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25 April 2024
Man Charged with Murder on Taos PuebloRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A man is facing federal charges for allegedly murdering his former roommate.
Zebadiah Romero, 35, a non-Indian, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance where the Court temporarily detained him pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for April 25, 2024.
Court documents alleges that on October 30, 2023, Romero shot and killed John Doe, an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo, in his residence on the Taos Pueblo.
Romero is charged with first degree murder and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, discharging said firearm.
If convicted, Romero faces up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Safety and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Jesse Pecoraro and Mark Probasco are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Local nail salon owner sentenced to prison for placing arson device in competing salonRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A local nail salon owner was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 46 months in prison for attempting to set a competing nail salon in Monroe, Ohio, on fire.
Kim Lien Vu, 46, of Liberty Township, Ohio, admitted in her guilty plea in September 2023 that she conspired to commit malicious destruction via fire.
Vu, who owns her own nail salon, developed animosity towards individuals at a competing nail salon and, beginning in December 2022, approached her employee about a plot to exact revenge on the competing salon.
Vu and her employee, co-defendant Cierra Marie Bishop, 30, of Hamilton, Ohio, eventually discussed the idea of setting the other salon on fire. Bishop began work to design a remote-controlled incendiary device that could start a fire within a small box. The two women frequently texted about the plan, which they referred to as Job 1.
On Feb. 5, surveillance camera footage shows Bishop and a friend, co-defendant Makahla Ann Rennick, 19, of Hamilton, Ohio, entering the competitor salon. Rennick had made an appointment for a pedicure under the name “Katelynn,” at the direction of Vu for Rennick to get the latest nail appointment she can and to “Just use another name. Sound white.” Rennick is shown receiving her nail services.
Vu was traveling to or already at a property she owned in Virginia to have a ready alibi.
During Rennick’s appointment, Bishop entered and exited the salon, looking for a place to plant the device. Eventually, Bishop walked to the restroom area in the rear of the salon and tucked the device under a salon desk before leaving.
A salon employee then found the suspected device, which smelled like gasoline. The employee opened the package, seeing that it looked like an explosive device, and took it outside near the salon’s dumpsters. The employee later went back outside to check on the device and noticed that box had begun to catch on fire.
Monroe police officers and fire department responded to a call reporting a dumpster fire near the salon.
Vu was in constant contact with Bishop throughout the planning of the device.
The three women were indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2023. Bishop has pleaded guilty and is currently awaiting sentencing.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Monroe Police Chief Bob Buchanan announced the sentence imposed on April 24 by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.
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Livestock show secretary admits to nearly $200,000 embezzlement schemeRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 67-year-old Sandia resident has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud as part of a scheme to defraud the Nueces County Junior Livestock Show (NCJLS), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Sara Rene Chapman worked for NCJLS as a secretary from 2010 until 2023. As part of her plea, she admitted that from approximately 2018 to 2023, she used NCJLS bank accounts to pay her own personal credit card bills through the use of wire transfers. The scheme resulted in a loss of approximately $172,069.17.
As part of her job, Chapman had access to the NCJLS bank accounts and was responsible for paying authorized NCJLS expenses. In 2018, Chapman began using the bank accounts to pay her monthly credit card bill and continued for over four years.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has set sentencing for July 23. At that time, Chapman faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine as well as full restitution to the NCJLS.
Chapman was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin is prosecuting the case.
Lexington Physician Pays $200,000 to Settle Civil Penalty Claims Stemming from his Alleged Failure to Retain Records Relating to Purchasing Schedule II Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – James K. Robberson, M.D. (“Dr. Robberson), paid $200,000 to settle civil penalty claims stemming from allegations he violated the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (“Act”) and its regulations, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
During the relevant time, Dr. Robberson practiced medicine in Lexington, Oklahoma. As a registrant under the Act, Dr. Robberson was required to maintain controlled substance records as set forth in the Act and its implementing regulations.
Recordkeeping is a vital part of managing controlled substances. Complete and accurate records help avoid diversions and losses of controlled drugs. The record keeping requirements relating to Schedule II controlled substances are particularly vital because Schedule II controlled substances are those having a high potential for abuse that may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
The regulations implementing the Act require a registrant seeking to purchase Schedule II controlled substances to fill out the purchaser portion of a DEA Form-222, specify the descriptions and amounts of Schedule II substances being ordered, make a copy for the purchaser’s files, and provide the annotated form to the seller. When the order is filled, the purchaser is required to annotate his or her copy of the Form-222 with the date of receipt and the quantity or number of bulk containers received. The purchaser must retain a copy of each executed DEA Form-222. Failure to comply disrupts the closed system created by the Act, increases the potential for diversion, and subjects the registrant to civil monetary penalties.
The United States alleges that from May 5, 2021, to February 6, 2023, Dr. Robberson failed to maintain DEA Forms 222 for certain purchases of Schedule II controlled substances. To resolve these allegations, Dr. Robberson agreed to pay $200,000 to the United States.
In reaching this settlement, Dr. Robberson did not admit liability, and the government did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims. The agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda R. Johnson and Ronald R. Gallegos prosecuted the case.
Las Cruces Man Guilty of Possessing Unregistered Short-Barreled Rifle and Illegally Receiving Ammunition While Under IndictmentRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man was convicted by a federal jury of federal firearms and ammunition offenses including possession of a short-barreled AR-15.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on September 2, 2022, in connection with a homicide investigation, search warrants were executed by the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office on a residence Delbert Tyler Trevino, 32, was house sitting and a truck he had driven during that time. During the search, law enforcement officers recovered a short-barreled American Tactical, model Omni Hybrid, multicaliber rifle in the closet of the spare bedroom where Trevino was staying at the time.
It was later determined that the barrel of said rifle was approximately ten inches in length and that the rifle was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Prior to possessing the unregistered short-barreled rifle, Trevino was under indictment for three felony crimes in El Paso County, Texas. While under indictment, Trevino illegally purchased, and therefore received, 5.56mm and 9mm ammunition from Sportsman’s Warehouse in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on two separate occasions in July and August of 2022. During the execution of the search warrants on September 2, 2022, 5.56mm and 9mm ammunition matching the description of the ammunition Trevino purchased from Sportsman’s Warehouse were recovered from Trevino’s bedroom. Spent 9mm casings were also recovered from the property and the truck Trevino was driving.
The Court ordered that Trevino remain in detention pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Trevino faces up to ten years in prison for the short-barreled rifle charge and up to five years in prison for each of the illegal receipt of ammunition charges. Trevino is subject to up to three years of supervised released following his term of imprisonment.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Glen Henderson, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division of the Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office and the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison are prosecuting the case.
The homicide investigation remains pending. If you have any information relating to this matter or other crimes committed by Trevino, please contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at 1-888-ATF-TIPS or [email protected].
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La Crosse Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Drug Trafficking and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Benjamin W. Thoreson, 43, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 7 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing methamphetamine for distribution. Thoreson pleaded guilty to these charges on February 1, 2024. He was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release.
On August 2, 2023, Thoreson was arrested for violating the conditions of his state supervision and admitted to having a handgun in his waistband. The arresting officer recovered a loaded Ruger LCP .22 caliber handgun and 14 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the backpack that Thoreson was carrying. Thoreson is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions.
At sentencing Judge Peterson recognized that Thoreson struggled with addiction. Judge Peterson determined, however, that Thoreson’s chances of relapsing and returning to criminality was high, which made him a danger to society and required a longer period of incarceration.
The charges against Thoreson were the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Kenner Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Weapons ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –ALTON GRAYSON, age 37, a resident of Kenner, La., pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B) and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, in January of 2023, GRAYSON was pulled over by a Kenner Police Department officer for traffic violations. Inside GRAYSON’s car were large bags of multicolored pills containing methamphetamine that GRAYSON intended to sell. GRAYSON also possessed a stolen Kimber Model Ultra TLE II, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. GRAYSON is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions, including a conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
As to his drug trafficking conviction, GRAYSON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least four years of supervised release. As to his firearm conviction, GRAYSON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Kenner Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
Justice Department and FTC Submit Joint Comment to FERC Explaining that Common Ownership by Investment Companies Can Raise Competition ConcernsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today jointly submitted a public comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging it to consider the competitive risks of common ownership when assessing acquisitions involving less than a controlling interest in competing firms.
As the Justice Department and FTC’s joint comment explains, competition is a core component of FERC’s “public interest” analysis in its Section 203 review. The joint comment states that partial acquisitions, including acquisitions involving common ownership in which individual investors hold non-controlling interests in firms that have a competitive relationship that could be affected by those joint holdings, can lessen competition in three ways. First, partial acquisitions can give the partial owner the ability to influence the competitive conduct of the target firm. Second, partial acquisitions can reduce incentives for firms to compete even absent direct control or influence. Third, partial acquisitions can facilitate an anticompetitive information exchange between competing firms by giving them or their common owners access to non-public, competitively sensitive information.
FERC is requesting public comments as it reviews its current policy on financial investment company ownership of electric utilities, specifically regarding FERC’s blanket authorizations for investment company ownership of public utilities under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act. Under its current policy, FERC assumes that certain transactions are in the public interest and grants blanket authorizations approving the transactions.
The agencies applaud FERC for undertaking this inquiry and encourage FERC to consider the competitive consequences of common ownership in deciding whether to revise its current blanket authorization policy.
Justice Department Seeks Injunction Against California Tax Return Preparer for Allegedly Filing Fraudulent ReturnsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a civil complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against a California tax return preparer.
The complaint seeks to enjoin Maria Guitron, also known as Maria Lopez, both individually and doing business as Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service, from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing federal income tax returns for others.
The complaint alleges that Guitron and others at Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service, which is in Modesto, have allegedly prepared tax returns for customers that falsely understated their federal income tax liabilities by fabricating businesses and business expenses and fabricating and inflating deductions for child, dependent and education expenses.
The complaint goes on to allege that from 2011 to 2019, the IRS sent Guitron at least 11 letters notifying her of issues with the tax returns she prepared or sought improvements in her preparation. The complaint also alleges the IRS previously found that Guitron had violated due diligence requirements when determining her customers’ eligibility for tax credits in 2013 and 2014, imposing fines of $23,000 against her in 2015. Despite repeated written warnings and prior fines, Guitron and Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service allegedly continued to prepare and file thousands of false tax returns every year.
As the complaint states, the IRS reviewed tax returns from 2019 through 2023 and interviewed a random sample of 51 customers of Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service from the 2019 tax year. According to the complaint, the IRS found that of those 51 customers, 38 had returns that understated their tax liabilities, resulting in approximately $103,474 in lost tax revenue to the United States from those returns alone. The complaint alleges that Guitron and Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service have prepared and filed more than 2,000 tax returns each year since 2019, likely resulting in millions of dollars each year in direct financial harm to the United States in lost tax revenue. Guitron’s conduct also allegedly harmed customers by exposing them to statutory penalties and accruing interest for tax underpayments.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against dishonest tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers guidance on the credentials and qualifications that taxpayers should seek from their return preparer.
In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Guitron Complaint Filed.pdfJustice Department Recognizes Crime Victim Services Professionals and Survivors at 2024 National Crime Victims’ Service Awards CeremonyRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon of the Office of Justice Programs and Director Kristina Rose of the Office for Victims of Crime today recognized eight individuals and organizations for their advocacy, innovation and research on behalf of victims of crime.
“We recognize the individuals and organizations represented here that go above and beyond to assist others in their time of crisis,” said Assistant Attorney General Solomon. “They are the ones who ensure that crime victims and survivors aren’t forgotten. They provide them with the support they need today and the encouragement and hope they will need tomorrow.”
The event’s theme, “How would you help? Options, services, and hopes for crime survivors,” is a call-to-action for society to create safe environments for crime victims to share what happened to them. By doing so, we’re able to offer support, options for life-saving services and, most importantly, hope.
“Since 1981, the nation has formally honored victim service providers and allied professionals, many of whom were driven to this work because of trauma they experienced personally,” said Director Rose. “It is an honor to recognize these individuals and organizations for dedicating themselves not only to making a difference to victims and survivors of crime, but to entire communities and society as a whole.”
The following is a list of the 2024 NCVRW award recipients:
- The Allied Professional Award recognizes individuals from a specific discipline that work alongside the victim assistance field. Recipients:
- Director Joan Meunier-Sham, MS, RN, of the Massachusetts Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, Boston
- Jocelyn Mejia, social worker, Imperial County Department of Social Services, Children and Families Division, El Centro, California
- The Building Knowledge Through Research Award recognizes individual researchers or research teams that made a significant contribution to the nation’s understanding of crime victim issues. Recipients:
- Michelle S Ballan, Ph.D., MSW, Professor and Associate Dean for Research, School of Social Welfare and Director, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
- Hope Research Center, The University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- The National Crime Victim Service Award honors extraordinary efforts to provide direct services to crime victims. Recipients:
- Angela McCown, LMFT, Director, Victim Services Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Austin, Texas
- Herman Millholland, Independent Consultant, Millholland & Associates, Los Angeles
- The Survivor Voices Award honors crime victims and survivors whose perseverance and determination in the aftermath of victimization was the catalyst for implementing. Recipient:
- Aswad Thomas, MSW, Vice President, Alliance for Safety and Justice & National Director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, Atlanta
- Tomorrow’s Leader Award honors a youth who has dedicated their efforts to supporting survivors. Recipient:
- Elijah Lee, Youth Activist, Hear Our Voices, Virginia
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, victim advocacy organizations, community groups as well as state, local and Tribal agencies traditionally host rallies, candlelight vigils and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services.
To learn more about NCVRW and past award recipients, visit www.ovc.ojp.gov/ncvrw.
- The Allied Professional Award recognizes individuals from a specific discipline that work alongside the victim assistance field. Recipients:
Iowa Nurse Practitioner Agrees to Pay over $50,000 to Resolve Suit Alleging Fraudulent Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Prescriptions, KickbacksRead the Press Release
Ashley Brown, DNP, ARNP, from Des Moines, Iowa, has agreed to pay $52,560 to the United States to resolve allegations that she violated the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729, by signing hundreds of medically unnecessary prescriptions for expensive orthotic braces in exchange for kickback payments of $20 per patient. The full claims against Brown are contained in a Civil Complaint filed earlier this month in the United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
“Our office will aggressively pursue any medical providers that seek to profit by outsourcing their medical decision-making,” said Timothy T. Duax, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. “We will continue to work with our federal and state partners to identify and hold these providers accountable to the public.”
The complaint alleged that from approximately April 17, 2020, to May 19, 2021, Brown, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, knowingly caused the submission of over $1 million in false claims to Medicare. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Brown wrote hundreds of prescriptions for orthotic braces that were unreasonable, not medically necessary, and in contravention of both state and federal law. The complaint refers to several patients who stated that they did not know Brown and did not need or request the orthotic braces Brown prescribed to them, including an Elkhart resident to whom Brown prescribed a left knee brace even though the patient’s left leg had been amputated years prior.
The complaint alleged that Brown spent as little as nine seconds reviewing patient records before approving the braces. Brown is alleged to have falsely represented she established valid prescriber/patient relationships when, in fact, she had no contact with her ‘patients’ at all. The complaint also alleged Brown received $20 per patient reviewed, sometimes resulting in Brown receiving hundreds of dollars for mere minutes of review.
The claims asserted against Brown are allegations only; there was no determination of liability.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon J. Gray and was investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 1:24-cv-00036.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Investment Professional Indicted on Multi-Million-Dollar Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Craig Allen, executive officer of C.M. Allen Capital Management, Inc., has been indicted on charges arising from a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme that defrauded investors across the United States.
“Allen abused his clients’ trust by allegedly stealing millions of dollars to support his lavish lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The defendant deceived and falsified documents to conceal his thefts to provide his investors with a false sense of financial security. We will continue to prosecute individuals who cheat investors out of their hard-earned money.”
“While it is easy to dismiss financial fraud cases as being almost benign because of their lack of violence, there is, however, a very real victimization felt and lives are changed forever,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is hopeful that Allen’s indictment will send a strong message to anyone who would try to take advantage of unsuspecting investors for their own personal greed.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Allen, the sole shareholder and executive officer of C.M. Allen Capital Management, Inc., allegedly defrauded dozens of investors across the country through his management of the Cheetah Fund. Around February 2019, prospective investors received documents that reported Cheetah achieved annual investment returns as high as seventy-three percent.
Once invested in Cheetah, clients received fraudulent monthly account statements showing false investment gains, and tax documents reporting the false gains. Allen allegedly misled investors to believe the tax forms were prepared by Cheetah’s purported auditor at an accounting firm. But the Fund did not employ an auditor and Allen reported gains when the Fund continuously lost money. In addition to these misrepresentations, Allen used money from new investors to repay prior investors, and to fund his lifestyle. Cheetah investors lost more than $7 million because of Allen’s investment fraud scheme.
Craig Murfee Allen, 53, of Atlanta, Georgia, was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 23, 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also provided valuable assistance. The SEC has filed a separate civil case, SEC v. Craig Allen, Case Number 1:24-cv-01771-SDG.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Cooper and Christopher J. Huber are prosecuting the case.
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.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 96 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Oliver Coverson, 41 years old, of Calumet City, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and one count of Aggravated Identity Theft, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Coverson was sentenced to 96 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,013,543.86 in restitution to the victims of the offenses.
According to documents in the case, between May 2019 and December 2020, Coverson supervised and executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $3.3 million from the proceeds of 17 stolen business checks. Coverson and his co-conspirators registered fictitious corporations with the Indiana and Illinois Secretaries of State, opened fraudulent corporate bank accounts, and deposited the stolen checks into the fraudulent accounts. Coverson’s actions contributed to the loss of $1,013,543.86 to multiple banks and businesses.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abizer Zanzi and Zachary D. Heater.
Illinois Man Pleads Guilty in Odometer Tampering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An Illinois man pleaded guilty today in connection with a years-long fraud conspiracy to roll back the odometer readings on hundreds of used cars.
According to court documents, Laith Ghzo, 37, of Oak Lawn, admitted that he purchased high-mileage vehicles at auto auctions and caused the odometers of those vehicles to be rolled back to false, lower mileage readings. Ghzo also admitted that he then altered the rolled back vehicles’ title paperwork to match the false and lower mileage readings, and subsequently submitted those altered titles to the Illinois Secretary of State to obtain “clean” titles reflecting the false, lower mileage. With the false and lower mileage titles, Ghzo then sold the vehicles to other unsuspecting car dealers, who then sold them to unsuspecting consumers.
“According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, odometer fraud causes more than $1 billion per year in losses to consumers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Odometer fraud is a crime that predominately affects the economically vulnerable, who are simply looking for transportation to work or to school but who cannot afford to purchase a new car. We thank our partners for bringing this matter to our attention.”
Ghzo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 1 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Joshua D. Rothman and Thomas S. Rosso of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kartik Raman for the Northern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case.
Houston Man Sentenced after Traveling to Tulsa to Engage in Sex with a MinorRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III sentenced Lee Finch, II, 49, of Houston, Texas, for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Travel[ing] with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct. Judge Heil ordered that Finch serve
180 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Finch will also be required to register as a sex offender.According to court records, Finch started coercing and abusing the 12-year-old victim in Jun. 2016 during “sleepovers” at his house. In Sep. 2016, Finch moved to Houston, Texas. He would travel back to Tulsa to have sexual intercourse with the minor. From Jun. 2017 through Feb. 2018, the abuse continued while the minor victim lived with Finch and his family in Houston, Texas. When the minor victim relocated back to Tulsa, Finch continued the abuse through sexually explicit text messages that corresponded with flight records back to Tulsa.
In Apr. 2018 the minor victim’s mother found the text messages. She reported the sexually explicit messages to the Tulsa Police Department (TPD). In Dec. 2018, Finch was charged in Tulsa County District Court with the State charge of lewd or indecent proposal to a child and ordered to not have contact with the minor. Despite the no-contact order, Finch encouraged the minor to lie to law enforcement and continue their “relationship.”
Finch pleaded guilty in Jun. 2020 to a State charge of Using a Computer to Violate Oklahoma Statutes. He was sentenced to five years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, with all time suspended. Finch was ordered to not have contact with the victim but continued to contact the minor victim.
In Apr. 2021, the mother and minor victim returned to TPD. The minor disclosed the full extent of the “relationship” with Finch. The victim admitted to being dishonest with law enforcement and fully believed they were in a “relationship.”
Federal charges for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor were filed on Apr. 18, 2023. As the investigation continued, Finch was additionally charged with Travel[ing] with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct. On Sep. 13, 2023, Finch pled guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Travel[ing] with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct. At sentencing, he was ordered to serve 15 years in federal custody in the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Finch will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Homeland Security Investigations and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn 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.
Four indicted for scheme to smuggle people into the United States for profitRead the Press Release
Seattle – A federal grand jury in Seattle has indicted four people for a conspiracy to smuggle non-citizens across the northern border for profit, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The group has been connected to two smuggling episodes in November and December 2023. The four named in the indictment were arrested Seattle, Chicago, and Santa Rosa, California. They will be transported to Seattle for arraignment in the weeks ahead.
According to a criminal complaint and the indictment, the four conspirators have been linked to two smuggling events involving eight different citizens of India. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to bring in and transport non-citizens for profit, eight counts of bringing a non-citizen into the U.S. at a place other than a designated Port of Entry and eight counts of attempted illegal transportation of a non-citizen for financial gain.
The defendants are: Rajat Rajat, 26, of Santa Rosa, California who was arrested in Chicago; Sushil Kumar, 35, of Santa Rosa, California; Bobby Joe Green, 67, of Santa Rosa, California; and Sneha, 20, a citizen of India who is in the U.S. on a student visa and goes by just her last name. She was arrested in Renton and released on an appearance bond.
According to records filed in the case, on November 27, 2023, a motion-activated camera caught multiple people jumping a fence near the Boundary Village Apartments. The fence is a quarter mile east of Peace Arch Park. Border Patrol agents near the apartments saw five people run to a white minivan. The vehicle was stopped by Border Patrol. Five citizens of India were in the van with Bobby Joe Green as the driver. The investigation revealed that Kumar and Rajat directed the non-citizens on where and how to cross the border, and that Rajat paid Green to transport the non-citizens from the border. Rajat asked for monetary payments from the non-citizens for being smuggled into the U.S.
Similarly, in December 2023, Rajat contacted three citizens of India in Peace Arch Park and allegedly directed them how to cross through the park and get into a car driven by Sneha. The car was stopped, and the non-citizens were interviewed. They indicated they had promised to make monetary payments to be smuggled into the U.S. Rajat was picked up near the border after Sneha and the three Indian nationals had been taken into custody.
All of the charges in the indictment are punishable by up to ten years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Border Patrol.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jin Kim.
rajat_indictment.pdfFour More Co-Conspirators Charged in Alleged Nationwide Abusive-Trust Tax Shelter SchemeRead the Press Release
A superseding indictment was returned yesterday by a federal grand jury in Denver charging four people with conspiring with Larry Conner and Timothy McPhee to defraud the IRS. Connor and McPhee had previously been indicted for conspiring to defraud the IRS related to the same scheme in September 2023.
According to the superseding indictment, from February 2018 until September 2023, Marcia Predmore, Roderick Prescott, Suzanne Thompson and Weldon Wulstein allegedly conspired with Conner, McPhee and others to promote, sell and implement an abusive-trust tax shelter scheme. The superseding indictment further charges Thompson and Wulstein with assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns on behalf of clients who used the shelter. Predmore and McPhee had previously been charged with tax evasion related to their use of the tax shelter to conceal their own income from the IRS. Conner and McPhee had also previously been charged with assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns on behalf of clients who used the shelter.
According to the superseding indictment, the shelter was marketed as a way for business owners to avoid paying federal income taxes on nearly all of their business income. Conner and McPhee allegedly instructed clients to use the fraudulent tax shelter by assigning nearly all of their business income to a series of sham trusts and a purported “private family foundation” to create the illusion that the income did not belong to the client. Conner and McPhee then allegedly referred the clients to handpicked tax-return preparers for the preparation of false individual income tax returns that did not report the income assigned to the trusts or that was donated to the foundation. In reality, however, the clients allegedly retained full control and use of that income. Although the income assigned to the sham trusts was reported on tax returns for the trusts, those tax returns allegedly offset the income with improper deductions, including donations, to report $0 in taxes owed.
As to Prescott, the superseding indictment charges that through his business, The Stewardship Institute, Prescott promoted the “private family foundation” that was advertised as the final step of the tax shelter. Prescott allegedly taught about the foundation at workshops he hosted with Conner, McPhee, Predmore and others. Prescott allegedly advised clients how to spend the funds “donated” to their private family foundations for their own personal use and to disguise the transactions to make them appear charitable. Prescott also allegedly oversaw the preparation of the instruments used to create the so-called private family foundations.
The superseding indictment alleges that Conner, McPhee and Predmore referred clients to Thompson for bookkeeping services and Wulstein for return preparation services. Thompson allegedly operated a bookkeeping firm called The CFO Agency; Wulstein allegedly operated a return preparation firm called Wulstein Financial Services. Thompson and her employees allegedly prepared financial statements for clients who used the abusive-trust tax shelter and sent those financial statements to Wulstein for the preparation of false tax returns.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States. Conner, McPhee, Thompson and Wulstein also face a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. McPhee and Predmore face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Amanda R. Scott and Lauren K. Pope and Senior Litigation Counsel Corey J. Smith of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Four Admit Bank Fraud Linked to Stolen MailRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Four people from Warren County, Missouri have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the theft of mail, checks and other personal information.
Elijah Briggs, 42, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to three counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Jessica Kirkpatrick, 44, pleaded guilty in a separate hearing Wednesday to two counts of bank fraud.
Reuben Kim, 36, pleaded guilty April 2 to two counts of bank fraud. Holly Naylor, 41, pleaded guilty in August to two counts of bank fraud.
Briggs admitted stealing U.S. mail from mailboxes and blank checks from homes while working as a contractor. In 2019, he accessed a couple’s online bank account and transferred money to a PayPal account and accounts in the names of other victims of identity theft. He also stole a check from the couple’s neighbor’s mailbox and deposited the altered check, causing a loss of $1,264.
Briggs was later caught with stolen mail belonging to dozens of people, more than 30 stolen debit or credit cards and over 100 checks in the names of other people. The total dollar amount on the stolen or fraudulent checks was $116,279. Briggs also had a notebook containing the names and personally identifiable information of several other people.
In 2021, Briggs stole and used a credit card from the home of his employer’s client, and then tried to cash his payroll check multiple times. He also created fraudulent checks that were deposited by Kirkpatrick, Naylor and Kim. His laptop contained images of fraudulent checks totaling $35,098.
In October of 2021, St. Charles Police Department officers stopped Briggs and found drugs, blank check paper and stolen or fraudulent checks totaling $40,423.
In their guilty pleas, Kirkpatrick, Naylor and Kim admitted cashing fraudulent checks created by Briggs.
Bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both prison and a fine. Each aggravated identity theft charge is punishable by two years in prison, consecutive to any other charge.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Charles Police Department, the St. Peters Police Department, and the Wentzville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke prosecuted the case.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Ryan Steele, 26 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady, after pleading guilty to Attempted Transportation of a Minor, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Steele was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in March 2023, Steele traveled from his home in Indiana to Texas to meet up with a minor female with whom he had been talking online for five years. Steele was located traveling to Texas and once there, law enforcement discovered he was attempting to locate the minor. After his arrest, Steele admitted to traveling to Texas to bring the minor back to Indiana to live with him and engage in sexual activity. Steele also admitted to talking online with the minor since she was approximately 11 years old and to knowing she was a minor.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Noble County Sheriff’s Office, the Kendallville Police Department, the Lagrange Police Department, and the LaPorte, Texas Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Former Executive Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $400,000 from San Diego Non-ProfitRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 25, 2024
SAN DIEGO – Katherine Lu Acquista, former Director of Operations and Accounting for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that she stole more than $400,000 from the non-profit for her personal benefit.
The Economic Development Corporation, known as EDC, works to maximize San Diego’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness. As Director of Operations and Accounting, Acquista had access to the EDC’s bank accounts, credit cards, checkbook and payroll system. According to her plea agreement, Acquista put personal expenditures on EDC’s credit card and directed the accounting department to issue checks from EDC to herself.
To conceal her scheme, Acquista caused false entries to be made in the non-profit’s accounting system to account for the missing funds. For example, Acquista put personal charges on the EDC credit card, and then caused the expenditures in the EDC’s accounting system to be entered as charges for maintenance and repairs or for office supplies. Similarly, Acquista directed that checks be written to herself from the EDC bank account but then caused the checks to be entered into EDC’s accounting system as charges for recurring IT expenses. Acquista admitted in her plea agreement that as a result of her scheme the EDC lost $433,275.89.
“This defendant took funds that were supposed to make San Diego a stronger business community and spent them on herself,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Our office takes embezzlement from local businesses very seriously and will continue to vigorously prosecute these cases.”
“Ms. Acquista worked for an organization whose goal is to help the San Diego community; however, she chose to abuse her position of trust within the organization,” said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge John Kim. “The FBI remains committed to ensuring that individuals who deliberately compromise the integrity of their position and organization for personal gain will be brought to justice.”
Acquista is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Battaglia for sentencing on July 15, 2024, at 9 a.m.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24CR0765-AJB
Katherine Lu Acquista Age: 47 Escondido, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Wire Fraud - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine or the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Florida Man Sentenced for Racially Motivated Attacks on Two Black WomenRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for committing two federal hate crimes by attacking two Black women with a gun.
Frederick Eugene Pierallini III, 27, previously pleaded guilty to these crimes on July 6, 2023.
“The defendant is being held accountable for targeting two Black women with a gun on two separate days because of their race,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “No one in this country should have to live in fear that when they use public spaces or work at their job, they risk attack by someone who hates them because of the color of their skin. The Justice Department is committed to protecting Black people from racially-motivated violence. We will continue to be relentless in investigating and prosecuting individuals who threaten or commit unlawful acts of hate.”
“The violent assaults committed against these two women because of their race are intolerable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “There is no place in our society for such heinous acts. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who target individuals and communities because of their race, ethnicity or beliefs.”
“Hate crimes like these are not only attacks on the victims but are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community,” said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will continue to prioritize investigating civil rights violations and work together tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.”
According to court documents, Pierallini willfully intimidated the victims and interfered with their enjoyment of federally protected activities using force or a threat of force, because of their race and color. Victim 1 was enjoying her private employment and Victim 2 was enjoying a facility provided by the state of Florida.
Specifically, on Sept. 10, 2022, Pierallini went to a convenience store, located in Jacksonville, Florida. Victim 1 was working there as a clerk at the register. Pierallini attempted to buy snacks at the register, but his card was declined. He then attempted to walk out of the store with unpaid merchandise. Pierallini ultimately returned, scolding Victim 1 for not knowing how to do her job and directing racial slurs at her. Pierallini left the store, retrieved a shotgun from his car, pointed it at Victim 1 and cocked it by pulling the slide back to open the chamber and loaded a bullet into it. Victim 1 ran away in fear. Pierallini continued to use racial slurs throughout the encounter.
Two days later, on Sept. 12, 2022, Pierallini approached Victim 2 as she was sitting in her walker on the public sidewalk. He directed racial slurs at her and told her that she could not sit where she was. Pierallini also threatened to kill Victim 2. He then left, returned with a shotgun and fired a single shot. Victim 2 sustained injuries when she fell to the ground in response, but she was not hit by Pierallini’s shot.
The FBI Jacksonville Field Office and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Washington for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Anna Gotfryd of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Florida Man Sentenced for Racially Motivated Attacks on Two Black WomenRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for committing two federal hate crimes by attacking two Black women with a gun.
Frederick Eugene Pierallini III, 27, previously pleaded guilty to these crimes on July 6, 2023.
“The defendant is being held accountable for targeting two Black women with a gun on two separate days because of their race,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “No one in this country should have to live in fear that when they use public spaces or work at their job, they risk attack by someone who hates them because of the color of their skin. The Justice Department is committed to protecting Black people from racially-motivated violence. We will continue to be relentless in investigating and prosecuting individuals who threaten or commit unlawful acts of hate.”
“The violent assaults committed against these two women because of their race are intolerable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “There is no place in our society for such heinous acts. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who target individuals and communities because of their race, ethnicity or beliefs.”
“Hate crimes like these are not only attacks on the victims but are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community,” said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will continue to prioritize investigating civil rights violations and work together tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.”
According to court documents, Pierallini willfully intimidated the victims and interfered with their enjoyment of federally protected activities using force or a threat of force, because of their race and color. Victim 1 was enjoying her private employment and Victim 2 was enjoying a facility provided by the state of Florida.
Specifically, on Sept. 10, 2022, Pierallini went to a convenience store, located in Jacksonville, Florida. Victim 1 was working there as a clerk at the register. Pierallini attempted to buy snacks at the register, but his card was declined. He then attempted to walk out of the store with unpaid merchandise. Pierallini ultimately returned, scolding Victim 1 for not knowing how to do her job and directing racial slurs at her. Pierallini left the store, retrieved a shotgun from his car, pointed it at Victim 1 and cocked it by pulling the slide back to open the chamber and loaded a bullet into it. Victim 1 ran away in fear. Pierallini continued to use racial slurs throughout the encounter.
Two days later, on Sept. 12, 2022, Pierallini approached Victim 2 as she was sitting in her walker on the public sidewalk. He directed racial slurs at her and told her that she could not sit where she was. Pierallini also threatened to kill Victim 2. He then left, returned with a shotgun and fired a single shot. Victim 2 sustained injuries when she fell to the ground in response, but she was not hit by Pierallini’s shot.
The FBI Jacksonville Field Office and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Washington for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Anna Gotfryd of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Felon convicted after pointing weapon at law enforcement responding to assaultRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 33-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Tomas Rodriguez pointed a loaded .22 caliber pistol at a local police department officer who was in the course of their normal duty.
On Sept. 5, 2021, the officer had responded to a report of an assault in a parking lot near Houston bar. Witnesses directed him to Rodriguez who had fled towards an injured female lying face down on the ground. Rodriguez fell as he ran, and the officer commanded him to remain on the ground.
However, Rodriguez got up and pointed the firearm at the officer who responded by discharging his duty weapon in self-defense. Not struck, Rodriguez proceeded to flee and discarded the weapon. Authorities apprehended Rodriguez following a foot pursuit and subsequently recovered his loaded firearm.
Rodriguez has multiple prior felony convictions. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition per federal law.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the plea and set sentencing for Aug. 8. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Rodriguez has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
The Houston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black prosecuted the case.
Faces of Gun Violence Exhibit at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ SummitRead the Press Release
San Juan, Puerto Rico — National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is April 21-27, 2024. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico joined efforts to raise awareness by participating in the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Faces of Gun Violence Exhibit at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit. United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow participated along with ATF Director Steve Dettelbach in the unveiling of 118 photographs of people who have died through gun violence at the ATF headquarters’ atrium. The exhibit is accompanied by a kiosk which includes descriptions of the lives of the victims in the photographs. Three (3) families from Puerto Rico shared the biographies and photographs of their family member who was murdered through gun violence. These victims of gun violence are: Lieutenant Oswaldo Albarati, Mr. David M. Méndez Calderón, and Stefano Steenbackers Betancourt.
In 2022, there were nearly 20 million instances of victimization in the United States. More than 6.6 million of those instances were crimes of violence, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Of that 6.6 million violent crimes, only about 42% were reported to police.
This year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme is “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.” Through this effort, we want to educate ourselves on how to create an environment in which victims and survivors feel safe talking about what happened to them. The theme aims to ensure that everyone in our community knows where and how to procure help for crime victims and survivors. It is essential that friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, service providers, or other trusted members of the community who have first line contact and access to the victims of crime know how to procure and provide the necessary help. The theme also seeks to shine a light on the exceptional work of the dedicated victim witness personnel and prosecutors in the United States Attorneys’ office who provide vital assistance to crime victims on a daily basis. During NCVRW, we honor their dedication, expertise, and essential contributions to our mission.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico said: “Gun violence continues to devastate families and communities across our communities and across our nation. It’s the leading cause of death for American children and teenagers. The Department of Justice has no higher priority than keeping our communities safe and that means targeting the most significant drivers of violent crime in this country — namely gun violence. Together, with federal, state, and local law enforcement and community partners we will continue to work to save lives and take violent criminals off the streets.”
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Five Charged Following DEA Undercover Drug OperationRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI - United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that a federal grand jury retuned indictments charging Jamil Bell, 43, Peter Francis, 33, Niah Henry, 44, Anwar Lockhart, 41, and Kenson Plasimo, 43, with drug trafficking.
According to court documents, between December 5, 2023, and December 7, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Police Department utilized an undercover agent to conduct purchases of cocaine and oxycodone pills from the defendants in the area of Red Hook, St. Thomas.
These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Police Department and are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cherrisse R. Woods and Kimberly M. Riley.
United States Attorney Smith reminds the public that an indictment is not evidence of guilt, and all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Eight Year Sentence Handed Down for Carjacking and Robbery of a Delivery DriverRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Daquan Skipper, 27, of Alexandria, Virginia was sentenced to eight years in prison for carjacking an Uber Eats delivery driver of his motorized scooter in July 2023, and for robbing him of his cell phone, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Skipper pleaded guilty to both charges on January 31, 2024. Superior Court Judge Jason Park, who sentenced Skipper on April 12, 2024, also ordered three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, with which Skipper agreed, on July 29, 2023 outside of a Pizza Hut located at 1501 Maryland Avenue NE, the defendant and two others approached the delivery driver who had just picked up an order. The victim was putting his cell phone into a holder on the handlebars when the defendant and his accomplices ran up to and surrounded him. The defendant threated the victim by telling him he had a gun while gesturing to his waistband as if he did have a gun. The victim believed that the defendant was armed. The defendant grabbed the victim’s phone and the keys to the scooter. The defendant tried to start the scooter several times, but when he failed, he and one of his accomplices dragged the scooter toward the Bladensburg Road NE intersection.
The victim followed the defendant until he saw and flagged down MPD police officers. The defendant dropped the scooter and ran when an MPD police officer tried to arrest him. Police eventually apprehended him and recovered the victim’s phone.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Ans and Rashmika Nedungadi.
Edmond Man Sentenced to Serve 22 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy, Capping Investigation into Major Methamphetamine & Cocaine Organization in OklahomaRead the Press Release
Organization distributed narcotics throughout the United States
OKLAHOMA CITY – ANTONIO ORTIZ HERRERA, 46, of Edmond, has been sentenced to serve 264 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) which was responsible for distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine throughout the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
The sentencing is the culmination of a nearly two-year, nationwide investigation, led by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with support from IRS Criminal Investigation.
On June 8, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a 14-count Indictment against Ortiz and several other co-defendants for their roles in the DTO. According to public record, co-defendant Victoriano Neri Hernandez, 37, was head of the DTO in Oklahoma, while Ortiz facilitated the distribution of the drugs throughout the country, including to North Carolina and Kentucky. The Indictment alleges the DTO had ties to Mexico, and that the methamphetamine and cocaine would be shipped from Mexico into both Texas and Oklahoma. According to public record, the organization would smuggle the illegal drugs in hidden compartments of camper shells attached to pick-up trucks.
On July 25, 2023, Ortiz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. As part of his plea, Ortiz admitted to knowingly participating in the conspiracy that distributed both methamphetamine and cocaine throughout the Western District of Oklahoma and elsewhere.
At the sentencing hearing on April 24, 2024, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Ortiz to serve 264 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. As part of the sentencing, the court noted the seriousness of the offenses, including the geographic scope of the organization and the quantity of controlled substances, as well as Ortiz’s role in the organization.
In all, nine defendants with involvement in the DTO have been sentenced to serve more than 91 years collectively in federal prison:
- Victoriano Neri Hernandez – sentenced to serve 288 months in federal prison for drug conspiracy and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute;
- Cesar Cecilio Perez Rubio – sentenced to serve 108 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine;
- David Gandara – sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute;
- Jorge Luis Becerra – sentenced to serve 72 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute;
- Ruby Jackson – sentenced to serve 72 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;
- Yoelmmi Franco Sandoval – sentenced to serve 71 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine;
- Arturo Alberto Gonsen Romo – sentenced to serve 71 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and
- Ivan Chanax Aguilar – sentenced to serve 64 months in federal prison for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with support from IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Anderson and Nick Coffey prosecuted the case. This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Dog Broker Sentenced to Federal Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Justin Daniels has been sentenced for filing false tax returns in connection with his dog-brokering business. Daniels falsely underreported over $1 million in income between 2015 and 2018.
“Rather than pay his fair share of taxes, Daniels spent years submitting fraudulent returns in the name of personal greed,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue and prosecute those who exploit our tax system at the expense of law-abiding taxpayers.”
“Justin Daniels’ sentence is an example of what people who willfully fail to report all their income can expect as the outcome of their crime,” said Lisa Fontanette, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation will continue investigating and holding accountable individuals who intentionally conceal income and evade taxes.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Since 2006, Daniels had earned a living as a dog broker selling Yorkie, Morkie, and Shi-Tzu puppies. Although Daniels’s customers believed he was selling the puppies directly, the puppies were being raised by breeders in Kentucky and Tennessee. This dog brokering business was lucrative and the cost of the puppies ranged from $800 to $1,200. Between 2015 and 2018, Daniels received and deposited more than $2.3 million into personal checking accounts. Daniels significantly underreported his income on his taxes. Based on information that Daniels provided to his tax preparer, Daniels underreported $1,186,830 in gross receipts during the years 2015 to 2018, resulting in additional tax due of $258,265. At the same time, Daniels was submitting false information on his tax returns and representing to private lenders that he made substantially more money to obtain loans.
Justin Daniels, 48, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to one year, two months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on April 22, 2024. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $258,265. Daniels was convicted on these charges on December 5, 2023, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. O’Neal and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Krepp prosecuted the case.
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.
District Woman Sentenced for Attempted Assault with a Dangerous Weapon for Attacking Law Enforcement While ShopliftingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jamilla Haskins, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 14 months in prison for attempting to stab a detective and pepper spraying him after he confronted her about stealing from the store, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Haskins pleaded guilty on February 21, 2024 to assault with a dangerous weapon.
According to the government’s evidence, on January 23, 2024, at the CVS located at 128 Kennedy Street NW, Haskins concealed 30 items, including hair clips, shaving cream, and body oil, belonging to CVS, inside of her bag. She then passed all points of sale and attempted to leave the store without paying for the items. An MPD detective who was checking on the retail thefts at local stores, saw Haskins attempting to steal items, stopped her, and confronted her about the property she had taken. Haskins responded by pepper spraying the Detective in the face. The detective then attempted to detain the defendant inside the CVS. Haskins began pushing the detective away and was actively trying to get away from him. Haskins still had merchandise in her possession. The struggle worked its way from the exit doors through the vestibule to the front outside entrance of the store. During the struggle, Haskins pointed a black pocketknife at the detective and threatened to stab him. The detective – with pepper spray in his eyes – disarmed her. Haskins continued to try to make her escape. The detective and MPD officers responding to his call were able stop Haskins at the corner of 2nd St NW on Kennedy St NW and recover her knife.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi.
Defendant Pleads Guilty for Environmental Crimes Committed in the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Las Mareas Community of Salinas, Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Pedro Luis Bones Torres pleaded guilty today to environmental crimes related to the illegal construction and deposit of material into the wetlands and waters of the United States in the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (the “Jobos Estuarine Reserve”) and Las Mareas community of Salinas, Puerto Rico.
According to court documents, starting no later than January of 2020, Bones-Torres engaged in construction and land clearing activities on a property to the South of Camino de Galileo in the las Mareas area of Salinas, Puerto Rico (the “Property”). At the time that the Defendant began construction activities, the majority of the property was a wetland consisting of mangrove trees and open area that was occasionally partially submerged by the sea tides. The wetland area of property was within the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Between January 2020 and October 2022, Bones-Torres removed mangroves and deposited fill material within the wetland area of the Property using excavation and earth moving equipment that the Defendant operated. Bones-Torres disposed of the mangroves at the edges of the property and on Camino de Galileo. After the Defendant filled the wetlands, he built a concrete pad, a concrete gazebo with an outdoor kitchen, a wooden gazebo, and a dock extending into Mar Negro.
Bones-Torres did not seek or receive approval to fill the wetlands, and at no point was the Defendant permitted to fill wetlands on or near the Property.
Bones-Torres pleaded guilty to one violation of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1311(a), and one violation of the Rivers and Harbors Act, 33 U.S.C. § 403. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for the Clean Water Act violation as well as one year in prison for the Rivers and Harbors Act violation. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Special Agent in Charge Tyler Amon for the U.S. EPA Criminal Investigation Division made the announcement.
Various federal agencies are involved in this ongoing investigation into environmental crimes in the Jobos Estuarine Reserve and Las Mareas community, including the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army-CID), U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General (DOC-OIG), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement (NOAA-OLE), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement (FW OLE).
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Erbe, Environmental Litigation Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.
If you have any information related to this investigation or environmental crimes in the area, please contact enforcement officials, which may be done anonymously. The EPA can be contacted at (787) 977-5821 or at https://echo.epa.gov/denuncie-violaciones-ambientales. The FBI can be contacted at (787) 987-6500 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.
For more information on the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Reserve, please visit https://www.drna.pr.gov/jbnerr/ or https://coast.noaa.gov/nerrs/reserves/jobos-bay.html.
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Defendant Charged with Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in Overdose Deaths of Two PeopleRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 25, 2024
SAN DIEGO – Scott Anthony Sargent of San Diego appeared in federal court today to face charges that he distributed the fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of two victims in North Park in 2022. During the same incident, Sargent and another person also overdosed but survived.
Sargent is also charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. At today’s hearing, Sargent was detained without bond.
San Diego Police officers along with investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team responded to a 911 call just before 6 a.m. on November 10, 2022. When they arrived, four individuals were found lying on the floor of a bedroom. Two of the individuals, identified in court records by the initials Z.W. and M.L., were pronounced dead at the scene, while Sargent and another individual were treated with Narcan and transported to nearby hospitals where they recovered.
Sargent allegedly brought and then distributed the fatal mix of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl (a common fentanyl analogue) to a residence in North Park. Investigators linked Sargent to the overdoses through the fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl mixture found at the overdose location. The mixture was also found inside Sargent’s backpack and duffel bag recovered from the scene. A subsequent search by investigators of Sargent's storage unit also turned up additional baggies containing the same combination of fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl.
“Fentanyl kills indiscriminately,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Yet as was accomplished in this case investigators will leave no stone unturned in the effort to identify and charge distributors of this poison.”
“Mr. Sargent’s alleged actions cost two people their lives,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis. “The San Diego DEA and its partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that sell, traffic, or provide fentanyl in our community.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Gordon and Sarah Goldwasser.
Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10) led the investigation. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the San Diego Police Department, and the California Department of Health Care Services to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24-CR-807-RSH
Scott Anthony Sargent Age: 63 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death – Title 18, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison
Mandatory minimum: Twenty years in prison
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine - Title 18, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1), and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison
Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Homeland Security Investigations
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego Police Department
State of California Department of Health Care Services
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Coos County Man Suspected of Abusing Children Indicted in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A North Bend, Oregon man suspected of abusing multiple children has been indicted in federal court.
Christopher Jay Young, 39, has been charged in a two-count indictment with attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct and attempting to coerce and entice a minor.
According to the indictment, on or about January 20, 2024, Young is alleged to have knowingly and intentionally persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and record the conduct. Young’s crimes involving one minor victim, as alleged in the indictment, are part of a broader series of similar abusive crimes he is suspected to have committed involving multiple other children during a similar timeframe.
Between April 4 and 8, 2024, the FBI applied for and obtained multiple federal search warrants for Young’s person, home and vehicles. On April 11, 2024, special agents and deputies from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Oregon State Police, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office executed the warrants and arrested Young.
Five days later, on April 16, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Young. He was arraigned on the indictment Wednesday in federal court in Eugene by a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Young pleaded not guilty and was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
Attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison with a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. Attempted coercion and enticement of a minor is punishable by up to life in prison with a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence.
This case is being investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, they re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Convicted Felon Arrested on Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Timothy Lee King (33, Groveland) on an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, King faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, King was previously convicted of 11 felonies, including fleeing and eluding law enforcement, burglary, and two prior convictions for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On January 16, 2024, King was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Because of his prior felony convictions, King is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Leesburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
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.
Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Fraudulently Obtained Gold CoinsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Connecticut man pleaded guilty yesterday to fraudulently obtaining more than 100 gold coins and then transporting them outside of Massachusetts.
William Dawson, 52, pleaded guilty to on one count of interstate transportation of property taken by fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for June 18, 2024. Dawson was arrested and charged in October 2023.
Dawson held himself out as a property buyer and reseller. Person-1 operated a home cleanout business in Massachusetts that sold property contained in decedent estates. In or around December 2022, Person-1 was retained by a decedent estate to clean out a residence in Shrewsbury. In that home, Person-1 found 170 Queen Elizabeth II Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coins, collectively worth approximately $290,000. With approval from the estate, Person-1 agreed to sell 120 of the gold coins to Dawson.
In January 2023, Dawson met with Person-1 in Millbury and purchased the 120 gold coins with two checks totaling $198,800. However, Dawson had significantly less than $198,800 in the relevant bank account when he wrote the checks to Person-1. Later that same day, Dawson called Person-1, falsely claiming that his car had been broken into and that the gold coins had been stolen. The next day, Dawson traveled to a pawn shop in Pawtucket, R.I. where he sold 43 of the gold coins in exchange for $80,442. On several occasions in February 2023, Dawson traveled to a pawn shop in Cranston, R.I., where he sold 19 more of the gold coins in exchange for a total of approximately $35,094.
The charge of interstate transportation of property taken by fraud, provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Milford Police Department and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Christian County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Hopkinsville, Ky., man, Veontae Leemond Lewis, 32, was sentenced on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 138 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, on September 4, 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a car operated by Lewis. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer smelled marijuana and asked Lewis to step out of the car. The officer located approximately five pounds of methamphetamine in a bag, two marijuana cigarettes, and $907 in cash.
Under federal law, Lewis must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit Field Division; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Chief Kyle Rader, Erlanger Police Department, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Erlanger Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Chinese National Arrested in United States for Alleged Scheme to Illegally Export Semiconductor Manufacturing MachineRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today charging two Chinese nationals, Han Li, also known as Anson Li, 44, and Lin Chen, 64, with crimes related to a conspiracy to illegally export U.S. technology, including a machine manufactured by a California-based company that is used to process silicon wafer microchips, to prohibited end users in China, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Chen was arrested in Chicago yesterday.
“As alleged, the defendants sought to evade export controls to obtain U.S. semiconductor manufacturing technology for a prohibited Chinese company,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing export controls and holding accountable those who seek to illicitly procure U.S.-developed technologies that put our national security at risk.”
“The export restrictions at issue in this case were put in place to prevent the illicit procurement of commodities and technologies for unauthorized military end use in the People’s Republic of China,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “This office will continue to vigorously enforce the nation’s export laws, including those pertaining to advanced technologies, to protect our national security.”
“This indictment puts an end to Ms. Chen’s alleged involvement in a scheme to illegally export U.S. technology to China,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “The U.S. does not tolerate illegally exporting our advanced technology, and any attempt to circumvent U.S. laws and regulations will have consequences. The FBI and its partners will continue to seek justice in this matter.”
Federal regulations restrict the export of certain items to companies, research institutions, and other entities identified on the Department of Commerce’s Entity List. In August 2014, the Commerce Department added Changdu GaStone Technology Company (CGTC), a company based in China, to the Entity List.
As alleged in the indictment, between at least May 2015 and August 2018, Li and Chen conspired to evade the export restrictions imposed by the Department of Commerce on CGTC through the use of intermediaries to conceal CGTC’s involvement with the transactions. Specifically, the defendants sought to illegally obtain a DTX-150 Automatic Diamond Scriber Breaker machine from Dynatex International, a Santa Rosa, California, company. The machine is used to cut thin semiconductors used in electronics, also known as silicon wafers, and under Department of Commerce regulations, requires a license and authorization to export to CGTC. The defendants sought to acquire the machine for CGTC through an intermediary company called Jiangsu Hantang International (JHI), a proxy they fraudulently represented as the purchaser and end user. To avoid detection, Li and Chen instructed Dynatex International to ensure that the export information associated with the sale did not list CGTC as the ultimate consignee of the shipment.
Li is believed to be in the People’s Republic of China.
Li and Chen each are charged with the following offenses, and if convicted, face maximum penalties as indicated: Conspiracy to violate IEEPA, up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine; false electronic export information activities, up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; smuggling, up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and IEEPA violations, up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Chinese National Arrested in U.S. for Alleged Role in Scheme to Illegally Export Semiconductor-Related MachineryRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – An indictment was unsealed charging Chinese nationals, Han Li, 44, also known as “Anson” Li, and Lin Chen, 64, with crimes related to a conspiracy to illegally export U.S technology to prohibited end users in China, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) and Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). The technology at issue includes a machine manufactured by a California-based company that is used to process silicon wafer microchips. Chen was arrested in Chicago yesterday.
“The export restrictions at issue in this case were put in place to prevent the illicit procurement of commodities and technologies for unauthorized military end use in the People’s Republic of China,” said the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Ismail Ramsey. “This office will continue to vigorously enforce the nation’s export laws, including those pertaining to advanced technologies, to protect our national security.”
“As alleged, the defendants sought to evade export controls to obtain U.S. semiconductor manufacturing technology for a prohibited Chinese company,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing export controls and holding accountable those who seek to illicitly procure U.S.-developed technologies that puts our national security at risk.”
“Stopping the illegal export of U.S. technology to China is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. We will aggressively pursue anyone who violates export control laws designed to protect our national and economic security. I am proud of the tenacious work that resulted in today’s announcement,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “U.S. business leaders should be encouraged to establish a relationship with their local FBI field office to help protect against the pervasive threat of criminals looking to steal American technology.”
“This arrest highlights the importance of interagency collaboration in preventing illegal exports that could compromise sensitive technologies and our national security as well as undermine our American economy. Thank you to our partners at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Dept. of Commerce’ Bureau of Industry and Security, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, and the Dept. of Justice National Security Division.” said HSI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King.
“Stopping the flow of U.S. semiconductor technology that supports the PRC’s military modernization efforts is a top priority for the Office of Export Enforcement,” said Brent Burmester, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, San Jose Field Office. “BIS will continue to prioritize investigations involving exports of advanced technologies to prohibited parties to protect U.S. national security.”
Federal regulations restrict the export of certain items to companies, research institutions, and other entities identified on the Department of Commerce’s Entity List. In August 2014, the Department of Commerce added Changdu GaStone Technology Company (“CGTC”), a company based in China, to the Entity List, making the company ineligible to receive exports of certain U.S. technologies and services.
As alleged in the indictment, between at least May 2015 and August 2018, Li and Chen conspired to evade the export restrictions imposed by the Department of Commerce on CGTC by using intermediary companies. Specifically, the defendants sought to illegally obtain for CGTC a DTX-150 Automatic Diamond Scriber Breaker machine from Dynatex International, a Santa Rosa, California company. The machine is used to cut thin semiconductors used in electronics, also known as silicon wafers, and under Department of Commerce regulations, requires a license and authorization to export to CGTC. The defendants sought to obtain the machine through an intermediary company called Jiangsu Hantang International (JHI), which they fraudulently represented as the purchaser and end user. ), a proxy they fraudulently represented as the purchaser and end user. To avoid detection, Li and Chen instructed Dynatex International to ensure that the export information associated with the sale did not list CGTC as the ultimate consignee of the shipment.
Li is believed to be in the People’s Republic of China.
In sum, Li and Chen each are charged as follows:
Count
Violation
Description and Maximum
Sentence, if Convicted
1
18 U.S.C. § 1705 and 15 C.F.R. § 764.2(d)
Conspiracy to Violate IEEPA;
20 years prison, $1,000,000 fine
2
13 U.S.C. § 305 and 18 U.S.C. § 2
False Electronic Export Information Activities;
5 years prison, $250,000 fine
3
18 U.S.C. §§ 554 and 2
Smuggling;
10 years prison, $250,000 fine
4
18 U.S.C. § 1705 and 15 C.F.R. § 764.2(d)
IEEPA Violations;
20 years prison, $1,000,000 fine
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 62 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Damiane Harris, 49 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody upon his plea of guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property and to a supervised release violation in a prior case, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Harris was sentenced to 41 months in prison in the new case followed by 2 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $35,503.58 in restitution to the victims of the offense.
According to documents in the case, Harris broke into a truck sales business in South Bend, Indiana, and stole a semi-tractor. He drove the semi-tractor to a crane rental business in Griffith, Indiana, and used it to steal three semi-trailers loaded with more than 68 tons of crane counterweights and other equipment. He then hauled the counterweights to a scrapyard in Chicago Heights, Illinois, where he sold them for profit. The total intended loss was $310,059.
Harris committed this new offense while on federal supervised release for a similar offense. He received a 21-month sentence for his supervised release violation, which will run consecutive to his sentence for the new offense, for a total sentence of 62 months in prison.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Bend Police Department, the Griffith Police Department, and the Chicago Heights Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven J. Lupa.
Career Criminal Convicted of Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Washington, D.C. man with three prior felony convictions has been convicted of illegally possessing a firearm.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that Mario Adonte Crawley, age 51, was convicted by a jury of the unlawful possession of a firearm. The evidence at trial established that Crawley’s vehicle was stopped in Kearneysville, West Virginia, by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office in September of 2023. During the traffic stop, officers located a loaded 9mm handgun hidden in a laundry basket in the back of Crawley’s automobile. Crawley is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for Armed Robbery in the District of Columbia, Attempted Robbery in Petersburg, Virginia, and Receiving Stolen Property in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Salem and Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Crawley faces up to fifteen years in prison when he is sentenced.
U.S. District Court Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Caldwell Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Sexually Entice a MinorRead the Press Release
BOISE – Tyler Douglas Asker, 33, of Caldwell, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on the charge of attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor, which involved the defendant using the internet to entice a minor into sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, between August 3, 2023, and August 18, 2023, Asker communicated online with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. During the communications, Asker sent the purported child an explicit video and discussed engaging the child in sexual acts. Asker requested the child’s address and was arrested after he traveled to meet the child.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Asker to ten years of supervised release. Asker will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.
The investigation was part of “Operation Summertime Blues,” a joint local, state, and federal undercover operation conducted in Boise in August 2023 to identify individuals predisposed to meet minors for sexual contact. Participating agencies included the Boise Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Meridian Police Department, the Garden City Police Department, and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
Asker is the last of three defendants charged in federal court as a result of Operation Summertime Blues. Earlier this year, Shawn Edwin Long, 42, of Kuna, and Daniel DeLong, 44, of Ontario, were both sentenced by Judge Winmill to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor.
“I am grateful to all the agencies who supported ‘Operation Summertime Blues,’” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “The proactive and collaborative approach used to catch these would-be predators is essential to protecting Idaho’s children. We will continue to pursue anyone seeking to sexually exploit minors through online communications.”
“This attempt to prey on a child was fortunately thwarted though the unquestionable expertise found through our law enforcement partnerships,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Dark ideations that would put our children at risk cannot be allowed to thrive in the shadows of cyberspace, and it is our collective efforts that will protect Idaho communities from online predators.”
“I am very proud of the work our ICAC Unit has done to protect children across Idaho,” said Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “They have forged solid relationships with federal and local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies across Idaho. These demonstrated partnerships are critical for keeping our communities safe from predators and abusers.”
“One of the highest responsibilities we have as law enforcement, is to protect those who are vulnerable and unable to protect themselves—our children,” said Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar. “Those like Mr. Asker, who would prey on our children, deserve our utmost attention, our strongest investigative and prosecutorial efforts, and our dedication to keep them from being successful in their efforts to victimize our society’s most vulnerable.”
“We are extremely proud of the work by our men and women involved in this case,” said Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea. “These cases are very difficult especially with the ever-changing world of technology coupled with the toll these types of investigations take on our investigators. It is their dedication and excellence that helped bring another predator to justice.”
“These are difficult investigations for the victims, their families, and our investigators,” said Garden City Police Chief Cory Stambaugh. “I am thankful that the work by the members of the task force have put another person who preys on kids in prison.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Brockton woman admits stealing gun, vehicle in burglary on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Brockton woman on April 24 admitted to stealing a firearm and a vehicle in a residential burglary on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Avis Big Track, 32, pleaded guilty to burglary. Big Track faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Aug. 28. Big Track was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged that on Sept. 26, 2022, two homeowners reported a burglary of their home in Brockton, which is on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. During the burglary, Big Track took a .45-caliber pistol and keys to a 2014 Chrysler, which she used to steal the Chrysler. Big Track was seen driving the stolen Chrysler, and she eventually admitted that she took the vehicle and had given the firearm to another individual, who put it in a safe with drugs. Law enforcement searched the safe and found the pistol and methamphetamine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Myers is prosecuting the case. Fort Peck Tribal Law Enforcement conducted the investigation.
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British National to Reimburse United Airlines $20,638 for Interfering with Flight Crew on Flight Diverted to BangorRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Chelmsford, England man was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Bangor for interfering with a flight crew. The charge stemmed from an incident on a United Airlines flight that diverted to Bangor International Airport (BGR) on March 1, 2024.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Alexander Michael Dominic MacDonald, 30, to time served; he had been in custody since his arrest on March 1. MacDonald was also ordered to pay $20,638.00 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on March 22.
According to court records, MacDonald was a passenger aboard a United Airlines flight traveling from London, England to Newark, New Jersey on March 1, 2024. While the flight was in U.S. airspace, MacDonald began arguing with his travelling companion and causing a disturbance. When flight attendants asked MacDonald to be quiet and attempted to calm him, he became belligerent, threatening, and intimidating towards them. When the international purser aboard the flight intervened, MacDonald became belligerent and intimidating toward him as well and stated that he would “mess up the plane.” When MacDonald’s conduct continued, he was restrained in flex cuffs, and the flight was diverted to Bangor.
The FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Bangor Police Department investigated the case.
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Brandon Man Sentenced After Conviction for Trafficking Migratory BirdsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell has sentenced Ernesto Gonzalez Campos (36, Brandon) to 18 months’ probation, to include a $1,000 fine and 50 hours of community service. Campos was found guilty by a federal jury on November 30, 2023.
Campos is the most recent individual to be sentenced in “Operation Ornery Birds II.” Five others were previously sentenced in the Middle District of Florida. Operation Ornery Birds II was a Florida-wide investigation conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Campos engaged in the ongoing capture, sale, and trade of protected migratory songbirds. On at least three occasions in 2020 and 2021, Campos sold and traded indigo buntings, painted buntings, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and blue grosbeaks, all of which are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Campos trapped the birds from the wild and, once they were tamed, sold them within the songbird community.
This case was investigated by United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa Spergel and Senior Trial Attorney Patrick Duggan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section.
Bvi Man Pleads Guilty to Alien SmugglingRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI - United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Lorenzo Ortis Charles, 36, of Tortola, British Virgin Islands, pleaded guilty to smuggling aliens into the United States.
According to court documents, on February 23, 2024, Customs and Border Patrol intercepted a vessel that departed Tortola, BVI and entered United States waters. The vessel, operated by Charles, had no navigational lights as it entered Leinster Bay, St, John. On board the vessel was five individuals who had no legal rights to enter the United States.
This case was investigated by Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly M. Riley.
Anesthesiologist Pleads Guilty to Taking Fentanyl from HospitalRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An anesthesiologist at a Lee’s Summit, Mo., hospital pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally taking fentanyl from the hospital.
Roman Peplinski, 37, of Kansas City, Mo., waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to a federal information that charges him with one count of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge.
Peplinski was employed as an anesthesiologist at Union Hill Group in Kansas City, Mo. Peplinski worked at Lakewood Medical Center in Lee’s Summit and Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., which are both part of University Health.
Peplinski admitted that he illegally obtained fentanyl from Lakewood Medical Center on Nov. 5, 2022. Peplinski misrepresented the fentanyl was for a patient, when in reality, that patient had been discharged from Lakewood Medical Center earlier that day. Fentanyl was not listed under the “medication orders” on the patient’s chart for the hospital visit.
Peplinski also admitted to withdrawing fentanyl from three vials from Sept. 1, 2022, through Nov. 30, 2022.
On Feb. 16, 2023, personnel from Lakewood Medical Center reported to the Drug Enforcement Administration that three vials of fentanyl in an automated dispensing cabinet showed signs of tampering. In March 2023 seven vials of fentanyl that were suspected of being tampered with were sent to the FDA’s Forensic Chemistry Center where tests were performed on the vials and their contents. Of the seven vials, three showed evidence of being tampered with. One of those vials contained no fentanyl and the other two vials contained a small amount of fentanyl.
The government has no evidence that any patients were harmed as a result of Peplinski tampering with vials of fentanyl.
Under federal statutes, Peplinski is subject to a sentence of up to four years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations.
Anchorage man pleads guilty to a child exploitation offenseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man pleaded guilty today to attempting to coerce and entice a minor in 2023.
According to court documents, in July 2023, Benjamin Roundy, aka “Aleks” or “Alekzander Marko,” 42, began communicating with an individual he believed was a 13-year-old girl on an online platform, but who was in fact an FBI agent acting in an undercover capacity. Between July 7 and Aug. 4, the defendant discussed multiple topics with the individual, including directions to send sexually explicit content, requests to meet in person and what sexual actions would happen if they met in person.
The defendant arranged to meet in person on Aug. 4 and was subsequently arrested by law enforcement when he attempted to do so.
Following his arrest, law enforcement discovered over 5,500 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on Roundy’s devices. The investigation also revealed that in July 2017, Roundy uploaded videos depicting child sexual abuse to an online platform.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on a later date and faces a sentencing range of 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is investigating the case. If anyone has any information concerning Roundy’s actions or may have encountered someone using the name “Aleks” or “Alekzander Marko” in person, via text message on an online messaging app, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander of the District of Alaska and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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24 April 2024
Wilmington Man Sentenced to 133 Months in Federal Prison for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Wilmington man was sentenced today to 133 months in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine and heroin. The Honorable Colm F. Connolly, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Delaware, imposed the sentence.
According to court documents, Martin Green, age 33, sold crystal methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with the FBI on several occasions between March and May 2023. After searches of Green’s car, home, and storage unit, law enforcement found over 3.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and over 4,400 baggies of heroin. Green confessed to selling both drugs in the New Castle County area. Green had three prior state convictions for drug dealing.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “This sentence reflects Mr. Green’s repeated disregard for the rule of law and the severity of his crimes. Drug trafficking is corrosive to our communities. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who choose to profit from illegal drug sales.”
“Martin Green is a repeat offender, who sold methamphetamine and heroin in Delaware again and again, even with children present,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “Putting Mr. Green out of business and behind bars for the next 11 years is a win for the people of Delaware. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will not stand by while dangerous and destructive drugs are sold in our communities.”
The case was investigated by FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force, which is a partnership of law enforcement officers from the FBI, Wilmington Police Department, Delaware State Police, Delaware Probation and Parole, and New Castle County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Ibrahim.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-45-CFC.
Waukesha Man Sentenced to 30 Years’s Imprisonment for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 23, 2024, Cornelius M. Jackson (age: 35) of Waukesha, Wisconsin, was sentenced to a term of 30 years’ imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, after being convicted of four counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
In announcing the sentence, United States District Judge Brett Ludwig emphasized that it is “hard to overstate the seriousness” of Jackson’s conduct, describing how Jackson had “manipulated, used violence, and coerced many young women to sell their bodies for the sexual gratification of others” over a period of six years. Judge Ludwig recounted the “mental and physical torture” that Jackson to which subjected his victims, including strangling several of his victims on multiple occasions. He also noted that Jackson’s “real failure to come to grips” with the gravity of his crimes or to take any meaningful responsibility, even at the sentencing hearing, impacted the Court’s sentencing decision.
“The sentence imposed in this case reflects the pervasive and relentless harm Mr. Jackson inflicted on his victims,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “Along with our federal, state, and local partners, we are committed to pursuing justice for Mr. Jackson’s victims, who displayed strength and determination in making sure their stories were heard.”
“Sex trafficking is a horrendous crime, and the FBI is fighting it every day in communities across Wisconsin,” said Milwaukee FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Hensle. “The FBI will continue working side by side with our local and state law enforcement partners to prevent these crimes and bring those responsible like Jackson to justice.”
“Defendants who commit the despicable crime of human trafficking must face severe consequences,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Thank you to the many criminal justice professionals who worked together to secure this sentence and ensure that the public will be protected from the defendant for a long time.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the Waukesha Police Department, the Milwaukee Police Department, the Oneida Police Department, and the Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Abbey M. Marzick.
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Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Pornography in Plot to Molest a Young GirlRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Eleanor Hunton Hoppe, 46, of Charlottesville, Va., today pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography in a plot to molest a young girl. The plea agreement was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves of the District of Columbia and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Hoppe pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, who scheduled sentencing for September 23, 2024. The terms of Hoppe’s plea agreement call for her to serve 135 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In addition, she will have to register as a sex offender for a minimum period of 25 years.
According to court documents, in late February 2023, an undercover law enforcement officer encountered Hoppe on a social media site where individuals discuss their sexual interest in children and child sexual abuse material. Hoppe distributed three images of child pornography to the undercover officer and repeatedly expressed an interest in sexually abusing his purported 8-year-old daughter. On March 16, 2023, P Hoppe arranged to have the undercover officer bring his daughter from D.C. to a hotel in Warrenton, Va., where she would meet them to sexually abuse the child. Police arrested Hoppe when she arrived at the hotel.
This case was investigated by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth and Family Services Division, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Burrell and Rachel Forman.
U.S. Attorney’s Office staff strive to make path to re-entry easier for returning citizensRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Hundreds of job seekers recently attended Miami-Dade County’s 305 Second Chance Job & Resource Expo at the Main Library in downtown Miami and United States Attorney’s Office staff were present to provide helpful community resources.
Many job seekers previously had been in prison. That is a major impediment to landing a job with a good company, but couple that with a lack of education and these job seekers are starting out with two strikes against them. That’s why it’s so critical to reduce employment barriers so returning citizens have a chance to become productive. Otherwise, they are much more likely to reoffend and end up right back in prison.
“Many people we saw at the expo were so grateful for the opportunity to apply for jobs and get resource information in one location,” said Law Enforcement Coordination Specialist Mark McKinney, U.S. Attorney’s Office. “You can’t help but feel inspired and want to help them as best you can.”
Approximately 25 employers were onsite to take applications and in some instances conduct on-the-spot interviews. Also available were social services, health and wellness, educational and vocational training, and resume development resources.
“We can bring someone on in as little as a week, depending on the position,” said a recruiting specialist with a local community organization. “Certain positions such as a preschool teacher may need an associate or bachelor’s degree. It just depends on the job they are trying to get.”
In some instances, a criminal record could impact certain job opportunities for returning citizens. However, the Job & Resource Expo showed that there are positions that could be a match for a number of returning citizens. Also, a couple of government programs give prospective employers financial incentives to hire returning citizens—either through bonds or tax credits.
“There appears to be momentum toward helping returning citizens find a living wage and that’s a good thing,” said Law Enforcement Coordination/Community Outreach Section Chief J.D. Smith. “Our office provides resource information to returning citizens and hosts re-entry simulations to educate community members on how difficult re-entry can be. Educating the public is key because many either don’t know or don’t think about the challenges facing returning citizens. We should want them to succeed because when they do better, our communities do better.”
Opportunities to get involved with returning citizens abound.
“We encourage our non-profit and faith-based partners to mentor returning citizens and assist them to overcome re-entry barriers and hurdles,” said Smith.
Hundreds of job seekers attended the recent Miami-Dade County’s 305 Second Chance Job & Resource Expo at the Main Library in downtown Miami. Pictured above, a returning citizen receives resource information from U.S. Attorney’s Office staff.
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