of law.”
“South Carolina local and state law enforcement agencies and our federal team members continuously show how we work together to make a difference within our communities,” Chief Prock said. “From start to finish this is what we do to help. We care, we are focused, and we will continue to work to ensure that those that endanger the lives and take advantage of our community members, will be held accountable. This case is a perfect example of how communication and partnerships work hand and hand.”
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie presided over the trial and sentenced Stack to 120 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. As part of the sentence, the Court also ordered Stack to pay $2,130 in restitution – the amount he stole from the bank. In imposing the sentence, the Court noted that Stack violated the Court’s trust by committing a new bank robbery while on supervised release.
The case was investigated by Aynor Police Department, Myrtle Beach Police Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Flynn and Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case.
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Rochester man sentenced for his role in stolen check scheme involving hundreds of victimsRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Shydequan C. Wynn, 31, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of financial institution fraud, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the case, stated between October 2019, and March 2022, Wynn executed a scheme, with others, to defraud financial institutions. Wynn stole checks included in mail from unattended mailboxes. He then forged or altered the stolen checks, often changing the amounts and making them payable to himself or another co-conspirator. He or a co-conspirator then cashed the fraudulent checks for financial gain. The scheme involved approximately 112 victims and stolen and altered checks totaling approximately $179,447. Of this amount, approximately $74,911.50 involved checks that were successfully altered and negotiated.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood.
Ricco Saine Sentenced to 262 Months for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On June 24, 2024, Ricco Lashawn Saine, 44, currently of Kingsport, Tennessee, formerly of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced to 262 months by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his incarceration, he will be on supervision for five years.
Ricco Saine was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(1) by a federal jury on November 8, 2023. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Greer determined that Ricco Saine was an Armed Career Criminal. His spouse and co-defendant, Tonya Rae Saine, was previously sentenced to 21 months incarceration and a term of three years supervised release.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on August 27, 2021, an officer with the Kingsport Police Department observed Ricco Saine standing near his vehicle at the office of the Westside Inn in Kingsport, Tennessee. After a police canine alerted on the vehicle, officers conducted a search of the vehicle and recovered a loaded firearm inside a bag on the passenger seat. The bag also contained Ricco Saine’s Tennessee identification card. Agents subsequently learned of firearms purchased by Tonya Saine from a federal firearm licensee (“FFL”) in Sevierville. Store surveillance video was obtained which showed Ricco Saine and Tonya Saine shopping for firearms at the gun counter in October 2021. After consultation with Ricco Saine, Tonya Saine ultimately selected a pistol and a laser-dot sight for the pistol, an AR15-style rifle, and ammunition. Tonya Saine, who was not prohibited from purchasing a firearm, completed the required paperwork using her information and paid for the items. Ricco Saine was observed carrying the AR15 box away from the store.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) eventually recovered a pistol with a laser sight from Tonya Saine. Law enforcement also recovered a text message from a cell phone that Tonya Saine sent Ricco Saine after the purchase of the firearms that said, “I’ve got your gun and stuff in the house.” A cooperating witness testified that they saw Ricco Saine with the pistol and were able to recognize the firearm because of the attached laser aiming device and distinctive markings on the firearm.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus S. Watson made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Kingsport Police Department and ATF. Kingsport Police Department officer Mike Slater, formerly a Task Force Officer assigned to the ATF led the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney B. Todd Martin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Blackwell represented 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.
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Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s Trip to BrusselsRead the Press Release
Deputy Attorney General (Deputy AG) Lisa Monaco traveled to Brussels last week to lead the U.S. delegation at the U.S.-EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial and reaffirm the Justice Department’s commitment to a critical alliance that combats shared risks to global security.
The Ministerial brings together leadership from the Justice and Home Affairs Ministries of the European Union and the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to strengthen transatlantic collaboration. The Ministers focused on addressing persistent threats to our nations, including organized crime, terrorism, cybercrime, and foreign malign influence — especially by nation-states seeking to sow discord and further their autocratic agendas amid this year’s global elections, when over four billion people are expected to vote. They also discussed international law enforcement collaboration to disrupt trafficking of cocaine and synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, as well as AI — including AI’s potential to enhance law enforcement operations and the risk that it could supercharge criminal activity.
During the Ministerial, the officials reaffirmed their resolute support for Ukraine and unwavering resolve to hold Russia accountable for war crimes, atrocities, and the crime of aggression. They reiterated the need for sustained coordination between the U.S. and EU to deprive the Russian war machine of funding and supplies — with the Deputy AG underscoring the successful efforts of the Department’s Disruptive Technology Strike Force and Task Force KleptoCapture to enforce export controls and the sweeping sanctions imposed on Russia for its unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. The officials also emphasized their commitment to supporting anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine.
While in Brussels, the Deputy AG convened an international meeting of the Justice Department’s Justice AI Initiative with Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Eva Maydell and leaders from the European Parliament, which recently passed the EU AI Act—the first comprehensive legislative framework to govern the integration of AI into society. Launched by Deputy AG Monaco earlier this year, Justice AI brings together stakeholders across civil society, industry, academia, and government to share expertise and a wide range of perspectives on both the promise of AI and the perils of its misuse.
The Deputy AG and MEPs discussed how AI is changing the way crimes are committed in the United States and in Europe — from intensifying cyberattacks, to making fraud scams more believable, to creating child sexual abuse material. They also focused on the threat of malign state actors using AI to undermine global elections this year, and the MEPs shared observations and lessons learned from recent European elections. The Deputy AG underscored that the Justice Department will remain vigilant to foreign adversaries abusing AI to accelerate online hate and disinformation, imitate trusted sources of information, and proliferate deepfakes.
During her trip, the Deputy AG also held bilateral meetings with European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and Belgian Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt to highlight areas for continued collaboration between the Justice Department and our European partners. She met with United States Ambassador to the European Union Mark Gitenstein and United States Ambassador to Belgium Michael Adler, and also visited the U.S. Mission to the European Union and the U.S. Embassy in Belgium for a briefing with U.S. officials on their work with our European allies and to thank them for their service.
Prisoner Who Escaped from Bloomfield Halfway House Sentenced to Additional Prison TimeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HECTOR SANTIAGO, 29, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to four months of imprisonment for escaping from a halfway house in Bloomfield.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 18, 2019, Santiago was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 69 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for a narcotics trafficking offense. On June 23, 2023, he was transferred from the U.S. Penitentiary in Lee County, Virginia, to the Drapelick Center, a Residential Reentry Center (halfway house) in Bloomfield, to complete his custodial sentence. On September 27, 2023, Santiago walked away from the Drapelick Center and never returned. He was located and arrested in Hartford on February 9, 2024.
On March 11, 2024, Santiago pleaded guilty to escape from the custody of the Attorney General.
Santiago’s four-month prison term began on May 13, 2024, and he will be on supervised release for four years when he released from prison.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Mahard.
Possession of multi-kilos of meth lands three in prison for significant timeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Three residents of San Antonio have been sentenced following their convictions of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute a total of approximately five kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Lucille Nicole Mendoza, 43, Debra Ann Sauceda, 54, and Julian Santiago Espinoza Jr., 32, pleaded guilty Jan. 5, 2022.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Mendoza and Espinoza to serve a total of 70 months each, while Sauceda received a 60-month-term of imprisonment. All were further ordered to serve three years of supervised release following their term of incarceration.
On May 31, 2020, law enforcement encountered the three as they attempted to cross into the United States from the Pharr Port of Entry in a GMC Yukon. At that time, authorities sent them to secondary inspection, which resulted in the discovery of approximately five kilograms of meth hidden in the battery.
All have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Phelps prosecuted the case.
Philadelphia Man Charged with Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA –United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Nafiysh Knox-Schenck, 32, of Philadelphia, PA, was arrested and charged by Indictment with possession of a firearm by a felon stemming from an incident on May 13, 2024, in which he resisted arrest by Philadelphia police based on an outstanding arrest warrant.
According to the Indictment, on May 13, 2024, Knox-Schenck resisted arrest when two police officers attempted to place him into custody based on an outstanding arrest warrant. While struggling with the officers, Knox-Schenck pulled a loaded firearm from his waistband and then tossed it into the street. Another person then took the firearm and tossed it into a nearby wooded lot. After a struggle, the officers were able to get Knox-Schenck handcuffed and placed him in their vehicle. While the officers went to retrieve the firearm, someone opened the door to the police vehicle and Knox-Schneck was able to escape police custody. Philadelphia police officers then obtained another arrest warrant for the defendant and with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service were able to arrest Knox-Schneck on May 15, 2024.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year period of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert and Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Special Assistant United States Attorney Tracie J. Gaydos.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pharmacy Owners Sentenced for $18M COVID-19 Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
Today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Peter Khaim was sentenced by United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to 97 months in prison for using New York-area pharmacies to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and then laundering the criminal proceeds. Khaim’s brother and codefendant, Arkadiy Khaimov, was previously sentenced on April 3, 2024 to six years in prison for his role in the money laundering scheme. Khaim and Khaimov pleaded guilty in November 2022 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. As part of their sentences, Khaim was ordered to pay more than $18 million in restitution and to forfeit more than $2.7 million; Khaimov was ordered to pay more than $18 million in restitution and to forfeit more than $9.6 million.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; and Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent-in-Charge, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, announced the sentences.
According to court documents, Khaim and Khaimov engaged in a complex money laundering conspiracy to launder the proceeds of a fraudulent health care scheme involving over a dozen New York-area pharmacies that they, and their co-conspirators, owned and controlled. Khaim and Khaimov used the New York pharmacies to submit millions of dollars in fraudulent claims to Medicare, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Khaim, Khaimov, and their co-conspirators exploited the COVID-19 emergency for their own financial gain by using COVID-19-related “emergency override” billing codes to submit fraudulent claims for expensive cancer medications Targretin Gel 1% and Panretin Gel 0.1% that were not prescribed by physicians or dispensed to patients, and that were purportedly dispensed during periods when certain pharmacies were closed.
Khaim and Khaimov concealed over $18 million of their criminal proceeds by funneling money through several shell companies, including sham pharmacy wholesale companies designed to look like legitimate wholesalers. Khaim and Khaimov typically sent the funds from the pharmacy bank accounts they controlled to the sham wholesale companies. The funds were then typically sent to companies in China for distribution to individuals in Uzbekistan, and the defendants received some of these funds in cash. At other times, the fraudulent proceeds were sent from the sham wholesale companies to Khaim, Khaimov, their relatives, or their designees, in the form of certified cashier’s checks and cash. Khaim and Khaimov used the proceeds of the scheme to purchase real estate and other luxury items.
Trial Attorney Arun Bodapati of the Fraud Section’s Northeast Strike Force prosecuted the case. Fraud Section Principal Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Assistant Chief Patrick Mott assisted with the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Claire Kedeshian of the Eastern District of New York’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.
Defendants:
PETER KHAIM
Age: 44
Forest Hills, QueensARKADIY KHAIMOV
Age: 41
Forest Hills, QueensE.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 20-CR-580 (AMD)
Pharmacy Owners Sentenced for $18M COVID-19 Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
Two pharmacy owners were sentenced for using New York-area pharmacies to submit millions of dollars in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and then laundering the proceeds, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peter Khaim, 44, of Forest Hills, New York, was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison, and his brother and co-defendant, Arkadiy Khaimov, 41, also of Forest Hills, was sentenced on April 3 to six years in prison.
According to court documents, Khaim and Khaimov engaged in a complex money laundering conspiracy to launder the proceeds of a fraudulent health care scheme involving 16 New York-area pharmacies that they and their co-conspirators owned and controlled. Khaim, Khaimov, and their co-conspirators exploited the COVID-19 emergency for their own financial gain by using COVID-19-related “emergency override” billing codes to submit fraudulent claims for expensive cancer medications Targretin Gel 1% and Panretin Gel 0.1% that were not prescribed by physicians or dispensed to patients, and that were purportedly dispensed during periods when certain pharmacies were closed.
To conceal over $18 million of their criminal proceeds, Khaim, Khaimov, and their co-conspirators funneled money through several shell companies, including sham pharmacy wholesale companies designed to look like legitimate wholesalers. Khaim and Khaimov typically sent the funds from the pharmacy bank accounts they controlled to the sham wholesale companies. The funds were then typically sent to companies in China for distribution to individuals in Uzbekistan. The defendants then received a corresponding amount of cash from a co-conspirator, minus a commission. At other times, the fraudulent proceeds were sent from the sham wholesale companies to Khaim, Khaimov, their relatives, or their designees, in the form of certified cashier’s checks and cash. Khaim and Khaimov used the proceeds of the scheme to purchase real estate and other luxury items.
Khaim pleaded guilty on Nov. 3, 2022 to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Khaimov pleaded guilty on Nov. 16, 2022 to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. At sentencing, Khaim was ordered to pay more than $18 million in restitution and to forfeit more than $2.7 million. Khaimov was ordered to pay more than $18 million in restitution and to forfeit more than $9.6 million.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York; Assistant Director in Charge James Smith of the FBI New York Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso of the IRS Criminal Investigation; Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) made the announcement.
HHS-OIG, the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and FDIC-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Arun Bodapati of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section’s Northeast Strike Force prosecuted the case, with assistance from Principal Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Assistant Chief Patrick Mott of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Eric Everroad, 53, of Omaha, NE, was sentenced on June 24, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for wire fraud. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Everroad to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Everroad’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. As part of his sentence, Everroad was ordered to pay Menards $478,674.94 in restitution.
From December of 2006 until September 22, 2022, Everroad was an employee of Menards and was employed at the location at 708 N 120th Street in Omaha, Nebraska location as the Building Materials Manager.
Beginning in 2017, Everroad devised and carried out a scheme in which he allowed a contractor to make purchases from Menards using wrongfully obtained store credits. In doing so, Everroad created false returns to generate store credits. Everroad also allowed for the contractor to make purchases using other customers legitimate store credit. The contractor would then pay Everroad directly using cash or checks for the goods that were wrongfully obtained from Menards. As a result of this scheme, Everroad received $478,674.94 from the contractor between March 28, 2017, and September 14, 2022. Everroad was confronted by loss prevention officers with Menards and admitted that he was generating false returns to create store credits that the contractor used to make purchases or allowed the contractor to make purchases on other customer’s credits. Everroad admitted to the contractor paying him directly.
The owners of the contractor involved were interviewed and confirmed this arrangement with Everroad. The contractor explained that they received a benefit in doing so because Everroad allowed for them to pay for the materials after the job was completed which assisted with the business’s cash flow.
As part of this scheme, Everroad would deposit the checks from the contractor in his personal checking account at Centris Federal Credit Union. This caused Centris Federal Credit Union to electronically transmit, images of the checks by means of wire communication in interstate commerce from Nebraska to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which is located in the state of Georgia.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
New York Man Admits to Passing Counterfeit Cash in Marshall CountyRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Travis Bayne, 32, of Brooklyn, New York, has admitted to using counterfeit money at several businesses in Marshall County.
According to court documents, Bayne passed several $20 counterfeit bills for purchases in October 2023.
Bayne faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Gun ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BRANDON TURNER (“TURNER”), age 39, a resident of New Orleans, was indicted on June 14, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Count One of the indictment charged him with possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C). Count Two charged him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Count Three charged him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
If convicted, TURNER faces a minimum 5-year term of imprisonment, up to 40 years’ imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release for Count One; a minimum 5-year term of imprisonment up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release for Count Two; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for Count Three. TURNER also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee as to all three counts.
According to court documents, on January 30, 2024, TURNER was arrested for suspected narcotics trafficking. Law enforcement officers searched TURNER’s apartment and found a detectable amount of fentanyl and cocaine. Law enforcement officers also found ammunition and a Glock Model 43, 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
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.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crime Unit.
N.Y. Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Traveling to Lynchburg to Meet 14-Year-Old for SexRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A New York man, who drove 8 hours in an effort to have sex with a 14-year-old Lynchburg, Virginia, girl with whom he had been chatting online, was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison.
Derrick Loi, 27, of Lakeville, New York, pled guilty earlier this year to one count of coercion and enticement.
According to court documents, in early February 2023, Loi met a 14-year-old girl from Lynchburg on Twitter (now known as X), and, in the early morning hours of February 14, 2023, began chatting with her on Discord. Loi told the young girl that, not only was he was interested in buying sexually explicit images and videos of her, but he also wanted to meet her in person to have sex.
Ultimately, Loi agreed to pay the victim $300 to have sex with him and to provide him with sexually explicit images.
Loi and the victim agreed that Loi would become the victim’s “sugar daddy” and that he would get unlimited access to sexually explicit content of the victim for a weekly fee of $50, which would increase to $100 after the first month. On February 15, 2023, Loi sent the victim a payment in line with that agreement.
On February 22, 2023, Loi and the victim began discussing plans for Loi to travel to meet the victim, including a discussion on specific sex acts and how he would film them.
After reserving a hotel room in Lynchburg, Loi chatted periodically with the young girl throughout his 8-hour drive from New York and also took time to send her a picture of items that he had brought with him for their sexual encounter.
Just as Loi arrived at the pre-arranged location, an officer from the Lynchburg Police Department drove up and began questioning Loi. Initially, Loi provided a false name and lied to law enforcement about why he was in Lynchburg.
A subsequent search of Loi’s vehicle revealed sex toys, a box containing “morning-after” contraception pills, and a bottle of pink vodka, which Loi had previously told the victim he was bringing for her.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, and the Lynchburg Police Department provided vital assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Scheff prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/
Midlothian man pleads guilty to federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Midlothian man pled guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Oct. 22, 2022, Chesterfield County Police officers were looking for a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee, which they located on Branchs Woods Lane in Chesterfield County. Officers observed Matthew Chambliss Coleman, 42, jump out of the front passenger seat and run through the front and then back yard of a nearby home. As Coleman was running through the back yard, he threw a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, which officers later recovered. Coleman attempted to hide in another yard, but aerial surveillance guided officers to his location and Coleman was arrested.
Coleman was previously convicted of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. As a convicted felon, Coleman cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Coleman is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 10 and faces up to 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Lt. Col. Brad Badgerow, Acting Chief of Chesterfield County Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark R. Colombell accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Miller is prosecuting the case. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E. Schulz, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, assisted in the prosecution of this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-134.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty for Possession of Sex Abuse Videos of Infant and Prepubescent ChildrenRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joseph Ruben Baer, 20, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to a federal child pornography charge stemming from his distribution of child pornography to an undercover law enforcement agent in April 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott, of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Baer pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of possession of child pornography. The Honorable Loren L. AliKhan scheduled sentencing for September 23, 2024.
According to plea documents, in early 2024, a member of the FBI–MPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force was monitoring an online dating application in an undercover capacity. Law enforcement had learned that the application is sometimes used by individuals who have a sexual interest in children. The undercover agent encountered Baer, who sent a message believing he was communicating with a pedophile. Baer expressed an interest in child pornography and later sent the undercover agent two video files via an encrypted messaging application. Those video files depicted Baer masturbating while watching child pornography on a laptop computer. Baer was arrested in the District of Columbia on May 10, 2024. Law enforcement subsequently recovered seven child pornography videos from Baer’s iPhone, which included the two video files he had earlier distributed to the undercover agent. The videos depict the sexual abuse of infant and prepubescent children.
Baer has remained in custody since his May 10, 2024, arrest.
Baer faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Baer must pay mandatory restitution of at least $3,000 to any identified victim. The statutory sentences for federal offenses are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only. Any sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory Sentencing Guideline and other statutory factors.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and MPD’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney.
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Man who tried to break into Tumwater credit union and ATM using blowtorch sentenced to 5+ years in prisonRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A trained welder who tried to use an oxyacetylene torch to break into a Tumwater credit union and steal from an ATM was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 66 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Randall Taufete’e, 34, pleaded guilty to arson and attempted larceny of a federally insured credit union on March 15, 2024. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said “Arson is an extremely serious offense. It destroys property and risks harm to the lives of others, including firefighters. You’re fortunate you didn’t set the entire structure on fire.”
According to records in the case, on October 24, 2022, Tumwater firefighters responded to a fire alarm at O Bee Credit Union. They observed flames coming from the top of the ATM machine which was in a wall of the building. The flames were extinguished but smoke had filled the building.
Following the fire, investigators found char and pry marks on the ATM machine, on the night deposit box, the drive through window and an exterior door. Surveillance video showed two men using a pry bar, an electric saw and an oxyacetylene welder’s torch to try to open the ATM and gain access to the building. The larceny attempt and arson did $198,018 in damage to the building.
A few days after the fire, Taufete’e was taken into state custody for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Agents then identified Taufete’e as one of the men in the surveillance video, but despite the video and other items linking Taufete’e to the arson, Taufete’e denied being involved.
Taufete’e and codefendant Brandon Ronald Collado were indicted in January 2023. Collado pleaded guilty in June 2023 and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Taufete’e pleaded guilty in March 2024.
In asking for a 92-month sentence, prosecutors noted that Taufete’e has more than a dozen criminal convictions as an adult, running the gamut from theft to assault, to robbery, burglary, and firearms possession.
Taufete’e will be on three years of supervised release following his prison term. He and Collado and will be required to pay $198,018 in restitution for the damage to the credit union.
The case was investigated by the Tumwater Police Department with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
Malden Man Who Robbed Market with Airsoft Gun Sentenced to Three Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden man was sentenced on Friday, June 21, 2024 in federal court in Boston for robbing a local market using an airsoft gun in December 2021.
John Schurko, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to three years in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. In February 2024, Schurko pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery.
On Dec. 12, 2021 at approximately 8 p.m., Schurko entered the Harvard Market in Malden, displayed what appeared to be a black handgun, went behind the counter and demanded money from the clerk. On Dec. 16, 2021, Schurko’s getaway vehicle was located in a hotel parking lot in Medford where he was subsequently arrested. A search of the vehicle recovered, among other things, a black Airsoft gun that resembled a real firearm.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin; Medford Police Chief Jack Buckley; Billerica Police Chief Roy Frost; and Woburn Police Chief Robert F. Rufo Jr. made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Local couple sentenced after benefitting from forced laborRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Two Edinburg residents have been sentenced following their admissions of benefitting from a victim’s free labor which allowed the couple to have gainful employment, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Eduardo Javier Gomez, 32, and his former partner Margarita Alvarez, 42, pleaded guilty March 1, 2023.
U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a 70-month-term of imprisonment for Gomez, while Alvarez received two years of probation. Gomez must also serve three years of supervised release following his sentence.
From June 24 until July 8, 2021, Gomez and Alvarez benefitted from a victim’s free labor which allowed the couple to have gainful employment. Gomez also earned money from a fireworks stand where the victim provided free labor.
Law enforcement discovered the victim had been illegally smuggled to the Rio Grande Valley. Gomez was holding her against her will. Gomez was requesting further payment from family members in exchange for the victim being moved further north. When the family was unable to pay, the couple took the victim’s phone and forced her to work as a nanny and housekeeper in the home Gomez and Alvarez shared. Gomez also managed a fireworks stand where she forced the victim to work.
They never paid her.
Two days after learning of the victim, authorities were able to locate and rescue her.
Gomez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexa D. Parcell, Sherri Zack and Kim Leo prosecuted the case.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 16 Months Prison for Being Drug User in Possession of a Firearm.Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Clifton Davis, Jr., 23, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced June 24, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for being an unlawful user or addict of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Davis to 16 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Davis’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
Davis initially came to law enforcement’s attention after three guns he had purchased were used by others to commit crimes, including a domestic assault and a homicide. Investigators were able to secure and execute a search warrant on Davis’s home and phone in early June of 2023. Officers found an American Tactical 5.56mm handgun, 32 9mm rounds, 83 .22 rounds, 38 .40 rounds, and the manufacture’s box for an additional weapon. Officers also located marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his house and vehicle.
In an interview with law enforcement, Davis admitted to being a marijuana user, advising he smoked about once a day. On his phone, investigators found numerous conversations about buying, and occasionally selling marijuana, pictures of marijuana and videos of marijuana. Some of these conversations occurred within days of Davis purchasing firearms. Authorities were further able to confirm that the ammunition and firearm had been manufactured outside the state of Nebraska and transported via interstate commerce.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Leader of South Shore Drug Trafficking Ring Convicted by Federal JuryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The leader of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine throughout Quincy and Weymouth has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston.
Aderito Patrick Amado, 34, of Brockton and Quincy, was convicted on June 21, 2024 of two counts of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue and 500 grams or more of cocaine – and conspiracy to do the same; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; two counts of possessing firearms as a convicted felon; and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Oct. 8, 2024.
In September 2022, Amado was indicted by a federal grand jury along with co-defendants Erica Vieira, Neylton Fontes and Chaasad Cyprien. The defendants were subsequently charged in a superseding indictment in December 2022 and, later, a second superseding indictment in October 2023. Amado was charged in a third superseding indictment in May 2024.
“This case is emblematic of the fentanyl crisis facing our communities. Dozens of pounds of illegal drugs, high-capacity firearms, and hundreds of thousands of dollars all in the hands of a man while he was already on probation for a state drug conviction. Mr. Amado will now pay a severe price for choosing to pump this poison onto the streets of Massachusetts,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Mr. Amado had drugs, cash and guns everywhere – in his apartment and his stash house. Given the unrelenting scourge of illegal drugs and overdose deaths, this office is as committed as ever to prosecuting drug-dealing criminals. This case should serve as a warning to others: if you want to engage in illicit narcotics activities, we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Aderito Patrick Amado was part of a conspiracy that brought in and sold vast amounts of fentanyl and cocaine all over southeastern Massachusetts. We’re talking multi-kilo quantities of dangerous drugs that he protected using illegal firearms,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s conviction is a win for the FBI’s Metro Boston Gang Task Force as we work with our partners to get dangerous drugs and criminals off the street. The ultimate goal here is to free our communities from the clutches of violent drug traffickers who have zero regard for the incredible damage they inflict on people’s lives.”
“I would like to thank the Detectives assigned to the Quincy Police Drug Control Unit, our local, state and federal partners and particularly the prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s office for bringing this case forward. Taking this individual off the streets undoubtedly saved lives in our community,” said Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy.
Until at least January 2021, Amado helped lead a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine in and around the Quincy and Weymouth areas. The investigation determined that the drug distribution conspiracy operated primarily out of a stash house in Weymouth, with additional evidence located inside Amado’s apartment in Quincy and his Jeep Cherokee.
Specifically, a January 2021 search of Amado’s Quincy apartment resulted in over 40 grams of fentanyl, over $270,000 in cash, a money counter and a loaded Glock being recovered. Additionally, the Weymouth stash house was, in essence, a drug factory – housing two presses used to form controlled substances into kilogram-sized bricks and extensive drug paraphernalia, including blenders, digital scales and packaging equipment. The stash house also contained more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine as well as three firearms and ammunition, including two high-capacity magazines and a speed loader. Given Amado’s status as a felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Evidence presented at trial included information from a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor that placed Amado at both his residence and the stash location essentially every day over a two-month period while on probation for a state drug conviction. Additionally, web history information from one of Amado’s devices showed that he conducted online reviews of various items ultimately recovered from the stash house, including the kilogram presses, firearms and cutting agents.
Vieira pleaded guilty in May 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 4, 2024. Fontes pleaded guilty in May 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16, 2024 and Cyprien pleaded guilty in April 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2024.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to do the same, provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, to be served from and after the term of imprisonment imposed for any other count, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, FBI SAC Cohen and Chief Kennedy made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Weymouth, Braintree, Randolph and Brockton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting 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.
Leader and Two Members of Brooklyn-Based Real Ryte Gang Each Sentenced to More Than a Decade in Prison for Violent Racketeering OffensesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Semaj Smith, also known as “Bam Bam” and “Real Ryte Sport,” a member of the Brooklyn-based street gang Real Ryte, was sentenced by United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez to 132 months in prison for racketeering conspiracy and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Last month, co-defendants Dajahn McBean, also known as “Jeezy Mula,” who is the leader of Real Ryte, and Real Ryte member Mark Waiters, also known as “Telly,” were sentenced to terms of imprisonment of 150 months and 149 months, respectively. All three defendants pleaded guilty in September and October 2023 to charges in a superseding indictment stemming from Real Ryte’s gang war with the Breadgang crew of the 5-9 Brims, a subset of the Bloods.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentences.
“The defendants have dedicated themselves to committing violent crimes on behalf of their gang without any regard for endangering the public,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “We will not tolerate our communities being turned into scenes out of video games with gang warfare, reckless shootings and car chases. Today’s sentence shows that individuals, like these defendants, who don’t get that message will be punished with significant time in prison.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department and to the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations New York for their outstanding work and assistance in this investigation.
According to court filings and facts presented during the defendants’ guilty plea proceedings, Real Ryte was a violent street gang that operated in, among other places, Brooklyn, New York. Members of Real Ryte have committed acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, and engaged in bank fraud, wire fraud and other crimes. Between at least 2015 and 2018, members of Real Ryte committed serious crimes to further the interests of the gang, including earning money for the gang’s members through illicit means, and committing acts of violence to enhance the gang’s position with respect to rival criminal organizations.
During the charged period, Real Ryte was engaged in a violent conflict with members of a rival crew known as the “Breadgang,” whose members also operated in Brooklyn. The gang war led to a series of shootings between Real Ryte and Breadgang, including the murder of Sean Peart, a Real Ryte member, a crime for which Marvin Pippins, a Breadgang member, was convicted following a trial in this District. In response to Peart’s death, the defendants and other members of Real Ryte retaliated against Pippins and other Breadgang members. On January 3, 2017, the defendants learned that a Breadgang member could be found in lower Manhattan, and, at McBean’s direction, Smith, Waiters and a co-conspirator traveled to the location to shoot and kill him. However, during a chase with vehicles speeding through the streets of Manhattan in the wrong direction, the defendants mistakenly shot an innocent person they mistook for their intended target, seriously injuring the victim before fleeing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Joy Lurinsky and Rebecca Schuman are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Cleon Thomas and Abiodun Ojo.
The Defendants:
DAJAHN MCBEAN (also known as “Jeezy Mula”)
Age: 28
Brooklyn, New YorkMARK WAITERS (also known as “Telly”)
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New YorkSEMAJ SMITH (also known as “Bam Bam” and “Real Ryte Sport”)
Age: 30
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-260 (S-1) (HG)
Last of Five Defendants with Ties to White Supremacy and Who Were Charged with Targeting Energy Facility Enters Guilty PleaRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Today, Jordan Duncan, 29, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the manufacturing of a firearm as charged in a superseding criminal information filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina. This crime carries a maximum punishment of 10 years’ imprisonment. Duncan is a former Marine assigned previously to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
According to court documents, Duncan, with co-defendants, Paul James Kryscuk, 38, Liam Collins, 25, Justin Wade Hermanson, 25, and Joseph Maurino, 25, researched, discussed, and reviewed at length a previous attack on the power grid by an unknown group. The group depicted in the attack used assault-style rifles in an attempt to explode a power substation. Between 2017 and 2020, Kryscuk manufactured firearms while Collins stole military gear, including magazines for assault-style rifles, and had them delivered to the other defendants. During that time, Duncan gathered a library of information, some military-owned, regarding firearms, explosives, and nerve toxins and shared that information with Kryscuk and Collins. In October 2020, a handwritten list of approximately one dozen intersections and places in Idaho and surrounding states was discovered in Kryscuk’s possession, including intersections and/or places containing a transformer, substation, or other component of the power grid for the northwest United States.
Previously filed charges alleged that Collins and Kryscuk were members of and made multiple posts on the “Iron March” forum, a gathering point for young neo-Nazis to organize and recruit for extremist organizations, until the forum was closed in late 2017. Collins and Kryscuk met through the forum and expanded their group using an encrypted messaging application as an alternate means of communication outside of the forum. Collins and Kryscuk recruited additional members, including Duncan, Hermanson, and Maurino, and conducted training, including a live-fire training in the desert near Boise, Idaho. From video footage recorded by the members during the training, Kryscuk, Duncan, and others produced a montage video of their training. In the video, the participants are seen firing short barrel rifles and other assault-type rifles, and the end of the propaganda video shows the four participants outfitted in AtomWaffen masks giving the “Heil Hitler” sign, beneath the image of a black sun, a Nazi symbol. The last frame bears the phrase, “Come home white man.” Prior to their arrests, Collins and Duncan had relocated to Idaho from North Carolina and Texas, respectively, to be near Kryscuk.
Kryscuk, Collins, Maurino and Hermanson earlier entered pleas of guilty to various crimes: on February 15, 2022, Kryscuk entered a plea of guilty to conspiracy to destroy an energy facility, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment; on October 24, 2023, Collins pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the interstate transportation of unregistered firearms, which carries a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment; and on March 8, 2023 and April 11, 2023, respectively, Hermanson and Maurino pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture firearms and ship interstate, which carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.
All five defendants now await sentencing before Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers II.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the FBI Salt Lake City and Charlotte Field Offices with assistance from Fields Offices in Boston, New York, and Newark, the Boise Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Kocher of the Eastern District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney John Cella of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Idaho, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, and the District of Rhode Island.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-CR-167-M.
Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty and Is Sentenced for Federal Hate Crime Targeting Children OnlineRead the Press Release
A Kentucky man pleaded guilty and was sentenced last week to one year and one day in prison and one year of supervised release in the District of Eastern Louisiana for committing a federal hate crime.
According to court documents, Brian Adams, 24, of Paintsville, Kentucky, transmitted a threat to a fifth-grade class at the Laureate Academy Charter School on or about Oct. 14, 2020. At the time, the school was conducting class virtually over Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, Adams used racial epithets against the students and teachers and threatened to “hang them by a tree.” Adams pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting threatening communications. The court found that Adams’ actions were motivated by hate.
“This prosecution should make clear that perpetrators of hate crimes hiding behind computer screens, hacking into teleconferences and disrupting virtual meetings will be held accountable. The defendant used racial epithets and threats against innocent children who were simply trying to get an education,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “No child should ever have to endure racially motivated hatred like this in a classroom, a school or anywhere else. The Justice Department is committed to protecting children from such hate-filled assaults and to safeguarding their right to a safe and secure education.”
“Citizens should not fear threats based on their race at any time and especially for students while pursuing their education,” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working closely with federal, state and local law enforcement to ensure hate crimes are investigated, prosecuted and to ultimately hold perpetrators responsible for their actions.”
“Hate has no place in our country, especially in a fifth-grade classroom,” said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “Protecting the rights of all Americans under the Constitution is the heart of the FBI's mission.”
The FBI New Orleans Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey N. Knight for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Mary Hahn of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
Kayenta Resident Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Making Hoax Calls to Elicit SWAT ResponsesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – James Thomas Andrew McCarty, 21, of New Mexico, was sentenced last week to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to charges in two separate indictments relating to hoax calls that elicited police SWAT responses.
With respect to the indictment originating from the District of Arizona, McCarty pleaded guilty on February 1, 2024, to making two hoax calls to high schools in Indiana and Oklahoma using the names of real students at the high schools he called. McCarty also pleaded guilty to two separate crimes of aggravated identity theft since he used the identity of an actual individual during these calls. On January 25, 2021, McCarty made repetitive hoax calls to two different high schools. In the first series of hoax calls to a high school in Indiana, McCarty called school officials representing that he was a student at the school, while using the real name of a student there, and that he was outside the school with an AR-15 rifle, a Glock handgun, and propane bottles ready to shoot at the school. In the second series of hoax calls about 20 minutes later to a high school in Oklahoma, McCarty called school officials representing that he was a student at the school, while using the real name of a student there, and that he was outside of the school with an AR-15 rifle, a Glock handgun, and propane tanks ready to shoot the propane tanks before coming into the school. McCarty also pleaded guilty to two hoax calls he made on April 16, 2021, and May 20, 2021. He used the name of the same homeowner in both calls, stating to police that he had killed his wife, would kill everyone, blow up the residence, and had four bombs planted outside of a retail location. McCarty was a resident of Kayenta and made all his calls while residing there.
With respect to the indictment originating from the Central District of California, McCarty pleaded guilty on February 1, 2024, to conspiracy by working with others to access Ring doorbell accounts. On November 13, 2020, McCarty made an unauthorized intrusion into a victim’s Ring doorbell account in Florida, called the police in that Florida community where the victim lived, and represented himself to be the victim’s husband who had just killed her, was holding a hostage, and had rigged explosives at the residence. McCarty then livestreamed the law enforcement response and posted a message that he thought it was funny. McCarty also made multiple calls to victims in California.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Arizona and Los Angeles, California offices. Valuable assistance was provided by South Plainfield (New Jersey) Police Department, Snellville (Georgia) Police Department, Forsyth County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office, Westfield (Indiana) Police Department, Vinita (Oklahoma) Police Department, and Parma (Ohio) Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, and the United States Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 22-08133-PHX-SPL (Original District of Arizona Indictment)
CR 24-00122-PHX-SPL (Originally Central District of CA—Rule 20)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-082_McCarty# # #
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.KC Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Steal Firearms from VehiclesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy in which five men broke into numerous vehicles in the Westport entertainment district and elsewhere in the metropolitan area and stole more than 100 firearms, which they later sold on their social media accounts.
Bobby Lamb, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 11 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Lamb to pay $1,500 in restitution.
On Sept. 29, 2023, Lamb pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen firearms. Lamb also pleaded guilty to possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and possessing a stolen firearm.
Lamb admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to break into vehicles and steal firearms and other items. Conspirators used social media to advertise the stolen firearms for sale, which included sales to individuals who were prohibited by law from possessing firearms.
According to court documents, Lamb and his co-conspirators stole more than 100 firearms obtained from vehicle break-ins from June 18 to Nov. 19, 2021. When Lamb was arrested on Sept. 16, 2021, he was in possession of a stolen Glock 9mm handgun.
Lamb is the first defendant to be sentenced in this case. Four co-defendants, all of Kansas City, Mo., have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Drevion Hooker, 22, is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 4, 2024. Rayquan Duane Pettaway, 25, is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 28, 2024. Treyon Bloodsoe, 22, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2024. Roy Rushing, 26, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 2, 2024.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in New YorkRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Queens, New York, for the June 25 primary election.
The Justice Department enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country. In addition, the department deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Act and Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.
Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York will also be available to receive complaints on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at the following number (718) 254-7000 for Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in New YorkRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Queens, New York, for the June 25 primary election.
The Justice Department enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country. In addition, the department deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Act and Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Georgia School District to Protect Civil Rights of Students with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with Fulton County Schools in Georgia to resolve the department’s investigation of the district’s response to an escalating series of student-on-student sexual assaults on a school bus serving students with special needs. The department conducted its investigation under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974.
“A school district’s responsibility is to protect its students from sexual assault and harassment, particularly students whose disabilities make them vulnerable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Schools have a responsibility to address obstacles in reporting sexual assault and to take into account the special needs or vulnerabilities of any affected students and their families. The Justice Department will continue working to ensure that our schools are safe learning environments free from sexual harassment and equitable for students with disabilities.”
“Children with disabilities can be especially vulnerable and deserve to thrive in a learning environment free of violence of any kind, including when traveling to and from school aboard buses,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “We applaud the school district’s willingness to cooperate with our investigation and to amicably resolve this matter to ensure the protection and safety of these children.”
The department’s investigation found that the district lacked adequate procedures and failed to train employees in the proper reporting of and response to student-on-student sexual harassment and assault; failed to appropriately accommodate the special needs of students with disabilities in preventing and responding to sexual assault; and failed to make educational and school communications, particularly those related to the complaint reporting and investigation process, accessible for parents and guardians with limited English proficiency. The agreement will strengthen the district’s policies and procedures for responding to student-on-student sexual assault and ensure that the district’s response accounts for the unique needs of students with disabilities and Limited English Proficient (LEP) parents.
The district cooperated with the department throughout the investigation. Among other actions, under the settlement agreement, the district will:
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Revise its policies for responding to complaints of sexual misconduct;
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Provide district staff with trainings on student-on-student sexual misconduct;
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Ensure it provides students with disabilities the accommodations they need to participate in the district’s educational programs, particularly accommodations that support the communication needs of students with disabilities; and
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Provide appropriate language assistance services to LEP parents and guardians.
The enforcement of Title IX, Title II and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act are top priorities for the Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the Educational Opportunities Section’s work is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia worked in collaboration with the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section to investigate this case. Information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/about.
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Jamestown woman going to prison for selling methRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Tracey Wynn, 42, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that between September 2018 and January 2019, Wynn was a drug trafficking associate of Douglas Beardsley and sold methamphetamine supplied by Beardsley. On four separate occasions, Wynn sold methamphetamine to an individual working with the DEA. On August 7, 2017, investigators executed a search warrant at Wynn’s residence and recovered a quantity of methamphetamine, approximately $347 in cash, drug paraphernalia, as well as items indicating children lived at the residence. On October 23, 2019, Wynn committed a moving traffic violation and was stopped by a Jamestown Police officer. A search of the vehicle recovered two digital scales, one of which had crystal methamphetamine on it. Wynn was arrested for driving with a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia. At the jail, a bag of marijuana was found in Wynn’s sweatshirt pocket, and plastic bags of methamphetamine were found on her person. Douglas Beardsley was previously convicted and sentenced.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division.
International Gun Smuggler Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza has sentenced Chrissie Fier Williams (39, Kissimmee) to three years and one month in federal prison for smuggling firearms internationally. Williams entered a guilty plea on January 2, 2024.
According to court documents, on five separate occasions from January 28, 2021, through October 4, 2022, Williams prepared packages with household items to be sent to Trinidad and Tobago. Williams concealed numerous firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition inside those packages, prepared fake shipping manifests to conceal the contents, and paid “straw shippers” to deliver the packages under their names. Inside these packages, Williams concealed completed pistols and AR-style rifles, parts that could be readily assembled into completed guns, extended magazines including a 65-round drum magazine and a 100-round drum magazine, and ammunition to match the firearms being smuggled.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
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.
Hawaiian Gardens Man Found Guilty of Selling Fentanyl to 18-Year-Old Victim Who Later Suffered Fatal OverdoseRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Hawaiian Gardens man was found guilty by a jury today of selling purported black tar heroin that in fact was fentanyl to an 18-year-old victim who later ingested it and suffered a fatal overdose from the powerful synthetic opioid.
Gregory Hevener, 47, was found guilty of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
He has been in federal custody since February 2022.
According to evidence presented at a seven-day trial, in November 2020, the victim responded to an ad placed by Hevener on the website OfferUp, an online marketplace. The listing advertised the sale of “BLACK TAR ROOFING MATERIALS!!” – coded language for black tar heroin – in Long Beach. OfferUp records revealed Hevener operated or had access to several accounts on the platform, in which he advertised and distributed drugs, including heroin and fentanyl.
Hevener and the victim met in Hawaiian Gardens and the victim purchased what he believed to be heroin from Hevener. Instead, Hevener sold what was a black, tar-like substance containing fentanyl and tramadol, a pain-relief medication. The victim then drove home and took the drugs, suffering a fatal overdose.
In July and October 2021, law enforcement searched trash cans outside of Hevener’s residence in Hawaiian Gardens and seized discarded plastic bags and burnt pieces of tinfoil containing fentanyl and tramadol residue.
Another search in December 2021 resulted in the seizure of a plastic bag containing approximately 245 grams of black tar heroin, a digital scale, burnt tin foil, and a plastic bag containing approximately 1.2 grams of fentanyl.
United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi scheduled a September 16 sentencing hearing, at which time Hevener will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the El Monte Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kellye Ng and Maria Jhai of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Kyle W. Kahan of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.
Frederick County Man Sentenced to Twelve Years in Federal Prison for Committing Two Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – On Friday, June 21, 2024, United States District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Anthony Young, age 38, of Jefferson, Maryland, to twelve years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the armed robberies of an American Legion Post and a bank, both located in Frederick County, Maryland.
The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Jason Lando of the Frederick Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, on November 18, 2019, Young and another suspect entered the American Legion, Francis Scott Key Post 11, in Frederick, Maryland. The two men entered the bar of the Post, brandishing a black handgun. The men grabbed an employee, struck him in the mouth twice, and then restrained him with zip ties. The men then stole a large sum of U.S. currency. Witnesses observed the suspects entering a car that was determined to be registered to Young. On December 5, 2019, the Woodsboro Bank in Frederick reported an armed robbery. The suspect matched the description of Young. Employees and witnesses stated that a man entered the bank, armed with a small black handgun, and was able to steal a large sum of U.S. currency. The suspect then left the bank, entered a car, and left the area. The car was traced back to Young.
On December 16, 2019, search warrants were executed at Young’s home. During the search, law enforcement officers seized clothing and items that matched the description of one of the suspects from the American Legion robbery, and the suspect from the bank robbery. Young was arrested and taken into custody. He waived his rights and confessed to committing both robberies.
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.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI and the Frederick Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Former officer receives 20 years for raping woman while on dutyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 29-year-old Houston and former officer for the Arcola Police Department has been sentenced following his conviction for obstruction of justice and violation of civil rights, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Hector Aaron Ruiz pleaded guilty Jan. 19.
U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge has now sentenced Ruiz to a total of 20 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
“Ruiz was not only a predator but a predator with a badge,” said Hamdani. “During a traffic stop, he raped a young woman he was sworn to serve and to protect, violently breaking a fundamental promise law enforcement makes with any community. The U.S. Attorney’s office is relentless in its pursuit to bring to justice officers who betray their uniform and oaths, committing heinous acts against members of our community. Today’s sentence is the fruit of that pursuit.”
“Hector Ruiz mistakenly believed he was protected by his uniform and badge and operated as a calculating predator who targeted and sexually assaulted his victim during a traffic stop,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “We thank the courageous woman who bravely confronted Mr. Ruiz in court to ensure he faced justice for his crime against her. As law enforcement officers, there’s nothing we despise more than those who disgrace the badge, betray the oath to protect our community and violate the public’s trust.”
On Nov. 16, 2019, Ruiz was on duty and pulled over a 23-year-old woman to conduct a traffic stop in the middle of the night. He told her to “convince” him to not take her to jail, then took her driver’s license and ordered her to follow him. When she tried to drive off, Ruiz pulled her over again and repeated his command. He eventually drove her to a neighborhood, which was under construction at the time, forced her to drink alcohol and coerced her to have sex with him.
The victim came forward the same day and identified Ruiz as her rapist.
The investigation revealed Ruiz had disabled his body microphone and the active recording system in his police cruiser. Authorities also found a text message the victim sent to a friend while Ruiz was making her follow him. In it, she said she thought she was going to die
Forensic analysis further confirmed Ruiz was her rapist.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI and Texas Rangers conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad S. Khandelwal and Sebastian Edwards prosecuted the case.
Former airline mechanic sentenced to prison for sexual assault of woman seated next to him on planeRead the Press Release
Seattle – A former commercial airline mechanic was sentenced today to six months in prison and five years of supervised release for abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Duane Brick, 53, pleaded guilty March 5, 2024. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge James H. Chun said, “This was a serious and frightening crime…. He was clearly a predator. He checked to see if she was responsive and when she was not, he continued the abuse.”
According to records filed in the case Brick was on a March 20, 2023, flight from Phoenix to Seattle. He was seated in a middle seat, with the 24-year-old victim in the window seat. The victim was anxious about flying and had taken an anti-anxiety medication. After politely tolerating Brick’s attempt at small talk, the victim put on her headphones and closed her eyes to try to relax. She fell asleep and awoke to find Brick had grabbed her hand and placed and pressed it on his crotch. The victim was frozen in shock.
Brick then tapped the victim on the face, head, arm, and breast to see if she was fully asleep. He reached under her shirt and bra and groped her breast. Brick pulled out the victim’s shirt and reached toward her waistband in an attempt to put his hands down her trousers. She pushed his hand away and said “no.” She turned her body away. Despite that, Brick tried two more times to reach into her pants.
In court today Assistant United States Attorney Grace Zoller said the assault was “intentional, methodical, and prolonged… it took place over many minutes. He knew she was not consenting and when he was caught, he blamed her.”
A witness in the aisle seat reported what he saw happening to the flight crew. The victim told the flight crew she wanted law enforcement called to meet the plane. However, the flight attendants failed to do that. Brick was an employee of their airline. Brick claimed to them that the touching was accidental. Brick, as an airline employee, was allowed to leave the plane quickly when it landed at Seattle.
The victim did report the assault. Brick was indicted April 12, 2023. His employment with the airline was terminated.
The FBI investigated this case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Grace Zoller and Amanda McDowell.
The case is U.S. v. Duane Brick (23-cr-00052)
Former U.S. Coast Guard Member Sentenced to over 6 Years in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MIAMI - On June 18, a former U.S. Coast Guard Member was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography.
The social media application Snapchat alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that one image of suspected child pornography was uploaded on March 8, 2021, using an account linked to Blayne Schouest, who at the time was a U.S. Coast Guard Member stationed in Key West, Fla. After executing a search warrant, law enforcement discovered seven videos containing child pornography on Schouest’s cell phone.
An indictment charged Schouest with one count of possessing child pornography. Schouest pled guilty to the indictment on March 8.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge, Matthew Margelot, U.S. Coast Guard Investitive Service (CGIS) Southeast Field Office, announced the conviction.
CGIS Key West investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Ayer prosecuted it.
To report online child sexual exploitation, use the electronic Cyber Tip Line or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by NCMEC in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other law enforcement agencies.
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.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-10016.
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Former SEPTA Video Surveillance Manager Sentenced to 37 Months for Extensive Bribery and Extortion SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that James Stevens, 71, of Somerdale, NJ, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert to 37 months in prison for a bribery and extortion scheme that traded on his role as the Director of the Video Surveillance Unit at the Southeastern Regional Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
In November of 2022, Stevens and Robert Welsh, 60, of Tempe, Arizona, were charged by indictment with conspiracy, bribery, extortion, and fraud charges related to the scheme, in which Stevens demanded from Welsh, owner and operator of Spector Logistics, Inc., a stream of financial and other benefits. In exchange, Stevens helped grow Welsh’s business with SEPTA, for which the firm installed, maintained, and supplied video surveillance equipment.
The benefits Welsh provided to Stevens included tens of thousands of dollars in cash payments, as well as donations to an alleged charity that Stevens pocketed, lodging and meals during the 2015 Papal Visit, frequent meals and drinks, tickets to Barbra Streisand and Billy Joel concerts, and funds for SEPTA annual holiday parties. As Stevens demanded, Welsh also offered Stevens future employment with Spector when Stevens retired from SEPTA.
During the time of this corrupt relationship, Spector maintained and obtained millions of dollars in contracts with SEPTA. Stevens played a significant role in facilitating and approving contracts for Spector and Blue Zebra, a second company Welsh owned and established with Stevens’ assistance. Stevens helped Spector win bids by giving Welsh inside information about SEPTA’s financial analyses and otherwise collaborating with Welsh in the contracting process. In doing so, Stevens provided an unfair advantage to Welsh and a disadvantage to other potential vendors.
Stevens and Welsh pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme in January 2024 and August 2023, respectively. Welsh is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18, 2024.
"Stevens’ sentence serves as a warning to those who abuse the public’s trust in its government officials," said U.S. Attorney Romero. "The hundreds of thousands of daily commuters who count on SEPTA, as well as honest vendors who compete fairly for its contracts, deserve public employees who carry out their duties with integrity, without manipulating the system for personal gain. The U.S. Attorney's Office in partnership with the FBI will continue to fight fraud and corruption."
“Mr. Stevens used his position in maintaining safety on our region’s transit system to secure a myriad of benefits, which he received in exchange for providing his co-conspirator with millions of dollars’ worth of SEPTA contracts,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “We at the FBI, with our partners at the US Attorney’s Office, will continue to root out pay-to-play schemes that harm the public’s trust in our systems.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Louis D. Lappen and John J. Boscia.
Former Mexican lawyer who became major methamphetamine supplier to drug trafficking organization sentenced to more than seven years in prisonRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A former attorney from Mexico was sentenced June 21, 2024, to 90 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Gustavo Castellanos-Tapia, 38, of Burien, Washington, was a significant supplier of methamphetamine to the drug trafficking organization with ties to the prison gang known as the “Aryan Family.” In imposing the sentence, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo rejected arguments from the defense the Castellanos-Tapia played a minor role in the drug ring.
Gustavo Castellanos-Tapia was identified as a significant supplier of methamphetamine to the drug trafficking organization. Law enforcement had
Castellanos-Tapia under surveillance and learned that he would deliver suitcases full of methamphetamine—some 30-40 pounds at a time—every few weeks.
Unlike some drug ring participants who become involved to feed their addiction, Castellanos-Tapia was not a drug user. In fact, he previously worked as a lawyer in Mexico and came to the U.S. in 2020 when the pandemic stalled the economy. He obtained work as a boat painter but got into drug dealing to increase his income.
Castellanos-Tapia and 23 other defendants were indicted and arrested in March 2023. Over the course of the investigation, agents seized from members of the drug trafficking organization an estimated 255 pounds of methamphetamine, an estimated 830,000 fentanyl pills, more than 26 pounds of fentanyl powder, cocaine, six pounds of heroin, $668,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 225 firearms.
In asking for a nine-year prison sentence, prosecutors pointed out that despite a small decrease in overdose deaths nationwide, Washington had an increase in overdose deaths of over 27% in the year ending December 2023. “Drugs like the methamphetamine that Castellanos-Tapia distributed have a devastating impact on the community,” prosecutors wrote. “Users of these drugs frequently resort to stealing—from family members, friends, and complete strangers—to feed their addictions. No doubt, drug users are responsible for a large percentage of these crimes, as well as the violent crimes, in our communities.”
Because Castellanos-Tapia was not legally present in the United States he likely will be deported following his prison term.
This 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.
This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections, with significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Max Shiner and Zach Dillon.
The case is U.S. v Castellanos-Tapia CR23-5085
Former Alabama Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Offense of Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
Former Elmore County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Deputy Blake Hicks, 33, was sentenced today to 29 months in prison and three years of supervised release for depriving an arrestee of his civil rights under color of law.
According to documents and statements made in court, Hicks willfully used unreasonable force against an arrestee, identified as T.Q. Specifically, without legal justification, Hicks punched and kicked T.Q. in or around the head while T.Q. was handcuffed and incapacitated on the ground. T.Q. suffered a broken cheekbone, concussion and lacerations from Hicks’ assault.
“This defendant had a duty to respect the rights of people in his custody and to keep them safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Instead, he violently assaulted a person under arrest who was not resisting or threatening harm to the defendant or the public. The Justice Department remains firmly committed to holding accountable law enforcement officials who abuse their powers and use excessive force against people in custody.”
“We expect law enforcement officers to maintain order and ensure public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama. “These are tremendous responsibilities. Fortunately, the vast majority of officers serve honorably. Hicks fell short of his obligation to protect and serve. The sentence imposed today ensures that he is held responsible for his actions. Failure to hold Hicks accountable would discredit the noble service of other officers and weaken the public’s trust in law enforcement.”
The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
Five Charged in Capital Region Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Felix Arencibia, age 38, of Amsterdam, New York; Todd Austin, age 64, of Gloversville, New York; Ahmad Burke, age 66, of Albany; Kevisha DuBoise, age 27, of Schenectady, New York; and Christian Mur-Santana, age 28, of Las Vegas, Nevada have been indicted for participating in a drug distribution conspiracy.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement.
As alleged in the indictment and other court papers, between November 2022 and July 2023, the defendants participated in a drug conspiracy led by Arencibia, who received packages of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Mur-Santana through the mail and then distributed those drugs in the Capital Region. The specific charges, and the maximum and mandatory terms of imprisonment, are set forth below:
Defendant
Charges
Max./Min.
Felix Arencibia
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl
Distribution of methamphetamine
Minimum:10 years Maximum: Life
Todd Austin
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Distribution of methamphetamine
Maximum: 20 years
Ahmad Burke
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Maximum: 20 years
Kevisha DuBoise
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Distribution of methamphetamine
Maximum: 20 years
Christian Mur-Santana
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl
Distribution of methamphetamine
Minimum:10 years Maximum: Life
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Each of the defendants previously made initial appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart. All were released with conditions pending further proceedings, except for Todd Austin, who was ordered detained following a detention hearing.
Four other defendants charged as part of this conspiracy have pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and to the distribution of methamphetamine, and are currently scheduled to be sentenced as follows:
- Andrew Deleon, age 27, of Schenectady, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 12, 2024.
- Melissa Karwan, age 37, of Schenectady, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2024.
- Flor Arencibia, age 39, of Albany, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 5, 2024.
- Stefanie Plass, age 37, of Schenectady, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2024.
The DEA and USPIS are investigating these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Joshua Rosenthal are prosecuting the cases.
These cases are 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.
Final of Four Defendants Sentenced for Grand Rapids-Based Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Defendant Linked to Fatal Fentanyl Poisoning, Operation Distributing Drugs to Prisoners Using Fake Mail from Defense Attorneys
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that the last of four defendants, Anthony Martell Sanders, 30, of Grand Rapids, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the Grand Rapids area, including fentanyl laced with xylazine.
“Illicit street drugs are extremely dangerous and claim more lives across Michigan and the United States than ever before,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Everyone who uses illegal substances takes their life in their own hands. Only a speck of fentanyl can kill. And so often it laces other drugs. A user who thinks they’re taking one drug doesn’t realize they’re also taking a lethal dose of fentanyl and is dead in minutes. Moreover, the addition of xylazine means naloxone cannot reverse the effect of fentanyl. My office is committed to disrupting the pipelines that distribute these poisons in our communities, causing so much devastation.”
The following individuals have been convicted and sentenced as part of this investigation:
Name
Age
City
Sentence
Anthony Martell Sanders
30
Grand Rapids
300 months
Amon Sudan Sanders-Outlaw
23
Grand Rapids
168 months
Marquan Demond Staffney
28
Grand Rapids
75 months
Javon Bridgeforth House
32
Grand Rapids
54 months
On January 14, 2023, officers with the Holland Department of Public Safety responded to an overdose death. Investigators discovered text messages that linked Sanders as a drug supplier of the decedent. Investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) then completed six undercover buys of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Sanders and others. The investigation culminated with the execution of three search warrants in Grand Rapids on April 4, 2023. At one apartment occupied by members of Sanders’ family, agents seized over five pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The fentanyl that Sanders and others had previously distributed to the undercover officer had been laced with xylazine or “tranq,” a veterinary tranquilizer not approved for human use, the effects of which are irreversible by naloxone.
In addition, at an Airbnb apartment where law enforcement arrested Sanders on April 4, agents found significant evidence of the defendant mailing drugs into the prisons through a scheme to falsify envelopes to make them appear as if they were sent from criminal defense firms as “legal mail” in the hope of evading law enforcement detection. Specifically, investigators found fake return labels and return stamps for three Grand Rapids law firms and a roster of prisoners throughout the nation. Investigators had previously linked Sanders, and related defendant Marquan Staffney, to a package seized on July 22, 2022, at the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Branch County, purporting to be legal mail and containing a hallucinogenic controlled substance known as “K2.”
“These sentences will ensure these individuals can no longer endanger lives in west Michigan,” said Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge of Detroit Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to rid communities of drug traffickers who threaten the safety and well-being of the general public.”
“I am pleased to see this successful prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan,” said Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington. “These drugs present a serious danger to our prisons, placing staff and prisoners at risk. I’d like to thank the MDOC staff involved in this investigation, as well as our partners in law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work to end this drug trafficking effort and protect our staff.”
Throughout the entire scope of the conspiracy, Sanders was on federal supervised release from a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker found as an “aggravating factor” that after Sanders pled guilty, he shared discovery material with a third-party who then posted it on Facebook in an attempt to intimidate a cooperating witness. Specifically, investigators discovered a February 10, 2024, recorded video call with Sanders from the Newaygo County Jail where Sanders divulged cooperation materials and encouraged the third-party to disseminate the materials on social media. Judge Jonker also found that Sanders was a leader of the drug trafficking conspiracy as he directed others to deliver drugs on his behalf. Sanders even directed his brother, Amon Sanders-Outlaw, on a promotional offer to provide drug users with free drugs in exchange for introductions to other drug customers.
This case was investigated by DEA, Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Corrections, West Michigan Enforcement Team, Kent Area Narcotic Enforcement Team, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Holland Department of Public Safety, Grand Rapids Police Department, Wyoming Department of Public Safety, Walker Police Department, and Grandville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vito S. Solitro and Stephanie M. Carowan prosecuted the case.
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MEDIA NOTE: For more information on Xylazine, see the October 2022 DEA Joint Intelligence Report: The Growing Threat of Xylazine and its Mixture with Illicit Drugs. For more information on Fentanyl, see the Drug Enforcement Administration’s factsheet on the substance.
Final Defendant in Nationwide Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The final member of a large-scale nationwide methamphetamine trafficking ring has been convicted. Throughout the investigation over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns, and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized. An illegal marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dismantled.
Brian Keleman, 55, of Pascoag, R.I., pleaded guilty on June 21, 2024 to two counts of the second superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Sept. 17, 2024.
“This final conviction represents the culmination of a very important investigation involving over 150 pounds of methamphetamine and high-powered weapons. The dismantling of this organization underscores that federal, state and local law enforcement is doing everything in our power to get dangerous drugs off our streets, protect our community and hold those accountable who continue pump these deadly substances onto our streets,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
“With Brian Keleman’s conviction, Operation Ice Cats has officially crushed a large-scale, multi-state drug trafficking organization that brought over 160 pounds of highly addictive meth to New England,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking operations like this and bring those involved to justice, as we work to make our communities safer."
“As methamphetamine seizures are on the rise, DEA stands committed to keeping this highly addictive drug out of Massachusetts,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “Drug trafficking, along with the violence that all too often accompanies it, is a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities. This should serve as a warning to those who attempt to distribute this poison in Massachusetts.”
Keleman was charged in a superseding indictment in September 2021 with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The superseding indictment also charged 10 other defendants with controlled substance offenses, firearm offenses, and money laundering offenses.
In approximately October 2020, investigators received information about drug trafficking activities of a large-scale methamphetamine supplier in the Boston area. In late 2020, investigators identified Reshat Alkayisi as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to customers throughout the New England area. Keleman worked for Alkayisi at his illegal marijuana grow operation and also delivered methamphetamine to some of Alkayisi’s regular methamphetamine customers who further distributed that methamphetamine throughout New England.
Between April and May 2021, Keleman delivered over 21 pounds (nine kilograms) of pure methamphetamine to Alkayisi’s customers. On June 1, 2021, four packages were seized containing a total of approximately 100 pounds (over 45 kilograms) of 100% pure methamphetamine from Keleman that he picked up on behalf of Alkayisi from a UPS store in Rhode Island.
Keleman is the 11th and final defendant in the case to plead guilty. The remaining 10 co-defendants are awaiting sentencing.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine to which Keleman pleaded guilty provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release and a maximum of a term of supervised release of life and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered funds, whichever is greater. 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 U.S. Attorney Levy; FBI SAC Cohen; and DEA Acting SAC Belleau made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; and Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown and Waltham Police Departments. Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting 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.
Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to 14 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Dennis Francis Kaleohano Kelly, 45, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 14 years in prison. Kelly pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and International Money Laundering on November 17, 2023.
Between November 2020 and August 2021, Kelly supervised and directed several co-conspirators to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl on his behalf. Kelly personally mailed multiple packages of methamphetamine to Hawaii and New Mexico for further distribution, and wired thousands of dollars of drug proceeds to the source of supply in Mexico. Kelly was arrested in August 2021 after receiving approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills from a drug courier.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force operation. The OCDETF Strike Force Initiative 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 investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Culver and David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 21-02360-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-081_Kelly# # #
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.Espanola Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit KidnappingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Espanola man was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for his role in the brutal 2018 kidnapping, assault and murder of a woman in retaliation for allegedly stealing from another woman.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on January 14, 2018, Luis Mariscal-Lopez, 26, Jorge Dominguez, Crystal Ramos and another individual conspired to retaliate against Jane Doe for allegedly stealing and using Ramos' ATM card. The group lured the victim to Ramos' residence in Espanola.
Upon Jane Doe's arrival, the group brutally assaulted her over an extended period of time until she ultimately died from the vicious attack.
In an attempt to cover up their crime, the group wrapped Jane Doe's body in plastic, loaded it into a vehicle and transported it to a remote area near Velarde, N.M. There, they tried to dismember her remains before digging shallow pits to burn the body. The group spotted a helicopter, so they extinguished the fire, gathered the remains and returned to Ramos' home where they attempted to conceal the remains in a toolbox.
Later, Black and another individual took the toolbox with the remains to a location near Ojo Caliente, N.M. There they buried the toolbox in a shallow grave near the river.
Johnny Black pleaded guilty to federal firearms offenses and being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to 171 months in prison.
Jorge Dominguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and remains in custody pending sentencing which is currently scheduled for August 6, 2024.
Crystal Ramos died in a shootout with police in Denver, Colorado on June 14, 2018.
Upon his release from prison, Mariscal-Lopez will be subject to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Espanola Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Bureaus of Indian Affairs, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas J. Marshall and Caitlin L. Dillon are prosecuting the case.
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El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un Distrito Escolar de Georgia para proteger los derechos civiles de los estudiantes con discapacidadesRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy un acuerdo de conciliación con las Escuelas del Condado de Fulton en Georgia para resolver la investigación del Departamento de la respuesta del distrito a una serie de agresiones sexuales entre estudiantes en un autobús escolar que atiende a estudiantes con necesidades especiales. El Departamento llevó a cabo su investigación bajo del Título IX de las Enmiendas Educativas de 1972, el Título II de la ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades Educativas de 1974.
«La responsabilidad de un distrito escolar es proteger a sus estudiantes del acoso y la agresión sexuales, especialmente aquellos cuyas discapacidades los hacen especialmente vulnerables», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Las escuelas tienen la responsabilidad de abordar los obstáculos en la denuncia de agresiones sexuales y de tener en cuenta las necesidades especiales o vulnerabilidades de los estudiantes afectados y sus familias. El Departamento de Justicia continuará a trabajar para garantizar que nuestras escuelas sean entornos seguros del aprendizaje, libres del acoso sexual, y que sean equitativas para estudiantes con discapacidades».
«Los niños con discapacidades pueden ser especialmente vulnerables y merecen florecer en un entorno del aprendizaje libre de cualquier tipo de violencia, incluyendo durante el viaje en autobús hacia y desde la escuela,» declaró Ryan K. Buchanan, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Norte de Georgia. «Felicitamos al distrito por su disposición a cooperar con nuestra investigación y a resolver este asunto de manera amistosa, con el fin de asegurar la protección y seguridad de estos niños».
La investigación del Departamento descubrió que el distrito carecía de procedimientos adecuados y no capacitó a los empleados en la adecuada notificación y respuesta ante casos de agresión y acoso sexuales entre estudiantes; no acomodó adecuadamente las necesidades especiales de los estudiantes con discapacidades para prevenir y responder a las agresiones sexuales; y no hizo que las comunicaciones educativas y escolares, especialmente aquellas relacionadas con el proceso de notificación e investigación de quejas, fueran accesibles para los padres y tutores con un dominio limitado del inglés. El acuerdo fortalecerá las políticas y los procedimientos del distrito de respuesta ante agresiones sexuales entre estudiantes y garantizará que la respuesta del distrito considere las necesidades únicas de estudiantes con discapacidades y padres con un dominio limitado del inglés (LEP, por sus siglas en inglés).
El distrito cooperó con el Departamento durante toda la investigación. Entre otras acciones, en virtud del acuerdo conciliatorio, el distrito:
- Revisará sus políticas de respuesta a quejas de conducta sexual indebida;
- Proporcionará capacitaciones al personal del distrito sobre la conducta sexual indebida entre estudiantes;
- Se asegurará de que proporcione a los estudiantes con discapacidades los acomodos que necesitan para participar en los programas educativos del distrito, en particular las adaptaciones que respaldan las necesidades de comunicación de los estudiantes con discapacidades; y
- Proporcionará servicios de asistencia lingüística adecuados a los padres y tutores LEP.
La aplicación del Título IX, el Título II y la ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades Educativas es una de las principales prioridades de la División de Derechos Civiles. Puede encontrar información adicional sobre la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt, e información adicional sobre el trabajo de la Sección de Oportunidades Educativas está disponible en www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section. Los miembros del público pueden informarnos de posibles infracciones de los derechos civiles en civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
La Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Norte de Georgia trabajó en colaboración con la Sección de Oportunidades Educativas de la División de Derechos Civiles en la investigación de este caso. Información sobre la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Norte de Georgia se puede encontrar en www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/about.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Peter Vega, 38, of Rio Rico, was sentenced on June 11, 2024, by United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to 180 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Vega pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Conspiracy to Launder a Monetary Instrument on March 19, 2024.
Vega was the leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout the United States. Vega coordinated the shipment of methamphetamine on at least six occasions from Arizona to the eastern United States using the United States mail. He also coordinated the transportation of approximately 14 kilograms of fentanyl. In addition to shipping and transporting drugs, Vega coordinated the laundering of drug proceeds returning to Arizona by funneling money through multiple bank accounts held by third parties.
Search warrants served on Vega's house and cell phone revealed evidence of the crimes including drug packaging materials, photos, videos and chats. After being indicted, Vega fled to Mexico. U.S. and Mexican law enforcement located and apprehended Vega in Mexico in January 2023. The Government of Mexico then deported him back to the United States to face charges.
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. This case also involves the 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The Drug Enforcement Administration-Tucson Office OCDETF Strikeforce, including agents from United States Border Patrol, the United States Marshals Service and the Marana Police Department led the investigation. The IRS Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Postal Inspection Service also assisted as partner agencies on the investigation. The Government of Mexico assisted with locating and deporting the defendant. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 18-00107-RCC
CR 18-02467-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-080_Vega# # #
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.Dewitt Woman Sentenced to 20 Months in Federal Prison for Theft of Federal FundsRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Dewitt woman was sentenced on Monday, June 17, 2024, to 20 months in federal prison, for theft of funds from an organization receiving federal funds.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Mindy L. Chapman, 56, is the former director of a local daycare provider and held that position for approximately 20 years. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement uncovered evidence that, over the course of several years as the daycare’s director, Chapman made personal purchases with the daycare’s credit cards, transferred daycare funds to pay personal credit card bills, and increased her salary significantly. As part of her sentence, Chapman was ordered to pay $296,801.50 in restitution.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Chapman will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the DeWitt Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Bronx Resident Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Interstate Transport of Money Stolen from Skill Gaming Machines in Dozens of Pennsylvania and Virginia EstablishmentsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of the Bronx, New York, has been sentenced in federal court to 57 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of interstate transportation of stolen money, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Rolando Jose Pena, 47.
According to information presented to the Court, between April 2022 and March 2023, Pena and his co-defendants broke into and stole cash from skilled gaming machines located throughout Pennsylvania and Virginia, then transported the stolen money back to New York. In total, Pena and his conspirators stole more than $800,000 from over 40 establishments.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and various law enforcement departments throughout Pennsylvania and Virginia for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Pena.
Blackstone Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Defrauding Former Employer, Identity Theft and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Blackstone man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for defrauding his former employer – a company that operates a national chain of second-hand retail stores – by using others’ identities and repeatedly falsifying working hours for employees and taking all the wages for himself.
Anthony Prizio, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Guzman also ordered Prizio to pay $431,399 in restitution to his former employer and $86,190 to the Internal Revenue Service. In February 2024, Prizio pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud, one count of tax evasion and one count of unauthorized use of another’s identity.
From January 2019 until July 2021, while serving as manager of the company’s Worcester store location, Prizio devised and carried out a scheme to steal over $430,000. As the store manager, Prizio had access to the store’s timekeeping system for employees’ working hours, human resources portal and un-activated payroll paycards issued to certain employees for wages. Prizio used his position as store manager to repeatedly enter false hours worked for employees, including employees who no longer worked there. As part of the scheme, Prizio caused payroll debit cards to be issued in others’ names, which he then took for himself. Prizio used some or all of the wages for his own use on personal expenditures. Additionally, Prizio took steps to conceal his fraud by misrepresenting the productivity of the Worcester store to make it appear that the store processed more items, as well as by entering false paid sick and bereavement for employees to fraudulently cause payment for fictitious hours without adversely affecting the productivity measurement of the store. Prizio failed to pay taxes on any of the income derived from this fraudulent scheme.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division; and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Robert Frenchie McGriff, 44, of Mesa, Arizona, pleaded guilty today to attempted transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from March 2019 through June 2019, McGriff began communicating with an individual he believed to be a minor female on Instagram. McGriff told the individual that he was a pimp and actively recruited her to work for him in Arizona as a prostitute. In June 2019, McGriff traveled by bus from Phoenix, Arizona, to Turlock, California, with the intent of retrieving the minor female in Turlock and transporting her to work for him as a prostitute. McGriff was thereafter arrested by law enforcement.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Prosecutions Unit and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whitnee Goins and Shea Kenny are prosecuting the case.
McGriff is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller on Sept. 9, 2024. McGriff faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the 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 those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
ABA Therapy Provider to Make Changes to Comply with Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the government has entered into a settlement agreement with CREATIVE INTERVENTIONS, LLC (“Creative Interventions”) to resolve allegations that the company discriminated against a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Type 1 Diabetes, and the child’s parents, by refusing to monitor the child’s Continuous Glucose Monitor (“CGM”) and by refusing to provide other routine diabetes care while the child attended the Creative Interventions Achievement Clinic in Windsor.
Creative Interventions is a private company that provides Applied Behavior Analysis (“ABA”) therapy and other therapeutic services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Creative Interventions provides its services in private homes, public schools, and at its facility in Windsor where it offers an Achievement Clinic, a drop-off program for young children. Creative Interventions also provides early intervention services as part of Connecticut’s Birth to Three Program.
This matter was initiated by a complaint filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut by the Center for Children’s Advocacy (CCA) on behalf of the parents of a child with Type 1 Diabetes who was enrolled at the Creative Interventions Achievement Clinic from 9 am to 3:30pm, five days a week. According to CCA’s complaint, when the child was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, Creative Interventions staff refused to provide the child’s diabetes-related care and, instead, required a parent to come to the clinic to provide the care. Among other things, the child’s diabetes management plan requires a caregiver to monitor a CGM, which shows the child’s blood sugar levels, and requires a caregiver to be prepared to address high or low blood sugar readings by providing a fast-acting carbohydrate or glucagon or insulin, if necessary.
Based on its investigation, the government found that Creative Interventions discriminated against the child and the child’s parents, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), by refusing to have its staff provide this routine diabetes care to the child. The government found that monitoring the child’s CGM and providing the other routine diabetes care specified by the child’s care plan (including the administration of insulin and glucagon) were reasonable modifications under the ADA that Creative Interventions staff should have provided, with proper training.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Creative Interventions has agreed not to discriminate against children with disabilities in the future. Creative Interventions will also implement new policies and procedures for handling requests for reasonable modifications that are consistent with the ADA and will provide training to its staff on the ADA.
As part of the settlement, Creative Interventions has also agreed that, where a child’s parents and health care team consent, its non-medical staff will obtain training and provide routine diabetes care for children with Type 1 Diabetes, including monitoring a child’s CGM and administering glucagon and insulin, if necessary, as reasonable modifications under the ADA. Creative Interventions has also agreed to pay $15,000 to the complainant in this matter.
“Children with diabetes and their families are entitled to equal access to child care and health care,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “I thank Creative Interventions for cooperating The settlement agreement is effective for three years, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor compliance during that time.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stewart C. Dearing.
Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700 and ask for the Civil Rights Intake Specialist.
Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY). More information about the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.