District of Columbia

WASHINGTON – Michael Dolson, 37, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for the March 14, 2022 stabbing death of Kenneth Thomas, Jr., 42, of Silver Spring Maryland, announced United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  Mr. Thomas was a Howard University graduate with a Masters of Divinity and a licensed Minister.

            Dolson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed on March 24, 2023, in Superior Court in the District of Columbia. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered five years of supervised release.

            According to the government’s evidence, on Sunday, March 13, 2022, Dolson and his companion went to the Cloud Lounge at 1919 9th St., NW. The couple was seated at the back of the establishment, away from other patrons, ordered cocktails and smoked marijuana, despite the club’s rule against the consumption of marijuana on the property. Kenneth Thomas, Jr., approached the couple and asked to sit at the table with them, which he did for an hour and a half. As the evening wore on, Dolson became annoyed with the victim and gestured for Thomas to sit elsewhere.   Thomas did not oblige so Dolson slashed Thomas on the face with a hidden knife he brought into the nightclub. Thomas stood up and Dolson lunged at him, stabbing him in the chest. Dolson and his companion then left the club. Thomas was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. Dolson was later arrested on April 5, 2022, and has remained in custody ever since.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels, Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark and Victim Witness Service Coordinator, Katina Adams-Washington. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah C. Santiago, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Jose Avelino Felipe, 45, pleaded guilty to stabbing his female roommate in 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Avelino Felipe pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of assault with intent to kill. Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe scheduled sentencing for October 22, 2023.

            According to the government’s evidence, on December 4, 2021, the defendant and his wife were living in the same apartment as the victim and her husband. That evening, the defendant and the victim’s husband got into a physical altercation in the home. Both men left the home after the altercation. Shortly thereafter, the defendant returned to the home, where the victim remained. The defendant came to her bedroom and asked whether she would call the police. She stated she would not. Nevertheless, the defendant then stabbed the victim twice with a knife, once in the chest, and once in her left shoulder. The defendant fled the apartment before police arrived.

            Both the victim and her husband required emergency surgery for their injuries. The victim continues to recover from her injuries.

            The Metropolitan Police Department Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended the defendant on May 23, 2023.

            In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department, which investigated the case. He also expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Covert who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Jonathan Willis, 37, of North Bethesda, Maryland, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge Emily Odom, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.

            Willis pleaded guilty on March 15, 2023, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. According to the government’s evidence, on March 31, 2022, the defendant began communicating with a 14-year-old minor victim who resided in Washington, D.C. using Snapchat. The defendant offered to pay the victim money in exchange for sexually explicit photographs. Over a two-week period, the defendant sent the fourteen-year-old girl multiple photos of his penis and of himself masturbating, and repeatedly asked her to come to his residence in Maryland to “make love.” The victim refused and reported the defendant’s communications to law enforcement. On May 12, 2022 and May 24, 2022, an undercover officer assumed the victim’s identity on Snapchat. On both occasions, the defendant requested sexually explicit photographs of the 14-year-old girl, sent her photos and videos of his penis, and attempted to persuade her to travel to Maryland for sexual activity.

            In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Randolph D. Moss ordered 10 years of supervised release and ordered Willis to register as a sex offender for 25 years.

           This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Prince George’s County, Maryland Police Department.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge Odom commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Youth Investigations Division. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell, who prosecuted the case.

            This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

WASHINGTON – Haider Ali, 36, of Springfield, Virginia, was sentenced today to 68 months in prison for his role in a fraud conspiracy that included bank fraud and the impersonation of federal law enforcement, in a scheme that bilked more than $750,000 from his victims. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Emily Odom, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, Inspector General Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Inspector in Charge Damon Wood, with the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

            According to court documents, Ali and his co-conspirator, Arian Taherzadeh, 40, of Washington, D.C., impersonated federal officers, using fake identification to rent luxury apartments and cheat the owners out of rent, and to ingratiate themselves with legitimate members of law enforcement. Ali pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, on October 5, 2022, to the federal charges of conspiracy and bank fraud, and to the unlawful possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, a District of Columbia offense. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered 36 months of supervised release and restitution of $757,922.66.

            “Deceptions like this do grave damage to the actual agents and officers who are on the street, dealing with the public whose trust is critical to their safety and success,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Fortunately, our law enforcement partners moved quickly to stop this defendant, expose his scam, and uncover his million-dollar bank fraud. As this sentence shows, impersonating a member of law enforcement is a serious offense. Those who pretend for the sake of exerting unlawful authority over the public, or for their own financial gain, will face significant consequences.”

            “Impersonating federal officers is a serious crime. Ali used fake law enforcement credentials to cheat people out of money to fuel his greed and perpetuate his fake persona,” said Emily Odom, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division. “Thanks to collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners, we were able to quickly and effectively dismantle this sophisticated scheme, which not only degraded the operations of real law enforcement but also endangered the safety of the public.”

            According to court documents, Ali and Taherzadeh operated a business called United States Special Police LLC (USSP), which was described as a private law enforcement, investigative, and protective services company, based in Washington. The two men represented themselves to law enforcement as investigators and/or special agents, claiming an affiliation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which was, in fact, not true. The company was not associated in any way with the United States government or the District of Columbia and had never done business with the federal or D.C. governments.

            As the scheme unfolded, Ali falsely claimed at various times that he was a member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and/or the U.S. Secret Service. He also falsely claimed that he participated in the capture of the wife of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, that his family had a royal bloodline, and that he had a connection to a senior official in the Pakistani Intelligence Service. Taherzadeh, meanwhile, falsely claimed to be, among other things, a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security, a member of a multi-jurisdictional federal task force, a former United States Air Marshal, and a former Army Ranger.

            Both men used these false claims to recruit others to join their “task force” or “unit,” which these individuals believed to be part of DHS and federal law enforcement. In furtherance of the scheme, Ali and Taherzadeh ingratiated themselves with employees of the U.S. Secret Service because it provided them with cover and aided in their scheme.

            Ali and Taherzadeh used their assumed law enforcement personas and the business to maintain leases for multiple apartments and parking spaces for supposed law enforcement operations at a luxury apartment complex in Southeast Washington. These units included a penthouse where Ali and Taherzadeh possessed, among other things, a Glock handgun registered to Ali that was loaded with a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, surveillance equipment, law enforcement tactical gear and a machine capable of programming Personal Identification Verification (PIV) cards used to create false credentials. They also used their false identification with law enforcement to obtain security footage in the building, as well as a list of the building’s residents, as well as their apartment numbers and contact information.

            Throughout their tenancy, no rent was paid on the leased apartments or parking garage. This resulted in a loss to the building of $295,277, and to the garage of $7,854.

            Additionally, according to the plea documents, beginning as early as May 2017 and continuing through March 2021, Ali engaged in a bank fraud scheme in which he generated more than $1 million in gross receipts from one or more financial institutions. He used bank accounts that he and others maintained and controlled to falsely and fraudulently execute debit and credit card transactions.

            Ali and Taherzadeh were arrested on April 6, 2022. Taherzadeh pleaded guilty on Aug. 1, 2022, to a federal conspiracy offense and two District of Columbia offenses: unlawful possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device and voyeurism. Taherzadeh is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2023.

            Following the pronouncement of the sentence, Ali was ordered remanded to begin his sentence effective immediately.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and Joshua S. Rothstein of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section.

            Valuable assistance has been provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tortorice and Paralegal Specialists Quiana Dunn-Gordon, and Lisa Abbe and former Paralegal Specialist Chad Byron of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorneys Kathleen Campbell and Evan Turgeon of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

Incidents Occurred in April 2023 as Children Walked to/from Bancroft Elementary

            WASHINGTON – Derrick Jones, 54, pleaded guilty today in two separate cases for masturbating in public, near Bancroft Elementary School in Mt. Pleasant, and then threatening neighbors who asked him to stop, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acing Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  

            Jones pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to eight separate counts in two cases: two counts of attempted threats, one count of threats, two counts of misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child with aggravating circumstances, and three counts of lewd, indecent, or obscene acts. Sentencing is scheduled for October 16, 2023, before the Honorable Sean Staples. As part of his sentence, Jones will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

            According to the government’s evidence, in the afternoon of April 3, 2023, Jones was observed by a neighbor masturbating outside of the neighbor’s apartment building, which is located less than a block away from Bancroft Elementary School. The neighbor, who was with her 11-year-old son, was trying to record Jones’s behavior since, according to the neighbor, this was a routine occurrence during the hours when children were walking to and from school. In fact, Jones has three prior convictions for lewd, indecent, or obscene acts in the District of Columbia. When Jones observed his neighbor trying to record him on April 3, he crossed the street in an aggressive manner and threatened to kill the neighbor’s family and their dog.

            Then, on April 6, 2023, a woman was returning home after dropping her nephew off at Bancroft Elementary when she observed Jones outside an apartment masturbating. Jones made eye contact with the woman and continued his behavior. On the morning of April 12, 2023, Jones was again seen masturbating outside of the apartment building as children were being dropped off at school.

            Jones engaged in the same conduct the following day, April 13, 2023, exposing himself and masturbating outside of his building while children were walking by on the on their way to school. A Bancroft Elementary school crossing guard observed Jones, and while another colleague ushered kids to the opposite side of the street out of view, the crossing guard approached Jones and asked him to stop. Jones responded by loudly threatening to “blow y’all up” before going inside and returning with a black duffel bag. Not knowing what was in the bag, the crossing guard became even more alarmed and law enforcement was ultimately flagged down and Jones was taken into custody.

            In addition to these incidents, after the defendant’s arrest, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department further investigated and located additional victims. In pleading guilty, Jones also admitted that between April 1 and April 13, 2023, he exposed himself and masturbated in front of an 11-year-old girl who lived in a neighboring apartment.

            The defendant has been in custody since his arrest on April 13, 2023.

            In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department, which investigated the case, and the U.S. Secret Service, who assisted in the defendant’s apprehension on April 13, 2023. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocates Johnny DaSilva and Tracy Owusu.

            Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jae Friedman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wash, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Justin Taylor, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 108 months in prison for sexual assaults in two separate cases, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department, and Chief Michael Anzallo, of the Metro Transit Police Department. Taylor pleaded guilty in one case on September 9, 2022, to third degree sexual abuse; and pleaded guilty today in the other case to one count of second degree child sexual abuse.  He will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

            According to the government’s evidence, shortly after 9:00 a.m. on January 26, 2022, in the 500 block of 42nd Street, N.E., the defendant followed a 15-year old girl he didn’t know as she was walking to school. As the two of them were walking down a path in a park at that location, the defendant asked the victim if she had ever seen a man’s genitals. When the victim turned around, Taylor was exposing himself and asked the victim whether she wanted to “do something?” The victim began to run away but tripped and fell. Before she could get up, the defendant, still exposed, ran up and grabbed her buttock with his hand, through her clothing, again asking, “Do you wanna do something?” The victim yelled at the defendant, “No. Don’t touch me,” swung her fist at the defendant, and escaped to a friend’s home, where she reported the sexual assault to her friend and her friend’s mother.

            Two days later, in the early afternoon of January 28, 2022, Taylor followed an adult woman he didn’t know down the street-level escalator at the Shaw/Howard University Metro Train Station, located at 1801 7th Street, N.W. When Taylor and the victim got to the bottom of that escalator, the defendant grabbed the victim from behind and by surprise, holding her around the waist so that she could not get away from him. Taylor, while restraining the woman, pressed his penis against the victim’s buttocks. The woman fought back and hollered for help until she was able to escape Taylor’s grasp. Taylor fled up the Metro escalator, left the area and got on a Metro bus. Shortly thereafter, Metro Transit Police removed Taylor from that bus and brought him back to an area near the Metro Station, where the victim identified him as the person who had assaulted her. Taylor was then arrested.

            In 2018, Taylor was charged in a similar case and pleaded guilty to one count of attempted third-degree sexual abuse with force.  He was sentenced to 18 months in prison but was given the benefit of sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (“YRA”), which he will lose as a result of today’s convictions.  He was also sentenced in that case to seven years of supervised release and was, in fact, released from prison less than three months before committing these offenses. 

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Acting Chief Smith, and Chief Anzallo commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and Metro Transit Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Garcia Clarke, former Paralegal Specialist Brenda Williams, Victim/Witness Advocate Veronica Vaughan and Supervisory Victim/Witness Advocate Roderick Johnson.

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Taylor, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Defendant Admits He Diverted Funds to Overseas Bank Accounts

            WASHINGTON - Onwuchekwa Nnanna Kalu, 39, a Nigerian National from Rivers State, Nigeria, pleaded guilty today to stealing $1.25 million from an investment firm located in Boston, through a business email compromise (“BEC”) scam. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist, of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division.

            Nnanna Kalu pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to one count of wire fraud.  U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss scheduled a sentencing hearing for November 29, 2023.  Kalu was arrested in 2022 and has been detained by the Court as a risk of flight.

            BEC scams typically involve a combination of computer intrusion techniques and social engineering in order to misdirect a transfer of funds into a bank account controlled by the fraudsters. According to court documents, Kalu and others conspired to enrich themselves through a BEC scheme that targeted an investment firm located in Massachusetts (Company A), which had invested in 42 companies located in North America, Europe, and Israel. Kalu and other conspirators gained access to the email account of an employee at Company A and, unbeknownst to the employee, the fraudsters installed malware on the employee’s computer that forwarded emails containing certain words like “invoice,” “fund,” “pay,” and “wire,” to an external email account controlled by the fraudsters. Kalu and others then created a spoofed domain name for Company A that differed by one letter, and sent spoofed emails, appearing to be from directors of Company A, to a financial services company located in London, England (Company B). Those spoofed appeals directed Company B to misdirect $1.25 million of wire transfers from Company A’s bank account to bank accounts outside of the U.S. controlled by conspirators. Once the fraudsters transferred the funds to financial institutions outside the U.S., the conspirators transferred some of those funds to bank accounts they controlled in Nigeria. 

            “Business email compromise schemes wreak havoc on companies, governments, and other institutions,” said Graves. “The best way to thwart a BEC scheme is due diligence. Check and double check the email address before responding with any information that could put you or your employer at risk.  Once a breach is identified, we will do everything in our power to identify, arrest, and prosecute the perpetrators no matter where they hide.”

            “Onwuchekwa Nnanna Kalu conspired to steal over $1 million from an investment firm through a business email compromise scheme,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Geist. “This case should serve not only as a caution to businesses about the dangers of spoofed emails but also as a warning to cybercriminals about the FBI's dedication to prosecuting fraudsters — even those who operate overseas.”

            In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Field Office.  He also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant United States Attorney John W. Borchert who investigated and prosecuted the case. 

WASHINGTON – Atawan Mundu John, a.k.a., John Mundu Atawan, 46, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to attempting to tamper with a witness more than nine years ago during a federal healthcare fraud investigation. He was charged via indictment in December 2014 but remained a fugitive until his arrest three weeks ago.

            The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist, of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General for the region that includes Washington, D.C., and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.

            In February 2014, a federal grand jury charged Florence Bikundi, who owned and operated a home health care agency, with various offenses related to a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud the D.C. Medicaid program. The defendant was employed by Bikundi’s agency as a personal care aide. After Bikundi was arrested, the investigation into her and others continued. As part of its investigation, law enforcement agents interviewed the defendant multiple times.

            On June 12, 2014, one of the Medicaid beneficiaries who received kickbacks from the defendant to help facilitate the fraud placed a recorded call to the defendant that lasted approximately 18 minutes. During that call, the defendant – fully aware of the active federal investigation – instructed the beneficiary to lie to the FBI about ever receiving money or kickbacks. The defendant admitted on the call that paying money to beneficiaries was fraud.  Law enforcement agents confronted the defendant with the recorded call five days later. Before formal charges were brought against him, the defendant fled the area.

            In December 2014, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Florence Bikundi, her husband Michael Bikundi, Christian Asongcha, five other individuals, and the defendant with various offenses related to the scheme to defraud Medicaid. The defendant was charged with one count of attempted witness tampering. Five of the individuals pleaded guilty to health care fraud, and in November 2015, a jury convicted Florence and Michael Bikundi of multiple offenses after a trial. By June 2016, the Bikundis and five other individuals all had been sentenced while Asongcha, who has never been apprehended, and the defendant remained fugitives.

            The defendant remained a fugitive until July 13, 2023, when he was arrested in Maryland. He has been held without bond since then.

            U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell, who accepted the defendant’s guilty plea, scheduled sentencing for November 3, 2023.  The court will determine the appropriate sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other factors.

            The government urges the public to provide tips and assistance to stop health care fraud. If you have information about individuals committing health care fraud, please call the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General hotline at 800- HHS‑TIPS (800 447-8477) or the D.C. Office of the Inspector General at 800-724-TIPS (800 274-8477).

            This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, and the District of Columbia’s Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Multiple people from the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked on this case, including former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lionel A. André, Anthony Saler, and Michelle Bradford, who tried Florence and Michael Bikundi. The case against Atawan Mundu John is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Michon Tart.

Defendant Threatened Bank Tellers with Bomb

            WASHINGTON - A Superior Court jury, today, found Mark Stubblefield, 65, of Washington, D.C., guilty on all counts for robbing and threatening to blow up a branch of the Truist Bank, located at Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. The verdicts were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Stubblefield was found guilty of one count of robbery while armed and one count of felony threats. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 17, 2023.

            According to evidence presented at trial, shortly after 2:35 p.m., on October 20, 2022, the defendant disguised himself and walked into the Truist Bank, located at 1369 Connecticut Avenue, NW. He threatened to blow up the bank tellers, putting them in fear for their lives, and demanded a large amount of cash. Around two minutes later, he left the bank with $10,000 in cash. He walked south on Connecticut Avenue, before getting on a Metrobus and donning a D.C. Department of Transportation uniform. The defendant evaded police and escaped that day.

            The government presented surveillance footage from nearby business and the Metrobus. The Metrobus surveillance clearly captured the defendant’s face, which the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department used to find witnesses who identified the bank robber. The government also presented DNA evidence linking the defendant to the crime.

            In announcing the verdicts, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of the officers and detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department who investigated the case, as well as members of the prosecution team. They thanked the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Laboratory for providing valuable assistance.  They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including: Special Agent Sean Ricardi, Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce, and Paralegal Specialists Debra McPherson and Antoinette Sakamsa, with valuable assistance from AUSAs Paul Courtney and Jessica Ans.

            Finally, they recognized Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos A. Valdivia and Alec Levy who prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – A married couple from New York City pleaded guilty today to money laundering conspiracies arising from the hack and theft of approximately 120,000 bitcoin from Bitfinex, a global cryptocurrency exchange.

            Ilya Lichtenstein, 35, and Heather Morgan, 33, were arrested in February 2022, after the government seized approximately 95,000 of those stolen Bitcoin from cryptocurrency wallets in the defendants’ control. At the time of the seizure, the recovered funds were valued at approximately $3.6 billion. Since their arrests, the government has seized another approximately $475 million tied to the hack.

            The pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, of the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo, of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York  Field Office made the announcement.

            According to court documents, Lichtenstein used a number of advanced hacking tools and techniques to gain access to Bitfinex’s network. Once inside their systems, Lichtenstein was able to fraudulently authorize more than 2,000 transactions in which 119,754 bitcoin was transferred from Bitfinex to a cryptocurrency wallet in Lichtenstein’s control. Lichtenstein then took steps to cover his tracks by going back into Bitfinex’s network and deleting access credentials and other log files that may have given him away to law enforcement. Following the hack, Lichtenstein enlisted the help of his wife, Heather Morgan, in laundering the stolen funds.

            As part of their pleas, Lichtenstein and Morgan admitted that Lichtenstein, at times with Morgan’s assistance, employed numerous sophisticated laundering techniques, including using fictitious identities to set up online accounts; utilizing computer programs to automate transactions; depositing the stolen funds into accounts at a variety of darknet markets and  cryptocurrency exchanges and then withdrawing the funds, which obfuscates the trail of the transaction history by breaking up the fund flow; converting bitcoin to other forms of  cryptocurrency, including anonymity-enhanced  cryptocurrency (AEC), in a practice known as “chain hopping”; depositing a portion of the criminal proceeds into cryptocurrency mixing services, such as Bitcoin Fog, Helix, and ChipMixer; using U.S.-based business accounts to legitimize their banking activity; and exchanging a portion of the stolen funds into gold coins, which Morgan then concealed by burying them.

            Lichtenstein pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Morgan pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            Consistent with standard practice in criminal forfeiture cases, there will be a formal process at the conclusion of the case, pursuant to Rule 32.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, for third-party claimants to submit claims for any seized and forfeited property.

            The investigation was led by IRS-CI Washington, D.C. Field Office’s Cyber Crimes Unit, FBI-Chicago, FBI’s Virtual Assets Unit (VAU), and HSI-New York. The Ansbach Police Department in Germany provided assistance during this investigation.

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher B. Brown and Jolie Zimmerman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, along with Trial Attorneys Jessica Peck and C. Alden Pelker of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. Paralegal Specialists Angela De Falco and Brian Rickers and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick provided valuable assistance. Significant assistance was also provided by Trial Attorney Christen Gallagher, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Southern District of New York, HSI-Philadelphia, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica C. Brooks.

A married couple from New York City pleaded guilty today to money laundering conspiracies arising from the hack and theft of approximately 120,000 bitcoin from Bitfinex, a global cryptocurrency exchange.

Ilya Lichtenstein, 35, and Heather Morgan, 33, were arrested in February 2022 after the government seized approximately 95,000 of those stolen bitcoin from cryptocurrency wallets in the defendants’ control. At the time of the seizure, the recovered funds were valued at approximately $3.6 billion. Since their arrests, the government has seized another approximately $475 million tied to the hack.

According to court documents, Lichtenstein used a number of advanced hacking tools and techniques to gain access to Bitfinex’s network. Once inside their systems, Lichtenstein fraudulently authorized more than 2,000 transactions in which 119,754 bitcoin was transferred from Bitfinex to a cryptocurrency wallet in Lichtenstein’s control. Lichtenstein then took steps to cover his tracks by going back into Bitfinex’s network and deleting access credentials and other log files that may have given him away to law enforcement. Following the hack, Lichtenstein enlisted the help of his wife, Morgan, in laundering the stolen funds.

Lichtenstein, at times with Morgan’s assistance, employed numerous sophisticated laundering techniques, including using fictitious identities to set up online accounts; utilizing computer programs to automate transactions; depositing the stolen funds into accounts at a variety of darknet markets and  cryptocurrency exchanges and then withdrawing the funds, which obfuscates the trail of the transaction history by breaking up the fund flow; converting bitcoin to other forms of  cryptocurrency, including anonymity-enhanced  cryptocurrency (AEC), in a practice known as “chain hopping”; depositing a portion of the criminal proceeds into cryptocurrency mixing services, such as Bitcoin Fog, Helix, and ChipMixer; using U.S.-based business accounts to legitimize their banking activity; and exchanging a portion of the stolen funds into gold coins, which Morgan then concealed by burying them.

Lichtenstein pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Morgan pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, each of which carries a maximum penalty of five years of in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Consistent with standard practice in criminal forfeiture cases, there will be a formal process at the conclusion of the case pursuant to Rule 32.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure for third-party claimants to submit claims for any seized and forfeited property.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Chief Jim Lee of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York made the announcement.

The IRS-CI Washington, D.C. Field Office’s Cyber Crimes Unit; FBI Chicago Field Office; FBI’s Virtual Assets Unit (VAU); and HSI New York are investigating the case, with assistance from the Ansbach Police Department in Germany.

Trial Attorneys Jessica Peck and C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher B. Brown and Jolie Zimmerman for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. Paralegal Specialists Angela De Falco and Brian Rickers and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick provided valuable assistance. Significant assistance was also provided by Trial Attorney Christen Gallagher, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Southern District of New York, HSI Philadelphia, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica C. Brooks.

WASHINGTON – Nicole Freeman Smith, 51, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in Superior Court to one felony count and one misdemeanor count of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult or elderly person (FEVA) for stealing more than $133,000 from two elderly District residents suffering from cognitive impairment. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, and Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice, of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.

            According to court documents, Smith, who worked as a property manager at several residential buildings for seniors in Washington, D.C., targeted vulnerable building residents to steal thousands of dollars from their accounts and other sources of income after befriending them and gaining their trust. After unduly influencing one victim to provide Smith with access to her financial account information, Smith stole over $94,000 from the victim’s accounts, and attempted to steal $25,000 more. Smith used the stolen funds to pay for personal expenses, including paying off credit card and utility bills, back taxes, and multiple auto loans. Smith further stole more than $38,000 from a second victim, depositing two of the victim’s personal injury settlement checks in Smith’s bank account and keeping the money for herself.

            The Honorable Lynn Leibovitz accepted Smith’s guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for September 29, 2023. As part of her plea, Smith agreed to pay restitution to the victims and will be prohibited from working or volunteering with elderly or vulnerable adults. 

            This prosecution is part of the Office’s wider efforts to combat crimes against seniors and vulnerable adults. In 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia simultaneously launched initiatives to address the abuse and exploitation of older adults. The Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Initiative at the U.S. Attorney’s Office expanded its response to criminal and civil violations targeting older adults. The initiative has enabled the U.S. Attorney’s Office to develop and coordinate further its prosecution of these cases and enhance its overall support of older or vulnerable victims. The team consists of experienced prosecutors and victim advocates from across the Office, to include the Superior Court, Criminal, and Civil Divisions, as well as the Victim Witness Assistance Unit. This prosecution is indicative of the continued collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Attorney General to prosecute cases of this kind.

            In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Graves, D.C. Attorney General Schwalb, and Special Agent in Charge Rice commended the work of those who investigated the case from HUD-OIG. They also cited the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Bleiberg, and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Torabzadeh, on detail from the Office of the Attorney General to prosecute financial crimes cases involving elderly victims, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.

Yesterday, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta joined police departments and local communities across the country yesterday for the 40th annual National Night Out.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. It began in 1984, when the Justice Department awarded a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant to establish National Night Out with the goal of helping foster relationships between communities and law enforcement. Over the past 40 years, National Night Out has partnered with over 17,000 communities and has positively impacted the lives of over 38 million Americans. Most neighborhoods participate in the annual celebration on the first Tuesday of August.

“Everyone in our country deserves to be safe in their communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “National Night Out is an important opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the close partnership between law enforcement and the communities we serve.”

Attorney General Garland participated in National Night Out events in the Philadelphia area – a current BJA Public Safety Partnership (PSP) site. Since its selection in 2021, Philadelphia has worked with local law enforcement agencies, including the Philadelphia Police Department, to reduce violent crime around the city. The Attorney General attended National Night Out events hosted by the Philadelphia Police Department’s 22nd District and Bensalem Township, where he spoke with community residents and law enforcement officials about the importance of community partnership and celebrated the city’s crime reduction efforts. Attorney General Garland was also joined by U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and visited the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Deputy Attorney General Monaco was in Nashville to highlight how the Justice Department is combatting violent crime through strong partnerships with both law enforcement and community leaders. She attended National Night Out events with U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee and Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) Chief John Drake in the Edgehill and East Park neighborhoods. While in Nashville, the Deputy AG attended roll-call at the MNPD precinct that responded to the March 2023 shooting at the Covenant School, to thank the officers for their commitment to public safety. The Deputy AG also visited the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, where she met with state, local, and federal law enforcement leaders and thanked the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their hard work.

Associate Attorney General Gupta was joined by Director Hugh T. Clements of the Department’s Office for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) and U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia at Washington, D.C.’s National Night Out kickoff event at the Rosedale Recreation Center in Northeast D.C. Alongside Pamela A. Smith, the newly appointed Acting Chief of Police for the Metropolitan Police Department, and other local leaders, Associate Attorney General Gupta delivered opening remarks and met with local law enforcement and community members. Washington, D.C. is a current PSP member and has partnered with the Metropolitan Police Department to reduce crime through interagency coordination and community policing techniques.

ATF Director Steven Dettelbach attended National Night Out events in Pleasanton, California, during his visit to the ATF San Francisco Field Division. He joined Pleasanton Police Department Chief David Swing in celebrating the events. 

Many U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also participated in National Night Out festivities around the country to celebrate crime reduction efforts and partnership between local law enforcement and the communities they serve.

WASHINGTON – Mark Thomas Moore, 32, of the District of Columbia, is charged by indictment in a series of armed robberies he is alleged to have committed in the Fall of 2022.

            The indictment, filed yesterday in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, Damon Wood, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Washington Division, and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to the government’s evidence, Moore robbed three commercial establishments and a U.S. Post Office, all in Southeast Washington, D.C., at gunpoint, between October 21, 2022, and November 22, 2022.  In addition, Moore held a store employee at gunpoint during one of the commercial robberies and robbed her of her cell phone. 

            Moore was arrested on November 28, 2022, following the robbery of a commercial establishment in Arlington, Virginia, and has been in custody ever since. 

            Moore fled the scene of the November 28 robbery on a distinct bicycle that was identical in appearance to the bicycle he used to flee the D.C. postal robbery.  After this link was established, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service was able to determine that Moore left a fingerprint inside the cash register drawer during the postal robbery.  In addition, a large BB gun and clothing recovered from Moore at the time of his arrest—and additional, unique clothing recovered during the search of a residence associated with Moore—further connects Moore to the string of armed robberies.

            The indictment charges Moore with three counts of interference with commerce by robbery (also known as “Hobbs Act” robbery), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of armed postal robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.   Under the D.C. Code, Moore is charged with one count of robbery while armed, and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, each of which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.  

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Violent Crime Task Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Washington Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Carjacking Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the Arlington County Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

            An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew M. Graves joined law enforcement partners at Rosedale Recreation Center in Northeast, Fifth District, along with community organizers, and neighbors for National Night Out today.

            "We have no greater partner in our fight against crime than our fellow community members,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “From reporting crime, bearing witness, and providing evidence – including, in this day and age, providing video from private security cameras at their residences. The community has been and will continue to be one of our greatest crime fighting partners. And that’s why National Night Out is so important.”

            This year, hundreds of residents across the District participated in various National Night Out events in their communities. This annual community-building campaign promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer. Established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice, the initiative is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.

            With coordination by local law enforcement and community partners, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together in a positive way, by hosting neighborhood block parties, cookouts, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, and more fun activities. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.

            For more information, visit https://natw.org/.

WASHINGTON – Federal law enforcement, today, arrested Demarco Diggs, 26, of Aurora, Colorado, for trafficking-in dozens of firearms, including numerous firearms recovered in the Washington, D.C.-area. Diggs is charged by indictment with engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and illegally transporting firearms. Diggs will have a detention hearing on August 3, 2023 in the District of Colorado.

            The charges were announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, of the Washington Division, Acting United States Marshal Peter D. Marketos, of the District of Columbia, and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to the indictment, from on or about June 2021 to March 2023, Diggs engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. The indictment also charges Diggs with illegally transporting firearms into the District of Columbia on or about June and July of 2021.  Finally, the indictment seeks forfeiture of over two dozen firearms, as well as corresponding assorted ammunition, from Diggs. Among the firearms recovered, at least one has been linked to a D.C.-area shooting, and was traced back to Diggs as the purchaser.

            “This office, along with our law enforcement partners, will use every legal tool at our disposal to combat straw purchasing and choke off the dangerous flow of illegal guns into our city,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “The message should be clear: unlawfully buying a gun for a prohibited person is a serious federal offense.”

            “Today’s announcement sends a clear message that participating in straw purchasing and firearm trafficking related schemes will have consequences. ATF continues to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who violate firearm related laws are held accountable,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kailimai. “One of our top priorities is to maintain public safety, so that citizens can feel safe in their communities.”

            “The United States Marshals Service for the District of Columbia (D/DC) is proud to work with our federal, state, and local partners in a coordinated effort to keep illegal firearms off the streets of Washington, D.C.,” said Acting United States Marshal Marketos. “We are committed to continue our joint efforts to ensure the apprehension of those individuals who engage in the illegal sales and transportation of firearms and other crimes that lead to violence. This apprehension is a perfect example of the lengths to which the United States Marshals Service will go to make our city safer for the community.”

            The forfeiture allegations represent the firearms recovered in Washington, D.C. as well as additional firearms recovered from a search of Diggs’s residence, and firearms that Diggs had advertised for sale.

            Each charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The sentence will be determined by the court after considering the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

            This case was jointly investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), with assistance from ATF Denver Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andy Wang and Matthew W. Kinskey of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) Section.

            An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Darrell Jones, 49, of Beltsville, MD, was convicted of all counts stemming from the April 7, 2022 stabbing of Wayne Pitt, at the Anacostia Metro Station, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Michael Anzallo, of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD). The verdicts were returned yesterday by a Superior Court jury that found Jones guilty of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, and carrying a dangerous weapon. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 26, 2023.

            On April 7, 2022, shortly before 7p.m., Darrell Jones arrived at the Anacostia Metro Station with his friend, Wayne Pitt. According to the government’s evidence, the two men were intoxicated as they spent more than an hour the Metro station platform. Jones pulled a folding knife out of his pocket and began attacking Mr. Pitt, driving the victim onto his back and swinging the knife at him 20 times. Mr. Pitt suffered nine stab wounds to his chest, sternum, abdomen and hand, suffering a punctured lung and numerous deep wounds that required immediate surgery. An MTPD officer arrived on scene, drew his weapon, and demanded that Jones drop the knife. Jones attempted to retreat from the officer, and then turned and cocked back his arm with the knife, as if to throw it in the direction of the officer. The officer shot Jones once.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Anzallo commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metro Transit Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who provided assistance in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including: Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Section Kimberly Nielsen, Paralegal Specialist Crystal Waddy, Litigation Technology Supervisor Leif Hickling, and Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah Simmons and Ella Gladman, who prosecuted the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Connor Mullin, who initially investigated the case.

Defendant Sexually Abused a Minor Child Over a Six-Month Period

            WASHINGTON –Mikeale Frazier, 24, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced, on July 25, 2023, to 10 years in prison for first degree child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Sarah Linden, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Frazier pleaded guilty on October 25, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered 10 years of supervised release.

            According to the government’s evidence, Frazier sexually abused a fourteen-year-old minor child for approximately six months. When a relative of the minor victim told Frazier to stay away from the victim due to her age, Frazier continued to sexually abuse the minor victim. Frazier also recorded a video of his sexual abuse of the minor victim.

            Frazier was arrested on June 21, 2021, and has been in custody since.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Division with assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.

            This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

            In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves, Acting Special Agent in Linden, and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force as well as the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Division.  They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Alexis Spencer-Anderson, Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Janani Iyengar.

WASHINGTON – A jury, sitting in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, today found Jonathan Johnson, 35, of Washington, D.C., guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The verdict follows a three-day trial before the Honorable Florence Y. Pan, who scheduled a sentencing hearing for November 15, 2023.

            According to the evidence presented at trial, shortly after 6:00 pm, on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, members of the Metropolitan Police Department patrolling on 13th Street SE, Washington, D.C., saw the defendant crouch behind his car and heard a gun dropped on the concrete curb. MPD Officers approached the defendant and found a gun lying where the defendant was previously bent down. Further examination revealed that the gun was modified with a “giggle” or “selector” switch, which turned the semi-automatic gun into a fully automatic machine gun. In addition, the firearm was loaded with 22 bullets in an extended magazine.

            In announcing the conviction, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. They also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Birney, Lauren Renaud, Janani Iyengar, William G. Hart, who investigated the case, and Josh A. Gold and Colin Cloherty who prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Medgar Webster Sr., 52, of Washington, D.C., was ordered to pay full restitution to the District of Columbia for defrauding the city and the Metropolitan Police Department of $33,845.59. Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur sentenced Webster to six months in jail, suspended, 6 months of supervised probation, and 54 months of unsupervised probation.

            Webster pleaded guilty on May 15, 2023, in Superior Court, to one count of first-degree felony fraud for committing time and attendance fraud on the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to court documents, Webster, a former MPD officer and Vice Chairman of the D.C. Police Union, engaged in unauthorized outside employment at three Whole Foods Market locations in Washington, D.C. between January 2021 and April 2022, while concurrently employed by MPD.  Although employment outside of MPD may be permitted in certain circumstances, Webster never submitted the necessary administrative forms or received the proper authorizations, which are required by MPD, in part, to maintain records of an MPD member’s hours worked throughout the year.

            Acting unchecked during this period, Webster stole more than $33,845 from MPD after billing MPD for regular, overtime and holiday hours that he never worked. In total, Webster worked more than 1,400 hours of outside employment at Whole Foods, of which 514 hours were worked simultaneously with time he fraudulently reported working for MPD. This double-billed time included submissions by Webster for 246.5 hours in overtime pay, at an adjustable hourly rate of $79.67 per hour.

            This fraud prosecution is the result of a partnership between the Office of the Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

            In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Graves, D.C. Attorney General Schwalb, and MPD Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who investigated and prosecuted the matter, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Bleiberg, and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bayly Leighton, on detail from the Office of the Attorney General to prosecute local fraud and public corruption cases.

Defendants Fired 12 Shots at Six Young Men on a Sunday Afternoon

          WASHINGTON – A Superior Court jury, today, returned guilty verdict on all counts against Jalen Browne, 22, of Upper Marlboro, MD, for the murders of Jovan Hill and Tariq Riley, on July 25, 2021, on Q Street NW, Washington, D.C. The verdicts were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

          Browne was found guilty of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and six counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 13, 2023.

          According to evidence presented at trial, shortly after 3:38pm on Sunday, July 25, 2021, the defendant disguised himself and walked around the 100 block of Q Street, NW, eventually lying in wait to shoot young men enjoying the hot summer day. The defendant, using a backpack to catch his shell casings, fired 12 shots in succession at six young men. Narrowly missing three of his targets, the Defendant hit Jovan Hill, Tariq Riley, and another man in the back. First responders found Jovan Hill and Tariq Riley on the ground. Both men were transported to nearby hospitals, but all life-saving efforts failed; both men died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the back.

            No witnesses provided information regarding the identity of the shooters. The government presented forensic, video surveillance, circumstantial, and motive evidence in securing a conviction on all counts.

            In announcing the verdicts, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of the officers and detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department who investigated the case, as well as members of the prosecution team, including: Charlie Bruce, Zachary McMenamin, and Paralegal Specialists Meridith McGarity, Lauren Douglas, and Tasha Harris.  Finally, they thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey A. Wojcik and Lauren Galloway who prosecuted the case. 

WASHINGTON – Jean Paul Kearney, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 20 years in prison for second degree murder while armed, and other charges, in connection with the April 4, 2021, shooting death of Dontra Harris. Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan handed down the sentence on July 18, 2023, and also ordered five years of supervised release.

            Kearney was convicted by a jury of assault on a police officer while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, obstruction of justice, unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction), and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device); he pleaded guilty on April 27, 2023 to second degree murder while armed..

            According to the Government’s evidence, on April 4, 2021 shortly before 9 p.m., Kearney tailed his childhood friend, Dontra Harris, on a motorcycle. They both pulled over by the side of the road and verbally argued and then went their separate ways. Kearney, who lived nearby, went back home to switch out his motorcycle for his mother’s vehicle. He then drove to the victim’s apartment building and waited for 15 minutes for the victim to return home. When  the victim attempted to enter his building, Kearney ambushed him, and shot him several times in the back. When law enforcement and paramedics arrived on scene, they located the victim near the front of the building and pronounced him dead. On May 13, 2021, when the Gun Recovery Unit executed a residential search warrant in connection with the homicide investigation, Kearney fired multiple times at the officers with an AK-47 assault rifle. Several days later, upon learning that the police had collected his cellphone during the warrant execution, Kearney provided his family member with instructions over the phone on how to remotely erase the contents of his phone.

            Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department arrested Kearney on May 13, 2021. He has been in custody since.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), commended the work of the MPD officers and detective who investigated the case. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Gilbert and Debra Forte, Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Supervisory Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; Victim/Witness Advocates Karina Hernandez and Paola Molina, Supervisory Victim Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; and Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Litigation Technology Specialist William Henderson

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi and Erin DeRiso, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON - Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation has agreed to pay the United States $377,453,150 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing commercial and international costs to its government contracts. Booz Allen, which is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, provides a range of management, consulting, and engineering services to the Government, as well as commercial and international customers.

            Under government contracting rules, there must be a nexus between the costs charged to a government contract and the objective of the contract. Thus, a contractor may charge to a government contract costs directly related to that contract, as well as indirect costs that benefit multiple contracts including the government contract. A contractor may not charge costs to a government contract, however, that have no relationship to that contract. This prohibition prevents government contractors from using taxpayer funds to subsidize non-government related work.

            The settlement announced today resolves allegations that from approximately 2011 to 2021, Booz Allen improperly charged costs to its government contracts and subcontracts that instead should have been billed to its commercial and international contracts. In particular, the government alleged that Booz Allen improperly allocated indirect costs associated with its commercial and international business to its government contracts and subcontracts that either had no relationship to those contracts and subcontracts or were allocated to those contracts and subcontracts in disproportionate amounts. The government further alleged that Booz Allen failed to disclose to the Government the methods by which it accounted for costs supporting its commercial and international businesses. As a result, Booz Allen obtained reimbursement from the government for the costs of commercial activities that provided no benefit to the United States.

            “This settlement, which is one of the largest procurement fraud settlements in history, demonstrates that the United States will pursue even the largest companies and the most complex matters where taxpayer funds are alleged to have been pilfered,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew M. Graves.  “The Justice Department is committed to ferreting out all fraud, waste, and abuse in government programs—small or large, simple or complex.” 

            “Government contractors must turn square corners when billing the government for costs under government contracts,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates our commitment to hold accountable contractors that knowingly overcharge the government and enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayers.”

            “DCAA appreciates the opportunity to support the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners by providing expert financial assistance regarding enforcement of the False Claims Act,” said Director Terri Dilly for the Defense Contract Audit Agency. “This interagency cooperation provides a strong safeguard for appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.”

            The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit was filed by Sarah Feinberg, a former Booz Allen employee, and is captioned United States ex rel. Feinberg, v. Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Civ. A. No. 16-1911 (D.D.C.).  Ms. Feinberg will receive $69,828,832 in connection with the settlement.

            The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Contract Integrity Center, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency’s Operations Investigative Support Division, with assistance by agents from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Inspector Generals from the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, National Reconnaissance Office, Department of Homeland Security, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

            The case was handled by Trial Attorneys Dan Schiffer and Chris Reimer of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hudak with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from the Defense Contract Audit Agency's Operations Investigative Support Division, in particular DCAA Auditors Igor Yegoroff, Myron Antoniw, and Tim Chase.

            The case is captioned United States ex rel. Feinberg v. Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Civ. A. No. 16-1911 (ACR) (D.D.C.). The claims alleged in the case are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation has agreed to pay the United States $377,453,150 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing commercial and international costs to its government contracts. Booz Allen, which is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, provides a range of management, consulting, and engineering services to the government, as well as commercial and international customers.

Under government contracting rules, there must be a nexus between the costs charged to a government contract and the objective of the contract. Thus, a contractor may charge to a government contract costs directly related to that contract, as well as indirect costs that benefit multiple contracts including the government contract. A contractor may not charge costs to a government contract, however, that have no relationship to that contract. This prohibition prevents government contractors from using taxpayer funds to subsidize non-government related work.

The settlement announced today resolves allegations that from approximately 2011 to 2021, Booz Allen improperly charged costs to its government contracts and subcontracts that instead should have been billed to its commercial and international contracts. In particular, the government alleged that Booz Allen improperly allocated indirect costs associated with its commercial and international business to its government contracts and subcontracts that either had no relationship to those contracts and subcontracts or were allocated to those contracts and subcontracts in disproportionate amounts. The government further alleged that Booz Allen failed to disclose to the government the methods by which it accounted for costs supporting its commercial and international businesses. As a result, Booz Allen obtained reimbursement from the government for the costs of commercial activities that provided no benefit to the United States.

“Government contractors must turn square corners when billing the government for costs under government contracts,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates our commitment to hold accountable contractors that knowingly overcharge the government and enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayers.”

“This settlement, which is one of the largest procurement fraud settlements in history, demonstrates that the United States will pursue even the largest companies and the most complex matters where taxpayer funds are alleged to have been pilfered,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “The Justice Department is committed to ferreting out all fraud, waste, and abuse in government programs — small or large, simple or complex.” 

"The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) appreciates the opportunity to support the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners by providing expert financial assistance regarding enforcement of the False Claims Act," said Director Terri Dilly of the DCAA. "This interagency cooperation provides a strong safeguard for appropriate use of taxpayer dollars."

The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit was filed by Sarah Feinberg, a former Booz Allen employee, and is captioned United States ex rel. Feinberg, v. Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Civ. A. No. 16-1911 (D.D.C.). Ms. Feinberg will receive $69,828,832 in connection with the settlement.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Contract Integrity Center, and the DCAA’s Operations Investigative Support Division, with assistance by agents from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and FBI, and Inspector Generals from the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, National Reconnaissance Office, Department of Homeland Security, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

This matter was handled by attorneys Dan Schiffer and Chris Reimer of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hudak for the District of Columbia, with assistance from DCAA's Operations Investigative Support Division, in particular DCAA Auditors Igor Yegoroff, Myron Antoniw, and Tim Chase.

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

Settlement

WASHINGTON – Demarco Boyd, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 97 months in prison for his convictions on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Boyd pleaded guilty on March 24, 2023, to unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of two firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking (one of which was a machinegun). In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered 60 months of supervised release.

            According to the government’s evidence, in June of 2022, the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) was investigating individuals involved in narcotics distribution around the 3600 block of Hayes Street NE, Washington DC, including hand-to-hand transactions and controlled buys in the area of the 3600 block of Hayes Street NE. After making a controlled purchase of cocaine base from Boyd, on June 16, 2022, officers executed a search warrant at an apartment occupied by Boyd, his pregnant girlfriend, and her young child. Boyd was present at the time and dropped a Glock firearm and a black backpack containing a “Draco” style firearm out of one window of the apartment onto the grass below. The Glock 19 pistol had an illegal “giggle” converter switch, which is designed to enable the firearm to expel more than one round of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger, making the firearm a machinegun. The “Draco” style firearm had a large capacity magazine loaded with 28 rounds.

            From the apartment, officers also seized distributable amounts of phencyclidine (PCP), cocaine base, fentanyl, and marijuana, as well as various drug paraphernalia. DEA lab results indicate that law enforcement seized at least 583 grams of marijuana, 110 grams of cocaine base, 40 grams of PCP, and 2.77 grams of fentanyl. MPD also found and seized $5,129 of U.S. currency. The defendant admitted that he possessed the two firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities, and that he knew he was a convicted felon at the time he possessed them.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of the detectives and patrol officers of the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Henek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Brittany Bailey, 34, of Columbia, Missouri, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for the sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Sarah Linden of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.

            Bailey pleaded guilty, on August 25, 2021, to advertising child pornography. In addition to the prison term and supervised release, U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates ordered Bailey to register as a sex offender for 25 years, and to pay restitution in the amount of $25,000 to the minor victims she harmed.

            According to court documents, in 2019, Bailey was involved with an online Internet group called “Taboo Parents.” She engaged with a person she believed to be another member of the group, but who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Believing that she was chatting with a pedophile, Bailey sent photographs of herself telling him she wanted him to sexually abuse the child shown in the images that she sent. Bailey went on to create other online chat group dedicated to exchanging child sexual abuse material, and she invited users to and banned users from the group. She setup rules for the members of the groups, and she told members about her sexual preferences and encouraged them to share child sex abuse material with the group. After making these comments, multiple users shared child pornography in the group chat. Bailey shared four different videos of child pornography in the chat. The videos all depicted young girls, some as young as toddlers. One month later, on May 1, 2019, agents executed a search warrant at Bailey’s residence in Columbia, Missouri. They recovered her electronic devices, including her cellular phone, which contained images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. 

            This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

            This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with assistance from the Kansas City Field Office’s Jefferson City Resident Agency. It was prosecuted, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

WASHINGTON – Daeyon Ross, 22, of the District of Columbia, is charged by indictment alleging six criminal counts related to a carjacking spree, on July 2, 2023, that left one Maryland resident and two dogs dead. The incident, which occurred over a span of 20-30 minutes, began in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and ended in a shootout with police officers in Northeast Washington, D.C.    

            Ross was indicted by a grand jury in the District Court for the District of Columbia on charges of: assault with intent to kill while armed; carjacking; assault on a police officer while armed; assault with a dangerous weapon; using, carrying, possessing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence; and unlawful possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than one year. 

            According to the government’s evidence, the Metropolitan Police Department’s Air Support Unit (Falcon) spotted Ross driving recklessly at high speeds from Washington D.C. into Prince George’s County, Maryland. While in Prince George’s County, Ross carjacked multiple cars while armed with a stolen handgun equipped with a large capacity magazine. In the process, Ross shot to death a 56-year old off-duty Metro bus driver and two dogs. 

            Ross proceeded to re-enter Washington D.C., where he crashed one of the carjacked vehicles in a residential neighborhood in Northeast D.C.  Ross then used his handgun to carjack yet another vehicle from a D.C. resident who was returning from church. Ross attempted to flee again before crashing into Maryland law enforcement officers that had continued to pursue him from Maryland into D.C.  Ross then opened fire on law enforcement. Officers returned fire and Ross surrendered shortly thereafter. Neither Ross nor the officers were harmed in the shootout. 

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin F. Song and Alec Levy of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

            The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office's Violent Crime Task Force, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Prince George's County Police Department. It is brought with the assistance of and in coordination with the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Keith Hudson, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 19 years in prison for second degree murder while armed in the February 6, 2021, shooting death of Isaiah Glover. Superior Court Judge Anthony C. Epstein also ordered five years of supervised release. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to the government’s evidence, around 2:40 p.m. on February 6, 2021, the victim was walking on Hunt Place NE, when he turned south onto the 800 block of 42nd Street and encountered the defendant. Hudson was driving a white Buick LeSabre. He drove north on 42nd Street NE past Mr. Glover, then intentionally made a U-turn and drove back south on 42nd Street past Mr. Glover again. Mr. Glover took a right onto Hunt Place SE and headed towards Minnesota Ave. NE. After passing Mr. Glover twice, the defendant drove to Gault Street NE and 42nd Street NE where he parked the vehicle. The defendant got out of his car and walked towards Hunt Place SE and Minnesota Ave., and followed Mr. Glover into the alley behind 4147 Minnesota Ave, NE. Mr. Glover was unaware that he was being followed. The defendant quickly caught up to Mr. Glover. He drew a .40 caliber firearm out of his front hoodie pocket and, just as soon as Mr. Glover realized that the was being followed, the defendant shot Mr. Glover twice. Mr. Glover sustained a life ending injury to his brain. The defendant then ran through a perpendicular alley, back to his car, and fled. Law enforcement and paramedics arrived at the alley and pronounced Isaiah Glover dead at 2:53 pm.

            “This sentence will remove a dangerous person from our District’s streets for a substantial period of time,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Our office is grateful for the detectives who doggedly pursued this case and offers our sincerest condolences to Isaiah Glover’s family on this tragic loss.” 

            Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department arrested Hudson on February 9, 2021 and has been in custody since. Hudson pleaded guilty on April 14, 2023.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney, Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington-Williams.

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Coronado, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Defendants Accused of Daylight Shooting in the Congress Park Area

            WASHINGTON – Johnny Wilkins, 34, of Temple Hills, Maryland, Marcel Gavin, 31, Kharee Jackson, 30, Earl Robinson, 31, and Darryl Little, 29, all of Washington D.C. are named in a 20 count indictment charging them with conspiracy, three counts of first degree murder while armed – felony murder, one count of premeditated first degree murder while armed, one count of assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of robbery while armed, one count of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, one count of possession of a firearm with a prior conviction (Wilkins), and nine counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The defendants were arraigned on July 10, 2023, before D.C. Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

            The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to the indictment, on June 13, 2020, decedent Albert Smith, who was an up-and-coming rap artist from the Tennessee/Georgia area, travelled up to the District with seven friends to meet up with the defendants and other individuals from the Congress Park area in Southeast, Washington, DC. After settling into their hotel, the victim and his friends (the “Georgia Group”) took an Uber to Congress Park. Once there, the Georgia Group joined the defendants and other members of the Congress Park group, where they socialized and gambled tens of thousands of dollars through the night into the next morning. Around 7:15 a.m., the Georgia Group decided they were going to leave. The five defendants and seven other members of the Congress Park Group followed the Georgia Group onto 13th Place where they split up and attacked and robbed three members of the Georgia Group. Defendant Wilkins chased Smith and four other members of the Georgia Group down Congress Street while shooting at them. Smith was killed, another member of his group was also shot, and two more victims were pistol whipped and robbed by the four other defendants and other members of the Congress Park Group, robbing each of them of approximately $20,000.

            The defendants are currently held without bond pending trial.  A status hearing is scheduled for September 8, 2023, before Judge Michael O’Keefe.

            In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They acknowledged the efforts of those who are working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Metropolitan Homicide Detective Jeffrey Clay; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney and Lauren Douglas. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marybeth Manfreda and Miles Janssen, who are investigating and prosecuting the case.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

WASHINGTON – Herbert Young, 40, of Washington, D.C., was indicted for assaulting a senior citizen with the intent to kill him while armed with a knife and related charges stemming from a stabbing that occurred on February 4, 2023. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Ashan M. Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department.  

            Young was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on charges of assault with intent to kill of a senior citizen while armed, aggravated assault of a senior citizen while armed, assault of a senior citizen with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a dangerous weapon.  

            According to the government’s evidence, Young’s 74-year-old victim lived in the apartment above him.  On February 4, 2023, Young went to the victim’s apartment at approximately 1:30 p.m., and knocked.  The victim opened his door, and, after a brief interaction, Young stabbed the victim nine times in the torso and neck, using a knife with an approximately eight-inch blade.  Young then left the building and went to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sixth District substation.  The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital. Young brought the knife he used to stab the victim to police and reported that the victim had attacked him and that he acted in self-defense.  Young had a cut on his hand. The victim received emergency life-saving medical treatment and survived. Young was arrested and has been in custody ever since.    

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

            In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Benedict commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Levy, who is investigating and prosecuting the case.

WASHINGTON – Alexus Camero, 27, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced yesterday to 84 months in prison for distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Emily Odom, and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Cameron pleaded guilty on February 14, 2023.

            According to court documents, in August of 2021, Camero met an individual online whom he believed was the father of a nine-year-old boy. In reality, this individual was a law enforcement officer, acting in an undercover capacity. Camero exchanged several messages with the undercover officer, and he expressed an interest in sexually abusing the child. At one point during this online chat, Camero asked the undercover officer if he and a friend could borrow the child for a night. 

            Throughout the course of this exchange, Camero sent the undercover two videos depicting the sexual abuse of very young children. On November 30, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Camero’s residence. When interviewed by law enforcement, the defendant admitted to chatting with the undercover and to distributing videos that depicted the sexual abuse of young boys. The defendant also admitted that he had additional videos depicting child pornography saved on his cell phone. Law enforcement recovered Camero’s cellular telephone and found at several images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children confirmed that some of the children depicted in these images have been identified and rescued by law enforcement.

            Following his prison term, Camero will be place on supervised release for 15 years and must register as a sex offender for a period of 25 years. He will be ordered to pay restitution to the minor victims who are depicted in the child sex abuse images and videos that he distributed and possessed. 

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Acting SAC Odom, and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of the agents and detectives who investigated the case. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S, Attorneys Amy Larson and Rachel Forman who investigated and prosecuted the case.

            This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

WASHINGTON – Charles Johnson, 29, of Washington, D.C., was convicted today of multiple counts of first degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances, multiple counts of first degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances, second degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances, attempted first degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances, and assault. The verdict, announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), follows a 5-day trial in Superior Court in the District of Columbia. The Honorable Michael O’Keefe scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 6, 2023.

            According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, on multiple occasions between November 2019 and September 2021, Johnson sexually abused a child who was nine and ten years old at the time of the assaults. Johnson subjected the child to sexual acts and repeatedly forced her to perform sexual acts on him. Johnson, who is an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department, resided in the home with the victim and took advantage of occasions when he was left in a position of supervision and care over her.

            Johnson faces the potential of life imprisonment without the opportunity of release. If he were to be released, Johnson would be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

            In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Tiffany Jones and Reshawn Johnson, Victim/Witness Advocate Lezlie Richardson, Victim/Witness Coordinators Donna Proctor, Nikiya Burnette, Katina Adams-Washington, and Tonya Jones, and Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling and Charlie Bruce. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marco Crocetti and Kathleen Houck, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Bohlen, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Brandon Brown, 33, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to a 10-year prison term for strangling his ex-girlfriend and then trying to dissuade her from participating in the pending criminal investigation, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Brown pleaded guilty, on March 3, 2023, to one count of aggravated assault, and one count of obstructing justice.

            According to the government’s evidence, on April 19, 2022, Brown and his on-again, off-again intimate partner got into an argument about whether they had been cheating on each other. During the argument, the defendant strangled his partner with sufficient force that she “blacked out.” Brown’s actions caused the defendant to lose her vision and become unconscious, creating a grave risk of death. A week later, despite being held in custody, Brown contacted his partner from the D.C. Jail to try and persuade her not to come to court or participate in the criminal investigation.  

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit. She acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Tracey Hawkins, Paralegal Specialists Tiffany Fogle and Garcia Clarke, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dana Joseph and Robert Platt, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Lee, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Isaiah Anderson, 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his role in a violent drug trafficking organization, involving 16 other defendants, whose members are charged in a drug distribution conspiracy involving fentanyl, cocaine base, other illegal drugs, illegal firearms. Anderson pleaded guilty, on November 29, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of Fentanyl; using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense; and possession of contraband in prison.

            The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Emily Odom, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge SAC Craig Kailimai, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            According to court documents, in the Spring of 2020, MPD, FBI, ATF, and DEA began conducting an investigation into a drug trafficking operation, centered around a multi-unit apartment building, located in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest, Washington, D.C. The investigation revealed that between May 2020 and late-September 2020, at 1319 5th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. members of the conspiracy, including the defendant, distributed narcotics on a near daily basis, primarily in the foyer outside of certain apartments, as well as in the courtyard adjacent to the building’s front entrance. During the conspiracy, the defendant sold Fentanyl for approximately $80/gram and had numerous repeat customers. It is estimated the group distributed multiple kilograms of Fentanyl in the relevant time period.

            “This case is another example of the multi-agency efforts underway to rid our district of dangerous drug trafficking crews and the violence they bring,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “The strategy works.  In the six months after these arrests, no violent crimes were reported in the territory the defendants previously occupied, and calls for sounds of gunshots dramatically decreased (by 94%). Nearly two years later, calls for the sounds of gunshots were still down 57%. We are going to prioritize these kinds of investigations, so those thinking of joining similar crews should think hard about whether they want to sacrifice their freedom.”

            “The success of Operation Lincoln Westmoreland was a result of strong collaboration between the FBI and our federal and local partners,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Odom. “Together we arrested over a dozen subjects; recovered numerous weapons, including seven ghost guns; and seized fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and promethazine, leaving Shaw safer for everyone who lives and works in the neighborhood.”

            On August 5, 2020, Anderson and another co-conspirator purchased a 2017 Infiniti Q60 for $32,690 in cash. Anderson provided the car dealership with trash bags full of small denomination bills for the purchase. On August 12, 2020, Anderson was driving that car with co-conspirator Michael Robinson in the vehicle. The Infiniti was involved in a traffic crash with an MPD vehicle. Anderson fled the scene but was apprehended a short time later. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement found a Glock 30, Gen4 .45 caliber firearm, loaded with 11 rounds in the magazine and 1 round in the chamber; a digital scale; approximately 100 empty Ziplock bags; $3,567.99 in U.S. Currency; and suspected cocaine base, Fentanyl, and marijuana. Anderson admitted that he possessed the narcotics on August 12, 2020, with the intent to redistribute them to others as part of the conspiracy. He also admitted that his role in the conspiracy included the distribution and the possession with the intent to distribute at least 400 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of Fentanyl.

            On or about August 25, 2021, the Defendant, while an inmate being held without bond in this case in the custody of the United States Marshal at the Central Detention Facility (CDF) located at 1901 D Street, S.E., Washington, D.C., possessed on his person a five-inch piece of metal sharpened to a point on one end and wrapped in cloth on the other end that was designed or intended to be used as a weapon. In September 2021, while also incarcerated in this case in the custody of the United States Marshal at the CDF, the Defendant possessed an operating cellular telephone to access, and communicate through, Instagram, a social media platform.

            Other members of the conspiracy who have pleaded guilty to drug and/or gun offenses and have been sentenced include:

NAME

SENTENCE

Isaiah Anderson

120 months in prison; 36 months SR

Tyree Marshall

84 months in prison; 36 months SR

Daeshawn Brown

51 months in prison; 36 months SR

Taquan Canarte

53 months in prison; 36 months SR

Shahn Giles

60 months in prison; 36 months SR

Xavier Harris

110 months in prison; 60 months SR

Jovanta Little

42 months in prison; 36 months SR

Mikeal Matthews

94 months in prison; 60 months SR

Kevon Maynor

63 months in prison; 48 months SR

Michael Robinson

96 months in prison; 36 months SR

Jaden Smith

46 months in prison; 36 months SR

Takisha Ganeous

96 months in prison; 48 months SR

Maurice Glasgow

Pleaded guilty; Awaiting sentencing

 

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Linden, Special Agent in Charge Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge Forget, and Interim Chief Benedict, commended the work of the detectives and patrol officers of the Metropolitan Police Department, the agents from FBI and DEA, and the agents and DNA lab personnel from the  Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  They also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant.  Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney George Eliopoulos and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Fletcher, with the office’s Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Marquette E. Johnson, 42, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today to first degree sexual abuse while armed and first degree child sexual abuse while armed, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            According to the government’s evidence, on or about November 28, 2005, at approximately 8:30 a.m., within the District of Columbia, Johnson abducted a 12-year-old female child, at gunpoint, as she walked to school. He drove up to the victim, pointed a semiautomatic pistol or imitation pistol at her, and told her to get in the minivan or he would kill her. Once the child complied, the defendant drove her to an alley behind the 1300 block of Morris Road, SE, where he forced her to get in the back seat and sexually assaulted her. When the defendant finished raping her, he drove the victim back to the location where he had picked her up and told her something to the effect of, “See, I told you, you wouldn’t miss school.” The child promptly reported what had occurred to a teacher and an MPD officer stationed at the school.

            DNA obtained from the physical evidence in the investigation matched the DNA profile of the defendant, who is a convicted offender. Additional DNA testing determined it was at least 87 quadrillion times more likely if the evidence originated from the defendant and the victim, than if from the victim and an unknown, unrelated individual. The defendant was a stranger to the victim and her family.

            The Honorable Judge Maribeth Raffinan scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 29, 2023. Under the plea agreement, if accepted by the Court, Johnson faces a sentence of 23-27 years in prison, followed by at least five years of supervised release. He will also have to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

            This case was investigated by detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit and Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit, Youth Investigations Division, and detectives and officers from the Seventh District. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Zubrensky and Robert Platt, with support from Paralegal Specialist Cynthia Muhammad and Victim/Witness Advocate Tracey Hawkins.

            This case was brought as part of the Cold Case Initiative launched in February 2018, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, to reinvestigate previously unsolved cases of sexual assault as well as sexual assault-related homicides. The U.S. Attorney’s Office works on this initiative in partnership with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and local law enforcement partners in the DMV area to achieve its mission.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. (MPD), and numerous community-based organizations welcomed more than 200 youth at the 13th Annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence” Anti-Violence Youth Summit, held on July 7 at MPD’s First District Police Station and streamed virtually.

            The event focused on a variety of subjects, including gun violence prevention; drug and alcohol abuse prevention; mental health awareness; self-respect; diversity, understanding, and respect of the differences of others as a means of promoting allyship and reducing bullying and violence. A moment of silence was held to remember young victims lost by homicide in 2022. The summit comprised dynamic speakers, entertainment, information, and resources. U.S. Attorney Graves presented the United States Attorney’s Office’s Youth Citizenship Awards to seven youth participants. There was also a “Healing through Creativity” Poetry Contest, the winner of which read their poem at the summit.

            Since the U.S. Attorney’s Office hosted its first Youth Summit in 2011, thousands have participated in this program. The event is a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program, a nationwide effort to reduce violent crime.

            This year’s partners included the East of the River Family Strengthening Collaborative, the Marion Barry Summer Youth Program, the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, the T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project, the D.C. Prevention Centers, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

 

WASHINGTON – Vincent Galarza, 32, of Glendale, New York, was sentenced today to 17 and a half years – or 210 months – in prison for his involvement and participation in the world’s formerly largest darknet child pornography website, Welcome To Video.

    Galarza pleaded guilty on Jan. 17, 2023, to sexual exploitation of children and conspiracy to distribute child pornography.

    Galarza is one of eight prolific users of the website Welcome to Video, charged in the District of Columbia for their participation in a massive darknet advertisement and distribution of child pornography. Welcome To Video operated as a hidden service on the Tor network until March 2018, when it was seized by law enforcement authorities. As of October 2019, when the Department initially announced its indictment of Welcome to Video site administrator Jong Woo Son (a South Korean national, subsequently convicted in South Korea), an additional 337 site users worldwide had been arrested and charged.

    Additional defendants charged and convicted in the District of Columbia include Nicholas Stengel, 47, of Washington, D.C.; Charles Wunderlich, 36, of Hot Springs, California; Ernest Wagner, 72, of Federal Way, Washington; Darryl Miller, 36, of Shawnee, Kansas; Jason DeJournett, 47, of Seal Beach, California; Brian LaPrath, 36, of San Diego, California; and Michael Ezeagbor, 24, of Pflugerville, Texas.

    According to court documents, users of the website created registered accounts with usernames and a password. Only after the user registered an account could the user browse previews of videos available for download and post text to the website. To download videos from the site, users needed “points,” which were allocated to users by the website. A registered user could earn points from the website in several ways, including uploading videos depicting child pornography, referring new users to the website, and paying for a “VIP” account with Bitcoin.

    Court documents show that certain persons joined the conspiracy to distribute child pornography by uploading videos. Those co-conspirators who uploaded videos of child pornography for “points” also earned additional “points” each time a customer of the site downloaded that particular video. Court documents state that the co-conspirators had a shared goal as part of the conspiracy – increasing the number of unique videos on the website to drive additional traffic to it, which in turn led to greater downloads and more points for the co-conspirators.

The following is a summary of the conduct of each defendant charged in the District of Columbia.

Vincent Galarza

    Between approximately May 31, 2017, and February 9, 2018, Galarza downloaded at least 174 videos from the website and uploaded approximately 560 videos, all of which depicted child pornography. A subsequent forensic search of Galarza’s electronic devices revealed that he was in possession of an additional 500 images and 102 videos of child pornography, the majority of which depicted sexually explicit conduct of pre-pubescent children.

    During the search of the electronic devices, court documents say that authorities identified two minor victims that had been secretly recorded by Galarza. Galarza captured at least 20 videos of one of the minor victims that he then edited and clipped to produce over 966 still-shot images that focused on the same minor’s genitalia and pubic area.

    Investigators also determined that Galarza had used images produced of one of the minor victims in an attempt to extort the victim into sending him additional images.

Nicholas Stengel

    Stengel was sentenced to 180 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography and laundering of monetary instruments. Stengel had a previous conviction for possession of child pornography. Stengel had amassed an extensive collection of child pornography from the website, with over 6,000 videos and 600,000 images.

Charles Wunderlich

    Wunderlich was sentenced to 87 months in prison and 15 years of supervised release on June 28, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Wunderlich uploaded 13 videos and downloaded four videos of child pornography from the website.

Ernest Wagner

    Wagner was sentenced to 60 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release on June 4, 2021, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Wagner uploaded 84 videos and downloaded 40 videos depicting child pornography from the website.  A forensic review of his electronic devices identified an additional 92 images and 22 videos depicting child pornography in his possession.

Darryl Miller

    Miller was sentenced to 60 months in prison and five years of supervised release in the District of Kansas on Sept. 22, 2020, after he pleaded guilty to access with intent to view child pornography. Miller downloaded approximately 20 gigabytes of data from the website and had approximately 57 child pornography images on his devices. 

Jason DeJournett

    DeJournett was sentenced to 33 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release on July 30, 2021, after he pleaded guilty to access with intent to view child pornography. DeJournett downloaded 113 videos of child pornography from the website.

Brian LaPrath

    LaPrath was sentenced to 18 months in prison on June 19, 2019, after he pleaded guilty to laundering monetary instruments. LaPrath exchanged funds to obtain Bitcoin and used that Bitcoin to download child pornography from the website

Michael Ezeagbor

    Ezeagbor was sentenced to time served and five years of supervised release on June 25, 2021, in the Western District of Texas after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Ezeagbor uploaded ten videos and downloaded 42 videos depicting child pornography from the website.  A subsequent forensic review of his electronic devices identified an additional 190 images and 14 videos depicting child pornography in his possession.

    Additional investigations into those affiliated with Welcome To Video remain ongoing. 

    These cases were investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  The Korean National Police of the Republic of Korea, the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom and the German Federal Criminal Police (the Bundeskriminalamt), provided assistance and coordinated with their parallel investigations.  The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Criminal Division provided significant assistance.   

    These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Lindsay Suttenberg, former AUSA Zia M. Faruqui, and former AUSA Youli Lee, Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Diane Brashears, Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick, and Records Examiner Chad Byron of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. 

    Additional assistance has been provided by Deputy Chief Keith Becker and Trial Attorney James E. Burke IV of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and former U.S. Attorney’s Office Paralegal Specialists Toni Anne Donato and Ty Eaton.

WASHINGTON — Jermaine Dukes, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 105 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and unlawful possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing a detectable amount of marijuana.

    According to court documents, on Aug. 4, 2022, two Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) Officers observed a man, later identified as Dukes, approach a vehicle parked in a parking lot in the 1400 block of Saratoga Ave. N.E. The officers watched as Dukes approached the vehicle, opened the trunk, and removed a large black bag. Dukes then reached into the black bag and pulled out a large plastic bag of marijuana. Dukes began separating the marijuana into smaller bags consistent with distribution and then watched as he weighed each small bag on a scale.

    Court records say that MDP officers responded to the location for additional investigation. Officers then searched the vehicle and obtained over a pound of marijuana, two loaded firearms, and U.S. currency. Dukes was then arrested and transported in an enforcement vehicle for processing. An investigation into the matter determined that Dukes had possessed the two loaded firearms.    

    Dukes is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to two previous felony convictions in the District of Columbia of felon in possession and possession with intent to distribute while armed.

    Dukes pleaded guilty on April 6, 2023, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and unlawful possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing a detectable amount of marijuana.

    Dukes was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden. Following completion of his prison term, he will be placed on 36 months of supervised release.

    This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Ashley Pattison and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Joy Jackson.

The Justice Department today announced the filing of a forfeiture complaint against over 9,000 rifles, 284 machine guns, approximately 194 rocket launchers, over 70 anti-tank guided missiles and over 700,000 rounds of ammunition that the U.S. Navy seized in transit from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to militant groups in Yemen.

“The government of Iran, through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, remains bent on smuggling weapons of war to militant groups in violation of U.S. sanctions and international law,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “As this seizure demonstrates, the Department of Justice will work in lockstep with our U.S. Government partners to deny the Iranian regime the means to undermine our nation’s interest and threaten the security of our people.”  

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office has again taken action to prevent Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from spreading violence and bloodshed across the world and threatening the security of our nation and allies,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “As proven before, where we have jurisdiction, this office will use all the tools available in our power to prevent criminals and terrorists from threatening global stability.”

“It is paramount this significant amount of seized weapons and ammunition aimed to cause global devastation never reach its intended destination,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. “HSI Washington D.C., with the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and the assistance from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, will continue to identify, disrupt and dismantle Iran’s illicit flow of weapons at every level. Offenders who violate U.S. export laws will be brought to justice, as we are committed to protecting our nation worldwide.”

According to court documents, the noted weapons came from four interdictions of stateless dhow vessels: two from 2021 and two from 2023. These interdictions led to the discovery and seizure of four large caches of conventional weapons, including long arms and anti-tank missiles, and related munitions – all of which were determined to be primarily of either Iranian, Chinese or Russian origin.

This action follows the government’s March 2023 forfeiture action against over one million rounds of ammunition enroute from Iran to Yemen. The network for both actions was involved in the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons systems and components by sanctioned Iranian entities that directly support military action by the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Iranian regime’s campaign of terrorist activities throughout the region. The forfeiture complaint alleges a sophisticated scheme by the IRGC to clandestinely ship weapons to entities that pose grave threats to U.S. national security. 

This forfeiture action is a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated effort to enforce U.S. sanctions against the IRGC and the Iranian regime and are merely allegations.

The HSI Washington Field Office and the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office are leading the larger investigation of the Iranian weapons-smuggling network, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in conducting the seizure. This team was also responsible for the March 2023 forfeiture action, which remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen, Brian P. Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta and Anna D. Walker for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys S. Derek Shugert and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division are litigating the case, with support from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Angela De Falco.

The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

    The Justice Department today announced the filing of a forfeiture complaint against over 9,000 rifles, 284 machine guns, approximately 194 rocket launchers, over 70 anti-tank guided missiles, and over 700,000 rounds of ammunition that the U.S. Navy seized in transit from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to militant groups in Yemen.

    “The government of Iran, through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, remains bent on smuggling weapons of war to militant groups in violation of U.S. sections and international law,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “As this seizure demonstrates, the Department of Justice will work in lockstep with our U.S. Government partners to deny the Iranian regime the means to undermine our nation’s interest and threaten the security of our people.”  

    “The United States Attorney’s Office has again taken action to prevent Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from spreading violence and bloodshed across the world and threatening the security of our nation and allies,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves of the District of Columbia. “As proven before, where we have jurisdiction, this office will use all the tools available in our power to prevent criminals and terrorists from threatening global stability.”

    “It is paramount this significant amount of seized weapons and ammunition aimed to cause global devastation never reach its intended destination,” said HSI Washington, D.C. Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon. “HSI Washington D.C., with DCIS and the assistance from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle Iran’s illicit flow of weapons at every level to prevent Iran’s illicit activity in the region and globally.”

    “This seizure demonstrates DCIS’ continued commitment to stopping illicit weapons trafficking by the IRGC,” said Christopher W. Dillard, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS, along with its law enforcement partners, will use all tools to hinder the efforts of those who unlawfully threaten the safety and security of the United States.”

    According to court documents, the noted weapons came from four interdictions of stateless dhow vessels: two from 2021 and two from 2023. These interdictions led to the discovery and seizure of four large caches of conventional weapons, including long arms and anti-tank missiles, and related munitions – all of which were determined to be primarily of either Iranian, Chinese, or Russian origin.

    This action follows the government’s March 2023 forfeiture action against over one million rounds of ammunition en route from Iran to Yemen. These forfeiture actions address the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons systems and components by sanctioned Iranian entities that directly support military action by the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Iranian regime’s campaign of terrorist activities throughout the region. The forfeiture complaint alleges a sophisticated scheme by the IRGC to clandestinely ship weapons to entities that pose grave threats to U.S. national security.

    This forfeiture action is a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated effort to enforce U.S. sanctions against the IRGC and the Iranian regime and are merely allegations.

    The HSI Washington Field Office and the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office are leading the larger investigation of the Iranian weapons-smuggling network, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in conducting the seizure. This team was also responsible for the March 2023 forfeiture action, which remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen, Brian P. Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Anna D. Walker for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys S. Derek Shugert and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division are litigating the case, with support from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Angela De Falco.

    The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

Verified complaint for forfeiture in rem December 20,2021, seized weapons May 6, 2021, seized weapons Iranian-made “RPG-7” type rocket launchers January 6, 2023, seized weapons January 15, 2023, seized weapons

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves was elected to serve a two-year term as Co-Chair of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for the District of Columbia, beginning in July 2023. The CJCC, chaired by the District’s Mayor, is an independent District agency focused on enhancing public safety and the fair administration of justice in the District of Columbia. Mr. Graves was elected to this position by fellow members of the CJCC, which include the Mayor, members of the D.C. Council, the Chief Judge of D.C. Superior Court, the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, the Attorney General of the District of Columbia, and other federal and District justice system agency leaders. 

            “I am deeply humbled and honored that a council of the stakeholders responsible for keeping our community safe—our elected officials, the Metropolitan Police Department, and other federal and local justice leaders—has elected me to help steer the important work of the CJCC,” said U.S. Attorney Graves.  “The safety of our community is our highest priority, and successful coordination among the officials and agencies responsible for protecting our community is critical to our mission.”

            For more on the history of the CJCC, visit: https://cjcc.dc.gov/page/history-cjcc

            WASHINGTON –The fifth of five defendants engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy entered a guilty plea today in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.

            Kurtis Mathes, 33, of Washington, D.C, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, acknowledging that the drug distribution transactions took place within 1,000 feet of a school. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2023.

            The investigation focused on a drug trafficking organization that operated outside a gas station and within 1,000 feet of a school on South Capitol Street.

            The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon, of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, of the Washington Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Mathes was charged with Tayion Hamiel-Ward, 25, of Washington, D.C.; Karl Dunn, 45, of Suitland; Brian Williams, 27, of Largo, Maryland; and DeShawn Barnes, 28, also of Washington, D.C., all of whom have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

            According to court documents, the defendants were operating an open-air drug market near a gas station and tobacco store in the 4600 block of South Capitol Street S.W. Several shootings in that area, dating back to at least March 2021, sparked an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Department, focusing on violent crime and drug trafficking activities near the Exxon Gas Station (“Exxon”) and the SC Discount Tobacco and Grocery Store (“Tobacco Store”), located at 4665 South Capitol Street SW and 4675 South Capitol Street SW, Washington D.C., respectively. The Exxon and the Tobacco Store, which are next to each other, are located within 1,000 feet of Ingenuity Prep Public Charter School, a public charter school in the District of Columbia. Law Enforcement observed individuals loitering in front of and inside the Exxon and Tobacco Store and selling controlled substances to gas station customers.

            Through the investigation, Law Enforcement identified five defendants, including Mathes, as being involved in this drug trafficking operation. As part of the conspiracy, Mathes and his co-defendants sold narcotics in a coordinated manner at various locations. Such coordination included the co-conspirators’ having common sources of supply, re-supplying or helping each other fill orders for narcotics, and referring customers to each other. Members of the conspiracy also possessed firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy. Law Enforcement executed controlled purchases of marijuana from members of this drug trafficking group. These purchases were recorded and monitored.

            On or around July 13, 2022, Law Enforcement executed a search warrant at Mathes’ residence, where they found: 3,056 grams of marijuana, assorted packing materials, and ammunition. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement also recovered firearms, magazines, marijuana, and more than $79,000 in cash. 

            The case is being investigated by the ATF’s Washington Field Division, the DEA’s Washington Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Prince George’s County, Maryland Police Department, and the U.S. Secret Service.

            The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section (VRTO).  Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison McGuire and Brian Lynch previously worked on the case.  Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

WASHINGTON – Reginald Johnson, 31, of Philadelphia, P.A., pleaded guilty, today, to involuntary manslaughter (criminal negligence) and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with a vehicular homicide.  The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to the Government’s evidence, on January 15, 2023 around 6:10 p.m., Reginald Johnson drove his Jeep eastbound into the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest and 15th Street, N.W crashing into an Uber driver in a Toyota Corolla who was turning left across eastbound traffic lanes onto 15th Street, NW.  Mr. Johnson reached a speed of 61 miles per hour shortly before the crash, more than twice the 25 miles per hour speed limit.  Mr. Johnson told an officer that he saw the car turning but thought it was stopping, sped up, and struck the car towards its tail end.

              Reginald Johnson had been drinking alcoholic beverages at Mission Bar from approximately 1:24 p.m. to 5:46 p.m. before choosing to get behind the wheel. His breath alcohol content was at 9:20 p.m. was 0.10 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. D.C. Code § 50–2206.01 defines intoxicated as “An alcohol concentration at the time of testing of 0.08 grams or more … per 210 liters of the person’s breath…”

            On June 30, 2023, the defendant pleaded guilty, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, to involuntary manslaughter (criminal negligence) in the death of one passenger, Carlos Christian, and assault with a dangerous weapon in the injury of another passenger, Camila Selman.  Superior Court Judge Robert Okun scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 13, 2023, at which time the defendant faces a sentence of up to 12 years in prison. 

            In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of Detective William Lee and others from MPD’s Major Crash Unit who investigated the case in Washington, D.C. They also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter, of the Homicide section, who is prosecuting the case.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will testify today at a committee hearing before the Council of the District of Columbia on proposed legislation, Bill 25-0291, the “Safer, Stronger Amendment Act of 2023” and Bill 25-0247, the “Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition Act of 2023.”

            USAO-DC supports the “Safer Stronger Amendment Act” because it will make the community safer by increasing penalties for firearms and violent crimes; supporting violent crime investigations; enhancing pretrial detention for violent crimes; and expanding information considered in second look sentence reductions for the most serious violent crimes. This legislation offers targeted, common-sense measures to address shortcomings in our criminal justice system. Fixing these deficiencies will make our judicial system work better and, consequently, increase community safety.

            In addition to appearing before the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, Elana Suttenberg, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney, provided written remarks, available in the accompanying attachment.

            The testimony is available in the attachment below.

USAO DC Testimony on b25-0291_b25-0247

            More information available in the attachment below. 

USAO DC Safer Stronger one-pager

Kennedy Street Crew (KDY) Operated Open-Air Drug Markets in Kennedy Street Neighborhood, Scene of Increasing Violence, in Northwest Washington D.C.

            WASHINGTON – This morning, law enforcement agents from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) arrested 12 alleged members of a violent drug trafficking organization (“DTO”), known as the “Kennedy Street Crew,” or “KDY,” on charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, possession of firearms by persons convicted of a crime, assault with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition to the arrests, law enforcement seized multiple firearms and drugs.

            The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Interim Chief Ashan Benedict of the Metropolitan Police Department, DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, of the Washington Division, ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, of the Washington Division, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Sarah Linden, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and IRS-Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, of the Washington, D.C. Office.

            According to the indictment, KDY members operated open-air drug markets in and around the 100-1200 blocks of Kennedy Street in Northwest Washington, D.C., as well as the surrounding streets. The named defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute several controlled substances, including fentanyl, cocaine base and marijuana, and utilizing firearms, including fully automatic weapons, to enforce and protect the crew’s territory, including through intimidation and acts of violence. The indictment further alleges that KDY crew members conspired to establish shell companies through which they launder the proceeds of their drug trafficking. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 40 firearms (including eight suspected machineguns).

            “As alleged in the Indictment, the Kennedy Street Crew (KDY) operated over an 11-block stretch, trafficking in large amounts of drugs and firearms and possessing numerous firearms in furtherance of its operations,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Criminal organizations like this are a magnet for violence. My office, MPD, and our federal law enforcement partners are focused on identifying and rooting out these types of operations: whether it be Fentanyl poisonings or the violence that typically accompanies large-scale drug operations, these distribution networks present a substantial threat to our community.” 

            “These individuals were a part of a criminal enterprise that existed to disrupt the community through violence and illegal activity, and today’s operation is evidence that intelligence-led policing and effective criminal justice partnerships can lead to positive outcomes in the District of Columbia,” said MPD Interim Chief Benedict. “The residents and businesses along our Kennedy Street corridor are safer because of the meticulous investigative efforts by law enforcement who relentlessly protect every city neighborhood.” 

            “Our strong partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies allows us to hold violent gang members like these accountable for their actions,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Forget. “Ultimately, our goal is to ensure the safety of the families in our local area.  As part of our initiative Operation Overdrive, we are making a difference in our communities, reducing drug poisonings, cutting violent crime, and stopping violent drug traffickers in their tracks.”

            In addition to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, the indictment also charges various alleged members of the conspiracy with, among other charges, assault with a dangerous weapon; using, carrying, and possessing a firearm and/or machinegun during a drug trafficking offense; engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license; unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime; possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation seeking all proceeds of the alleged crimes. A full list of defendants, along with their corresponding charges, is contained below.

            “This investigation is the result of multiple law enforcement entities working cohesively towards one common goal. That goal is disrupting criminal organizations and protecting our communities from firearms related violence, and the illegal distribution of narcotics,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kailimai. “As seen by our combined efforts with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, this collaboration has led to the arrest of many individuals that continuously and carelessly disrupt the peace that we should all enjoy. ATF will continue to partner with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure that people who violate conditions of firearm ownership be prosecuted and held accountable for their actions.”

            “IRS-CI is proud to stand with our law enforcement partners to announce this indictment. The dismantling of the Kennedy Street Crew exemplifies our commitment to improve the quality of life in our community and our relentless fight against drug trafficking organizations,” said Acting IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Carter. “IRS-CI is specially equipped to follow the complex financial trail left by criminals, and we are dedicated to holding those accountable for crimes committed.”

            The investigation of this case had the sponsorship and support of the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF specializes in the investigation and prosecution of drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises.

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the DEA’s Washington Division, ATF’s Washington Field Division, with assistance from FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the IRS-Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C. Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey and Sitara Witanachchi, of the of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by former Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian Lynch.

DEFENDANTS

NAME

AGE

CHARGES

Kenneth Ademola Olugbenga

27

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana, a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Fentanyl, and a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine Base;

Unlawful Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana;

Using, Carrying, and Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Offense;

Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Crime Punishable by Imprisonment Exceeding One Year;

Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

Khali Ahmed Brown, also known as “Migo Lee”

22

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana, and 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl;

Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Aiding and Abetting;

Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl;

Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana;

Using, Carrying, and Possessing a Machinegun During a Drug Trafficking Offense;

Unlawful Possession of a Machinegun; Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number

Miasiah Jamal Brown, also known as “Michael Jamal Crawford”

21

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine Base;

Using, Carrying, and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense

Tristan Miles Ware, also known as “Greedy”

23

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana;

Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana;

Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Crime Punishable by Imprisonment Exceeding One Year;

Using, Carrying, and Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking

Offense

Herman Eric-Bibmin Signou, also known as “Herman Signour”

23

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute One Hundred Kilograms of More of Marijuana

Cameron Xavier Reid

26

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute One Hundred Kilograms of More of Marijuana

Aaron Deandre Mercer, also known as “Curby,”

27

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, and a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine

Base;

Unlawful Possession with Intent to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl

David Penn, also known as “Turtle”

30

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, 40 Grams or Fentanyl, and a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine

Base;

Unlawful Possession with Intent to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl;

Unlawful Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana;

Using, Carrying, and Possessing a Machinegun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense;

Using, Carrying, and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense;

Engaging in the Business of Dealing in Firearms without a License;

Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Crime Punishable by Imprisonment for a Term Exceeding One Year

Ronald Lynn Dorsey, also known as “Ron G”

29

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and a Mixture and Substance

Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine Base;

Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

Antonio Reginald Bailey, also known as “Boy Boy,” also known as “Fellow King”

22

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana

Anthony Trayon Bailey, also known as “Fat Ant,” also known as “Bizzle”

27

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana

Angel Enrique Suncar, also known as “Coqui”

29

Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and a Mixture and Substance Containing Fentanyl

            Defendant Cameron Reid is from Falmouth, VA; all remaining defendants are from Washington, D.C.

            An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Rowena Joyce Scott, 70, of the District of Columbia, was convicted today of wire fraud, credit card fraud, filing false tax returns, and failing to file tax returns, in connection with a scheme to steal and embezzle money from the non-profit corporation she was entrusted to run for the benefit of some of the District’s economically disadvantaged residents.

            The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Office and Chief John Fowler of the DC Office of Tax and Revenue Criminal Investigation Division.  A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 18, 2023.

            The offense of wire fraud carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison.  The offense of  filing a false income tax return carries a statutory maximum of 3 years in prison.  The offense of credit card fraud carries a statutory maximum of 10 years. The offense of willful failure to file tax returns carries a statutory maximum of one year. All the offenses also carry financial penalties. 

            According to evidence presented in court, from approximately January 2010 through May 2014, Scott served as the president of the board of directors and manager of Park Southern Neighborhood Corporation (“PSNC”), a non-profit, non-member corporation that owned and operated the Park Southern apartment complex in Southeast Washington, D.C. Instead of serving PSNC’s charitable mission – of providing adequate, safe, affordable housing for the District’s underhoused and underprivileged residents – Scott engaged in a scheme through which she embezzled at least $125,000 from the organization’s coffers and used nearly $30,000 in additional funds to make purely personal, unauthorized purchases from third-party vendors.  All the while, Scott collected $260,000 in “salary” (about $60,000 per year), lived in the building rent-free, and used the property’s common rooms, free of charge, to operate her own ministry.  Scott failed to report all of the income she received from PSNC – legitimate or otherwise – for tax purposes.  Meanwhile, under her watch, the PSNC failed to finish renovations for Americans-with- Disabilities-Act compliant units and failed to make loan payments to the District.

            This case was investigated by IRS-CID, the DC Office of Tax and Revenue. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rakoczy, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Lallas. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Kelly and Diane Lucas, and Paralegal Specialist Sona Chaturvedi.

WASHINGTON – Trevon Fairfax, 28, of Rockville, Maryland, was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for his role in an ongoing conspiracy to distribute narcotics and a related conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

            The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Sarah Linden, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Craig B. Kailimai, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Division, and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            Fairfax is one of more than a dozen individuals arrested as part of a joint FBI/ATF investigation which resulted in the seizure of more than 34 pounds of marijuana, 16 firearms, and more than $270,000 in cash.

            Fairfax, who utilized the street nickname “Trizz,” pleaded guilty on October 21, 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, as well as oxycodone and codeine, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As part of his plea agreement, Fairfax admitted to participating in a separate conspiracy to use, carry, and possess firearms, and further admitted to discharging a firearm in defense of the co-conspirators’ drug dealing territory. Fairfax was sentenced by the Honorable Amy Berman Jackson. Following completion of his prison term, Fairfax will be placed on four years of supervised release.

            According to the government’s evidence, beginning in approximately June 2018, and continuing through April 2021, Fairfax and his co-conspirators maintained drug dealing territory on Trenton Place SE in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C. – a territory they defended by carrying, and discharging, firearms at perceived rivals.  As part of his role in the conspiracy, Fairfax distributed marijuana in bulk quantities and served as an armed defender of the co-conspirators’ drug dealing territory.  Fairfax admitted that, on April 12, 2020, he fired a 9mm handgun at an SUV driving through the co-conspirators’ territory while another co-conspirator also fired at that vehicle. The driver of that vehicle sustained a gunshot wound and crashed his vehicle, but was able to escape on foot. Fairfax was arrested on April 22, 2021, and has been detained ever since.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Linden, Special Agent in Charge Kailimai, and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI, ATF, and MPD. They also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Kiyon Boyd, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for his role in an ongoing conspiracy to distribute narcotics in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere

            The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Sarah Linden, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            Boyd, who utilized the street nickname “Workey,” pleaded guilty on April 7, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of conspiracy to marijuana and oxycodone, and two counts of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana. As part of his plea agreement, Boyd admitted that he distributed, or conspired to distribute, between 80 and 100 kilograms of marijuana.  Boyd also admitted that firearms were used or possessed as part of the drug dealing conspiracy. Boyd was sentenced by the Honorable Beryl A. Howell. Following completion of his prison term, Boyd will be placed on three years of supervised release.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Linden, and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI, ATF, and MPD. They also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson who investigated and prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – Jimmy Martez Ellis, 30, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on June 26, 2023, to 60 months in federal prison for the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

            The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Sarah Linden, of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Special Agent in Charge Craig B. Kailimai, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Division.

            Ellis, who utilized the street nicknames “Big Oso” and “Jim Bob” pleaded guilty on March 8, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. As part of his plea agreement, Ellis admitted  that he was arrested on April 19, 2020, in possession of a loaded .40 caliber handgun and that he was arrested again on August 6, 2021, in possession of a loaded .38 caliber handgun.  Ellis admitted that, as a convicted felon, he was not legally permitted to possess either handgun, and further admitted that he possessed the firearms in connection to another felony crime – namely the distribution and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. 

            Ellis was sentenced by the Honorable Tanya S. Chutkan. Following completion of his prison term, Ellis will be placed on three years of supervised release.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Linden, and Special Agent in Charge Kailimai, commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI and ATF. They also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Defendant Pointed Firearm at Mother and Daughter

            WASHINGTON – Jacobi Williams, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 72 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release for felony assault, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Williams was found guilty by a jury on December 9, 2022, of two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (firearm) following a two-week trial in D.C. Superior Court.

            On April 26, 2018, Williams began honking his horn at a mother and daughter sitting in the vehicle ahead of him in traffic at the intersection of 4th and I Street NW. Mr. Williams tried to drive around them but was unable to do so. He reversed his vehicle and threatened the mother and daughter at gunpoint before driving away when the traffic cleared. Williams was identified from surveillance footage in the immediate moments before and after the assault.

            Mr. Williams is awaiting trial on an unrelated 2021 homicide offense, which is set for trial in September 2023. Mr. Williams is facing another homicide offense in Charles County, Maryland. 

            In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.  They also expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Omeed Assefi and Anna Forgie, who tried the case.