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5 June 2024
Gang Leader and Two Gang Members Sentenced to Life in PrisonRead the Press Release
The leader and two members of a violent criminal gang in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) were sentenced yesterday to life in prison for their roles in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organization (RICO).
According to court documents and evidence produced at trial, Paul Girard, also known as Bogus, 36, of St. Croix, USVI, was the leader of the gang. In that role, Girard ordered shootings against rival gang members, as well as individuals he believed had stolen from or otherwise disrespected the gang. Girard planned several armed robberies that his crew executed, including those at several jewelry stores located in St. Thomas. Most of the criminal activity was orchestrated by Girard from prison, where he was serving sentences for multiple prior criminal convictions.
Tyler Eugene, also known as Lucc, 26, of St. Croix, committed acts of violence on behalf of the gang and at Girard’s direction, including murdering a rival gang member outside a convenience store. Kareem Harry, also known as Crumbull, 36, also of St. Croix, participated in the murder of a victim who was believed to have stolen money from the Girard gang and separately set up the shooting death of a rival gang member outside of the victim’s child’s daycare.
Six additional defendants, all of St. Croix except for Wayne Bellille, who is of St. Thomas, USVI, have already pleaded guilty to various racketeering charges and have been sentenced. Below is each defendant’s sentence for the following convictions:
Defendant
In-Custody Sentence
Conviction
Paul Girard
Life, plus 47 years
RICO conspiracy; VICAR murder; VICAR kidnapping; VICAR attempted murder; use of firearm to cause death during a crime of violence; Hobbs Act Robbery
Tyler Eugene
Life, plus 30 years
RICO conspiracy; VICAR murder; VICAR attempted murder; use of firearm to cause death during a crime of violence
Kareem Harry
Life, plus 20 years
RICO conspiracy, VICAR murder; VICAR kidnapping; use of firearm to cause death during a crime of violence
Shaquielle Correa
17 years, six months
RICO conspiracy
James Cruz
12 years
RICO conspiracy
Shermyra Gumbs
Eight years, four months
RICO conspiracy
Wahilli James
Six years
RICO conspiracy
Wayne Bellille
Four years, nine months
RICO conspiracy
Etherneal Simon
Two years, 10 months
RICO conspiracy and money laundering
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith for the District of the U.S. Virgin Islands; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI San Juan Field Office’s St. Thomas and St. Croix Resident Agencies and Virgin Islands Police Department investigated the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.
Trial Attorney Christopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Edwards, formerly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands, prosecuted the case.
Forty-Seven Defendants Charged in Imperial Valley Takedown of Drug Trafficking Network Linked to Sinaloa CartelRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 5, 2024
EL CENTRO – Fourteen indictments were unsealed in federal court today charging 47 alleged members of an Imperial Valley-based, Sinaloa Cartel-linked fentanyl-and-methamphetamine distribution network with drug trafficking, firearms and money laundering offenses.
In a coordinated takedown this morning, more than 400 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials arrested 36 defendants and executed 25 search warrants in Imperial County, San Diego, Fresno, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Salem, Oregon. As of this afternoon, the search continues for 11 fugitives.
Including seizures today and throughout the long-term investigation, authorities have confiscated more than four kilograms of fentanyl, which amounts to about two million potentially fatal doses; more than 324 kilograms (over 714 pounds) of methamphetamine; significant quantities of cocaine and heroin; and 52 firearms, including handguns and rifles.
The investigation also resulted in the arrest of Alexander Grindley for alleged methamphetamine trafficking while employed as a U.S. Border Patrol agent, and multiple spin-off investigations in this district and others.
Crimes charged in the indictments include drug trafficking, money laundering and gun-related offenses. Court documents indicated the defendants were operating throughout the Imperial Valley—in Brawley, El Centro, Westmoreland, Imperial, Calexico, Niland, Holtville, Calipatria—and in Mexicali, Mexico.
“With this takedown, the Justice Department has dealt yet another blow to the Sinaloa Cartel and its associates,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the more than 400 law enforcement officers whose work in this operation resulted in dozens of arrests, charges against 47 defendants, and the seizure of firearms, meth, cocaine, heroin, and two million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. We will continue to be relentless in our fight to protect American communities from the cartels.”
“This investigation tore apart a drug trafficking network responsible for supplying dealers in communities across the region,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “But there is still much work to be done. If you’re a parent, and today’s price of fentanyl terrifies you, talk to your kids about the dangers of drug use. If you’re an addict, and your dealer was arrested today, seek treatment. And if you’re a dealer but your supplier was arrested today, look out – we are coming for you next.”
“The Department of Homeland Security and our federal, state and local partners are unrelenting in our work to keep deadly fentanyl off our streets and bring those who traffic in it to justice,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The indictments unsealed today are the direct result of our multipronged and coordinated law enforcement approach – one that utilizes all of our government’s resources and capabilities. Together, we are preventing fentanyl and other deadly drugs from being produced, distributed, or consumed, and saving countless lives.”
“Today’s coordinated operation, involving, over 400 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, marks a decisive blow against an Imperial Valley-based, Sinaloa Cartel-linked distribution network and significantly disrupts the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Katrina W. Berger, Executive Associate Director for Homeland Security Investigations. “This operation is a testament to the power of law enforcement collaboration and our unwavering commitment to bringing these criminals to justice.”
“Today, the El Centro Border Patrol Sector teamed with allied law enforcement agencies to support both Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Attorney’s Office of San Diego in this operation,” said El Centro Sector Chief Gregory Bovino. “Our successful collaboration should be a reminder to criminal organizations in the Imperial Valley and elsewhere that justice will be served.”
“This operation shows what can be accomplished when there is collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies,” said Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez. “The Imperial County District Attorney’s office will continue to work together with our partners to bring to justice those that harm or are a danger to our community.”
According to the indictments and search warrants, the defendants belonged to various trafficking organizations that were part of an extensive network supplying all of Imperial County and beyond with dangerous drugs.
According to court records, on June 30, 2021, agents seized two pounds of methamphetamine and a cache of ghost guns and ammunition, including: 15 lower receivers, three upper receivers, multiple barrels and stocks, 18 magazines, 40 Luger 9mm rounds and approximately 400 rounds of .223 Red Army ammunition, which are made in Russia. None of the firearms or firearm parts had any identifying serial numbers or markings. They were all ghost guns. Wiretap intercepts showed that defendant Cory Gershen supplied other members of the organization with ghost guns in exchange for methamphetamine. The investigation also revealed the assault rifles (depicted below) were destined for the organization’s source of supply in Mexico.
Multiple AR-style firearms, parts, pistols, magazines, unfinished firearm parts used to create ghost guns, and a cache of Russian made ammunition.
On June 30, 2021, agents seized additional ghost guns, ammunition and methamphetamine from another member of the same drug trafficking organization. Specifically, agents seized two AR-style ghost guns and a Colt .380 semiautomatic handgun and additional Russian rifle ammunition from defendant Guadalupe Molina-Flores, one of the alleged members of the trafficking organization. According to a search warrant, after seizing the firearms, agents searched Molina-Flores’ residence and found 309.4 grams (0.68 pounds) of methamphetamine.
Two more AR-style rifles, a pistol, magazines, and Russian made ammunition. Notably, these were exchanged for drugs.
Fentanyl continues to be a prolific killer. Imperial County experienced 24 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2022, the most recent full year of data available from the California Department of Public Health. The annual mortality rate for 2022 was 13.57 deaths per 100,000 residents—an increase of 41 percent over 2021.
The investigation revealed that the price per fentanyl pill has plummeted. For example, in June 2021, targets of the investigation were obtaining fentanyl pills in Imperial Valley at approximately $1.65 to $1.75 per pill. By December 2021, the prices being discussed had dropped to approximately $1.25 per pill. By May 2024, the same pills were being sold at only 45 cents per pill—less than one-third of the price three years earlier. The precipitous drop in price reflects the increased supply and availability of fentanyl being smuggled into the United States and the close ties between targets of this investigation and their Sinaloa Cartel supplier of fentanyl pills.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
*An indictment, complaint or information in a search warrant is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr0455-CAB
Maria Isabel Ferrat 34 Brawley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison and a $1 million fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24cr0456-CAB
*Guadalupe Molina-Flores, AKA “Lupe” 43 Westmoreland, CA
Stephanie Joann Hernandez, AKA “JoJo” 42 El Centro, CA
*Emmanuel Becerra, AKA “E-Man” 36 Westmorland, CA
Jeremy Clayton Harris, Sr. 44 El Centro, CA
Jack Daniel Myers 41 Westmorland, CA
Cory Gershen 36 Jacumba, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl and Heroin (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))
Felon in Possession of Ammunition (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1))
Using, Carrying or Possession of Firearm in Commission of a Drug Trafficking Crime
(18 U.S.C. 924(c)(1)(A)(i))Maximum Penalties: For conspiracy charge and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine. For felon in possession of ammunition charge: Ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For using, carrying or possession of firearm in commission of a drug trafficking crime: Five years in prison mandatory consecutive to the related drug trafficking offense and $250,000 fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24cr0504-CAB
Eduardo Mendoza, AKA “Casper” 31 Niland, CA
Francisco Javier Mendoza, AKA “Pancho” 33 Niland, CA
Carlos Cezar Mendoza 36 Yuma, AZ
Christopher John Coffman 59 Brawley, CA
Daniel Estevan Mendoza 30 Brawley, CA
Tyran Malik Sullivan 40 Brawley, CA
Katelyn Singh 32 Holtville, CA
Cynthia Diaz 35 Imperial, CA
Robert Leroy Humble 49 Brawley, CA
Terry Kyle Christiansen 52 Imperial, CA
Melvin Betha 25 Niland, CA
*Dylan Gutierrez 24 Calexico, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)
Maximum Penalties: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr0849-CAB
*Maricela Selk 47 Brawley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)
Maximum Penalties: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr0854-CAB
Christopher Landon Bustin 40 Chula Vista, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)
Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1))
Maximum Penalties: For possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine. For felon in possession charge: Ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr0855-CAB
Ernie David Davila 43 Holtville, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))
Maximum Penalties: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr0856-CAB
*Karla Franco 42 Los Angeles, CA
Frederick Joseph McKenna, AKA “Downer” 32 Pico Rivera, CA
Gabino Mora 31 Pico Rivera, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))
Maximum Penalties: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr0857-CAB
Alexander Bennet Grindley 53 Brawley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison and a $1 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr0858-CAB
Robert Thomas Isaac, AKA “RT” 48 Brawley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Heroin and Fentanyl (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)
Maximum Penalties: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr0909-TWR
*Bryan Ayala Alvarez, AKA “Pingo” 41 Brawley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))
Maximum Penalties: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr0910-CAB
*Alfred Aldapa Juarez, Jr. 32 Brawley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))
Maximum Penalties: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr0911-CAB
*Pedro Alberto Rioseco, AKA “Pete” 42 Calexico, CA
Jesus Antonio Escoto-Troncozo, AKA “Chocho” 45 El Centro, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))
Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1))
Using, Carrying or Possession of Firearm in Commission of a Drug Trafficking Crime
(18 U.S.C. 924(c)(1)(A)(i))Maximum Penalties: For conspiracy charge and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine. For felon in possession of ammunition charge: Ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For using, carrying or possession of firearm in commission of a drug trafficking crime: Five years in prison mandatory consecutive to the related drug trafficking offense and $250,000 fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24cr00093-RSH
Sergio Reyes-Green 32 Brawley, CA
James Wade Hanks 53 Brawley, CA
Jesus Fernardo Romero, AKA “Chuy” 28 (In Custody)
Yomayra Patricia Penuelas 37 El Cajon, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Import Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960, 963)
Importation of Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960)
Aiding and Abetting (18 U.S.C. § 2)
Conspiracy to Launder Money (21 U.S.C. § 1956(h), 1956(a)(2)(A) and (a)(2)(B))
Maximum Penalties: For methamphetamine charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine. For the money laundering charges: Twenty years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of criminal derived property, whichever is greater.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24cr00094-RSH
Mario Alberto Urena, AKA “Vaca” 34 Brawley, CA
Pablo Enrique Trejo, AKA “Bolas” 45 Calexico, CA*Carlos Felipe Ruedas-Celaya 45 Calexico, CA
Estevan Ramirez Gonzalez 26 Phoenix, AZ
*Francisco Javier Ramirez-Garcia, AKA “Pitufo” 56 Calexico, CA
*Javier Jacquez 48 Calexico, CA
Araceli Rangel-Torres 28 Mexicali, Mexico
Miguel Angel Flores 31 Fresno, CA
Carlos Valencia Mendoza 29 Mexicali, MexicoSUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846)Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))
Aiding and Abetting (18 U.S.C. § 2)
Conspiracy to Launder Money (21 U.S.C. § 1956(h), 1956(a)(2)(A) and (a)(2)(B))
Maximum Penalties:
For conspiracy charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
For the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine charges (except Count 3): Life in prison with a mandatary minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
For the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine charge in Count 3: Forty years in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years and a $5 million fine.
For the money laundering charges: Twenty years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of criminal derived property, whichever is greater.
*Fugitives
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Drug Enforcement Administration
Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces
Department of Justice Office of Enforcement Operations
United States Border Patrol
U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Air and Marine Operations
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
United States Postal Inspection Service
DHS Office of Inspector General
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Highway Patrol
Brawley Police Department
El Centro Police Department
Calexico Police Department
Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
Imperial County District Attorney’s Office
Imperial County Probation Department
Imperial Police Department
Westmorland Police Department
Calipatria Police Department
Imperial Valley - Law Enforcement Coordination Center
Imperial County Child Protective Service
San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
United States Marshals Service
Forty-Seven Defendants Charged in Imperial Valley Takedown of Drug Trafficking Network Linked to Sinaloa CartelRead the Press Release
Fourteen indictments were unsealed today charging 47 alleged members of an Imperial Valley, California-based, Sinaloa Cartel-linked fentanyl-and-methamphetamine distribution network with drug trafficking, firearms, and money laundering offenses.
In a coordinated takedown this morning, more than 400 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials arrested 36 defendants and executed 25 search warrants in Imperial County; San Diego; Fresno, California; Los Angeles; Phoenix; and Salem, Oregon. As of this afternoon, the search continues for 11 fugitives.
Including seizures today and throughout the long-term investigation, authorities have confiscated more than four kilograms of fentanyl, which amounts to about two million potentially fatal doses; more than 324 kilograms (over 714 pounds) of methamphetamine; significant quantities of cocaine and heroin; and 52 firearms, including handguns and rifles.
The investigation also resulted in the arrest of Alexander Grindley for alleged methamphetamine trafficking while employed as a U.S. Border Patrol agent and multiple spin-off investigations in this district and others.
Crimes charged in the indictments include drug trafficking, money laundering, and gun-related offenses. Court documents indicated the defendants were operating throughout the Imperial Valley — in Brawley, El Centro, Westmoreland, Imperial, Calexico, Niland, Holtville, Calipatria — and in Mexicali, Mexico.
“With this takedown, the Justice Department has dealt yet another blow to the Sinaloa Cartel and its associates,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the more than 400 law enforcement officers whose work in this operation resulted in dozens of arrests, charges against 47 defendants, and the seizure of firearms, meth, cocaine, heroin, and two million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. We will continue to be relentless in our fight to protect American communities from the cartels.”
“The Department of Homeland Security and our federal, state, and local partners are unrelenting in our work to keep deadly fentanyl off our streets and bring those who traffic in it to justice,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The indictments unsealed today are the direct result of our multipronged and coordinated law enforcement approach — one that utilizes all of our government’s resources and capabilities. Together, we are preventing fentanyl and other deadly drugs from being produced, distributed, or consumed, and saving countless lives.”
“This investigation tore apart a drug trafficking network responsible for supplying dealers in communities across the region,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California. “But there is still much work to be done. If you’re a parent and today’s price of fentanyl terrifies you, talk to your kids about the dangers of drug use. If you’re an addict and your dealer was arrested today, seek treatment. And if you’re a dealer but your supplier was arrested today, look out – we are coming for you next.”
“Today’s coordinated operation, involving, over 400 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, marks a decisive blow against an Imperial Valley-based, Sinaloa Cartel-linked distribution network and significantly disrupts the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Davis of Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego. “This operation is a testament to the power of law enforcement collaboration and our unwavering commitment to bringing these criminals to justice.”
“Today, the El Centro Border Patrol Sector teamed with allied law enforcement agencies to support both Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California in this operation,” said Chief Gregory Bovino of the U.S. Border Patrol’s El Centro Sector. “Our successful collaboration should be a reminder to criminal organizations in the Imperial Valley and elsewhere that justice will be served.”
“This operation shows what can be accomplished when there is collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies,” said Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez. “The Imperial County District Attorney’s office will continue to work together with our partners to bring to justice those that harm or are a danger to our community.”
According to the indictments and search warrants, the defendants belonged to various trafficking organizations that were part of an extensive network supplying all of Imperial County and beyond with dangerous drugs.
According to court records, on June 30, 2021, agents seized two pounds of methamphetamine and a cache of ghost guns and ammunition, including: 15 lower receivers, three upper receivers, multiple barrels and stocks, 18 magazines, 40 Luger 9mm rounds, and approximately 400 rounds of .223 Red Army ammunition, which are made in Russia. None of the firearms or firearm parts had any identifying serial numbers or markings. They were all ghost guns. Wiretap intercepts showed that defendant Cory Gershen supplied other members of the organization with ghost guns in exchange for methamphetamine. The investigation also revealed the assault rifles (depicted below) were destined for the organization’s source of supply in Mexico.
On June 30, 2021, agents seized additional ghost guns, ammunition, and methamphetamine from another member of the same drug trafficking organization. Specifically, agents seized two AR-style ghost guns and a Colt .380 semiautomatic handgun, and additional Russian rifle ammunition from defendant Guadalupe Molina-Flores, one of the alleged members of the trafficking organization. According to a search warrant, after seizing the firearms, agents searched Molina-Flores’ residence and found 309.4 grams (0.68 pounds) of methamphetamine.
Fentanyl continues to be a prolific killer. Imperial County experienced 24 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2022, the most recent full year of data available from the California Department of Public Health. The annual mortality rate for 2022 was 13.57 deaths per 100,000 residents — an increase of 41% over 2021.
The investigation revealed that the price per fentanyl pill has plummeted. For example, in June 2021, targets of the investigation were obtaining fentanyl pills in Imperial Valley at approximately $1.65 to $1.75 per pill. By December 2021, the prices being discussed had dropped to approximately $1.25 per pill. By May, the same pills were being sold at only 45 cents per pill — less than one-third of the price three years earlier. The precipitous drop in price reflects the increased supply and availability of fentanyl being smuggled into the United States and the close ties between targets of this investigation and their Sinaloa Cartel supplier of fentanyl pills.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment, complaint, or information is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Utah Movie Producer Found Guilty of Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Utah man yesterday of tax evasion and forcibly retaking property that had been seized by the government to pay his outstanding tax debt.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Paul Kenneth Cromar owned a home in Cedar Hills, Utah, and operated Blue Moon Productions LLC, a freelance film and media production company. From 1999 through 2005, Cromar did not file any federal income tax returns or pay any tax. In 2007, the IRS conducted an audit and assessed him with $703,266.96 in taxes, interest and penalties. After Cromar failed to make any payments towards his outstanding debt, the government filed a civil suit in federal court to foreclose on his home to satisfy his outstanding tax debt.
After several court proceedings in which Cromar participated, a federal judge ordered that his home be sold at auction and the proceeds used to pay off some of the taxes he owed. Cromar then attempted to stop the sale by filing bogus documents on the property’s title and with the IRS, intimidating potential purchasers or investors for the home and harassing IRS personnel by filing frivolous lawsuits against them personally.
Shortly before the court-ordered sale closed, Cromar forcibly broke into the home and attempted to reclaim it. With the help of others, he occupied the home unlawfully for five months, fortifying it with weapons, sandbags and wooden boards tactically placed throughout the house.
Through his criminal conduct, Cromar caused a total tax loss to the IRS of $1,174,201.91.
The jury convicted Cromar of one count of tax evasion and one count of forcibly rescuing seized property. He was acquitted of attempting to interfere with the administration of internal revenue laws.
Cromar is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion and two years in prison for forcibly retaking seized property. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah and Acting Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
IRS-CI and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case. The FBI assisted in locating and apprehending Cromar who had been a fugitive from justice in a related Utah state court criminal matter since August 2022.
Trial Attorneys Meredith Havekost and Patrick Burns of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Woolf for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.
Former Quincy Man Arrested for Allegedly Distributing 10 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Quincy man currently residing in Las Vegas has been arrested in connection the distribution of methamphetamine.
Samuel Jean-Baptiste, a/k/a “Jett Black,” 38, was charged with one count of distribution of methamphetamine. Jean-Baptiste was arrested on May 30, 2024 and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was detained pending a hearing scheduled for June 6, 2024.
According to the charging document, in early July 2023, Jean-Baptiste was identified as a significant distributor of controlled substances in the Boston area. A confidential source allegedly made three controlled purchases totally a combined 700 grams of fentanyl from Jean-Baptiste. It is alleged that in May 2024, Jean-Baptiste informed a second confidential source that he would soon be traveling from Las Vegas to Boston and discussed selling the source 10 pounds of methamphetamine in exchange for $32,000. It is further alleged that Jean-Baptiste also told the confidential source that he was having an associate in California ship the methamphetamine to Boston and that they could conduct the transaction at a gas station at Logan Airport – after which Jean-Baptiste would “disappear back into the airport” to travel back to Las Vegas. Jean-Baptiste was immediately apprehended upon arriving at the gas station, allegedly carrying a backpack that contained approximately 10 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.
The charge of distribution of methamphetamine carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Lincoln Man Sentenced to over 7 Years for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that David J. Ellis, 42, formerly of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 5, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of receipt of child pornography. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Ellis to 87 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ellis’ release from prison, he will begin a 7-year term of supervised release. Additionally, Ellis is ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution and $3,000 to a federal fund established to assist victims of child exploitation crimes.
This case began as part of an undercover operation involving peer-to-peer file sharing. From September 8, 2022, until October 3, 2022, an undercover FBI agent observed an IP address associated with Ellis engaged in the request for and download of multiple child pornography files. On December 14, 2022, a search warrant was executed on Ellis’ apartment in Lincoln. Numerous electronic devices were seized. A review of Ellis’ devices revealed more than 10,276 image files and 11 video files which depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Former IRS Employee Accused of Attempting to Steal More than $2M from the Government and ExxonMobilRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Davis County resident was indicted by a federal grand jury today for multiple financial crimes after he allegedly abused his position as a former IRS employee and attempted to steal more than $2 million in tax credits.
According to court documents, Rodney Quinn Rupe, 46, of Syracuse, Utah, devised a scheme from July 2021 to March 2024 to fraudulently obtain money from the IRS and Exxon Mobil Corporation (ExxonMobil) and divert the money for his personal use. As a former IRS account management employee, Rupe had access to certain taxpayer accounts and case processing tools in an IRS computer database where he had the ability to adjust tax, credits, penalties, and interest to certain taxpayer accounts.
As alleged, Rupe abused his access to an IRS database to divert tax credits owed to ExxonMobil to Ex Xo Exteriors Ltd., an entity created and controlled by Rupe. For example, in July 2021, Rupe accessed an IRS database to assign a newly created employer identification number (EIN) to Ex Xo Exteriors Ltd. After diverting the tax credits in the IRS database owed to ExxonMobil, Rupe then transferred the diverted tax funds from one tax year to another, which resulted in a refund in the form of a United States Treasury check in the amount of $2,100,377.38. The refund consisted of the diverted tax credits and interest owed to ExxonMobil. In January 2024, after receiving the refund, Rupe attempted to deposit the U.S. Treasury check at multiple America First Credit Union locations on several occasions.
Rupe is charged with wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and theft of government property. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for July 3, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
Assistant United States Attorney Stewart M. Young of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Fairfax County deputy pleads guilty to conspiring with inmate to traffic drugs in jailRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputy pled guilty today to providing drugs and other contraband to an inmate at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (Fairfax ADC) in exchange for bribe payments.
According to court documents, from May 2021 to June 21, 2023, Robert Theodore Sanford Jr., 37, was a correctional officer at Fairfax ADC, which holds detainees arrested by FCSO, the Fairfax County Police Department, and federal agencies. From Dec. 2022 through May 2023, Sanford smuggled contraband into Fairfax ADC and provided the contraband and confidential, law-enforcement-sensitive information to an inmate. The contraband included a cell phone and distribution quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and Suboxone. Sanford also supplied latex gloves and glue to the inmate to help conceal the contraband. The inmate then trafficked the drugs to other inmates.
Sanford provided the inmate with information such as advance warning of cell searches by deputies, cell blocks to which deputies were proceeding in those searches, whether deputies would be conducting strip searches, and where drug-sniffing dogs were being utilized. Sanford also provided the inmate with information regarding other inmates, including which inmates might be providing information to law enforcement, which assisted Sanford’s co-conspirator in intimidating potential witnesses.
Outside Fairfax ADC, Sanford procured drugs from the inmate’s associates. In addition to the drugs Sanford smuggled into Fairfax ADC, Sanford distributed drugs to women who lived in and prostituted themselves out of an apartment that Sanford leased.
On May 4, 2023, FCSO deputies at Fairfax ADC conducted a strip search of Sanford’s co-conspirator, and in the inmate’s long underwear deputies found a cellphone, two charging cables, one portable cellular phone charger, one USB charging brick, 92 counterfeit oxycodone pills, 174 strips of Suboxone, and over three grams of cocaine. The following day, Sanford was informed of the seizure during roll call. Sanford removed his cash tag name and personal email address from the CashApp account he used to receive bribe payments for smuggling contraband into Fairfax ADC. He also stopped sending messages and making calls to the inmate and other conspirators and deleted related messages. Within two weeks of FCSO discovering the contraband, Sanford began the process of resigning from his job, telling FCSO that childcare challenges were the reason for his resignation.
Sanford will remain detained until sentencing, which is scheduled for Sept. 18. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of two counts of conviction. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division; and Stacey A. Kincaid, Fairfax County Sheriff, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather D. Call is prosecuting 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. 1:24-cr-110.
Former Detroit Riverfront Conservancy CFO Charged with Embezzling Tens of Millions of Dollars from ConservancyRead the Press Release
DETROIT – William A. Smith, 51, the former Chief Financial Officer for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, was charged with Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud in a criminal complaint unsealed today in federal court, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. The charges arose out of what is alleged to be a years-long scheme by Smith to embezzle Conservancy funds for his own use.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office.
According to court documents, The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy (DRFC, or the Conservancy) is a 501(c)(3) organization formed with the mission of developing access to the Detroit International Riverfront from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle. The DRFC is funded by a combination of public and private funds. Smith was the CFO of the DRFC from 2011 until he was fired late last month.
According to the Complaint, beginning as early as November 2012, Smith orchestrated a scheme to embezzle millions of dollars in funds belonging to the DRFC. The Complaint alleges that Smith carried out his embezzlement scheme in two distinct ways. First, Smith is alleged to have used Conservancy funds to pay for charges that he and his family accrued on an American Express account. Second, Smith is alleged to have diverted Conservancy funds to a company he controlled called “The Joseph Group.” Neither of these sets of expenditures were authorized or approved by the Board of the DRFC; “The Joseph Group,” was not an approved vendor and provided no services to the DRFC, and Smith had no authority to use Conservancy funds to pay his own personal credit card bills. The complaint alleges that, between November 2012 and March 2024, Smith stole nearly $40 million from the DRFC through these two embezzlement streams.
To cover up his embezzlement, the Complaint alleges that Smith doctored bank statements provided to the Conservancy’s accountant for entry into the DRFC’s accounting software. These false bank statements led to erroneous financial information being entered into the DRFC’s books, thereby concealing the fraud. In 2023, Smith is alleged to have obtained a $5 million line of credit with Citizens Bank on the Conservancy’s behalf – a line of credit he was not in any way authorized to take out. The Bank asked Smith for documentation confirming that Smith, as CFO, had the sole authority to obtain such a line of credit on behalf of the Conservancy. Smith is alleged to have provided the bank with a document purporting to establish that Smith was indeed empowered by the DRFC Board of Directors to obtain such credit lines. That document, according to the complaint, was false, and bore the forged signature of the Conservancy’s Corporation Secretary. Smith is alleged to have used funds he obtained from this line of credit to further his embezzlement scheme.
“The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s mission is to transform one of our city’s greatest assets, the riverfront, into a vibrant and safe space for all to gather and enjoy. This defendant is alleged to have abused the trust the Conservancy placed in him and to have carried out a fraud that is simply astonishing in scale. Today’s allegations are extremely serious ones, and my office is committed to pursuing anyone, regardless of their title, who fleeces taxpayers and charitable donors for their own private gain. We value our partnerships, and these charges are the result of the close cooperation and collaboration that we appreciate from our state and local law enforcement partners who brought this matter to our attention,” U.S. Attorney Ison said.
“This case was initially brought to us on May 14th, and we were able to quickly deduce that an enormous amount of money was allegedly embezzled, and that there would be mountains of documents to examine. It was something that we would be unable to handle properly at this time. We discovered an alleged Federal nexus and due to our various existing collaborations, my next call was to U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison. Fortunately for us, and the citizens of Wayne County and beyond, she agreed immediately to take this case,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
A criminal complaint is only a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John K. Neal and Robert A. Moran. The case is being investigated by the FBI.
Final Defendant Sentenced for ATM BurglariesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – The final defendant was sentenced Tuesday by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey for his role in a conspiracy to burglarize multiple bank automatic teller machines by forcibly ripping them open with pry bars, hammers, hooks, and chains connected to stolen Ford F-250 pickup trucks.
According to court documents, from March 2020 to December 2020, Stanley Booker, Demarcus Dosewell, Dominique Owens, and Jecorian McCutcheon, all of Houston, and George Densley, of Las Vegas, conspired to burglarize ATMs and participate in three ATM burglaries in Las Vegas and one ATM burglary in Henderson. For the three Las Vegas ATM burglaries, defendants ripped apart the ATMs but were unable to open the safes containing cash. For the Henderson ATM burglary, Booker, Dosewell, and Densley stole $114,100. Booker, Dosewell, Owens, and McCutcheon also burglarized an ATM in Phoenix, stole $151,200, and transported that money to Las Vegas.
Owens pleaded guilty to three counts of bank burglary and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property; he was sentenced Tuesday to 51 months in prison. Dosewell pleaded guilty to one count of bank burglary; on February 21, 2023, he was sentenced to 41 months in prison. Booker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary, four counts of bank burglary, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property; on March 11, 2024, he was sentenced to 84 months in prison. McCutcheon pleaded guilty to two counts of bank burglary and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property; on March 5, 2024, he was sentenced to 41 months in prison. After a five-day jury trial, Densley was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and two counts of bank burglary; on May 7, 2024, he was sentenced to 60 months in prison. In addition to imprisonment, the defendants were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $485,554.77.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Brister and Steven Rose prosecuted the case.
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Fentanyl Trafficker Who Fled Scene of 16-Year-Old’s Overdose Sentenced to 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A drug trafficker who dealt fentanyl to a 16-year-old who overdosed was sentenced 20 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Julian Apodaca, 28, and several co-conspirators were indicted in August 2023. Mr. Apodaca pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk.
“Shockingly, this defendant gave a deadly drug to a 16-year-old child and watched as the child overdosed; then, instead of rendering aid, he fled the scene to avoid criminal liability,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “My office is proud to have brought this man to justice to pay for these heinous actions, and we are also proud that we are holding accountable several others in the defendant’s drug network who contributed to this child receiving fentanyl. But we cannot end this epidemic alone. Please talk with your kids about avoiding fentanyl. They should not take any pill that wasn’t bought in a pharmacy. Remember: One pill can kill.”
“Justice has been served with the recognition by the court of the callous actions and total disregard of human life by defendant Apodaca,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chávez, who oversees all DEA operations in Amarillo. “DEA Amarillo and our law enforcement partners in the panhandle will relentlessly pursue individuals like defendant Apodaca and hold them accountable for the poison they peddle on our streets.”
According to plea papers, Mr. Apodaca admitted he dealt fentanyl to several individuals in the Amarillo area.
In his vehicle, officers found 113 blue M-30 pills containing fentanyl and a 9mm pistol.
At his sentencing hearing, prosecutors introduced evidence that Mr. Apodaca dealt fentanyl to a 16-year-old who overdosed in the defendant’s car.
When he realized the teen had suffered an overdose, Mr. Apodaca, fearful that he would be arrested on outstanding warrants if he called authorities, fled the scene and contacted associates asking them to call 911. First responders eventually revived the victim with Narcan.
Eight of Mr. Apodaca’s co-conspirators – including his sources of supply, Gary Eugene Carlisle, Robert Tucker Witt, and Rebecca Ann Schmitkons – pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one co-conspirator, Rachel Lynn Waddell, was convicted at trial of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Mr. Witt was sentenced in May to 20 years in federal prison; eight of the defendants are awaiting sentencing; one defendant is set for trial in August 2024.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division – Amarillo Resident Office and the Amarillo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Marie Bell prosecuted the case.
Federal Indictment Charges Man with Illegally Possessing Loaded Gun in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has charged a man with illegally possessing a loaded handgun in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood last month.
The indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges RAPHAEL HAMMOND, 37, of Chicago, with illegal possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that Hammond illegally possessed the loaded .380-caliber handgun on May 5, 2024. Shortly after 1:00 a.m., Hammond fired the gun several times while standing on a sidewalk in the 1000 block of West Addison Street in Chicago, according to a criminal complaint previously filed in the case. At the time of the shooting, Hammond was on court-supervised release from a prior federal firearm conviction that prohibited him from legally possessing a firearm.
The charge in the indictment is punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. Arraignment is set for June 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey T. Gilbert.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Saqib M. Hussain.
The investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement hub that focuses exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. The CGIC is an interagency collaboration that brings together - under one roof - federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and intelligence analysts to move quickly to investigate and prosecute violent crimes.
Holding firearm offenders accountable through federal prosecution is the centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative that brings together law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive solutions to the most pressing violent crime problems. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hammond indictmentFederal Jury Convicts Puerto RICO Man of Smuggling Cocaine Through Cyril E. King AirportRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Carlos Gascot Concepcion, 46, of Puerto Rico, was found guilty following a two-day jury trial of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy scheduled Gascot Concepcion’s sentencing for October 4, 2024, where he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00.
According to court documents, on October 4, 2023, Gascot Concepcion arrived at the Cyril E. King airport in St. Thomas attempting to board a flight to Puerto Rico. After clearing Customs, Gascot Concepcion was stopped by Customs and Border Protection officers for an inspection of his suitcase. During the inspection, officers discovered a brick-shaped package containing one kilogram of cocaine.
This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations and Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Payne and Kimberly Riley.
Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to COVID Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Michael Eugene Bowers, 51, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to fraud related to COVID benefits.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Bowers electronically submitted an Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) application through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and received $480,900 on Dec. 20, 2021. That money was wired into a bank account that he had control of. Bowers then used the funds for personal expenses, such as purchasing a Suzuki motorcycle and paying off his BMW automobile.
Bowers faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States Senior District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Bowers after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department's response to the pandemic, please visit Justice.gov/Coronavirus and Justice.gov/Coronavirus/CombatingFraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by using the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF)’s Web Complaint Form.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the case.
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Chronic Disease Management Provider to Pay $14.9M to Resolve Alleged False ClaimsRead the Press Release
Note: View the settlement here.
WASHINGTON – Bluestone Physician Services of Florida LLC, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A. and Bluestone National LLC, operating in Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively, have agreed to pay $14,902,000 to resolve allegations that they knowingly submitted claims for certain Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes for services related to the management of chronic care patients in assisted living and other care facilities that were not provided in conformity with applicable Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE requirements.
“Improperly billing federal health care programs depletes valuable government resources used to provide medical care to millions of Americans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will pursue health care providers that defraud the taxpayers by knowingly submitting inflated claims.”
The settlement resolves allegations that, during the period from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2019, Bluestone knowingly submitted claims for two E&M codes, the domiciliary rest home visit code for established patients (99337) and the chronic care management code (99490), that did not support the level of service provided. The federal government’s share of the settlement is $13,842,482 and $1,059,518 will be paid to the States of Florida and Minnesota.
“Fraudulent billing undermines the integrity of government healthcare programs and diminishes legitimate services and resources for Minnesotans,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota. “Healthcare companies that institute a practice of upcoding and unnecessary billing will be held accountable for their misconduct.”
“The submission of false claims to Medicare for chronic care services will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “This resolution sends a message to the provider community and to our district that we will actively investigate and prosecute this kind of conduct whenever it appears.”
“When health care providers submit false claims to taxpayer-funded federal health care programs, including inappropriately inflating claims to boost profits, the public’s trust in our nation’s medical providers and the integrity of federal health care programs are put at risk," said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office. “We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who engage in conduct as alleged in this case are held accountable. Furthermore, the OIG’s five-year compliance agreement is designed to ensure that the alleged behavior will not be repeated.”
In connection with the settlement, Bluestone has entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with HHS-OIG, which requires Bluestone, among other obligations, to establish and maintain a compliance program meeting certain requirements and to submit to an Independent Review Organization’s review of Bluestone’s Medicare claims to determine whether such claims were medically necessary, appropriately documented, and correctly coded.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Lisa Loscalzo, the former General Manager for Bluestone’s Florida market. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Loscalzo v. Bluestone Physician Services of Florida, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A., Bluestone National, LLC et al., 20-cv-295-FtM-38NPM (M.D. Fla). The civil settlement also includes the resolution of related allegations investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. Ms. Loscalzo will receive $2,831,380 in connection with the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Minnesota and the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and FBI.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorneys Erin Colleran and Joanna Persio of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen E. Rau and Emily Peterson for the District of Minnesota and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Chronic Disease Management Provider to Pay $14.9M to Resolve Alleged False ClaimsRead the Press Release
Bluestone Physician Services of Florida LLC, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A. and Bluestone National LLC, operating in Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively, have agreed to pay $14,902,000 to resolve allegations that they knowingly submitted claims for certain Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes for services related to the management of chronic care patients in assisted living and other care facilities that were not provided in conformity with applicable Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE requirements.
“Improperly billing federal health care programs depletes valuable government resources used to provide medical care to millions of Americans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will pursue health care providers that defraud the taxpayers by knowingly submitting inflated claims.”
The settlement resolves allegations that, during the period from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2019, Bluestone knowingly submitted claims for two E&M codes, the domiciliary rest home visit code for established patients (99337) and the chronic care management code (99490), that did not support the level of service provided. The federal government’s share of the settlement is $13,842,482 and $1,059,518 will be paid to the States of Florida and Minnesota.
“Fraudulent billing undermines the integrity of government healthcare programs and diminishes legitimate services and resources for Minnesotans,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota. “Healthcare companies that institute a practice of upcoding and unnecessary billing will be held accountable for their misconduct.”
“The submission of false claims to Medicare for chronic care services will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “This resolution sends a message to the provider community and to our district that we will actively investigate and prosecute this kind of conduct whenever it appears.”
“When health care providers submit false claims to taxpayer-funded federal health care programs, including inappropriately inflating claims to boost profits, the public’s trust in our nation’s medical providers and the integrity of federal health care programs are put at risk," said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office. “We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who engage in conduct as alleged in this case are held accountable. Furthermore, the OIG’s five-year compliance agreement is designed to ensure that the alleged behavior will not be repeated.”
In connection with the settlement, Bluestone has entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with HHS-OIG, which requires Bluestone, among other obligations, to establish and maintain a compliance program meeting certain requirements and to submit to an Independent Review Organization’s review of Bluestone’s Medicare claims to determine whether such claims were medically necessary, appropriately documented, and correctly coded.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Lisa Loscalzo, the former General Manager for Bluestone’s Florida market. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Loscalzo v. Bluestone Physician Services of Florida, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A., Bluestone National, LLC et al., 20-cv-295-FtM-38NPM (M.D. Fla). The civil settlement also includes the resolution of related allegations investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. Ms. Loscalzo will receive $2,831,380 in connection with the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Minnesota and the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and FBI.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorneys Erin Colleran and Joanna Persio of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen E. Rau and Emily Peterson for the District of Minnesota and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
SettlementChronic Disease Management Provider to Pay $14.9M to Resolve Alleged False ClaimsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Bluestone Physician Services of Florida LLC, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A. and Bluestone National LLC, operating in Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively, have agreed to pay $14,902,000 to resolve allegations that they knowingly submitted claims for certain Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes for services related to the management of chronic care patients in assisted living and other care facilities that were not provided in conformity with applicable Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE requirements.
“Improperly billing federal health care programs depletes valuable government resources used to provide medical care to millions of Americans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will pursue health care providers that defraud the taxpayers by knowingly submitting inflated claims.”
The settlement resolves allegations that, during the period from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2019, Bluestone knowingly submitted claims for two E&M codes, the domiciliary rest home visit code for established patients (99337) and the chronic care management code (99490), that did not support the level of service provided. The federal government’s share of the settlement is $13,842,482 and $1,059,518 will be paid to the States of Florida and Minnesota.
“Fraudulent billing undermines the integrity of government healthcare programs and diminishes legitimate services and resources for Minnesotans,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota. “Healthcare companies that institute a practice of upcoding and unnecessary billing will be held accountable for their misconduct.”
“The submission of false claims to Medicare for chronic care services will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “This resolution sends a message to the provider community and to our district that we will actively investigate and prosecute this kind of conduct whenever it appears.”
“When health care providers submit false claims to taxpayer-funded federal health care programs, including inappropriately inflating claims to boost profits, the public’s trust in our nation’s medical providers and the integrity of federal health care programs are put at risk," said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office. “We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who engage in conduct as alleged in this case are held accountable. Furthermore, the OIG’s five-year compliance agreement is designed to ensure that the alleged behavior will not be repeated.”
In connection with the settlement, Bluestone has entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with HHS-OIG, which requires Bluestone, among other obligations, to establish and maintain a compliance program meeting certain requirements and to submit to an Independent Review Organization’s review of Bluestone’s Medicare claims to determine whether such claims were medically necessary, appropriately documented, and correctly coded.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Lisa Loscalzo, the former General Manager for Bluestone’s Florida market. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Loscalzo v. Bluestone Physician Services of Florida, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A., Bluestone National, LLC et al., 20-cv-295-FtM-38NPM (M.D. Fla). The civil settlement also includes the resolution of related allegations investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. Ms. Loscalzo will receive $2,831,380 in connection with the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Minnesota and the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and FBI.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorneys Erin Colleran and Joanna Persio of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen E. Rau and Emily Peterson for the District of Minnesota and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Chinese Nationals Sentenced for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
Saipan – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands imposed the following sentences against defendants for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(I):
Sentencing Date: May 31, 2024
DONGLIN XU, age 49 – 12 months imprisonment, one year supervised release, 50 hours community service, $100 mandatory assessment.
QINGLANG LI, age 52 – 8 months imprisonment, one year supervised release, 50 hours community service, $100 mandatory assessment.
These defendants organized transportation via private watercraft from Saipan to Guam for themselves and 12 other Chinese nationals. Each person contributed up to $5,000 for the trip. Federal law prohibited them from traveling outside of the CNMI. Moreover, most had no lawful immigration status at the time of the crime. These 12 defendants were previously convicted, sentenced, and ordered to return to China on the same charge as defendants Xu and Li. Both Xu and Li received enhanced sentences for profiting from and having leadership roles in the scheme. The district court further ordered that they return to China within three months of serving their sentences of confinement.
“We will continue to prosecute this conduct to hold offenders accountable and promote safety at sea,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “The Court ordered substantial terms of imprisonment for these defendants due to their roles in the scheme. This should send a message of deterrence to those planning or engaging in this criminal activity.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Eric S. O’Malley, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Bissonnet sex trafficker “Glizzy” imprisoned for forcing teenage girls to engage in sex actsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 23-year-old man has been sentenced for conspiring to traffic a minor for commercial sex, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani.
Javon Yaw Opoku aka “Glizzy” pleaded guilty June 7, 2023.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr has now sentenced Opoku to 365 months in federal prison. In handing down the prison term, the court noted the duty to the people Opoku harmed and that he had forfeited the right to be around other members of society for a very long time. Restitution will be determined at a later date. Opoku will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Opoku will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Opoku spent years exploiting and victimizing little girls and other vulnerable members of our community,” said Hamdani. “Opoku will now spend the next 30+ years away from our community, unable to continue his exploitation and victimization of our daughters and neighbors.
From April 2019 to February 2020, Opoku and co-conspirators recruited young teenage girls and forced them to engage in sex acts with clients for money in cars and hotels around the Bissonnet “blade.”
The blade or “track” is an area near 59 Southwest Freeway and Bissonnet Street in Houston where traffickers commonly place their victims to engage in commercial sex.
Opoku and co-conspirators passed around or reassigned victims amongst one another, taught each other “the pimp game,” forced the young girls to walk the blade while Opoku and others kept the proceeds.
The young girls were required to pay an exit fee or get “beat out” to switch between pimps. Some traffickers required daily quotas each night from their victims. If the victims failed to meet their daily quotas, they were severely punished through beatings and humiliation.
Co-conspirator Jerreck Michael Hilliard aka “Jmoney” was sentenced April 12 to 292 months in federal prison.
Opoku will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Houston Police Department initiated the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as a part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA). Established in 2004, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Kate Suh and Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case along with former AUSA Richard Bennett.
Auburn, Washington man charged federally for drug distribution and illegal firearms possessionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 33-year-old Auburn, Washington, man was arrested last night on a federal criminal complaint charging firearms and drug distribution crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Andy Peter Vongdala was charged by criminal complaint after he was caught with large quantities of controlled substances and multiple firearms on April 26, 2024. At the time of his arrest, Vongdala was booked on outstanding warrants and subsequently posted bail. Vongdala will be detained on the federal charges pending additional hearings.
According to the criminal complaint, Vongdala was a suspect in a series of commercial burglaries in Renton, Washington. Renton Police worked with King County prosecutors and obtained a search warrant for Vongdala’s residence to search for distinctive clothing from the burglary investigation.
When police served the search warrant, they encountered Vongdala leaving his two-bedroom apartment. In a backpack he carried, police found a stolen Glock firearm and more than two kilograms of MDMA. Some of the drugs were in smaller bags inside a larger zip lock bag labeled “sample.”
A search of Vongdala’s residence revealed an additional firearm and firearm parts along with ammunition and body armor. In his bedroom, police recovered 61 kilograms of MDMA, more than 2300 fentanyl pills, nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine, and smaller amounts of suspected heroin, cocaine, and alprazolam.
Law enforcement seized a rifle with a casing catcher – a device that keeps shell casings from being left on the ground after the gun is fired. There were also numerous firearm magazines including extended magazines and a drum magazine. Suspected armor piercing bullets were seized as well.
Vongdala is charged with two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Due to the quantity of drugs seized in this case, the penalties include a mandatory minimum ten years in prison. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by an additional five years in prison which runs consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Renton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee.
4 June 2024
White Supremacist Sentenced for Federal Hate Crimes for Conspiracy Targeting Black and Jewish People and Desecrating Michigan Synagogue with Neo-Nazi SymbolsRead the Press Release
A Michigan man was sentenced today to 26 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring with other members of a white supremacist group, The Base, to victimize Black and Jewish people, and for defacing Temple Jacob, a Jewish synagogue in Hancock, Michigan, using swastikas and symbols associated with The Base.
Nathan Weeden, 24, of Houghton, was convicted at trial in January of one count of conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate any person in the exercise of their rights and one count of intentionally defacing, damaging or destroying religious property because of the race or ethnic characteristics of individuals associated with that property. Weeden's co-conspirators, Richard Tobin, of New Jersey, and Yousef Barasneh, of Wisconsin, both previously pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges related to the incident.
“This sentence sends a strong message that threatening and intimidating people because of their religion, race or ethnic characteristics will not be tolerated in this country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “White supremacist-fueled violence is a stain on our history and perpetrators of such violence will be held accountable. No one should live in fear because of who they are, what they believe or where they worship. The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute those who desecrate houses of worship and who conspire to intimidate people seeking to exercise the legal rights guaranteed to all Americans.”
“Today’s sentencing sends a strong message that hate will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten for the Western District of Michigan. “No one should be the target of hate because of their race, ethnicity, religion, or any other status. When hateful words become hateful acts, my office will use every tool we have to protect the public and secure justice like we did in this case.”
“The impact of the defendant’s crimes extend far beyond destruction of property,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “The FBI will not accept hate-driven threats of violence intended to emotionally and/or physically harm victims and will rigorously investigate anyone conspiring to vandalize houses of worship and intimidate other from safely practicing their religion.”
“Accountability matters. Today’s sentence is representative of our community's views on hate crime-inspired violence. People who engage in this behavior will be identified and fully prosecuted by the law,” said Special Agent in Charge James Deir of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Detroit Field Division. “ATF is steadfast in its commitment to protecting everyone across this great state against violent criminals fueled by hatred and intolerance.”
The evidence at trial established that, in September 2019, Weeden, Tobin and Barasneh, all members of The Base, used an encrypted messaging platform to discuss vandalizing property associated with Black and Jewish Americans. Weeden and his co-conspirators dubbed their plan, "Operation Kristallnacht” — a term that means "Night of Broken Glass,” and refers to events that took place on Nov. 9 and 10, 1938, when Nazis murdered Jews and burned and destroyed their homes, synagogues, schools and places of business. Weeden carried out this plan on Sept. 21, 2019, when he spray-painted swastikas and symbols associated with The Base on the outside walls of Temple Jacob.
The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the ATF and Hancock Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler for the Western District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Waltham Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Waltham man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Robert Daigle, 47 pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Sept. 11, 2024. In February 2022, Daigle was indicted by a federal grand jury.
On Jan. 11, 2022, approximately 10 electronic devices belonging to the Daigle were seized during a search of his residence. The majority of those devices were located in Daigle’s bedroom. Daigle admitted to downloading hundreds to thousands of CSAM for approximately 20 years. A forensic examination of one device was found to have approximately 1,100 child pornography images and approximately 900 child pornography videos. A second device was found to have approximately 380 child pornography images.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Waltham Police Chief Kevin O’Connell made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Vanderwagon Man Charged with Federal Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Vangerwagon man was charged by indictment with multiple federal firearms offenses and attempted murder.
Perris Jeremiah Arthur, 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, on May 1, 2023, Arthur assaulted John Doe with a rifle with the intent to commit murder.
If convicted of the current charges, Arthur faces up to 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
View the IndictmentAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Vallejo Felon Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jacob Harding-Abeyta, 31, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to possession of cocaine for sale, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Oct. 7, 2020, a parole search of Harding-Abeyta’s residence resulted in the discovery of a loaded .45-caliber Springfield XDS firearm in his bedroom. Harding-Abeyta is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he was previously convicted in Solano County for attempted murder in 2014. Officers also discovered 39 grams of powder cocaine, a digital scale, plastic baggies, and other drug paraphernalia. A search of his phone revealed that he was selling this and other cocaine. Additionally, Harding-Abeyta also admitted in his plea agreement that he committed obstruction of justice by attempting to suborn perjury of a witness during a prior evidentiary hearing in this case.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Haddy Abouzeid, Jason Hitt and Adrian T. Kinsella are prosecuting the case.
Harding-Abeyta is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Sept. 10, 2024. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearm charge and a maximum sentence of 20 year in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for the drug charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces S.A.F.F.E.R. Initiative to Confront Violent Crime in the Fargo AreaRead the Press Release
FARGO – Joined by federal and local law enforcement partners, United States Attorney Mac Schneider today announced an office initiative, Strategic Assistance for Fargo through Federal Enforcement and Resources (S.A.F.F.E.R.), aimed at aggressively confronting violent crime in the Fargo area through the application of federal resources and prosecutions.
“This initiative is all about using new federal resources as a force multiplier to assist our local law enforcement partners in targeting the relatively few individuals who drive violent crime in Fargo and Cass County,” Schneider said. “With a forceful prosecution strategy that is focused on felons in possession of firearms and dismantling gangs and other criminal organizations before they take root in the community, we can help keep the Fargo area safe as it continues to grow. Being a safe community is special, and it should not be taken for granted.”
The announcement of the initiative, which is already underway, comes on the heels of statistics showing an approximate 45% increase in violent crime in Fargo since 2019. To assist local law enforcement as they work on the front lines of public safety to address violent crime in the Fargo area, the S.A.F.F.E.R. initiative has a three-part focus: 1) Using local intelligence information and federal resources to identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals responsible for violent crime: The placement of National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) equipment in Fargo, together with ongoing intelligence-led policing and information sharing by local law enforcement, will allow the United States Attorney’s Office and its partners to precisely target the drivers of violent crime in the community.
As first announced during a visit to Fargo last year by Steven Dettelbach, the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fargo Police Department will soon receive NIBIN equipment that will allow for the analysis of spent shell casings recovered from shooting incidents. NIBIN is a database of digital images that law enforcement agencies use to compare ballistic evidence from crime scenes and firearms to find investigative leads on an interstate basis. The ATF oversees the program, provides the equipment, and maintains the network of interconnected computer systems and terminals.
When utilizing NIBIN, firearms examiners or technicians enter cartridge casing evidence into the system, allowing law enforcement to search against evidence from their jurisdiction, neighboring ones, and others across the country. As noted by Director Dettelbach in his 2023 visit to Fargo, the network was used several years ago to help solve a drive-by shooting in the community.
In-house access to NIBIN equipment will dovetail with the efforts of the Metro Street Crimes Unit and FPD’s Intelligence and Analysis Unit, which identify and interdict individuals committing violent crimes in the Fargo area, as well as the Cass County Sheriff’s Office’s Threat Assessment Threat Management Team, which aims to divert individuals before violent acts occur.
2) Relentlessly prosecuting felons in possession of firearms, straw purchasers, and those who possess illegal weapons: As a key part of the effort to assist local partners in addressing violent crime in the Fargo area, the United States Attorney’s Office will utilize new prosecutorial resources and recently-enacted federal statutes to forcefully prosecute felons in possession of firearms, straw purchasers, and those who possess illegal weapons like machinegun conversion devices.
Last year, the United States Attorney’s Office was successful in securing an additional Assistant United States Attorney for the purpose of prosecuting violent crime cases in eastern North Dakota. That position, which was filled by AUSA Jake Rodenbiker, is in addition to several career prosecutors who routinely prosecute violent crime cases in the Fargo area and beyond. Those additional prosecutorial resources provide the office with the capacity to vigorously bring prosecutions under the felon in possession statute as well as federal laws enacted as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, including 18 U.S.C. § 932, which prohibits the straw purchasing of firearms.
The office will also continue to prioritize prosecutions of those who possess illegal firearms. Schneider highlighted a recent case, United States v. Opdahl, in which a Fargo man was found guilty of possession of a machinegun and an unregistered silencer after a three-day trial in April. The defendant, Patrick Opdahl, was previously involved in a standoff with the Fargo Police Department and Red River Valley Regional SWAT team in February of 2023.
3) Confronting gangs and organized criminals before they take hold in the community: The U.S. Attorney’s Office is also utilizing new prosecutorial resources from the Department of Justice to disrupt gangs and criminal groups before they put down roots in the Fargo area. Earlier this year, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Fargo Police Department began working with the Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), which has assigned a trial attorney to work with the United States Attorney’s Office in Fargo and its local partners to bring cases against organized criminal groups operating in the community. Kim Dammers, the Principal Deputy of VCRS, also recently provided in-person training to the office’s career AUSAs and their law enforcement partners on the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) statute. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General David Rody, who oversees VCRS, joined the office in the announcement, discussing VCRS’ role in the initiative.
“Today’s launch of the S.A.F.F.E.R. initiative is a pivotal moment for Fargo,” Fargo Chief of Police Dave Zibolski said. “With the additional federal resources and support, we are better equipped to target and reduce violent crime in our community. This partnership underscores our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Fargo residents. By combining local efforts with federal expertise and technology, we can create a safer environment for everyone and proactively address the challenges we face.”
“The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is excited to collaborate with the US Attorney’s Office and other federal partners to reduce criminal activity and, more importantly, violent activity in our communities,” said Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner. “Taking a multifaceted approach, utilizing available resources, and concentrating those efforts on local, state, and federal levels will have a profound impact. The launch of the SAFFER Initiative will provide the necessary tools and partnerships needed to bring justice to our citizens and victims while holding those responsible accountable for their actions.”
“Our office looks forward to continued partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Fargo-area law enforcement on this initiative,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the St. Paul Field Division. “These federal tools have helped advance federal firearms cases across the country and will help make an impact in the violent crime experienced here locally. We appreciate U.S. Attorney Schneider’s forward-leaning approach to violent crime with this initiative, and we look forward to working collectively to ensure the area’s violent offenders remain accountable for their actions.”
“The DEA stands ready to assist our fellow law enforcement partners in Fargo,” Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “History has shown that drug trafficking and violent crime work in tandem and we are committed to joining forces and utilizing our arsenal of resources to push back against those looking to cause harm in our communities.”
“The FBI is steadfast in its commitment to reducing violent crime and enhancing community safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Together with our local law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of North Dakota, we are dedicated to fostering environments where residents can live, work, and play without fear. Our joint efforts aim to build stronger, more secure communities.”
Schneider also highlighted several recent cases as examples of the office’s efforts to aggressively utilize new federal resources to bring prosecutions aimed at reducing violent crime in the Fargo area: United States v. Berry: An indictment unsealed on June 3, 2024, alleges that Marvin Berry, Jr. possessed a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol despite having been previously convicted of seven drug-related felonies in North Dakota state court from 2016 to 2023. The indictment also charges Berry with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
United States v. Gray et al.: An indictment unsealed last month alleges that defendants Markell Gray, Janelle Jackson, and Robert Leake knowingly possessed firearms as convicted felons. The indictment also charges possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. As noted in court filings, Gray was previously convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance in state court in Cass County in July of 2023.
United States v. Jellah, et al.: As noted in court documents, Leo Jellah, a.k.a. “Chapo,” was charged via indictment with alleged conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance and money laundering. Public records indicate that in 2023, Jellah pled guilty to robbery in North Dakota state court under section 12.1-22-01(1) of the North Dakota Century Code, which makes it a felony to menace or inflict serious bodily injury in the course of committing a theft.An indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
###U.S. Attorney's Office Participates in Walk for Awareness Event to Highlight Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In advance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office joined Age-Friendly Mecklenburg and AARP-Charlotte to co-host a Walk for Awareness at Freedom Park in Charlotte. Community leaders, elected officials, Mecklenburg County personnel, federal and state prosecutors and staff, law enforcement partners, AARP volunteers, community organizations and private citizens joined this important event to increase awareness and support efforts to prevent the exploitation, neglect and abuse of older adults in our community.
First recognized on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) seeks to promote a better understanding of the abuse and neglect suffered by millions of older adults – crimes that are often overlooked or unreported. WEAAD brings attention to the cultural, social, economic, and demographic factors that contribute to elder abuse.
“Elder abuse can manifest in various forms, including physical, emotional, and financial abuse, as well as neglect and exploitation. It’s a growing concern that demands our immediate attention and action,” said U.S. Attorney King, who also serves on the Attorney General’s subcommittee on elder justice. “Participating in community events that shine a light on this important topic is crucial in our fight to protect vulnerable older adults. Whether it’s to support a loved one, to advocate for the rights of older adults, or to raise awareness in the community, these events not only educate the public on recognizing and preventing crimes involving the elderly, but also foster a sense of collective responsibility. By coming together, we can create a safer, more supportive environment for our older population and ensure that older adults receive the respect and protection they deserve from all of us.”
“Protecting those in our community who have come before us, and helping them live their golden years to their fullest, is something we in Mecklenburg County are dedicated to continuing to hold up to the highest degree,” said Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chairman George Dunlap. “Our employees who work with our elders each and every day are part of that protection, and continuing to provide resources for them to continue to thrive today and in the future is one of our top priorities.”
“Although fraud and scams impact people of all ages, when older adults are scammed, they tend to lose more money. Fraud targeting elders remains a pervasive and growing problem. The Federal Trade Commission reported a record number of money lost to scams in 2023. AARP and North Carolina partners are doing more to help people spot, prevent, and report fraud. This week, a new on demand “scam jam” will be available on YouTube @AARPNC1, where members of the NC Senior Fraud Taskforce share important information about pervasive scams and how to find help,” said AARP Associate State Director Rebecca Gilbert.
According to the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crimes Report, the agency’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received a record number of complaints from the American public with potential financial losses exceeding $12.5 billion, a 22% increase compared to 2022. The report also indicates that North Carolina is ranked 13th both in the number of complaints filed with the FBI and in financial losses sustained due to online schemes and financial fraud. Individuals 60 and above filed the most complaints (101,068) and sustained $3.4 billion in losses, the highest among all groups. The report further indicates that tech support scams continue to impact older adults disproportionately, accounting for half of all the financial losses of online schemes. In addition, government impersonation, phishing, romance scams, and non-delivery schemes continue to cost millions in losses for the 60+ population.
Through prosecutions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to combat elder fraud involving domestic and transnational perpetrators. Major strides have already been made to that end:
- In April 2024, two men were indicted for allegedly laundering millions of dollars in fraud proceeds in the United States and Nigeria, stemming from romance scams targeting elderly victims and other online schemes. A third defendant has pleaded guilty for his role in the conspiracy.
- In November 2023, a Conover, N.C., woman pleaded guilty after she was charged with stealing more than $300,000 from an elderly couple.
- In August 2023, a Jamaican national pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in connection with a fraudulent lottery scheme that targeted elderly Americans.
- In April 2023, a Charlotte man was indicted for an international multi-million dollar tech support fraud scam that allegedly defrauded thousands of victims throughout the United States, some of whom were elderly, of more than $7 million.
In addition to prosecuting elder fraud cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, through its Elder Justice Initiative, partners with law enforcement agencies, government entities, and community organizations to ensure that older adults, caretakers, and those who come in frequent contact with the elderly are educated on how to detect, prevent, and report elder fraud, neglect, and abuse.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues its efforts to educate the public by distributing the latest trends in schemes targeting older adults and sharing tips on how to be protected from scammers.
In April 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office shared a scam alert issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) about alarming reports of fraudsters impersonating SSA OIG agents. In this latest iteration of government imposter scams, fraudsters request victims to meet them in person to hand off cash. Variations of the scam include fraudsters posing as IRS agents demanding money for unpaid taxes, as sheriff’s office deputies threatening arrest for purported outstanding fines, and as prosecutors or court personnel threatening prosecution or jail time for failing to comply with jury duty service.
Additional financial schemes targeting older Americans are:
- Tech Support Scams – Convince victims to pay for non-existent problems with their computers.
- Non-Delivery Scams – Induce victims to pay for goods or services online, but never receive them. A variation of this scheme is victims receiving emails or texts messages that appear to be from legitimate shipping companies (e.g., UPS, FedEx) with fake non-delivery notifications, claiming that payment or additional personal information is required to complete a package delivery.
- Romance Scams – Lull victims into believing they are in an online romantic relationship and their paramour needs money to pay for a visit to the U.S. or for some other purpose.
- Grandparent Scams – Dupe victims into thinking that their grandchildren or other relatives are in trouble and need money right away for bail or another emergency.
- Charity Scams – Solicit donations for fake charities, or by altering or “spoofing” caller IDs to show the name of a real charity on the phone.
- Lottery Scams – Scammers use phone calls, letters, or emails to convince victims that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.
- Debt Collection Scams – Victims are threatened with arrest and jail time if payment for a fake debt is not made immediately.
- Money Mule/Money Laundering Scams – Convince victims to use their existing or new bank accounts to quickly move funds in and out of those accounts. Generally, the transferred funds are proceeds of other criminal schemes (such as romance schemes) and victims are unwittingly being used to launder the ill-gotten funds.
- Timeshare Scams – Fraudsters target timeshare owners with false promises of resale and exit from their timeshares for a fee.
- Sham Business Opportunities – Convince victims to invest in lucrative business opportunities or fake investments.
Here are some tips on how to avoid falling victim to a financial scam:
- Don’t share personal or financial information with anyone you don’t know.
- If the person asking the information claims to be a relative, a friend, someone you know, or a representative of a financial institution or government agency, do not respond right away. Instead, contact the person/entity independently or ask a trusted family member or friend for help.
- Don’t pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.
- Don’t click on pop-up ads, messages, or virus warnings.
- Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls.
- Don’t send gift cards, checks, money orders, wire money, or give your bank account information to a stranger or someone who claims to be a relative without verifying the person’s identity.
- Don’t fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or lucrative business deals.
- If you suspect fraud, take the time to talk to a trusted friend or family member.
- It’s not rude to say, “NO.”
- Keep in mind that if you send money once, you’ll be a target for life.
- A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
- And remember, there is no shame in falling prey to an online scammer. These are professional criminals that use tried-and-true tactics to perpetrate fraud.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office urges the public to report suspected elder fraud by calling the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311) or visiting the Elder Justice Initiative at Justice.gov/elderjustice for additional information and resources.
U.S. Attorney Avery Announces New First Assistant U.S. Attorney, other Criminal Division AppointmentsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery today announced new supervisory appointments within the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the office’s Criminal Division, which were necessitated by the departure of First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfred U. Pavlis last month.
Marc H. Silverman has been named First Assistant U.S. Attorney, the second-ranking position within the office. Since 2022, Mr. Silverman has served as Chief of the Criminal Division. Mr. Silverman joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2010 and, from 2014 to 2022, served as Deputy Chief of the Office’s Appellate Division. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Silverman was an Arthur Liman Public Interest Fellow at Advocates for Children of New York, Inc.; an associate at Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC; and a law clerk for Judge Kimba M. Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and Judge Dennis Jacobs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Mr. Silverman is a 2003 graduate of Yale University and a 2006 graduate of Yale Law School.
“For years, Marc Silverman has served as a trusted advisor on complex legal and administrative issues facing the office, and he has been a highly valued member of our senior management team,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “Marc shares a commitment to ensuring that we continue to uphold the highest professional and ethical standards in this district and he takes great care to ensure that our policies and practices comport with the rule of law, fairness, and the ends of justice.”
Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis has been named Chief of the Criminal Division, which is responsible for enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut. Ms. Kaoutzanis joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2017 and, since 2022, has served as Chief of the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Unit (VCN), leading the implementation of the office’s four-city VCN strategy that focuses on reducing the number of homicides and other violent crime in our major cities. She also has been a leader in the office’s community engagement efforts related to violent crime reduction, most notably, the creation several years ago of the multi-disciplinary anti-violence Fed-Up program for younger students.
John T. Pierpont, Jr., has been named Chief of the VCN unit, which includes Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) prosecutions, the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), and violent crime, gangs and narcotics investigations. AUSA Pierpont joined the office in 2016, and previously served as Deputy Chief of the VCN unit and as PSN Coordinator.
Geoffrey M. Stone continues in his role as Deputy Chief of the VCN unit and as OCDETF Coordinator, which targets major drug trafficking operations responsible for the distribution of large quantities of narcotics by major drug trafficking organizations.
Lauren C. Clark, who has been an AUSA since 2017, is a new Deputy Chief of the VCN Unit and PSN Coordinator, overseeing firearms prosecutions that seek to deter the illegal possession of guns and reduce gun and gang violence.
“I am fortunate to lead an office of extremely talented individuals who are committed to the cause of justice, and I thank all who have agreed to serve in these important roles,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “I am confident that our office will continue to make Connecticut a safer place to live, and have a tremendous impact in our communities.”
The Criminal Division comprises three program-based units: Violent Crimes and Narcotics, Financial Fraud and Public Corruption, and Major Crimes and National Security. More information about the office’s Criminal Division is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/criminal-division.
The District is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and approximately 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport. Please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct for more information about the office.
Two Men Sentenced to 185 and 220 Months in Prison for Murder of Rival Drug Dealer in 2002Read the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that TERRIS OLIVER, a/k/a “T-Bird,” and RICARDO AYALA, a/k/a “Richie,” were sentenced to 185 and 220 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the March 27, 2002, shooting death of 19-year-old Atari Felton. OLIVER and AYALA were participants in a drug conspiracy, members of which shot and killed Felton after a feud broke out between their group and Felton’s own drug business. OLIVER was sentenced this afternoon, and AYALA was sentenced on May 6, 2024, both by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances. During their pleas, they admitted to participating in the Felton murder.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This case is yet another reminder that no matter how much time passes, this Office will prosecute, and seek significant sentences for, any drug dealers and gang members who shoot and kill another person. There is absolutely no excuse for the taking of another life. Atari Felton has been dead for longer than he lived — a tragedy brought about by gun violence that this Office and City should never abide.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment and Information and statements made in public court proceedings:
OLIVER and AYALA were members of a drug crew that conducted open-air drug sales around 240 East 175th Street in the Bronx, near Monroe Avenue. The group had planned to merge operations with Felton, but when that failed, Felton attempted to shoot at members of OLIVER’s and AYALA’s group. Later that night, OLIVER, AYALA, and several other men traveled to the area of 1665 Topping Avenue, where at least four men, including OLIVER, fired shots at Felton as Felton exited a corner store.[1] One bullet struck Felton in the back, causing lethal injuries.
Following the murder, both OLIVER and AYALA incurred arrests and periods of incarceration on state charges of, among other things, gun possession, to which OLIVER pled guilty in 2006, and continued drug distribution, to which AYALA pled guilty in 2004.
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OLIVER, 42, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and AYALA, 43, of the Bronx, New York, previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and both admitted to participating in the Felton murder. In addition to the prison term, OLIVER and AYALA were sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the New York City Police Department’s Cold Case Squad. He also thanked the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Intelligence Analysts for their support and assistance in this matter.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Balsamello, Andrew K. Chan, and Mathew Andrews are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] The Court accepted for purposes of sentencing that AYALA had acted as a lookout during the shooting.
Thoreau Woman Charged with Involutory ManslaughterRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Thoreau woman was charged by indictment with involuntary manslaughter.
Nora Abeita, 49, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, on May 28, 2023, Abeita was driving without due caution when she killed John Doe.
If convicted of the current charges, Abeita faces up to eight years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
View the IndictmentAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years for Possession and Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Christian Perez-Seda (38, Tampa) to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Perez-Seda pleaded guilty in March 2024.
According to court documents, on July 24, 2021, Perez Seda distributed 987 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer in exchange for $7,000. Perez-Seda then also “fronted” approximately 1 kilogram of methamphetamine to an individual working as a confidential informant. Later that day, Perez Seda was driving to sell more methamphetamine to the undercover officer when he was stopped by law enforcement. Law enforcement searched his vehicle and found approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, $3,686 in cash, and a Phoenix Arms .22 pistol.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman and Charlie Connally. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
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.
Stamford Man Admits Robbing 3 Banks in 2020Read the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that FRANCESCO PENSIERO, also known as Frank Pensiero, 51, of Stamford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to bank robbery.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 13, 2020, Pensiero and an associate robbed the Chase Bank located at 2855 Main Street in Stratford. During the robbery, Pensiero’s associate displayed a handgun on the teller counter and presented the teller with a note that read “this is a robbery give me all your money.” The teller provided Pensiero’s associate with approximately $1,000 and Pensiero and his associate exited the bank.
Later on October 13, 2020, Pensiero robbed the People’s United Bank located at 1160 Kings Highway Cutoff in Fairfield. During the robbery, he pulled out a handgun and presented the teller a note that stated “This is a robbery.” The teller provided Pensiero with $5,458 and Pensiero exited the bank.
On October 28, 2020, Pensiero and his associate robbed the People’s United Bank located at 95 Main Street in New Canaan. Pensiero displayed a handgun, provided the teller with a note demanding money, verbally threatened to kill the teller and other employees, and ordered the bank employees to lie on the floor. Pensiero and his associate stole $9,130 during the robbery, and fled from the bank in a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS. The following day, the car was set on fire on Green Avenue in New Canaan.
Pensiero was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on January 27, 2023.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Pensiero faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is released on a $100,000 bond.
Pensiero’s criminal history includes convictions for bank robbery and other offenses.
Pensiero’s associate was charged with, and convicted of, related state offenses stemming from these robberies.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stratford, Fairfield, and New Canaan Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings and Amanda S. Oakes.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 30 months in Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Springfield, Ill. – On June 3, 2024, a Springfield man, Kyle W. Harris, 29, of the 1700 block of East Watch Avenue was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment for bank robbery. Harris will serve a two-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment.
At the sentencing hearing, the government showed that on December 15, 2021, Harris robbed a Marine Bank branch in Springfield of just over $6,000 after passing a teller a note indicating he would shoot everyone in the bank. No firearm was brandished. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough noted that the bank employees and patrons were terrorized by the actions of the defendant.
Harris pled guilty on December 1, 2023. He has remained in the custody of the United States Marshal since the guilty plea.
The statutory penalties for bank robbery are not more than 20 years of imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The Springfield Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Harris 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.
Sin City Deciples Member Sentenced to 204 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Herman Troy Jefferson a/k/a “G-Rilla,” age 51, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after being found guilty of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine following an 18-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Jefferson was sentenced to 204 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to the Second Superseding Indictment, the Sin City Deciples, originally formed in 1967 in Gary, Indiana, is an outlaw motorcycle organization in which its members and associates engaged in acts of violence, extortion, and narcotics distribution in the Northern District of Indiana and elsewhere. Jefferson served as a National President of the entire club and conspiracy between 2017-2021. As National President Jefferson was 2nd in command behind the founder of the club. Jefferson utilized another motorcycle club to sell and traffic cocaine and marijuana for him. Additionally, he attempted to create a “pyramid scheme” of narcotics trafficking by asking members to contribute $10-$30 K of narcotics to be trafficked across the U.S. and promised a 20 percent return. At trial, individuals testified that Jefferson was confronted because this return on investment never occurred. Finally, as National President, multiple acts of extortion and violence took place under his leadership.
The agencies involved in this prosecution were: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gary Police Department, the Griffith Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents, the Merrillville Police Department, the Munster Police Department, and the Schererville Police Department. Also providing assistance were the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of Indiana, the Western District of Kentucky, and the Western District of Pennsylvania.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick, Michael J. Toth, and Kimberly L. Schultz.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was also 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.
Sequoyah County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Carl Ward, age 68, of Vian, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Indictment alleged that on January 2, 2024, Ward knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the same. According to investigators, Ward possessed and intended to distribute over 575 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Ward was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.
Sequoyah County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Beau Don Morton, age 41, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two separate counts of an Indictment.
The Government indictment alleged that from March 24, 2022, to April 6, 2022, Morton knowingly maintained a premises for the purpose of distributing and using a controlled substance. The indictment also alleged that on April 6, 2022, Morton knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition as an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Morton was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.
Roswell Man Sentenced for Sexually Exploiting Two Minors After Grooming Them on SnapchatRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A child predator who used the messaging app Snapchat to groom and sexually exploit young girls was sentenced to 235 months in prison after pleading guilty to criminal sexual acts against minors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, between September 2022, and November 18, 2022, Juan Rodriguez, 40, engaged in a sexual act with Jane Doe 1, a 12-year-old minor female on three occasions. Prior to engaging in sexual activity with Jane Doe 1, Rodriguez communicated with Jane Doe 1 on the instant messaging app Snapchat.
During the summer of 2021, Rodriguez engaged in a sexual act with Jane Doe 2, an 11-year-old minor female. Prior to engaging in sexual activity with Jane Doe 2, Rodriguez communicated with her on the instant messaging app Snapchat.
In his plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted that he knew Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 were minors when he communicated with them.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Roriguez will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
This case was investigated by the Roswell Police Department and the FBI’s Albuquerque Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Romanian Man Extradited to Puerto Rico to Face Charges for Aggravated Identity Theft and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A citizen from the country of Romania was extradited from the United Kingdom to Puerto Rico to face charges of identity theft and fraud. On September 21, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment charging Vlad Terebes with conspiracy to commit identity theft; aggravated identity theft; conspiracy to commit access device trafficking in a counterfeit access device; trafficking in device-making equipment; and bank fraud. Terebes was extradited on Friday, May 31, 2024.
According to court documents, defendant Vlad Terebes and other co-conspirators acquired and then installed access device skimming equipment in the form of a card reader used to obtain information from credit and debit card transactions at several large retail stores in Manatí, Canóvanas, Caguas, and Carolina, Puerto Rico.
From on or about March 8, 2022, to on or about March 13, 2022, defendant Vlad Terebes and other co-conspirators obtained credit and debit card numbers, names, and personal identifying information of approximately 1,215 customers from the large retail stores in Manatí, Caguas, Canóvanas, and Carolina, and attempted to obtain approximately $20,421 in funds from the unsuspecting customers’ bank accounts held by a financial institution in Puerto Rico. As a result of the investigation conducted by the United States Secret Service, Terebes was identified and ultimately apprehended in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2024 at the request of the United States.
“Financial fraud is one of the largest challenges facing American citizens and businesses today. Prevention and prosecution of crimes of this nature will remain a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we will not be deterred by individuals who attempt to flee from prosecution. In coordination with the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, we remain committed to the arrest and extradition of those who commit crimes in Puerto Rico,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
The defendant made his initial court appearance yesterday, June 3, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López for the District of Puerto Rico and was ordered detained. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least two years for each aggravated identity theft charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Terebes from the United Kingdom. The United States also thanks United Kingdom law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance in securing Terebes’ extradition. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Rochester man pleads guilty to drug chargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Arcides Castillo-Dieguez, 59, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. McGrath, who is handling the case, stated that over the course of a long-term narcotics investigation, law enforcement identified Castillo-Dieguez as a bulk supply source of fentanyl for other Rochester drug dealers. Investigators identified several locations from which Castillo-Dieguez either sold or stashed fentanyl for future distribution. In May 2023, multiple search warrants were executed at three of these locations on Avenue A, East Main Street, and Durnan Street. One of the locations was used as a day care facility. Investigators seized over four kilograms of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and heroin. Drug paraphernalia was also seized during the searches. This is Castillo-Dieguez’s sixth felony conviction for an offense involving the illegal distribution of controlled substances.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, III, New York Field Division, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, and the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (GRANET).
Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
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Readout of U.S. Attorney Waldref’s Remarks Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Spokane, WashingtonRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Waldref met with state, local, federal, and community stakeholders at Spokane Fire Station No. 1 on June 4, 2024, as part of the City’s emergency declaration for implementing an integrated response to address the opioid crisis in the City of Spokane. In her remarks at the press conference in which Mayor Lisa Brown made the emergency declaration, U.S. Attorney Waldref expressed her gratitude to the many partners and stakeholders, who gathered together to implement ideas for improving public safety in the downtown corridor.
U.S. Attorney Waldref explained how she was born and raised in Spokane and how she and her husband proudly raise their two kids here. U.S. Attorney Waldref expressed how deeply she cares for everyone’s safety here in Eastern Washington, especially given how the Spokane community is facing an extraordinary challenge with the growing and continued influx of deadly fentanyl and other drugs. As U.S. Attorney Waldref put it, “The fentanyl crisis is the new face of the opioid epidemic and the death and tragedy that we are witnessing are staggering. The downtown area has been hit particularly hard.”
U.S. Attorney Waldref further remarked that the mission of her office is to build a safe and strong Eastern Washington community, which starts with building critical partnerships to have both (1) law enforcement strategies with our key partners at the Spokane Police Department and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office; and (2) proactive engagement to empower our community to protect our loved ones. U.S. Attorney Waldref further explained, “My job as the chief federal prosecutor is to set strategic enforcement priorities to identify and prosecute the most significant drivers of violent crime. Drug trafficking and violent crime are closely linked. My team works closely with DEA and all our law enforcement partners, and we have seized hundreds of thousands of poison fentanyl pills and other drugs – keeping these dangerous substances out of the hands of drug traffickers and out of our community. We are prioritizing the prosecution of fentanyl cases – vigorously seeking to disrupt the sources of drugs in our communities and to send a strong deterrent message to criminal drug networks.”
As part of her remarks, U.S. Attorney Waldref highlighted two recent cases touching on the fentanyl crises in Spokane and throughout Eastern Washington:
- United States v. Alexander Kosnicki involved a repeat offender, who was distributing drugs at a local charity. Mr. Kosnicki, who was convicted at trial and is awaiting sentencing, was trespassing at an apartment complex, when he was contacted by law enforcement. After he was arrested, law enforcement located a stolen gun and large amounts of fentanyl inside his sock, along with a substantial amount of U.S. currency from drug trafficking. The case came together and was able to be prosecuted in federal court because of the incredible partnership between state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the ATF, DEA, and Spokane Police Department.
- United States v. Robert Patrick Hanrahan, et. al. involved the takedown of a criminal enterprise, which operated a large scale organized crime operations in Eastern Washington, including in Spokane, Yakima, Walla Walla, and elsewhere. Takedown included federal indictments for nearly 40 criminal defendants. The case involved tremendous collaboration between the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Prisons, U.S Marshals Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Yakima Police Department, Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, and the Washington State Department of Corrections. The investigation and prosecution has led to the recovery of significant quantities of drugs, guns, and drug proceeds from throughout the greater Spokane area, and throughout Washington state.
U.S. Attorney Waldref concluded her remarks by recommitting her team to seeking justice in critical cases like these and by implementing an all-hands-on-deck strategy involving prosecution, prevention, and treatment. She explained, “We have to do more to stop the flood of these pills into our community. Federal prosecutors around the country are working closely with our Tribal, federal, state, and local partners to identify and prosecute the drug traffickers who seek to profit from the sale of these deadly substances in our communities. We target the command and control elements of the cartels, the money launderers, and the violent and heartless individuals who choose to sell this poison. Through our law enforcement efforts, we are seeking to hold these criminals responsible for the damage that they have caused to our communities. The impact and overall effectiveness of our joint efforts are directly dependent on the community, law enforcement, health care, prevention and social service professionals working together to mitigate the fentanyl drug threat. I am committed to prosecuting the criminal drug cartels who put our communities and our youth at risk. Our office has been prosecuting fentanyl cases since 2016, and we will continue vigorously prosecuting these cases as part of our ongoing efforts to build safer and stronger communities in the Eastern District of Washington.”
Providence Man Who Admitted His Role in a Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Involving the Kidnapping a U.S. Postal Worker Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Providence man who previously admitted to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, which involved a plot to kidnap a U.S Postal Service (USPS) employee while members of the conspiracy searched for missing cocaine that had been shipped from Puerto Rico, was sentenced today to nearly six years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Irving Medina, 36, pleaded guilty on March 14, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to possess 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 70 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release.
In addition to admitting to his role in the conspiracy, Irving Medina admitted that co-conspirators abducted a USPS employee in an effort to locate the drugs. Medina conducted surveillance outside of a Pawtucket post office on May 28, 2021, and the next day outside of a mailman’s home. As alleged in court documents, on June 1, 2021, members of the conspiracy kidnapped the letter carrier at gunpoint and drove him to his home, interrogating him about the missing cocaine. After it became obvious that the mailman knew nothing about the missing drugs, and after the men learned that the letter carrier did not have a key with him to allow them to enter his locked home to search for cocaine, the kidnappers returned the mailman to an area near where his postal truck was parked.
According to information presented to the court, three packages, each containing approximately one kilogram of cocaine, were seized by law enforcement. On August 31, 2021, law enforcement executed a court-authorized search of Irving Medina’s residence, and seized numerous items associated with drug trafficking, including $800 in cash, fifty bags filled with fentanyl, three bags filled with cocaine base, and a quantity of cutting agent.
The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of Pawtucket Police, Rhode Island State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force, Rhode Island State Police K-9 Unit, Rhode Island High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, and the United States Marshals Service.
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Professional Rock Climber Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexual Assaults in Yosemite National ParkRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Charles Barrett, 40, was sentenced today to life in prison for two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact that occurred during a weekend in Yosemite National Park, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
“Barrett’s long history of sexual violence supports the imposition of a life sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “He used his status as a prominent climber to assault women in the rock-climbing community, and when his victims began to tell, Barrett responded by lashing out publicly with threats and intimidation. This case is a testament to the courage of the victims who reported these crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate and prosecute violent crimes in National Parks like Yosemite.”
“We are grateful for the tireless work of the National Park Service investigative team and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring this case to justice,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message about the consequences of this criminal behavior. It makes Yosemite a safer place for the climbing community, park visitors and our employees.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in August 2016, the victim went to Yosemite for a weekend of hiking, and Barrett, who was living and working for a private business in the park, sexually assaulted her three times. During trial, three other women testified that Barrett also sexually assaulted them. These assaults were not charged because they were outside federal jurisdiction but were admitted at trial as relevant to the charged assaults.
According to court documents, in 2017, seven years after he assaulted one of the victims who testified at trial, Barrett purposely climbed at a rock-climbing gym where the victim attended. She then disclosed Barrett’s assault on her to the gym owner in the interest of protecting other women at the gym. Barrett responded by harassing and threatening her for several years. In August 2022, he was convicted for criminal threats he made in January 2022.
While in custody on the present case, Barrett made hundreds of phone calls. On these calls, he showed no remorse or regret. Instead, he threatened to use violence and vindictive lawsuits against the victims, claiming that they designed a conspiracy to ruin his life
This case was the product of an investigation by the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael G. Tierney and Arin C. Heinz prosecuted the case.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Hyde Park man was sentenced today for being a felon in possession of a Smith & Wesson pistol loaded with ammunition.
King Belin, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In February 2024, Belin was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
On Dec. 20, 2020, Belin was stopped by law enforcement after he failed to yield at an intersection and nearly collided with another car. During the motor vehicle stop a Smith & Wesson, Model SD40VE .40 caliber pistol, loaded with 14 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition were found in Belin’s waistband. Belin then attempted to flee, and a struggle ensued. He was immediately apprehended.
At the time of the offense, Belin was on federal supervised release for a 2015 conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, for which he was sentenced to 71 months in prison. In 2010, Belin was convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of carrying a loaded firearm without a license, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in state prison and two years of probation.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Stoughton Police Chief Donna M. McNamara made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Dawley and Benjamin A. Tolkoff of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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.
Pinellas County Man Charged with Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Calvin Roy Dutton (60, St. Petersburg) with possession of child sexual abuse material. Dutton was arrested on May 31, 2024.
According to the criminal complaint, Dutton mailed a hard drive to a company in Illinois for repairs. The hard drive contained more than 1,000 images of child sexual abuse material. When an employee began his work to recover data from the hard drive, he discovered the child sexual abuse material and contacted law enforcement. On May 31, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Dutton’s home. Dutton admitted that he owned the hard drive and that he had copied files from his laptop to it.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
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 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.
Nine Sentenced in Interstate Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Spanning California, Arizona, and Central FloridaRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced nine individuals to federal prison for their respective roles in a multi-kilogram cocaine and methamphetamine distribution operation. The multi-agency investigation lasted two years and spanned from Central Florida to Arizona and California. Each individual charged in the case was found guilty by a jury or pleaded guilty for their role in the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and related offenses, and were sentenced as follows:
Name
Offense(s)
Date of Conviction
Sentencing Date
Judgment
Luis Miguel Hernandez
(36, Phoenix, AZ)
500 grams methamphetamine; 5 kilograms cocaine
8/10/23
(pleaded guilty)
12/13/23
9 years, 1 month
Saul Sandoval
(41, Phoenix, AZ)
500 grams methamphetamine
12/27/23
(pleaded guilty)
5/31/24
10 years
Zara Mascarella
(20, Palm Coast, FL)
500 grams methamphetamine; 500 grams cocaine
9/12/23
(pleaded guilty)
12/19/23
5 years
Camarie Shavers
(24, Bunnell, FL)
500 grams cocaine
9/20/23
(pleaded guilty)
12/11/23
2 years, 6 months
Alfred L. Shavers
(50, Bunnell, FL)
cocaine; possession of a firearm by convicted felon
2/23/24 (jury trial)
6/3/24
16 years
Alfred L. Shavers Jr.
(26, Bunnell, FL)
50 grams methamphetamine
9/18/23
(pleaded guilty)
12/11/23
5 years
Jimmie Lee Bizzell
(53, Bunnell, FL)
500 grams methamphetamine
9/18/23
(pleaded guilty)
1/16/24
6 years
Wendell Ferreira
(42, Berlin, CT)
500 grams methamphetamine, 5 kilograms cocaine
1/31/24
(pleaded guilty)
5/13/24
2 years, 9 months
Tyrone Jones
(56, Palm Coast, FL)
500 grams methamphetamine (2 counts); 50 grams methamphetamine
2/23/24
(jury trial)
6/3/24
10 years
According to court records, during the investigation, federal agents and task force officers identified several members of the conspiracy and the methods used by the drug trafficking organization (DTO) to ship methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico across the United States to Central Florida using commercial trucks. Law enforcement tracked the drugs from Phoenix and Los Angeles gathering vital intelligence on the DTO. Bizzell and Ferreira were the commercial truck drivers who transported the drugs from California and Arizona to Florida.
On October 31, 2022, search warrants were executed at six locations in Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Daytona Beach, Florida. As a result, 44.54 kilograms of methamphetamine and 2.72 kilograms of cocaine were seized. In addition, nine guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were seized from a location where Alfred Shavers resided. Jones, Mascarella, Alfred Shavers, Alfred Shavers, Jr., and Camarie Shavers were identified as drug traffickers in Central Florida.
Law enforcement determined that Sandoval and Hernandez were the sources of the methamphetamine and cocaine from Phoenix and Los Angeles. Agents learned they had brokered deals with co-conspirators in Mexico who were sending drugs across the border for Sandoval and Hernandez to sell. Authorities believe that since 2021, Sandoval and Hernandez distributed more than 300 kilograms of drugs that were shipped to Central Florida.
On April 25, 2023, Sandoval was arrested in Phoenix and a search warrant was executed at his residence. Inside his home, agents located 1,114 grams of fentanyl pills, 18 firearms, 4 firearm suppressors, and more than $5,000 in cash. The illegal firearms included fully automatic firearms, short-barreled firearms, and auto switches designed to be installed on Glock handgun slides to transform the handguns into machineguns. Hernandez was arrested in Los Angeles on the same day he was conducting a new drug trafficking deal for approximately 36 kilograms of methamphetamine. Both were returned to the Middle District of Florida for prosecution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Daytona Beach Resident Agency, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the DeLand Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Sartoian and Matthew Del Mastro.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Mexican Citizen Previously Convicted of Drug Trafficking Sentenced to a Year for Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Eli Torres-Banos, 36, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to a year in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States. Torres-Banos pleaded guilty to this charge on March 15, 2024.
In 2009, Torres-Banos was convicted in this district of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Following the completion of a one-year federal prison sentence, Torres-Banos was removed from the United States to Mexico. As a condition of his removal, Torres-Banos was ordered to not reenter the United States.
On June 7, 2023, Torres-Banos was arrested for a misdemeanor traffic offense in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement became aware of Torres-Banos’s illegal presence in the country following a fingerprint match during the booking process.
On December 6, 2023, Torres-Banos was arrested in Jefferson County following his indictment in this case. During the arrest, law enforcement found 8.5 kilograms of cocaine in a vehicle associated with Torres-Banos. He was indicted for the cocaine found during the December 6th arrest and that case is scheduled for trial on September 23, 2024. Torres-Banos is presumed innocent of the cocaine charge unless proven guilty.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson said that Torres-Banos’s prior federal conviction was an aggravating factor in determining a sentence.
The charge against Torres-Banos was the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven P. Anderson and Steven C. Ayala prosecuted this case.
Mescalero Man Sentenced for Domestic AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man was sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty in to assault of an intimate partner by strangling.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on July 19, 2023, Ashton Louis Apachito, 20, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, assaulted his girlfriend, Jane Doe, at his mother’s house.
Following the incident, Jane Doe left the residence to stay with her mother. Over the next several days, Apachito harassed Jane Doe by phone and threatened to throw all her belongings in the road. On July 29, Jane Doe returned to the residence to collect her belongings, at which time Apachito attacked Jane Doe, pushing her to the ground, kicking her in the stomach multiple times and choking her.
The next morning, Jane Doe called her mother and asked her to pick her up. Jane Doe’s mother reported the domestic violence to BIA and Jane Doe was transported to the Lincoln County Medical Center for treatment. Jane Doe’s injuries included swelling and dark bruising on her left eye, slight bruising on her right eye, bruising on both facial cheeks, bruising on the left side of her stomach and hip, and bruising on her right triceps.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.
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Member of White Supremacist Group Sentenced for Federal Hate Crimes for Conspiracy Targeting Black and Jewish People and Defacing Michigan Synagogue with Neo-Nazi SymbolsRead the Press Release
MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Nathan Weeden, 23, of Houghton, Michigan was sentenced to 26 months for conspiring with other members of a white supremacist group, The Base, to victimize Black and Jewish people, and for defacing Temple Jacob, a Jewish synagogue in Hancock, Michigan, using swastikas and symbols associated with The Base.
“Today’s sentencing sends a strong message that hate will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “No one should be the target of hate because of their race, ethnicity, religion, or any other status. When hateful words become hateful acts, my office will use every tool we have to protect the public and secure justice like we did in this case.”
“This sentence sends a strong message that threatening and intimidating people because of their religion, race or ethnic characteristics will not be tolerated in this country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “White supremacist-fueled violence is a stain on our history and perpetrators of such violence will be held accountable. No one should live in fear because of who they are, what they believe or where they worship. The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute those who desecrate houses of worship and who conspire to intimidate people seeking to exercise the legal rights guaranteed to all Americans.”
In January, Weeden was convicted at trial of one count of conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in the exercise of their rights and one count of intentionally defacing, damaging or destroying religious property because of the race or ethnic characteristics of individuals associated with that property. Weeden's co-conspirators Richard Tobin (see here and here) and Yousef Barasneh (see here and here) were previously convicted of federal crimes in this incident.
In September 2019, Weeden, Tobin, and Barasneh – all members of The Base, a multi-state, white supremacist organization – used an encrypted messaging platform to discuss vandalizing property associated with African Americans and Jewish Americans. Weeden and his co-conspirators dubbed their plan, “Operation Kristallnacht,” which in German means “Night of Broken Glass.” This term referenced events that took place on November 9-10, 1938, in which Nazis murdered Jews and burned and destroyed their homes, synagogues, schools, and places of business. Weeden carried out this plan on September 21, 2019, when he spray-painted swastikas and symbols associated with The Base on the outside walls of Temple Jacob.
In its Sentencing Memorandum, attached to this press release, the government urged the Court to sentence Weeden to at least 36 months incarceration, considering the nature and extent of his hate crimes, his persistent dedication to violent neo-Nazi ideology, his prior illegal conversion of a rifle to a fully automatic weapon, his lack of remorse, the danger he poses to the community, and the need for deterrence.
“Intimidation, vandalism, and other hateful threatening acts will not be tolerated by any group of people in this state or nation, and today's sentence reflects that belief,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is always committed to combatting hate crimes and seeking justice for all. If you are a victim of or witness to a hate crime, call 1-800-225-5324 or submit a tip to tips.fbi.gov.”
“Accountability matters. Today’s sentence is representative of our community's views on hate crime-inspired violence. People who engage in this behavior will be identified and fully prosecuted by the law,” said Special Agent in Charge James Deir of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Detroit Field Office. “ATF is steadfast in its commitment to protecting everyone across this great state against violent criminals fueled by hatred and intolerance.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Hancock Police Department.
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Mason City Woman Pleads Guilty to Being a Drug User in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A drug user who possessed firearms pled guilty on June 3, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.
Brittany Graham, age 36, of Mason City, was convicted of one count of being a drug user in possession of firearms. At the plea hearing, Graham admitted that, in August 2022, she possessed four pistols while she was an unlawful user of marijuana.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Graham remains free on bond previously set. Graham faces a possible maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mason City Police Department, the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR 23-3014.
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Maryland Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Second Degree Murder While ArmedRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – David Botchway, 20, of Gwynn Oak, MD, was sentenced on May 31, 2024, to 18 years in prison for second degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Andre Baker, of Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt also ordered the defendant to complete five years of supervised release, register as a gun offender, pay a fine to victim’s compensation fund, and receive mental health treatment.
According to the government’s evidence, on August 5, 2023, Mr. Baker and two friends were standing near a bus stop in the 1200 block of U Street Northwest, after enjoying a night out in the U Street neighborhood. At around 5:01 a.m., Botchway approached the group and, without warning or any provocation, pointed the gun at Mr. Baker and shot him multiple times in the head and torso. Mr. Baker died a short time later. One of the bullets also grazed one of the victim’s friends.
In announcing the sentence U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Nebiyu Feleke of the Homicide section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Marriott International Agrees to Address Barriers to Making Reservations for Accessible Rooms at Marriott-Branded HotelsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced today that it has reached an agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Marriott International, Inc. (Marriott), to address barriers to making reservations for accessible rooms at Marriott-branded hotels across the United States. Under the terms of the agreement, Marriott will make improvements to a wide range of its reservation processes to make it easier for hotel guests to reserve and stay in the accessible rooms they need to accommodate their disabilities. Marriott will also pay a $50,000 civil penalty.
Marriott is based in Bethesda, Maryland, and is one of the world’s largest hotel chains, with direct management of over 600 hotels in the United States as well as over 5,000 hotels in the United States franchised under more than 20 hotel brands (see below for list of brands). Most hotels under Marriott brands are owned and operated by independent franchisees, but Marriott operates a centralized reservation system.
“Today’s agreement with Marriott International will significantly improve the experience for individuals with disabilities when they reserve accessible rooms at Marriott-branded hotels,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “We commend Marriott International for addressing obstacles these individuals face in obtaining the accommodations they need. This agreement reflects our commitment to enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires equal treatment for people with disabilities.”
ADA Rules for Hotel Guests Who Need Accessible Rooms
In 2010, to further implement the ADA as it applies to hotels and other types of temporary lodging, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued the Reservation Rule, intended to ensure that individuals with disabilities making reservations for hotel rooms with accessible features could do so on an equal basis as other individuals reserving hotel rooms. In explaining the need for rules covering hotel reservations, DOJ observed, “Each year the Department receives many complaints concerning failed reservations [for accessible rooms],” and “individuals with disabilities expressed frustration . . . because of shortcomings in [then] current hotel reservations systems.”
The rule requires hotels to facilitate accessible room reservations on an equal basis as reservations for other rooms by (1) providing detailed information about accessible features in hotel guest rooms; (2) ensuring that accessible guest rooms are held for use by individuals with disabilities; (3) reserving specific types of accessible guest rooms, and (4) ensuring that those rooms are held for the individuals with disabilities who reserve them.
Also in 2010, the DOJ adopted revisions to the ADA Standards for Accessible Design and issued Guidance on those Standards (the 2010 Standards). The 2010 Standards require hotels to offer and maintain minimum numbers of guest rooms with accessible features, and to provide choices of the types of accessible guest rooms that are comparable to the choices provided to other guests.
The Reservations Rule, 2010 Standards, and other materials can be found at www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Investigation
DOJ received a number of complaints from individuals with disabilities relating to the reservation of accessible rooms at Marriott-branded hotels. The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s investigation of Marriott’s reservation practices encompassed a wide range of issues, and included examining how guests make reservations in a variety of contexts, including through Marriott’s website (marriott.com), by telephone through Marriott-operated call centers, through third-party websites such as Expedia.com and Booking.com, and using points earned through Marriott’s customer loyalty program, Bonvoy.
Based on its investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office found that guests faced barriers in making reservations for accessible rooms, both online and through the phone, and that Marriott did not always make all of its accessible rooms available to guests to reserve. Specifically, the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleged that Marriott’s reservations practices had the following major deficiencies that violated the ADA:
- Many Marriott-branded hotels did not have any accessible rooms listed on Marriott’s centralized electronic reservations system.
- Many Marriott-branded hotels did not have the minimum number of accessible rooms required by the ADA Standards listed on Marriott’s centralized electronic reservations system.
- Information about accessible rooms was not readily available on Marriott’s website, which made it more difficult for a guest to independently assess whether a hotel could meet guests’ accessibility needs.
- Before October 2022, guests could not use third-party websites such as Expedia.com or Booking.com to guarantee reservations for accessible rooms at Marriott-branded hotels.
Marriott denies the allegations and denies that it violated the ADA. The agreement reached with the U.S. Attorney’s Office is not an admission of liability by Marriott.
Changes to Marriott’s Reservations Systems in the Settlement Agreement
To resolve the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s investigation, Marriott agreed to make a number of changes to its reservations policies and practices as part of a comprehensive settlement agreement, including taking the following actions:
- Marriott will require that all Marriott-branded hotels accurately list their accessible-room inventory on Marriott’s centralized electronic reservations system.
- Marriott will list the inventory of accessible rooms for each Marriott-branded hotel in a single location on the hotel’s website.
- Marriott will require that accessible-room inventories at Marriott-branded hotels are made available to the major third-party hotel reservations websites.
- Marriott will make additional accessible rooms available for reservation using Marriott’s Bonvoy rewards-points system.
- Marriott will train its call-center employees on the procedure for handling requests for accessible-room reservations.
- Marriott will track complaints from guests about issues relating to reserving accessible rooms.
- Marriott will require Marriott-branded hotels to report whether they are in compliance with the minimum number of accessible rooms required by the ADA Standards.
This agreement with Marriott covers room reservations made at hotels located in the United States under the following hotel brands: AC Hotels by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, Autograph Collection Hotels, Courtyard, Delta Hotels, Edition, Element Hotels, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Four Points, Gaylord Hotels, JW Marriott, Le Méridien, The Luxury Collection, Marriott Hotels, Moxy Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Residence Inn, The Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, SpringHill Suites, St. Regis, TownePlace Suites, Tribute Portfolio, W Hotels, and Westin.
Additional information about the civil rights enforcement program for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/civil-rights-enforcement. To report a possible civil rights violation to the DOJ outside of Colorado, please visit https://www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeyen Wu.
Settlement Agreement