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18 April 2024
U.S. Attorney Hurwit Highlights Success of Project Safe Neighborhoods InitiativeRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the results of three separate firearms and ammunition cases in Southern Idaho today that were prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.
“Our mission is to keep Idahoans safe from violence, and this means enforcing the law that prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms and/or ammunition, especially those offenders with prior violent felony convictions such as these defendants,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am grateful to our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners for their dedication to these critical cases, which help keep Idaho a safe and wonderful place to live.”
- Convicted Felon and Domestic Abuser Sentenced to 87 Months for Unlawfully Possessing Firearms, Including a Ghost Gun.
In one case, Brent Logan, 35, of Boise, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford to 87 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court records, in the winter of 2023, officers responded to a report of domestic violence. Logan was found in possession of five firearms, including a personally manufactured firearm, also known as a ghost gun. At the time of the offense, Logan was on probation for two prior convictions involving domestic violence and was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault.
Judge Brailsford also ordered Logan to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Logan pleaded guilty to the federal charge in December 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the Violent Crimes Unit of the Boise Police Department and the ATF for their investigation on this case.
This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Manweiler.
- Garden Valley Man Sentenced to 66 months for Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition.
In another case, Forest Saba, 39, of Garden Valley, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford to 66 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of ammunition. According to court records, on September 28, 2022, Boise police officers were providing an escort to Saba’s estranged wife due to domestic violence and stalking concerns. Officers observed a vehicle following the wife. Saba was a passenger in this vehicle. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and Saba fled on foot. Officers eventually arrested him. In Saba’s pocket, officers located ammunition and two knives.
At the time of his arrest, Saba was prohibited from possessing ammunition due to three prior felony convictions, including a conviction for aggravated battery. This is Saba’s third federal firearms conviction.
Judge Brailsford also ordered Saba to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. The district court found Saba guilty after a stipulated bench trial in October 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Boise Police Department and the ATF, which led to the charge.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis Zebari and Christian Nafzger.
- Nyssa Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition.
In a third case, Oscar Garcia, 38, of Nyssa, Oregon, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford to 120 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of ammunition. According to court records, on December 22, 2022, officers attempted to arrest Garcia on a warrant for violations of his supervised release. He refused to pull over in Payette, Idaho and began a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 110 mph. He drove into Oregon and crashed his vehicle in Nyssa and attempted to flee on foot. He was ultimately apprehended and searched. He possessed a .40 caliber magazine containing 14 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
At the time of his arrest, Garcia was prohibited from possessing ammunition due to a 2011 conviction in the U.S. District Court, District of Idaho, for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and attempted murder in aid of racketeering. Garcia had previously been convicted in Oregon of manslaughter I, assault II, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, escape III, and assault IV.
Judge Brailsford also ordered Garcia to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence and pay a $1,000 fine. Garcia pleaded guilty to the federal charge in October 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the United States Marshal Service, the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, the Ontario Police Department, the Fruitland Police Department, the Payette County Sheriff’s Office, the Nyssa Police Department, and the ATF, for their collaborative work on this case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Nafzger.
These three cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Logan case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth.
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U.S Attorney Will Thompson Honors Crime Victims and Advocates at Operation Reach Out 2024 Opening CeremonyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson presented the 2024 Excellence in Victim Advocacy and Justice Awards today during the Opening Ceremony for the 23rd Annual Operation Reach Out at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse.
Operation Reach Out recognizes crime victims and those who serve them, and is sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia and the Operation Reach Out Committee.
The 2024 Excellence in Victim Advocacy and Justice Awards honorees are:
- The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, for its Remote Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Outreach Project. This initiative allows victims in a growing number of counties to file petitions and participate in court hearings remotely, without having to be in the same building as the people from whom they are seeking protection. The entire Supreme Court - Chief Justice Tim Armstead, Justice Elizabeth D. Walker, Justice John A. Hutchison, Justice William R. Wooton and Justice C. Haley Bunn - and project officials attended today’s ceremony to accept the award.
- The Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Lt. S.A. Sommers of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, Elizabeth Street of the West Virginia Department of Human Services, Child Protect of Mercer County, and Guardian Ad Litem Michael Magaan for their roles in the successful prosecution of Eric Shawn Phillips, 43, of Princeton. Phillips was sentenced on November 13, 2023, to 30 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, and ordered to pay $7,200 in restitution for enticement of a minor.
- Special Agent Brian Morris of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for his role in the successful prosecution of Larry Allen Clay Jr., 58, and Kristen Naylor-Legg, 30, of Gauley Bridge. Naylor Legg was sentenced on August 31, 2023, to nine years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor under the age of 18. Naylor-Legg provided her 17-year-old female relative to Clay so he could engage in sexual intercourse with the minor. At the time, Clay was an employee of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the Chief of Police for the Gauley Bridge Police Department. A federal jury convicted Clay on April 28, 2023, of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor via coercion, sex trafficking of a minor via coercion, and two counts of obstruction of justice. Clay awaits sentencing.
- Mission West Virginia for promoting positive futures by working to ensure every child has a loving family and the knowledge to make positive choices for a healthier future. Mission West Virginia has been a longtime partner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia as it recruits and trains foster families and provide support and services to relatives or kinship families caring for youth.
- YWCA Charleston for its continuing commitment to communities throughout Kanawha, Clay and Boone counties. YWCA Charleston provides crucial services to domestic violence and trafficking victims, such as emergency and transitional housing, counseling and court advocacy. YWCA Charleston is also a longstanding and valued partner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
The ceremony also featured a special Tree of Remembrance, upon which victims and survivors placed signed cards in memory of a loved one or for themselves as a survivor.
“As you look at the tree, we don’t just see pieces of paper. The toughest part of my job and my career, over the last 27 years, has been some of the photographs and videos that I’ve had to see,” said Thompson, a former Boone County Circuit Court judge. “Some of those, I don’t have to carry around in my wallet or anything of that nature. They are forever burned in my brain.”
Operation Reach Out aims to raise awareness of victims’ rights, educate the public about the various organizations that provide services to crime victims, and promote crime prevention and safety.
Operation Reach Out is held in coordination with National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW), which is being commemorated this year on April 21-27. The 2024 NCVRW theme is “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.”
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/national-crime-victims-rights-week/overview.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Video of the ceremony is available on the office's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNnPK9Bc00U
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Two Hampton Roads men sentenced for armed robbery of USPS mail carrierRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Two Virginia men were sentenced to four years in prison for their roles in the armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier.
According to court documents, on May 9, 2023, O’Sirus Landres Charles Ford, 21, of Chesapeake, Virginia, robbed a Hampton mail carrier at gunpoint for his “arrow” key, the master key used to access blue collection boxes, outdoor parcel lockers, and apartment mailbox panels, and recruited Jayden Stukes, 21, of Suffolk, Virginia, to assist him in the robbery. Ford specifically wanted to steal a key in the Newport News/Hampton area and requested that Stukes drive him “across the water.” Stukes agreed and informed Ford he would be with Da’Twan Watson, 24, of Chesapeake, and that Watson was “a lock.”
When Ford, Stukes, and Watson met at the rental car that Ford had used the previous day for another armed robbery – that time, of a mail carrier in Norfolk – they were unable to gain entry to the vehicle, so Stukes arranged for another of his friends to drive the group. Ford, Stukes, and Watson were all armed with handguns and had masks to cover their faces. After they crossed Hampton Roads, Ford diverted the car from the original destination, the downtown Newport News Post Office, and instead directed the vehicle around a light industrial-commercial area of Hampton. Ford and Watson exited the vehicle to continue hunting down the mailman on foot, and Stukes remained in the car with his friend and communicated with Ford using social media to help him find the USPS target (the victim mail carrier).
Watson and Ford encountered the mail carrier on Galax Street in Hampton. Only Ford was armed, but both he and Watson were fully masked as Watson approached from the side. Ford approached the carrier from Galax Street, brandished his firearm, and said, “Give me your keys or I’m gonna shoot you.” He then repeated his demand and began counting down from five. The victim gave Ford his USPS arrow key. Ford and Watson then fled, eventually meeting with Stukes and the driver in an apartment complex nearby before she drove the group back across the water.
Watson and Stukes pleaded guilty to interfering with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting. Stukes was sentenced yesterday; Watson was sentenced today.
On Dec. 21, 2023, Ford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence. Ford is currently scheduled to be sentenced May 2.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ajay Lall, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division; Jimmie Wideman, Chief of Hampton Police; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after Watson was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Podlesni and Mack Coleman prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-51.
Two Drug Traffickers Arrested on Federal Charges for Premeditated Robbery Scheme Ending in Murder and ArsonRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A federal grand jury in Roanoke has charged a pair of Central Virginia men with multiple federal crimes related to a 2023 drug robbery and murder where one defendant sought to dispose of the victim’s body by setting it aflame.
In an indictment returned April 11, 2024, the grand jury alleges that Joseph Richard Walker, a.k.a. “Joe,” 30, of Roanoke, and Garrett Isaac Williams, a.k.a. “Gary,” “Taz,” and “Tez,” 21, of Lynchburg, conspired to traffic marijuana; committed robbery; and conspired to commit robbery. Additionally, the indictment alleges Walker discharged a firearm to further the drug trafficking and robbery; possessed firearms as a prohibited person; and committed arson.
“There is no higher priority for my Office than keeping our communities safe by prosecuting violent crime,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The federal charges brought in this case show the determination of the United States Attorney’s Office — and our local, state, and federal partners — to hold those who commit these acts accountable.”
“Our dedication to protecting the public from violent offenders in collaboration with our partners is unwavering. We will continue to work together to make our communities safer,” FBI Richmond Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador said. “This indictment highlights the steadfast commitment of federal, state, and local partners to hold violent criminals accountable.”
“These two arrests are the result of the exceptional and relentless investigative work of law enforcement from a myriad of agencies," said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. "Within 48 hours, our special agents had identified Walker and Williams as the murder suspects and had state charges placed thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the US Marshals Service, FBI, Roanoke City Police, Roanoke County Police, the Bedford County and Roanoke City Commonwealth's Attorneys, and Bedford County Sheriff's Office.”
According to court records and public documents, beginning around January 2023, Walker and Williams conspired to sell large amounts of marijuana that they bought from the victim in York, Pennsylvania. By early April 2023, the defendants had accrued a $40,000 drug debt to the victim. Rather than pay the debt, they arranged a final marijuana delivery from the victim and planned to rob him when he arrived. On April 17, 2023, the victim traveled to Walker’s house in southeast Roanoke, where Walker shot the victim twice in the head and stole the marijuana. After killing the victim, Walker loaded his body into the trunk of the car and drove to a rural road in Bedford County where Walker set fire to the car.
The Virginia State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke City Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Roanoke City Police Department, the Roanoke County Police Department, the City of Lynchburg Police Department, and the Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office are investigating the case.
The Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force also aided in the investigation and is comprised of officers from the Roanoke City Police Department, Roanoke County Police Department, City of Salem Virginia Police Department, the Vinton Police Department, and Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Salem Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Drew O. Inman and M. Coleman Adams are 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Council Bluffs Residents Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced on April 11, 2024, to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to count one of a three-count indictment. His co-defendant was sentenced on December 11, 2023, to 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of a three-count indictment.
According to public court documents Diana Morales, 30, was a drug supplier to co-defendant Donavan Edward Belt, 25, who distributed methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area. In February 2023 law enforcement completed a controlled buy at the residence of Morales and Belt resulting in the seizure of 112.97 grams of actual methamphetamine. A subsequent search warrant resulted in the seizure of additional methamphetamine.
Belt must serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Morales must serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and the Council Bluffs Police Department investigated the case.
Twelve Indicted for Drug Trafficking in Northern PanhandleRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Twelve people from Ohio and West Virginia have been charged with distributing cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that ten individuals from the Greater Cleveland area plus two more from the Ohio Valley have been indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. The cases were investigated by multi-jurisdictional drug task forces based in Weirton, Wheeling, and Moundsville which are comprised of local, state, and federal agents.
“We have recently experienced a surge of drug traffickers from Northern Ohio traveling to West Virginia to sell drugs and engage in violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Our drug task forces responded swiftly to this influx and as a result, we were able to build cases, obtain indictments, and push back against the threat.”
The individuals charged and the allegations each face are as follows:
- Deangelo Smith, age 45, Cleveland (cocaine distribution in Ohio County);
- Derrick Leflore, 35, Cleveland (cocaine distribution in Ohio County);
- Dontrell Ivery, 46, Cleveland (cocaine distribution in Ohio County);
- Alexander Davis, 43, Cleveland (methamphetamine distribution in Ohio County);
- Tiajuana Sharnna Greer, 29, Cleveland (cocaine distribution in Ohio County);
- Ahmere Williams, 20, of Akron (methamphetamine distribution in Marshall County);
- Demarcus R. Brown, 21, Akron (methamphetamine/fentanyl distribution in Marshall County);
- Michael J. Lloyd, Jr., 21, Akron (methamphetamine/fentanyl distribution in Marshall County);
- Sirvonte R. Suggs, 18, Akron (methamphetamine/fentanyl distribution in Marshall County);
- Stephan G. Ward, 32, Akron (methamphetamine/fentanyl distribution in Marshall County);
- Carol Hope Lucscious, 36, Wheeling, WV (cocaine distribution in Ohio County); and
- David Bushovisky, 47, Moundsville, WV (methamphetamine distribution in Marshall County)
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton Reid and Carly Nogay are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the United States.
The matters were investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, and the Marshall County Drug Task Force, each one a HIDTA-funded initiative.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Traffickers sent to prison after multi-kilogram narcotics smuggling attemptRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Two men have been sentenced for their roles in a cocaine smuggling operation, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Argelio Chavero, 51, Alton, and Agustin Romero Jr., 41, U.S. citizen residing in Mexico, pleaded guilty April 24, 2023, and Dec. 19, 2022, respectively, to importing 12 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a 188-month-term of imprisonment for Chavero, while Romero received 57 months. Both must also serve five and three years of supervised release, respectively, following their sentences. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence of Chavero’s lengthy criminal history which includes a prior attempt to smuggle 14 kilograms of marijuana in a vehicles’ spare tires and gas tank through the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint. In addition, the court heard that drug trafficking runs in the Chavero family as his brother is also in federal custody for a 2021 conviction of importing meth. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Chavero has led a life crime.
On April 24, 2021, Romero drove to the Hidalgo Port of Entry attempting to enter the United States from Mexico. Upon an x-ray inspection of the vehicle, law enforcement noticed anomalies in the gas tank. Further inspection revealed, four kilograms of marijuana and 12 kilograms of meth concealed within 33 packages inside the gas tank.
Chavero recruited Romero and provided him with a vehicle at the Mexican entrance to the Port of Entry. Chavero initially denied knowledge of Romero and the vehicle; however, authorities confronted Chavero with photographs of him driving the vehicle with Romero as passenger.
Both will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.
Tioga County Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – David P. VanHousen, age 54, formerly of Newark Valley, New York, was sentenced today to 160 months (13 years, 4 months) in federal prison for possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his prior guilty plea, VanHousen admitted that, while civilly committed at the Central New York Psychiatric Center in Marcy, New York following several sex offense and child pornography-related convictions, VanHousen possessed numerous images and videos of child pornography on a contraband cellular telephone.
VanHousen was previously convicted in 2001 of Sexual Misconduct and Rape in the Third Degree in New York State court and Transportation of Child Pornography in federal court.
United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also sentenced VanHousen to serve a life term of supervised release following his release from prison, at which time VanHousen will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NYSP-BCI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian S. LaRochelle and Jessica N. Carbone as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Three Men Sentenced for Federal Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three men have been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations.
Julian McGuire, age 35, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 46 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of firearms. According to court documents and statements made in court, officers were called to a domestic disturbance at McGuire’s home. After a search of the home and McGuire’s vehicle three firearms and firearms parts were discovered. McGuire is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior felony drug conviction.
Aiyontae Michael Moye, age 20, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation of shots being fired in Cumberland, Maryland led investigators to Moye. It was later discovered that Moye, who is prohibited from possessing firearms, had another individual straw purchase the firearm for him.
Talten Dominic Hall, Jr., age 39, of Edinburg, Virginia, was sentenced to 84 months in prison and five years of supervised release for possession of a firearm in connection to a drug trafficking crime. According to statements made in court, Hall fired a gun outside of a nightclub in Martinsburg. He was later found with two firearms. Hall is prohibited from having firearms because of three domestic battery and assault convictions in Virginia. Hall will be on supervised release for five years following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the McGuire and Moye cases on behalf of the United States and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the Hall case.
The following investigative agencies were involved in the various investigations: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office; the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office (MD); the West Virginia State Police; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office; and the Loudon County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Three Accused of Transporting Stolen Goods from St. Louis CountyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Three men from Florida have been accused of transporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen property out of the St. Louis area.
Benjamin Andres Ovalle-Taibo, now 31, Jonathan Vejar-Caro, 31, and Henry Jose Ferreira-Perez, 20, were each indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Nov. 1, 2023, on one count of transportation of stolen goods.
Ferreira-Perez appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty. The other two are in custody in Florida.
The indictment accuses the three men of transporting more than $5,000 in stolen goods. A motion seeking to have Ferreira-Perez detained until trial says he and his associates traveled from Florida to St. Louis County on June 9, 2023, where they stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of items. A detention motion for Vejar-Caro says he arrived in the United States from Chile in February of 2023. In court Thursday, Ferreira-Perez said he is from Venezuela.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Ladue Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cort VanOstran is prosecuting the case.
Thirty-Seven Gang Members and Associates Sentenced in Large-Scale Racketeering and Drug Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
The 37th and final defendant was sentenced today in a Northern District of Mississippi case that targeted the violent activities, drug trafficking, and money laundering of the Simon City Royals prison gang.
Joshua Miller, 33, of Jackson, Mississippi, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) conspiracy, including conspiracy to murder, related to his participation in the Simon City Royals.
“The Simon City Royals gang engaged in murder and torture and smuggled drugs and other contraband into prisons,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentencing of 37 gang members ends the gang’s reign of terror in the communities and prisons of Mississippi. This prosecution demonstrates the Justice Department’s resolve, along with our law enforcement partners, in holding violent criminal gang members to account.”
“Society simply cannot function if criminals and gangs are allowed to inflict violence on individuals and communities without consequences, and this years-long investigation and prosecution demonstrates that such criminality will not go unchecked,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. “I want to express extreme gratitude to our law enforcement partners for their tremendous efforts in putting an end to the reign of terror perpetrated by the Simon City Royals members and affiliates convicted in this case.”
According to court documents, the Simon City Royals were a violent prison gang operating primarily in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, but with members and associates acting on their behalf outside of prison throughout Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and elsewhere. Through their sophisticated structure and an alliance with the violent Gangster Disciples gang, the Simon City Royals engaged in a host of criminal activities, including murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, witness tampering, money laundering, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, large-scale drug trafficking, and fraud.
“This investigation shows the dedication of the ATF and its law enforcement partners to making our neighborhoods safer by disrupting and dismantling these violent gangs wherever they exist,” said Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New Orleans. “We will continue to be aggressive in stopping their criminal activities, bringing them to justice, and making an impact on reducing violent crime in our communities.”
“This final sentencing shatters the myth of the Simon City Royals’ invincibility,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Orleans Field Division. “Keeping our communities safe is the DEA’s unshakeable mission. This message goes out to all who peddle drugs and unleash gun violence: law enforcement is relentless. We will never stop, not on the streets, not behind bars. We will dismantle these violent gangs, bringing the full force of the federal government to bear, and ensure they no longer terrorize our communities.”
The Simon City Royals were responsible for the brutal murder of a prison inmate in 2018, when a Simon City Royals leader issued a “kill on sight” order, directing any gang member who encountered the targeted inmate to murder him. In January 2018, Dillon Heffker and Robert Williams acted on the order, stabbing the victim dozens of times with improvised prison knives. Leaders of the Simon City Royals rewarded Heffker and Williams for the murder by arranging for hundreds of dollars to be directed to their prison commissary accounts.
“In over 40 years of working with law enforcement and the State and federal courts in Mississippi, this case took as many serious offenders off the street as any I can remember,” said U.S. Marshal Daniel R. McKittrick. “Thanks to all the agencies that work together to try and keep our communities safe.”
“The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating and pursuing those who aim to exploit our nation’s financial systems in order to further a criminal enterprise,” said Resident Agent in Charge Kyle Smith of the U.S. Secret Service’s Jackson Resident Office. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, a violent gang was dismantled and the individuals involved can now be held responsible for their crimes.”
The Simon City Royals were also responsible for the savage kidnapping and torture of a former gang member for perceived violations of the gang’s code of conduct. In 2015, a member of the Simon City Royals kidnapped the victim at knifepoint and forced him into a hotel room. There, Simon City Royals members and associates tied the victim to a chair, interrogated him, tortured him, and burned off his Simon City Royals tattoo.
In addition, the Simon City Royals engaged in widespread drug trafficking, including smuggling large quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana and synthetic marijuana, heroin, and benzodiazepines into dozens of Mississippi state prison facilities. The gang distributed these dangerous substances, including nearly 100% pure crystal methamphetamine, to inmates throughout the prison system.
Prior to Miller’s sentencing, his co-conspirators were sentenced to the following terms of imprisonment:
- Allen Posey, 48, of Jackson, 20 years;
- Jonathan Davis, 39, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, 30 years and five months;
- Jeremy Holcombe, 43, of Meridian, Mississippi, 20 years;
- Jonathan Burnett, 39, of Birmingham, Alabama, 22 years and six months;
- Hank Chapman, 38, of Riply, Mississippi, three years;
- Jason Hayden, 42, of Picayune, Mississippi, five years;
- Gavin Pierson, 33, of San Diego, 21 years and 10 months;
- Justin Shaw, 36, of Holly Springs, Mississippi, 25 years;
- Bobby Brumfield, 44, of New Orleans, 15 years and eight months;
- Jordan Deakles, 31, of Gulfport, Mississippi, two years and six months;
- Bryce Francis, 43, of Columbus, Ohio, 15 years;
- Anthony Murphy, 30, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 10 years;
- Chancy Bilbo, 31, of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, 20 years;
- Dillon Heffker, 32, of Bay St. Louis, 35 years;
- Douglas Jones, 34, of Jackson, 19 years and seven months;
- Cody Woodall, 31, of Gulfport, five years;
- Michael Muscolino, 43, of Phoenix, five years;
- Valerie Madden, 54, of Chicago, two years;
- Samuel Conwill, 45, of Tupelo, Mississippi, time served of 20 months;
- Jason Collins, 40, of Loraine, Ohio, five years;
- Justin Leake, 43, of Meridian, 25 years;
- Michael Dossett, 42, of Carriere, Mississippi, six years and six months;
- Angel Labauve, 43, of Picayune, Mississippi, nine months;
- Bruce Floyd, 42, of Senatobia, Mississippi, 10 years and five months;
- Jacquelyn Harmon, 33, of Senatobia, one year and months;
- Cody Myrick, 33, of Grenada, Mississippi, one year and eight months;
- Craig Thomas, 36, of Grenada, two years and three months;
- Arvis Tolbert, 43, of Hurley, Mississippi, three years;
- Preston Edwards, 36, of Jackson, 21 years and 10 months;
- Catherine Perry, 41, of Tupelo, five years;
- John Brooks, 37, of Greenwood, Mississippi, 10 years;
- Alana Dickey, 21, of Holly Springs, five years of probation;
- Austin Ruby, 35, of Holly Springs, 10 years;
- Chris Vincent, 20, of Gulfport, five years and two months;
- Trevor Overby, 45, of Jackson, time served of 18 months; and
- Anthony Rouse, 33, of Picayune, 10 years.
The ATF, DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI Jackson Field Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections, and dozens of local law enforcement agencies across multiple states investigated the cases, with valuable assistance from the Tupelo Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff's Department, Benton County Sheriff's Department, and Tippah County Sheriff’s Department.
Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Stringfellow for the Northern District of Mississippi prosecuted the cases, with valuable assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Texas man sentenced to over 6 years for distributing Spice to AlaskaRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Texas man was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and three years’ supervised release for trafficking more than 21 kilograms of the drug known as Spice from Texas to Alaska.
“Spice” is a generic term for synthetic cannabinoids, which are mind-altering chemicals that are formed by dissolving psychotropic drugs in acetone and spraying them on dried plant material.
According to court documents, between 2020 and 2022, law enforcement officers intercepted over 21 kilograms of Spice that Jacob Trujillo, 36, of San Antonio, shipped through the mail to local distributors in Alaska.
Trujillo also laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in two separate bank accounts between January 2020 and October 2021.
“Starting in 2015, Spice was flooding the streets of Anchorage, resulting in an influx of medical emergency response calls related to Spice use and six fatal overdoses outside the Brother Francis Shelter,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “This sentence represents one of the final pieces in a joint effort to get Spice off our streets and bring justice to the culprits who brought it to our great state.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration works everyday with our partners to ensure Alaska is safe from those who seek to target the vulnerable for profit,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The sentence that Mr. Trujillo received for harming our community serves as a reminder of the seriousness with which we all take this threat.”
“Alaskans have seen first-hand the harm that synthetic cannabinoids, or “Spice,” has caused to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), Seattle Field Office. “Mr. Trujillo is facing the consequences of his actions, and his sentencing is evidence of IRS:CI’s commitment to keeping harmful and illegal drugs off our streets.”
The DEA Anchorage Field Office and Seattle Division Office, and IRS:CI Seattle Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Schroeder prosecuted the case.
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Sterling businessman indicted for Covid-19 relief fund fraudRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Sterling businessman with wire fraud involving Covid-19 relief funds.
According to court documents, Kent Tompkins, 55, made false statements about his criminal history on Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications for his business, J & B Construction. In 2018, the defendant was indicted on multiple felony grand theft charges in South Dakota and was convicted in August 2020.
During the alleged scheme, Tompkins applied for two EIDL loans—one in May 2020 and one in November 2021. On both applications, which were submitted after he had been indicted and arraigned in South Dakota, Tompkins falsely stated that he had not been presently or recently subject to an indictment or arraignment for formal criminal charges. On the second application, Tompkins also provided false information about his prior conviction and probation.
Tompkins allegedly obtained over $95,000 in relief funds through the first loan application and attempted to obtain $276,500 through the second loan application.
Tompkins is charged with wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343. The defendant made his initial court appearance on April 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Smith of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge Weston King of the Small Business Association Office of Inspector General Western Regional Office and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The Small Business Association Office of Inspector General and FBI Anchorage Field Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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St. Louis Man Sentenced to 150 Months in Prison for Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a man arrested by police after a shooting in 2023 to 150 months in prison..
Robert Eutz III, 44, pleaded guilty in January to one felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers stopped his car shortly after a March 30, 2023 shooting in the 3500 block of Lafayette Avenue. Officers found 10mm ammunition and spent casings in the car and a 10mm Glock handgun, 23.67 grams of raw fentanyl and 111 capsules containing fentanyl in a safe in the vehicle, Eutz’s plea agreement says.
The shooting victim, who had been hit multiple times, identified Eutz as the shooter. Witnesses identified his vehicle. The casings from the shooting scene matched the gun and spent casings recovered from Eutz’s vehicle. As a convicted felon, Eutz is barred from possessing a firearm.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.
Spencer Man Sentenced to More Than Thirteen Years’ Imprisonment for Second Federal Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who had previously been convicted of Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Methamphetamine in 2004 was sentenced April 17, 2024, to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and will spend more than 13 years in federal prison.
Todd Williams, age 57 from Spencer, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 1, 2023, guilty plea to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Evidence showed on March 4, 2023, after receiving information that Williams was possessing and selling methamphetamine, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Williams’ residence in Spencer, Iowa. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement seized approximately 2.7 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately $50,000 in cash. Williams was not present during the execution of the search warrant but was observed by law enforcement driving by. Law enforcement attempted to traffic stop Williams who then led law enforcement on a short pursuit driving at speeds up to 100mph before being stopped and arrested.
Williams was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Williams was sentenced to 158 months’ imprisonment and must also serve an 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Williams is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and Patrick Greenwood and investigated by Spencer Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Estherville Police Department, the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4061. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Southbury Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Sawed-Off Shotguns and SilencersRead 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, announced that ANTHONY ENGLEHARDT, 44, of Southbury, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to a firearm offense related to his unlawful possession of sawed-off shotguns and silencers.
According to court documents and statements made in court, shortly before midnight on March 13, 2023, Torrington Police received a report that Englehardt used a rifle and shot a hole in the ceiling of a Torrington residence, and then left the residence. At the time, Englehardt was subject to a protective order issued by the Waterbury Superior Court that required him to surrender all of his firearms and ammunition. At approximately 12:30 a.m. on March 14, 2023, Connecticut State Police stopped Englehardt’s vehicle, took him into custody, and charged him with multiple offenses. Later that day, a search of Englehardt’s Southbury residence revealed 10 firearms, six silencers, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and various firearms parts and accessories. Three of the firearms were sawed-off shotguns and were not registered pursuant to the National Firearms Act. The six silencers also were not registered.
Englehardt pleaded guilty to possession of unregistered National Firearms Act firearms and silencers, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Englehardt has been detained since his federal arrest on May 25, 2023.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police, Torrington Police Department, and Southbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret M. Donovan and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis, with the assistance of Law Student Intern Eli Scher-Zagier.
South Texas woman sentenced for weapons cache exportationRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 33-year-old San Juan resident has been ordered to federal prison for attempting to exit the country with three dozen AK-47 and AR-15 rifles and other weapons and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jessica Alvarado pleaded guilty Jan. 25 to smuggling goods from the United States.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Alvarado to serve 46 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how these types of weapons are typically those that end up in the hands of cartel members in Mexico and the dangers that are associated with their use. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the dangers associated with these firearms and the individuals they endanger. The court also heard that at the time of the offense, Alvarado admitted to dealing cocaine on several occasions.
“Alvarado tried to sneak dangerous weapons across our southern border which could have had devastating effects,” said Hamdani. “This sentence should serve as a warning - put guns in the hands of others illegally and pay a hefty price with your freedom. An AK-47 or AR-15 doesn’t belong in the hands of a criminal.”
“Drugs and guns are a deadly combination,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “This sentencing serves as a warning to those who attempt to export weapons into Mexico and distribute highly addictive narcotics like cocaine. HSI will aggressively pursue violators and hold them accountable. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in the Rio Grande Valley and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
On Jan. 31, 2023, Jessica Alvarado attempted to depart the United States via the Hidalgo Port of Entry driving a Ford F-150. At the time, she denied having any firearms.
However, authorities noticed the bed of the pickup truck was abnormally elevated and referred the vehicle to secondary inspection. A search resulted in the discovery of 33 AK-47 variant rifles, three AR-15 rifles, a .22 caliber long rifle, two .45 caliber handguns and 39 ammunition magazines. Alvarado did not possess a license to export firearms from the United States.
The investigation led to a search at her residence in San Juan where law enforcement also found approximately 499 grams of a packaged white powdery substance that tested positive for the characteristics of cocaine and more than $13,000 in bulk U.S. currency.
Alvarado was permitted to remain on bond and will surrender at a later date to serve her sentence.
HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Fry and Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
South Carolina Man Charged with Sextortion That Caused DeathRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Glenn Daeward Boyd, 35, of Kershaw, South Carolina, was charged in a 7-Count indictment, alleging he engaged in attempted extortion, stalking, and 5 counts of wire fraud. The indictment is attached.
“Nationally and here in Michigan we have seen a startling increase in the number of sextortion crimes – like we have alleged here – that result in the victim’s death,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We are fully committed to holding perpetrators of these crimes accountable. At the same time, I strongly urge everyone who carries a device or is active online to remain aware that criminals constantly troll the internet and social media, to not assume people are who they say they are, and to know that if you make a mistake, law enforcement is eager and ready to help.”
The indictment alleges Boyd committed these crimes from August 2-4, 2023. According to the indictment, Boyd posed as an 18-year-old woman on a dating website, and he sent a nude image to the victim. While continuing to pose as the woman, Boyd told the victim he was actually 15. Boyd then posed as the 15-year-old’s grandparents, telling the victim the grandparents would report the victim as a pedophile to his family, friends, and the police unless paid. The indictment further alleges the victim died by suicide as a result of Boyd’s sextortion.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the family and loved ones of the victim at the center of this case, said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Sextortionists use any means necessary to exploit and deceive their targets, counting on the victim's feelings of shame and fear to achieve their goals. The FBI has several resources available to anyone who believes they may be a victim of a sextortion scheme. If you are uncomfortable reporting this crime to the FBI directly, you can rely on a trusted individual to do so on your behalf by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.”
The FBI provides the following six tips on how people can protect themselves from sextortion schemes:
- Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you.
- Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
- Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims.
- Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and this person asks you to start talking on a different platform.
- Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And nothing actually “disappears” online. Once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next.
- Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone.
If you have information about or believe you are a victim of sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at http://tips.fbi.gov. More information is available at https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Sheldon Man Sentenced to 12 years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who distributed child pornography to a minor was sentenced today, April 18, 2024, to 12 years in federal prison.
Henry Araica-Gonzalez, age 22, from Sheldon, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 5, 2023, guilty plea to Distribution of Child Pornography.
Evidence showed that in February 2023, a minor victim disclosed a sexual relationship with Araica-Gonzalez and an investigation began. Law enforcement executed a search warrant and during an interview with law enforcement, Araica-Gonzalez admitted he knew the victim was a minor, admitted to the sexual relationship, and admitted he filmed some of the sexual encounters on both his and her phones. Araica-Gonzalez further admitted that on at least one occasion he sent the videos to the victim.
Araica-Gonzalez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Araica-Gonzalez was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $1,100 in fines and assessments. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Araica-Gonzalez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sergeant Bluff Police Department, and Sheldon Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR23-4031. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sharon Resident Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison for committing cocaine trafficking and firearm crimes, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States Senior District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Raymond Briskey, 38, also ordering Briskey to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Briskey previously pleaded guilty in this case to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base on October 21, 2020, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. Prior to sentencing, the Court was informed that, when committing these crimes, Briskey had outstanding bench warrants for failures to appear to address drug trafficking and theft charges in two counties in Ohio and to be sentenced for contraband and drug convictions in two cases in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Mercer County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Briskey.
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 of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gary Allen Swift Jr., 62, pleaded guilty today to failure to provide information related to interstate travel as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about July 1, 2023 through on or about February 6, 2024, Swift failed to register or update his registration as required by SORNA after he relocated to West Virginia from Iowa.
Swift is required to register as a sex offender and comply with SORNA because of his convictions for first-degree sexual abuse in Nicholas County, West Virginia, Circuit Court on March 18, 1986, and criminal sexual assault in Rock Island, Illinois, Circuit Court on November 20, 2006.
Swift is scheduled to be sentenced on August 1, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-27.
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Scott County Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Georgetown, Ky., man, Tyler Brady Lawson, 27, was sentenced on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to 28 years in prison, for production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, Lawson was the long-term boyfriend of a woman who had close connections to two young girls, Victim 1 and Victim 2. Through these connections, the young girls frequently visited the residences where Lawson and his girlfriend lived. In March 2023, law enforcement became aware of a disclosure to a therapist for one of the girls. The resulting investigation revealed that Lawson produced and possessed sexually explicit images of the girls, as well as cartoon and computer-generated images of the sexual abuse of children. In pleading guilty, Lawson admitted that he knowingly captured visual depictions of one of the girls and that he intended to create depictions of sexually explicit conduct.
Court documents outlined that the sexually explicit pictures of Victim 1 and Victim 2 existed within a larger pattern of sexual abuse perpetrated by Lawson. Allegations of his abuse began when Victim 1 was just five year old. Eventually, Victim 1 disclosed to her therapist that Lawson had recently been sexually abusing her. She then disclosed to law enforcement that physical sexual abuse occurred nearly every time that she visited Lawson’s residence. According to Victim 1, Lawson also threatened to harm her if she told anyone about the abuse. The pictures that law enforcement eventually found on Lawson’s phone corroborated Victim 1’s reports.
Under federal law, Lawson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life.
“This case demonstrates what many in law enforcement know: consumption and production of child pornography often exists side-by-side with physical child sexual abuse,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This correlation is one of many reasons why enforcement in this area is so critically important. The defendant’s conduct was egregious and appalling, and it certainly warrants the punishment he received. To those who are engaging in the production of child sexual abuse material, this case should serve as a warning that such conduct gives rise to substantial prison sentences.”
United States Attorney Shier; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Darin Allgood, Georgetown Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Georgetown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — David Tran, 36, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to money laundering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Oct. 18, 2022, and Jan. 11, 2023, Tran conducted multiple financial transactions involving funds he believed to be proceeds of cocaine trafficking. Tran’s belief was based on representations of a confidential informant working with law enforcement. The transactions involved the confidential informant giving Tran purported trafficking proceeds in cash in exchange for cashier’s checks payable to a fake company. Tran retained 10% of the cash as a commission. In total, the confidential informant gave Tran $90,000 in cash and Tran gave the confidential informant $81,000 in cashier’s checks. Tran engaged in the transactions intending to conceal or disguise the nature and source of the purported drug trafficking proceeds.
As part of his plea agreement, Tran agreed to pay the U.S. Small Business Administration approximately $240,000 as restitution for payments he received based on fraudulent applications for funds under the Paycheck Protection Program.
This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.
A sentencing date for Tran has not been set. Tran is scheduled for a status hearing regarding sentencing before U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Aug. 1, 2024. Tran faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Rock Hill Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Sharif Ahmad Laguda, 32, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that in the early morning hours of July 31, 2022, Laguda was driving to his home when he was involved in a traffic incident with another motorist. During the encounter, Laguda retrieved a 9mm pistol from his car and fired the pistol at the other motorist’s car, striking the car five times. Laguda later turned over the pistol to Rock Hill Police Department investigators.
Laguda was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based on a 2010 conviction for two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced James to 57 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rock Hill Police Department (RHPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
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Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s Trip to Detroit and ChicagoRead the Press Release
Deputy Attorney General (AG) Lisa Monaco traveled to Detroit and Chicago this week to highlight the Justice Department’s work with state and local law enforcement to successfully drive down violent crime across the United States.
Launched in 2021, the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime focuses federal resources — such as personnel, intelligence, and expertise — on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. After a rise beginning in 2020 during the pandemic, violent crime is on a downward trajectory — including double-digit drops in homicide rates across many major cities.
In Detroit, the Deputy AG underscored the strong law enforcement and community partnerships that led the city to close out 2023 with the fewest homicides on record in over 50 years. She met with Detroit Police Chief James White and toured the Detroit Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center, which harnesses real-time data to help federal, state, and local law enforcement collaborate to tackle violent crime. Together with U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan and other city officials, the Deputy AG delivered remarks at a convening of One Detroit — the Eastern District of Michigan’s violent crime reduction initiative that brings together law enforcement, nonprofits, faith leaders, and policymakers to address every element of violent crime. In stressing the importance of partnerships like One Detroit she said:
“When data informs strategy that is guided by community, when trust develops into real partnership, and when prevention, intervention, and enforcement all work hand in hand — that’s a formula for success against violent crime.”
In Chicago, joined by Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, Superintendent Larry Snelling of the Chicago Police Department, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and other law enforcement leaders, Deputy AG Monaco announced a new, expanded Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) — which brings together personnel from 13 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to focus exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence. CGICs use cutting-edge technology to rapidly develop and pursue investigative leads to drive case clearance rates up — which in turn can drive violent crime rates down. In her announcement, the Deputy AG said:
“To continue our historic progress against violent crime, we need to bring more crime gun intelligence to more law enforcement agencies, in more jurisdictions, more quickly than ever before.”
The Deputy AG also previewed the Justice Department’s launch of seven new carjacking task forces across the country, which build on the success of current task forces in several cities — including Chicago — where available data shows that carjacking rates are now falling. These task forces will bring together prosecutors, officers, agents, and analysts to share intelligence and apply best practices to tackle this public safety threat.
On her trip, the Deputy AG visited the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Michigan and Northern District of Illinois, where she thanked the dedicated prosecutors and professional staff of both offices for their dedication to the Department’s mission, especially the work each office is doing to tackle violent crime in their communities.
Photo credit: Detroit Police Department. Photo credit: Detroit Police Department. Photo credit: Chicago Police Department.Provincetown Man Arrested for Possessing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Provincetown man was arrested today for child pornography offenses. The defendant allegedly possessed several thousand image and video files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Laurence Pagnoni, 63, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal, Pagnoni was released on conditions, including home detention with electronic monitoring.
According to the charging documents, an individual arrested in a child exploitation sting reported to law enforcement that, in March of 2023, Pagnoni allegedly distributed CSAM to him via the online cloud storage platform Mega. It was determined that Pagnoni had allegedly sent thousands of CSAM files to this individual. During a search of Pagnoni’s home in Provincetown in May of 2023 a number of items, including Pagnoni’s cellphone, were seized. During a subsequent search of Pagnoni’s cellphone, it is alleged that several thousand image files and video files containing CSAM, including at least 51 known series of CSAM as identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, were discovered.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Protecting Migratory Birds is a Priority in the Southern District of IowaRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – World Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated May 11, 2024, and again on October 12, 2024, aligning generally with migration patterns.
The state of Iowa is located within the Mississippi Flyway, the longest overland flyway in North America. The Mississippi Flyway is a critically important route for migratory birds as they migrate north in spring and south in the fall, with the wetlands and forests along the Mississippi River being important for many species of migratory songbirds in particular. Waterfowl and other wetland birds also heavily use the wetlands in the central and northern Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa, which are essential for both migratory stopover habitat as well as breeding habitat for hundreds of species of birds.
As Peter Rea, supervisory park ranger with DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge explains, “Refuges and wildlife areas throughout Iowa, such as DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, provide critical habitat for migratory birds to rest, feed and recuperate on their long migration journeys. For many, these places act more like a rest stop as they continue their migration northward, while for some it's their ultimate destination for the spring and summer nesting season.” “During this time of year, it's important to minimize disturbance so other visitors can appreciate the tremendous diversity of birds that we can see throughout the state,” continued Rea.
Federal law protects migratory birds. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the taking (including killing, wounding, capturing, selling, trading, transporting, importing, and exporting) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization of the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 16 U.S.C. §§ 703, 707(a). The list of federally protected migratory birds is comprehensive and includes many of the birds residing in or migrating through Iowa, including Canada geese. Refer to the Federal Code of Regulations for more information. The penalties for violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are a term of imprisonment of up to 6 months, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.
Additional federal statutes that protect migratory birds include:
- The Lacey Act prohibits the importation, exportation, transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition, purchase, or inhumane transport of certain wildlife including birds. 16 U.S.C. § 42;
- The Endangered Species Act prohibits the taking, killing, wounding, importing, exporting, shipping, or sale of endangered species. 16 U.S.C. §§ 1538, 1540. Iowa’s birds on the endangered species list include the following: piping plover, rufa red knot, whooping crane, Indiana bat, and Northern long-eared bat. Learn more about protected species.
- The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act prohibits the taking, killing, wounding, bald or golden eagles, their feathers, nests, and eggs. 16 U.S.C. § 668.
“Birders and other wildlife enthusiasts can be helpful advocates in reducing wildlife crime. Knowing the laws that protect birds and other wildlife, and speaking up can make a big difference,” said Christopher Aldrich, Special Agent in Charge, Midwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“Preservation and protection of wildlife and endangered species go hand in hand with the high quality of life here in the State of Iowa. Knowing these laws and reducing wildlife crime helps everyone continue to enjoy what makes Iowa a great place to live,” said Richard Westphal, United States Attorney.
If you believe you have information related to a wildlife crime that violates federal law, please reach out to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. You can also contact the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Iowa by telephone at 515-473-9300 or email at [email protected].
If you spot an injured bird, state licensed wildlife rehabilitators can aid the bird. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources maintains a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators at the following links:
- Iowa DNR licensed wildlife rehabilitators
- County-specific wildlife rehabilitation look-up for Iowa
Thank you for caring about the wildlife in your community. Remember to observe wildlife from a safe distance. If a young animal isn’t visibly injured, its parents are likely nearby and still caring for it. Be sure to give young animals plenty of space to avoid spooking the parents.
Learn more about what to do if you find a baby bird, injured or orphaned wildlife.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
James Stewart, 44, pleaded guilty on April 16, 2024, to one count before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that a long-term investigation into drug-trafficking and illegal firearms activity in the Western District of Pennsylvania involving, among others, Anthony Peluso, a heroin and cocaine trafficker who supplied narcotics to lower-level drug traffickers, identified Stewart as one of Peluso’s customers. This included Stewart meeting with Peluso or his associates on multiple occasions to obtain cocaine that Stewart then redistributed to others. The investigation was conducted by the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for August 15, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca L. Silinski and Jonathan D. Lusty are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations. Other assisting agencies include the Allegheny County Police Department, Baldwin Police Department, Brentwood Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Stowe Township Police Department, and West Deer Township Police Department.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Pittsburgh Health Care Facility Owner Indicted on 33 Counts, Including Fraud, Money Laundering, and Making False Statements Related to Health Care MattersRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of health care fraud, making false statements relating to health care matters, and money laundering, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The 33-count Indictment named Kelley Oliver-Hollis, 59, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from December 2016 to July 2023, Oliver-Hollis, as owner of SerenityCare LLC, located in Penn Hills, schemed to overbill Pennsylvania Medicaid in connection with services SerenityCare provided to residents with intellectual disabilities. The Indictment asserts that, as part of the scheme to defraud, Oliver-Hollis failed to adequately train direct care workers in the proper care of residents, failed to keep adequate records, and allowed the residents’ homes to fall into a state of disrepair. In addition, according to the Indictment, Oliver-Hollis submitted false and fraudulent claims regarding the care and staffing provided to residents, which caused an overpayment of Medicaid benefits in excess of $2 million dollars.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the health care fraud charge; up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the false statements relating to health care matters charge; and up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on the money laundering charge. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, and Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The United States Attorney’s Office’s efforts to combat healthcare fraud are frequently made possible by tips from the community. To report suspected fraud, please contact the FBI’s healthcare fraud tipline at [email protected] or the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that NERIK ILYAYEV was sentenced today to four years in prison for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme that targeted the Medicare and Medicaid programs and private insurance companies. ILYAYEV owned and operated two different pharmacies and submitted millions of dollars in fraudulent claims to the government health care programs and private insurers. ILYAYEV previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Nerik Ilyayev took advantage of our nation’s health care system, which provides payments for critical medications for low-income HIV patients. He paid illegal kickbacks to these patients to use their billing information and took millions of dollars in reimbursements from the Medicare and Medicaid program for medications that he did not actually dispense. This prosecution and today’s sentence are part of our Office’s ongoing work in combating fraud in the health care system and ensuring that public resources are spent on patients who need them, rather than being fraudulently stolen by criminal actors.”
According to the Complaint, Information, court filings, and statements made in public court proceedings:
From approximately February 2021 through March 2022, ILYAYEV owned and operated a pharmacy in Manhattan (“Pharmacy-1”). ILYAYEV used Pharmacy-1 to pay illegal kickbacks to low-income HIV patients to recruit them to fill prescriptions for expensive HIV medications at Pharmacy-1. ILYAYEV did not actually obtain or provide HIV medications to these illegally recruited patients, but instead bought unopened bottles of pills back from the patients at a small fraction of their true value so he could re-use the same pills over and over again. ILYAYEV, on behalf of Pharmacy-1, then submitted fraudulent insurance claims to Medicare and Medicaid to cover the cost of the HIV medications he claimed to be dispensing. In order to conceal his role in the fraud scheme, ILYAYEV used the identity of another person (“Individual-1”) and pretended to be Individual-1 to own and operate Pharmacy-1. Medicare and Medicaid collectively paid approximately $5.2 million in fraudulent claims for HIV medications to Pharmacy-1.
After shutting down Pharmacy-1, ILYAYEV took control of another pharmacy in Queens, New York (“Pharmacy-2”). Again, to conceal his role in the fraud, ILYAYEV used the identity of another person and pretended to be this individual to own and operate Pharmacy-2. Pharmacy-2 submitted fraudulent insurance claims to no-fault automobile insurance providers. Pharmacy-2 defrauded the no-fault automobile insurance providers of approximately $1.2 million. In addition, Pharmacy-2 unlawfully sold pharmaceuticals to other pharmacies that ILYAYEV had obtained from illegitimate sources.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, ILYAYEV, 36, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution and forfeit more than $6 million.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. Mr. Williams also thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor for their assistance in the investigation.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cecilia E. Vogel and Thane Rehn are in charge of the prosecution.
Peru Woman Pleads Guilty to Selling Methamphetamine to Undercover OfficerRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Peru, Maine woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiring to distribute and possess methamphetamine, and using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court records, from July 2022 to January 2023, Mandy Shorey, 43, made multiple sales of methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Portland after obtaining the drugs from her Massachusetts supplier. Following several successful controlled buys from Shorey, in November 2022 the undercover officer arranged to purchase two pounds of methamphetamine from her. That night, while waiting for her supplier to arrive, Shorey was armed with a handgun; she told the undercover officer that it was her practice to always carry a firearm for protection when conducting drug deals. On January 26, 2023, Shorey again supplied the undercover officer with a substantial quantity of methamphetamine—approximately one pound—at the same Portland location. That night, Shorey’s supplier, Angel Luis Lozano of Lowell, Massachusetts, who has also pleaded guilty to federal drug charges for his role in the conspiracy, sold Shorey approximately 459 grams of methamphetamine which she in turn sold to the undercover officer. Shortly after the transaction, the Portland Police Department initiated a traffic stop of Shorey’s vehicle, recovering the handgun.
Shorey faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million followed by supervised release for at least five years and up to life for the drug charges. She faces a minimum sentence of five years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the firearms charge. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Portland Police Department.
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Peoria Man Sentenced to 81 Months in Prison for Federal Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois man, Detrey D. Robinson, 28, of the 1800 block of West Ann Street, was sentenced on April 17, 2024, to a total of 81 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for the following offenses:
Count 1: Felon in Possession of a Firearm, 21 months.
Count 2: Possession of a Machine Gun, 21 months.
Count 3: Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, 21 months.
Count 4: Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, 60 months.
Counts 1 through 3 will be served concurrently, with the sentence on the 4th Count to be consecutive to the other three Counts, as mandated by statute.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government established that on June 22, 2023, agents from the Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force executed a federal search warrant at Robinson’s residence on W. Ann Street in Peoria. Robinson, a felon, was located inside the residence, along with a loaded AR-15, 5.56 caliber rifle, a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a 9mm Glock pistol. The Glock pistol was loaded as well and was equipped with a high-capacity extended ammunition magazine. The gun was further equipped with an auto-sear, commonly referred to as a “switch”. The switch enabled the pistol to fire as a fully automatic machinegun. In addition to the firearms, several drugs and drug-related items were found in Robinson’s bedroom, including cocaine, a scale, and over 200 plastic baggies consistent with those used in trafficking illicit drugs.
Robinson was originally charged by a criminal complaint filed in June 2023, followed by a four-count indictment in July 2023. He pleaded guilty to all 4 counts in November 2023. Robinson has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in June 2023.
The statutory penalties are as follows; Felon in Possession of a Firearm is up to 15 years imprisonment; Possession of a Machine Gun, up to 10 years imprisonment; Possession of a Controlled Substance, up to 20 years imprisonment; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, 5 years to life, to run consecutive to the other charges.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
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.
Passaic County Correctional Officer Admits Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice in Connection with Civil Rights Investigation Involving Assault of Pretrial DetaineeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. –A Passaic County correctional officer today admitted conspiring to obstruct justice in connection with an investigation of an assault of a pretrial detainee, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Officer Lorenzo Bowden, 39, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to obstruct justice.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Lorenzo Bowden, a correctional officer, admitted today that he helped transport a detainee to an area where there were no video cameras and stood by while other officers repeatedly hit and assaulted the handcuffed detainee who posed no threat. The vast majority of law enforcement officers understand the trust placed in them by our community when they wear the badge. But when law enforcement officers abuse the trust the community places in them – when they violate the constitutional rights of the people of New Jersey, including prisoners, they will be held accountable.”
“There are methods to hold accountable suspected criminals who act out while in custody,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge Hames E. Dennehy said. “Corrections officers know these procedures and policies. Instead of following those rules, Bowden admits he and his co-conspirators took matters into their own hands and then decided to lie about it. As law enforcement, we must live up to a higher standard of behavior because of the legal and physical power we wield.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Jan. 22, 2021, a pretrial detainee at the Passaic County Jail (PCJ) squirted a mixture containing urine onto a correctional officer. The following day Bowden admitted that he, along with Sergeant Jose Gonzalez and Sergeant Donald Vinales, who were also charged in this case, transported the detainee through an area of the PCJ that does not have a video surveillance camera, which correctional officers and inmates at the PCJ have referred to as a “blind spot.” Gonzalez and Vinales assaulted the detainee, as he was handcuffed, when they knocked him to the ground and struck him multiple times. Bowden later admitted that he did not intervene to stop the assault. One day after the assault, the detainee was taken to a local hospital, which documented injuries from the assault.
In April 2022, after receiving federal grand jury subpoenas in connection with this investigation, Gonzalez, Vinales, and Bowden, among others, met to discuss the federal investigation. The group agreed not to cooperate with the federal investigation and also agreed to say that nothing had happened to the detainee (referring to the assault). During an interview with federal investigators in October 2022, Bowden falsely stated that the detainee had not been assaulted and that there had not been any meeting or communication among those who participated in or witnessed the assault.
The charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Bowden’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Division of Internal Affairs, under the direction of Acting Sheriff Gary F. Giardina, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin of the Criminal Division and the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Civil Rights Task Force, and R. Joseph Gribko, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division.
The charges and allegations against Sergeants Gonzalez and Vinales, which are still pending, are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
bowden.information.pdfPalm Harbor Man Sentenced to Prison for Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven has sentenced James Joseph Weishaar (65, Palm Harbor) to eight years in federal prison for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Weishaar to pay $27,000 in restitution to victims of the offenses and register as a sex offender. He entered a guilty plea on September 27, 2023.
According to court documents, between March and December 2020, the FBI used a file sharing program to connect to Weishaar’s computer and download from it several files depicting the sexual abuse of children. In January 2021, the FBI executed a search warrant at Weishaar’s home and seized several electronic devices. A forensic search of those devices revealed more than 1,000 photos and over 100 videos of child sexual abuse material, including images depicting sadistic conduct and toddlers. In an interview with the FBI, Weishaar stated, “I don’t even know if it’s okay, but I’m attracted to it.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation—Tampa, with substantial assistance from the Largo Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Ross Roberts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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.justice.gov/psc.
New York pair indicted for $1.4 million bank fraud scheme that victimized customers across the U.S.Read the Press Release
Seattle – A couple from New York state are in custody tonight following their indictment for a nationwide bank fraud scheme, some of which was executed in Seattle, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Amber Towndrow, 35, and Darby Canfield, 34, were indicted by a Seattle federal grand jury on April 3, 2024. Towndrow is currently incarcerated for drug possession in New York. Canfield was apprehended in New York and is being transferred to the Western District of Washington for arraignment on the indictment.
“These defendants are alleged to have cunningly and systematically drained victim bank accounts and cashed them out before anyone could stop them,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “While they traveled the country committing this fraud, it was investigators here in Western Washington who put the information together to understand and to prosecute this significant fraud scheme.”
According to the indictment, Towndrow and Canfield acquired personal identifying information for a number of victims nationwide. In Western Washington, the two used that personal information to register businesses with the Washington Secretary of State. Armed with the business documents and false identification documents such as drivers’ licenses and passports, Towndrow would open business bank accounts at financial institutions where the victim already had a personal savings account. The bank system would link the new business bank account to the real customer’s bank account. The conspirators would then transfer money from the personal bank account to the business account. Towndrow would then use a business account debit card to purchase money orders and high value goods such as designer merchandise or electronics. Canfield and other conspirators would use various fake IDs to cash the money orders at locations such as Money Tree outlets.
The indictment details how Towndrow set up a business called “Smitty Consulting Inc.,” listed a Colorado victim as a registered owner, and opened the business bank account using a Seattle address. After the business account linked to the victim’s personal account, Towndrow transferred funds to the business account and used the business debit card to purchase 128 U.S. Postal Service money orders totaling $126,653. The money orders were made payable to various people the co-schemers could impersonate with their fake IDs. Canfield then cashed several of the money orders at various locations in the Seattle area.
The indictment alleges similar conduct regarding victims residing in Texas, Colorado, and New York. Some of the businesses were “registered” and used for fraud in Indiana, with others “registered” and used for fraud in Colorado. The investigation into the scope of the fraud continues.
In addition to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, the pair are charged with seven counts of bank fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft and three counts of money laundering.
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud are punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite.
towndrow_and_canfield_indictment.pdfNew Jersey company and CEO pay $316,779 for defrauding U.S. Postal Service following wire fraud convictionRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Cornerstone Facility Solutions, LLC (Cornerstone), a maintenance and repair service located in Brick, New Jersey, and its CEO, Paul Galgon III, paid $316,779 to resolve their False Claims Act liability for falsifying invoices and inflating the cost of services provided to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
Cornerstone entered into a service agreement to perform repairs on USPS facilities. USPS requires providers like Cornerstone to report whether they self-performed or subcontracted services for the repairs. If the provider subcontracts the work, the provider is allowed to markup the subcontractor’s cost by no more than 10 percent.
From July 2016 to July 2021, Cornerstone submitted false invoices to USPS for repair work, in which Cornerstone claimed its employees performed the work, even though the work was actually performed by subcontractors. Galgon directed Cornerstone employees to alter subcontractor invoices to make them appear as though the work was performed by Cornerstone employees, which enabled Cornerstone to build in an improper 30-percent markup on the subcontractor’s costs. As a result of the scheme, Cornerstone overcharged USPS $158,380.
The resolution is the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the USPS Office of Inspector General.
Galgon also pleaded guilty to one count of criminal wire fraud for the conduct covered by the civil settlement and was sentenced to three years of probation and a $5,000 fine.
The civil case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hochul III. The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell L. Carlberg and Kristin S. Starr.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. The related criminal docket may be found at United States v. Galgon, No. 1:23-cr-188 (E.D. Va.).
New Haven Gang Member Admits Role in 2 Murders, 2 Other ShootingsRead the Press Release
ANTWAN HILL, also known as “Bandz,” 21, 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; Stephen Belleau, Acting 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 Hill 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.
Hill pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, and specifically admitted that he took part in four gang-related shootings, which resulted in two deaths. On September 26, 2020, Hill and another Exit 8 gang member shot and attempted to kill a member and associate of a rival gang. On May 19, 2021, Hill and other Exit 8 members conspired to kill rival gang members, including a rival gang member who was shot and killed on that date by another Exit 8 member. On July 5, 2021, Hill and another Exit 8 member shot and killed an individual. On April 12, 2022, Hill and another Exit 8 member shot and attempted to kill rival gang members.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Hill faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He has been detained since August 3, 2023.
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.
Mullins Man Sentenced to Nearly a Decade in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Marquand Jerome Newell, 41, of Mullins, was sentenced to more than 9 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that, on September 28, 2022, Deputies with Dillon County Sheriff’s Office went to a home in Dillon, South Carolina to serve an Order of Protection. When they arrived at the home, they discovered Newell sitting in a vehicle in the driveway. Deputies made contact with Newell to determine if he was the individual they were looking for. Upon approach to the vehicle, Deputies detected the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. Newell admitted he had marijuana and handed Deputies a cooler containing a large bag of suspected marijuana. Newell also indicated there was something in the glove compartment of the vehicle that law enforcement should recover.
In a search of the vehicle, Deputies found 33 grams of methamphetamine, 56 grams of cocaine, 13 grams of crack cocaine, and 27 grams of fentanyl. In the glove compartment of the car was a loaded .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun. Deputies found approximately $1,800 in cash on Newell.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Newell to 117 months imprisonment, 57 months on the drug charge with 60 months consecutive on the firearm charge, to be followed by a 5-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
This case was investigated by Dillon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.
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Morris County Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Creating Female and Male Personas to Induce Dozens of Minors to Send Sexually Explicit Pictures and VideosRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, man who was employed by a New Jersey elementary school and helped run a youth soccer club was sentenced today to 204 months in prison for producing and possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Steven Brooks, 37, of Morristown, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before former U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to an information charging him with one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In January 2021, law enforcement officers were notified about possible child pornography on an external hard drive belonging to Brooks. Pursuant to judicially authorized search warrants, law enforcement officers searched Brooks’ external hard drive, electronic devices and social media accounts. Brooks utilized fake online personas on social media platforms to solicit photos and videos from dozens of minors that depicted the minors engaging in sexual activity. Brooks acknowledged, as relevant conduct, the attempted online enticement, production and possession of child pornography involving at least 79 victims.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Brooks to 10 years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $237,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and members of the Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force of the Newark field office of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, as well as special agents from the FBI’s San Francisco field office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.
Mexican National Indicted for Possessing over 200,000 Fentanyl Pills with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Miguel Obed Romero Reyes, 25, of Sinaloa, Mexico, charging him with possessing over 400 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Romero conspired with another individual to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl. Romero was pulled over by law enforcement officers while driving north on Interstate 5 in Fresno County. Deputies seized a large duffel bag containing 48 pounds (21.8 kilograms) of blue counterfeit M-30 pills in 20 separate 1-gallon Ziploc bags. In total, Romero was transporting over 200,000 fentanyl pills in his car.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Romero faces a statutory minimum of 10 years with a statutory maximum of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mexican National Guilty of Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mexican national was convicted by a federal jury of drug trafficking and firearms offenses after less than 22 minutes of deliberation.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on February 22, 2022, Albuquerque Police Department Officers (APD) were dispatched to a stolen vehicle call in Southeast Albuquerque. Upon arrival, APD Officers observed three male subjects inside a parked pick-up truck matching the description given by the calling party. Octavio Jimenez-Marquez, 37, exited the front driver’s side of the vehicle and began to grab items from the bed of the truck. Officers gave commands for Jimenez to get on the ground and he complied.
After placing Jimenez under arrest, officers conducted an inventory search of the vehicle. During the inventory, officers located a large vacuum-sealed package containing 445 grams of methamphetamine and a stolen firearm underneath driver seat and an assault rifle up within arm’s reach of Jimenez. The truck also contained a Ziplock bag with 84 grams of methamphetamine.
Jimenez claimed that he had borrowed the truck from a friend but was unable to provide the friend’s name and did not know any further information about him. When asked about the firearms and drugs, Jimenez admitted there was a rifle inside the truck, but stated that the guns and drugs were not his.
Subsequent investigation uncovered evidence on Jimenez’s cell phones that was consistent with drug-trafficking activity and firearm possession. Investigators also learned that Jimenez was born in Mexico and never sought or obtained legal status in the United States.
On March 1, 2022, Jimenez was released to the third-party custody of the La Pasasda Halfway House pending trial. In July 2022, Jimenez absconded from supervision and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Jimenez was re-arrested in Albuquerque in December 2022.
The Court ordered that Jimenez remain in detention pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Jimenez faces a minimum of fifteen years and up to life in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division, made the announcement today.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, Albuquerque Police Department, Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis Mattei and Elaine Y. Ramirez prosecuted the case.
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Maryland Man Sentenced to 140 Months in Prison for Attempting to Arrange Sex with a 14-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jose Eduardo Valasquez, 62, of Solomons Island, Maryland, was sentenced today to 140 months in prison for attempting to meet up with an underaged child in Washington D.C. for sex.
The sentence, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Valasquez pleaded guilty to a count of coercion and enticement on December 15, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. In addition to the prison term, Judge Chutkan ordered Valasquez to serve 15 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Valasquez began communicating on social media with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl on November 16, 2020. In reality, the girl was an undercover officer working with FBI/MPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Valasquez, using an account bearing the username “Jose E V,” initiated a conversation with the undercover officer by sending a message to the effect of “I really like you” in Spanish. Valasquez eventually offered $200 to “be with [her] in bed.”
Valasquez then arranged a November 17 meet-up in Northwest, Washington, D.C, after he got off work at 5 p.m. He sent amorous messages and exchanged text messages about being a 9th grader in high school. On the way to a motel for his expected tryst, Valasquez got a flat tire on I-395 and had to reschedule. Valasquez canceled another planned assignation after he was scared off by police.
On December 14, 2020, Valasquez asked if he could pick up her at 2:30 that day to have sex. At approximately 2:26 p.m., Valasquez asked his correspondent to walk up to 19th and C Street Northeast. Members of law enforcement located Valasquez near the corner of 19th and C Streets Northeast, operating a Toyota Corolla. Police arrested Valasquez at 15th and C Streets Northeast.
Valasquez admitted that he drove from Maryland to the District to have sex with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, on the date of December 14, 2020. He arrived at the arranged meet location for the sexual act, only to be confronted by law enforcement and learn that the 14-year-old girl with whom he had been communicating was actually a law enforcement agent. He also admitted that his efforts to entice the person to meet him at locations outside of the District of Columbia were for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation/Metropolitan Police Department Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force
It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Arco and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Bond, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Buckner.
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Man Convicted for $110M Cryptocurrency SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in New York convicted a man residing in Puerto Rico today of commodities fraud, commodities market manipulation, and wire fraud in connection with the manipulation on the Mango Markets decentralized cryptocurrency exchange.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Avraham Eisenberg, 28, engaged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $110 million worth of cryptocurrency from Mango Markets and its customers by artificially manipulating the price of certain perpetual futures contracts.
“Avraham Eisenberg executed a manipulative trading scheme on a cryptocurrency exchange, defrauding the exchange and its investors out of $110 million,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Manipulative trading puts our financial markets and investors at risk. This prosecution—the first involving the manipulation of cryptocurrency through open-market trades—demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to protecting U.S. financial markets and holding wrongdoers accountable, no matter what mechanism they use to commit manipulation and fraud.”
“Moments ago, Avraham Eisenberg was found guilty by a unanimous jury in the first-ever cryptocurrency open-market manipulation case,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “This ground-breaking prosecution epitomizes this office’s ability to employ innovative methods and cutting-edge law enforcement tools to continue to protect all financial markets. The career prosecutors of this office continue their expertise in prosecuting financial fraud, one of our core priorities, and would-be financial criminals should think twice before daring to engage in illicit conduct on our watch.”
“The FBI and its partners will not stand by when criminals engage in illicit activity at the expense of the American people and our financial institutions,” said Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. “If you engage in fraudulent activity, whether that be in the cryptocurrency space or through other forms of market manipulation, you will be held accountable for your ill-gotten gains.”
Eisenberg is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the commodities fraud count and the commodities manipulation count, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Trial Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tian Huang of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, a member of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
The NCET was established to combat the growing illicit use of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Within the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the NCET conducts and supports investigations into individuals and entities that are enabling the use of digital assets to commit and facilitate a variety of crimes, with a particular focus on virtual currency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services, and infrastructure providers. The NCET also works to set strategic priorities regarding digital asset technologies, identify areas for increased investigative and prosecutorial focus, and lead the department’s efforts to collaborate with domestic and foreign government agencies as well as the private sector to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes involving cryptocurrency and digital assets.
Man Convicted for $110 Million Cryptocurrency SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Nicole M. Argentieri, the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Timothy Langan, the Executive Assistant Director of the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, announced today the conviction of AVRAHAM EISENBERG of commodities fraud, commodities market manipulation, and wire fraud in connection with manipulation on the Mango Markets decentralized cryptocurrency exchange. EISENBERG was found guilty following a 10-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Moments ago, Avraham Eisenberg was found guilty by a unanimous jury in the first-ever cryptocurrency open-market manipulation case. This ground-breaking prosecution epitomizes this Office’s ability to employ innovative methods and cutting-edge law enforcement tools to continue to protect all financial markets. The career prosecutors of this Office continue their expertise in prosecuting financial fraud, one of our core priorities, and would-be financial criminals should think twice before daring to engage in illicit conduct on our watch.”
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri said: “Avraham Eisenberg executed a manipulative trading scheme on a cryptocurrency exchange, defrauding the exchange and its investors out of $110 million. Manipulative trading puts our financial markets and investors at risk. This prosecution — the first involving the manipulation of cryptocurrency through open-market trades — demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to protecting U.S. financial markets and holding wrongdoers accountable, no matter what mechanism they use to commit manipulation and fraud.”
FBI Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan said: “The FBI and its partners will not stand by when criminals engage in illicit activity at the expense of the American people and our financial institutions. If you engage in fraudulent activity, whether that be in the cryptocurrency space or through other forms of market manipulation, you will be held accountable for your ill-gotten gains.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “With today’s conviction, Avraham Eisenberg now rightly faces justice for his duplicitous manipulation of virtual currencies on the Mango Markets exchange. The FBI will continue to ensure that any individual attempting to scheme and take advantage of financial markets, whether traditional or emerging, for personal gain be held accountable.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial:
EISENBERG engaged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $110 million worth of cryptocurrency from Mango Markets and its customers by artificially manipulating the price of certain perpetual futures contracts.
* * *
EISENBERG, 28, of Puerto Rico, was convicted of commodities fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; commodities manipulation, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The statutory maximum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. EISENBERG is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29, 2024.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI and further thanked Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation for their assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force and the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (“NCET”). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis and Trial Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tian Huang of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, a member of the NCET, are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Ryan Sears and Jonathan Oshinsky.
The NCET was established to combat the growing illicit use of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Within the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the NCET conducts and supports investigations into individuals and entities that are enabling the use of digital assets to commit and facilitate a variety of crimes, with a particular focus on virtual currency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services, and infrastructure providers. The NCET also works to set strategic priorities regarding digital asset technologies, identify areas for increased investigative and prosecutorial focus, and lead the Department’s efforts to collaborate with domestic and foreign government agencies as well as the private sector to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes involving cryptocurrency and digital assets.
Man Charged in $1.49 Million Scam Involving Bitcoin ATM Deposits and Bulk Gold Purchases; Victim is Retiree who Lost Life SavingsRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 18, 2024
SAN DIEGO – Xilin Sun made his first appearance in federal court today to face charges that he participated in a multinational fraud conspiracy that targeted a 70-year-old retiree from Carlsbad who was tricked into handing over $1.335 million.
According to the complaint, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force learned of the fraud scheme after the victim reported to Carlsbad police that she was duped over a period of months by fraudsters posing as government, bank and tech-support employees. Specifically, she said she was using her computer when a pop-up window appeared, advising her to call for help because her computer had been hacked.
When she made the call, she was transferred through a series of co-conspirators pretending to work in tech support who told her to download software on her computer. She was also told her personal identifying and bank account information were compromised and was subsequently referred to co-conspirators posing as employees from her financial institutions. The victim was then told she needed to “secure” her assets. At the direction of someone posing as a bank employee, she deposited approximately $55,700 into Bitcoin ATMs located in North County San Diego.
The complaint further describes how once the scammers discovered the victim had substantial savings, they convinced her she could safeguard her funds by obtaining gold bars and sending them to the U.S. treasury, which would create a locker under her name. Over the course of two months, the victim sent approximately $1,335,000 via three separate wire transfers to a precious metal business located in San Marcos, California. Once each of the wire transfers were completed, the victim was instructed to pick up the purchased precious metals—consisting of mostly gold—and to package them. The victim was then directed to hand the package over to an individual under the false pretense that it was being “secured” for safekeeping. In reality, the victim was scammed out of her life savings.
According to the complaint, in February 2024, the scammers reached out to the victim yet again and instructed her to purchase $100,000 worth of additional gold. This time, however, the victim contacted the FBI, which set up a controlled delivery of a package made to look like it contained $100,000 in gold.
The complaint described how the victim met with one of the conspirators outside a bank in Carlsbad. After handing the package to the conspirator, task force agents followed the first conspirator, who traveled approximately two miles before handing the package to a second conspirator, later identified as defendant Xilin Sun.
Sun was stopped by the California Highway Patrol, the complaint said. In Sun’s vehicle, investigators located the fake gold package and the victim’s receipt. Agents also located additional evidence linking Sun to the victim, including photos of the fake gold the victim had sent to the conspirators over the phone, a copy of an invoice, and the receipt for the gold.
“If you think you may have been scammed, report it immediately,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These schemes are organized by sophisticated global networks with the ability to fool even the most savvy computer users. But if victims report quickly, we have a better chance of catching the scammers and retrieving stolen money.”
“Thousands of people fall victim to elder fraud every year. Many do not report the fraud because they are embarrassed or afraid; however, the best course of action is to report scams as early as possible,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John Kim. “The San Diego Elder Justice Task Force is dedicated to relentlessly pursuing criminals who prey on innocent individuals for personal gain.”
This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
The FBI requests victims report:
- The name of the person or company that contacted you.
- Methods of communication used, including websites, emails, and telephone numbers.
- Any bank account number(s) to which you wired funds and the recipient name(s).
- The name and location of the metal dealer company and the account to which you wired funds, if you were instructed to buy precious metals.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24MJ1502-BLM
Xilin Sun Age: 35 Ontario, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Criminal Forfeiture – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(2)(A), and Title 28, U.S.C., Section 2461(c)
Maximum Penalties: Thirty years in prison; $1 million fine
AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Elder Justice Task Force
Carlsbad Police Department
California Highway Patrol
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego Police Department*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mahopac Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of A Minor and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging JOHN TOWERS with sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. TOWERS was arrested this morning and presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “John Towers’s alleged disturbing conduct violated the public’s trust by placing hidden cameras in a public bathroom and using those cameras to capture sexually explicit images of children. As today’s arrest shows, we will use every tool available to law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those alleged to have sexually exploited children.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed on April 17, 2024, in White Plains federal court and unsealed today:[1]
From at least on or about July 24, 2018, up to and including at least on or about December 9, 2019, TOWERS placed hidden cameras in a bathroom in a privately owned, public park in Putnam County, New York, to surreptitiously record prepubescent minors in order to capture sexually explicit images of the minors. TOWERS then transferred the recordings to a hard drive.
Following the execution of a search warrant at TOWERS’s residence, law enforcement recovered a hard drive that was found to contain over 800 videos of females, including prepubescent females, using a bathroom. Approximately 78 of the videos had file names that included the term “yung.”
On or about March 29, 2024, TOWERS, while in Putnam County, New York, possessed DVDs containing video files he downloaded from the internet depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit activity.
On March 29, 2024, TOWERS was arrested and charged in Carmel Town Court in Putnam Valley with two counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child less than 17 years old, three counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. He was on bail at the time of today’s arrest.
Anyone who may have relevant information regarding JOHN TOWERS is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
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JOHN TOWERS, 54, of Mahopac, New York, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, and the Putnam County Sherriff’s Office in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Lumberton Gang Member Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison After Conviction for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Robeson County man was sentenced to 100 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. On November 29, 2023, a federal jury convicted, Quillan Inman of the charge.
"This defendant’s long history of violence has finally caught up to him, now getting ten years in federal prison after a high-speed chase exceeding 90 miles per hour in Robeson County," said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. "We are proud to partner with the FBI and Robeson County Sheriff’s Office to prioritize cases involving violent felons undermining safety in Southeastern North Carolina."
"I want to thank our federal partners for their continued collaboration with our agency and hard work to help us keep the residents of Robeson County safe," said Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. "Gangs, guns, and drugs continue to be an issue in our county, and efforts such as this should send a message that we won’t tolerate it. A jury has spoken in this case, which I consider to be further evidence that people are fed up with this type of behavior."
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Inman, 33, possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. Robeson County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered this during a traffic stop involving a vehicle in which Inman was a passenger. The deputies initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle initially evaded them, accelerating to speeds over 90mph. When the vehicle eventually came to a stop, a deputy observed Inman making suspicious movements toward the front of his hooded sweatshirt. Inman was ordered to step out of the vehicle. As Inman stepped out of the vehicle, the deputy saw the handle of a handgun sticking out of the pocket of the hoodie. He immediately cuffed Inman, who attempted to grab the gun as the deputy patted him down. The deputy also recovered suspected cocaine and suboxone strips. A search of the vehicle revealed three more firearms. Inman denied his possession of the firearm throughout the case even telling the jury at trial that the Sheriff’s Office planted all of the evidence in the case.
Inman was previously convicted in North Carolina state court of robbery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of second-degree kidnapping as well as multiple breaking and entering charges. He has a lengthy criminal history spanning back to 2010.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Warlick and Phil Aubart prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-7-FL.
Lexington Man Sentenced for Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Matthew Ryan Mullins, 29, was sentenced on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, to 168 months in prison, for receiving and possessing child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, on June 21, 2022, law enforcement identified Mullins during an investigation into online groups involving the receipt and distribution of child pornography. Mullins admitted to exchanging large amounts of child sexual abuse material with others across the world using various online platforms. Over 3,300 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children were found on his phone.
Under federal law, Mullins must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Leader sent to prison in unemployment insurance fraud scamRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 41-year-old man from Edinburg is the final man to be ordered to prison for fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits from the Department of Labor (DOL), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jose Luis Gonzalez pleaded guilty March 21, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered him to serve a total of 74 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $531,161 in restitution. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence and testimony that described how Gonzalez kept this fraud going on for a decade and caused substantial loss to the Department of Labor (DOL) and Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The court also heard how he kept the money from the citizens in our community who qualified for the benefits and needed those benefits.
“Gonzalez and others committed substantial fraud against the taxpayers of Texas,” said Hamdani. “By creating fictitious companies, forging documents and ultimately cheating the TWC, Gonzalez kept money from people who truly needed it. Thanks to the work of law enforcement, Gonzalez will have to trade his fake companies for a real prison cell.”
Beginning in August 2008, Gonzalez devised a scheme in which he filed fraudulent unemployment insurance claims with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). He created and provided several fraudulent documents to file for unemployment benefits. He then advertised his scheme on Facebook where he recruited and assisted others to do the same. Several others paid Gonzalez to assist them in making fraudulent employment benefits claims.
Specifically, Gonzalez would create a fictitious employer account with the TWC to include an employer name, address and similar information. The address he created was his address or an address he controlled. TWC would mail a notice to the fictitious employer at that address, and Gonzalez would pretend to be the employer and respond to the TWC letter confirming the fictitious employment of the applicant. This caused TWC to generate and fund a debit card and mail it to a separate address Gonzalez or another individual controlled.
Ultimately, the scheme resulted in approximately 50 fraudulent unemployment claims totaling $531,161.
Nine others had also pleaded guilty and have already been sentenced.
Gonzalez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
DOL - Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Sarina S. DiPiazza prosecuted the case along with former AUSAs Steven Belt and Michael Mitchell.
Lawrence Jackson of Rutland Convicted of Federal Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that yesterday, Lawrence Jackson, also known as “Boo-Bee”, 53, of Rutland, Vermont was convicted in U.S. District Court in Burlington of seven drug and gun charges after a seven-day jury trial. U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss ordered that Jackson remain in jail pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. Jackson has been held without bail since his arrest in November 2021.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Jackson was arrested in Rutland City on November 23, 2021 while in possession of over 400 grams of powder cocaine and cocaine base. A Taurus Judge .410/45 caliber revolver was seized during a law enforcement search of Jackson’s Rutland residence. The Judge revolver was located in a bedroom identified as belonging to Jackson. A desk in the bedroom contained numerous items used for cooking, weighing, and packaging cocaine and cocaine base. Elsewhere in the residence, law enforcement located two more firearms. At the time The Judge was seized, the revolver was loaded with both .45-Long Colt bullets and .410 shotshells. Jackson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his extensive criminal history.
Evidence at trial also established that Jackson sold cocaine in August 2020 and cocaine base in September 2020 to a confidential informant working at the direction of law enforcement. The jury also convicted Jackson of participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and over 500 grams of cocaine from approximately January 2021 until he was arrested on November 23, 2021. Jackson used firearms, including The Judge revolver, to further his drug trafficking conspiracy. For example, Jackson used a firearm to strike a man who owed him a drug debt.
Based on the jury’s verdict, Jackson faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life. The actual sentence will be determined with reference to Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest commended the collaborative investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations, the Rutland City Police Department, and the Vermont Drug Task Force. U.S. Attorney Kerest also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Vermont State Police for their investigative assistance, Homeland Security Investigations for extensive support during trial, and the U.S. Marshals Service for assistance during trial.
“Lawrence Jackson did a lot of damage to many peoples’ lives in the Rutland area, both by distributing cocaine and with physical violence,” stated U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest. “Thanks to the dedication of the team in this office and our many law enforcement partners who contributed to this investigation and trial, Mr. Jackson has been brought to justice. This guilty verdict and the focused effort put into this case by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners exemplifies our dedication to addressing violent drug crime in Rutland and throughout Vermont. We will continue to prioritize the prosecution of violent drug crime and will not rest in that effort as long as conduct like Mr. Jackson’s persists.”
“Our investigation into Jackson painted a picture of a violent and cruel individual who used his reputation to perpetrate a string of crimes in Rutland. Yesterday, a jury found him guilty on seven counts related to drug trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm and now he’s facing a serious federal sentence. HSI is proud to work alongside our partners here in Vermont to make our communities safer,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
“As a direct result of the collaborative effort between local, state, and our federal law enforcement partners, Mr. Jackson has been held accountable for the harm he inflicted upon many individuals and the entire Rutland community. We give thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont for its dedication to the prosecution of this matter,” said Rutland City Police Chief Brian Kilcullen.
At trial, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt and Nicole Cate represented the government. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig worked on this matter for the government during the pre-trial phase. Jackson represented himself at trial, and Robert Behrens, Esq. served as standby counsel.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.