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Thursday 9 May 2024
Solar Energy Company Agrees to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
AUSTIN – Freedom Solar LLC, a solar energy company that installs photovoltaic solar arrays for residential and commercial customers, has agreed to pay $425,710 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act in connection with a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorized forgivable PPP loans for small businesses experiencing economic uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. In most cases, the maximum amount a small business could receive was 2.5 times its average monthly payroll. For purposes of calculating payroll costs, the CARES Act excluded any compensation to an individual employee in excess of an annual salary of $100,000.
Freedom Solar applied for a PPP loan in April 2020. The United States alleged that Freedom Solar failed to cap the annual salary of several employees at $100,000 when calculating its average monthly payroll. As a result, Freedom Solar overstated this number on its PPP loan application, which caused it to receive more PPP funds than it was entitled to receive. Freedom Solar later obtained forgiveness for the full amount of its PPP loan.
The civil settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Mossburg v. Freedom Solar, LLC, et al., Case No. 1:23-cv-00908 (W.D. Tex.).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Parnham negotiated the settlement on behalf of the government.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Six Men Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine Base and Fentanyl in RutlandRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on April 3, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a Second Superseding Indictment charging Eddie Melendez, 30, Reuben Melendez, 28, and Serafin Melendez, 53, of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, Mathew Ponce, 29, and Giovanny Guzman, 23, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and Anthony Baker, 31 of Rutland, Vermont, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl in Vermont between August 2023 and January 12, 2024. Eddie Melendez, Reuben Melendez, Mathew Ponce, Anthony Baker, and Giovanny Guzman were also charged with additional violations of the Controlled Substances Act, including distribution of a controlled substance or possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Each of the defendants has entered a not guilty plea to the charges during arraignments before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in April and May 2024. Serafin Melendez, Eddie Melendez, Reuben Melendez, and Mathew Ponce were released on conditions pending trial. Anthony Baker and Giovanny Guzman were ordered detained pending trial.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that the above-named defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The defendants face up to twenty years of incarceration if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, Vermont State Police, Rutland City Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bennington County Sheriff’s Department.
The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Turner and Jonathan Ophardt. Eddie Melendez is represented by John Claude Charbonneau, Esq. Reuben Melendez is represented by Mark Oettinger, Esq. Serafin Melendez is represented by Ian Carleton, Esq. Mathew Ponce is represented by Robert Behrens, Esq. Giovanny Guzman is represented by Robert Sussman, Esq. Anthony Baker is represented Richard Goldsborough, Esq.
Shelby Township Doctor Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Illegally Distributing More than 270,000 Opioid Pills worth more than $6.3 MillionRead the Press Release
DETROIT - Shelby Township physician Lawrence Mark Sherman, 75, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison based on his conviction following a jury trial on 20 charges related to the unlawful diversion of prescription drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining Ison in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Cheyvorea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office.
Sherman was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levy, who presided over the trial. The charges on which he was convicted and sentenced stemmed from his involvement in the operation of Tranquility Wellness Center, Inc. from about March 2020 through June 2021. Sherman worked part-time at Tranquility Wellness Center, which operated first in Dearborn and later in Saint Clair Shores. Out of that clinic, Dr. Sherman unlawfully prescribed primarily Oxycodone, Oxymorphone , and Oxycodone-Acetaminophen 10- (Percocet), three of the most addictive prescription opioids. These prescription drugs are also among the most highly diverted prescription opioids due to their high street value.
Federal agents first executed search and arrest warrants against Sherman and Tranquility Wellness Center in June 2021. The other defendants charged in the case, including clinic operators Janeice Burrell and Angelo Smith, clinic employee Akeyla Bell, and Peter Burrell previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Dr. Sherman conspired with the other defendants to illegally authorize more than 3,000 opioid prescriptions for supposed “patients” who did not have a legitimate medical need for the drugs, and who were typically brought to the clinic by “patient recruiters/marketers.” Tranquility Wellness Center accepted only cash, and charged patients not based on the service provided, but instead based on the quantity, type, and dosage of prescription opioids that the “patient” received. The clinic also charged cash for the creation of fraudulent medical records for the supposed “patients.” Janeice Burrell and Angelo Smith paid Dr. Sherman in cash or peer-to-peer money transfer application, and only paid him if he wrote controlled substance prescriptions, not based on any supposed “medical care.”
During the trial the jury heard evidence and testimony that Doctor Sherman issued more than 270,000 dosage units of Schedule II opioid prescriptions during the conspiracy. These controlled substances had a street value in excess of $6.3 million.
While the unlawful controlled substance prescriptions were paid for in cash, both controlled and non-controlled “maintenance” medications were billed to health care benefit programs by pharmacies. Billings to the Medicare and Medicaid programs for medically unnecessary prescription drug medications and maintenance medications during this conspiracy exceeded $500,000.
“My office will not waver in its commitment to aggressively identify, investigate, and prosecute doctors and other health care professionals who feed the opioid epidemic by writing illegal opioid prescriptions,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “Health care professionals have both an opportunity and a duty to help address the terrible impact the opioid epidemic has had on our community, but Dr. Sherman chose to only make it worse.”
"The sentencing of Dr. Sherman highlights the FBI's ongoing efforts against medical professionals who are using their position to line their own pockets while ultimately contributing to the opioid crisis," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "His actions endangered countless lives, which goes against the oath he took as a doctor. We remain committed to investigating health care fraud and holding those who exploit their positions accountable."
“Physicians and other medical providers who abuse their oath by unlawfully prescribing potentially dangerous and addicting opioids for financial gain, do so without regard for the wellbeing of their patients,” said Mario M. Pinto of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our office is committed to working together with our law enforcement partners to bring those who engage in unlawful and dangerous overprescribing to justice.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Lievense and Adriana Dydell. The Eastern District of Michigan is one of the twelve districts included in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit, a Department of Justice initiative that uses data to target and prosecute individuals that are contributing to the nation’s opioid crisis.
The case was investigated by special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General.
Settlement of Race Discrimination Lawsuit Against Cobb County Fire Department ReachedRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - A settlement has been reached with Cobb County, Georgia, through a consent decree, resolving the United States’ claims that Cobb County’s use of certain screening devices in its hiring process for entry-level firefighters resulted in a pattern or practice of discrimination against African Americans in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion. Title VII prohibits not only intentional discrimination but also employment practices that result in a disparate impact upon a protected group unless the defendant can prove that such practices are job-related and consistent with business necessity.
“Every person, regardless of race, deserves an equal opportunity to compete for jobs. Employers should identify and eliminate policies and procedures that create a discriminatory impact on applicants based on race,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office will continue to devote resources to eliminate prejudicial policies that illegally deprive qualified candidates of a fair chance to compete for employment opportunities.”
“This settlement should send a strong message to employers that reliance on a job applicant’s credit history may be discriminatory and unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Consumer credit checks create a Catch-22 for people seeking access to job opportunities. Cobb County’s hiring practices created artificial barriers that prevented qualified Black job candidates from being considered for firefighter positions. Discriminatory barriers, like credit checks, not only cost candidates a fair chance at a job, they also prevent the public from being served by firefighters drawn from the most robust hiring pool possible.”
The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Georgia, alleges that the County engaged in discrimination with two parts of its entry-level firefighter hiring process. The United States’ lawsuit challenges the County’s use of a credit check to screen out firefighter candidates based on the County’s review of their credit histories. The lawsuit also challenges the County’s past use of a written examination designed to determine placement level in college classes as a method for ranking candidates to move forward in the firefighter hiring process. The County’s use of these employment practices disproportionately removed qualified African Americans from consideration for a firefighter position. The complaint further alleges that the credit check and the use of the written exam to rank applicants do not lawfully identify the best qualified candidates for the firefighter position.
Under the terms of the consent decree, which is subject to court approval, Cobb County will no longer use a credit check as part of its firefighter selection process, nor will it resume using the written exam as a rank-order selection device. The County will pay $750,000 in back pay to eligible African Americans who were denied employment because of the challenged employment practices, and will make up to 16 priority hires, with retroactive seniority, from the group of applicants disqualified by the challenged practices.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia brought this case in collaboration with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section. The case was brought by Aileen Bell Hughes, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity and Civil Rights Section, and DOJ Employment Litigation Section attorneys Brian McEntire and Juliet Gray.
Ensuring that local, county, and state governments comply with Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Employment Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and the jurisdiction of the Employment Litigation Section is available on its websites at www.justice.gov/crt/ and https://www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
San Francisco Resident Pleads Guilty to Stealing over $340,000 in Funds Intended for Low-Income FamiliesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Gregory Finkelson, a San Francisco resident, has pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property in connection with his fraudulent receipt of hundreds of thousands of dollars in low-income housing benefits, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Special Agent in Charge Mark Kaminsky; and IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of the Oakland Field Office. Finkelson’s guilty plea was accepted by the Hon. James Donato, United States District Judge, on May 6, 2024.
The Section 8 Certificate Program is a rent subsidy program funded by HUD and administered jointly in San Francisco by HUD and the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA). The program is intended to help low- and moderate-income families afford housing, and it has income limits and other eligibility requirements that applicants must meet to qualify for assistance.
In his plea agreement, Finkelson, 64, admitted that, between approximately August 2006 and February 2020, he wrongfully claimed $341,455 in Section 8 Program subsidies by lying about his income and his ownership of (i) a San Francisco residence he purchased in 2005 that is now valued at approximately $2.4 million; and (ii) a business he ran out of his residence. He then used the funds he fraudulently obtained to benefit himself, including by funding his business, paying his credit card bills, and making payments on a timeshare in Hawaii.
“This defendant fraudulently obtained housing benefits designated for some of the neediest individuals in our society and used them to enrich himself,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “I am proud of the work this Office does to prosecute those who defraud the government, particularly where, as here, it is low-income families who suffer the most as a result of the defendant’s selfish conduct.”
“Finkelson stole money that was intended to provide safe housing for low-income families and used it for his own self-enrichment,” said HUD OIG Special Agent in Charge Mark Kaminsky. “HUD OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to diligently pursue and hold accountable bad actors who willfully misuse federal assets.”
“Today’s plea makes clear that greed does not pay. For years, Finkelson took advantage of Section 8 housing assistance funds by using nominee ownership to conceal his ill-gotten gains while simply lining his own pockets,” said CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley. “Our agents are experts at following the money and building cases that help bring financial criminals to justice.”
Finkelson admitted that, as part of his scheme, he used the name of a Russian national living in Russia to purchase his San Francisco home, claiming, wrongfully, that she was his landlord and that he made rent payments to her. Finkelson also admitted he opened several bank accounts, including in the Russian national’s name, and that he used these bank accounts to conceal his use of the ill-gotten Section 8 Program subsidies.
Finally, pursuant to his plea agreement, Finkelson agreed to pay at least $341,455 in restitution, which represents the total amount he admitted he stole from the government.
Finkelson was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 25, 2023. He pleaded guilty this week to one count of theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 641 & 2, for which he faces a statutory maximum prison term of 10 years. In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order the defendant to pay a fine of up to $250,000 and to serve a term of supervised release of up to three years. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Judge Donato has scheduled Finkelson’s sentencing hearing for September 9, 2024.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith and Kevin Yeh are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop and Laurence Macaraeg. The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the FBI, HUD OIG, and CI, with assistance from SFHA.
San Felipe Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge handed down a 48-month prison sentence to a San Felipe man who was convicted by a federal jury of abusive sexual contact.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to evidence presented at trial and other publicly available court records, between August 13, 2016, and February 13, 2017, Kyle Aguilar, while intoxicated, touched the victim's genitalia and breasts over her clothing. On one occasion, Aguilar unlocked the door to the room where the victim was watching a movie, came into the room, and began massaging the victim's back before touching her breasts and genitals over her clothes.
Upon his release from prison, Aguilar will be subject to 5 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas J. Marshall and Mia Ulibarri-Rubin are prosecuting the case.
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St. Croix Man Indicted on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Ambrose Daniel, 44, of St. Croix, made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Daniel with felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and with unlawful possession of a machine gun.
According to court documents, on May 10, 2019, a federal search warrant was executed at Daniel’s residence in All for the Better, St. Croix. Federal agents recovered a Glock Model 21, .45 caliber pistol, 48 rounds of .45 caliber cartridges, and a machine gun device capable of converting a Glock pistol into a fully automatic firearm from Daniel’s residence. In 1997, Daniel was convicted of assault in the third degree in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. Said felony conviction prohibits Daniel from legally possessing a firearm. If convicted, Daniel faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Virgin Islands Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Huston. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. For more information on the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, please see: https://www.justice.gov/psn.
United States Attorney Smith reminds the public that an indictment is merely a charging document and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Wide-Ranging Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy That Spanned Across the CountryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a fentanyl trafficking organization involved in the manufacturing and distribution of fentanyl pills that spanned across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Texas and North and South Carolina.
Erik Ventura, 35, pleaded guilty to a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1, 2024. Ventura was arrested and charged in February 2022 and has remained in custody since.
In September 2019, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) based in Providence, Rhode Island and known to manufacture large quantities of fentanyl pills designed to appear like pharmaceutical grade oxycodone/Percocet pills and distribute them and other controlled substances throughout the United States. The investigation revealed that Ventura was a trusted member of the DTO and maintained one of the drug stash locations. Ventura transported cash and kilogram quantities of drugs to and from New York on behalf of the DTO, distributed thousands of fentanyl pills to wholesale customers in Massachusetts and was paid by the DTO for his work as a drug distributor. In February 2022, two industrial grade pill presses, approximately 20 kilograms of powdered fentanyl, pressed fentanyl pills and other items, including kilograms of pill binder used in the large-scale manufacturing of clandestinely pressed fentanyl pills, were seized.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and 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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Providence Resident Agency; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Providence Field Office; Rhode Island State Police; and the Cranston, Warwick and West Warwick Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey E. Weinstein and Kunal Pasricha of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Retail Theft Ringleader SentencedRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa woman who led a large retail theft operation was sentenced today for one count of conspiracy; 165 counts of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and 40 counts relating to engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Linda Ann Been, 51, to 64 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Been to pay $43,197.76 in restitution.
According to court documents, Been was indicted with 23 co-defendants in January 2022 and pled guilty in July 2022. Operation Booster Buster was a national investigation targeting a retail theft ring and its conspiracy to distribute stolen property throughout the country. Been paid “boosters” to steal property from various retail stores, including Walmart, Sam’s Club, CVS, Walgreens, and others. She then sold and shipped the stolen property to various operations outside of Oklahoma, where they would be sold online.
Been recruited the boosters and coached them on what to shoplift. She would then pay the boosters for the stolen property. If a booster was arrested, Been would either pay their bond or put money on their jail account to ensure the person would not cooperate with law enforcement.
Twenty of Been’s co-defendants pled guilty and have been sentenced.
Been was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan V. Reininger prosecuted the case.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 40 YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Roland Vance Watson, 55, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced today to 40 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for producing child pornography and committing a felony involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Watson was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
Kyle Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
The criminal investigation began in January 2023, after law enforcement received information from a concerned adult that Watson had exchanged inappropriate text messages with a minor female. According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, investigators determined that, between August 2021 and February 2023, Watson had sexually abused three minor females on multiple occasions. Three cell phones seized from Watson and Watson’s home were forensically analyzed and multiple sexually explicit text messages were recovered between Watson and one of the minors. In some of the texts, Watson induced the minor to send him explicit images and videos of herself in exchange for gifts and candy. The phones also contained child pornography produced by Watson that depicted Watson sexually abusing the minors and other sexually explicit images and videos featuring the minors in various states of undress.
According to court records, in 1991, Watson was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in New Jersey. As part of Watson’s sentence, he was ordered to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board in any state or jurisdiction where he worked or resided. Court documents show that after Watson moved to North Carolina, he failed to register as a sex offender.
Watson will remain in federal custody pending placement by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and the Hickory Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Repeat Drug Offender Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Camden man was sentenced today to 200 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute More than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge James M. Moody Jr. presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, in March of 2023, detectives with the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force learned that Ronald Antonio Moorehead, age 43, of Camden, Arkansas was transporting methamphetamine into Northwest Arkansas area for distribution. On May 13, 2023, detectives surveilled Moorehead inside a vehicle parked in residential neighborhood in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Thereafter, law enforcement made contact with Moorehead, who was on active parole supervision at the time. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed approximately 500 gross grams of methamphetamine and a distribution amount of cocaine.
Moorehead was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple counts related to drug trafficking. On November 3, 2023, he pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute more than 50 grams of Methamphetamine. At sentencing, the United States provided the Court with evidence that Moorehead had a lengthy criminal history, which included multiple prior convictions related to drug trafficking.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Deputy Criminal Chief Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case for the United States.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov
Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement and Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A registered sex offender residing in North Smithfield admitted to a federal judge on Wednesday that he posed as a 17-year-old boy and engaged in a series of explicit online communications with two young teenage boys living in Florida; that he attempted to obtain sexual explicit videos and images of the boys; that he sent them obscene videos of himself engaged in sexual activity; and that he attempted to arrange a meeting with a person whom he believed to be one of the boys to engage in illicit sexual activity, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Nicholas Sannicandro, 34, charged by way of indictment pleaded two counts of attempted inducement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity, two counts of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, one count of possession and access with intent to view child pornography, and one count of commission of an offense by a registered sex offender. No plea agreement was been filed in this matter.
Sannicandro admitted that beginning in January 2021, and continuing into June 2021, he began separately communicating with two Florida minor, = boys, whom he met through an Instagram account. He admitted that he had sexually explicit communications with each of the boys. During those communications Sannicandro asked each of them to send him sexually explicit videos and image of themselves.
Additionally, during what he thought were ongoing communications with one of the boys, but were actually with an undercover officer who had taken over the boy’s account, Sannicandro invited the boy to visit him in Rhode Island; discussed sexual acts that he wanted to engage in with the boy; and twice sent him videos of himself engaged in sexual activity.
Sannicandro was arrested at a Warwick marina on June 22, 2021, where he was expecting to meet with the boy. The meeting had been arranged by the North Port, FL, undercover officer posing online as the boy and by the FBI.
Sannicandro also admitted to the court that he possessed child pornography on his phone, which was seized from him upon his arrest, and that as a result of prior convictions involving child pornography and attempted dissemination of obscene material to minors in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, he was a registered sex offender at the time he committed these crimes.
Sannicandro is scheduled to be sentenced in this latest matter on September 19, 2024. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Denise M. Barton and John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by the FBI and North Port, FL, Police Department.
United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Rhode Island State Police, members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Warwick Police Department for their assistance in the arrest of Sannicandro.
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Redding Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gabriel Joseph Detrant, 50, of Redding, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 2, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle Detrant was driving in Redding. Detrant stopped the vehicle, and he and a passenger fled on foot. The officers found a Baikal Makarov, Model IJ-70 9 mm handgun loaded with eight rounds by the driver’s seat. Officers later found Detrant hiding nearby in possession of a magazine loaded with eight 9 mm rounds. Detrant is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2018 conviction in Shasta County for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office, the Redding Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Haddy Abouzeid prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice 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.
Recidivist drug dealer returning to prison for distributing cocaine and fentanylRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Hopewell man was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Aug. 22, 2022, Hopewell police encountered an Audi vehicle stopped in a roadway within a trailer park. When the officers illuminated the vehicle, the driver, Riezon Mekhi Murphy, 24, turned off the headlights of his vehicle and reversed down the roadway to a grassy area. At that time, two other individuals who had been seated together in the front passenger seat of the Audi got out of the car and raised their hands.
An officer requested that Murphy lower his window, then observed an open bottle of tequila and currency strewn about the car. During a lawful search of the Audi, investigators located a loaded 9mm pistol under the driver seat and a gray backpack in the back passenger area, which belonged to Murphy. The backpack contained $1000 in cash, along with several individual baggies that contained approximately 45 grams of heroin/fentanyl mixture, 4.7 grams of fentanyl, 26 grams of cocaine, 96 grams of methamphetamine, and 220 grams of marijuana.
Murphy was previously convicted of distributing marijuana and possessing a .380 caliber handgun. Six months later, Murphy was convicted for possession of marijuana and a concealed firearm. Four months later, Murphy was again arrested and convicted of selling Schedule I or II controlled substances and driving on a suspended license. Murphy was discharged from supervised probation on Feb. 7, 2022, six months before his arrest in this case.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Greg Taylor, Chief of Hopewell Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter S. Duffey and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E. Schulz, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
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-101.
Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s Trip to California and Participation in the 2024 RSA Cybersecurity ConferenceRead the Press Release
Deputy Attorney General (AG) Lisa Monaco traveled to San Francisco this week to participate in the 2024 RSA Cybersecurity Conference and underscore the Justice Department’s efforts to combat cybercrime and other persistent and emerging threats to national security, including the abuse of disruptive technologies, particularly AI.
In a keynote conversation at RSA on “Artificial Intelligence: The Ultimate Double-Edged Sword,” the Deputy AG highlighted how the Justice Department is developing guardrails to harness the benefits of AI to fulfill the Department’s mission, while mitigating the risks posed by misuse. She spoke to AI’s potential to help identify, disrupt, and deter criminals, terrorists, and hostile nation-states — and shared how the Department is using AI tools to speed up response times to a variety of threats. She stressed that existing laws offer a firm foundation to confront misuse of AI, even as the legal framework around AI evolves. Deputy AG Monaco warned of AI’s potential to supercharge existing threats to election security — in a year when over half the global population will vote — and she urged vigilance in the face of AI’s potential to accelerate online hate and disinformation, imitate trusted sources of information, and proliferate deepfakes.
The Deputy AG was interviewed by former FBI Deputy Director Sean Joyce at the 14th Annual Executive Dinner at RSA, where she discussed the progress of the Department’s Justice AI Initiative. Launched by the Deputy AG in February at the University of Oxford, Justice AI brings together stakeholders across industry, academia, law enforcement, and civil society to share expertise on both the promise of AI and the perils of its misuse.
At the RSA CEO Roundtable, she joined other senior government officials and leaders across the cybersecurity industry to discuss combating cyber threats, including the importance of public-private collaboration to the Department’s cyber strategy of protecting victims and prioritizing disruptions. Strong public-private partnerships have accelerated both the speed and scale of the Justice Department’s disruptive operations and have proven critical to dismantling nation-state-controlled botnets, taking down darknet marketplaces, and disrupting major ransomware gangs — such as the LockBit group, whose creator and administrator the Deputy AG announced was charged in the latest phase of a targeted international law enforcement operation.
The Deputy AG also led a roundtable convening, hosted by the Aspen Institute, with technology, financial, and venture capital executives to discuss the collective risks posed by the theft and abuse of disruptive technologies, especially AI, in a heightened geopolitical risk environment. She emphasized the work of the Justice Department’s Disruptive Technology Strike Force, a multi-agency effort to stop adversaries from siphoning our most critical technologies and innovations.
While in California, the Deputy AG visited the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento. In meetings with U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, his leadership team, and the prosecutors and professional staff of the office, she thanked them for their hard work and dedication to the Department’s mission. Deputy AG Monaco also sat down with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to discuss their collaboration to tackle violent crime and other public safety challenges.
Parcel Interdiction Operation Results in Multiple Seizures of Drugs and GunsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia is pleased to announce the results of a coordinated multi-agency, two-week parcel interdiction operation that resulted in the seizure of illegal drugs and firearms being shipped through the district.
“We are relentless in our efforts to identify, disrupt, and prosecute those who use the U.S. Mail to traffic illegal drugs and firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our continued collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners is a priority crucial to curtailing the illegal flow of drugs and weapons into our communities. Those contemplating illegal shipments of such contraband should be aware of the serious consequences of committing this crime.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service seeks to identify, disrupt, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that attempt to illegally utilize the mail system,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “I commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all of our law enforcement partners to coordinate resources to combat illicit drug activity.”
During a two-week period in March 2024, a team of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies conducted an operation targeting suspicious parcels in the mail stream. This coordinated effort, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and multiple District Attorneys’ Offices, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, resulted in the seizures of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, psilocybin (mushrooms), oxycodone, Xanax, steroids, marijuana, numerous firearms, and large amounts of currency suspected of being related to narcotics trafficking. To date, the operation has resulted in the arrests of four individuals for drug trafficking offenses.
The parcel interdiction team included the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office, Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, Calhoun Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Haralson County Sheriff’s Office, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Rome/Floyd Metro Drug Task Force, Sandy Springs Police Department, and the Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA. The Cherokee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, and the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office also provided invaluable support to the operation and subsequent investigations.
The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia recommends that parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov; www.operationprevention.com/; and www.dea.gov/onepill.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Old Town Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Old Town man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to possessing child pornography involving a child under 12.
According to court records, between October and December 2022, Matthew Podlaski, 40, searched the internet for, and downloaded images of, the sexual abuse of young children, storing the images on multiple devices. Investigators seized 14 devices belonging to Podlaski, including laptop computers, flash drives and external storage devices.
Podlaski faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by five years to life of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – in legal terms, "child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are shared or viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Oklahoma Woman Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Oklahoma woman was sentenced yesterday to 200 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge James M. Moody Jr. presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, during January of 2023, detectives with the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force learned that Cerina Lynn Boehrer, age 40, of Ada, Oklahoma was transporting methamphetamine from Oklahoma to the Northwest Arkansas area for distribution. On February 3, 2023, detectives intercepted Boehrer as she was traveling in Fayetteville, Arkansas and discovered approximately one pound of methamphetamine and a firearm in her vehicle.
The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Laboratory and tested positive for methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Robbins prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Narcotics and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARRAN BOYKINS, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on May 2, 2024, by U.S. Chief District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown, to 57 months incarceration after previously pleading guilty to Count 1 of an indictment. Chief Judge Brown also ordered that BOYKINS be placed on supervised release following 3 years of imprisonment. BOYKINS must also pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Count 1 charged BOYKINS with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
According to court documents, on March 20, 2021, New Orleans Police Department officers responded to an aggravated assault with a firearm at a residence in the Seventh Ward neighborhood of New Orleans. During the investigation, officers discovered ammunition in a dresser in the residence, along with BOYKINS’s Louisiana identification card. BOYKINS had prior felony convictions punishable by a term of imprisonment in excess of one year, that made his ammunition possession illegal. Most recently, BOYKINS was convicted on January 23, 2019, in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
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 New Orleans Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit.
Mexican National Sentenced to more than 11 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Emeterio Sepulveda-Moreno, age 43, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Sepulveda-Moreno to 135 months’ imprisonment. After completing his term of imprisonment Sepulveda-Moreno will be deported to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen.
On June 22, 2021, a cooperating defendant was arrested after a search warrant executed on his Omaha residence revealed 28 one-pound packages of crystal meth, and $18,754 in narcotics proceeds. In a post-arrest interview, the cooperator admitted to his involvement in distributing meth and identified Sepulveda-Moreno as an individual responsible for delivering hundreds of pounds of meth to Omaha, including the 28 pounds found in the cooperator’s possession. The cooperator described a June 19, 2021, delivery of drug proceeds to Sepulveda-Moreno at an Omaha gas station in exchange for the meth he was caught with 2 days earlier. Agents retrieved video surveillance from the gas station showing the cooperator giving Sepulveda-Moreno a black suitcase containing drug proceeds. A short time later at a different location, Sepulveda-Moreno delivered the meth to the cooperator.
The $18,754 seized on June 22, 2021, was previously forfeited to the United States as proceeds from narcotics trafficking, and the cooperator was previously sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment.
This case was the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.
Mexican National Found Guilty of Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
EL PASO – A federal jury convicted a Mexican national of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of straw purchasing firearms; one count of trafficking in firearms; and one count of conspiracy to smuggle bulk cash.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rene Hernandez-Cordero, 52, of Ciudad Juarez was involved in an organization that smuggled firearms into the Republic of Mexico and methamphetamine into the United States.
In August 2023, Hernandez and co-defendant Jesus Gerardo Ramos, 53, of El Paso, met at a gas station in El Paso with the purpose of obtaining 20 AK-47 type firearms and two Barrett .50 caliber rifles which would have been smuggled to Mexico. Evidence produced at trial showed that this particular group smuggled hundreds of firearms from the United States into Mexico from August of 2022 to August of 2023.
Co-defendants Ramos and Brian Alexis Munoz-Castro, 21, of El Paso pled guilty to one count of trafficking in firearms. Munoz also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Hernandez and Munoz face up to 10 years to life in prison on the methamphetamine conspiracy charge. Hernandez, Munoz and Ramos face up to 15 years in prison for each of the firearm charges and Hernandez faces up to 10 years in prison for the cash smuggling charge. Munoz is scheduled for sentencing July 10 and Ramos is scheduled for sentencing July 17, 2024. Hernandez is scheduled for sentencing on August 8, 2024.
All defendants have remained in custody since their arrests in August 2023.
The firearms charges are new offenses under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw purchasing of firearms. They also carry potential fines of up to $250,000.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
The specific mission of the OCDETF El Paso / Las Cruces Strike Force is to target drug trafficking organizations along the southwest border that dominate the illicit drug trade and who are largely responsible for the violence plaguing the border communities. The OCDETF Strike Force Enforcement Group is comprised of agents and officers from Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorneys for the Western District of Texas in conjunction with an attorney from Customs and Border Protection Office of Chief Counsel.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the OCDETF El Paso/Las Cruces Strike Force Enforcement Group 3 investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Myers and Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Shannon Holderfield from Customs and Border Protection Office of Chief Counsel are prosecuting the case.
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Member of Violent Gang Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Racketeering, Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in connection with his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.
Paulo Santos, a/k/a “Bucky,” 35, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 10 years in prison and four years of supervised release. In January 2024, Santos pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy), possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to court documents, Cameron Street is a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation. Cameron Street members possess, carry and use firearms to murder and assault gang rivals as well as protect narcotics and drug proceeds.
As part of his role in the gang, Santos and another Cameron Street member assaulted and robbed a rival gang member outside the Dorchester District Court on Dec. 6, 2019. In a video posted on Snapchat later that day, Santos identified the victim as a rival gang member, chased him, and shouted to another Cameron Street member, “Get him!” On the video, the victim shielded his face while he was punched and kicked repeatedly. Santos and the other Cameron Street member then robbed the victim of his sneakers and took them as a trophy. The video included captions that praised Cameron Street and denigrated the victim’s gang.
At the time of Santos’ arrest, approximately 900 grams of cocaine, 500 grams of marijuana, a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver and $15,597 in cash were seized from his stash house in Hingham.
This is Santos’ third firearm conviction. For his last unlawful possession of a firearm conviction, Santos served a four-to-five-year state prison sentence.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
May Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Filiberto Almaguer-Estrada. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Almaguer-Estrada, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. He is further charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-149
Eduardo Agustin Barrera-Lopez; Marco Antonio Lopez-Damian; Dennis Manuel Salazar-Lopez. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute. Barrera-Lopez, 38, Lopez-Damian, 26, Salazar-Lopez, 22, all Mexican nationals, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and heroin starting in Oct. 2023. They are further charged with intentionally possessing methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-148
Kelly Wayne Bolden. Distribution of Child Pornography. Bolden, 47, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-146
Jeffery John Bowers. Arson in Indian Country. Bowers, 41, of Bartlesville and a member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, is charged with maliciously setting fire to a dwelling in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Bartlesville Fire Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle W. Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-135
Kyle Jackson Fugate. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor (Counts 1 & 4); Destruction of Evidence (Count 2); Attempted Production of Child Pornography (Count 3) (superseding). Fugate, 26, of Owasso and a member of the Osage Nation, is charged with knowingly attempting to persuade two persons whom he believed were under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. He is further charged with the destruction of evidence. Additionally, Fugate coerced and enticed a minor child to share a photo depicting sexually explicit conduct. The Homeland Security Investigations and Rogers County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-101
Cory Lamar Jackson; Nicholas Ryan Ransom. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Jackson and Ransom, are both 34 and from Springfield, Missouri. They are charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-140
Amber Dawn Knight. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Knight, 36, of Collinsville and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. She is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mayes Country Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-147
Misael Ramirez-Benitez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ramirez-Benitez, 43, an El Savador national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Oct. 2019, at or near Alexandria, Louisiana. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-139
Rayes Angel Sanchez. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Receipt of a Firearm by Person Under Indictment for a Felony. Sanchez, 25, and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. He is further charged with possessing a firearm knowing he was under indictment. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-141
Ronna Marie Stone. Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country. Stone, 46, of Tulsa and a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, is charged with breaking into a residence with intent to steal property. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-142
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to $3.6M Covid-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, NC – BENNETT ABABIO of Maryland pled guilty today to one-count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States related to a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking approximately $3.6 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to court documents, between May 2020 and December 2021, ABABIO conspired to submit fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan and forgiveness applications for himself and others, including an individual located in Greensboro, North Carolina. ABABIO owned, or partially owned, five companies for which ABABIO submitted fraudulent PPP applications. In total, ABABIO received $2,581,833 in PPP loans for his companies. The PPP applications contained false statements about the payroll expenses of each company, which the SBA used to calculate the amount of PPP funds to which the applicant-companies would be entitled. Separately, ABABIO helped others prepare fraudulent PPP applications, resulting in over $1 million in additional PPP loans being disbursed to ABABIO’s clients.
Sentencing is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina, courtroom number one, before United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr. At sentencing, ABABIO faces a maximum sentence of five in prison, a period of supervised release of up to three years, and monetary penalties.
The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation is investigating the case, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Waid.
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Man Who Carried Out Machete Attack on NYPD Officers in Times Square on New Year’s Eve 2022 Sentenced to 27 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Trevor Bickford, 20, of Wells, Maine, was sentenced to 324 months in prison for attempting to kill officers and employees of the U.S. Government and persons assisting them during his brazen attack using a machete-style knife against three New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers in Times Square on Dec. 31, 2022. Bickford pleaded guilty to terrorism charges on Jan. 11.
“Today’s sentence holds Trevor Bickford accountable for his premeditated 2022 terrorist attack in Times Square during which he attempted to kill three NYPD officers in a violent rampage,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is deeply grateful to the NYPD for its quick actions and bravery in disrupting this New Year’s Eve attack, and for the work it does every day to keep New Yorkers safe. The Justice Department will always stand by its state and local law enforcement partners as we work together to counter the threat of terrorism, and that includes being relentless in prosecuting those who seek to harm officers.”
“The defendant’s brutal ambush of three New York City police officers keeping watch over New Year’s Eve celebrations was a premeditated act of terrorism,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Police officers work tirelessly to protect the communities they serve and assaults on them are reprehensible. He planned, prepared, and travelled to conduct a savage attack in support of his violent ideology and now he is being held accountable for his actions.”
“Inspired by radical Islamic extremism, Trevor Bickford brutally attacked three NYPD officers who were just doing their jobs by protecting the public during the Times Square New Year’s Eve festivities,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “Thankfully, one officer’s quick-thinking actions stopped the defendant’s attack while minimizing risk to the innocent bystanders who easily might have become additional victims of the defendant’s heinous violence. Less than a year and a half after his attack, Bickford has been convicted and now sentenced to 27 years in prison. Bickford’s conviction and sentence demonstrate that cowardly acts of terrorism will be met with law enforcement’s unwavering resolve to protect New York City, our country, and our core values of freedom and democracy.”
According to court documents, In December 2022, Bickford, a U.S. citizen and resident of Maine, traveled from Maine to New York City to, in his own words, wage jihad and kill as many targets as possible. He targeted one of the most densely populated areas in the United States at one of the most densely populated times possible: Times Square on New Year’s Eve. It was there that Bickford ambushed three NYPD officers, declared “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is great” that other radical Islamic extremists have similarly proclaimed while carrying out terrorist attacks, and swung his blade at their heads, seriously injuring all three officers. Bickford also tried to grab one of the NYPD officers’ guns during his attack. One of the victims that Bickford struck managed to shoot Bickford in the shoulder, halting his brutal rampage before he could attack and possibly kill others. Bickford later proudly declared that he carried out his attack to wage jihad and proclaimed that his goal was to kill as many military-aged men who worked for the U.S. Government as he could, before himself becoming a martyr in the attack.
The machete-style knife, which has a blade more than a foot long, that Bickford used to carry out his attack.Bickford’s violent rampage on Dec. 31, 2022, was premeditated. He consumed materials espousing radical Islamic ideology – including materials promoting the Taliban and reflecting the teachings of Sheikh Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi, a prominent radical Islamic cleric who was a spiritual mentor of al Qaeda – and contemplated ways to wage jihad. As he immersed himself deeper into this propaganda, Bickford devoted himself to violent Islamic extremism and pursuit of the jihad that he would eventually unleash in the heart of New York City. In the months leading up to his attack, Bickford focused on traveling overseas to support the Taliban in Afghanistan or elsewhere. He planned to ally himself with the Taliban to fight against governments that, in his view, oppress Muslims and to wage jihad against officials of governments that he believes are anti-Muslim, including the U.S. government. Ultimately, Bickford decided that he would not travel overseas and instead turned his attention to an attack here in the United States. This decision resulted in Bickford perpetrating his attack in Times Square on New Year’s Eve in 2022.
Near the scene of the attack, law enforcement officers recovered a book from Bickford’s backpack with the following passage highlighted: “Fight in the Name of Allah and in the Cause of Allah. Fight against those who do not believe in Allah. Wage a holy war.” In addition, Bickford had used an encrypted application and secure browser on his cellphone to conduct extensive research in advance of his attack, including research about al Qaeda (including internet searches for “Al Qaeda recruitment”); about waging jihad; about his eventual time (New Year’s Eve) and place (Times Square) of attack (including “how often do the police patrol in NYC” and “New Years Eve 2023 itinerary in New York City Times Square”); about potential weapons he could use to carry out his attack (including “[g]un buying laws for New York City” and “Do you need to pass a background check for a used gun”); and various ways to incapacitate, injure, and kill his potential targets (including “[w]hat are the terms for taking slaves in Islam” and whether Islam “permit[s] rape of female prisoners of war”). Finally, less than an hour before his attack, Bickford watched an Al Qaeda propaganda video imploring viewers to “fight” as he finalized his targets.
The FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J.C. Hellman, Sarah L. Kushner, and Kaylan E. Lasky for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney D. Andrew Sigler of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Man Who Carried Out Machete Attack on NYPD Officers in Times Square on New Year’s Eve 2022 Sentenced to 27 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Merrick B. Garland, the Attorney General of the United States; Christopher A. Wray, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, announced that TREVOR BICKFORD was sentenced today to 27 years in prison for attempting to kill officers and employees of the U.S. Government and persons assisting them during his brazen attack using a machete-style knife against three New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) officers in Times Square on December 31, 2022. BICKFORD pled guilty on January 11, 2024, before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Inspired by radical Islamic extremism, Trevor Bickford brutally attacked three NYPD officers who were just doing their jobs by protecting the public during the Times Square New Year’s Eve festivities. Thankfully, one officer’s quick-thinking actions stopped the defendant’s attack while minimizing risk to the innocent bystanders who easily might have become additional victims of the defendant’s heinous violence. Less than a year and a half after his attack, Bickford has been convicted and now sentenced to 27 years in prison. Bickford’s conviction and sentence demonstrate that cowardly acts of terrorism will be met with law enforcement’s unwavering resolve to protect New York City, our country, and our core values of freedom and democracy.”
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “Today’s sentence holds Trevor Bickford accountable for his premeditated 2022 terrorist attack in Times Square during which he attempted to kill three NYPD officers in a violent rampage. The Justice Department is deeply grateful to the NYPD for its quick actions and bravery in disrupting this New Year’s Eve attack, and for the work it does every day to keep New Yorkers safe. The Justice Department will always stand by its state and local law enforcement partners as we work together to counter the threat of terrorism, and that includes being relentless in prosecuting those who seek to harm officers.”
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said: “The defendant’s brutal ambush of three New York City police officers keeping watch over New Year’s Eve celebrations was a premeditated act of terrorism. Police officers work tirelessly to protect the communities they serve and assaults on them are reprehensible. He planned, prepared, and traveled to conduct a savage attack in support of his violent ideology, and now he is being held accountable for his actions.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Today, Trevor Bickford was handed a deserved punishment for intentionally committing an act of terrorism against New York City and police officers sworn to protect it. Thankfully, these brave police officers fulfilled their duty and stopped Bickford's brutal attack before he could cause more harm. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York remains determined to bring to justice anyone attempting to commit violence in the name of terrorism to ensure the safety of New York.”
According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings:
In December 2022, BICKFORD, a U.S. citizen and resident of Maine, traveled from Maine to New York City to, in his own words, wage jihad and kill as many of his targets as possible. He targeted one of the most densely populated areas in the U.S. at one of the most densely populated times possible: Times Square on New Year’s Eve. It was there that BICKFORD ambushed three NYPD officers, declared “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is great” that other radical Islamic extremists have similarly proclaimed while carrying out terrorist attacks, and swung his blade at their heads, seriously injuring all three officers. BICKFORD also tried to grab one of the NYPD officers’ guns during his attack. One of the victims that BICKFORD struck managed to shoot BICKFORD in the shoulder, halting his brutal rampage before he could attack and possibly kill others. BICKFORD later proudly declared that he carried out his attack to wage jihad and proclaimed that his goal was to kill as many military-aged men who worked for the U.S. Government as he could, before himself becoming a martyr in the attack. The machete-style knife, which has a blade more than a foot long, that BICKFORD used to carry out his attack is shown below:
BICKFORD’s violent rampage on December 31, 2022, was premeditated. He consumed materials espousing radical Islamic ideology — including materials promoting the Taliban and reflecting the teachings of Sheikh Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi, a prominent radical Islamic cleric who was a spiritual mentor of al Qaeda — and contemplated ways to wage jihad. As he immersed himself deeper into this propaganda, BICKFORD devoted himself to violent Islamic extremism and pursuit of the jihad that he would eventually unleash in the heart of New York City. In the months leading up to his attack, BICKFORD focused on traveling overseas to support the Taliban in Afghanistan or elsewhere. He planned to ally himself with the Taliban to fight against governments that, in his view, oppress Muslims and to wage jihad against officials of governments that he believes are anti-Muslim, including the U.S. Government. Ultimately, BICKFORD decided that he would not travel overseas and instead turned his attention to an attack here in the United States. This decision resulted in BICKFORD perpetrating his attack in Times Square on New Year’s Eve in 2022.
Near the scene of the attack, law enforcement officers recovered a book from BICKFORD’s backpack with the following passage highlighted: “Fight in the Name of Allah and in the Cause of Allah. Fight against those who do not believe in Allah. Wage a holy war.” In addition, BICKFORD had used an encrypted application and secure browser on his cellphone to conduct extensive research in advance of his attack, including research about al Qaeda (including internet searches for “Al Qaeda recruitment”); about waging jihad; about his eventual time (New Year’s Eve) and place (Times Square) of attack (including “how often do the police patrol in NYC” and “New Years Eve 2023 itinerary in New York City Times Square”); about potential weapons he could use to carry out his attack (including “[g]un buying laws for New York City” and “Do you need to pass a background check for a used gun”); and various ways to incapacitate, injure, and kill his potential targets (including “[w]hat are the terms for taking slaves in Islam” and whether Islam “permit[s] rape of female prisoners of war”). Finally, less than an hour before his attack, BICKFORD watched an Al Qaeda propaganda video imploring viewers to “fight” as he finalized his targets.
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In addition to the prison term, BICKFORD, 20, of Wells, Maine, was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies, and thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J.C. Hellman, Sarah L. Kushner, and Kaylan E. Lasky are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney D. Andrew Sigler of the Counterterrorism Section.
Longtime treasurer pleads guilty to stealing nearly $1 million in campaign fundsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man who served as a campaign treasurer for more than 100 candidates since the 1980s pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud related to stealing nearly $1 million in campaign funds.
William Curlis, 76, was charged by a bill of information in April 2024. He pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud.
According to the court documents, from 2008 until June 2023, Curlis defrauded candidates of approximately $995,231 of campaign funds.
As part of his plea, Curlis admitted that he wrote checks from the bank accounts of certain candidates and one PAC to himself for personal use. The defendant transferred funds between campaign accounts without candidates’ knowledge to conceal the deficit he created.
For example, from 2000 to 2023, Curlis was the primary signatory on at least 111 bank accounts, and of those, he was the only signatory on 108 accounts.
Curlis wrote at least 179 checks to himself from campaign accounts belonging to 18 different candidates and one PAC.
Curlis sold his home in 2016 to cover the cost of campaign expenses, including campaign media costs and account balances, to prevent the discovery of his theft.
Wire fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. As part of his plea, Curlis will pay $995,231 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker, FBI Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the guilty plea offered on May 8 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, which includes agents and officers from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Columbus Division of Police and Ohio Auditor’s Office. The Ohio Secretary of State’s office was also an integral part of the investigation.
Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight is representing the United States in this case.
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Lincoln Man Convicted for Possession of Ammunition by A FelonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Leonard G. Pfarr, 33, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 9, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for possession of ammunition by a felon. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Pfarr to 16 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Pfarr’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
Pfarr was arrested by officers with the Lincoln Police Department on active state arrest warrants. A pat search was conducted incident to arrest, and an object identified as a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson round was found in Pfarr’s pocket. Pfarr has been convicted on three different occasions of crimes punishable by more than one year of imprisonment. Markings on the recovered ammunition indicate it was manufactured outside of the United States and transported in interstate commerce to Nebraska.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Leader of Brooklyn-Based Elite Assassin Millas Gang Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Quandel Smothers, also known as “Chucky,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 23 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in connection with his leadership of the East New York-based Elite Assassin Millas (E.A.M.), a set of the Bloods street gang. Smothers was convicted of the charges by a federal jury in February 2023 following a two-week trial. Smothers conspired with other gang members and associates to deal drugs, commit fraud and to murder or attempt to murder their rivals from 2006 to 2019, resulting in multiple shootings that left one individual dead and several other victims permanently disabled.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.
“Smothers, who fancied himself the gang’s “Godfather” and East New York his ‘Gun Town,’ deserves the decades behind bars imposed today for leading a criminal enterprise that endangered the community with their mindless killing, shootings and assaults of rivals,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office and our law enforcement partners have dismantled the Elite Assassin Millas and will continue the important work of ridding our district of violent groups that have no respect for the law or human life.”
Mr. Peace thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and the New York City Police Department for outstanding work in the case.
As proven at trial, E.A.M. operated primarily in East New York, which the gang referred to as “Gun Town.” The gang made money through fraud and drug dealing, particularly sales of crack cocaine and marijuana. Smothers rose to the leadership position of E.A.M. through violence and fear. E.A.M. members reporting to Smothers referred to themselves as “Homicide Town.” Smothers agreed with other gang members and associates to deal drugs, commit fraud, and to murder or attempt to murder their rivals from 2006 to 2019, resulting in numerous shootings.
On April 30, 2011, Smothers, the so-called “Godfather” or “GF” of E.A.M., shot a fellow E.A.M. member in the torso and leg over a drug and loyalty-related dispute, causing the victim’s leg to be amputated. Over the years that Smothers led the gang, his underlings engaged in feuds with other local street gangs in East New York that frequently resulted in shootouts between the groups. As a result of shootings, two individuals were paralyzed by members of E.A.M., and one victim — Michael Tenorio — was murdered.
All six other members and associates of E.A.M. that were charged with the defendant have pleaded guilty to crimes including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, assault, and interstate stalking causing life threatening injury. Tyshawn Corbett was sentenced to 45 years’ imprisonment; Marlon Bristol was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment; Devon Bristol was sentenced to 80 months’ imprisonment; Desmonn Beckett was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment; and Andrew Campbell was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. Qawon Allen is awaiting sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Galeotti, Genny Ngai and Jonathan Siegel are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Brittany Wissel.
The Defendant:
QUANDEL SMOTHERS (also known as “Chucky”)
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkDefendants Who Pleaded Guilty
TYSHAWN CORBETT (also known as “Reck”)
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkQAWON ALLEN (also known as “40” and “Phorty Wap”)
Age: 28
Brooklyn, New YorkDESMONN BECKETT (also known as “Des”)
Age: 30
Brooklyn, New YorkDEVON BRISTOL (also known as “D”)
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkMARLON BRISTOL (also known as “Marlo”)
Age: 35
Brooklyn, New YorkANDREW CAMPBELL (also known as “Phaze”)
Age: 27
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-213 (KAM)
Lame Deer man sentenced to three years in prison for sexually abusing a minor; assaulting partnerRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lame Deer man who admitted sexually abusing a minor and assaulting his partner on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in two separate cases was sentenced on Wednesday to a total of three years and one day in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
David Benjamin Wick, Sr., 44, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to sexual abuse of a minor and in January, he pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial injury to a spouse, dating or intimate partner.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court sentenced Wick to two years in prison on the charge of sexual abuse of a minor and to one year and a day on the assault charge, to run consecutive to the sexual abuse sentence.
In court documents, the government alleged that in 2019, Wick, then 39, had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Wick and the girl had connected through Facebook, and Wick invited her to his trailer to drink alcohol. Wick was charged federally sexual abuse of a minor and released on conditions. In January 2023, Wick assaulted his partner after becoming upset and accusing her of cheating on him. Wick kicked his partner and repeatedly struck her in the face and head while calling her names. The victim was treated for significant trauma.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation.
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Kerrville Man Who Made Terrorist Threats Sentenced on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Kerrville man was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on May 27, 2021, Coleman Thomas Blevins, 31, sent a social media post stating, “I’m going to Walmart,” which was followed by a picture of Blevins holding a black assault-style rifle. Blevins then sent another message stating, “I have no problem spending the rest of my life in prison for Shootings (sic) up Walmart.” The next day officers executed a search warrant at Blevins’ apartment and found 556 rounds of ammunition. In addition, a black AR-15 .223 rifle with four magazines was found in a vehicle belonging to Blevins’ roommate. The rifle matched the rifle Blevins was holding in the picture he posted.
Subsequent investigation into Blevins’ social media activity revealed three other occasions where Blevins had recently posted pictures of himself holding firearms or ammunition. On November 28, 2023, Blevins pled guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Blevins was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he was previously convicted of a felony drug offense.
“Threats to carry out mass shootings are reprehensible,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza. “Thanks to the quick work of our law enforcement partners, this threat remained just that and did not turn into a tragic event. This case demonstrates our commitment to peel back the veneer of online anonymity and aggressively pursue and prosecute those who threaten harm to our community.”
“Blevins threatened to commit violent acts and had access to weapons that would have allowed him to carry out those threats,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI's San Antonio Field Office. “We want to thank Kerr County Sheriff's Office for their continued assistance in ensuring the safety of our citizens.”
The FBI, with assistance from the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs and Kelly Stephenson prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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KC Father, Son Indicted for Illegal Firearms Trafficking, Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., father and son have been indicted by a federal grand jury for selling firearms without a license, illegally possessing firearms, and drug trafficking.
Nathan Caldwell, Sr., also known as “Prince Bossalinie,” 52, and Nathan Caldwell, Jr., 32, were charged in a 29-count indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, May 7. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon their arrest and initial court appearances.
The federal indictment alleges the Caldwells have aided and abetted each other to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, although they are not licensed dealers, since Dec. 20, 2023.
Nathan Caldwell, Sr., is also charged with 10 counts of being a felon in possession of firearms, eight counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of distributing cocaine, one count of distributing marijuana, and two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Nathan Caldwell, Jr., is also charged with three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of distributing marijuana.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
Nathan Caldwell, Sr., has two prior felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and prior felony convictions for aiding a felon, attempted aggravated assault, attempted possession of cocaine, conspiracy to commit robbery, and possessing cocaine.
Nathan Caldwell, Jr., has a prior felony conviction for assault.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Cobb County, Georgia, to Resolve Allegations of Race Discrimination in Firefighter Hiring ProcessRead the Press Release
The Justice Department has secured an agreement with Cobb County, Georgia, resolving the United States’ claim that the County violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) by using credit checks and a written exam that discriminated against African American firefighter candidates based on race. Cobb County has stopped using the challenged hiring practices and will pay $750,000 in back pay to applicants disqualified by those practices. The County will also hire up to 16 of those applicants with retroactive seniority.
“This settlement should send a strong message to employers that reliance on a job applicant’s credit history may be discriminatory and unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Consumer credit checks create a Catch-22 for people seeking access to job opportunities. Cobb County’s hiring practices created artificial barriers that prevented qualified Black job candidates from being considered for firefighter positions. Discriminatory barriers, like credit checks, not only cost candidates a fair chance at a job, they also prevent the public from being served by firefighters drawn from the most robust hiring pool possible.”
“Every person, regardless of race, deserves an equal opportunity to compete for jobs. Employers should identify and eliminate policies and procedures that create a discriminatory impact on applicants based on race,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “Our office will continue to devote resources to eliminate prejudicial policies that illegally deprive qualified candidates of a fair chance to compete for employment opportunities.”
The department’s lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Georgia, alleges that Cobb County discriminated in its firefighter hiring process in two ways. First, by screening out candidates based on their credit histories. Many employers use credit checks when screening applicants based on a mistaken assumption that credit history is a measure of character or job fitness. As the department alleges, Cobb County could not establish a connection between credit history and job performance or character and thus did not have a lawful reason for using credit history as part of its hiring process. Second, Cobb County ranked candidates based on their performance on a written examination designed to determine placement level in college classes. The department alleges that these practices disproportionately removed African Americans from consideration for firefighter positions without providing any evidence that candidates who advanced based on these practices were more qualified to serve as firefighters.
Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion. Title VII prohibits not only intentional discrimination but also prohibits employment practices that result in a disparate impact upon a protected group, unless such practices are job related and consistent with business necessity.
The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. More information about the Civil Rights Division can be found at www.justice.gov/crt and more information about the division’s Employment Litigation Section can be found at www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
Attorneys Brian McEntire and Juliet Gray of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Deputy Chief Aileen Bell Hughes for the Northern District of Georgia’s Public Integrity & Civil Rights Section are handling the matter.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Climate Nonprofit to Resolve Claims of Employment DiscriminationRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it secured a settlement agreement with Second Nature, a non-profit organization based in Massachusetts. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that Second Nature violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by posting discriminatory job advertisements that deterred non-U.S. citizens from applying for open positions.
“When employers advertise jobs only to U.S. citizens, they discourage and block other eligible workers like lawful permanent residents from applying, and deny them a fair chance to be considered,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will not tolerate national origin or citizenship status discrimination and is committed to knocking down these unlawful discriminatory barriers.”
After opening an investigation based on a worker’s complaint, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) concluded that Second Nature posted a job advertisement inviting applications only from U.S. citizens. In doing so, the company deterred non-U.S. citizens with permission to work (such as people granted asylum or refugee status, and lawful permanent residents) from applying to the job advertisements and being fairly considered for the employment opportunities. The investigation further determined that the lawful permanent resident who filed the complaint was deterred from applying for the job because of the discriminatory language in the posting. The INA’s anti-discrimination provision generally prohibits employers from discriminating in recruiting or refusing to hire workers based on their citizenship status or national origin.
Under the settlement, Second Nature will pay a civil penalty to the United States and pay the affected worker lost wages. The agreement also requires the company to train those employees who recruit on the INA’s requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements.
IER is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices and retaliation and intimidation.
Find more information on how employers can avoid discrimination in recruitment and hiring on IER’s website. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Find more information on how employers can avoid citizenship status discrimination on IER’s website. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against the State of Iowa Regarding Unconstitutional State Immigration LawRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today filed suit against the State of Iowa to challenge Senate File 2340 (SF 2340) under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and Foreign Commerce Clause. The Constitution assigns the federal government to regulate immigration and manage our international borders. Pursuant to this authority, Congress has established a comprehensive immigration framework governing the entry of noncitizens into the U.S. and the removal of noncitizens from the country. Because SF 2340 is preempted by federal law and violates the United States Constitution, the Justice Department seeks a declaration that SF 2340 is invalid and an order preliminarily or permanently enjoining the state from enforcing the law.
“Iowa cannot disregard the U.S. Constitution and settled Supreme Court precedent,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “We have brought this action to ensure that Iowa adheres to the framework adopted by Congress and the Constitution for regulation of immigration.”
As outlined in the complaint, Iowa’s law would create a new state crime for unlawful reentry, with charges ranging from an aggravated misdemeanor to a felony. Additionally, SF 2340 would require state judges to order removal from the United States. The Supreme Court, in Arizona v. United States, has previously confirmed that decisions relating to removal of noncitizens from the United States touch “on foreign relations and must be made with one voice.” SF 2340 impedes the federal government’s ability to enforce entry and removal provisions of federal law and interferes with its conduct of foreign relations.
The suit was filed on behalf of the United States, including Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State.
ComplaintJury Finds District Man Guilty of First-Degree Sexual Abuse of a 13-Year-OldRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Damion Brown, 33, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury on ten felony charges, including first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree child sexual abuse, for sexually abusing the 13-year-old daughter of his long-time girlfriend in February of 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The verdict was returned on May 7, 2024, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Anthony Epstein scheduled sentencing for July 12, 2024. Brown faces a maximum sentence 36 years in prison for the crimes.
According to the government’s evidence, on February 24, 2023, the 13-year-old victim was home alone with the defendant, who was the victim’s mother’s live-in boyfriend. While the victim was changing clothes, the defendant came into her room and began hugging and kissing her and pushed her onto her bed. The defendant performed a number of sexual acts on the child, then left the room laughing. The victim immediately left the apartment and reported to her aunt, who called the police. The defendant was still in the apartment when police arrived.
Subsequent DNA testing determined that the defendant could not be excluded from the positive results of DNA found on the victim after the abuse.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by the Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Sarah Folse and Robert Platt.
Ithaca Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. – A resident of Ithaca, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court on May 8, 2024, to charges of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Noah Oliver Fisch-Lewis, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, beginning on September 23, 2022, and continuing until October 8, 2022, Fisch-Lewis communicated with an undercover agent posing as the mother of a 10-year-old girl. During this period, Fisch-Lewis repeatedly expressed, in very graphic terms, his desire to engage in sexual activity with the minor. On October 8, 2022, Fisch-Lewis drove from upstate New York, to Erie, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with the purported 10-year-old, and was taken into custody upon his arrival at the agreed meeting place.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for October 1, 2024. The law provides for a maximum sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania State Police, Erie Police Department, Millcreek Police Department, and Erie County Detectives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Fisch-Lewis.
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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Ingham County Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
DETROIT – An Ingham County man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children and transporting child pornography, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvorea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
John Michael Garron, 40, of Stockbridge, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Judge David M. Lawson. Garron’s conviction stems from his years-long sexual exploitation of a minor girl under his care, who was under 12 years old at the time. Garron took sexually explicit images and videos of the girl and recorded himself masturbating over her while she slept.
Garron’s crimes became known in 2023, when he bragged about his abuse of the minor child and distributed images of child pornography to other users online. Unknown to Garron, one of the online users he was communicating with was an undercover FBI agent. The FBI began investigating Garron, tracing him to his residence near Lansing. After a obtaining a search warrant, agents entered Garron’s residence and collected his devices. On the devices, agents located the images Garron had produced of himself assaulting the minor victim in his care, as well as over 28,000 images of child pornography that Garron had downloaded and shared with other users online.
“Garron sexually assaulted and exploited a vulnerable prepubescent girl under his care. Our office remains committed to using whatever resources necessary to bring those who prey on our children to justice,” U.S. Attorney Ison stated.
"This sentencing reflects our unwavering commitment to protect the most vulnerable in our community. The years of exploitation endured by this young girl are utterly reprehensible," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Today's verdict sends a clear message that our community will not tolerate such heinous acts, and we will relentlessly pursue justice for the victims."
This case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Rawsthorne and Diane Princ.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Eric Ross, age 36, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for attempting to entice and coerce a 12-year-old child into sexual activity and for distributing and possessing child pornography.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Ross admitted that between October 22, 2021, and November 6, 2021, he sent sexually explicit text messages to someone he believed was an adult offering the sexual services of a 12-year-old girl, and to someone he believed was the 12-year-old girl, in an attempt to entice the child into engaging in sexual acts with him. During the same period, Ross also admitted that he distributed child pornography via an internet-based messaging application. Ross admitted that on November 6, 2021, he traveled to a hotel in Colonie, New York, with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the 12-year-old girl. Ross was arrested by law enforcement shortly after arriving at the location and was found in possession of child pornography at the time of his arrest.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 25-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release, ordered Ross to pay $3,000 in restitution to a victim whose images he possessed, and ordered him to forfeit the device that contained the child pornography. Ross will be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents, and state and local police investigators, including from the New York State Police and the Colonie Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph S. Hartunian prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Habitual Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 264 Months in Federal Prison for Subsequent Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Ennis Alexander Andrews, 44, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 264 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute alpha-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone, commonly known as “alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone,” “alpha-PVP,” or “Molly.” United States Attorney Jason R. Coody, for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.
“Our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe by removing addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We remain committed to support their efforts through the investigation and prosecution of criminals bringing drugs into North Florida. The imposed sentences illustrate the significant consequences of harming our citizens through their illicit drug trafficking activities.”
During August through October 2022, investigators conducted a series of controlled drug purchases of “Molly” from Andrews, after which warrants for his arrest were obtained. When officers went to arrest Andrews on October 13, 2022, he attempted to flee. After being detained, several ounces of “Molly” were found on his person.
“These dedicated efforts by investigators and the prosecution team highlight our shared commitment to addressing illegal drug activity in our community,” said Chief of Police Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police Department. “We know violent crime is often linked to drug activity, and it significantly reduces the quality of life for citizens. We will do everything we can to protect and serve those who call Tallahassee home.”
At the time of the investigation, Andrews was serving a term of federal supervised release imposed after his release from prison in July 2022. Andrews prison sentence will be followed by 6 additional years of supervised release.
“Collaborations between our DEA agents and local law enforcement are critical to mission success,” said Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, DEA Miami Field Division. “We truly value our partnerships in our efforts toward eradicating these dangerous drugs from our streets and neighborhoods.”
This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Grant County Man Admits to Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Wesley Shane Haggerty, 35, of Cabins, West Virginia, has admitted to the unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Pendleton County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home on a report of a man waiving a gun. When officers arrived, Haggerty fled on foot with a pistol and was arrested after a short chase. Haggerty is prohibited from having firearms because of seven prior felony convictions and two misdemeanor domestic battery convictions.
Haggerty is facing up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Pendleton County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Fredonia man pleads guilty to selling drugs that led to overdose deathRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that John Wallace Buchanan, 37, of Fredonia, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that during the conspiracy, Buchanan sold heroin, which he admits often contained fentanyl, and methamphetamine. He utilized social media to conduct his drug trafficking activities, and engage in unlawful firearms activities. Buchanan also utilized his residence to conduct his drug trafficking activities. One of Buchanan’s drug customers was an individual identified as B.G. In the early morning hours of January 10, 2022, the Ellicott Police Department responded to B.G.’s residence in Celoron, NY, for a death investigation. B.G. was found lying on the living room floor, clenching an elastic head band in his hands with a needle in close proximity. Law enforcement seized B.G.’s cell phone and recovered a social media conversation on January 7, 2022, between Buchanan and B.G., during which they discussed controlled substances. Buchanan sold methamphetamine and an opioid to B.G. later that day. The following day, B.G. sent Buchanan a message stating, “That stuff is strong.”
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The plea 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 A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, and the Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Ohnmeiss Jr.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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Four Bergen County People Charged for Roles in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Four Bergen County, New Jersey, residents were arrested for their alleged roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin in Newark, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Ernesto Adon Martinez, 38, Luis Arismedy Gomez Torres, 28, and Deury Luis Gomez Torres, 25, all of Fort Lee, New Jersey, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Jenny Desiree Rosario-Lorenzo, 28, also of Fort Lee, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and aiding and abetting the same.
Three defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court on May 8, 2024, and were detained. Deury Gomez Torres remains at large.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The defendants are members and associates of a drug trafficking organization that dealt fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in and around Fort Lee and New York. The organization is affiliated with the Trinitarios street gang. The investigation revealed that the drug trafficking organization distributed in excess of 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
The fentanyl and methamphetamine conspiracy count carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. The heroin conspiracy and drug possession counts each carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark; U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, under the direction of Port Director TenaVel Thomas; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), under the direction of Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti; the Fort Lee Police department, under the direction of Chief Matthew J. Hintze; the New York City Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban; and the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Minichini, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Goldberg of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
rosariolorenzo.complaint.pdf martinezetal.complaint.pdfFormer Serviceman Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse While Stationed at Fort SillRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, JESSIE SOLOMON DUNNAWAY, 23, of Georgia, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On March 9, 2023, a federal grand jury charged Dunnaway with sexual abuse. According to public record, on November 3, 2019, while stationed at Fort Sill Military Installation, Dunnaway sexually abused another person stationed at the military base.
Today, Dunnaway pleaded guilty, and admitted to sexually abusing the victim without their consent.
At sentencing, Dunnaway faces up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and term of supervised release of up to life.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon is prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Former Osceola Bank VP Pleads Guilty to $1.5 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former bank vice president pleaded guilty in federal court today to embezzling more than $1.5 million from St. Clair County State Bank in Osceola, Mo.
Stacia Wilson, 60, of Osceola, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a federal information that charges her with one count of bank fraud.
By pleading guilty today, Wilson admitted that she created $1,528,321 in false and fictitious loans, using bank customers’ information without their knowledge.
Wilson had authority as a loan processor to access and create loans within the bank’s computer system. She created numerous false and fictitious loans, then diverted the loan proceeds to her own personal use. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Wilson must forfeit to the government a money judgment of $1,528,321, which represents the proceeds she obtained as a result of her fraud scheme.
Under federal statutes, Wilson is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Ketchmark. It was investigated by the FBI and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Former MDOC Officer Sentenced to 16 years for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Jackson County man who had previously worked as a Michigan Department of Corrections Officer was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children and distributing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Shawn Gibson, acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Detroit.
Aaron Ray Fetters, 29, of Jackson, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terrence G. Berg. Fetters’ conviction stems from his years-long sexual exploitation of a minor girl known to him, who was in her mid-teens at the time. Fetters recorded himself sexually assaulting the girl repeatedly over the course of several years.
Fetters’ crimes came to light in 2022, when Homeland Security Investigations and Michigan State Police received a tip that Fetters had distributed images of child pornography to other users using a social media application. Law enforcement began investigating Fetters and retrieved his electronic devices, which led to the discovery of his recorded sexual abuse of the minor victim. On the same devices, investigators located hundreds of images of child pornography that Fetters had downloaded from the internet and shared with others, including children as young as infants being sexually assaulted.
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners, including the MSP and HSI agents working on this case, a prolific sexual predator became known, his abuse was stopped, and he has been punished for his heinous acts .” U.S. Attorney Ison stated.
“HSI is dedicated to protecting our most vulnerable population against sexual predators who seek to take advantage of their innocence especially offenders in positions of public trust,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively protect children by diligently investigating online sexual offenses involving minors. My thoughts are with the victim in this case, and it is my hope that they can continue the healing process knowing justice has been served.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Michigan State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Rawsthorne and Diane Princ.
Former Federal Correctional Officer Indicted for Sexual Acts with an InmateRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today charging a former correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Tallahassee with sexual acts with an inmate in federal custody.
The indictment alleges that, between June 2023, and August 2023, Kerontrez Lamar Kenon, 22, of Midway, Florida, engaged in sexual acts with an inmate while employed as a correctional officer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP).
“As alleged in the indictment, defendant Kenon exploited his authority as a correctional officer to sexually abuse an adult in custody,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “As this charge reflects, the Justice Department will hold accountable officials who abuse their authority over those they are sworn to protect. ”
“The sexual abuse of inmates by federal correctional officers is intolerable,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida. “This office will vigorously investigate and prosecute any officer who engages in such acts of abuse to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Today's indictment demonstrates the Justice Department Office of the Inspector General's ongoing commitment to aggressively investigate allegations of sexual abuse of inmates by Correctional Officers,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz of the Justice Department.
If convicted, Kenon faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General and FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Steer and James McCain for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
FBOP is committed to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and working with law enforcement partners to prosecute violations of federal law. The numerous FBOP employees working diligently to ensure justice for the victims of misconduct are critical to the Department's reform efforts.
Former Connecticut Resident Charged with Offenses Stemming from Alleged $4 Million Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 21-count indictment charging JOHN A. MASANOTTI, JR., 69, of Bonita Springs, Florida, with offenses stemming from an alleged investment fraud scheme.
The indictment was returned on May 7, 2024, and Masanotti was arrested today. He appeared in federal court in Fort Myers, Florida, and was released on a $100,000 bond. Masanotti is scheduled to be arraigned in Hartford federal court on May 15.
The indictment alleges that Masanotti, who formerly resided in Darien, Connecticut, was the owner and managing member of Middlesex Mortgage Group, LLC, also known as Middlesex Group, LLC (“Middlesex”), based in Darien. Through Middlesex, Masanotti, acting as an investment advisor, purported to manage a pooled investment vehicle on behalf of investors. Masanotti claimed to clients and potential clients that invested funds were going to be, and were in fact, pooled together and invested in foreign currency and other investments. Between approximately 2016 and 2023, Masanotti defrauded at least 10 clients of a total of more than $4 million by using their money for personal expenses, and to pay returns to other clients. Masanotti provided clients with fraudulent monthly account statements from Middlesex that showed fake investment profits.
The indictment also alleges that Masanotti made false statements to the FBI during the investigation, and filed false records in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.
The indictment charges Masanotti with eight counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; 11 counts of making illegal monetary transactions, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count; one count of making false statements, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years; and one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; with the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry.
Former Columbus vice detective sentenced to 11 years in prison for depriving victims’ civil rights, obstructing justiceRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Columbus vice detective was sentenced in federal court today to 132 months in prison for crimes related to kidnapping victims under the guise of an arrest.
Andrew K. Mitchell, 60, of Sunbury, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to two counts of depriving individuals of their civil rights while acting under color of law and one count of obstructing justice.
Mitchell was employed by the Columbus Division of Police from 1988 until 2019 and was assigned to the vice unit from 2017 until 2019. As part of his duties in that role, Mitchell conducted law enforcement actions for solicitation offenses.
“As a member of the vice unit and a long-serving police officer, Mitchell was well aware of the special vulnerabilities of the sex workers and often drug addicted females with which he came into contact,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Instead of helping them seek refuge, Mitchell was the type of predator who purposely targeted these women. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to upholding the community’s work to connect victimized women to services and to prosecuting those who prey on vulnerable victims, no matter who they are.”
According to court documents, in July 2017, Mitchell picked up a sex worker who was working in the Hilltop near Sullivant and Whitethorne avenues. Mitchell was in plain clothes and an unmarked black sedan. He told the victim he was a police officer and acted as if he were doing a check for any outstanding warrants on the victim.
Mitchell used this ruse to handcuff the victim to the doorknob of his vehicle. He drove the victim to a nearby parking lot with multiple dumpsters and forcible held and detained the victim against her will before dropping her off at her boyfriend’s residence.
Similarly, in September 2017, Mitchell picked up a second sex worker in the Hilltop. Mitchell was again in plain clothes and was driving a dark SUV. He began discussing the victim’s rates for sexual activity before announcing that he was an officer with the vice unit and said she was going to jail.
Mitchell kidnapped the victim and drove her to Lindbergh Park, holding her against her will.
Mitchell was also sentenced today for obstructing justice. Specifically, during the federal investigation into Mitchell’s civil rights crimes, he directed several individuals to assist him in cleaning out one of the rental properties he owned, located on Denune Ave. The individuals disposed of evidence including photos, clothing, bedding and rental records, and used bleach extensively in the apartment to clean a bed, couch, ottoman and floor.
Mitchell was charged federally and arrested in March 2019.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.
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Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced on Bribery ChargesRead the Press Release
EL PASO – An El Paso man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for bribery of public official.
According to court documents, in June 2023, Fernando Castillo, 42, who was a Border Patrol Agent with the United States Border Patrol (Customs and Border Protection), solicited a $5,000 bribe from a citizen of El Salvador and Mexico. Castillo told the foreign national that in exchange for a payment of $5,000 Castillo could provide immigration paperwork that would permit the individual to remain in the United States. Castillo made false entries in the individual’s immigration file and printed the fraudulent document. Shortly after he met with the individual, agents apprehended Castillo in possession of the false documentation.
On February 1, 2024, Castillo pled guilty to one count of bribery of a public official.
On May 9, 2024, Castillo was sentenced to 18 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
“A federal officer who sells his office for personal gain shatters public trust in government officials,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza. “Unfortunately, Castillo’s crime unfairly tarnishes the honest officers who serve the public with dedication day in and day out. We will eagerly hold officers like Castillo accountable.”
“Fernando Castillo engaged in conduct that betrayed the oath he took to faithfully serve the citizens of the United States of America,” said Special Agent in Charge John Morales of the FBI El Paso Field Office. “His behavior should not take away from the outstanding work done each day by the vast majority of law enforcement professionals at U.S. Border Patrol. The FBI encourages the public to continue to support our active and ongoing efforts to root out public corruption by reporting corrupt activity to the FBI El Paso Field Office at (915) 832-5000.”
“CBP takes all allegations of misconduct seriously,” said CBP OPR Acting Special Agent in Charge Rosa P. Mendez-Mier. “CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility is proud to be a part of the Border Corruption Task Force and appreciates the hard work of all of the investigative agencies that contributed to this outcome.”
The FBI, Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General, and United States Customs and Border Protection-Office of Professional Responsibility investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Johnston prosecuted the case.
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