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Thursday 7 March 2024
Boone County Man Sentenced for Mail TheftRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Cody Allen Dalton, 31, of Madison, was sentenced today to four years of federal probation, including six months on home detention, and ordered to pay $1,972 in restitution for mail theft.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 1, 2020, Dalton stole a black and white striped sports referee jersey from a post office parcel locker at the Madison Post Office.
Dalton admitted to law enforcement officers that he stole mail including packages, bank statements and deposit slips on multiple occasions from post office boxes at the Madison Post Office from December 2020 to March 2021. Dalton told officers he exchanged the mail items he stole for drugs or money. Dalton also told officers that he conspired with others who stole mail, and allowed these other thieves to use his name to alter stolen checks and name him as their payee.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Madison Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.
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. 2:23-cr-140.
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Bogalusa Man Sentenced for Transporting Heroin from Texas to LouisianaRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that KILEY KILBOURNE, age 50, of Bogalusa, La. was sentenced on February 29, 2024 by U.S. Chief District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown to 366 days incarceration, after previously pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Judge Brown also imposed a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment as well as a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to the indictment, in January 2021, KILBOURNE was found to be transporting over a kilogram of heroin across state lines, from Houston, Texas into the Eastern District of Louisiana.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Louisiana State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
Bay St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Bay St. Louis man pled guilty for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Kolby Zu Sims, 20, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, on August 29, 2023, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration followed up on a written complaint alleging drug trafficking at the Motel 6 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Agents surveilled the motel and narrowed down the suspected parties and rooms. Agents observed a red Toyota Camry arrive at the hotel to pick up two of the individuals suspected of selling drugs. Agents followed the vehicle across state lines and observed the occupants of the vehicle participate in what appeared to be a drug transaction in Louisiana. After the transaction, agents followed the Camry back into Mississippi and conducted a traffic stop. Kolby Sims was identified as one of the occupants of the vehicle who had contributed funds to buy approximately 1000 fentanyl-laced pills to bring back from Louisiana for sale in Mississippi.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl
Sims plead guilty to one count of interstate travel in aid of an unlawful activity. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Arrest in $700,000 Casino HeistRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Jesus Gaytan-Garcia has been charged in a criminal complaint with theft from the Hartford location of the Four Winds Casino, which is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.
“The amount of money involved in this theft is extraordinary,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Unfortunately, instances of telephone scams at casinos are on the rise across the country, impacting both tribal and commercial gaming operations. Thanks to the dedicated, joint investigation of Pokagon Tribal police and the FBI, we were able to identify and arrest one of the perpetrators of this scheme that targeted the Hartford Four Winds Casino.”
The complaint alleges that on July 30, 2023, a call came into the Hartford Four Winds Casino. The caller falsely claimed that he was the tribal chairperson and needed funds to make an urgent payment. A Casino supervisory employee, apparently duped by the caller’s fraudulent claims, gathered up $700,000 in cash and walked out of the Casino. At the direction of the caller, the employee transported the cash to a gas station in Gary, Indiana, where the employee then handed the cash over two unknown individuals.
After a months-long investigation, the FBI and Pokagon Tribal Police were able to identify Jesus Gaytan-Garcia as one of the individuals the Casino employee met at the gas station and gave the $700,000. Investigators conducted a search of Mr. Gaytan-Garcia’s home, where they located a bundle of cash still wrapped in a paper band which was stamped with the word “Hartford,” the location of the victimized Four Winds Casino, and the exact date of the theft, July 30, 2023.
Mr. Gaytan-Garcia was taken into custody four days later.
“The arrest of Mr. Gaytan-Garcia demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration between the Pokagon Tribal Police and the FBI,” said Pokagon Tribal Police Chief Mario RedLegs. “We greatly appreciate the support and assistance of U.S. Attorney Mark Totten and his staff to prosecute those that violate the law on Pokagon Band land.”
“The FBI, along with the Pokagon Band Tribal Police, successfully tracked down and identified the culprits involved in the fraudulent scheme against the Hartford Four Winds Casino. We take these crimes very seriously as they significantly impact the community's sense of trust,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is committed to investigating fraudulent activities and ensuring justice for all victims. We stand ready with our partners to take strong action against those who engage in such illegal activities and believe they can get away with it.”
This case was investigated by the Pokagon Band Tribal Police and the FBI.
The charge in a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Wednesday 6 March 2024
Woodbridge man sentenced for federal drug trafficking and firearm crimes after vehicle pursuit from a shootingRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man was sentenced today to eight years in prison for fentanyl trafficking and firearm offenses.
According to court documents, on March 26, 2023, a Prince William County Police Department officer observed a vehicle matching one described leaving the scene of a shooting at which a victim was struck by a stray bullet in her apartment. After a brief pursuit, the vehicle stopped, and Alhajie Alpha Kamara, 20, and two other individuals abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. During the chase, Kamara dropped a loaded .40-caliber handgun and a jacket. Inside the jacket were 494 fentanyl pills, Kamara’s iPhone, approximately $560 in cash, and a black ski mask.
Kamara was later arrested after being subdued by a bystander. While searching the vehicle from which Kamara had fled, police found two additional firearms, including one that was modified with a “Glock-switch” as a machinegun conversion device. On Dec. 11, 2023, Kamara pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and knowingly carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney for Prince William County; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Virginia State Police; Prince William County Police Department; and Arlington County Police Department assisted in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bredemeier and Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Carter 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. 23-CR-149.
Woman Indicted on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A teacher from Mayagüez, PR, was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on criminal charges related to child exploitation conduct.
On February 29, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico indicted Kiara Ramos Meléndez, 29, with one count of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor, and one count of Receipt of Child Exploitation Material. Today, the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Taskforce (PRCACTF) led by HSI, arrested Ramos Meléndez.
According to court documents, from November of 2022 through October of 2023, the defendant used her cellular phone, as well as internet instant messaging services to persuade and entice a male minor, between 13 and 14 years of age, to engage in sexual activity and to request and receive sexually explicit images of the minor. From November of 2022 through April of 2023, Ramos Meléndez received sexually explicit images of the male minor via WhatsApp.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute persons who exploit minors for sexual purposes,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The defendant, who was entrusted by the community to protect and teach our children, violated that sacred trust by assaulting a child. As this case demonstrates, we will aggressively target those who prey on children.”
Rebecca González-Ramos, HSI San Juan’s Special Agent in Charge, said: “Individuals in a position of public trust have the responsibility to protect our most vulnerable. A teacher is one of the first lines of protection of our minors. Predators don’t have a profile, they come in all genders, it is our job to investigate them all and protect our children. HSI is vigilant, and we will not let one individual tarnish the name of all the amazing teachers that have a real commitment to teach and most importantly protect their students.”
If convicted for the charges of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct, she faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life, and for receipt of child pornography she faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years up to 20 years, all charges followed by a term of supervised release after imprisonment of no less than 5 years up to life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant US Attorney (AUSA) Daynelle Álvarez Lora from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit iGuardians™: Combating Child Predators and to denounce suspicious activities call 787-729-6969.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from online sexual abuse, visit https://www.ice.gov/topics/iGuardians.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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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Validated Gang Member and Six-Time Wilmington Felon Receives over 17 Years for Carjacking and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Unque Tyshaun Temoney, age 29, was sentenced today to 210 months in federal prison for carjacking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On November 29, 2023, Temoney pled guilty to the charges.
“We will not normalize armed robbery, carjacking, and dangerous high-speed flight in Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Cases like this, involving validated gang members and repeat violent felons, are ripe for federal prosecution. For years, New Hanover County has funded a special prosecutor to work with our office to bring cases like this one to federal court. Our Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) partnership with Chief Williams and Sheriff McMahon uses that resource to take felons like Unque Temoney off the streets and on the fast track to federal prison.”
“I’ve said it before and I’ll emphasize it again, firearms in the hands of convicted felons is something that we will not tolerate in the City of Wilmington,” said Chief Donny Williams. “We will continue to devote countless hours to ensuring that these violent offenders are kept off our streets. As we have seen both locally and nationwide, dangerous situations happen when weapons fall into the hands of the wrong people. I want to thank our women and men for their dedication to this effort and I am also grateful to our partner agencies for assisting with this important case. Because of their continued hard work and dedication, this offender will no longer be able to harm our community.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on December 5, 2020, officers with the Wilmington Police Department responded to a call on 9th Street in Wilmington regarding an armed robbery and carjacking. A responding officer saw the victim’s vehicle drive off at a high rate of speed and he activated his lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop. The driver, later identified as Temoney, refused to stop and fled from law enforcement. Temoney ultimately crashed the vehicle into a parked car and fled on foot from law enforcement. After a brief pursuit, Temoney was apprehended.
After speaking with the victim and eyewitnesses on scene, the investigation revealed that Temoney put on a ski mask, brandished a revolver, and took the victim’s car keys and wallet before stealing the victim’s vehicle and fleeing from the police. The arresting officer on scene located a .380 revolver, loaded with five rounds of ammunition, on the driver’s seat of the vehicle Temoney stole. Laboratory testing later confirmed that Temoney’s DNA was on the firearm.
Temoney has been previously convicted of six felony offenses to include – possession of a stolen motor vehicle, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, breaking and entering, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, and possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver a counterfeit controlled substance. Temoney was also out on bond for numerous state charges when he committed the offense.
Temoney has been previously validated as a member of the Gangster Disciple Street Gang by the Wilmington Police Department and by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Coastal Carolina Safe Street’s Gang Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Wilmington Police Department, and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Special Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case. Special Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt represents the government. Van Trigt is a prosecutor with the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal violent crimes and other criminal matters. This has been made possible by a grant funded by New Hanover County.
This conviction is a result of the ongoing VCAP initiative which is collaborative effort with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP involves focused and strategic enforcement, and interagency coordination and intelligence-led policing.
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-00092-D-001.
Utah Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Pedro Lee Benally was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Benally, 23, of Moab, Utah, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pled guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact on Nov. 2, 2023.
According to publicly available court documents, between April 1, 2022, and November 29, 2022, Benally engaged in sexual contact with Jane Doe, a child who had not attained the age of 12 years, on multiple occasions. The incidents occurred at Jane Doe’s grandmother’s house in Shiprock and Benally told Jane Doe not to tell anyone about his abusive conduct.
Upon his release from prison, Benally will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender upon his release.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office food distribution events valued greatly by local residentsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Two large tents, a dozen plastic tables, and staff members eager to serve recently lined an area in front of Wells Recreation Center in Riviera Beach, Fla. The goal? To feed 500 families. And it’s a goal the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Southern District of Florida meets each week.
It’s a partnership between Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section (LEC/COS) staff, local police, parks and recreation, and Farm Share Inc., which provides the bread, canned goods, pasta, and poultry. Each Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m. all over the USAO footprint, these partners work to put food on the tables of those in need.
“The collaboration makes these distributions successful,” said LEC/COS Chief J.D. Smith. “And the parks/recreation centers provide a perfect backdrop. They are community staples, well known, with great access for local residents.”
Those who attend a food distribution can receive upward of 40 pounds of free food items depending on household size. And their appreciation shows at each food distribution.
“Bless you and thank you all for doing what you do,” said a grateful Riviera Beach resident. “We appreciate you.”
The positive feedback goes a long way with LEC/COS staff, reminding them how important these events are to the community.
“It feels good to know that we’re making a difference in so many peoples’ lives,” said Community Outreach Specialist Corey Mackay. “These food distributions are something I look forward to. I enjoy interacting with members of our community.”
The food drives alternate between parks in Riviera Beach and Fort Lauderdale to ones in several Miami locations.
“We try to organize these food distributions in areas that have the most food insecurity,” said Smith. “We’ve been doing these for years and the demand has remained consistent. We’re honored to be able to host these events. Community service is what drives our unit. There is nothing more important.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at a food drive may call the USAO Violence Reduction Partnership at (305) 961-9134. People interested in attending a food distribution may visit Farm Share’s website at https://www.farmshare.org/food-distributions-florida or call (305) 246-3276.
Staff and volunteers from the Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office serve community members in Riviera Beach during a recent food distribution event. Staff hold these food distributions weekly, serving approximately 500 households.
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U.S. Attorney Announces Completion of Joint Law Enforcement Operation Designed to Target Areas of High Rates of Violent Crime and Opioid OverdosesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the completion of a joint federal and state operation designed to target areas of high rates of violent crime and opioid overdoses within the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the United States Attorney’s Office in coordination with the DEA, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, and the Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department conducted Operation Overdrive – a law enforcement initiative designed to disrupt violent crime and drug trafficking within specified areas of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Extensive research of 2023 data of violent crime and opioid overdose incidents within Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania identified two specific zones within the city in which a high number of violent crimes occurred together with frequent opioid poisoning. These two zones were identified to be the most violent areas of the city with a combined 39% of violent crimes occurring during the calendar year. The two zones also contained a higher rate of opioid overdoses, with 35% of such incidents occurring within Wilkes-Barre.
Law enforcement agents from federal, state, and local agencies coordinated efforts over a six-month period beginning in September 2023, to target drug trafficking organizations operating within Wilkes-Barre, with an eye on disrupting, dismantling, and arresting targets operating within the two zones identified by data analysis. The Scranton, Pennsylvania office of the DEA in coordination with the DEA Long Island (New York) District Office executed three federal search warrants associated with the leader of a targeted drug trafficking organization operating in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Long Island, New York. These searches resulted in the arrest of four individuals, and the seizure of 7.6 kilograms of fentanyl; 100 counterfeit pills; 3 pounds of highly pure crystal methamphetamine; 100 grams of crack cocaine; and two firearms. In addition to this highly successful investigation Operation Overdrive enforcement operations resulted in the arrest of four additional unrelated drug traffickers and the seizure of more than four kilograms of fentanyl; 540 grams of crack cocaine; 640 grams of cocaine; more than a kilogram of highly pure crystal methamphetamine; and five additional firearms.
As these efforts were underway, the United States Marshals Service ran Operation Washout, a parallel initiative to locate and arrest violent fugitives hiding in Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested 43 fugitives. All these individuals were violent offenders with open arrest warrants. One of these individuals has since been indicted by a federal grand jury in Scranton for drug trafficking and firearms possession discovered at the time of his arrest. Another fugitive arrested during the operation is under federal investigation for similar crimes. Of the arrests made by the United States Marshals Service five were wanted for homicide crimes; five for firearms related crimes (separate from the homicide fugitives); nine for narcotics crimes; and six for sex related felonies. The United States Marshals Service also seized six firearms; ½ kilogram of fentanyl; 27 grams of heroin; 74 grams of cocaine/crack cocaine; and more than 350 grams of highly pure crystal methamphetamine during the arrests.
The results of this law enforcement coordination have shown significant signs of lowering drug related violence and opioid poisonings in Wilkes-Barre. For example, from January 2023 through February 2023, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department reported 15 violent crime incidents (33 violent crimes per 100,000 persons) and 20 opioid poisonings (45 per 100,000 persons). Comparatively, from January 2024 through February 2024, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department reported 11 violent crime incidents (24 violent crimes per 100,000 persons) and eight opioid poisonings (18 opioid poisonings per 100,000 persons). More specifically, Zone 1 had 0 violent crime incidents and two opioid poisonings while Zone 2 had one violent crime incident and 0 opioid poisonings. That’s a 100 percent decrease of violent crime in Zone 1 and a 50 percent decrease in opioid poisonings, while Zone 2 showed a 67 percent decrease in violent crime and a 100 percent decrease in opioid poisonings.
“The goal of Operation Overdrive was to disrupt drug-trafficking organizations that pose the greatest threats to our communities,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Philadelphia Field Division. “The joint work of the DEA, Pennsylvania State Police, Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, and Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department did exactly that – together they prevented the distribution of over 531,000 potentially lethal doses of fentanyl in the Wilkes-Barre area. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their support of this initiative and the U.S. Marshals Service for their concurrent efforts in arresting violent fugitives across Luzerne County.”
"Operation Washout has successfully targeted and apprehended dangerous fugitives, removing threats from our streets,” said U.S. Marshal William Pugh. “Working in parallel with Operation Overdrive exemplifies law enforcement’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding our communities."
“The City of Wilkes-Barre and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department appreciate the efforts of the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Chief Joseph Coffay, Wilkes-Barre Police Department. “This successful operation could not have been achieved without the combined efforts of local, state and federal authorities.”
Operation Overdrive is an initiative by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police, the Wilkes-Barre City Police, and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. Operation Washout is an initiative by the United States Marshals Service in coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Parole Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley is the Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and represented the United States Attorney on the two related law enforcement operations.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is 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.
These criminal cases were also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Two Men Sentenced for Trafficking Methamphetamine from JailRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men were sentenced to federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine in Hampshire County.
Jimmey Lee Lambert, age 37, of Hampshire County, was sentenced today to 188 months for methamphetamine trafficking. Wes Allen Barrett, age 33, of Springfield, West Virginia, was sentenced to 140 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Barrett dealt drugs by phone for fellow inmate, Jimmy Lee Lambert, while incarcerated at the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail. Lambert then asked his father, Timmey Lambert, Sr., and his juvenile daughter to sell the methamphetamine while he was incarcerated. Investigators searched Timmy Lambert, Sr.’s house in Hampshire County and found nearly 140 grams of meth, 16 firearms, $4100 in counterfeit money, two scales, and a bulletproof vest.
Barrett and Lambert will each serve three years of supervised release following their prison sentences.
Timmey Lambert, Sr., was sentenced in January 2024 to 108 months in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funding initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Two Admit Stealing Mail in ChesterfieldRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two men have admitted stealing mail from mailboxes in Chesterfield, Missouri.
Christopher Ali Pate, 31, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of mail theft. Eryk Campbell, 28, pleaded guilty to the same count on February 20. Both men admitted stealing mail from multiple mailboxes in Chesterfield on Aug. 28, 2023, at the direction of Pate. Pate and Campbell then drove to a gas station in St. Louis. When a police vehicle drove onto the gas station lot, Pate and Campbell fled and refused to stop for police. As they drove, they threw stolen mail out of the vehicle.
Pate is scheduled to be sentenced June 27. Campbell is scheduled to be sentenced May 21. The mail theft charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cort VanOstran is prosecuting the case.
Traffic Stop in Calcasieu Parish Leads to Discovery of Cocaine in VehicleRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of two men in Lake Charles yesterday on drug and firearms charges. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced the defendants as follows:
Darwin Jose Escalante-Garache, 36, a nonresident of the United States living in Gulfport, Mississippi, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges stem from a traffic stop conducted on Interstate 10 in Calcasieu Parish on September 8, 2022, by Louisiana State Police troopers. During the stop, a K-9 officer alerted positive to the odor of narcotics emitting from Escalante-Garache’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery and seizure of one kilogram of cocaine hidden in the backseat pocket of the vehicle. The defendant admitted to possessing the cocaine with the intent to distribute to others. Escalante-Garache pleaded guilty to the charge on November 13, 2023.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.
In a separate case and unrelated case, Toni January, 25, of Lake Charles, was sentenced to 26 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. On March 20, 2021, a search warrant was executed by law enforcement officers at the residence of January. During the search, officers found a Glock Model 17 9mm pistol and other firearms. January was subsequently arrested and admitted that the Glock Model 17 firearm belonged to him. January has prior felony convictions for illegal possession of stolen things in 2017 and nonconsensual disclosure of a private image and possession of controlled substances in 2020. He was charged in this case with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and pleaded guilty on October 25, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lake Charles Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
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Three Defendants Arrested for Gunpoint Robberies of Sex Workers in the BronxRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Tommy Kalogiros, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”); and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging RAMEL DECKARD, DASHAWN HAMPTON, and TALIEK PAYNE in connection with three armed robberies of women engaged in sex work at hotels in the Bronx. DECKARD, HAMPTON, and PAYNE were arrested this morning and will be presented in Manhattan federal court later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “These defendants, motivated by greed, allegedly targeted individuals engaged in sex work in the Bronx. Under the pretext of setting up appointments with the victims for sexual services, the defendants allegedly met the victims at hotel rooms and proceeded to rob them at gunpoint. My Office is committed to doing everything possible to protect the people in this District from violent crime.”
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tommy Kalogiros said: “Today’s arrests should send a strong message to those targeting the most vulnerable in our communities. The ATF/NYPD Strategic Pattern Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension Group will continue working tirelessly to detect, disrupt, and prosecute the most violent offenders. We hope that these arrests demonstrate to the victims of violent crime that ATF, along with our partners, remain steadfast in our resolve to deliver justice. Thank you to the New York City Police Department and to the Southern District of New York, two of ATF’s most valued partners.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “As alleged, today’s arrests are another example of our laser-like focus on combating violent crime and holding accountable anyone who endangers people on our streets. If you carry an illegal gun in New York City, and especially if you use that gun to terrorize our communities, you will be arrested and charged accordingly. Thanks to the combined efforts of the NYPD and our partners at the ATF and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the defendants in this case now face the prospect of significant federal prison time.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint:[1]
On August 15, 2023, DECKARD met an individual who was engaged in sex work (“Victim-1”) at a hotel room in the Bronx for an appointment to exchange sexual services for payment. DECKARD subsequently displayed a firearm, demanded that Victim-1 go into the bathroom and sit in the shower, and then proceeded to steal personal possessions and cash from Victim-1. A still image of DECKARD at the hotel where he robbed Victim-1 is shown below:
On September 19, 2023, DECKARD and PAYNE committed another robbery of two individuals who were engaged in sex work (“Victim-2” and “Victim-3”) at a hotel room in the Bronx. Victim-2 and Victim-3 were spending time at a hotel room, when Victim-2 was notified by an individual, who advertised Victim-2 and Victim-3’s services online, that someone would meet Victim-2 at the hotel room later that day. DECKARD and PAYNE then went to the hotel room where Victim-2 and Victim-3 were located. After entering the hotel room, DECKARD displayed a firearm, and DECKARD and PAYNE stole personal items as well as cash from Victim-2 and Victim-3. During the robbery, DECKARD struck Victim-2 in the face with his elbow. Still images of DECKARD (left) and PAYNE (right) at the hotel where they robbed Victim-2 and Victim-3 are shown below:
On January 6, 2024, DECKARD and HAMPTON robbed Victim-1 at gunpoint a second time at a hotel room in the Bronx. At approximately 1:30 pm on January 6, 2024, DECKARD and HAMPTON traveled to the Bronx hotel room where Victim-1 was staying for an appointment to exchange sexual services for payment. After entering the hotel room, HAMPTON displayed a firearm, and HAMPTON and DECKARD proceeded to rob Victim-1 of her cellphone. DECKARD also demanded that Victim-1 give him the passcode to her phone, and HAMPTON asked Victim-1, in substance and in part, whether she wanted “to die over a passcode.” After Victim-1 gave them the passcode to her phone, HAMPTON used Victim-1’s cellphone to send $300 to his account using a payment application. A still image of HAMPTON (left) and DECKARD (right) at the hotel where they robbed Victim-1 is shown below:
The NYPD and ATF Strategic Patterned Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension (“SPARTA”) Task Force believes these defendants may be responsible for the robberies of other women in New York. Anyone with information about this or any other incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips on the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or by sending a direct message to @NYPDTips on X, formerly known as Twitter. All tips are strictly confidential.
* * *
DECKARD, 34, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and three counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of, a crime of violence, each of which carries a mandatory seven-year consecutive sentence.
HAMPTON, 34, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory seven-year consecutive sentence.
PAYNE, 34, of East Orange, New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory seven-year consecutive sentence.
The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and NYPD, in particular, the SPARTA Task Force, which is composed of agents and officers of the ATF and the NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith C. Foster and Georgia V. Kostopoulos are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are 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 below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Taos Compound Defendants SentencedRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Jany Leveille, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, his sisters Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhanah Wahhaj, and Subhanah’s husband, Lucas Morton, appeared before a federal judge for sentencing. Siraj, Hujrah and Subhanah Wahhaj, and Lucas Morton were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Per the terms of her plea agreement, Leveille was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Upon her release from prison, Leveille will enter removal proceedings.
On Oct. 17, 2023, after a three-week trial, a federal jury convicted Siraj Wahhaj and Lucas Morton of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder an officer or employee of the United States. Hujrah Wahhaj, Subhanah Wahhaj and Lucas Morton were additionally convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death. Jany Leveille pled guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and being in possession of a firearm while unlawfully in the United States on Aug. 8, 2023.
According to publicly available court records, in December of 2017, the group, led by Leveille, abducted Siraj Wahhaj’s three-year-old son, Abdul Ghani, from his mother in Georgia and transported him to a remote property in Amalia, New Mexico. The group intended to use the child as a prop in a plan to rid the world of purportedly corrupt institutions, including the FBI, CIA, and U.S. military, and to kill those who did not convert and follow Leveille. The planning and training for this conspiracy took place at a heavily fortified, purpose-built, militarized compound in Amalia.
After Abdul Ghani died at the compound, Leveille prophesized, and the rest of the group believed, that Abdul Ghani was going to resurrect on Easter, which was April 1, 2018, and that he would lead the group to face society and kill those who did not join them. In response, the group’s firearms and tactical training ramped up in frequency, intensity, and complexity in anticipation of the Easter resurrection. When Abdul Ghani did not resurrect on Easter, Leveille began to talk about him returning around the time of his birthday (August 6, 2018) or as Subhanah Wahhaj’s soon-to-be born child.
On Aug. 3, 2018, the Taos County Sheriff's Office's Tactical SRT Unit integrated with agents from New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance and executed warrants on the heavily fortified compound. SRT was able to secure the compound and the suspects without incident or a single shot fired. Additionally, the children in the compound were secured and safely turned over to child welfare authorities. While clearing the compound, weapons, ammunition, and training documents were discovered confirming intelligence that had been received. During a subsequent search of the compound on Aug. 6, 2018, Abdul Ghani’s birthday, law enforcement located the remains of Abdul Ghani in an underground tunnel. The investigation found Abdul died on Christmas Eve, 2017, before anyone was aware the group was in New Mexico.
“All of the children are all of our children, and loss of any child is a loss to us all,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “The horrifying events of 2017 and 2018 played out in graphic detail during this trial: from radical ideologies to violent extremist beliefs, the banality of everyday life centered around the corpse of a dead child within a fortified compound in rural New Mexico. But at its heart, this case is about the senseless death of three-year-old Abdul Ghani. As a father, I offer my deepest condolences as well as my gratitude to our federal law enforcement partners, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office, DOJ’s National Security Division, and my trial team for delivering justice.”
“The sentences imposed today send a clear message: The FBI takes its mission of protecting the American public seriously, and we will continue to work diligently to uncover and stop all terrorism efforts whether it be by large scale organizations or small US-based violent extremist participating in self-initiated attack plotting as seen in this case,” said Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. “While today’s sentencing cannot take away the pain or fill the void of the innocent child who was kidnapped and subsequently lost his life, I sincerely hope there is some comfort in knowing that those who committed this terrible crime have been brought to justice. The FBI would like to thank all of our local, state and federal partners, the US Attorney’s Office, and specifically the Taos County Sheriff’s Office for their diligent work on this case, which removed the threat posed by these dangerous criminals to potentially conduct attacks on US soil against innocent people.”
“Through integrated teamwork, an extremely high-risk operation was successfully conducted against an established terror group in which warrants were executed and suspects were taken into custody without a single shot being fired, denying them of the fulfillment of their intended terrorist intentions. All Deputies and suspects were uninjured and most importantly above all else, 11 children were removed from harm’s way without injury,” said Taos County Sheriff Steve Miera. “On behalf of the People of Taos County, I would like to sincerely extend our gratitude to the NM Office of the Superintendent of Insurance (OSI), FBI, US Attorney’s Office, and its support staff, the Eighth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, as well as the NM DHS.”
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office, NM Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, and the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Brawley and Tavo Hall for the District of New Mexico and Trial Attorneys Jessica Joyce and George Kraehe of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
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Sussex County Man Admits Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Sussex County, New Jersey, man admitted distributing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Gaetano Lapegna, 65, of Franklin, New Jersey pleaded guilty on March 5, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From December 2022 to March 2023, Lapegna distributed videos and images of child sexual abuse via a publicly available online peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program. During the course of the investigation, an undercover law enforcement officer conducted online sessions using the P2P program, during which a user shared hundreds of videos and images of child sexual abuse from an IP address traced to Lapegna’s address.
Subsequent to a lawful search of his residence on March 30, 2023, law enforcement officers recovered over 100 items depicting child pornography on Lapegna’s thumb drive. Law enforcement also found that Lapegna’s computer was running the same version of the P2P program from which law enforcement downloaded child pornography from Lapegna.
The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, and Franklin Borough Police Department for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.
lapegna.information.pdfSt. Louis Sex Offender Who Sought Pictures from Teens Sentenced to 17 ½ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Court John A. Ross on Tuesday sentenced a sex offender from St. Louis, Missouri who sought explicit images from teens online to 17 ½ years in prison.
In January of 2023, detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in California were conducting an undercover investigation into online child exploitation when they received a message from James W. Rankin. Using the screen name “Lonely_Nerd,” Rankin began communicating with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. On the social media application Whisper, Rankin sent her a picture of his genitals, discussed going to California to pick her up and asked for sexually explicit pictures of her.
Rankin also possessed child pornography on his cell phone and admitted that he’d sought sexually explicit pictures via Whisper from others who identified themselves as minors.
Rankin, 47, pleaded guilty in November to one count of solicitation of child pornography and one count of transfer of obscene material.
Rankin was on parole and residing in a residential re-entry center at the time of his crimes. He had served prison time on a charge of first-degree statutory rape of a minor under 14 in Greene County Circuit Court. Rankin was also convicted of endangering the welfare of a child and domestic assault in a 2017 Christian County, Missouri case after he engaged in sexual contact with a child under 17, court records show.
The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Spokane Man Who Transported Tens of Thousands of Fentanyl Pills and Pound Quantities of Meth Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that David Lee Fullmer, 61, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 60 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information disclosed at sentencing, in November of 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opened an investigation into a supplier of methamphetamine and fentanyl laced pills that was operating in the Eastern District of Washington. The investigation ultimately identified this source of supply as David Velasquez. During the investigation, agents reviewed records and linked Velasquez with an address in Phoenix, Arizona. Investigators also learned Velasquez made regular cell phone contact with Fullmer.
In July of 2023, agents learned that Fullmer and Velasquez appeared to have arranged two separate meetings near Brigham City, Utah.
On August 10, 2023, agents learned Fullmer had rented a Dodge Ram van in downtown Spokane. Later that day, Fullmer’s phone location was observed traveling eastbound on I-90 leaving Washington. Also that day, Velasquez’s phone was observed leaving Phoenix and heading north. On August 11, FBI special agents observed Velasquez and Fullmer meet at a location in Blackfoot, Idaho. Agents observed Velasquez get an object from the rear passenger door of his vehicle and walk to the front passenger door of Fullmer’s truck. After speaking briefly, the two drove off in different directions.
On August 12, 2023, Fullmer, driving the rented Dodge Ram, returned to Washington on I-90 and entered the watercraft inspection station in Spokane County. A Washington State Patrol Trooper initiated a vehicle stop and detained Fullmer. Agents executed a search warrant on the Dodge Ram and seized a black backpack from the front passenger seat. Inside the backpack was a stolen 9mm pistol, a box of ammunition, a package filled with approximately 18,000 multi-colored fentanyl pills, and two cell phones that had text messages about drug distribution.
Agents also executed a search warrant at Fullmer’s home in Spokane. Agents seized multiple small plastic baggies containing a total of 1,000 multi-colored fentanyl pills, two small digital scales, a shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle, and ammunition.
Velasquez was arrested in Iowa and is currently facing separate drug trafficking charges.
“Fentanyl poisons our neighbors, harms our friends and family, and attracts violence that plagues our community, Mr. Fullmer furthered the damage of the opioid epidemic by transporting tens of thousands of fentanyl pills into Spokane,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will ensure that those who engage in drug trafficking are brought to justice to keep our community safe.”.
“Mr. Fullmer was putting countless lives at risk each time he facilitated the distribution of these drugs into our community.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “This sentencing shows the unwavering commitment by the FBI and our law enforcement partners to remove traffickers who conspire to distribute harmful drugs in our communities. We will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in narcotics trafficking to safeguard Washington’s streets and communities.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Cashman.
Spokane Man Who Repeatedly Failed to Register as a Sex Offender, Sentenced to More Than 2 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Cecil C. Michel, 64, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 15 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Rice also sentenced Michel to an additional 18 months for violating his term of supervised release.
According to court documents, Michel was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact Within Indian Country in 2004. As a result, Michel is federally required to register as a sex offender for 25 years. Michel has since been convicted of failing to register twice before. He also has repeatedly been sanctioned for violations of his supervised release conditions. According to court documents, In August of 2022, Michel left his home in Spokane and did not return. Michel did not register a new address with Spokane or Ferry County or notify Spokane County he was moving. In June of 2023, Investigators with the United States Marshal’s Service arrested Michel at a home in Inchelium, Washington.
“Repeated disregard of the requirement to register as a sex offender puts Eastern Washington communities at risk, said U.S Attorney Waldref. “My office enforces these registration requirements to protect all those who call Eastern Washington home, including those who live in urban and rural communities and on Native American lands.”
“A core mission of the United States Marshals Service is to track down, apprehend and prosecute those who flagrantly disregard registration requirements dictated by the Law,” stated Gavin K. Duffy, Chief Deputy United States Marshal for Eastern Washington. “In this case the U.S. Marshals worked with our local and tribal partner agencies to accomplish this mission and will continue to do so as long as there are offenders who continue to threaten the communities of Eastern Washington.”
This case was investigated by the United States Marshal’s Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Cashman.
Sparks Man Convicted of Multiple Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
RENO - A federal jury convicted a Nevada man yesterday for sexually exploiting multiple minors, and advertising and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he coerced these minors into producing.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2018 and 2021, James Patrick Burns, 55, of Sparks, sexually exploited multiple minors online via Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega.NZ. Burns, a registered sex offender, threatened these minors into producing CSAM and then posted the CSAM on dark web forums. At the time, Burns was the most prolific creator of illegal content on these forums. He victimized over 100 children, many of whom have yet to be identified. Burns’ offenses came to the attention of law enforcement when a mother of one of his victims saw threats on the victim’s phone and reported what she saw to the police.
The jury convicted Burns of eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count each of advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography. In a separate trial, the jury also convicted Burns of committing specified felony offenses (from the first trial) while required to register as a sex offender.
Burns is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10. He faces a mandatory minimum of at least 25 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI-led Northern Nevada Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is comprised of detectives and investigators from the Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and HSI, investigated the case. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Chicago Field Office, and local law enforcement around the country provided substantial assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn R. Johnson for the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The FBI Las Vegas Field Office is seeking the help of anyone who may have been victimized by or have knowledge of sexual abuse of children involving James Patrick Burns. If you or a minor dependent has had contact with James Patrick Burns while using Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega.NZ between 2018 and 2021, you’re asked to contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or at TIPS.FBI.GOV.
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Sixteen Members and Leaders of Armed and Violent Drug Trafficking Crew in the Bronx ChargedRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging EDWIN CARRASQUILLO, a/k/a “Malo,” HECTOR HERNANDEZ, a/k/a “Hec,” JOSE HERNANDEZ, a/k/a “Nene,” a/k/a “Little,” NATHANIEL MANNING, a/k/a “Tio,” DAMEL MARCUS, a/k/a “Shank,” EDWARDO MORENO, a/k/a “AR,” JASON RIVERA, a/k/a “Colombo,” JOSUE VARGAS, a/k/a “Leo,” JUAN KUANG, a/k/a “Jo Jo,” a/k/a “Jay,” a/k/a “Blanco,” STEVEN SANTIAGO, a/k/a “Swizz,” VICTOR MENDENG, a/k/a “Cali,” DELILAH CARRIEL, ROSEMARIE SANCHEZ, a/k/a “Rosie,” JUAN CALDERON, a/k/a “Jazzo,” a/k/a “Juanito,” CHRISTOPHER MEADOWS, and ANGEL VILLAFANE with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, distributing narcotics, and carrying and using firearms in connection with an armed drug trafficking operation based on Valentine Avenue in the Bronx, New York, for well over a decade from 2012 to the present.
CARRASQUILLO, H. HERNANDEZ, J. HERNANDEZ, MANNING, MARCUS, MORENO, VARGAS, KUANG, SANTIAGO, CARRIEL, SANCHEZ, CALDERON, and MEADOWS were arrested earlier today in an operation conducted by the FBI and NYPD, and they are expected to be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave or U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo later this afternoon. MENDENG, who is detained in the custody of the New York City Department of Correction on separate charges, will be writted into federal custody at a later date. RIVERA and VILLAFANE were previously arrested and charged in prior indictments. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today, I am announcing that we have filed charges against 16 members of a violent drug trafficking crew that for over 10 years has held a Bronx neighborhood hostage. As alleged, day in and day out, this crew distributed fentanyl, heroin, and crack along several blocks on Valentine Avenue, effectively creating an open drug market. To protect their territory, they allegedly carried guns, extorted addicts through threats of violence and, far too often, used violence against rivals and anyone else attempting to weaken their control on their block, committing multiple shootings as they fought for control over the streets. I promise that we are not going to abandon any of our communities. Our commitment to public safety will never waver — not anywhere, and not for one moment. The people of this great city deserve nothing less.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “For over 12 years, as alleged, the defendants strategically organized themselves into the 'Valentine Avenue Crew' to freely distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine within the Bronx. The Valentine Avenue Crew allegedly carried firearms and often used violence, including two non-fatal shootings, to maintain dominance in the narcotics trafficking industry. The FBI maintains its unwavering stance against all forms of violence and drug trafficking, and will continue to apprehend those who threaten our community’s safety.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “Today’s charges demonstrate the thorough and diligent efforts of NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners in dismantling an allegedly violent drug trafficking organization operating in New York City. We will continue to identify and hold accountable anyone who peddles dangerous substances or possesses illegal weapons in our communities. And I am grateful to our colleagues at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their commitment to this critical public safety mission.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
The defendants are charged for their involvement in an armed drug trafficking organization (the “Valentine Avenue Crew”) that took over the block of Valentine Avenue between East 194th Street and East 196th Street in the Bronx, New York (the “Block”), and its surrounding neighborhood.
Working in shifts throughout the day and night, and organized in a clear hierarchal structure, the Valentine Avenue Crew and its members, including the defendants — many of whom were typically armed with firearms and other weapons — distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base, in a form commonly known as “crack.” These narcotics were often manufactured and packaged elsewhere and then delivered to the Block, where members and associates of the Valentine Avenue Crew sold them to a large base of end-user customers. Controlling the sidewalks and street of the Block, as well as the public spaces of multiple buildings along the Block, the Valentine Avenue Crew and its members, including the defendants, operated freely, creating an open market for drugs, in which they extorted payments from customers through violence. For well over a decade, members of the Valentine Avenue Crew also used violence — including multiple shootings — to compete with rival drug traffickers, and at times within the Valentine Avenue Crew itself, to maintain dominance over the drug trade on the Block.
In addition, ANGEL VILLAFANE is charged for his commission of two non-fatal shootings in Manhattan in July 2020 and January 2021. Specifically, in or about July 2020, VILLAFANE paid a co-conspirator (“CC-1”) to lure a victim to a location in Manhattan where VILLAFANE attempted to murder the victim over a drug debt, resulting in personal injury to the victim. Additionally, on or about January 8, 2021, VILLAFANE committed another non-fatal shooting in Manhattan.
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A chart containing the names, charges, and minimum and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. 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 defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD and thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police for their assistance in this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Herman and Thomas John Wright are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COUNT
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MIN. AND MAX. PENALTIES
1
Narcotics conspiracy
EDWIN CARRASQUILLO,
HECTOR HERNANDEZ,
JOSE HERNANDEZ,
NATHANIEL MANNING,
DAMEL MARCUS,
EDWARDO MORENO,
JASON RIVERA,
JOSUE VARGAS,
JUAN KUANG,
STEVEN SANTIAGO,
VICTOR MENDENG,
DELILAH CARRIEL,
ROSEMARIE SANCHEZ,
JUAN CALDERON,
CHRISTOPHER MEADOWS,
and
ANGEL VILLAFANE
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
Maximum sentence of life in prison
2
Continuing criminal enterprise
EDWIN CARRASQUILLO,
HECTOR HERNANDEZ,
JOSE HERNANDEZ,
NATHANIEL MANNING,
DAMEL MARCUS,
EDWARDO MORENO,
JASON RIVERA,
JOSUE VARGAS,
JUAN KUANG,
and
STEVEN SANTIAGO
Mandatory sentence of life in prison for CARRASQUILLO and HERNANDEZ
Mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison for other defendants
Maximum sentence of life in prison
3
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime
EDWIN CARRASQUILLO,
HECTOR HERNANDEZ,
JOSE HERNANDEZ,
NATHANIEL MANNING,
DAMEL MARCUS,
EDWARDO MORENO,
JASON RIVERA,
JOSUE VARGAS,
JUAN KUANG,
STEVEN SANTIAGO,
VICTOR MENDENG,
DELILAH CARRIEL,
ROSEMARIE SANCHEZ,
JUAN CALDERON,
CHRISTOPHER MEADOWS,
and
ANGEL VILLAFANE
Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison
Maximum sentence of life in prison
4
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime
JASON RIVERA
Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of seven years in prison
Maximum sentence of life in prison
5
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime
ANGEL VILLAFANE
Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison
Maximum sentence of life in prison
6
Murder for hire
ANGEL VILLAFANE
Maximum sentence of 20 years in prison
7
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime
ANGEL VILLAFANE
Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence 10 years in prison
Maximum sentence of life in prison
8
Felon in possession of ammunition
ANGEL VILLAFANE
Maximum sentence of 10 years in prison
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on March 4, 2024.
Matthew Richard Hainje, age 45, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by10 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Hainje was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 30, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from incidents December 20, 2022, and February 13, 2023, when Hainje possessed thousands of digital files which contained photos and video recordings of child pornography. Hainje used his cellular phone to access the digital files of child pornography on the internet and saved them to his Google and Dropbox accounts.
This case was investigated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted 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.
Hainje was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the InternetRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on March 4, 2024.
Joshua David Catron, age 34, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Catron will need to register as a sex offender upon his release.
Catron was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 29, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 3, 2023, when Catron, using his cellular phone to access the application MeetMe, attempted to persuade an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old female to distribute child pornography to him.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted 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.
Catron was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sedalia Dentist Sentenced for $617,000 Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Sedalia, Mo., dentist was sentenced in federal court today for concealing more than $617,000 in earnings from the IRS over a six-year period.
Nohaud Naseef Azan, 66, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to one year and one day in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Azan to pay $269,517 in restitution to the IRS.
On Dec. 15, 2022, Azan pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to interfere with the administration of internal revenue laws.
Azan operates his own dental practice in Sedalia. In 2011, the IRS audited Azan and his practice in connection with the improper deduction of personal expenses on his corporate tax returns over the three prior years. Azan admitted that, in response to the audit and in an effort for his business to continue to pay for personal expenses, he cashed patients’ checks written out to the dental practice or deposited them into a personal bank account. The IRS identified more than 1,000 checks Azan cashed or deposited from 2011 through 2018.
Azan admitted that he used funds from the cashed checks for personal expenses, such as his gambling habit, and failed to report them as income on his personal and corporate tax returns. According to court documents, Azan cashed $617,472 in patients’ checks, which he diverted for gambling and other personal expenses, from 2013 to 2018. The total tax loss to the IRS for that six-year period was $269,517.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Maness. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Passaic County Man Admits Transportation and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man today admitted transporting and possessing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Edward M. O’Hagan, 50, of Hawthorne, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Law enforcement officials learned that on Jan. 19, 2023, O’Hagan transmitted video files containing images of child sexual abuse through the internet. O’Hagan’s email addresses utilized an encrypted file storage platform to upload and create files containing images of child sexual abuse, which was accessed from an IP address at O’Hagan’s address. Subsequent to a lawful search of O’Hagan’s residence on May 22, 2023, law enforcement officers recovered hundreds of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on O’Hagan’s electronic devices.
The count of transportation of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for July 18, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task force, under the direction of FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Hawthorne Police Department and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.
ohagan.information.pdfOperation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael Allen Roberts Jr., 40, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine. Roberts admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between November 2022 and March 15, 2023, Roberts conspired with other individuals to distribute quantities of methamphetamine.
On March 14, 2023, Roberts met with co-defendant Todd Tyler Snead at Roberts’ residence in Saint Albans, where he delivered approximately 4 pounds of methamphetamine to Snead. Law enforcement officers later searched Snead’s vehicle and recovered the methamphetamine.
Co-defendant Antonio Jeffries had delivered 50 pounds of methamphetamine to Roberts’ residence a couple of weeks prior to March 15, 2023.
On March 15, 2023, law enforcement officers searched a property on Smith Street in St. Albans and seized approximately 44 pounds of methamphetamine. Roberts admitted that he had placed the methamphetamine at the property a day or two before the search.
Snead, 57, of Waynesboro, Virginia, was sentenced on September 6, 2023, to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Roberts and Snead are among 32 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms and $935,000 in cash.
Roberts and Snead are among 27 defendants who have pleaded guilty. Indictments against Jeffries and the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
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. 2:23-cr-31.
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North Augusta Man Sentenced to 5 Years of Federal Probation for CockfightingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Roosevelt Curry, 69, of North Augusta, was sentenced to five years of federal probation after being convicted of a felony cockfighting violation.
Evidence presented to the court during trial showed that Curry and several others gathered at a home on Clayton Lane in Ridgeville, South Carolina on March 12, 2022, for a cockfighting tournament. Curry and others fought their chickens against one another and gambled on the outcomes of their birds fighting to death. Deputies received an anonymous tip about the gathering and when they arrived, they saw 30 individuals standing around a cockfighting pit, a blue barrel full of dead chickens with fighting wounds, and razor-sharp instruments that participants attach to the chickens’ legs to make them more lethal during the fights. Deputies searched the property and located Curry on scene along with his truck which contained cockfighting equipment and chickens, some of which sustained obvious wounds during fighting. Seven of the individuals on scene were indicted in federal court for their crucial role in organizing the fight or their longstanding history of participation in these illegal events. Six of those individuals pled guilty. Curry went to trial and was found guilty of felony sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in an animal fighting venture. Curry has a prior 2009 misdemeanor state cockfighting conviction on his record.
United States District Judge Bruce Hendricks sentenced Curry to five years of probation with 480 days of house arrest with an electronic monitor.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Bianchi and Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.
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Nigerian Man Sentenced to Serve 18 Months in Federal Prison for Role in "Romance Scam"Read the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, ABDUL WARIS AKINSANYA, 26, a Nigerian citizen living in Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for conspiring to defraud others, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On May 4, 2023, Akinsanya was charged by Information with conspiracy to defraud. According to the Information, in May of 2020 Akinsanya opened an account at City National Bank using an alias and a forged passport. The Information alleges that co-conspirators of Akinsanya used a fake persona online to trick a victim from Alabama into sending $2,650 in money orders through the mail. The fraud was carried out using a romance scam, in which fraudsters use fake personas to gain the trust of victims, leading to financial exploitation. Akinsanya later deposited the money orders into the City National Bank account.
On October 12, 2023, Akinsanya pleaded guilty, and admitted to setting up bank accounts under false names, where he would deposit money obtained through romance scams, keeping a percentage of the money for his role in the scheme.
At the sentencing hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Akinsanya to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and $2,650 in restitution. In announcing the sentence, the court noted the sophisticated nature of the scheme and the seriousness of the offense.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Farrior prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Newcomb Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Leighton Spencer pleaded guilty in federal court to involuntary manslaughter. Spencer, 31, of Newcomb, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was placed on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to publicly available court records, on June 2, 2021, John Doe and Spencer were drinking at his residence in Newcomb when John Doe had an altercation with his girlfriend. Spencer and John Doe then got into an argument which turned physical. At some point after that, John Doe produced a knife and stabbed Spencer in the forearm multiple times. Spencer then took the knife from him and stabbed John Doe. A stab wound to the neck damaged a vein and artery which caused John Doe to bleed to death.
At sentencing, Spencer faces up to 8 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement# # #
New York Man Sentenced to Prison for Threatening to Kill United States SenatorRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New York City was sentenced in federal court in West Virginia to 16 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction for threatening a federal official, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Gina M. Groh of the Northern District of West Virginia imposed the sentence on Robert F. Crosson, 60, who pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2023.
According to information presented to the Court in connection with Crosson’s guilty plea, on February 9, 2022, the defendant placed a telephone call to the Martinsburg, West Virginia, office of a United States Senator and left a voicemail that included the threat that there was “a bullet coming to your head soon.” In imposing the sentence, Judge Groh noted the seriousness of the offense and also stressed the importance of deterring threats of violence against public officials.
This prosecution was handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, following the recusal of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia. Assistant United States Attorney DeMarr W. Moulton prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Capitol Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Crosson.
Mobile Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing an Unregistered MachinegunRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for illegally possessing an unregistered machinegun.
According to court documents, Zukinski Marquis Tomon Spelton, 25, was arrested in December 2021 after he fled from the passenger seat of a car that Mobile police were attempting to pull over for a traffic violation. As Spelton fled from the car, officers saw the impression of a firearm concealed under his shirt. Officers chased Spelton, who jumped several fences and ran through the backyards of several houses, ultimately taking him into custody.
Along the path of Spelton’s flight, police found a Glock 9mm pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.” The pistol also had a fully loaded 30-round extended magazine and a chambered round. A forensic DNA analyst found Spelton’s DNA on the pistol. Additionally, a firearms expert test fired the pistol, which operated as a fully automatic pistol. It is illegal under federal law for any person to possess such a machinegun without registering it in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Spelton had not registered the above-referenced machinegun at the time he possessed it.
In addition to the 57-month prison sentence, Senior United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade ordered Spelton to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment, and will receive a mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Granade ordered Spelton to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited his pistol and ammunition to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Recording Sexual Abuse of ToddlerRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White on Wednesday sentenced a man who recorded his sexual abuse of a toddler to 30 years in prison.
Judge White also ordered Kyle J. Gipson, 23, of Jefferson County, to pay a $5,000 assessment that will go into a fund for victims and prevention programs.
Gipson was the monitor and gatekeeper for a social media group focused on child sexual abuse material, bestiality and rape, according to his guilty plea. He possessed child sexual abuse material involving the 2-year-old victim and others. He also discussed his sexual abuse of the victim with others on social media.
In March of 2023, an undercover FBI agent in an online group dedicated to discussing and trading original images of child sexual abuse learned of Gipson. The agent and Gipson began communicating on the social media platform Wickr and later moved to Telegram. Gipson sent the agent a picture of the victim and said he had sexually abused her, his plea agreement says. He also sent a nude picture of her and offered to provide access so the girl could be sexually abused, his plea says.
Gipson was arrested after a court-approved search of his home on March 13.
Gipson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in November to one felony count of production of child pornography.
The FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department Special Investigations Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Man Convicted of Multiple Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Nevada man yesterday for sexually exploiting multiple minors, and advertising and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he coerced these minors into producing.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2018 and 2021, James Patrick Burns, 55, of Sparks, sexually exploited multiple minors online via Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega.NZ. Burns, a registered sex offender, threatened these minors into producing CSAM and then posted the CSAM on dark web forums. At the time, Burns was the most prolific creator of illegal content on these forums. He victimized over 100 children, many of whom have yet to be identified. Burns’ offenses came to the attention of law enforcement when a mother of one of his victims saw threats on the victim’s phone and reported what she saw to the police.
The jury convicted Burns of eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count each of advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography. In a separate trial, the jury also convicted Burns of committing specified felony offenses (from the first trial) while required to register as a sex offender.
Burns is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10. He faces a mandatory minimum of at least 25 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Miller of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Las Vegas made the announcement.
The FBI-led Northern Nevada Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is comprised of detectives and investigators from the Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and HSI, investigated the case. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Chicago Field Office, and local law enforcement around the country provided substantial assistance.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn R. Johnson for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 4, 2024.
Garrett Goodlow, age 26, was sentenced to six years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Goodlow was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 30, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy beginning in February of 2022 when Goodlow knowingly and intentionally conspired and agreed with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around the central South Dakota area, including on the Lower Brule and Crow Creek reservations. Goodlow received distributable quantities of methamphetamine and re-distributed it. During the course of the conspiracy, a traffic stop occurred on February 28, 2023, where Goodlow was arrested after over a pound of methamphetamine was located in his vehicle.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the FBI, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Goodlow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Level-2 Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chelsea man pleaded guilty today to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Lasall Johnson, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin who scheduled a sentencing for June 5, 2024. Johnson was charged by criminal complaint in March 2023 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2023.
Johnson was identified as a user in an online peer to peer file sharing network exchanging CSAM. During a search of Johnson’s residence, six electronic devices were seized from his bedroom. Forensic examination of the devices recovered hundreds of CSAM image and video files.
In 1989, Johnson was convicted in Norfolk County Superior Court of two counts of assault to rape, for which he received a 20-year state prison sentence with two years committed and the balance suspended for 18 years. As a result of those convictions, Johnson is a Level-2 registered sex offender.
Due to Johnson’s prior convictions, the charge of possession of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime 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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Chelsea Police Chief Keith Houghton made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus 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.
Leominster Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Leominster was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for possessing large quantities of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine intended for distribution.
Chanhda Onesyvieng, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2023, Onesyvieng pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In early April 2023, Onesyvieng was identified as a drug distributor who was distributing significant quantities of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine in Rhode Island. On April 28, 2023, approximately two kilograms of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and approximately 135 grams of cocaine were seized from Onesyvieng’s vehicle during a traffic stop in Worcester. A subsequent search of the defendant’s residence in Leominster resulted in the seizure of approximately one kilogram of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, approximately one kilogram of cocaine and approximately $60,000 in cash.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and John. E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Leesburg man pleads guilty to COVID relief fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Leesburg man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud for his scheme to defraud a federal COVID-19 relief plan.
According to court documents, Russell Laraway, 56, an Army Reserve officer, incorporated two business entities in Virginia that he purported to operate out of his home in Leesburg: Loudoun Innovation LLC (“LI LLC”) and Commonwealth Commerce LLC (“CC LLC”). Beginning in April 2020, Laraway submitted loan applications through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a COVID-19 relief program that was intended to provide loans backed by the Small Business Administration to certain businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other entities to help them retain their employees or stay afloat during the pandemic. In his applications, Laraway inflated the numbers of people his business entities employed and falsified payroll expenses and revenues for each company.
Laraway sought loan forgiveness for some of the PPP loans by falsely certifying that the PPP money had been used solely for payroll or other authorized purposes, while he actually intended to use the money to engage in spurious investment ventures and pay off personal debts. Laraway fraudulently received two PPP loans for LI LLC and two PPP loans for CC LLC. The four PPP loans totaled approximately $488,952, some of which Laraway paid to foreign entities in scams of which he was a victim.
Laraway is scheduled to be sentenced on July 25. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Christopher Dillard, Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Rumbaugh for the Eastern District of Virginia is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-44.
Keystone Heights Multi-Convicted Felon Arrested for Possession of Ammunition by A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Allen Tereal Grimes (33, Keystone Heights) with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. If convicted, Grimes faces up to 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Grimes that the United States intends to forfeit ammunition, which is alleged to be traceable to his offense. Grimes made his initial appearance in federal court on March 4, 2024, and was ordered detained.
According to the indictment, on August 11, 2023, Grimes was in possession of Winchester 9mm ammunition. At the time of the incident, Grimes had seven prior felony convictions, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, fleeing and eluding a police officer, felony battery, and assault with intent to commit to a felony. As a previously convicted felon, Grimes is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
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.
Justice Department Sues to Shut Down Michigan Return PreparersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a complaint today seeking to bar several Michigan tax return preparers from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others.
The civil complaint against J&A Tax Services LLC, doing business as Equitax; Anne Heibeck aka Ann Marie Dziergas; Crystal Patrick; Debra Washington; Kianna Dancy; Sade Cooper and Tasha Washington was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The complaint alleges that the defendants, using a variety of schemes, knowingly took unreasonable or incorrect positions on tax returns they prepared that resulted in understating their customers’ tax liabilities or overstating the amount of refunds their customers were entitled to receive. The complaint alleges that the defendants prepared customers’ returns that included various false or fabricated deductions and credits, including falsely reporting business income or loss on Form 1040 Schedule C, either by reporting fictitious sole proprietorships or by manipulating authentic sole proprietorship income and expenses, fabricated child and dependent care expenses, fictitious credits for education expenses and false COVID-19 sick and family leave credits.
The government further alleges that in 2022 alone, the defendants filed 865 returns, with at least 98% of the returns claiming a refund. By repeatedly reducing their customers’ tax liabilities or inflating their customers’ refunds, the complaint alleges that defendants harmed the United States through, among other things, the significant loss in tax revenue, estimated at over $2 million for the 2021 tax year alone.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers guidance on the credentials and qualifications that taxpayers should seek from their return preparer.
In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
J&A file stamped complaint.pdfJustice Department Sues New Mexico Property Manager for Sexually Harassing TenantsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Ariel Solis Veleta, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for sexually harassing female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Solis was employed as a leasing agent and property manager at St. Anthony Plaza Apartments in Albuquerque between 2010 and 2022.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, alleges that between 2010 and 2022, Solis requested sex acts from female tenants, subjected female tenants to unwelcome sexual touching, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, locked female tenants in his office to demand sex acts, demanded that female tenants engage in sex acts with him in order not to lose housing and entered female tenants’ homes in the guise of conducting property management work to demand sex acts.
“The Justice Department is firmly committed to holding property managers and landlords accountable when they abuse their power and prey on vulnerable tenants,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This action represents our latest effort to ensure that no one lives in fear of experiencing sexual harassment in their home.”
“Women and children deserve to live free from sexual predation,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico. “And everybody deserves safe and affordable housing for their families. When property managers use their power over housing as a weapon to extort sexual favors from tenants, they exploit one fundamental right in order to violate another. Our office is committed to protecting both the sanctuary of the home and the basic human rights of tenants. These cases are made possible by the bravery of tenants. I thank each of the alleged victims for having the courage to come forward and to tell their story.”
“Every person deserves to feel safe in their homes without facing the threat of being sexually harassed or abused by a property manager or others who have control over housing,” said Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). “Victims should not hesitate to report such harassment and abuse to law enforcement authorities. HUD’s Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG) will continue to work with our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to hold housing providers accountable for this type of depraved conduct.”
The lawsuit also names as defendants the owners of St. Anthony Plaza Apartments, St. Anthony Limited Partnership and PacifiCap Holdings XXXVIII LLC and Solis’ employer, PacifiCap Properties Group LLC. It also seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.
The Justice Department and HUD OIG jointly investigated the case.
The FHA prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. It also prohibits sexual harassment, a form of sex discrimination. Individuals who believe they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination by Ariel Solis or at St. Anthony Plaza Apartments, or who have information that may be relevant to this case, may contact the Housing Discrimination Hotline at 1-833-591-0291. Individuals may also send an email to [email protected] or may submit a report online.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 39 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered nearly $12 million for victims of such harassment.
Indiana Sex Offender Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Failure to Register in MinnesotaRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Bemidji man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for knowingly failing to register as sex offender as required by federal law, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in June 2009, Stephon Rene Jones, 34, was convicted of molesting a 7-year-old child in LaPorte County, Indiana. Based on this conviction, Jones is a Tier III sex offender under federal law. As a Tier III sex offender, Jones was aware that he was required to register as a sex offender for life and complete verification every three months. Additionally, Jones was required to provide registration updates within three days of a change of where he lived, worked, or attended school, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). However, starting in 2018, Jones was noncompliant and evaded his registration requirement for five years after he relocated from Indiana to Minnesota. Additionally, Jones admitted that he fraudulently used aliases and others’ names and social security numbers in order to gain employment in Minnesota in 2022 and 2023, most recently at a language immersion camp.
Jones pleaded guilty on October 20, 2023, in U.S. District Court to one count of failure to register as a sex offender. He was sentenced on March 4, 2024, by Judge Katherine M. Menendez. Jones has a lifetime registration requirement as required under SORNA.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.
Houghton Area Methamphetamine Trafficker SentencedRead the Press Release
Gregory James Knuuttila Sentenced to 324 Months in Prison
MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Gregory James Knuuttila, of Mohawk, Michigan, was sentenced for his role in distributing methamphetamine throughout Houghton and Keweenaw Counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Honorable Janet T. Neff, U.S. District Court Judge in Grand Rapids, sentenced Knuuttila to 324 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
“Methamphetamine continues to have devastating effects on individuals in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Gregory James Knuuttila trafficked these poisons, threatened violence, and then obstructed criminal proceedings. He now faces accountability for his crimes.”
In July 2022, members of the Michigan State Police Hometown Security Team, in collaboration with the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET), stopped Knuuttila and a passenger as they drove through Ontonagon County. During a search of the vehicle, investigators found 207.8 grams of high-purity methamphetamine. After being charged in federal court for his involvement in methamphetamine trafficking, Knuuttila attempted to deter potential witnesses from testifying in his case.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Neff called Knuuttila a “menace to the Upper Peninsula.” Judge Neff found during his sentencing that Knuuttila directed others to use violence to collect drug debts and possessed firearms. Judge Neff concluded Knuuttila was responsible for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute more than two pounds of methamphetamine. Judge Neff also found that while his federal charges were pending, Knuuttila attempted to obstruct justice and attempted to smuggle drugs into a jail for purposes of redistribution.
While imposing sentence, Judge Neff referred to Knuuttila’s criminal history as “atrocious” and found it “impossible to overlook the nature and extent of his criminal history.” Knuuttila had nearly unbroken involvement in the criminal justice system since he became an adult. Knuuttila’s first criminal convictions were in 1996. Over the intervening decades, he was convicted of more than twenty additional crimes, including robbery, breaking and entering, assault with a dangerous weapon, and domestic assault on two occasions. Knuuttila was nearly continuously in custody or under the supervision of a court from 1996 to 2022, when he was arrested for the offense to which he pleaded guilty in federal court.
The Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team, Michigan State Police Hometown Security Team, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hanna L. Rutkowski and Ted Greeley prosecuted the case.
Gregory James Knuuttila has been implicated in various other criminal activities throughout Houghton and Keweenaw Counties, and elsewhere. If you have additional information about Knuuttila’s criminal activities, please contact the Michigan State Police – Calumet Post at (906) 337-5145.
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Harrison County Man Admits to Selling FentanylRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Edward Breeden, age 30, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to selling fentanyl in Upshur County.
According to court documents, during a traffic stop, deputies were told Breeden was selling fentanyl in the area. Investigators searched Breeden’s motel room and found 277 fentanyl stamps.
Breeden faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
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Gun smuggler sent to prison for second illegal re-entry convictionRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 23-year-old Mexican man has been sentenced following another conviction for illegally re-entering the United States following an order of removal, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jose Luis Arevalo Gonzalez pleaded guilty Jan. 4.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Arevalo to serve 23 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Not a U.S. citizen, Arevalo is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard how Arevalo was a member of the Paisas gang and was previously convicted of trafficking firearms.
In that case, law enforcement discovered Arevalo was attempting to smuggle 11 semi-automatic rifles and 85 rifle magazines into Mexico.
Arevalo was released from prison Oct. 18, 2023, and was ordered removed the following week. A week after his removal, authorities encountered Arevalo near Laredo.
Arevalo will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Terence A. Check Jr. prosecuted the case.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Federal Prison for Using Stolen Credit Card Numbers to Obtain over Half a Million Dollars in Gift CardsRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE- Yapo Jean Franck Ngbichi, 41, of Georgia, has been sentenced to 54 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to use of unauthorized access devices.
According to court documents, between December 2017 and September 2019, Ngbichi used 318 different stolen credit card numbers to purchase gift cards at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in 28 states, including Indiana. Ngbichi conducted over 1,363 fraudulent transactions using the stolen credit card numbers, thereby causing a loss of $587,626.
On two separate occasions, Ngbichi used stolen credit card numbers to purchase four Visa gift cards valued at $200 each from Lowe’s stores located in Evansville, Indiana.
After obtaining a search warrant for Ngbichi’ s laptop, law enforcement discovered documents titled, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Instore Carding,” “Basic Mistakes That Lead to People Getting Arrested from Darknet—Free,” as well as numerous chat threads related to credit card numbers, several email fragments containing credit card numbers, and even Internet search history that included searches for “which embosser is best,” “federal charges stolen gift cards,” “federal criminal possession of forged instrument,” “possession of counterfeit credit card,” and “how long after a crime can you be charged.”
At the time of arrest, Ngbichi had a previous similar conviction in state court. In May 2018, Ngbichi was convicted in Scott County, Kentucky for attempted false making/embossing of a credit card/debit card and attempted criminal possession of a forged instrument.
“Every year, American lose billions of dollars to identity theft and fraud. This defendant alone stole nearly half a million dollars and is responsible for more than 1,300 fraudulent transactions,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Frauds such as these have lasting impacts on victim individuals and businesses. The serious federal prison sentence imposed here is a warning to others considering these schemes—the FBI, Secret Service, and U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to unraveling financial crimes and holding fraudsters accountable.”
“The defendant wreaked havoc on the lives of those he perpetrated this financial fraud against, leaving them to pick up the pieces,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “This case highlights the strong relationships we have with our law enforcement partners in diligently pursuing those who take advantage of others through their criminal behavior.”
The FBI and United States Secret Service investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Ngbichi be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and pay $587,623.91 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.
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Generic Pharmaceuticals Manufacturer Pleads Guilty, Agrees to $1.5 Million Criminal Penalty for Distributing Adulterated Drugs and $2 Million to Resolve Civil Liability under the False Claims ActRead the Press Release
KVK Research Inc., a generic drug manufacturer in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to criminal charges that it introduced adulterated drugs into interstate commerce.
A criminal information filed in federal court in Philadelphia charged KVK Research and its corporate affiliate, KVK Tech Inc., with two misdemeanor counts of introducing adulterated drugs into interstate commerce in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). Pursuant to a plea agreement, KVK Research pleaded guilty to the information and agreed to a proposed fine and forfeiture amount of $1.5 million.
KVK Tech agreed to a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) that will allow the company to avoid conviction on the charges in the information if it complies with the terms of the agreement, which include implementation of a compliance program designed to prevent and detect violations of federal regulations regarding current good manufacturing processes. The DPA also requires KVK Tech to engage an independent compliance monitor to evaluate the company’s corporate compliance program to address and reduce the risk of future violations.
U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III presided over the KVK Research plea hearing.
“Consumers have a right to expect that the drugs they purchase are safe and manufactured in compliance with the FDCA and FDA regulations,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to work with FDA to prosecute companies that put consumers at risk by selling adulterated drugs.”
“Consumers in this District expect that manufacturers will adhere to FDA regulations,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “When adulterated drugs are introduced into interstate commerce, that conduct has the potential to jeopardize patient safety. This case exemplifies my office’s commitment to holding manufacturers responsible for their crimes, as well as refocusing efforts on the company’s compliance to prevent future illegal conduct. In this case, the joint efforts between the office’s criminal and civil divisions to hold defendants accountable also returned money to those federal agencies affected by the defendants’ conduct.”
“The FDA’s requirements for manufacturing generic drugs are designed to ensure that patients receive safe and effective medical treatments. Evading the FDA process and distributing adulterated drugs to U.S. consumers will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge George Scavdis of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and protect the public health of the nation.”
As part of the plea agreement and the DPA, the companies admitted that between January 2011 and October 2013, KVK Tech introduced into interstate commerce at least 62 batches of adulterated hydroxyzine tablets. The tablets were manufactured with an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) made at a foreign facility. KVK Tech failed to notify FDA or seek FDA authorization to use that facility as a source of API for its hydroxyzine products. The companies also admitted that between Feb. 27, 2019, and April 16, 2019, KVK Tech manufactured prescription drugs while failing to exercise appropriate controls over computer and related systems as required by current good manufacturing practices regulations. Under federal law, such drugs are deemed to be adulterated.
Additionally, KVK Tech agreed to pay $2 million to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act arising from the company’s failure to exercise appropriate controls as required by current good manufacturing practice regulations, which caused KVK Tech to introduce into interstate commerce drugs deemed to be adulterated. During the Feb. 27, 2019, through April 16, 2019, time period, KVK Tech sold the adulterated pharmaceuticals, which resulted in alleged false claims submitted to the TRICARE program, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), Veterans Administration (VA) and Department of Labor, Office of Workers Compensation Programs (DOL-OWCP), in violation of the False Claims Act.
“Protecting the welfare of our nation’s military members and their families is a priority for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Solecki of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. “The introduction of adulterated pharmaceuticals into the TRICARE system endangers the lives of American service members and threatens our military readiness. The DCIS is committed to working with the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners to ensure that companies who engage in fraudulent activity, at the expense of the U.S. military, are investigated and prosecuted.”
“We expect manufacturers to comply with all federal laws and regulations when they are serving federal health care recipients,” said Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Conrad J. Quarles of the Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General. “We applaud our investigative staff, and our law enforcement partners for their hard work protecting FEHBP enrollees and their families.”
FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant Director Ross S. Goldstein and Trial Attorney Alisha Crovetto of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Beth Leahy and Patrick Murray for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case. Deputy Chief Charlene Keller Fullmer, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony D. Scicchitano and Auditor Dawn Wiggins for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handled the civil case.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Except to the extent that the defendants’ admissions are part of its criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Generic Pharmaceuticals Manufacturer Pleads Guilty, Agrees to $1.5 Million Criminal Penalty for Distributing Adulterated Drugs and $2 Million to Resolve Civil Liability under the False Claims ActRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that KVK Research Inc., a generic drug manufacturer in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to criminal charges that it introduced adulterated drugs into interstate commerce.
A criminal information filed in federal court in Philadelphia charged KVK Research and its corporate affiliate, KVK Tech Inc., with two misdemeanor counts of introducing adulterated drugs into interstate commerce in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). Pursuant to a plea agreement, KVK Research pleaded guilty to the information and agreed to a proposed fine and forfeiture amount of $1.5 million.
KVK Tech agreed to a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) that will allow the company to avoid conviction on the charges in the information if it complies with the terms of the agreement, which include implementation of a compliance program designed to prevent and detect violations of federal regulations regarding current good manufacturing processes. The DPA also requires KVK Tech to engage an independent compliance monitor to evaluate the company’s corporate compliance program to address and reduce the risk of future violations.
U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III presided over the KVK Research plea hearing.
“Consumers in this District expect that manufacturers will adhere to FDA regulations,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “When adulterated drugs are introduced into interstate commerce, that conduct has the potential to jeopardize patient safety. This case exemplifies my office’s commitment to holding manufacturers responsible for their crimes, as well as refocusing efforts on the company’s compliance to prevent future illegal conduct. In this case, the joint efforts between the office’s criminal and civil divisions to hold defendants accountable also returned money to those federal agencies affected by the defendants’ conduct.”
“The FDA’s requirements for manufacturing generic drugs are designed to ensure that patients receive safe and effective medical treatments. Evading the FDA process and distributing adulterated drugs to U.S. consumers will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge George Scavdis of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and protect the public health of the nation.”
As part of the plea agreement and the DPA, the companies admitted that between January 2011 and October 2013, KVK Tech introduced into interstate commerce at least 62 batches of adulterated hydroxyzine tablets. The tablets were manufactured with an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) made at a foreign facility. KVK Tech failed to notify FDA or seek FDA authorization to use that facility as a source of API for its hydroxyzine products. The companies also admitted that between Feb. 27, 2019, and April 16, 2019, KVK Tech manufactured prescription drugs while failing to exercise appropriate controls over computer and related systems as required by current good manufacturing practices regulations. Under federal law, such drugs are deemed to be adulterated.
Additionally, KVK Tech agreed to pay $2 million to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act arising from the company’s failure to exercise appropriate controls as required by current good manufacturing practice regulations, which caused KVK Tech to introduce into interstate commerce drugs deemed to be adulterated. During the Feb. 27, 2019, through April 16, 2019, time period, KVK Tech sold the adulterated pharmaceuticals, which resulted in alleged false claims submitted to the TRICARE program, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), Veterans Administration (VA) and Department of Labor, Office of Workers Compensation Programs (DOL-OWCP), in violation of the False Claims Act.
“Protecting the welfare of our nation’s military members and their families is a priority for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Solecki of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. “The introduction of adulterated pharmaceuticals into the TRICARE system endangers the lives of American service members and threatens our military readiness. The DCIS is committed to working with the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners to ensure that companies who engage in fraudulent activity, at the expense of the U.S. military, are investigated and prosecuted.”
“We expect manufacturers to comply with all federal laws and regulations when they are serving federal health care recipients,” said Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Conrad J. Quarles of the Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General. “We applaud our investigative staff, and our law enforcement partners for their hard work protecting FEHBP enrollees and their families.”
FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant Director Ross S. Goldstein and Trial Attorney Alisha Crovetto of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Beth Leahy and Patrick Murray for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case. Deputy Chief Charlene Keller Fullmer, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony D. Scicchitano and Auditor Dawn Wiggins for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handled the civil case.
Except to the extent that the defendants’ admissions are part of its criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Four Individuals Arrested During Joint Law Enforcement Operation in Tuscaloosa CountyRead the Press Release
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A 3-month operation focused on combatting the illegal possession of “Glock switches” in the City of Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas resulted in the arrests of four individuals, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
“Possession of a ‘Glock switch’ by an individual is a threat to the peace and safety of our communities. Our hope is that these arrests and continuing enforcement efforts across North Alabama will have a deterrent effect,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona. “Our ongoing collaboration with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners is instrumental in reducing violent crime and removing illegal firearms from our communities.”
“This operation demonstrates the effectiveness of working together to confront a growing threat to public safety,” said Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley. “Combining resources to enforce and prosecute offenders is the most effective way to stop the threat before it becomes more widespread. These partnerships between federal, state, and local agencies will strengthen our efforts to remove dangerous firearms from our community.”
In February, nine individuals were indicted on firearm charges. Of the nine, seven individuals were indicted on charges of illegal possession of machine gun conversion devices, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch” and two individuals were indicted on charges involving straw purchases of firearms. The federal indictments are the result of collaborative efforts with the ATF, Tuscaloosa Police Department, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and Tuscaloosa District Attorney’s Office to identify and focus enforcement on individuals who illegally possess “Glock switches” and firearms in the Northern District of Alabama.
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 contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Founder of LGBTQ+ Non-Profit Arrested, Ordered Held on Fraud and Money Laundering CountsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ruby Corado, 53, the founder of Casa Ruby, Inc., a Washington D.C.-based non-profit that provided services to the LGBTQ+ community, had her first appearance in U.S. District Court today to face charges of defrauding Paycheck Protection and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs, and money laundering. Corado allegedly diverted at least $150,000 of $1.3 million in taxpayer-backed emergency relief funds, intended for Casa Ruby, to private bank accounts off-shore for her personal use.
Corado is charged by complaint with bank fraud, wire fraud, laundering of monetary instruments, monetary transactions in criminally derived proceeds, and failure to file a report of foreign bank account.
According to court documents, Corado received more than $1.3 million from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Instead of using the funds as she promised, Corado stole at least $150,000 by transferring the money to bank accounts in El Salvador, which she hid from the IRS. During 2022, when financial irregularities at Casa Ruby became public, Corado sold her home in Prince Georges County and fled to El Salvador. FBI agents arrested Corado on March 5, 2024, at a hotel in Laurel, Maryland, after her unexpected return to the United States. Corado is being held pending a detention hearing on Friday.
Casa Ruby effectively ceased operations in July 2022 when it shuttered its transitional housing, failed to pay its employees, and faced eviction from multiple properties for failure to pay rent.
Bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The money laundering charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. If convicted of any offense, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the D.C. Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Borchert, Madhu Chugh, and Kathryn Rakoczy.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Fort Washakie man arraigned on assault chargesRead the Press Release
Aaron Clair Bigknife, age 30, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was arraigned on Mar. 6 for assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Bigknife pleaded not guilty. A trial has been scheduled to begin on May 13 before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.
Bigknife was detained at the request of the government and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. If convicted, Bigknife faces up to 20 years in prison, six years of supervised release and up to a $500,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This crime is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case No. 23-CR-00134