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Tuesday 12 March 2024
Convicted Felon Found Guilty at Trial of Robbing Truist Bank in MaconRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident was found guilty by a federal jury today of robbing the Truist Bank on Riverside Drive in Macon in 2023 while on federal supervised release for illegally possessing a firearm.
Gabriel Bell, 29, of Macon, was found guilty of one count of bank robbery on March 12 following a two-day trial that began on Monday, March 11. Bell faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. District Chief Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the case. A sentencing date will be scheduled by the Court.
“Gabriel Bell terrorized Truist employees when he entered the bank and demanded money while threatening to shoot them,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “People should be safe to conduct their everyday business without fear or intimidation; sending Bell back to federal prison will further that goal.”
“Bell’s prior prison time was apparently not enough for him because he returned to his robbing ways while he was still on supervised release for the last crime he committed,” said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon Office. “Thanks to the assistance of our partners with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, he’ll have up to 20 years in federal prison to think about what he’ll do the next time he is released from prison.”
“We want to thank those tipsters who gave information identifying Gabriel Bell as the robber,” said Bibb County Sheriff David J. Davis. “Committed public involvement coupled with good investigative follow-up resulted in this repeat offender being held accountable for yet another unlawful deed.”
According to court documents and evidence submitted at trial, Bell walked into the Truist Bank at 2998 Riverside Drive in Macon on Feb. 16, 2023, at approximately 3:17 p.m., wearing a blue surgical mask. There were no customers in the business at the time. Bell handed a demand note to a teller that stated: “PUT ALL BIG BILLS IN ENVELOPE (ROBBERY) Do anything stupid, and I’ll shoot you!” The teller put her hands up and told Bell she did not have money and passed the note to another teller. This second teller gave Bell cash, after which he fled. Tellers at the bank said Bell lifted his shirt and they saw something that was described as dark, silver, with a handle and that could have been a gun. In surveillance video, Bell is seen grabbing at his hip where tellers reported they saw the object. No weapon was recovered.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office released photographs taken from surveillance video to the public and received two tips identifying the suspect as Bell. The FBI processed the demand note for latent fingerprints and developed two latent prints that were determined to belong to Bell. The FBI also obtained location information from Bell’s cell phone and Google account which confirmed he was in the area near the bank at the time of the robbery. Bell was taken into custody on Feb. 20, 2023. Bell was previously convicted of armed robbery of the Huddle House in Jeffersonville, Georgia, in 2015. He was also convicted in federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina of convicted felon in illegal possession of a firearm in 2021 and was on federal supervised release for that offense at the time of the Truist Bank robbery.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Convicted Child Exploitation Offender from Irwin Sentenced to Prison Term Above Sentencing Guideline Range for Violating Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Irwin, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on March 11, 2024, to 15 months of incarceration for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release imposed as a result of his conviction in two prior cases where he illegally possessed child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Christy C. Weigand imposed the sentence on Thomas Wesley Crosby IV, 30.
According to information presented to the Court, Crosby was living in New Mexico in 2018 while serving in the United States Air Force. A federal search warrant at his residence resulted in child sexual abuse material being located on his computer, tablet, cellphone, and thumb drives. Crosby returned to Western Pennsylvania after receiving a less than honorable discharge. A search of Crosby’s cellphone recovered on October 16, 2020, in Pennsylvania revealed three times more the number of child pornography videos than were located during the New Mexico search in 2018. Based on the seizures in New Mexico and Pennsylvania, Crosby was indicted and pleaded guilty to federal charges of possessing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He was sentenced in New Mexico to time served, followed by 15 years of supervised release.
Crosby returned to Western Pennsylvania where he was serving his term of federal supervised release. Soon thereafter, monitoring software indicated that Crosby had been using his computer to view computer-generated and anime-type images of infant females engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
During his March 11 hearing before Judge Weigand, Crosby did not contest the allegation that he had again possessed and viewed illegal sexual images of children. Judge Weigand stated that a sentence above the discretionary four-to-ten-month sentencing guidelines range was warranted in this matter. In addition to 15 months of incarceration, Judge Weigand also imposed another ten-year period of supervision and banned Crosby’s possession and use of computers, a cellphone, or the internet for a period of 60 days after his release from federal prison. Crosby was detained at the conclusion of the hearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt represented the United States in this supervised release revocation proceeding. United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Probation Office for their outstanding work on this matter.
Colorado Man Sentenced for Firearms Dealing and Trafficking in the DMVRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Demarco Diggs, 26, of Aurora, Colorado, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for dealing firearms without a license and trafficking firearms into the District of Columbia. Diggs used various methods to advertise his weapons for sale, most often through Instagram, and intentionally sold them to convicted felons who were prohibited from buying weapons. Law enforcement has now recovered multiple firearms that Diggs trafficked, including six within the D.C. Metropolitan Area, which include guns that have been involved in multiple shootings or discharges in the DMV area.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, of the Washington Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Acting U.S. Marshal Ronald Carter of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Diggs pleaded guilty on November 14, 2023, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of illegal transport of a firearm. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth ordered Diggs to serve three of supervised release on completion of his prison sentence. Diggs has agreed to forfeit 25 firearms, including pistols, rifles, and shotguns, as well as an assortment of ammunition. In court documents, Diggs agreed that his firearms dealing involved up to 24 firearms.
Between September 2021 and September 2023, law enforcement recovered six firearms in the D.C. Metropolitan Area which were traced back to being purchased and subsequently re-sold by Diggs. The firearms were linked to shootings or discharges and theft incidents, and one firearm was recovered from a November 2022 search warrant at the residence of Quinton McLean. McLean was indicted as a result of that search warrant and, in March 2023, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Judge Lamberth sentenced McLean to 34 months’ imprisonment and 36 months of supervised release.
Investigators determined that each of the recovered firearms had been purchased by Diggs in Georgia in April and June 2021, where Diggs resided at the time. In June and July 2021, Diggs traveled from Georgia to Washington, D.C., to sell firearms to prohibited persons. To date, law enforcement has identified nearly two dozen firearms that Diggs purchased from federal firearm licensees (FFLs) and at gun shows between 2020 and 2023, which were then re-sold by Diggs for profit.
Over the course of his illegal firearms trafficking, Diggs often employed Instagram to identify prospective customers to whom he would re-sell firearms that he purchased. According to court documents, Diggs used direct messages to display inventories of weapons for sale to prospective customers. In one such Instagram direct message exchange, Diggs explained to a prospective customer that he was selling his firearms “for people that [can’t] get them on [their] own.”
On March 24, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at two separate residences associated with Diggs in Aurora, Colorado. From those searches, law enforcement recovered more than a half-dozen firearms, assorted ammunition and magazines, and two gun cases bearing serial numbers that matched to firearms recovered in the D.C. Metropolitan Area.
This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), with assistance from the ATF Denver Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN).
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew W. Kinskey of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section and Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Valuable assistance was provided by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam L.D. Stempel and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy T. Wang.
Cincinnati man pleads guilty to fentanyl crime, money launderingRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in U.S. District to charges related to trafficking fentanyl and laundering the proceeds.
Nathaniel Williams, 44, admitted he possessed with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and committed money laundering. His plea agreement includes a recommended 10-year prison sentence.
According to court documents, in August 2023, Williams told an undercover agent that he had bulk amounts of cash from trafficking fentanyl and was looking for ways to transfer the money into the banking system.
Williams provided cash from his narcotics sales to the undercover agent, who then wired $15,120 of the funds into Williams’s bank account via a wire transfer. Williams withdrew $10,000 of the funds in cash a few days later.
On Oct. 18, 2023, agents discovered more than $44,000 in cash at Williams’s residence while executing a search warrant. Officials also recovered approximately 527 grams of fentanyl and fentanyl mixtures in a secret furniture compartment.
Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Cincinnati Field Office; and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge announced the guilty plea entered on March 11 before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and gangs that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Chicago-Area Rap Artist Pleads Guilty to Role in Nationwide Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chicago-area man pleaded guilty on March 8, 2024 in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to his role in a nationwide wire fraud conspiracy that victimized businesses and individuals across the United States.
Joseph Williams, 32, of University Park, Ill., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for June 28, 2024. Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2020 along with five co-defendants, including rap promoter Antonio Strong, rap artist Herbert Wright and Demario Sorrells.
Williams was a rap artist known as “Joe Rodeo,” “Rockstar Rodie,” or “Rodeo,” based in the Chicago area. Beginning in at least March 2017 through November 2018, Williams, Sorrells, Wright and allegedly Strong and two other co-defendants, conspired to defraud numerous businesses and individuals throughout the United States by using unauthorized and stolen payment card account information of real individuals – including the actual cardholders’ names, addresses, security codes and account expiration dates. The defrauded businesses and individuals successfully processed the fraudulent transactions and provided the goods and services to Wright and his alleged co-conspirators. The actual cardholders discovered these transactions on their accounts and disputed the charges with their card companies who then charged back the transactions to the businesses and individuals, which consequently suffered losses in the amounts of the unauthorized transactions.
Williams received illicit account information allegedly from Strong on numerous occasions, and used it to make purchases knowing the account information was stolen. He also took numerous private jets, commercial flights and stayed in hotels that were paid for with the illicit account information. Although Williams did not personally conduct all of the transactions that benefitted him, he knew (or reasonably should have known) that others were purchasing his flights and hotels in a fraudulent manner. In total, Williams was responsible for $102,000 in victim losses.
On Jan. 11, 2024, Wright was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $139,968. In July 2023, Wright pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a federal official. On Feb. 2, 2024, Sorrells pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2024.
The charge of wire fraud conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of $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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office and Trial Attorneys Andrew Tyler and Kyle Crawford of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Chalmette Man Sentenced for Cares Act FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -- U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JULIO A. GONZALEZ, JR.( GONZALEZ), age 26, of Chalmette, La., was sentenced on March 6, 2024 by United States District Judge Lance M. Africk, to three months in jail, a $100 mandatory special assessment fee and payment of $23,433.85 in restitution after previously pleading guilty to making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.
The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which authorized forgivable loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll and other business-related expenses. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the loan to be forgiven if the loan proceeds are spent on these expense items within a designated period of time and uses at least a certain percentage of the proceeds on payroll expenses.
Specifically, GONZALEZ pled guilty to making false statements to an approved lender to fraudulently obtain a PPP loan. As a result, he received a PPP loan totaling approximately $20,832.00. GONZALEZ stated in his application that he was an independent contractor impacted by the pandemic when, in truth, he had no such business.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Irene González of the General Crimes Unit is charge of the prosecution.
Buxton Man Sentenced for Crop Insurance Violation, Ending Series of Four Cases Involving Potato Insurance ClaimsRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, United States District Court, District of North Dakota, sentenced Darren Wade Tronson, age 59, of Buxton, North Dakota, to one year of probation for concealing a material fact in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Government of the United States. Imposition of the sentence against Tronson resolves the final pending case related to him and his potato farming operation, which included three civil cases and one criminal case. As part of the resolution of the four cases, Tronson will forgo a $272,365 crop insurance indemnity payment for 2019, pay $10,000 restitution to the United States in connection with the settlement of his 2017 and 2018 potato claims, be barred from participation in all federal programs for ten years, and serve one year of supervised probation.
Investigation revealed that in 2017 through 2019, Tronson planted potatoes in Grand Forks and Traill Counties, North Dakota, and purchased yield-based multi-peril crop insurance policies for potatoes through his insurer. Tronson claimed significant losses in all three years due to alleged adverse weather events. In February 2019, after anomalous losses in 2017 and 2018, Tronson’s crop insurance provider met with him and stressed the need for Tronson to use agricultural experts and a soil fertility plan as part of general good farming practices to qualify for the payment for any losses under a federal crop insurance policy.
Tronson did not follow through with the recommendations and instead tried to conceal the actual cause of his potato crop loss in 2019, resulting in the criminal charge. Tronson suffered a loss for his 2019 potato crop, and Tronson made a claim under his crop insurance policy based on precipitation alone. However, Tronson willfully failed to notify his insurer that he did not follow the recommendations related to soil fertility for the 2019 crop year. Tronson’s insurer justifiably denied more than half of Tronson’s crop insurance claim in 2019 for failing to follow the recommended good farming practices.
The first civil case was also based on the 2019 crop year. In addition to criminally concealing the cause of his loss, Tronson sued the United States on behalf of his company, DL Farms, LLC, seeking to recover the 2019 indemnities that were withheld from him. In denying his claims and granting summary judgment in favor of the United States, Judge Welte wrote that RMA “analyzed the relevant factors and came to a rational decision, given DL Farms’ failure to conduct a soil test prior to the 2019 planting season and the evidence showing the fertilization practice was deficient in both in phosphorous and potassium.” Based on the Court’s decision, Tronson was required to forgo an additional $272,365 crop insurance indemnity payment for 2019.
The second civil case was based on Tronson’s failure to follow good farming practices in 2017 and 2018. In 2017 and 2018, Tronson’s insurer paid all of his potato claims, despite evidence the weather was not the actual cause of his losses. The United States alleged in a civil complaint that Tronson lied about the actual cause of his losses in those years, which was failure to use good farming practices as required by the applicable polices. After filing its Complaint, the United States reached an agreement with Tronson and his company to settle the 2017 and 2018 claims. The United States dismissed its lawsuit against Tronson in exchange for payment of $10,000 and his voluntary agreement to be excluded from all federal programs, including crop insurance and other farm programs, for ten years.
“Crop insurance fraud is a serious crime that hurts taxpayers and honest producers,” Schneider said. “This result is a reminder that fraud will be exposed, investigated, and dealt with criminally and civilly. The USDA Office of Inspector General and our office’s career prosecutors and civil litigators deserve credit for ensuring that justice was done.”
“The United States Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency (RMA), through its private partnerships serve a vital role in serving the needs of farmers following a disaster. Fraudulent activity and failure to follow good farming practices undermines this program and misdirects taxpayer funds from the purposes they were intended. It is the mission of the USDA-OIG to investigate allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse in USDA programs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Springer of USDA-OIG.
RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger said, “We will continue to uphold the public’s trust in the crop insurance program by working closely with the Office of Inspector General, the Department of Justice and other government agencies to ensure the successful investigation and prosecution of cases involving crop insurance fraud, waste, and abuse. The court’s determination in this case should serve as a strong deterrent to others who may contemplate similar actions.”
While the criminal charges were pending, Tronson received a Notice of Suspension From Participation in United States Government Programs. The fourth case—his challenge to the suspension—was dismissed shortly after it was filed. His ten-year program suspension is effective January 1, 2023, which was the first year of his interim suspension.
This matter was investigated by the USDA Office of Inspector General and the Risk Management Agency. The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Greenley, District of North Dakota. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Schoepf and Melissa Helen Burkland handled the civil cases.
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Browning man admits shooting, wounding man on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man accused of shooting and wounding a man in the head on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Joseph Paul Vandenberg, 20, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence as charged in an indictment. Vandenberg faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge.
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. The court set sentencing for July 11. Vandenberg was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in the early morning hours of March 11, 2022 in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Vandenberg was a backseat passenger in a vehicle that was cruising around when the driver pulled up and blocked the driveway of a home as the victim, identified as John Doe, and a friend, got into a SUV that was backed into the driveway. Doe tried to maneuver around the vehicle. Vandenberg opened the back door of the vehicle, pulled out a firearm and fired a round as Doe’s vehicle was driving away. The bullet grazed the side of Doe’s head and lodged in the dashboard at the base of the windshield. Doe was treated for a large laceration on his head. Vandenberg admitted to being the shooter and told law enforcement that the driver told him to shoot, and he did because he was scared.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Bitcoin Fog Operator Convicted of Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Washington, D.C., convicted a dual Russian-Swedish national today for his operation of the longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet.
“Roman Sterlingov thought he could use the shadows of the internet to launder hundreds of millions of dollars in bitcoin without getting caught. But he was wrong,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Our team of agents, analysts, and prosecutors were relentless in their pursuit of justice, painstakingly tracing bitcoin through the blockchain to hold Sterlingov and his Bitcoin Fog enterprise to account. Today, a jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts — showing that no matter where you operate, if your cryptocurrency service reaches the United States, you must abide by U.S. law.”
“The FBI’s cyber workforce remains relentless in the pursuit of criminals who leverage technology to conduct and facilitate illegal activity,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “Today’s conviction is the result of close collaboration between the FBI and our federal and international partners to impose consequences on Bitcoin Fog and its operator for their money laundering activities. The FBI will continue to use all available tools and resources to impose costs on cybercriminals, no matter where they operate.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Roman Sterlingov, 35, was involved in operating Bitcoin Fog from 2011 through 2021. Bitcoin Fog was the longest-running cryptocurrency “mixer,” gaining notoriety as a go-to money laundering service for criminals seeking to hide their illicit proceeds from law enforcement. Over the course of its decade-long operation, Bitcoin Fog moved over 1.2 million bitcoin, which was valued at approximately $400 million at the time of the transactions. The bulk of this cryptocurrency came from darknet marketplaces and was tied to illegal narcotics, computer crimes, identity theft, and child sexual abuse material.
“Roman Sterlingov operated Bitcoin Fog, a cryptocurrency ‘mixing’ service that allowed criminals to launder hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit funds from darknet marketplaces. The defendant and his customers believed they could use Bitcoin Fog to conceal these illicit transactions,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As the jury’s guilty verdict shows, that belief was mistaken. The Criminal Division is committed to unmasking and prosecuting those who use technology to hide their crimes, no matter how sophisticated the scheme may be.”
“Darknet criminals should know by now that operations like Bitcoin Fog cannot provide the anonymity for cryptocurrency transactions that they claim they can,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “This conviction demonstrates that the United States can and will combat the use of technology to carry out crimes in cyberspace.”
“Evidence presented at trial clearly showed that the defendant laundered hundreds of millions of illicit funds from the dark web through Bitcoin Fog in an attempt to conceal the origin of those funds,” said Chief Jim Lee of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are specially equipped to follow the complex financial trail left by criminals, and we are dedicated to holding those accountable for crimes committed.”
The jury convicted Sterlingov of money laundering conspiracy and sting money laundering, which each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and money transmission without a license in the District of Columbia, which each carry 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 IRS-CI District of Columbia Cyber Crime Unit and FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit provided invaluable assistance. Additional assistance was provided by Europol; the Swedish Economic Crime Authority, Swedish Prosecution Authority, and Swedish Police Authority; and the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police, Directorate for Combatting Organized Crime, and Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism.
Trial Attorneys Jeff Pearlman and C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Brown for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. Pelker and Brown are members of CCIPS’ National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET). CCIPS Paralegal Specialist Divya Ramjee and Paralegal Specialist Angela De Falco for the District of Columbia provided valuable assistance.
Armed Felon Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Possessing Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Mark Steven White, age 44 of Kennewick Washington, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 78 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on May 15, 2022, Officers with the Kennewick Police Department (KPD) responded to a hit and run incident. Office observed a white Toyota 4Runner on its side, along the road. Officers learned the driver of the 4Runner had driven onto the sidewalk, hit a pile of dirt, then rolled onto its side. The 4Runner was unoccupied. After responding to the scene, a KPD officer observed a black handgun laying on the floorboard of the driver seat of the 4Runner.
Officers identified a set of shoe impressions in the dirt near the 4Runner. Witnesses reported a loud bang then saw a man, later identified as White, who was wearing a white t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes, climb out the window of the 4Runner. White then took off running north. KPD ultimately detained White just four blocks from the hit and run. Officers also matched the tread pattern from White’s shoes to the pattern in the footprints near the 4Runner.
White was cited and released for Hit and Run by Kennewick Police, and the 4Runner was secured at KPD. Officers then applied for and were granted a search warrant for the 4Runner. Investigators later collected a black Ruger EC9s 9MM Semi-Automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number from inside of White’s vehicle. The handgun had an extended magazine that was loaded with several cartridges. The gun was placed into evidence at the Kennewick Police Department.
By June 23, 2022, a Washington State Department of Corrections warrant had been issued for White’s arrest. U.S. Marshals located White driving a black Chevrolet Avalanche in West Richland. When White spotted the U.S. Marshals, he fled into an apartment where he was later taken into custody.
On June 28, 2022, members of the FBI’s Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force executed a federal search warrant for the Chevy Avalanche. Inside, investigators located a loaded Springfield .45 caliber pistol between the driver’s seat and center console. The serial numbers on the gun had been obliterated. Body armor and a ballistic helmet were also found inside the vehicle.
White was in Washington State Supervision for a violent offense at the time of the new federal crimes.
“Mr. White was a felon, who on two occasions, just a few weeks apart, fled a vehicle and refused to cooperate with law enforcement. On both occasions, Mr. White had a firearm he was not legally permitted to have. Armed felons present a real danger to our neighborhoods and communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I’m thankful to the dedicated efforts of KPD and FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force who focus their crime reduction strategies on holding repeat offenders accountable to make our communities safer and stronger.”
“Our community is safer with Mr. White behind bars.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “He has a long history of violence and knowingly possessed a firearm despite being prohibited from doing so. This case demonstrates how strong partnerships among all levels of law enforcement are working to protect the citizens of Washington state.”
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force which includes additional officers and detectives from the Kennewick Police Department, Pasco Police Department, Richland Police Department, Border Patrol and Department of Corrections. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Van Marter and Rebecca Perez.
- Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact of Child in Indian Country
Argus Information & Advisory Services agrees to pay $37M to settle allegations that it misused data obtained under government contractsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Argus Information & Advisory Services, Inc. (Argus) has agreed to pay the United States $37 million to resolve claims under the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA), involving allegations that Argus improperly accessed, used, and retained anonymized credit card data received pursuant to contracts with various federal regulators, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Argus is incorporated in Delaware, with offices in White Plains, New York. Argus analyzes economic transactions, credit card data, and credit bureau data to provide benchmarking and market analysis products to commercial and government clients. The United States alleged the following conduct. Between March 2009 and March 2017, Argus executed contracts with the OCC, the independent bureau of the United States Treasury Department that charters and regulates national banks and federal savings associations; the FRB, the independent federal regulator for certain banks and bank holding companies; the CFPB, an independent regulator of consumer practices at certain depository institutions; and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Under these contracts, Argus was tasked with performing certain validating, aggregating, storage, retrieval, and reporting services for anonymized credit card data that the regulatory agencies directed the banks to provide. The contracts each placed restrictions on Argus’s ability to use, disclose or distribute credit card data collected from banks for purposes other than the performance of the work under the government contracts.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from November 30, 2010, through December 31, 2020, Argus improperly accessed, used and retained anonymized credit card data that it received under the contracts. The United States alleged that Argus improperly accessed, used, and retained this anonymized credit card data to create synthetic/proxy data that it incorporated into certain products and services it sold to certain commercial customers. The United States further alleged that Argus failed to disclose its improper access, use and retention of credit card data to the United States and its reliance on synthetic/proxy data to its commercial clients.
“Those who collect sensitive information for federal regulators should never disregard their contractual obligations to appropriately use and protect that information,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We will hold companies accountable when they breach their agreements with regulators and misuse sensitive data for their own commercial gain.”
“Companies that do business with the federal government are expected to abide by the terms of their agreements, including any restrictions on the use or disclosure of government supplied data,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will not permit contractors to profit from the misuse of such data and to put the data at risk.”
“The American public expects integrity in the processes by which its government provides services and contractors who seek unfair advantage undermine this integrity,” said Acting Inspector General Rich Delmar for Treasury. “Treasury OIG is committed to conducting investigations, audits, and other work to detect and prevent these violations of the public trust.”
“Companies that breach their agreements to properly protect and use sensitive financial data must be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge John T. Perez of Headquarters Operations for the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “I commend our agents and their federal law enforcement partners for their hard work, which ultimately led to today’s announcement.”
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; the United States Department of Treasury, Office of the Inspector General; and the Office of the Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Kapoor for the Eastern District of Virginia and Senior Trial Counsels David W. Tyler and Don Williamson from the Commercial Litigation Branch, with investigative support from Senior Special Agent Jacob Heminger from the Department of the Treasury, Office of the Inspector General, and Special Agent Will Burmeister from the Office of the Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability
Argus Information & Advisory Services Agrees to Pay $37M to Settle Allegations that it Misused Data Obtained Under Government ContractsRead the Press Release
Argus Information & Advisory Services Inc. (Argus) has agreed to pay the United States $37 million to resolve claims under the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA), in connection with its access to and use of credit card data obtained pursuant to contracts with various federal regulators, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Argus is incorporated in Delaware, with offices in White Plains, New York. Argus analyzes economic transactions, credit card data and credit bureau data to provide benchmarking and market analysis products to commercial and government clients. Between March 2009 and 2020, Argus executed contracts with the OCC, the independent bureau of the Department of Treasury that charters and regulates national banks and federal savings associations; the FRB, the independent federal regulator for certain banks and bank holding companies; the CFPB, an independent regulator of consumer practices at certain depository institutions; and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Under these contracts, Argus was tasked with performing validating, aggregating, storage, retrieval and reporting services for anonymized credit card data that the regulatory agencies directed the banks to provide. The contracts each placed restrictions on Argus’ ability to use, disclose or distribute credit card data collected from banks for purposes other than the performance of the work under the government contracts.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from 2010 through 2020, Argus improperly accessed, used and retained anonymized credit card data that it received under the contracts. The United States alleged that Argus used this anonymized data to create synthetic (proxy) data that it incorporated into the products and services it sold to some commercial customers in place of actual data from certain banks. The United States further alleged that Argus failed to disclose its improper access, use and retention of credit card data to the United States and the extent to which it relied on synthetic data to its commercial clients. The synthetic data in question did not include personally identifiable information.
“Companies that do business with the federal government are expected to abide by the terms of their agreements, including any restrictions on the use or disclosure of government supplied data,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will not permit contractors to profit from the misuse of such data and to put the data at risk.”
“Those who collect sensitive information for federal regulators should never disregard their contractual obligations to appropriately use and protect that information,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We will hold companies accountable when they breach their agreements with regulators and misuse sensitive data for their own commercial gain.”
“The American public expects integrity in the processes by which its government provides services and contractors who seek unfair advantage undermine this integrity,” said Acting Inspector General Rich Delmar of the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). “Treasury OIG is committed to conducting investigations, audits, and other work to detect and prevent these violations of the public trust.”
“Companies that breach their agreements to properly protect and use sensitive financial data must be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge John T. Perez of Headquarters Operations for the Office of Inspector General for the FRB and the CFPB. “I commend our agents and their federal law enforcement partners for their hard work, which ultimately led to today’s announcement.”
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; the Department of Treasury OIG; and the Office of the Inspector General for the FRB and the CFPB.
Senior Special Agent Jacob Heminger from the Department of the Treasury OIG and Special Agent Will Burmeister from the Office of the Inspector General for the FRB and the CFPB investigated the case.
Senior Trial Counsels David W. Tyler and Don Williamson from the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Kapoor for the Eastern District of Virginia handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Monday 11 March 2024
York County Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Terry Clark, age 59, of York County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 7, 2024, to 96 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson, for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, in 2021, Clark was stopped by law enforcement in York, Pennsylvania, and found to be in possession of crack cocaine, two cell phones, a digital scale, and $18,200. Clark confessed that the money was from selling drugs. A month later, Clark sold crack cocaine to a confidential source, and then, two weeks later was stopped again. During the second stop, Clark was in possession of an additional quantity of crack cocaine and marijuana. Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant at Clark’s residence and seized more crack cocaine, as well as fentanyl, a digital scale, and stun gun. In total, Clark was determined to be responsible for 398 grams of crack cocaine, 27 grams of marijuana, and 8 grams of fentanyl.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the York County Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Bruce D. Brandler, Johnny Baer, and K. Wesley (Wes) Mishoe prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Wisconsin Man Convicted in April 2018 Double Homicide and Armed Robbery of Brooksville, Florida CoupleRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer (26, Wisconsin) guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery affecting commerce and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery interfering with commerce, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which resulted in death, conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country and a violation of the Neutrality Act. Zwiefelhofer faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 10, 2024. Zwiefelhofer was indicted on December 4, 2019.
According to testimony presented at trial, on April 10, 2018, two individuals, S.L., Jr. and D.L., were found dead in Estero, Florida from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Further investigation revealed that the couple had traveled to Estero from Brooksville, Florida to complete the purchase of several firearms from an individual who had listed them for sale on a website known as Armslist. As a result of the investigation, Zwiefelhofer was identified as one of two individuals who was believed to have murdered the couple during the course of an armed robbery of the $3,000 that the couple intended to use to purchase the firearms.
Zwiefelhofer, who had previously fought in Ukraine in 2017 after going AWOL from the U.S. Army, pursued a plan to fight the Venezuelan government and committed the robbery of S.L., Jr. and D.L. to obtain money to fund his travel to Venezuela.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Michael V. Leeman.
Winter Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing P-Fluorofentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Marcus Lutrell Walden (36, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine and p-fluorofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue). Walden faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on February 14, 2024, Walden agreed to sell what he believed was methamphetamine and fentanyl, which he described in communications as “ice cream” and “mashed potatoes” to a confidential source in Winter Haven, Florida. Walden agreed to meet the confidential source at a motel in Winter Haven to conduct the sale. An analysis of the fentanyl by the DEA Laboratory revealed that it was para-fluorofentanyl, an analogue of fentanyl. Later that day, Walden sold a Taurus .22 caliber pistol to the confidential source.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Winter Haven Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
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.
Wilkes-Barre Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Dexter Yard, age 36, of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on March 8, 2024, before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to the charge of distributing fentanyl and cocaine.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Yard admitted that on August 17, 2021, he distributed fentanyl and cocaine to another individual in Luzerne County. The charge stems from an incident in which members of the Wilkes-Barre Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police made a purchase of fentanyl and cocaine from Yard, and then arrested him. A search of the vehicle Yard was driving resulted in the seizure of a fully loaded .38 caliber handgun, drug paraphernalia and the money police used to purchase the drugs from Yard.
The charge against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Under federal law, Yard faces a maximum sentence of twenty years, a term of supervised release and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Westbank Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Gun ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA- United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TYRIQUE RICHARDS, age 27, of Violet, La., was indicted on March 8, 2024, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
The indictment alleges that on February 27, 2024, RICHARDS, possessed cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute, a handgun in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense, and a weight scale.
If convicted of possession with intent to distribute, RICHARDS faces a maximum of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and at least three (3) years of supervised release. If convicted of possession a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, he faces a minimum of five (5) years and a maximum of life imprisonment, which must be served consecutively with any other count, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five (5) years of supervised release. RICHARDS also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Rayburn of the Violent Crime Unit.
Waterbury Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal OffensesRead the Press Release
JAIVAUN McKNIGHT, also known as “Sav,” 25, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport federal court to multiple offenses stemming from his participation in the 960 gang, a violent Waterbury street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging McKnight and 15 other alleged 960 gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.
McKnight pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, one count of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, one count of carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
McKnight specifically admitted that he and other 960 members were engaged in violent activity, including shootings, assaults and attempted murders, and that he trafficked drugs in furtherance of the 960 enterprise. On September 21, 2018, in retaliation for the murder of an associate, McKnight and other 960 members attempted to murder individuals by shooting at an occupied residence on Scott Road in Waterbury.
McKnight has been detained since his arrest on September 16, 2021. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley on June 12, at which time he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, ATF, and Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Violet Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Gun ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MALI WILLIAMS, age 25, of Violet, La., was indicted on March 8, 2024 for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and tapentadol, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); 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, WILLIAMS was previously convicted of felony offenses in St. Bernard Parish. Due to his criminal history, he is prohibited from having a firearm. He is now charged with possessing a firearm on October 12, 2023. Moreover, WILLIAMS is alleged to have possessed marijuana and tapentadol with the intent to distribute, as well as firearm possession in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense.
If convicted of possession with intent to distribute, WILLIAMS faces a maximum of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and at least three (3) years of supervised release. If convicted of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, he faces a minimum of five (5) years and a maximum of life imprisonment, which must be served consecutively with any other count, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five (5) years of supervised release. If convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, he faces a maximum of fifteen (15) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three (3) years of supervised release. For each count of conviction, WILLIAMS faces a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Rayburn of the Violent Crime Unit.
Undercover Operation Results in 25 Year Federal Prison Sentence for Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Hiawatha Laquinta Scott, III, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.
“Methamphetamine distribution is a scourge on large and small communities of our district,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “With our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to identifying and aggressively prosecuting those who threaten our citizens’ health and safety by distributing such addictive, controlled substances. This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm and drug offenses.”
As part of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the North Star Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, an undercover officer made a series of controlled purchases of drugs and guns from Scott in early 2023. On February 8, 2023, the undercover officer purchased a small amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills from Scott. Scott also loaned the undercover officer a .22 caliber pistol. Later that same day, the undercover officer purchased more methamphetamine and a 12-gauge shotgun. On February 9, 2023, the undercover officer purchased four ounces of methamphetamine. On February 16, 2023, the undercover officer purchased two ounces of methamphetamine and a sawed-off shotgun. On February 23, 2023, the undercover officer purchased 2.5 ounces of methamphetamine. On April 20, 2023, a search warrant was conducted at Scott’s house and officers recovered two ounces of methamphetamine and multiple digital scales.
“The Big Bend area is much safer with this violent offender behind bars,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “The sentence reflects the severity of suspect’s crimes, as well as the determination of the North Star Task Force and U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Scott qualified for enhanced sentencing as an Armed Career Criminal because he had three or more prior convictions for serious drug offenses and violent felonies, including a prior 20-year prison sentence for attempted first degree murder with a firearm. Scott had been released from prison in October 2021.
“A primary emphasis of the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office is the obtainment of sustained solutions to the various problems faced by Wakulla County, FL,” said Sheriff Jared Miller. “The collaborative investigative and prosecutorial efforts of my agency’s Narcotics Unit, the NSMDTF, the ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, followed by the conviction and sentencing of Mr. Scott, provides a sustained solution to the on-going threat Mr. Scott posed to the community as he refused to live a law-abiding existence following his release from prison in 2021.”
Scott’s prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the North Star Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, and the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Joseph A. Ravelo prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation into Fatal ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against an officer from the United States Park Police for a fatal shooting that occurred on November 22, 2023, and fatally injured a 30-year-old District resident in the 1100 block of M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the MPD Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian accounts, crime-camera footage, BWC footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, the autopsy report, and reports from MPD.
According to the evidence, at about 2:30 p.m. an individual was observed in the 1100 block of 12th Street, N.W. by officers with the United States Park Police. The officers believed that the individual was engaged in drug trafficking. When the officers approached, the individual ran onto the 1100 block of M Street. One officer was able to catch up to the individual. The officer reached out to grab the individual and the two men briefly struggled. The individual retrieved a gun from his pocket and shot the officer. Simultaneously, the officer was able to draw his service weapon and fire. Both men were struck with gunfire. The individual ran several more feet and collapsed on the scene. Other officers initiated life-savings measures. However, the individual was declared dead at the scene. The officer was taken to the hospital and survived his wounds.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Park Police officer willfully violated the civilian’s rights.
Use-of-force investigations generally
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.
Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison for their Roles in the Distribution of Firearms, Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in ColoradoRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Xavier Drew, age 29, of Englewood, Colorado, was sentenced on March 6, 2024, to 162 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Drew was also ordered to pay restitution to the Small Business Administration for a $14,862 fraudulent PPE Covid Loan he received. Co-defendant, Esvin Ivan Calles-Corrales, 28, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on March 7, 2024, to 60 months imprisonment, and a subsequent three-year term of supervised release. Additional defendants in the case have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
According to court documents, Drew plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, and 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and to one count for trafficking firearms. The defendant also agreed to pay restitution to the Small Business Association for a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan application. Calles-Corrales pled guilty to two counts, alleging the distribution of both methamphetamine and fentanyl in the District of Colorado and elsewhere.
Starting in 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiated an investigation into a suspected criminal street gang involving Drew and his associates. The investigation revealed that Drew was engaged in the illegal sale firearms, including semi-automatic weapons, “ghost guns” (lacking serial numbers), firearms with obliterated serial numbers, a silencer and Glock “switches”, which are 3-D printed devices that allow a handgun to fire in a fully automatic manner. He and his associates, referred to as members of the “GUWOP gang”, were also selling fentanyl and methamphetamine.
While investigating Drew’s sources of supply, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) discovered a parcel addressed to Drew that included an children’s music box with a vacuum-sealed bag containing a large quantity of methamphetamine and a latex glove containing a large quantity of fentanyl pills. Further investigation revealed that Calles-Corrales shipped the package from Arizona to Drew’s Aurora, Colorado address. It was determined that Calles-Corrales was shipping narcotics from Arizona to Colorado and facilitating the transfer of related proceeds to Mexico.
During the investigation, agents seized large quantities of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills. They also seized and forfeited numerous firearms, Glock “switches” and over $19,000 in U.S. currency.
“The primary goal of the Office of the United States Attorney of Colorado is to keep our communities safe,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “When armed drug dealers are taken off the streets, we move one step closer to a safer Colorado. I continue to commend our law enforcement partners for their critical, dedicated work toward helping achieve this goal.”
“Xavier Drew was a key figure in a vast criminal network which engaged in firearms and narcotics trafficking, extending far beyond our Colorado communities, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. Thanks to the hard work of our ATF special agents and our partners at the USPIS and DEA, their criminal enterprise has been dismantled as they now face justice within the confines of federal prison."
“This investigation affirms the correlation between drug trafficking and firearms. The results of this investigation affirm that DEA and our partners will continue to pursue those individuals and their networks which are causing our communities harm,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Rocky Mountain Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge David Olesky.”
United States District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore presided over the sentencings on March 6 and 7, 2024. The ATF, USPIS, and the DEA investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brad Giles handled the prosecution.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information on the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Teen Admits Role in 2 New Haven Gang Shootings, Pleads Guilty to Racketeering ChargeRead the Press Release
NYZAIRE BARNES, also known as “Melo,” 19, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a racketeering offense stemming from his role in a violent New Haven street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address violence in New Haven, the ATF, FBI, DEA and New Haven Police Department, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, have been investigating an ongoing gang war between members and associates of the Exit 8 street gang and rival gangs in the Hill section and other areas of the city. The Exit 8 gang is named after the geographic area accessed by exiting Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in New Haven. Recently, younger members of Exit 8 are identifying themselves with the word “Honcho,” which is derived from the street name of an Exit 8 member who was murdered on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020.
The investigation revealed that Barnes and other members of the Exit 8 gang engaged in drug trafficking, used and shared firearms, and, since June 2018, have committed at least three murders and 16 attempted murders. Exit 8 members and associates also stole vehicles, at times from outside of the state, and used those stolen vehicles when committing acts of violence. Gang members also promoted, coordinated, facilitated, and celebrated their narcotics distribution and acts of violence through text messaging and the use of social media applications and websites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.
Barnes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, and specifically admitted that he took part in two gang-related shootings. On April 12, 2022, Barnes and other Exit 8 members shot and attempted to kill rival gang members. On January 20, 2023, Exit 8 members, including Devin Suggs, stole an SUV in Scarsdale, New York. Later that day, Barnes and Suggs committed a drive-by shooting of a rival gang member in New Haven. The victim was shot in the head, but survived the attack.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Barnes faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Barnes has been detained since August 3, 2023.
Suggs pleaded guilty to the same charge on February 20, 2024, and awaits sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the New Haven Police Department, the Hamden Police Department, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens, Rahul Kale and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Efrain Rivera Matos (45, Tampa) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl charges. Rivera Matos pleaded guilty on December 8, 2023.
According to court documents, on July 27, 2022, Rivera Matos conspired to ship approximately 560 grams of pressed fentanyl pills to Tampa. On August 31, 2022, Rivera Matos conspired with others to distribute a parcel containing two kilograms of fentanyl powder that was concealed within an air fryer. Co-conspirators distributed fentanyl from a gas station car wash in Tampa, Florida.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Suburban Chicago Businessman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Evading $3.7 Million in Income TaxesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago businessman has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for willfully evading more than $3.7 million in federal and state income taxes.
ABRAHAM KISWANI 54, of Burbank, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a federal tax evasion charge. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah on Thursday fined Kiswani $10,000.
Kiswani served as the president of World Security Bureau, a Chicago-area security firm that did business as World Security Agency. From 2010 through 2013, Kiswani concealed his wages, compensation, and income from being reported to the IRS. Kiswani directed the individual in charge of payroll to stop issuing payroll checks to Kiswani and to instead pay him in the form of checks falsely categorized as “subcontracted services.” Kiswani also caused the business to pay a wide range of personal expenses which Kiswani caused to be falsely identified as business expenses.
Kiswani failed to report approximately $10 million in income that he received, resulting in a tax loss to the U.S. and State of Illinois totaling approximately $3,708,065.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Chicago Housing Authority’s Office of the Inspector General. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. King, Jr.
Stratford Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Meth and OxycodoneRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EDWARD JOHNSON, 32, of Stratford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Harford to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing methamphetamine and oxycodone.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2022, the Stratford Police Department’s Narcotics, Vice and Intelligence Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Johnson and others for distributing controlled substances in the Stratford and Bridgeport area. Johnson was arrested on August 2, 2022. On that date, investigators conducted a court authorized search of his residence on Thompson Street in Stratford and seized approximately 967 grams of methamphetamine in both pill form and powder form, approximately 13 grams of oxycodone pills; other prescription pills, more than six pounds of marijuana, and $32,151 in cash.
At the time of his arrest, Johnson was on state probation from a prior drug offense, and on pre-trial release for state narcotics and firearm charges.
Johnson has been detained since his arrest. On December 14, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone.
This matter was investigated by the Stratford Police Department’s Narcotics, Vice and Intelligence Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick.
Stilwell Resident Sentenced for Assaults Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy David Croley, age 47, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by one year of home confinement for each of two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian country. The sentence for each count will run concurrently. Croley was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On July 18, 2022, Croley entered a guilty plea to the charges. According to investigators, on September 15, 2018, Croley crossed the center line driving southbound on Bell Road and crashed his dual rear wheel truck into a vehicle driving in the northbound lane. Troopers arriving at the scene of the wreckage observed Croley unsteady on his feet, slurring his speech, and smelling strongly of alcohol. Croley failed a preliminary breath test and returned just under 0.20 on a subsequent blood alcohol test, well over the .08 limit. Data retrieved from Croley’s vehicle showed he had failed to brake in the eight seconds prior to impact. Two passengers in the oncoming vehicle suffered severe bodily injuries from the impact.
The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City. Croley will self-report to the U.S. Marshal service on March 11, 2024, prior to serving a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration at a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States at sentencing.
Six Former Kentucky State Corrections Officers Sentenced for Violating the Civil Rights of an Inmate and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Six former officers of the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (EKCC) were sentenced on Monday for their roles in the assault of an inmate and the subsequent cover-up.
Three officers who carried out the assault on the inmate and covered it up — Randall Dennis, 28, James Benish, 37, and Jeffery Havens, 28 — were sentenced to 60, 27 and 15 months in prison, respectively, followed by two years of supervised release each. A supervisor and two other officers who covered up the assault — Randy Nickell, 55, Nathan Cantrell, 33, and Derek Mays, 34 — were each sentenced to one month in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, with Nickell and Cantrell sentenced to five additional months of home confinement. All six officers pleaded guilty, and three of the officers testified against a seventh co-defendant, Eric Nantell, who was found guilty at a trial earlier this year.
“These former corrections officers are being sentenced to prison for their roles in the violent assault of a handcuffed inmate in a prison shower cell, and their attempt to cover-up the crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These sentences should send a clear message: corrections officers are not above the law in our country. The Justice Department will continue to enforce federal laws to protect the civil and constitutional rights of people held in our jails and prisons.”
“These individuals were responsible for the custody and care of inmates; instead, they chose to assault them, and lie to cover up the abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Their conduct was a profound breach of the trust placed in them, a brazen disregard for safety of people in their care and a disgraceful effort to conceal their crime. Fortunately, they now face the consequences of this inexcusable conduct.”
“When several officers took part in beating an inmate who was unable to defend himself, a blatant violation of the individual’s civil rights occurred. But the injustice did not stop there as evidence of a cover-up also emerged,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “As in this case, FBI personnel will always take allegations of police misconduct seriously and will leave no stone unturned when it comes to identifying perpetrators who violate federal law.”
The evidence at trial established that Dennis and Benish, both of whom were members of EKCC’s internal affairs department, assaulted a non-violent inmate who was lying face-down, wearing handcuffs and leg shackles and isolated in a prison shower cell. Havens, an entry-level officer, joined them in the assault.
Within hours of the inmate reporting the abuse, supervisors of EKCC and state detectives of the Kentucky State Police opened an investigation. Nickell, Cantrell and Mays, who were standing in the hallway outside the door of the shower when the assault began, joined the other officers in a cover-up scheme. As part of that cover-up, they wrote false reports and lied to state investigators.
The one defendant who did not plead guilty was recently convicted at trial in a related case. On Feb. 15, former Corrections Sergeant Nantell was convicted of one count of deprivation of civil rights for failing to intervene to protect the inmate and three counts of obstruction for lying to state and federal investigators. Nantell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 10. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Dembo and Mary Melton for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted the case.
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Six Former Kentucky State Corrections Officers Sentenced for Violating the Civil Rights of an Inmate and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
Six former officers of the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (EKCC) were sentenced today for their roles in the assault of an inmate and the subsequent cover-up.
Three officers who carried out the assault on the inmate and covered it up — Randall Dennis, 28, James Benish, 37, and Jeffery Havens, 28 — were sentenced to 60, 27 and 15 months in prison, respectively, followed by two years of supervised release each. A supervisor and two other officers who covered up the assault — Randy Nickell, 55, Nathan Cantrell, 33, and Derek Mays, 34 — were each sentenced to one month in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, with Nickell and Cantrell sentenced to five additional months of home confinement. All six officers pleaded guilty, and three of the officers testified against a seventh co-defendant, Eric Nantell, who was found guilty at a trial earlier this year.
“These former corrections officers are being sentenced to prison for their roles in the violent assault of a handcuffed inmate in a prison shower cell, and their attempt to cover-up the crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These sentences should send a clear message: corrections officers are not above the law in our country. The Justice Department will continue to enforce federal laws to protect the civil and constitutional rights of people held in our jails and prisons.”
“These individuals were responsible for the custody and care of inmates; instead, they chose to assault them, and lie to cover up the abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Their conduct was a profound breach of the trust placed in them, a brazen disregard for safety of people in their care and a disgraceful effort to conceal their crime. Fortunately, they now face the consequences of this inexcusable conduct.”
“When several officers took part in beating an inmate who was unable to defend himself, a blatant violation of the individual’s civil rights occurred. But the injustice did not stop there as evidence of a cover-up also emerged,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “As in this case, FBI personnel will always take allegations of police misconduct seriously and will leave no stone unturned when it comes to identifying perpetrators who violate federal law.”
The evidence at trial established that Dennis and Benish, both of whom were members of EKCC’s internal affairs department, assaulted a non-violent inmate who was lying face-down, wearing handcuffs and leg shackles and isolated in a prison shower cell. Havens, an entry-level officer, joined them in the assault.
Within hours of the inmate reporting the abuse, supervisors of EKCC and state detectives of the Kentucky State Police opened an investigation. Nickell, Cantrell and Mays, who were standing in the hallway outside the door of the shower when the assault began, joined the other officers in a cover-up scheme. As part of that cover-up, they wrote false reports and lied to state investigators.
The one defendant who did not plead guilty was recently convicted at trial in a related case. On Feb. 15, former Corrections Sergeant Nantell was convicted of one count of deprivation of civil rights for failing to intervene to protect the inmate and three counts of obstruction for lying to state and federal investigators. Nantell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 10. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Dembo and Mary Melton for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted the case.
Six Defendants Indicted in Multi-State Identity Theft RingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On February 28, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Armani R. Purandah, 24, Rashawn L. Gray, 27, Tyshaun D. Ripley, 25, Awilda Reyes, 51, Richard M. Bah, 20, of Bronx, NY, and Harley D. Stuscavage, 41, of Phoenix. The defendants were each charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and four counts of Aggravated Identity Theft.
The indictment alleges that the co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to defraud individuals and banks across the United States including in Arizona, Colorado, and California. The co-conspirators unlawfully used victims’ personal identifying information and fraudulent identifications to open fake business accounts linked to the victims’ legitimate bank accounts. They transferred the victims’ funds from the victims’ legitimate bank accounts to the fraudulent business bank accounts. Once the victims’ funds were transferred to the business accounts, the co-conspirators withdrew the funds in cash at financial institutions and tribal casinos. The co-conspirators also made other unauthorized transactions from the accounts.
Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Aggravated Identity Theft carries a two-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-00927-JCH-MSA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-027_Purandah, et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Shreveport Man Convicted in Recent Trial Pleads Guilty to Additional Charge of Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Edward L. Angel, Sr., 70, of Shreveport, appeared before United States District Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby today to enter a guilty plea, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Angel pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of government funds. In addition to pleading guilty, Angel agreed to pay restitution in the total amount of $141,972.89.
In February, Angel was found guilty by a federal jury of three counts of making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a week-long trial. The jury was deadlocked as to the remaining counts in the indictment charging Angel with theft of government funds and a mistrial was declared. A decision was made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to proceed to a second trial against Angel on the remaining counts. The guilty plea today resolves those remaining counts, negating a second trial.
Angel is a veteran and owned and operated two businesses, ELA Group, Inc. (ELA) and Paradigm Engineers and Constructors PLLC (Paradigm). The VA has a service-disabled veteran owned small business program (SDVOSB) which is a program that provides federal contracting assistance to small businesses owned by disabled veterans by providing them the opportunity to get certain set-aside contracts. To be eligible for this program, the veteran must meet specific criteria demonstrating eligibility, ownership, and control of the small business.
In 2011 and 2012, Angel submitted forms to the SDVOSB stating that he was the President of ELA and responsible for all day-to-day responsibilities and decisions. He also submitted documentation stating he worked 40+ hours each week and his compensation was taken at the end of the year in the form of IRS Subchapter S regulations distributions. On the forms Angel submitted, he represented to SDVOSB that the reason he did not take a salary was because he chose to leave money in the corporation to keep as much working capital as possible. In 2016, Angel purchased and became the President of Paradigm. Soon after his purchase of Paradigm, he began to submit documentation to qualify the company for the SDVOSB program. He certified that he was the 100% owner of Paradigm and worked an average of 50 or more hours a week committing 5-6 hours a day to each of his entities. As a result of these representations, ELA and Paradigm were accepted into the SDVOSB program and received millions of dollars in set-aside contracts from the SDVOSB.
From on or about November 2013, Angel also received Individual Unemployability from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). Angel submitted documents to substantiate his disability claims for the VBA stating he was unable to work and had been unemployed since 2008. As a result of his misrepresentations to VBA, Angel admitted that he received $93,819.29 in IU payments that he was not entitled to receive and that were deposited into his bank account in the form of monthly payments.
On June 16, 2011, Angel also applied for SSA Disability Insurance Benefits stating that he had been unable to work since 2010 due to a medical condition. The SSA approved his application to receive disability benefits. Angel admits that he failed to disclose that he owned and operated two companies and was gainfully employed. As a result of these misrepresentations, he received $48,153.60 in disability payments he was not entitled to receive.
Angel faces a sentence of up to 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 on the false statement counts. He also faces up to 1 year in prison, not more than 1 year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000 on the theft of government funds charge.
Angel will be sentenced for the three counts of making false statements to the FAA and the count of theft of government funds on April 26, 2024.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General, and Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tennille M. Gilreath and Earl M. Campbell.
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St. Croix Man, 65, Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Juan Bermudez, 65, of St. Croix, was charged with sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement, aggravated rape second degree, and unlawful sexual contact second degree. If convicted, Bermudez faces a mandatory minimum of 10 to 15 years and up to life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Virgin Islands Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rhonda Williams-Henry and Everard Potter. “Homeland Security Investigations is dedicated to protecting our children and will continue to work jointly with the Virgin Islands Police Department to investigate and pursue individuals who sexually abuse our children”, said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eugene Thomas.
United States Attorney Delia L. Smith reminds the public that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Representative John Rogers Agrees to Plead Guilty in Fraud Case Involving the Jefferson County Community Service FundRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama State Representative John Rogers has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice in connection with the scheme to defraud the Jefferson County Community Service Fund, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman.
In a plea agreement filed today in United States District Court, John Westley Rogers, Jr., 83, of Birmingham, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. These charges arise from an investigation of wrongdoing in connection with the Jefferson County Community Service Fund. Rogers has also agreed to resign from the Alabama House of Representatives. In February 2024, Rogers’s former assistant and companion, Varrie Johnson Kindall, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Rogers and former Representative Fred L. Plump, Jr. to defraud the Fund. Plump also pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges in June 2023 and resigned from the Alabama House of Representatives.
According to the second superseding indictment, in 2015 the Alabama Legislature passed Alabama Act No. 2015-226 (the “Act”) and authorized the Jefferson County Commission to levy and distribute a one percent sales tax and a one percent use tax to benefit the public welfare and enhance the education of the children of Jefferson County. Jefferson County began levying the new taxes in or about August 2017. The Act required the County to distribute the tax revenue according to certain specified priorities, including paying debt incurred during school construction, increasing the County’s general fund, giving funds to each board of education serving students in the County, and for certain other purposes set forth in the Act.
The Act created the Jefferson County Community Service Fund (the “Fund”), which was subsidized by approximately $3.6 million annually from the new taxes. The Act also created the Jefferson County Community Service Committee (the “Committee”), the four members of which were elected by members of the Jefferson County House and Senate delegations. The Committee was responsible for ensuring that the Fund was used only for the purposes set forth in the Act, which included to support public entities and projects such as schools, libraries, museums, parks, zoos, neighborhood associations, athletic facilities, youth sports associations, road construction, the performing arts, police departments, the sheriff’s office, fire departments, and certain nonprofit entities. Each Representative and Senator representing Jefferson County could make recommendations to the Committee of expenditures from their allotted amount of the Fund. These recommendations were made on a form created by the Committee that required certain certifications by the legislator. The organization receiving the funds was required to submit information about the organization and confirm that it intended to use the money for a public purpose. During each fiscal year from 2018 to 2022, each Representative was allocated approximately $100,000 and each Senator was allocated approximately $240,000 from the Fund.
The second superseding indictment identifies certain relevant parties. Defendant John Rogers was a long-serving member of the Alabama House of Representatives. Fred L. Plump, Jr. served as the Executive Director of the Piper Davis Youth Baseball League (“Piper Davis”), a nonprofit organization that claimed to provide a positive sporting experience for inner city youth in Jefferson County. Varrie Johnson Kindall was Rogers’ personal and professional assistant. Individual #1 was the Founder of Organization #1.
Between fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2022, Defendant Rogers was allocated approximately $500,000 by the Fund. Rogers directed approximately $400,000 of those discretionary funds to Piper Davis. In turn, Plump gave approximately $200,000 to Rogers and Kindall as a kickback.
The second superseding indictment alleges that from in or about March 2019, and continuing through April 2023, Rogers and Kindall conspired with Plump to defraud and obtain money from the Fund. It is alleged that it was part of the conspiracy that Rogers, with Kindall’s assistance, recommended during each fiscal year that most of his allotment of Fund money be paid to Piper Davis. In turn, Plump agreed to pay kickbacks to Rogers and Kindall. Rogers, Kindall, and Plump submitted false and fraudulent information to the Committee about Piper Davis’s intended use of Fund money, and Rogers’s certifications on the request forms were false. Upon receipt and deposit of Fund checks, Plump gave checks to Rogers and Kindall for approximately one-half of the amount of Fund money received by Piper Davis. The second superseding indictment also alleges that, in 2019, Rogers directed Fund money to Organization #1 and Kindall then required Individual #1 to pay kickbacks.
Additionally, the second superseding indictment alleges that, after learning about the federal investigation into the fraud scheme, Rogers and Kindall attempted to obstruct justice by offering a witness grant money as a bribe and otherwise trying to corruptly persuade the witness to give false information to federal agents. It is also alleged that Rogers and Kindall agreed that she would accept full responsibility for the crimes and falsely tell federal investigators that Rogers did not participate in the scheme in exchange for Rogers’s promise to take care of personal issues for Kindall if she went to prison. As part of that agreement, Rogers had Kindall give false statements to investigators and prosecutors during a meeting at the United States Attorney’s Office on May 25, 2023.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to obstruct justice is 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case, with assistance from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys George Martin, Catherine Crosby, and Ryan Rummage are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Readout of U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Meeting with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy KostinRead the Press Release
On March 7, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland welcomed to the Justice Department Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin (PG Kostin), Ambassador Oksana Markarova of Ukraine to the United States, and Director Yurii Belousov of the Prosecutor General’s Department for Countering Crimes Committed in Conditions of Armed Conflict. On March 6 and 7, PG Kostin and Director Belousov also met with numerous Justice Department officials in Washington, D.C.
AG Garland expressed the Department’s continued support and commitment to working with Ukraine on all fronts and across numerous areas. He highlighted the Department’s work holding Russia accountable for war crimes, through the work of the Justice Department’s War Crimes Accountability Team (WarCAT) as well as the Department’s participation in the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in The Hague (ICPA). He also noted the Department’s ongoing work to seize illicit Russian assets for the benefit of the people of Ukraine, to prosecute those who facilitate the evasion of sanctions imposed on Russia, and to fight back against the export of sensitive technologies through Task Force KleptoCapture (TFKC) and the Disruptive Technology Strike Force (DTSF).
During the meeting, AG Garland reiterated the Department’s commitment to working closely with Ukraine to secure their democratic future through the prosecution of high-level corruption and highlighted recent successes including the December war crimes indictment charging four Russia-affiliated military personnel and recent cases brought by TFKC and the DTSF. AG Garland and PG Kostin also discussed the impact of relationships developed across the Department including with the Environment and Natural Resources Division, the FBI’s Art Crime Team, and the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ).
On March 6, PG Kostin met with Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen to discuss cooperation in identifying and prosecuting illicit actors and how to build upon the relationship between the Ukrainian government and the DTSF, including opportunities for engaging with partners in Europe and the United Kingdom on preventing the export of sensitive dual-use technologies to Russia and to other foreign adversaries for malign purposes.
On March 7, PG Kostin also met with Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Counselor for International Affairs Bruce C. Swartz, WarCat, TFKC, the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), Resident Legal Advisor at U.S. Embassy Kyiv Jared Kimball, the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, ATJ, and the Office of International Affairs (OIA). In addition, PG Kostin met with victim witness support experts of the Office of Victims of Crime, Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
The meetings were a follow-up to the meetings in September 2023 to discuss progress made and priorities moving forward including investigating and prosecuting war crimes of torture and sexual violence and providing support and resources to victims and witnesses of these horrific crimes. They discussed increased efforts to provide guidance, case-based mentoring, expertise, and capacity building to Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators on investigating war-related cyber-attacks to critical infrastructure and environmental crimes, as well as the theft and smuggling of cultural property and protecting cultural heritage.
It also was an opportunity to demonstrate the United States’ unwavering support and confidence in the Prosecutor General’s Office’s critical work and understand the current challenges they are facing and how the Department can help.
The Justice Department is proud to stand by our Ukrainian law enforcement partners in their courageous and crucial work and looks forward to continued collaboration and partnership.
Quincy, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 162 Months for Distributing Heroin Mixed with FentanylRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Quincy, Illinois, man, Ralph Thompson, 38, was sentenced on March 7, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless to 150 months in prison for distributing heroin that also contained fentanyl. He received an additional 12 months for committing the new offense while he was on supervised release for a prior federal drug offense, for a total of 162 months.
Thompson was indicted on November 15, 2022, and pleaded guilty on November 6, 2023. He has been detained by the United States Marshals Service since his arrest in November of 2022. This is Thompson’s third federal drug conviction. Thompson has state convictions for possession of a controlled substance and for being a felon in possession of a weapon. The evidence presented at the sentencing hearing showed that Thompson was selling heroin containing fentanyl in Moline, Rock Island and Quincy. In total, he was held accountable for 100 grams of heroin and 35 grams of fentanyl.
The statutory penalties for distributing methamphetamine are up to 40 years’ imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois State Police, the Moline Police Department, the Rock Island Police Department, and the Quincy Police Department with assistance from the Adams County States Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Thompson 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.
Poteau Resident Sentenced for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Matthew Carl Cripps, age 43, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On March 13, 2023, Cripps pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine. According to investigators, Cripps sold 24 grams of methamphetamine on November 15, 2021, and was responsible for distribution of over 50 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma between November 2021 and February 2022.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Cripps was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
- Pine Ridge Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison
Physician Pays $95,000 to Resolve Allegations of Genetic Testing FraudRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Nishi Patel, MD, a physician who received his medical training at Drexel University, will pay $95,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by ordering medically unnecessary genetic testing for Medicare beneficiaries.
Between August 2018 and May 2020, Dr. Patel referred more than 400 patients for medically unnecessary genetic tests that were paid for by Medicare. The United States alleges that Dr. Patel had no medical relationship with these patients, never examined these patients, and that the referrals were based on brief telemedicine consultations, and in some instances, no consultation. The genetic tests that Dr. Patel ordered often cost thousands of dollars per patient.
“Doctors who refer patients for medically unnecessary and costly services, such as genetic testing, deplete vital funds from Medicare and other government healthcare programs,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “This office will continue to work with law enforcement partners, and our own internal analytics tools, to identify healthcare providers who increase costs through unnecessary procedures and will hold them accountable.”
“Accurately billing for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries is required of all health care providers,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Region III. “HHS-OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to evaluate and pursue allegations of medically unnecessary services.”
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah W. Frey and Auditor Dawn Wiggins.
The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates its emphasis on combatting health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Philadelphia Man Indicted for Firearms Possession and Narcotics TraffickingRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Norman Copper, 32, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with multiple firearms and narcotics offenses related to his possession and trafficking of those items. Specifically, the defendant is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession of firearms by a felon.
The indictment alleges that Copper was found in possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it on January 24, 2024, in King of Prussia, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The indictment further alleges that on January 24, 2024, the defendant was found to be in possession of three semi-automatic handguns and one AK-style semi-automatic rifle. Finally, the indictment alleges that the defendant had been previously convicted of a felony before he possessed each of these firearms.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Upper Merion Township Police Department, the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey T. Mills.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pensacola Heroin and Methamphetamine Dealer Armed with an Illegal Machinegun Sentenced to 44 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Pensacola, Florida man was sentenced to 44 years in prison for conspiring to possess and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, possessing an illegally modified machinegun and other firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes, and possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Grayson Zachary Eagan, 30, led Baldwin County sheriff’s deputies on a 30-mile high-speed chase on March 8, 2021, after he refused to stop for a traffic violation in Elsanor. During the pursuit, Eagan reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, frequently crossing into the wrong lane of traffic and blowing through several stop signs and lighted intersections. Near Lillian, deputies used a spike strip to deflate the front left tire of Eagan’s car, leaving only the rim of the wheel on the vehicle. Nevertheless, Eagan continued at speeds between 80 and 100 miles per hour, crossing into Florida.
Near the end of the chase, Eagan sped into a residential neighborhood in Pensacola, spinning out and losing control of his car in the front yard of a house. Dash-camera video showed Eagan’s codefendant, Lakin Amanda Wright, throwing a black bookbag from the backseat of the car into a driveway as Eagan sped away. The bookbag contained four handguns, more than a kilogram of 100% pure methamphetamine ice, 38 grams of heroin, drug paraphernalia, and more than $74,000 in banded-up cash. Forensic DNA analysts found Eagan’s DNA on items inside the bookbag.
Shortly after Wright discarded the bookbag, Eagan again lost control of his car and got stuck in a gravel driveway. Eagan and another codefendant, Dylan Michael Miller, attempted to flee on foot before deputies took them into custody. Lying next to Eagan on the ground, deputies found a loaded AR 15-style rifle equipped with an arm brace. Eagan had more than $3,000 in cash on his person. Inside Eagan’s car, deputies located six additional firearms, including a Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” which illegally converted the semiautomatic pistol into a fully automatic machinegun.
Deputies’ search of Eagan’s car also uncovered numerous rounds of ammunition and gun magazines, a tactical body-armor vest, small amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and more than $1,000 in cash. At the time Eagan possessed the 11 guns that deputies seized from the car and the bookbag, he previously had been convicted of felony crimes in Florida. Those convictions rendered Eagan’s possession of firearms and ammunition illegal under federal law.
Agents also seized Eagan’s cell phones and obtained warrants to search them. The phones contained hundreds of Facebook and text messages that Eagan exchanged with Wright, Miller, and others regarding his drug-trafficking activities and illegal possession of firearms. The messages included Eagan discussing amounts and prices for heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other drugs. Eagan also discussed trading drugs for firearms. In one such message, Eagan offered to clear an individual’s drug debt in exchange for obtaining a machinegun-conversion device for him.
In addition to the 44-year prison sentence, Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Eagan to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered Eagan to pay $600 in special assessments and forfeited Eagan’s firearms and ammunition to the United States.
Chief Judge Beaverstock previously sentenced Miller and Wright to serve 221 months and 186 months in prison, respectively. Miller and Wright each will serve five-year terms of supervised release upon their release from prison, during which they will receive drug testing and treatment.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The Escambia County, Florida Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Rosa County, Florida Sheriff’s Office substantially assisted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Gaillard Ladd prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Oregon Woman Sentenced for Union EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Oregon woman, formerly of Middleborough, was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for embezzling nearly $40,000 from a labor union.
Andrea Anderson, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to two years’ probation. Anderson was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $30,316. In October 2023, Anderson pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union.
From approximately 2013 through July 2022, Anderson worked as a part-time administrative employee of the Brotherhood of Shoe and Allied Craftsman (BSAC), whose union office was located inside the garage of Anderson’s father’s residence in Lakeville. Anderson’s duties included signing checks, secretarial work and paying bills. Additionally, Anderson was a signatory on the union bank account, and therefore signed and prepared checks and had a union debit card. During her tenure working for BSAC, Anderson embezzled a total of $39,169 from the union. She repaid BSAC some $8,000 leaving a loss to BSAC of $30,316.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jonathan Russo, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Orangeburg Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Postal Conspiracy to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Lemont Antwaun Darby, 37, of Orangeburg, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Lemont Darby was a drug dealer who regularly received packages of marijuana through the U.S. Mail from California and elsewhere. Mjaan Roland, 31, of Chapin, was a city carrier with the Columbia Main Post Office and Dutch Fork Station. Darby approached Roland in March 2022 and asked him to facilitate the delivery of these packages of marijuana. The address Darby used was on Roland’s route. Darby compensated Roland for some of the deliveries by paying him between $100 and $200. On other occasions, he gave him small amounts of drugs.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Darby to 46 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Codefendant Mjaan Roland previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston D. Holliday Jr. is prosecuting the case.
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New Milford Man Sentenced to 262 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Luke Shager, age 37, of New Milford, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 7, 2024, to 262 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for sexual exploitation of children.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual, later identified as Shager, was transmitting multiple images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Shager’s New Milord residence and seized four cellular telephones. The devices contained over 1,200 images and videos of child pornography, including 2 self-produced videos depicting Shager engaging in sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc."
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New Haven, Vermont Woman Sentenced to Prison Term for Pandemic FraudRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jennifer Stocker, 46, of New Haven, Vermont was sentenced on Friday, March 8, 2024, in United States District Court in Burlington for making false statements to a credit union on an application for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, and for violating conditions of probation related to Stocker’s 2018 false statements conviction. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sentenced Stocker to a four-month term of imprisonment for the PPP loan offense, and a consecutive 30-day term of imprisonment for the violation of conditions of probation. After she is released from custody, Stocker will be subject to a three-year term of supervised release.
According to court records, in 2018, Stocker pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Burlington to making false statements in applications for benefits funded by federal agencies. For that 2018 offense, Stocker was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay nearly $140,000 in restitution. Then, while on probation in May 2020, Stocker falsely stated on a PPP loan application for Twelve Acres LLC, an entity that she co-owned, that she had not been convicted of a felony in the past five years and was not on probation. Stocker submitted a second PPP loan application in February 2021 and again included a false statement about her criminal history. Both PPP loan applications were approved, and Stocker received approximately $86,000 in loan proceeds. Stocker submitted loan forgiveness applications for both PPP loans, and both forgiveness applications were granted for the full loan amounts plus interest.
In addition to committing this new offense while on probation, Stocker also violated her conditions of probation by failing to pay restitution, and by opening auto loans without obtaining approval from the probation officer.
Stocker is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Cate.
Addressing pandemic-related fraud is a priority of United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest and of the Department of Justice. For information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
New Haven Man Charged with Possessing Loaded Gun While Released on Bond in another Federal CaseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging ANTRUM COSTON, 41, of New Haven, with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and with committing the offense while released on bond in another case.
On September 18, 2023, Coston was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 37 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for pandemic relief fraud, money laundering, and drug offenses. Judge Underhill ordered Coston, who was released on bond, to surrender for service of his sentence on November 29, 2023.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on October 25, 2023, New Haven Police arrested Coston after they found him in possession of a loaded Taurus G3 9mm handgun with an extended magazine, and various controlled substances.
It is alleged that Coston’s criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, including two federal convictions for firearm offenses.
The indictment was returned on March 6, 2023. Coston, who has been detained since his state arrest, appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
If convicted, Coston faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and a consecutive sentence of up to 10 years for possessing the firearm while on federal release.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Minot, ND Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced today that April Bergman of Minot pleaded guilty today to firearms trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about June 25, 2023 to July 9, 2023, Bergman received a Sig Sauer Model P365 9mm pistol, a Beretta Model PX4 Storm .40 caliber pistol, and a Smith and Wesson Model M&P 40 Shield .40 caliber pistol from another person in and otherwise affecting interstate and foreign commerce while knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that receipt of these firearms would constitute a felony in violation of a federal firearms trafficking statute, Title 18, United States Code, Sections 933(a)(2). Bergman also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
Bergman is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. She faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for firearms trafficking, 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and a period of supervised release.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed using the tools Congress has provided to prosecute firearms trafficking,” Schneider said. “Aggressive prosecutions under these statutes will help keep firearms out of the hands of convicted felons and those who seek to use firearms to commit violent crime. I want to credit our partners in law enforcement and our career prosecutors for their work to secure this plea.”
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Richard Lee, District of North Dakota.
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March Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the March Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Fernando Gonzalez-Leyva. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Gonzalez-Leyva, 53, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Oct. 2017, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-065
Wesley Dale Pedro, Jr. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate/Dating Partner in Indian Country; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding (Misdemeanor). Pedro, 54, of Tulsa, and member of Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, is charged with intentionally assaulting a victim with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in Sep. 2021. He allegedly assaulted a victim whom he had an intimate relationship with on Sep. 29, 2021. He is further charged with assaulting the same victim on Sep. 30, 2021. The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, and Coweta Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Briden is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-066
Jacob Dean Rowell. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a
Drug Trafficking Crime; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Drug Manufacturing Equipment. Rowell, 27, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He allegedly maintained a residence for the distribution of fentanyl. Rowell is further charged with possessing a machine to manufacture controlled substances. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Tulsa Police Department, and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-069Tallo Dominic Williams. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Williams, 48, of Bristow, is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender from Aug. 2023 through the date of the Indictment. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-067
Man Sentenced to 7+ Years in Prison After Domestic Assault, ShootingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Monday sentenced a St. Louis County man who assaulted his then-girlfriend in 2022 to seven years and five months in prison.
Joshua Lee, 37, pleaded guilty in October to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted being caught with a handgun on Aug. 6, 2022, by Saint Louis County Police Department officers who were responding to a report of a domestic incident involving an assault and shooting. The victim had been shot in the back. When Lee was arrested, he told officers that the victim shot herself.
Judge Fleissig on Monday found that evidence and testimony showed that Lee committed an aggravated assault by striking and choking his then-girlfriend before she was shot during a struggle over the gun Lee had in his waistband. Lee is a convicted felon and is barred from possessing a firearm. Judge Fleissig sentenced Lee to seven years in prison for that crime.
Lee was also on supervised release at the time of the assault after pleading guilty in 2016 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Fleissig on Monday sentenced Lee to five more months in prison for violating his supervised release.
The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag is prosecuting the case.
KC Woman Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Two Child VictimsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges related to the sexual exploitation of two child victims.
Jessica Ann Young, 33, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to two counts of the sexual exploitation of a minor.
Her husband, Houston Wade Young, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of the sexual exploitation of a minor on Jan. 30, 2024.
According to today’s plea agreement, Houston Young, while detained at the Vernon County, Mo., jail on March 5, 2020, was found to be in possession of a cell phone that contained images of child pornography. On March 7, 2020, law enforcement officers received information that Jessica Young had sent pornographic images of a 7-year-old child (identified in court documents as “John Doe 1”) to Houston Young’s cell phone.
Investigators found text messages on the cell phone between Jessica and Houston Young that discussed sexually abusing John Doe 1. During the text messages, Jessica Young sent Houston Young two pornographic images of John Doe 1. Multiple other images of child pornography sent by Jessica Young also were found on Houston Young’s cell phone.
Jessica Young admitted she had sexually abused two child victims, John Doe 1 and 13-year-old John Doe 2, on multiple occasions at a residence in Clay County, Mo. Jessica Young also admitted that she had recorded video of herself sexually abusing John Doe 2.
A forensic analysis of Houston Young’s cell phone also determined that he sent images of child pornography to Jessica Young and a 16-year-old child victim (identified in court documents as “Jane Doe”). Houston Young sent pornographic images of himself to Jane Doe, solicited child pornographic images of her that she sent to him, and engaged in sexual conversations. Jane Doe told investigators she met Houston Young on a game room chat, League of Legends, and started talking via that forum. They communicated via text, the Kik and Whatsapp applications, and video chat.
Houston Young has two prior felony convictions related to the sexual exploitation of children. He was convicted of child molestation in Wright County, Mo., in 2005 and of possessing child pornography in Jackson County, Mo., in 2016.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the state has agreed to dismiss charges against Jessica Young of statutory rape and statutory sodomy in Clay County Circuit Court after she has been sentenced in federal court.
Under federal statutes, Jessica Young is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole, on each of the two counts. Due to his prior convictions, Houston Young is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years in federal prison without parole, up to life 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 Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Vernon County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Kentucky Department of Criminal Investigations.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."