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14 May 2024
U.s. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN — In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz stated: “In my almost two decades as a federal prosecutor, I have had the honor of working hand-in-hand with the law enforcement officers who keep us safe. I have also visited with the families of those officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the people of West Tennessee. The bravery and dedication of these officers inspire me every day. On behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I extend our deepest gratitude to the women and men in law enforcement who risk their lives to protect us.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
U.s. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
“Every day, brave men and women across the Eastern District of Wisconsin answer the call to serve and protect our communities as members of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement,” stated U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “Their task is difficult, dangerous, and critically important. My colleagues and I are incredibly grateful for the sacrifices made by these individuals and their loved ones. Throughout this week, we have been honoring men and women in Wisconsin who have been injured or lost their lives in the line of duty, both in public settings and through private remembrances focused on the specific circumstances of individual officers. We must always remember, honor, and support these officers and their families.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices.
Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
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Two St. Louis Men Accused of Murder-for-Hire in Teen's ShootingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two men from St. Louis, Missouri have been accused of a role in the murder of an 18-year-old St. Louis man in 2021.
Anthony Stewart, 25, and Patrick Robinson, 23, were each indicted May 8 on one count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and one count of murder-for-hire.
The indictment accuses them of conspiring to murder Dwayne Wysinger Jr., who was killed Aug. 14, 2021, in St. Louis.
A motion seeking to hold Stewart and Robinson in jail until trial says they were told there was a bounty on Wysinger’s head. After locating Wysinger’s vehicle, they waited until he appeared and got into the car before opening fire, striking him multiple times.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.
Three Houston County, Alabama Residents Sentenced for KidnappingRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that a federal judge in Montgomery, Alabama, sentenced three defendants for kidnapping a minor and transporting her from Alabama to Florida. On May 14, 2024, 20-year-old Molly Michele Jarrett received a sentence of 104 months in prison, 24-year-old Coby Jerome Jordan received a 92-month sentence, and Destiny Star Lewis, also 24-years-old, received a sentence of 70 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to the plea agreements and other court records, late in the evening on November 4, 2022, Jarrett, Jordan, and Lewis picked up their victim from her residence in Dale County, Alabama. They did so under seemingly sociable circumstances. After driving around in rural parts of the Wiregrass area, they made a stop at Jordan’s and Jarrett’s residence in Pansey, Alabama. Eventually, the four decided to go for another drive in the rural parts of the area and stopped at an abandoned structure in Jackson County, Florida. Jordan forced the victim out of the vehicle and began beating her. Jarrett encouraged her to do so. Eventually, Jarrett directed Jordan to restrain the victim. Jordan used zip ties and duct tape to secure the victim’s ankles and wrists. Lewis assisted Jordan by retrieving those items from inside the vehicle.
The victim was then loaded back into the vehicle and driven to a secluded area, placed near a tree, and concealed with brush. Jarrett, Jordan, and Lewis returned to Alabama. The victim eventually freed her feet from their bonds and made it to a nearby residence where she was provided with assistance. Earlier this year, Jarrett, Jordan, and Lewis each pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping charges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jackson County, Florida Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuted.
Three Defendants Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Conspiracy and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances OffensesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A U.S. District Court judge today sentenced three of 10 defendants who conspired to create a blockade at a Washington, D.C. reproductive health care clinic to prevent the clinic from providing, and patients from receiving, reproductive health services. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced Lauren Handy, 30, of Alexandria, Virginia, to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release. John Hinshaw, 69, of Levittown, New York, received 21 months incarceration and three years of supervised release. William Goodman, 54, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced to 27 months and three years of supervised release. All three were convicted by a jury of civil rights conspiracy and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act violations. Four additional defendants will be sentenced tomorrow and two more in the coming weeks. Another of the defendants, the only one to plead guilty, Jay Smith, 34, of Freeport, New York, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release in March 2023.
“These defendants conspired to use force to prevent fellow citizens from exercising rights protected by law,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves. “People cannot resort to using force and intimidation to prevent others from engaging in lawful activity simply because they disagree with the law. The Department was founded to protect the civil rights of our citizens and remains steadfast in this mission.”
“Violence has no place in our national discourse on reproductive health. Using force, threatening to use force or physically obstructing access to reproductive health care is unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “As we mark the 30th anniversary of the FACE Act, it’s important that we not lose sight of the history of violence against reproductive health care providers including the murder of Dr. David Gunn in Florida – tragic and horrific events that led to passage of the law. The Justice Department will continue to protect both patients seeking reproductive health services and providers of those services. We will hold accountable those who seek to interfere with access to reproductive health services in our country.”
“As evidenced by today’s sentencings, the FBI and our judicial system will not tolerate the obstruction of civil rights,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg. “The FBI will continue to investigate FACE Act violations in all jurisdictions, so patients and providers can exercise their right to receive or provide lawful reproductive health care without the threat of violence or intimidation.”
As the evidence at trial showed, the defendants, engaged in a conspiracy to create a blockade at the reproductive health care clinic to prevent the clinic from providing, and patients from receiving, reproductive health services. As part of the conspiracy, Handy, Hinshaw, and Goodman, traveled to Washington, D.C. from various northeast and midwestern states, to meet with Handy and participate in a clinic blockade that was directed by Handy and was broadcast on Facebook.
According to the evidence, Handy, Hinshaw, and Goodman – along with their co-conspirators – forcefully entered the clinic and set about blockading two clinic doors using their bodies, furniture, chains, and ropes. Once the blockade was established, their activities were live-streamed. The evidence also showed that the defendants violated the FACE Act by using a physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient, because they were providing or obtaining reproductive health services.
DEFENDANTS
NAME
AGE
GUILTY OF
SENTENCE
Lauren Handy
Alexandria, VA
30Found Guilty on August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act
Sentenced May 14, 2024, to 57 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release
John Hinshaw
Levittown, NY
69
Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced May 14, 2024, to 21 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release
William Goodman Bronx, NY
54
Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced May 14, 2024, to 27 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release
Jay Smith
Freeport, NY
34
Pleaded Guilty March 1, 2023, to Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced Aug. 17, 2023, to 10 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release
Jonathan Darnel Arlington, Va.
42
Found Guilty September 15, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentencing Scheduled for
May 15, 2024
Jean Marshall Kingston, Mass.
74
Found Guilty September 15, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentencing Scheduled for
May 15, 2024
Joan Bell
Montague, NJ
76
Found Guilty September 15, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentencing Scheduled for
May 15, 2024
Herb Geraghty Pittsburgh, Pa
27
Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentencing Scheduled for
May 15, 2024
Paula ‘Paulette’ Harlow
Kingston, MA
75
Found Guilty Nov. 16, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentencing Scheduled for
May 31, 2024
Heather Idoni Linden, Mich.
59
Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentencing Scheduled for
May 21, 2024
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office. It was prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Fraud, Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of New Jersey, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of New York, and Southern District of New York; and FBI Field Offices in Newark, New York City, Boston, and Detroit provided valuable assistance.
Thirteen people indicted in drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaineRead the Press Release
Seattle – Thirteen people indicted in a significant drug trafficking investigation are being sought by law enforcement with 10 of them in custody tonight, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The defendants are named in three different indictments for a drug trafficking scheme. Two additional defendants were arrested today on criminal complaints.
“These defendants were brazenly bringing large loads of drugs to western Washington and didn’t hesitate to arm themselves with high-powered firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Even after law enforcement seized the drugs in various traffic stops in Oregon and Washington, they were not deterred.”
The lead indictment names ten members of the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and alprazolam. Lead defendant Hector Duran Aldaco, 23, of Federal Way, Washington is also charged with using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Others named in the indictment include:
Damian Pina-Raymundo, 19, of Enumclaw, Washington
Daniel Moreno, 24, of Federal Way, Washington
Rogelio Pena, 21, of Tacoma
David Padilla, 22, of Kent, Washington
Neldin Licona Rivera, 33, of Seattle
Sebastian Esquivel Rojas, 20, of Federal Way, Washington
A second indictment charges Salina Rose Atsemet, 26, of Renton, Washington for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute it for a seizure on February 27, 2024, where one kilo of cocaine and two firearms were taken by law
enforcement.
In a third indictment, Brian Axel Pedraza Cisneros, 20, and Jose Rodolfo Aguilar Cortes, 21, both of Federal Way, Washington, are indicted for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for a seizure of 14 kilos of cocaine and one firearm on March 24, 2024, in Lewis County.
The indictments call for forfeiture of items linked to the criminal conduct including firearms that were seized in the case.
In the investigation prior to the arrests today, law enforcement seized: 59 kilograms of fentanyl pills, 81 kilograms of methamphetamine, 21 kilos of cocaine and eleven firearms.
Two additional defendants who were involved in the drug trafficking activity were arrested on criminal complaints today:
Brian Garcia Lopez, 23, of Kent, Washington and
Otis Lee Dew, 25, of Puyallup, Washington
Today alone law enforcement seized an additional 12+ kilograms of
methamphetamine, more than 14,000 fentanyl pills, a half-kilogram of cocaine and 42 firearms.
“Drugs and guns are a dangerous combination and this group had large amounts of both, posing a grave threat to Western Washington, “said David. F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The Drug Enforcement Administration is thankful to our Federal, state, and local partners who worked with us tirelessly on this case to safeguard the lives of our community endangered by this group.”
“Today’s enforcement action demonstrates the strength of partnerships around the region in keeping our communities safe.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “It’s satisfying to know the illegal drugs and weapons seized are now off the streets. The FBI and our partners will continue investigating these cases and holding those responsible accountable.”
The charges contained in the indictments and criminal complaints 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.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Seattle Police Department, Oregon State Police, Portland Police Department, California Highway Patrol, the Los Angeles Strike Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Centralia Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey Conzatti and Elyne Vaught.
St. George Businessman Sentenced to 29 Months’ Imprisonment for Fraudulently Receiving over $685,000 in COVID-Relief FundsRead the Press Release
ST.GEORGE, Utah – Bradford, Leland Fishback, 40, of St. George was sentenced today to over two years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release and ordered by the court to pay $685,845.05 in restitution. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert J. Shelby, comes after Fishback admitted to fraudulently obtaining government funds from programs intended to help employees and small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court documents and statements made at the change of plea hearing, Fishback pled guilty in September 2023 to wire fraud, money laundering, and false claims.
Fishback admitted that from 2020 to 2022, he devised a scheme to defraud and obtain money by fraudulently submitting requests for Employee Retention Tax Credits, by filing 22 Forms 941s with the Internal Revenue Service on behalf of his four businesses: Circle CPA; Fishback Tax; Snowflake Shavery; and World Horizons Outreach. As a result of his fraudulent filings, Fishback received $482,058.46 from the IRS.
Additionally, Fishback fraudulently submitted at least seven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to the Small Business Administration on behalf of his four businesses. Fishback’s false statements about the entities’ number of employees, wages paid, gross receipts, and profit and loss resulted in him receiving $77,629 in PPP loans.
Fishback also admitted to submitting at least five applications for Economic Injury Disaster (EID) loans to the Small Business Administration of behalf of his four business. His false applications led to him receiving $137,573.
Fishback further admitted to submitting false applications for unemployment benefits to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation. His false statements led to him receiving $45,831 in unemployment benefits.
In total, Fishback’s false statements resulted in him claiming $903,882.88 and receiving $685,845.05 in COVID-relief funds.
The case was investigated jointly by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dent and Jennifer K. Muyskens of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Springfield, Willard Residents Indicted in Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Three southwest Missouri residents are among five defendants indicted for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy after federal agents seized 16 kilograms of cocaine while arresting two co-defendants in Texas.
Mario Jose Castillo, 55, of Springfield, Mo.; Christhian Eduardo Cruz-Pineda, 22, a citizen of Honduras residing in Springfield; Johnathan David Emerson, 47, a resident of Willard, Mo.; and Bryan Ramirez-Aguero, 33, a citizen of Honduras, and Erika Martinez Hernandez, 40, a citizen of Mexico, both residing in Grand Prairie, Texas, were charged in a 10-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.
Today’s superseding indictment replaces an indictment returned on April 10, 2024. Today’s superseding indictment contains the same or similar charges as the original indictment, but increases the amount of cocaine allegedly distributed in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and lengthens the timeframe of the conspiracy to incorporate an additional drug seizure.
Federal agents arrested Ramirez-Aguero and Martinez Hernandez on April 11, 2024. At the time of their arrest for the original indictment, agents seized approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine and $145,123 from their residence. Today’s superseding indictment reflects that drug seizure.
The federal indictment alleges that all five of the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine from Dec. 12, 2021, to April 11, 2024.
In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Castillo is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Castillo, Emerson and Martinez Hernandez are charged together in one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Castillo and Martinez Hernandez are charged together in one count of unlawfully using a telephone to facilitate the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Castillo and Emerson are charged together in one count of money laundering.
Emerson and Cruz-Pineda are charged together in one count of possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Cruz-Pineda is charged with one count of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
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.
Springfield, Massachusetts Man Who Left Drug Trafficking for Barbering Sentenced to ProbationRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 13, 2024, Christian Torres-Santiago, 21, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III to two years of probation. Torres-Santiago previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base.
According to court records, in October 2022, Torres-Santiago was present at a residence in Bennington, Vermont, when law enforcement executed a search warrant. Among other contraband and other items found in the residence, law enforcement found in Torres-Santiago’s possession over 2,000 bags of fentanyl/heroin packaged for sale, approximately 25 grams of cocaine base, $4,400 in cash, and a Colt .45 caliber handgun, fully loaded with its serial number obliterated.
At sentencing, Judge Sessions emphasized the gravely serious nature of Torres-Santiago’s conduct and the danger it posed to the Bennington community. He also emphasized Torres-Santiago’s young age, his lack of any prior criminal history, and that since his arrest and release in the fall of 2022, Torres-Santiago has not only complied with all pretrial supervision conditions, but also studied for, and nearly completed the requirements to obtain, a barbering license in Connecticut. As Judge Sessions put it, he had “earned his freedom” by leaving the business of drug trafficking entirely and working hard to alter the direction of his life. The sentence of probation will require Torres-Santiago not to stray from this path, or, if he does, to face a resentencing on the full scope of his conduct.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Bennington Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne Smith and Jonathan Ophardt. Lisa Shelkrot, Esq., represented Torres-Santiago.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Springfield Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who is a registered sex offender was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography, which was discovered on his cell phone during an investigation into threats he made to a sheriff’s department employee.
Joshua Emanuel Wood, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Wood to 10 years of supervised release following incarceration.
On Dec. 12, 2023, Wood pleaded guilty to one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.
Wood is required to register as a sex offender due to his 2018 conviction of possessing child pornography. The investigation began when Wood left 41 threatening voice mail messages on May 29 and 30, 2022, for the employee of the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department who was in charge of registering sex offenders. The sex offender registrar reported those threats and law enforcement officers arrested Wood; the state felony charge related to this harassment is still pending.
Wood had a Google Pixel cell phone in his possession when he was arrested. Investigators found child sexual abuse material on the phone, including 107 images of child pornography, including depictions of infants being raped, as well as web searches for child pornography and visits to suspected child pornography websites. According to court documents, the forensic analysis of Wood’s cell phone demonstrated that he had been wiping his cell phone frequently, and the child pornography files had been received over a period of just a few days. Because he was regularly wiping his cell phone, it is difficult to know the extent of his involvement with child pornography.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Sex offender sentenced to 50 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors using FacebookRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 35-year-old Virginia resident has been sentenced for the sexual exploitation of children in the McAllen area, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Michael Tienping Tang pleaded guilty May 22, 2019.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Tang to serve 600 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence including how victims of these schemes frequently feel deep fear and shame and often delay in reporting the conduct. In this case, however, Judge Crane heard how two minor victims ultimately came forward and exposed Tang’s crimes.
The court handed down the prison term, noting Tang’s prior sex convictions and the fact that Tang committed this current scheme while under supervision for those prior cases. In addition, the court noted Tang’s use of social media to stalk his victims, their friends and family, as well as Tang’s use of multiple accounts to coerce over 50 victims into engaging in sexually explicit acts at his request. Tang will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will be required to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Tang will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Tang, a child predator, weaponized Facebook to serve his sick and depraved desires,” said Hamdani. “He used the common social media app to target, exploit and extort our most precious and vulnerable asset, our children. Today’s sentence shrinks Tang’s social circle shaped by the vastness of an online world to the restrictive confines of a federal penitentiary.”
“The abuse and exploitation of children is deeply cruel and violates the trust and safety of the victims. It generates trauma that may not heal. We hope today’s sentence provides some measure of justice to those he harmed,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “Fortunately, he will spend the next 50 years in prison where he cannot harm another child. We will seek the same lengthy sentence for anyone who seeks to take advantage of children in our communities.”
The investigation revealed Tang utilized Facebook to coerce and entice minor children to produce child pornography. Tang’s requests frequently included bestiality and would demand minor victims with younger siblings to produce images and videos engaging in sexually explicit conduct with their younger siblings.
The investigation began in May 2017 when authorities learned about the possible online sexual exploitation of two minor victim students within a local school district. Law enforcement discovered Tang coerced them into producing and sending images and videos depicting themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct to his Facebook profile. When the victims blocked Tang on Facebook, he created new accounts, communicated and interacted with the victim’s Facebook friends and contacts and regained access to them. After regaining access, Tang coerced both victims to engage in a list of sexual activities by threatening to disseminate their images and videos.
A federal search warrant of Tang’s Facebook account revealed over 50 potential minor victims who had sent and/or received child pornography.
Authorities identified a third minor victim who Tang coerced to produce and send images and videos depicting themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Tang further coerced this minor victim to produce a video using a younger fourth victim’s hand for sexually explicit conduct. When the minor victim did not meet Tang’s deadline to produce an additional video engaging in oral sex with the younger minor victim, Tang distributed the minor victim’s video.
Tang was previously convicted in 2012 of two separate child exploitation offenses including attempted indecent liberties with a child and two counts of possession of child pornography in Virginia.
Tang will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
HSI Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Investigations Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Sturgis and Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Portland Gang Leader Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—The leader of Portland’s 18th Street Gang was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a conspiracy to traffic large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine into the Portland area for redistribution and sale.
Gustavo Torres-Mendez, 38, a Portland resident, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in 2019, following his release from state prison for first degree robbery with a firearm, Torres-Mendez established himself as the leader of the 18th Street Gang in Portland. At the time, investigators were aware that Torres-Mendez maintained a significant stature with and history in the gang developed while serving time in Oregon state prisons and for his activities out of custody.
By late summer 2022, investigators had obtained significant evidence that Torres-Mendez and a close associate were leading a criminal enterprise active in selling counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in and around the Portland metro area. In early September 2022, investigators uncovered a major effort by Torres-Mendez and several associates to collect money for a large drug purchase and, within days, the group had collected more than $126,000 in cash. At around the same time, on September 7, 2022, police stopped a vehicle connected to the group traveling near Grants Pass, Oregon. A search of the vehicle returned more than 104 pounds of methamphetamine and eight pounds of cocaine.
On November 15, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment charging Torres-Mendez and six associates for conspiring with one another to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Two days later, on November 17, 2022, a multi-agency law enforcement operation was conducted targeting Torres-Mendez and his associates. A search of Torres-Mendez’s North Portland home returned a handgun, ammunition, tactical body armor, a small bag of “M30” counterfeit Oxycodone pills, and $6,386 in cash. On the same day, investigators located and seized 10 additional firearms at a location in Portland used by the 18th Street Gang to store and distribute drugs and keep weapons.
On September 6, 2023, Torres-Mendez pleaded guilty to conspiring with his associates to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Three of Torres-Mendez’s co-conspirators have also pleaded guilty and been sentenced to federal prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Portland Police Bureau. It was prosecuted by Thomas H. Edmonds and Nicole M. Bockelman, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This prosecution is the result 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 U.S. 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.
Platte Woods Business Owner Sentenced for Failing to Pay TaxesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Platte Woods, Mo., business owner was sentenced in federal court today for failing to pay more than $600,000 in federal income taxes over several years.
Daniel Alan Ryan, 63, was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill A. Morris to one year in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Ryan to pay a $20,000 fine and to pay $626,012 in restitution, plus interest, to the IRS.
Ryan is the owner of Ryan Roofing Systems, Inc., and Ryan Construction Systems, Inc.
On Dec. 5, 2023, Ryan pleaded guilty to one count of failing to file a tax return. Ryan also admitted that he failed to file income tax returns and pay his personal income taxes over a period of many years.
According to court documents, IRS investigators began questioning Ryan about his non-payment of taxes in early 2012. This investigation continued over the following years. After this criminal investigation became known to him, Ryan failed to file income tax returns from 2015 through 2017, resulting in a tax loss over those years of $138,385. Prior to these years, Ryan admitted that the tax loss from 2009 through 2013 totaled an additional $487,627, for a total amount of $626,012.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Daly. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
North Mississippi man sentenced to 20 years for threatening a mail carrierRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – A Sledge man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison following his conviction for threatening a postal employee with a dangerous weapon.
According to court documents, Henry Weaver, 47, was convicted in federal court on February 13, 2024, of one count of threatening a mail carrier with a dangerous weapon. The threat occurred in Marks, Mississippi, on April 23, 2022.
Weaver was sentenced today by United States District Judge Sharion Aycock to 240 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Weaver, who has been in custody since his arrest in April, 2022, was remanded to the U.S. Marshals to begin serving his sentence.
“We will not tolerate threats of violence against mail carriers while they are simply doing their jobs,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We commend the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their work on this investigation and for helping to protect the community from this defendant.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Quitman County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Robert Mims.
Nigerian Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for His Role in $1.1 Million Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Victor Uzor, 36, a Nigerian national, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge to 48 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and more than $1 million in restitution for his role in a $1.1 million business email compromise scheme.
On January 2, 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
The scheme typically involved another member of the conspiracy pretending to be a legitimate vendor and emailing a false invoice to the victim organization. Uzor’s role in the offense was to open a series of bank accounts using the identity of real people, who had no connection to the crime. Another conspirator arranged for the victims to send money to the accounts opened by Uzor. Uzor then quickly withdrew these funds and moved them to other accounts before the scam could be discovered.
In total, Uzor helped to steal approximately $1.1 million from the victim businesses and individuals, and unsuccessfully attempted to steal another $400,000. Among the scheme’s victims was a nonprofit provider of mental health care located in Doylestown, PA.
“First, Victor Uzor victimized the people whose identities he stole to facilitate this scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Then he helped prey upon the primary targets of the business email compromise, including a nonprofit organization in Bucks County dedicated to providing behavioral health care for the underprivileged and underserved — a safety net for those in need of care. In stealing from this provider, he shortchanged its employees, patients, and the community. My office is committed to holding accountable anyone involved in such a clear-cut case of fraud.”
"The FBI works each and everyday to dismantle fraud schemes that affect our citizens," said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. "Alongside our partners, we will continue to bring to justice criminals who orchestrate these scams, and protect the hard-earned assets of our citizens."
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Livermore.
New Port Richey Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Funds from Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Katheryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Anthony Green (71, New Port Richey) to 15 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $163,379.76, the proceeds of the offense. Green entered a guilty plea on January 24, 2024.
According to court documents, Green’s mother, E.G., received Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). E.G. passed away in October 2014. At the time of her death, her benefits were being sent via U.S. Treasury check, and the VA continued to issue these checks on behalf of E.G. after her death. Green forged E.G.’s signature on each monthly benefit check and deposited the checks into a bank account he controlled. In total, Green knowingly and willfully stole or converted approximately $163,379 in VA DIC.
“This sentence should send a message that the VA Office of Inspector General will vigorously investigate those who would fraudulently exploit VA programs intended to benefit surviving family members of deceased veterans,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the US Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.”
This case was investigated by the Veterans Affairs - Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.
New Britain Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAMON RAMOS-ACEVEDO, 48, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 135 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his trafficking fentanyl and cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force identified suspicious packages that were being mailed to a New Britain address connected to Ramos-Acevedo and his associate, Victor Rodriguez-Gomez, also known as “Calami,” who resided in Desert Hot Springs, California. A court-authorized search of one package, which had been mailed from California, revealed approximately one kilogram of fentanyl and one kilogram of heroin. In July 2022, USPIS investigators in San Bernardino, California, contacted Connecticut investigators to report that a court-authorized search of a package that was addressed to a residence on Willow Street in New Britain revealed eight cell phones. On August 1, 2022, investigators conducted a controlled delivery of the package in New Britain and observed Ramos-Acevedo and Rodriguez-Gomez take possession of it.
Investigators identified several additional suspicious packages associated with Ramos-Acevedo and, on August 11, 2022, observed Ramos-Acevedo in California mailing packages to an address in New Britain.
Investigators also developed evidence that Rodriguez-Gomez had an associate who used a van to transport narcotics from California, or another location in the southwestern United States, to addresses in Connecticut associated with Ramos-Acevedo. On August 25, 2022, investigators observed Ramos-Acevedo unloading items from the van in New Britain.
On September 7, 2022, the Connecticut State Police, which was assisting with surveillance, stopped a vehicle that Ramos-Acevedo was driving in Newington for a motor vehicle violation. Rodriguez-Gomez was a passenger in the vehicle. After a K-9 alerted to several items within the vehicle, a search revealed $179,578 in cash and nine cellphones. A subsequent search of a house in Farmington where Ramos-Acevedo claimed he was living resulted in the seizure of an additional $30,426 in cash.
On November 30, 2022, the Iowa State Patrol stopped an associate of Rodriguez-Gomez who was driving the van that had been identified in August 2022. A search of the van revealed approximately 22 kilograms of cocaine and two kilograms of fentanyl, which was destined for Ramos-Acevedo in New Britain.
Ramos-Acevedo has been detained since his arrest on December 1, 2022. On January 22, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Rodriguez-Gomez pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on April 11,2024, he was sentenced to 156 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force. The DEA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The USPIS Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, and Town of Groton Police Departments.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone and Shan Patel.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 130 Months in Federal Prison for Patronizing a Commercial Act with a MinorRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that a federal judge sentenced 45-year-old Jamecko Rontae Thomas, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 130 months in prison. Thomas’s sentence follows his entering a guilty plea for sex trafficking of a minor. During the May 13, 2024, sentencing hearing, the judge also ordered that Thomas serve five years of supervised release following the prison term. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, in July of 2021, Thomas went to a Montgomery hotel to engage in a commercial sex act with a female who was under the age of 18 at the time. A co-defendant arranged the encounter. When he pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, Thomas specifically admitted that the sex act occurred with a reckless disregard for the child’s age. Also pursuant to the plea agreement, Thomas admitted to both knowledge of past incidents of commercial sex acts arranged by his co-defendant and that he was aware of narcotics being used to induce sex trafficking victims.
“Sex trafficking is a terrible crime—one that scars its victims for a lifetime,” said United States Attorney Ross. “This prosecution should send a clear message that my office will hold all individuals accountable for their participation in child sex trafficking and child exploitation, whether they are the traffickers or merely patrons.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with Assistant United States Attorneys J. Patrick Lamb and Tara S. Ratz prosecuting.
Missouri and New Orleans Men Charged with $174 Million Conspiracy to Commit Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JAMIE P. McNAMARA (“McNAMARA”), age 48, of Missouri, and JOHN M. SPIVEY (“SPIVEY”), age 53, of New Orleans, were charged by a grand jury on May 10, 2024 in an 18-count superseding indictment for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, offering and paying kickbacks, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. McNAMARA was previously charged in the original indictment, returned on July 14, 2022, and the May 10, 2024 superseding indictment added SPIVEY.
According to the superseding indictment, McNAMARA and SPIVEY orchestrated a scheme to defraud Medicare by billing for cancer genetic testing and cardiovascular genetic testing that was ineligible for Medicare reimbursement because the testing was not medically necessary and was procured through the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes. McNAMARA and SPIVEY operated several laboratories, which obtained doctors’ orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries’ treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries, and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. The superseding indictment alleges that from in or around November 2018 through July 2020, the laboratories operated by McNAMARA and SPIVEY submitted over $174 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55 million in reimbursements. Following receipt of proceeds, McNAMARA and SPIVEY conspired to and did launder the funds. The government seized several luxury vehicles and over $7 million in bank accounts.
McNAMARA is charged in every count of the superseding indictment, and SPIVEY in charged in the Count 1 conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. If convicted of the conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, McNAMARA and SPIVEY face up to twenty years in prison. For each of the eight the health care fraud counts, McNAMARA faces up to ten years in prison. For the conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, McNAMARA faces up to five years in prison, and for both of the counts of offering and paying kickbacks, McNAMARA faces up to ten years in prison. For the conspiracy to commit money laundering and the two concealment money laundering counts, McNAMARA faces up to twenty years in prison, and for the transactional money laundering counts, McNAMARA faces up to ten years in prison. Both defendants face up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain to any defendant or loss to any person. The defendants also face a $100 mandatory special assessment per count.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the superseding indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses and Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Kelly Z. Walters and Justin M. Woodard.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, man convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024.
Verran Burdunice, 60, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Burdunice was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 21, 2024.
On February 1, 2023, Burdunice met with someone who, unbeknownst to him, was working with law enforcement to conduct a controlled purchase of crack cocaine from him. Following that meeting, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Burdunice’s vehicle in Brookings, South Dakota. A search of the car revealed approximately 212 grams of methamphetamine. This methamphetamine was later tested and found to be 100% pure.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brookings Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Burdunice was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Minneapolis Man Charged with Sexually Abusing Victim at Fort Irwin Training Center in San Bernardino CountyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Minnesota man was arraigned today on a two-count indictment charging him with sexually assaulting a subordinate at the United States Army Fort Irwin National Training Center in San Bernardino County.
Kelly Boylan, 54, of Minneapolis, is charged with one count of sexual abuse without consent and one count of abusive sexual contact. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and a jury trial was scheduled for July 8 in front of United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu. Boylan was ordered released on $25,000 bond.
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on April 16, Boylan in July 2020 knowingly engaged in a sexual act with the victim without her consent. Boylan allegedly did so by attempting to insert, and by inserting, his penis into the victim’s vagina.
Boylan allegedly also knowingly engaged in sexual contact with the victim without the victim’s permission, by intentionally touching, through direct contact, the victim’s genitalia and groin, with the intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, and degrade her, and to arouse and gratify Boylan’s sexual desire.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of both charges, Boylan would face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
The FBI is investigating this matter. The United States Army Criminal Investigation Division provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Lindhorst of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Minneapolis Felon Sentenced to over Nine Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms and Facilitating Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 117 months in prison for the illegal possession of two firearms, and for using one of them in furtherance of drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on January 11, 2020, law enforcement officers observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on I-394 in Golden Valley, Minnesota. When police attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver, Dejavareah Marquise Brown, 26, fled from police at over 100 mph, jumped a median, went airborne, and shredded the front tire of the vehicle. Officers twice attempted to stop the vehicle with a PIT maneuver and ultimately disabled the vehicle, at which time Brown fled on foot across the highway. Police found Brown hiding behind a brick pillar at a nearby store and detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from him. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers recovered a 9mm pistol with an extended high-capacity magazine loaded with 31 rounds and an additional 15 rounds of .380-caliber ammunition hidden in the trunk.
In March 2022, law enforcement received information that Brown was selling narcotics from his Minneapolis apartment and executed a search warrant. During the search, officers discovered a loaded .45-caliber pistol, a box of ammunition, 3500 M30 fentanyl pills, over 18 pounds of marijuana, over $650 cash, and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia inside the apartment.
Because Brown has a prior felony conviction, he is prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
On January 16, 2024, Brown pleaded guilty to two felon-in-possession counts, and to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Golden Valley Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.
Milford Resident Charged in “Arrest Warrant” Scam After Co-Conspirator Unwittingly Texts Federal AgentRead the Press Release
Public Urged to Beware of Rampant Financial Fraud Schemes
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Milford, Michigan resident Kari Melissa Morales, 51, was charged by a federal grand jury with participating in a fraud scheme that attempted to obtain $60,000 from a west Michigan resident in exchange for avoiding arrest and prosecution on a fake “FBI Warrant of Arrest” for a false allegation of “IRS tax fraud.”
“Financial fraud is rampant,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Fraudsters comes at us through our devices, in the mail, and at our doors. And they target some of our most vulnerable, especially senior citizens.” He continued: “Safety starts with awareness. Federal agencies like the IRS and FBI will never send anyone texts, emails, or other messages requesting or demanding money to dismiss an arrest warrant or criminal charges.”
Morales was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. According to the indictment, in early April 2024, Morales drove to Grand Rapids to exchange a fake “IRS receipt” and fake “FBI WARRANT OF ARREST” for $60,000 in cash she was to obtain for a co-conspirator. Morales obtained the fake documents from a co-conspirator she met online and never met in person, who instructed Morales to print the documents and exchange them for cash she was to receive from the female named in the documents. Morales was told she could keep $2,500 of the cash. During the attempted exchange, Morales carried a loaded firearm in a holster in her waistband and brought a gold police badge that was issued to another person by a municipality in the State of Michigan. The investigation of the scheme began when a co-conspirator posing as the “IRS fraud department” sent a text message to a cell phone number that previously was assigned to a female resident of Kent County. The co-conspirator did not know that the targeted victim’s cell phone number had been reassigned to a federal law enforcement agent in Kent County, Michigan.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to safeguarding all Americans from individuals who exploit innocent people through fraudulent and deceptive schemes,” said Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins of the Detroit Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Today's indictment should send a clear message to anyone contemplating engaging in similar scams that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with our law enforcement partners, is committed to holding these offenders accountable and ensuring they are brought to justice.”
The Justice Department, FBI, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service recently announced the completion of “The Money Mule Initiative,” a national campaign to identify, disrupt, and criminally prosecute complex fraud schemes. These schemes often rely on “money mules” – people who receive fraudulent proceeds, retain a portion, and forward the remainder to a co-conspirator – to facilitate schemes that often originate overseas. Many “advance fee” fraud schemes target older Americans and use various false stories designed to manipulate victims to mail, wire, or hand money to “money mules” located in the United States.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Michigan State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Chris O’Connor.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
For more information on preventing elder fraud and help for victims, visit the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative website, which includes a list of Michigan-specific resources. The FBI Elder Fraud website also provides several resources, including the following tips to help seniors protect themselves:
- Recognize scam attempts and end all communication with the perpetrator.
- Search online for the contact information (name, email, phone number, addresses) and the proposed offer. Other people have likely posted information online about individuals and businesses trying to run scams.
- Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to produce fear and lure victims into immediate action. Call the police immediately if you feel there is a danger to yourself or a loved one.
- Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, text messages, mailings, and door-to-door services offers.
- Never give or send any personally identifiable information, money, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire information to unverified people or businesses.
- Make sure all computer anti-virus and security software and malware protections are up to date. Use reputable anti-virus software and firewalls.
- Disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if you see a pop-up message or locked screen. Pop-ups are regularly used by perpetrators to spread malicious software. Enable pop-up blockers to avoid accidentally clicking on a pop-up.
- Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know, and be wary of email attachments forwarded to you.
- Take precautions to protect your identity if a criminal gains access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts, and monitor your accounts and personal information for suspicious activity.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. The Federal Trade Commission also provides a hotline at 877-FTC-HELP and a website at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov to receive consumer complaints.
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Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE - A Mescalero man pleaded guilty in federal court on May 7, 2024.
According to court records, Fulton C. Potter, 29, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, pleaded guilty in federal court to assault of an intimate partner by strangling or suffocating.
In his plea agreement, Potter admitted that he strangled his wife, Jane Doe, on November 24, 2023.
The Court ordered that Potter remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Potter faces up to 7 years in prison per the terms of the plea agreement.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matilda McCarthy Villalobos is prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement# # #
Members of Brooklyn-Based Hyena Crips Gang Charged with Multiple Murders and Racketeering Activity Spanning Nearly a DecadeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a superseding indictment was partially unsealed variously charging seven members of the Brooklyn-based Hyena Crips gang with racketeering and using a firearm in the course of a murder in connection with three murders, murder conspiracies, robberies and identity-fraud schemes dating back to 2012. Three defendants were arrested this morning and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. The four remaining defendants, who are in state and federal custody on other charges, will be arraigned at a later date.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region (DOL-OIG), announced the arrests and superseding indictment.
“For years, the Hyena Crips terrorized our community with brutal acts of violence—including murders, shootings and brazen armed-robberies—and funded their criminal activities through fraud schemes,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The crimes alleged in today’s superseding indictment illustrate well the damage this gang has wrought on individuals, small businesses and the community at-large. This Office and its law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to dismantle violent criminal enterprises, take out their leadership and obtain justice for their victims. It is my hope that today’s indictment brings some measure of solace particularly to the families of Samuel Joseph, Leandre Mallinckrodt and Roodson Polynice who were senselessly murdered.”
“As alleged, these defendants and the Hyena Crips gang at-large have for years inflicted unimaginable pain on the community and claimed the lives of innocent New Yorkers. While nothing can bring back Leandre Mallinckrodt, Samuel Joseph, and Roodson Polynice, HSI New York will never forget its commitment to seeking justice on behalf of victims, regardless of how much time has passed,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Arvelo. “HSI New York will not sit idly by as gangs terrorize the public. I commend our law enforcement partners, including the New York Police Department, for working together to eliminate violent criminal organizations and the fear they cause.”
“The ‘Hyena lifestyle’ was one of wanton violence coupled with acute ineptitude, as the individuals charged today allegedly murdered innocent men they mistook for rival gang members,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “The actions of this busy criminal network ranged from robbery to financial fraud, which, for too long, cast a pall over large swaths of our city. I highly commend all the investigators involved in this case, starting us toward a modicum of justice for the grieving families of those senselessly killed.”
“An important part of the mission of the U.S Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 pandemic unemployment insurance programs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations,” stated Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
As detailed in the government’s detention letter filed earlier today, the Hyena Crips set of the Crips street gang is a violent criminal enterprise operating in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn. The gang engages in acts of violence, including murder, robbery and assault, and earns money through drug trafficking, bank fraud and access device fraud. Members of the gang refer to each other as “Hyenas,” “Heenz” or some variation of hyena, and use social media emojis depicting a bluish-purple face with horns and an animal resembling what appears to be a hyena, wolf or fox.
Murder of Leandre MallinckrodtOn September 3, 2012, defendant Rick Jasmin and other members of the Hyena Crips were present at the annual West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn. A fight broke out and Jasmin allegedly stabbed Leandre Mallinckrodt, who the defendant mistook for a rival gang member, in the neck. Mallinckrodt, who had been visiting from upstate New York and had no gang affiliation, died from the wound.
Murder of Samuel JosephOn February 22, 2019, Martial H. Amilcar and a co-conspirator drove to 15-year-old Samuel Joseph’s apartment building and waited outside until Joseph’s teenage sister arrived at the building’s entrance. While Joseph’s sister prepared to enter the building, the victim was walking down an internal staircase towards the building’s exit. When Joseph’s sister opened the building door to enter, Amilcar walked into the building behind her, pulled out a gun and shot Joseph three times at close range, killing him. The shooting and events leading up to it were captured on security camera footage taken nearby. Amilcar and the co-conspirator allegedly killed Joseph in retaliation for an altercation earlier that day between Amilcar’s relative, a fellow gang member, and Joseph’s older brother, a rival gang member.
Murder of Roodson PolyniceIn the summer of 2020, Hyena Crips leader Dave Augustin allegedly directed Richler Morette and Bradley Augustin to retaliate against a rival gang for the non-fatal shootings of two Hyena Crips leaders. On September 2, 2020, Bradley Augustin, Morette and others allegedly carried out the fatal shooting of Roodson Polynice. Polynice, like Mallincrodt, had no gang affiliation and was killed after he was wrongly identified by the defendants as a rival. Following the murder, Morette responded to a group Facebook messages about Polynice’s death in which he replied with three laughing-face emojis and stated, “[d]on’t care who got hit” and “pic [sic] a side or get killed with them Hyenalifestyle or no life.”
COVID-19 FraudDave Augustin, Matthew Harris, Rick Jasmin, Wisny Joseph, and Richler Morette are charged with allegedly conspiring to commit identity fraud in connection with fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits and loans issued by the Small Business Administration for relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dave Augustin, Harris, Joseph and Morette are also charged with money laundering conspiracy arising from their fraudulently opening bank accounts to conceal the source of ill-gotten gains obtained by members of the Hyena Crips.
The superseding indictment also charges several defendants with the attempted armed robbery of a Caribbean Air check cashing businesses, the attempted robbery of a pharmacy and the non-fatal shooting of an individual following an argument during a dice game.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Martial H. Amilcar, Bradley Augustin, Dave Augustin, Jasmin, and Morette face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Harris and Joseph face prison terms of up to 20 years.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Devon Lash, Jessica Weigel, Joshua Dugan and Andres Palacio are in charge of the prosecution. The case was initiated and investigated by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Wenzel in the Long Island Division.
The Defendants:
MARTIAL H. AMILCAR (also known as “Drippy”)
Age: 27
Brooklyn, New YorkBRADLEY AUGUSTIN (also known as “Cradley”)
Age: 24
Brooklyn, New YorkDAVE AUGUSTIN (also known as “Juice”)
Age: 38
Brooklyn, New YorkMATTHEW HARRIS (also known as “Kappy”)
Age: 24
Brooklyn, New YorkRICK JASMIN (also known as “Jab”)
Age: 31
Brooklyn, New YorkWISNY JOSEPH (also known as “Weezy”)
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkRICHLER MORETTE (also known as “Breezy”)
Age: 29
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-18 (S1) (AMD)
Medford Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Fatal Fentanyl Overdose of a TeenagerRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—A Medford man was sentenced to federal prison Monday for distributing fentanyl that caused the overdose death of a local teenager.
John Rocha, 31, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on September 7, 2021, officers from the Medford Police Department responded to a report of an overdose death of a local 17-year-old high school student. Investigators soon learned that the teenager had taken counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl. Within days, investigators identified Rocha as the victim’s fourth-level drug supplier and, when confronted by law enforcement, he admitted to having recently sold counterfeit pills.
On February 3, 2022, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a five-count indictment charging Rocha and four others with distributing fentanyl, possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On February 20, 2024, Rocha pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement Team (MADGE). It was prosecuted by Marco A. Boccato, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
MADGE is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. MADGE is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Medford Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff and District Attorney’s Offices, the Jackson County Community Corrections, FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
Maryland Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Destroy the Baltimore Region Power GridRead the Press Release
Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 36, of Catonsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to damage or destroy electrical facilities in Maryland.
According to court documents, in 2018, Clendaniel became acquainted with Brandon C. Russell, a Florida resident, who is currently charged with conspiracy to damage or destroy electrical facilities in Maryland and is awaiting trial. Clendaniel and Russell espouse a white supremacist ideology and advocate a concept known as “accelerationism.” To “accelerate” or to support “accelerationism” is based on a white supremacist belief that the current system is irreparable and without an apparent political solution, and therefore violent action is necessary to precipitate societal and government collapse.
From at least December 2022 and continuing through February 2023, Clendaniel conspired with Russell and others to damage energy facilities involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity and to cause a significant interruption and impairment of the Baltimore regional power grid. As part of her guilty plea, Clendaniel admitted that she communicated and planned over encrypted communication applications (ECA) to carry out attacks against energy facilities. Russell and Clendaniel communicated their plans to commit an attack on the Baltimore Region power grid to a confidential human source (CHS-1).
Their plans began to culminate on Jan. 12, 2023 when CHS-1 and Russell discussed the planned substation attack in Maryland with a goal of working with Clendaniel to “maximize impact” and “to coordinate to get multiple [substations] at the same time.” Later that same day, Clendaniel, using the moniker “Nythra88,” sent a message to CHS-1 on ECA confirming her support of the attack.
In the ensuing conversation, which continued through Jan. 14, 2023, Clendaniel told CHS-1 that she lived near Baltimore. She also stated that she was a felon, and had previously, but unsuccessfully, attempted to obtain a rifle. She asked CHS-1 to purchase a rifle for her, stating that she wanted to “accomplish something worthwhile” and that she wanted the rifle “within the next couple of weeks” to “accomplish as much as possible before June, at the latest.” On Jan. 18, 2023, on ECA, Clendaniel told CHS-1 that she had identified a few potential locations to target in her attack. CHS-1 stated that CHS-1 would have to be the “driver” and Clendaniel would have to be the “shooter” in the attack. Clendaniel confirmed that she was “determined to do this” and stated she would have done something earlier on her own if she had not lost her rifle “a few months ago.” The conversation continued with CHS-1 and Clendaniel discussing the specifics of the desired rifle and agreeing that Clendaniel would send CHS-1 a “wish list,” which she did the following day.
At various times from Jan. 21, 2023 through Jan. 29, 2023, CHS-1 exchanged encrypted messages, separately, with Clendaniel on ECA and Russell in which they discussed in detail the rifle and specific firearms accessories that Clendaniel wanted and potential targets for their attack.
On Jan. 29, 2023, Clendaniel told CHS-1 that the five substations she planned to target included: “Norrisville, Reisterstown, and Perry Hall.” Clendaniel described how there was a “ring” around Baltimore and if they hit a number of them all in the same day, they “would completely destroy this whole city.” She added that they needed to “destroy those cores, not just leak the oil…” and that a “good four or five shots through the center of them . . . should make that happen.” Further, she stated that: “[i]t would probably permanently completely lay this city to waste if we could do that successfully.” When CHS-1 asked if it would accomplish a “cascading failure,” Clendaniel replied, “[y]es . . . probably” and that the attack targets are all “major ones.” Clendaniel also said that the most difficult target that they would have to do together has “fire walls on three sides.”
During that conversation, Clendaniel sent CHS-1 five links to the “Open Infrastructure Map” which showed the locations of five specific Baltimore, Gas and Electric (BGE) electrical substations in Maryland. BGE is an energy company that utilizes substations, like the five targeted sites, to produce, convert, transform, regulate and distribute energy. Three of the five substations were located near the towns of Norrisville, Reisterstown and Perry Hall. The remaining two substations were in the vicinity of Baltimore City. Each location is a BGE substation with significant infrastructure.
On or about Jan. 31, 2023, Russell discussed with CHS-1 the attack of the targeted substations on ECA, including how to “make sure it’s done right,” how “it has been studied,” and how to make it “cascading” so as to maximize damage. Russell and Clendaniel believed that attacking these five electrical substations in the greater Baltimore area would serve accelerationism and help to break down society.
On Feb. 3, 2023, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Clendaniel’s residence in Catonsville, Maryland. During the search, law enforcement agents recovered from Clendaniel’s bedroom various firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Federal law prohibits Clendaniel from possessing these items because she is a convicted felon, including convictions in Cecil County Maryland for robbery in 2006 and robbery and attempted robbery in 2016.
Clendaniel pleaded guilty to conspiracy and felony possession charges. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and 15 years on the felon in possession charge followed by up to lifetime of supervised release for the conspiracy charge. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept 3.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen O. Gavin and Michael Aubin for the District of Maryland prosecuted the case with valuable assistance from the Department of Justice’s National Security Division’s and Counterterrorism Section.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is a partner in the U.S. Department of Justice’s United Against Hate community outreach program. The United Against Hate initiative seeks to directly connect federal, state and local law enforcement with traditionally marginalized communities in order to build trust and encourage the reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the nationwide launch of the initiative and its expansion to all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.
Maryland Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Destroy the Baltimore Region Power GridRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Sarah Beth Clendaniel, Catonsville, Maryland resident, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to damage or destroy electrical facilities in Maryland, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1366(a), and to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
Maryland United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office announced Clendaniel’s guilty plea.
“Ms. Clendaniel’s hate-fueled plans to destroy the Baltimore region power grid threatened thousands of innocent lives,” said U.S. Attorney Barron. “But, when law enforcement and the communities we serve are united in partnership, hate cannot win.”
“Ms. Clendaniel, a felon, spent months plotting, planning and taking steps to inflict grave damage to Maryland’s power grid in furtherance of her white supremacist ideology,” said Special Agent in Charge DelBagno. “Today’s guilty plea highlights the commitment of the FBI to hold individuals accountable for their actions. The FBI will continue to investigate violent threats as the safety and security of all Marylanders remains a priority.”
According to Clendaniel’s guilty plea:
In 2018, Clendaniel became acquainted with Brandon C. Russell, a Florida resident, who is currently charged with conspiracy to damage or destroy electrical facilities in Maryland and is awaiting trial. Clendaniel and Russell espouse a white supremacist ideology and advocate a concept known as “accelerationism.” To “accelerate” or to support “accelerationism” is based on a white supremacist belief that the current system is irreparable and without an apparent political solution, and therefore violent action is necessary to precipitate societal and government collapse.
According to court documents, from at least December 2022 and continuing through February 2023, Clendaniel conspired with Russell to damage energy facilities involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity and to cause a significant interruption and impairment of the Baltimore regional power grid.
As part of her guilty plea, Clendaniel admitted that she communicated and planned over encrypted communication applications (“ECA”) to carry out attacks against energy facilities. Russell and Clendaniel communicated their plans to commit an attack on the Baltimore Region power grid to a confidential human source (“CHS-1”).
Their plans began to culminate on January 12, 2023 when CHS-1 and Russell discussed the planned substation attack in Maryland with a goal of working with Clendaniel to “maximize impact” and “to coordinate to get multiple [substations] at the same time.” Later that same day, Clendaniel, using the moniker “Nythra88,” sent a message to CHS-1 on ECA confirming her support of the attack.
In the ensuing conversation, which continued through January 14, 2023, Clendaniel told CHS-1 that she lived near Baltimore. She also stated that she was a felon, and had previously, but unsuccessfully, attempted to obtain a rifle. She asked CHS-1 to purchase a rifle for her, stating that she wanted to “accomplish something worthwhile” and that she wanted the rifle “within the next couple of weeks” to “accomplish as much as possible before June, at the latest.” On January 18, 2023, on ECA, Clendaniel told CHS-1 that she had identified a few potential locations to target in her attack. CHS-1 stated that CHS-1 would have to be the “driver” and Clendaniel would have to be the “shooter” in the attack. Clendaniel confirmed that she was “determined to do this” and stated she would have done something earlier on her own if she had not lost her rifle “a few months ago.” The conversation continued with CHS-1 and Clendaniel discussing the specifics of the desired rifle and agreeing that Clendaniel would send CHS-1 a “wish list,” which she did the following day.
At various times from January 21, 2023 through January 29, 2023, CHS-1 exchanged encrypted messages, separately, with Clendaniel and with Russell in which they discussed in detail the rifle and specific firearms accessories that Clendaniel wanted and potential targets for their attack.
On January 29, 2023, Clendaniel told CHS-1 that the five substations she planned to target included: “Norrisville, Reisterstown, and Perry Hall.” Clendaniel described how there was a “ring” around Baltimore and if they hit a number of them all in the same day, they “would completely destroy this whole city.” She added that they needed to “destroy those cores, not just leak the oil . . . ” and that a “good four or five shots through the center of them . . . should make that happen.” Further, she stated that: “[i]t would probably permanently completely lay this city to waste if we could do that successfully.” When CHS-1 asked if it would accomplish a “cascading failure,” Clendaniel replied, “[y]es . . . probably” and that the attack targets are all “major ones.” Clendaniel also said that the most difficult target that they would have to do together has “fire walls on three sides.”
During that conversation, Clendaniel sent CHS-1 five links to the “Open Infrastructure Map” which showed the locations of five specific Baltimore, Gas and Electric (“BGE”) electrical substations in Maryland. BGE is an energy company that utilizes substations, like the five targeted sites, to produce, convert, transform, regulate and distribute energy. Three of the five substations were located near the towns of Norrisville, Reisterstown, and Perry Hall. The remaining two substations were in the vicinity of Baltimore City. Each location is a BGE substation with significant infrastructure.
On or about January 31, 2023, Russell discussed with CHS-1 the attack of the targeted substations on ECA, including how to “make sure it’s done right,” how “it has been studied,” and how to make it “cascading” so as to maximize damage. Russell and Clendaniel believed that attacking these five electrical substations in the greater Baltimore area would serve accelerationism and help to break down society.
On February 3, 2023, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Clendaniel’s residence in Catonsville, Maryland. During the search, law enforcement agents recovered from Clendaniel’s bedroom various firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Federal law prohibits Clendaniel from possessing these items because she is a convicted felon, including convictions in Cecil County, Maryland for Robbery in 2006 and Robbery and Attempted Robbery in 2016.
Clendaniel faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and 15 years on the felon in possession charge followed by up to lifetime of supervised release for the conspiracy charge. Senior United States District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for September 3, 2024 at 11 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI for their work in the investigation and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen O. Gavin and Michael Aubin who are prosecuting the federal case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is a partner in the U.S. Department of Justice’s United Against Hate community outreach program. The United Against Hate initiative seeks to directly connect federal, state and local law enforcement with traditionally marginalized communities in order to build trust and encourage the reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents. Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the nationwide launch of the initiative and its expansion to all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Maryland Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Setting Fire to U.S. Supreme Court Police Cars on Capitol HillRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Cody Michael Tarner, 26, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for pouring gasoline over several U.S. Supreme Court Police cars on Capitol Hill and setting one ablaze, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterterrorism Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Tarner pleaded guilty on January 9, 2024, in federal court to a charge of arson before U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth. In addition to the prison term, Judge Lamberth ordered Tarner to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution in the amount of $32,371.42.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 15, 2020, Tarner drove onto the United States Supreme Court’s property located on First Street Northeast, Washington D.C., and parked his vehicle in an employee-only parking spot. Tarner got out of his car and walked around the Supreme Court property. Tarner then returned to his car and pulled out a red gas can. At 1:48 p.m., Tarner was observed on security camera footage pouring gasoline onto three unmarked Supreme Court Police vehicles parked in Supreme Court employee-only parking spaces. The unmarked vehicles had emergency police lights visible from the outside of the vehicles, and one of the vehicles had emergency police lights on the roof of the vehicle.
While pouring the gasoline on the vehicles, some of it splashed onto Tarner’s clothing. Tarner lit one of the vehicles on fire. The result was a violent ignition of the gasoline. Tarner was engulfed in flames resulting in severe burns and injuries to himself. The fire seriously damaged two of the police vehicles, one of which was a total loss.
Tarner admitted to starting the fire with unleaded gas he had bought in Pennsylvania for that purpose. The investigation revealed that Tarner had several prior encounters with law enforcement in which he expressed anti-government and militia extremist ideologies. Tarner also claimed to be the leader of an identified militia group.
This case was investigated by FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Supreme Court of the United States Police – Protective Intelligence Unit, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole and Attorney James Peterson.
Maine Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Threatening Portsmouth High SchoolRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Maine man was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for an online threat he made to the Portsmouth High School on April 12, 2023, and a related firearm charge, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Kyle Hendrickson, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Samantha Elliott to 37 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for August 12, 2024. On December 11, 2023, Hendrickson pleaded guilty to one count of interstate threatening communications and one count of possessing a firearm in a school zone.
“The defendant’s threat to ‘shoot up’ the Portsmouth High School sent a terrifying chill throughout the Portsmouth community,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “I commend the FBI, the Portsmouth Police Department, the Portland Maine Police Department, the ATF, and all of our other law enforcement partners who did an excellent job in quickly locating and arresting Mr. Hendrickson to mitigate the threat and allow students to return to school. Threats to commit violence have no place in our society and those who make such threats will swiftly be brought to justice.”
“On behalf of the City of Portsmouth and the members of the Portsmouth Police Department, we would like to thank the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI, the Portland Maine Police Department, and all other law enforcement participants who assisted with the apprehension of Kyle Hendrickson,” said Chief Mark Newport of the Portsmouth Police Department. “His careless actions victimized our community, causing school to be canceled until we could assure our community that there was no longer a threat, and the students could safely return to school. Our community and department have zero tolerance for such actions. We have used all available resources to bring forward the appropriate criminal charges to hold Mr. Hendrickson accountable for his actions.”
“The danger posed by Kyle Hendrickson in this case was very real. He not only threatened to commit a mass shooting at Portsmouth High School, but he had the means to do it, illustrated by the AR-15 rifle, shotgun, and body armor that we recovered inside his vehicle,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message – regardless of motivation, when someone is intent on conduct that may lead to violence and breaks federal law, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will move swiftly to bring them to justice. This type of behavior puts our entire community in danger, and simply put, we will not let it go unaddressed.”
Hendrickson posted a video to his SnapChat account on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in which he brandished a handgun while in a vehicle outside of the Portsmouth High School. The video includes a text overlay that reads “imma shoot up the school.” School surveillance footage placed Hendrickson’s vehicle outside the high school at the time of the video. Law enforcement later recovered an AR-15 rifle, a shotgun, camouflage body armor, a handgun holster, a red-dot sight, and numerous rounds of ammunition from Hendrickson’s vehicle. The handgun that Hendrickson used in the SnapChat video was also recovered near a motel where Hendrickson had stayed in Maine on the night of April 12, 2023.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and the Portsmouth Police Department led the investigation. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Somersworth Police Department, the Portland (Maine) Police Department, and the Berwick (Maine) Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau prosecuted the case.
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Long Island Man Sentenced to 42 Months' Imprisonment for $3 Million Bank Loan SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Confredo, also known as “Gary Conte,” the former operator of Goldstar Financial Management Corp. (Goldstar), a financial services business based in Commack, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 42 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to commit bank fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud Bank of America of more than $3.2 million in loans and lines of credit that were obtained under false pretenses. The Court also ordered Confredo to pay $1,096,882 restitution to Bank of America. Confredo pleaded guilty to the charge in November 2022.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), announced the sentence.
“The defendant’s scheme of submitting fraudulent applications for commercial loans and lines of credit to Bank of America was full of lies and deception. With today’s sentence the defendant learns a powerful truth, that cheating financial institutions for personal gain will be punished and the cost is significant,” stated United States Attorney Peace.
“As a financial consultant, Confredo was a trusted member of the financial industry. However, instead of acting ethically, he used his position to submit fraudulent loan applications on his clients’ behalf. Many of whom were complicit in this scheme. Driven by greed, Confredo and these co-conspirators caused Bank of America to lose millions of dollars in defaulted loans. These crimes have a far-reaching and long-lasting negative impact on the financial industry and the American public. Today’s sentencing bears truth to the fact that Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners will investigate and prosecute white collar criminals to the fullest extent of the law,” stated USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Brubaker.
According to court filings and facts presented at the plea proceeding, between November 2016 and October 2019, Confredo conspired with others to submit fraudulent applications for commercial loans and lines of credit to Bank of America on behalf of Goldstar clients, who agreed to pay Confredo a portion of any loan that he secured on their behalf. To manipulate the application process, Confredo submitted altered tax returns and bank statements that falsely inflated the clients’ incomes and assets and allowed them to qualify for loans and lines of credit under Bank of America’s lending criteria. As a result of Confredo’s scheme, Bank of America issued approximately $3.2 million in loans and lines of credit to Goldstar’s clients and sustained losses of approximately $1 million when those loans and lines of credit were not repaid.
In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, health care fraud, tax fraud, securities and commodities fraud, and identity theft.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Bradley T. King is in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroeder and Legal Assistant Danielle Casey. Assistant United States Attorney Madeline O’Connor is handling forfeiture matters.
The Defendant:GARY CONFREDO (also known as “Gary Conte”)
Age: 61
East Northport, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-425 (JMA)
Lincoln Woman Sentenced for Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Lidia Irena Kula, 34, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced May 14, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for distribution of heroin. Senior United State District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Kula to 132 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Kula is released from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On December 27, 2021, Lincoln Police officers and Lincoln Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the area of northwest 12th St. and West Cornhusker in Lincoln following the report of an individual who was unconscious and unresponsive in a ditch. Officers arrived and contacted three witnesses. One witness said he was driving by and saw the victim fall down. He stopped and administered CPR to the victim. Officers relieved that witness and began life saving measures to include chest compressions, Narcan, applying an AED, and giving mouth to mouth resuscitations. Lincoln Fire and Rescue arrived shortly thereafter. On the scene, the victim woke up and was and alert. Officers searched his person and found a vile of suspected heroin, three syringes, and a spoon with suspected heroin residue. The victim was taken to Bryan West Hospital. The victim consented to the search of his phone, and officers found messages between the victim and Kula on Facebook. Kula and the victim had arranged to meet to purchase two points, typically .1 gram, of heroin for 70 dollars earlier in the day on December 27, 2021. The lab determined that the glass vial on the victim’s person contained heroin.
Investigation revealed the victim took a Lyft to a Casey’s convenience store and waited outside until Kula arrived. The victim gave Kula $70 in exchange for a small glass vial and a bag with syringes in it. The victim went inside Casey’s and drank the heroin mixed with water. The victim didn’t remember anything after ingesting the heroin. Video obtained from Casey’s showed the victim going into the store, into the bathroom, and then exiting the store and walking toward 12th St. The last video of the victim was at 4:05 pm, and the call for service came at 4:09 pm.
During later investigation, the victim messaged Kula about how he had overdosed and how he needed to “do half at a time” to prevent a future overdose. Kula messaged back, “Dude I [expletive] tell you that every time!” As the investigation continued, an undercover officer made three purchases of methamphetamine from Kula. On January 14, 2022, the undercover officer bought .5 grams of heroin for $150 from Kula at a Walgreen’s parking lot in Lincoln. During that purchase, the officer asked whether it was the same heroin the victim overdosed on, which Kula said it was.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 150 Months for Possession of DrugsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Lazaro Onasi Lopez Campos, 48, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 14, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for possession of methamphetamine and oxycodone with the intent to distribute. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Lopez Campos to 150 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lopez Campos’ release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
The Lincoln/Lancaster Drug Task Force began investigating the defendant after receiving information he was involved in the distribution of meth. On March 8, 2023, they observed the defendant drive from Lincoln to a gas station just off Interstate 80 and near the exit for Gretna, Nebraska. The defendant was there for a short time and then drove back to his apartment in Lincoln, Nebraska. Officers contacted the defendant shortly after he arrived back at his apartment building. A woman, who had ridden with the defendant to the gas station near Gretna and back to Lincoln, went inside the apartment before police were able to contact the defendant.
Police obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s apartment. When the search was executed, police discovered various drug paraphernalia, approximately 70 grams of meth, 90 oxycodone pills, digital scales, plastic bags used for the packaging of drugs, and items showing that the defendant, and the woman who accompanied him on the trip, lived in the apartment.
The drugs which were found in the apartment were later sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory. Analysis at the laboratory showed the meth contained at least 58 grams of actual or pure meth. The suspected oxycodone pills were confirmed to in fact contain oxycodone.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Lincoln Man Sentenced in Firearms CaseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Spenser Ware, 35, formerly of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 14, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Ware to 42 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ware’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
In October of 2023, investigators received information that Ware was building firearms and selling them to individuals who could not legally purchase them. Ware owned his own security company at the time. Investigators executed a search warrant at Ware’s residence where they found five firearms, several of which were non-serialized “ghost guns” with short barrels. Investigators also found 12 receivers, high-capacity magazines, body armor, more than 1800 rounds of ammunition in different calibers, holsters, firearm assembly equipment, and magazines. Ware admitted that he ordered the gun parts and assembled the firearms himself. Investigators searched his phone and found multiple images of firearms dating back to 2021. An agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives examined the firearms and ammunition and found that they were manufactured outside the State of Nebraska.
Ware has felony convictions out of Florida preventing him from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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.
Lincoln Man Sentenced in Firearms CaseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Spenser Ware, 35, formerly of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 14, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Ware to 42 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ware’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
In October of 2023, investigators received information that Ware was building firearms and selling them to individuals who could not legally purchase them. Ware owned his own security company at the time. Investigators executed a search warrant at Ware’s residence where they found five firearms, several of which were non-serialized “ghost guns” with short barrels. Investigators also found 12 receivers, high-capacity magazines, body armor, more than 1800 rounds of ammunition in different calibers, holsters, firearm assembly equipment, and magazines. Ware admitted that he ordered the gun parts and assembled the firearms himself. Investigators searched his phone and found multiple images of firearms dating back to 2021. An agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives examined the firearms and ammunition and found that they were manufactured outside the State of Nebraska.
Ware has felony convictions out of Florida preventing him from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Patrick S. Carey, 38, of Lincoln, Nebraska was sentenced on May 14, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual meth and 50 grams or more of meth mixture. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Carey to 188 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Carey’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On the evening of March 16, 2023, investigators were conducting surveillance on Carey’s Lincoln residence. They saw Carey and another man leave Carey’s residence in a vehicle. The vehicle had a broken taillight, so officers attempted to make a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled. Instead of chasing the vehicle, investigators returned to Carey’s residence and waited for Carey and the other man to return. When Carey and the other man returned to the area, investigators approached them. Both men got out of the vehicle and took off running despite orders to stop. Carey was arrested after he tripped, fell, turned his ankle, and injured a finger. The other man was also arrested. Carey told officers he had a gun on his person. A bag containing meth, a handgun and ammunition were found in his pockets. Carey admitted he fled the traffic stop because he had the gun with him.
A search warrant was executed on Carey’s apartment in the early morning hours of March 17, 2023. During that search, investigators found seven additional baggies containing meth. The total weight of the bag found on Carey’s person and the bags found in his apartment was 192.89 grams, and purity testing showed at least 160 grams of actual meth.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Lawton Sex Offender Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Committing Child Sexual CrimesRead the Press Release
A child predator and sex offender from Lawton was sentenced today for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Production of Child Pornography; and two counts of Tampering with a Witness by Corrupt Persuasion, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Justin Eli Muncy, 47, to 420 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Muncy will also be required to register as a sex offender.
“Justin Muncy is a predator who was using cell phone applications to find children,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The Department of Justice is committed to the safety and well-being of our children. The DOJ partners with programs like Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to help educate the public on tools and techniques to help fight against predators.”
State Court records show that in 2015 Muncy was convicted of Lewd or Indecent Proposals to [a] Child Under 16 and Enticing a Child Under 16 into a Secluded Place. Muncy was sentenced to a 15-year suspended sentence and required to register as a sex offender.
In 2019, Muncy was then convicted of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender in State Court. In that case, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment. Muncy served three months and the remaining nine months were suspended.
Then in January of 2022, Muncy began contacting a person he believed was 14 years old to engage in sexual activity. The 14-year-old was an undercover Tulsa County Sheriff Deputy. Muncy sent several photos of his penis and requested nude photos in return.
After being arrested in 2022, the investigation revealed that Muncy persuaded and coerced a second child victim who had not attained the age of 16 years, to produce and share sexually explicit images. While in jail, Muncy directed another person to file false police reports and to hide his cell phone in hopes of misleading investigators.
Muncy is a citizen of the Comanche Nation and he will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Homeland Security Investigations, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Comanche County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Leah Paisner prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. For more information about Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, please visit their website.
Laguna Man Pleads Guilty to Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Laguna man pleaded guilty in federal court to assault of an intimate partner by strangling and assault with a dangerous weapon.
In his plea agreement, Bret Anthony Vallo, 38, admitted that on May 30, 2019, he engaged in a verbal argument with Jane Doe that escalated into a physical altercation. Vallo approached Doe from behind, wrapped his arm around her neck, and strangled her until she lost consciousness.
Then, in July 2019, Vallo again engaged in a verbal dispute with Jane Doe that turned violent. This time, Vallo punched Doe in the face and struck her multiple times with a metal futon leg.
The Court ordered that Vallo remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
At sentencing, Vallo faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Vallo will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case with the assistance of the Acoma Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case.
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Justice Department Finds Nebraska Violates Federal Civil Rights Laws by Unnecessarily Institutionalizing People with Serious Mental IllnessRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it found that Nebraska is unnecessarily segregating people with serious mental illness (SMI) in assisted living facilities and day program facilities, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. The department found that Nebraska is restricting access to critical community-based services that people with SMI need to live and work in the community.
“Far too often, people with mental health disabilities are institutionalized when they could succeed and thrive in the community,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “It’s time to bring an end to the days of funneling people with disabilities down a dead-end road towards institutionalization and unemployment when they could succeed if provided pathways towards independence and dignity. The Justice Department remains committed to protecting the rights of people with disabilities and ensuring that the ADA’s promise of integration becomes a reality.”
“By increasing its investment in community-based services for Nebraskans with SMI, the State can help these individuals become engaged and vibrant members of their communities,” said U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr for the District of Nebraska.
The ADA and the Olmstead decision require states to make their services for people with disabilities available in the most integrated setting appropriate to each person’s needs — places like people’s homes and workplaces. With the right services, people with SMI can live in their own homes. They can also get and keep jobs where they work alongside people without disabilities doing the same work for the same pay.
Instead of helping Nebraskans with SMI find jobs, Nebraska relies heavily on segregated day programs that group these individuals together in facilities. People with SMI may spend years in segregated day programs with no path to employment. Instead of being able to live in their own homes, many people with SMI are forced to enter assisted living facilities to get help.
Nebraska already offers services that could help its citizens with SMI find jobs and live independently. For example, Nebraska offers a service called “supported employment” that helps people with SMI find jobs and supports them in the workplace. Nebraska also offers services that help people with SMI succeed in their own homes. But the department found that Nebraska limits access to community-based services and has not developed sufficient service capacity to enable people with SMI to avoid unnecessary institutionalization. As a result, many Nebraskans with SMI struggle to access community-based services. Instead, for many Nebraskans with SMI, the only options are institutions and unemployment. Nebraska could expand access to its existing community-based services so that people with SMI can get the support they need to live and work in the community.
The department describes its findings and minimum remedial measures necessary in a letter to Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen. View the department’s letter of findings here.
For more information about the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. For more information about the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or (TTY 833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at www.ada.gov/complaint.
Juniata Man Sentenced for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Coren C. Potts, 53, of Juniata, Nebraska, was sentenced May 14, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for receipt and distribution of child pornography. U.S. Senior District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Potts to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Pott’s release from prison, he will begin a 15-year term of supervised release and will continue to be required to register as a sex offender.
In March 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 8 different CyberTip reports from a cloud based storage account, that a user had uploaded at least 50 files of visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct featuring children. NCMEC forwarded the tips on to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Agents reviewed the files associated with the CyberTips and found they depicted child pornography. Search warrants were obtained for both the wireless account and the cloud account associated with a Kansas phone number which returned to Potts, residing in Juniata, Nebraska. Potts was a registered sex offender, having been convicted in 2008 in the federal district court in Kansas for possession and receipt/distribution of child pornography. At that time, the investigation was turned over to the Nebraska State Patrol.
Potts was interviewed and volunteered there was pornography on his phone. When confronted about information about the CyberTips and shown images included in the NCMEC reports, Potts showed investigators several images of child pornography that he had downloaded two days earlier. Potts’ phone was forensically examined and a review of its contents located 85 video files and 222 still images of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Nebraska State Patrol.
Joplin Man Indicted for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for victimizing two children to produce child pornography.
Russell Myers, 44, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo.
Today’s indictment charges Myers with two counts of using minor victims, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe” and “John Doe,” to produce child pornography from Jan. 1 to Feb. 20, 2024.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Johnstown Woman Indicted on Methamphetamine ViolationRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on a charge of violating a federal narcotics law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Jasmine Hinton, 29, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about February 14, 2024, Hinton possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Mitchell is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
Indictment Charges Former D.C. Department of Human Services Official and Co-Conspirator with ExtortionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ruth Nivar, 56, and Yessica Moya, 35, both of Washington, D.C., were arrested this morning on charges related to extortion and conspiracy. The charges, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., were announced today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General of the District of Columbia.
According to the indictment, unsealed yesterday, Nivar, a former employee at the District of Columbia Department of Human Services, was charged with extorting payments from individuals applying for health care coverage from the D.C. government to process those benefits. Starting at least as early as November 2022, Nivar introduced Moya as a co-conspirator into her extortion scheme in an apparent attempt to disguise Nivar’s receipt of payment and information from law enforcement.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison for committing Hobbs Act extortion and five years in prison for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Office of the Inspector General of the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Madhu Chugh, of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
24-cr-222_nivar_moya_indictment.pdfIndian national convicted of abusive sexual contact of juvenile on-board plane from Dubai to SeattleRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 39-year-old Indian citizen was convicted of abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Seattle, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The jury deliberated about four hours following a three-day jury trial. Abhinav Kumar was arrested at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Sunday February 18, 2024, after groping the breast of a juvenile sitting near him on the aircraft. Abhinav Kumar was remanded to custody and faces up to two years in prison when sentenced on August 1, 2024.
According to records in the case and testimony at trial, the victim was traveling with family members who were sitting in the seats in front of the victim and across the aisle from the victim. The Emirates flight was from Dubai to Seattle. Kumar was seated in a window seat with an open center seat between him and the victim. Kumar engaged the 17-year-old in conversation and asked her to meet him for coffee. She politely declined the invitation.
Later, while the victim was trying to sleep under a blanket, Kumar spread his blanket over himself and over the middle seat. The on-board video shows the movement of his arm under the blanket reaching toward the victim.
The victim awoke to feel a hand under her blanket, and she pulled away. The hand returned, moving up her arm, then inside her shirt, and eventually reaching her breast. The victim froze at first but then got up and asked her mother to come to the bathroom with her.
The Emirates crew was notified, and they alerted law enforcement to meet the plane. Law enforcement interviewed the victim and family members and spoke with the defendant. He was arrested on a criminal complaint and then was indicted by the grand jury.
In closing argument, Assistant United States Attorney Sanaa Nagi talked about how the victim was frozen with fear: “Nobody expects for a person to grope them on a flight… The defendant did not expect the victim to be brave enough to report him.”
Abusive sexual contact is punishable by up to two years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Port of Seattle Police and Customs and Border Protection.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Miriam Hinman and Sanaa Nagi.
Interpol Washington Project Terminus Boosts Border Security Capabilities in ColombiaRead the Press Release
Through INTERPOL Washington’s Project TERMINUS and U.S. Department of State Counter Terrorism funding, a team from INTERPOL Washington’s Border Security Division traveled to Bogotá, Colombia to further ongoing support efforts under Project TERMINUS. In addition to discussing available Project TERMINUS solutions to enhance screening of travelers against INTERPOL databases and enhance critical day-to-day operations of National Central Bureau Bogotá, the team delivered computer equipment and two custom software solutions developed by INTERPOL Washington, the Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) Workbench and the Stolen Motor Vehicles (SMV) workbench. The two solutions empower INTERPOL member countries to quickly and easily share, manage, and extend vital information pertaining to SLTD and SMV in the INTERPOL databases.
“Colombia has achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first INTERPOL partner nation to implement the SLTD Workbench and SMV Workbench solutions,” announced INTERPOL Washington Border Security Division Deputy Assistant Director Keith Hood, emphasizing the country's pioneering role in enhancing global security. “This is thanks to NCB’s Bogota’s willingness to lean forward in the fight to make our international borders more secure.”
A team from INTERPOL Washington meets with Colombian police and security officials in Bogota during the Project TERMINUS support efforts.
Project TERMINUS seeks to establish or enhance INTERPOL screening and record submission by INTERPOL member countries through computer hardware and custom software solutions that ease service adoption and enhance the data's usability and effectiveness.
Beyond its primary capacity-building objective, Project TERMINUS assists the broader U.S. government law enforcement mission by connecting U.S. government law enforcement agencies to partner nation entities, benefiting the partner nation and the global law enforcement effort. In Bogota, Project TERMINUS introduced the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Attaché to NCB Bogotá, including him in meetings with NCB Bogotá and Columbia Immigration. The CBP Attaché participated in detailed discussions with NCB Bogota regarding Colombia’s current capabilities, some of its challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
Houston Man Charged in Connection to Kidnapping of 10-Month-Old Baby in Clovis, NMRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Houston man was charged by criminal complaint with interstate kidnapping of a child in connection with the double-murder of the girl's mother and another woman in Clovis, New Mexico.
Alek Isaiah Collins, 26, appeared before a federal judge in Abilene, Texas this morning on charges contained in a federal criminal complaint filed in New Mexico. Collins was detained and will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending his transfer to New Mexico for further proceedings.
According to the criminal complaint, on May 3, 2024, the bodies of two deceased adult females, Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, were discovered at Ned Houk Memorial Park in Clovis, New Mexico. Jane Doe 2’s 5-year-old daughter, Minor 1, was also found wounded at the scene and transported to the hospital for treatment.
Jane Doe 2’s 10-month-old daughter, Minor 2, was missing from the scene. Surveillance footage showed Minor 2 with her mother at a nearby Dollar General store just prior to the incident. Law enforcement issued an AMBER Alert for Minor 2.
Law enforcement recovered evidence at the scene, including 9mm handgun casings and a vehicle sideview mirror cover, indicating potential involvement of a maroon Honda. Witness accounts indicated a maroon/red colored sedan was at the park around the time of the incident.
Further investigation revealed that the maroon Honda with Texas license plate TTK3358 was rented by Collins through HyreCar, a peer-to-peer carsharing marketplace. GPS data from the vehicle showed it near the park around the estimated time of the double homicide.
Cell phone records and law enforcement searches linked Collins to a phone which was in the vicinity of the park during the incident. The vehicle was later located at a residence in Abilene, Texas, where it had been remotely disabled by the owner after Collins failed to return the rental on time.
While preparing to execute a search warrant at a residence, officers observed an Uber driver operating a Cadillac SUV arrive on the street. Collins exited the residence carrying Minor 2 and placed the child in the rear passenger seat of the SUV. Collins then proceeded to carjack the Uber driver at gunpoint, forcing the driver to exit the vehicle before driving away with the child.
Abilene Police Department's Narcotics Unit immediately pursued the Cadillac and were able to pin the vehicle, bringing it to a stop. Collins was promptly arrested and Minor 2 was recovered safely from the vehicle.
Collins has no relation to Minor 2 and does not have legal custody of the child.
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 FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, Clovis Police Department, Abilene Texas Police Department Narcotics Unit, Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, Roswell Police Department, Portales Police Department, the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, FBI Dallas Field Office, FBI Amarillo Resident Agency and FBI Abilene Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Jaymie L. Roybal and Joseph Spindle are prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint View the Rule 5 DocumentA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Guernsey County man sentenced to 30 years in prison for recording sexually explicit videos of teenagers with hidden camerasRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mark A. Green, 56, of Senecaville, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 360 months in prison for sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography. Green recorded minor victims using hidden cameras.
According to court documents, in 2022, Green used security cameras that connected to his cell phone to surreptitiously record minors. He placed the hidden cameras in residential bathrooms and bedrooms to capture nude videos of the minors. Green either watched the recordings live or played them back later through the Blink security app.
As part of this investigation, approximately 60 total devices were seized from Green’s home, vehicles and person. Green possessed more than 10,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Within those images and videos recovered, law enforcement identified hundreds of additional hidden camera videos and images with time stamps dating back to 2012. The images and videos depicted minor females in bathrooms and bedrooms in a prior residence.
The investigation revealed Green created sexually explicit videos of at least nine minor females. Two victims indicated that Green had also previously sexually abused them in person.
Green was charged federally in May 2023. He pleaded guilty in January 2024 to two counts of exploiting a minor and one count of possessing child pornography.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Circleville Acting Police Chief Kenny Fisher; Guernsey County Sheriff Jeffrey D. Paden; and Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
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Glynn County woman sentenced to federal prison for defrauding real estate companyRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Glynn County woman who managed the office of a real estate company has been sentenced to prison for siphoning off more than a quarter of a million dollars from her employer.
Tabitha Dobi, 46, of Brunswick, was sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to Wire Fraud, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Dobi to pay $251,569 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Tabitha Dobi misused her position to defraud hundreds of thousands of dollars from an employer who trusted her,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “This sentence holds her accountable for her fraudulent activity.”
As described in court records and testimony, a real estate company located in St. Simons spurred an investigation after a missing cash deposit led to the discovery of discrepancies in their financial records.
FBI investigators determined that Dobi, the company’s office manager for four years, used her position to steal cash deposits intended for the company’s property rentals, then manipulating the company’s accounting system to conceal the thefts.
Dobi also instructed one rental tenant to pay her directly through an online payment app and used the money for her personal benefit, and allowed friends to stay at the company’s rental properties without charge and without the company’s authorization.
As a result of those schemes, the company lost $251,569.
“Dobi violated the trust placed in her by her employer and will now spend time in prison paying for her crimes,” said Will Clarke, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Brunswick office. “Hopefully, this sentence sends a message that the FBI is dedicated to working with our partners to protect companies from anyone seeking to defraud them for their own personal greed.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew A. Josephson.
Glendale Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Participating in Darknet Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Glendale man was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for participating in a darknet-based organization – known as “NoLove” – that trafficked methamphetamine and Ecstasy both inside and outside of the United States and for laundering the outfit’s drug proceeds by exchanging bitcoin into U.S. dollars.
Arbi Setaghaian Sangbarani, 41, was sentenced by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr.
At the conclusion of a five-day trial in December 2023, a jury found Sangbarani guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy. The jury also found Sangbarani guilty of one count of money laundering conspiracy and two counts of money laundering.
From at least April 2019 to May 2020, Sangbarani was a member of a darknet drug trafficking organization that sold, packaged, and mailed methamphetamine and MDMA to numerous customers in the United States and internationally. He conspired with several members of the darknet drug trafficking organization known as “NoLove.” NoLove operated for around a year and a half and shipped drugs internationally and across the United States.
As part of the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and MDMA, Sangbarani and his co-conspirators obtained methamphetamine and MDMA from sources of supply; stored methamphetamine and MDMA to be packaged at a residence in the Sunland-Tujunga area of Los Angeles; managed the sales of meth and MDMA on the dark web in exchange for virtual currency; and packaged meth and MDMA for distribution to customers who ordered those drugs on the darknet.
Once the packages were complete, Sangbarani and his co-conspirators mailed parcels containing meth and MDMA to customers who ordered the drugs on the dark web.
Sangbarani also conspired to launder the illicit proceeds of the drug trafficking operation. One of Sangbarani’s accomplices collected bitcoin as proceeds from the sale of drugs on the dark web. That co-conspirator then transferred a portion of those virtual currency proceeds to Sangbarani. Sangbarani exchanged the bitcoin into U.S. dollars, transferred the dollars to his bank account, and withdrew the proceeds as cash.
This was the first time the government has introduced evidence involving cryptocurrency tracing for dark web markets in a jury trial in this district. In total, federal prosecutors have secured eight convictions in connection with this conspiracy.
In February 2020, at the Sunland-Tujunga residence, law enforcement seized found approximately 6,701 suspected MDMA pills and approximately 22.2 kilograms (48.9 pounds) of methamphetamine from a shed on the property.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph S. Guzman and Alexandra M. Michael, both of the General Crimes Section, prosecuted this case.
Gainesville Man Charged with Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga.- Bobby Joe Holloman has been arraigned on federal charges for distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
“Holloman’s alleged fentanyl distribution led to two overdoses, resulting in the death of one victim,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Fentanyl is an extremely potent drug that too often leads to overdosing or death when used in even miniscule amounts. We are committed to prosecuting those who callously peddle this dangerous drug in our communities.”
“Holloman plagued our communities with fentanyl, fueling the deadliest drug epidemic our country has ever seen, and for that he will be held accountable,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This indictment demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to work diligently along with our partners to investigate and remove these dangerous drug dealers from our streets.”
“The dangers of fentanyl are more evident than ever as we see innocent lives being taken by this drug every day,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “This case is a warning to those who seek to ruthlessly poison our Georgia communities with deadly drugs such as fentanyl, that we will stand with our law enforcement partners to combat this issue and save lives. We will continue to investigate drug related cases and work to hold drug distributors and traffickers accountable for their actions.”
“I am grateful for the hard work of our local, state, and federal partners who have worked tirelessly to help remove dangerous drugs like fentanyl from our community,” said Jay Parrish, Chief of Police, Gainesville Police Department. “This case exemplifies how these partnerships work to make our city safer.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Bobby Joe Holloman allegedly sold fentanyl, which resulted in two victims suffering an overdose. One victim survived after paramedics used Narcan to revive him; however, the other victim died. About a month later, Holloman was on the scene during the investigation of another overdose death when a gun was found that belonged to him. At that time, Holloman had been previously convicted in February 2021, of the felony offense of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and a felon in possession of a firearm.
Bobby Joe Holloman, 50, of Gainesville, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Clay Fuller on May 13, 2024. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 7, 2024.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Gainesville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.