Southern District of Georgia

AUGUSTA, GA:  David H. Estes will continue to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia after his appointment by the U.S. District Court judges of the Southern District.

U.S. Attorney Estes took the oath of office Friday, April 1, in the courtroom of U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall. The appointment is effective April 5.

"The excellent staff in the Southern District of Georgia and our outstanding law enforcement partners continue to work together to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “I am honored to serve alongside these dedicated professionals on behalf of our citizens as we work together to uphold the law and defend access to justice throughout this district.  I have directed my staff that my priorities are curtailing violent crime and aggressively investigating and prosecuting COVID relief related fraud.”

As First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District, Estes was named Acting U.S. Attorney under the Vacancies Reform Act after the resignation Feb. 9, 2021, of then-U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. Estes became U.S. Attorney by Attorney General appointment in December 2021 for a term of 120 days. Now, by appointment of the Southern District U.S. Court, he will serve until a U.S. Attorney is nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office encompasses 43 counties along the east side of the state, from Wilkes County in the north, along the Georgia coast, to the Florida border in the south, and as far west as Laurens County. The U.S. Attorney serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Georgia.

U.S. Attorney Estes, a native of Scottsboro, Ala., received an Associates in Business and his Regular Army commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Marion Military Institute (1987) and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Auburn University (1989), and in 1993 received his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla. From 1987 to 1994 he served as a Field Artillery Officer in the Alabama and Oklahoma Army National Guard, and after law school served on active duty with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps for three years at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.

In 1997, Estes joined the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, Violent Crimes Division, as a violent crime prosecutor. During this time, Estes rejoined the Alabama Army National Guard as a Judge Advocate. In 2002, Estes joined the United States Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Alabama (Huntsville Branch Office) as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Estes assumed the duties of First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia in January 2018.

In his military career, Estes deployed to Iraq from 2004-2005 with the 122nd Corps Support Group and served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate and Chief, Military Justice. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. In October 2013 he was promoted to Colonel and assumed the Staff Judge Advocate position for the 167th Theatre Sustainment Command. Col. Estes previously served as the very first Regional Defense Counsel for the Army National Guard. Estes recently retired from the Army after more than 34 years of military service. He was twice awarded the Legion of Merit Medal for his accomplishments.

Estes and his wife, Connie, have six children: Garrett, Madison, Everett, Gracie, Abby, and Hamilton, and are members of Christ Church Anglican in Savannah.

U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Georgia Southern District of Georgia Chief Judge J. Randal Hall administers oath to U.S. Attorney David H. Estes April 1, 2022

 

BRUNSWICK, GA:  Three men have been sentenced to federal prison in separate but related cases in which they admitted providing forced labor for south Georgia farms.

Javier Sanchez Mendoza Jr., 24, of Jesup, Ga., was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Engage in Forced Labor; Aurelio Medina, 42, of Brunswick, was sentenced to 64 months in prison after pleading guilty to Forced Labor; and Yordon Velazquez Victoria, 45, of Brunswick, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Mendoza and Medina are citizens of Mexico illegally present in the United States and are subject to deportation after completion of their prison terms.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“These men engaged in facilitating modern-day slavery,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our law enforcement partners have exposed an underworld of human trafficking, and we will continue to identify and bring to justice those who would exploit others whose labors provide the fuel for their greed.”

The cases were charged as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation, Operation Blooming Onion, which tracked a wide-ranging conspiracy to bring farm workers from Central America into the United States under the H-2A visa program under fraudulent pretenses and to profit from their labor by underpaying the workers and keeping them in substandard conditions. The case has been designated as a Priority Transnational Organized Crime Case under the OCDETF program. 

As described in court documents and testimony, Mendoza admitted that from about August 2018 to November 2019, in Glynn, Wayne, and Pierce counties, he was a leader in a venture to obtain and provide labor and services for farms and other businesses. He did so by recruiting and unlawfully charging more than 500 Central American citizens to obtain H-2A visas – specifically granted for temporary agricultural labor – and then withholding the workers’ identification papers and threatening them and their families in their home countries to force them to work for little or no pay and in deplorable conditions.

A key victim testified during sentencing that Mendoza selected her from another work crew after her arrival in Georgia from Mexico and brought her to live with him, maintaining control through threats and intimidation and raping her repeatedly for more than a year – including deceiving her into believing she had married him. When she escaped, he kidnapped her at knifepoint from a home where she was babysitting children who were playing in their front yard. Law enforcement agencies tracked her to Mendoza’s Jesup mobile home, where after her rescue the officers found a shrine to Santa Muerte – “Saint Death” – decorated with her hair and blood in what was believed to be a prelude to her murder. Mendoza faces pending state charges for aggravated assault related to that incident.

Medina admitted that from about April to October 2020, in Glynn and Effingham counties, he charged foreign workers to obtain H-2A visas and then withheld their identification documents. Victoria, a naturalized U.S. citizen, admitted he conspired with Medina and allowed Medina to use his name to apply for the use of H-2A workers, and then transported those workers from housing to work for which Victoria was paid $600 per week.

The investigation into forced labor in agricultural communities, in south Georgia and beyond, continues through U.S.A. v. Patricio et al, in which 23 defendants are charged in the labor trafficking, visa fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The defendants are awaiting trial and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Two of those defendants are fugitives.

“These defendants are being held accountable for the horrors of human and labor trafficking that they inflicted upon their victims, in the name of profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Thanks to the great work done by our agents, along with our state, local and federal partners, this case was successfully investigated and prosecuted preventing more innocent people from being victimized.”  

“Customs and Border Protection takes great pride in fostering collaboration with our partner government agencies to diligently combat human trafficking and forced labor as part of our overall duties and responsibilities in protecting and preserving our national security,” said Henry DeBlock III, Area Port Director for CBP Savannah.

“This sentencing sends a strong message: DSS pursues those who fraudulently use worker visas, like the H-2A, for personal gain, making sure that those who commit human trafficking face consequences for their criminal actions,” said Jessica Moore, chief of the criminal investigations division of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). “We are firmly committed to working to prevent situations where vulnerable individuals are exploited in human trafficking schemes such as this. DSS’ global presence and strong relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement partners was essential in the pursuit of justice for these victims.”

“Mendoza, Medina and Victoria misused the H-2A program in order to enrich themselves at the expense of foreign workers and American employers,” said Mathew Broadhurst, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Atlanta Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division to vigorously pursue those who commit fraud involving foreign labor programs.”

“The United States abolished slavery and involuntary servitude over 156 years ago, yet these men engaged in the heinous crime of forced labor and chose to exploit their fellow human beings for profit,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to purse justice on behalf of victims of human trafficking and prosecuting perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.”

“This investigation is an excellent example of a partnership between federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies working together to bring down individuals involved in a human trafficking conspiracy,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “The hard work and countless hours put forth by all has prevented so many victims from being further victimized by the defendants who have caused considerable emotional harm.”

The cases are being investigated as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Agencies investigating the cases include Homeland Security Investigations; Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fraud Detection and National Security; the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and Wage and Hour Division; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the FBI. The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Human Trafficking Coordinator Tania D. Groover, and Assistant U.S. Attorney and Criminal Division Deputy Chief E. Greg Gilluly Jr.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  The Atlanta-area drug supplier to a south Georgia drug trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced to more than a decade in federal prison, wrapping up the prosecution of a major conduit of methamphetamine and heroin.

Kayode Davis, a/k/a “Yodi,” 31, of Stockbridge, Ga., was sentenced to 136 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Heroin, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Davis to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“It is a credit to the hard work of our law enforcement partners that all eight defendants in this drug-trafficking conspiracy pled guilty to their crimes and are being held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our office is committed to removing criminal drug traffickers and their attendant violent activities from our communities.”

As described in court documents and testimony, an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) identified Davis as the Atlanta-area source of supply for illegal narcotics to gang-related drug traffickers operating in Glynn, Liberty, Long, and Wayne counties and surrounding areas in 2019. At least one overdose death from Fentanyl was attributed to drugs sold by the conspirators, some of whom were affiliated with the violent Bloods criminal street gang.

The other seven defendants charged as part of the conspiracy all have pled guilty and have been sentenced to prison terms of up to 141 months. 

“This conviction and sentence would not have been possible without the hard work of our partners at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “Mr. Davis and his conspirators were a large supplier of illegal narcotics in Southeast Georgia and will now spend the next decade or more in federal prison for their crimes.”

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Agencies investigating the case include the ATF and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Glynn County Police Department, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and the Long County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Pennington II.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Taliaferro County, Ga., man has admitted withholding information about his employment with the U.S. Postal Service when applying for and receiving pension benefits from the Veterans Benefits Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Sanford Lamar Edwards, 50, of Crawfordville, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to an Information charging him with False Statements in an application for veterans pension benefits, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The guilty plea subjects Edwards to a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution.

“The VA administers pension funding for former military service members in accordance with guidelines that ensure fiscal responsibility in the recipients’ applications,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Sanford Edwards knew he didn’t qualify for those benefits and applied for them anyway, and he is being held accountable for his deceit.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Edwards served in the U.S. Army until 1995, and in 1997 became employed by the U.S. Postal Service, earning in excess of $65,000 per year. In May 2011, Edwards signed and certified a Veteran’s Application for Compensation and Pension, falsely reporting that he had no income, falsely reporting his home as his only asset, and falsely reporting that he had a medical condition that prevented him from working. Relying on those false representations, the VA approved Edwards’ application and paid him monthly pension benefits totaling $230,000 from May 2011 through January 2022.

Annually during this 10-year period, the VA reminded Edwards of his duty to report any changes to his income or net worth, and Edwards failed to do so.

“This defendant selfishly defrauded a program that is intended to provide much-needed benefits to deserving veterans who are legitimately unable to work,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to ensure those who would steal from veterans and taxpayers are held accountable.”

The case was investigation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  An Appling County woman has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Linda Timblin, 48, of Baxley, Ga., was sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Timblin to serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Methamphetamine is a deadly drug with disastrous consequences for our communities, including the violent crimes linked to trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our office will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to hold meth merchants accountable and remove them from our streets.”

As described in court documents and testimony, investigators with the Appling County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Savannah Office in November 2018 identified Timblin as working with others to pick up large amounts of methamphetamine from a supplier in Atlanta and bring it back to the Waycross area for distribution. After searches resulting from a traffic stop, investigators found nearly 500 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a hotel room Timblin rented in Baxley, Ga.

Timblin, whose lengthy criminal history includes three prior felony convictions, was on state probation from a 2016 conviction for sale of methamphetamine at the time of her arrest.

“This reoffending ‘meth’ trafficker was caught because of the joint efforts between DEA and its law enforcement counterparts,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This defendant will now spend well-deserved time in prison and her sentencing makes the Appling County community a safer place.”

The case was investigated by the DEA and the Appling County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

SAVANNAH, GA – An illegal alien has admitted to a scheme in which he and his co-conspirators fraudulently employed other illegals to work for a tree service, and then aided in the murder of a man who reported the scheme.

Pablo Rangel-Rubio, 53, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States who resides in Rincon, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to an Information charging him with Conspiracy to Conceal, Harbor and Shield Illegal Aliens; Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering; three counts of Money Laundering; and one count of Aiding and Abetting the Retaliation Against a Witness, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The guilty plea subjects Rangel-Rubio to a negotiated sentence of 600 months in prison and forfeiture of a 26.62-acre residential compound in Rincon.

“Pablo Rangel-Rubio was responsible for employing at least 100 illegal aliens to work for a tree service, skimming from their paychecks to further fatten his wallet, and then helping arrange the murder of a man who exposed the scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “The substantial prison sentence from this plea will hold him accountable for those crimes.”  

Rangel-Rubio originally was named in a December 2018 indictment along with his brother, Juan Rangel-Rubio, 45, of Rincon, and Higinio Perez-Bravo, 52, of Savannah, spelling out a conspiracy that employed illegal aliens using assumed identities to work for a tree service, and then retaliated against a legal-citizen employee who reported the scheme.

Juan Rangel-Rubio and Higinio Perez-Bravo are awaiting trial and are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

As described in court documents and testimony, Pablo Rangel-Rubio was responsible for hiring employees to work in a subsidiary of a tree service despite his status as an illegal alien. Most of the employees he hired on behalf of the company were illegal aliens, and Rangel-Rubio provided them with the names and social security numbers of others and then concealed their unlawful status and ineligibility to work in the United States. Rangel-Rubio further shielded their unlawful status by obtaining paychecks for the employees from the company, made out to the illegal aliens’ assumed identities, and then cashing those checks and paying the employees in cash. Rangel-Rubio would sometimes withhold money from the employees’ wages for his own gain, and deposit checks in the names of fictitious employees into his own bank account. As part of his plea agreement, Rangel-Rubio agreed that the scheme netted the conspirators more than $3.5 million.

In April 2017, a naturalized citizen employee of the company, Eliud Montoya, contacted the company to report the scheme – and Rangel-Rubio received a copy of Montoya’s written complaint and read it aloud to the other employees in Montoya’s presence. On Aug. 17, 2017, Montoya reported the scheme to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; two days later, Montoya was murdered near his Garden City, Ga., home. Rangel-Rubio admitted aiding and abetting Montoya’s retaliatory murder. 

“Rangel-Rubio’s scheme that not only exploited our nation’s labor laws, but also led to the death of a witness, has thankfully been thwarted and he is facing severe consequences,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Protecting the integrity of the nation’s immigration and labor laws from criminals looking to circumvent them is of vital importance, and HSI prioritizes this mission."

“Rangel-Rubio exploited one victim after another, using them for labor and stealing hard-earned money from their paychecks,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This plea proves that the FBI is committed to protecting those who blow the whistle on illegal activity and bringing to justice those who exploit others for financial gain.”

The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Garden City Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania D. Groover.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A South Georgia man holding himself out as a pastor, mortician, restaurateur, and tax preparer has admitted lying to receive COVID-19 small business assistance.

Mack Devon Knight, 45, of Kingsland, Ga., pled guilty to two counts of Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Knight to a possible statutory sentence of up to 20 years in prison, substantial financial penalties and restitution, and up to three years of supervised release after completion of any prison sentence.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Congress provided emergency taxpayer funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security (CARES) Act to help financially struggling small businesses during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “I have made fraud related to these funds a priority, and Mack Knight’s prosecution should once again make it clear that this office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate those who would try to personally profit from this program by inventing businesses and submitting fake documents.”   

As described in court documents and testimony, in February and March 2021, Knight applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of multiple Camden County, Ga., businesses. Those EIDL applications falsely claimed that Knight had a series of businesses he claimed had up to hundreds of thousands of dollars of gross revenue prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In pleading guilty, Knight admitted that those applications were fraudulent, and admitted to sending fictious documents to the SBA, including a fake tax document and an altered bank record.

As a result of those fraudulent filings, Knight received $149,900 from the SBA on behalf of a claimed tax business, and he used a large portion of the funds to buy a Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan. As part of his plea agreement, Knight is forfeiting the vehicle to the United States.

“COVID-19 disaster relief loans were issued by the government to help businesses struggling to survive during a pandemic, not to use for personal pleasures like Knight used them for,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is dedicated to holding accountable anyone who would abuse taxpayer dollars and divert them from citizens who desperately need them.”

To report a COVID-19-related fraud scheme or suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling the NCDF Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Knight was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Patrick J. Schwedler.

SAVANNAH, GA:  The former manager of a Savannah bed and breakfast has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting she embezzled more than $500,000 from her employer.

Chiquita Blake, 47, of Pooler, Ga., was sentenced to 51 months in prison after pleading guilty to Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also ordered her to pay $508,114.37 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release and perform 40 hours of community service after completion of her prison term. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Chiquita Blake was a trusted employee of a family owned business, and stole from her employer to fuel a lifestyle far beyond her means,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “She’s now being held accountable for her unbridled greed.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Blake was employed as a manager of a bed and breakfast in Savannah’s Historic District from 2005 to 2020. From around May 2015 through December 2020, Blake manipulated the inn’s reservation system to fraudulently transfer funds from the inn’s accounts and into bank and credit card accounts that she controlled. She then used those funds for personal use and to make payments to some of her nearly three dozen credit accounts.

After the inn’s owner noticed discrepancies in accounting, an investigation determined that Blake had illegally transferred $508,114.37 from the hotel and into her own accounts.

“The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating complex fraud schemes in Savannah,” said Craig Reno, Resident Agent in Charge of the Savannah Resident Office of the U.S. Secret Service. “This was a particularly insidious scheme because the defendant exploited a position of trust within the company. The Secret Service and our law enforcement partners will investigate and criminally prosecute such fraud to the fullest extent of the law.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Bearden.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Toombs County, Ga., man has admitted phoning in a bomb threat to a Port of Savannah facility on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Elliott Sherman, a/k/a “Amir Turner,” 23, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to False Information and Hoaxes, said U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. The plea subjects Sherman of a possible sentence of up to five years in prison, along with restitution and substantial financial penalties, followed by up to three years of supervised release after completion of any prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Elliott Sherman’s phoned-in bomb hoax shut down two warehouses, sparked a protracted investigation, and caused a large number of fellow workers to be sent home early – just so he could get a quicker ride home,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “To make matters worse, his stunt took place on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He will pay the penalty for his ill-timed threat.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Sherman was an employee of a staffing agency and was assigned to the California Cartage CFS 2 building at the Port of Savannah. He had been dismissed early from his assignment on Sept. 11, 2020, and admitted calling in a bomb threat in hopes that the rest of the workers in his carpool also would be dismissed so he wouldn’t have to wait for his ride home to Vidalia.

“Hoax threats waste limited law enforcement resources, cost taxpayers’ money, and cause emotional distress to all involved,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will not tolerate hoax threats and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute anyone who engages in this unlawful behavior.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, Georgia Ports Authority Police, and the Vidalia Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Joshua S. Bearden.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Richmond County man was sentenced to federal prison after admitting he possessed hundreds of images of child sexual exploitation.

Justin Bryan, 34, of Hephzibah, Ga., was sentenced to 80 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Bryan to pay $18,000 in restitution to victims, and to serve 15 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Each time an image of sexual exploitation is shared on the internet, a vulnerable child is revictimized,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “We applaud the work of our law enforcement partners and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in identifying predators like Justin Bryan, and our office will continue to ensure they are held accountable for their crimes.”

In December 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip identifying online images of child pornography. NCMEC alerted the FBI, and agents later located and arrested Bryan and seized multiple electronic devices that were found to contain hundreds of videos and images depicting sexual exploitation of children.

“This sentence demonstrates the determination of the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office to find those who prey on children in our communities and bring them to justice,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Our message to these predators is you cannot hide behind the ‘anonymity’ of the internet.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremiah L. Johnson and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah man has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison after admitting his role in a series of convenience store armed robberies.

Garnell Dewitt Quarterman, 32, of Savannah, was sentenced to 235 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also ordered Quarterman to pay restitution of $19,201.49 and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

“Garnell Quarterman and his co-defendant terrorized store employees and customers during a three-month period until the diligent work of our law enforcement partners halted their crime spree and brought them to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our office will be relentless in targeting violet criminals who threaten the safety of our communities.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Quarterman had multiple prior felony convictions for drugs, theft, and violence. Months after being released from custody in Maryland for armed robbery, Quarterman came to Savannah and robbed or attempted to rob 12 Chatham County convenience stores at gunpoint from Nov. 9, 2019, through Jan. 6, 2020.  During one of the robberies, an accomplice fired a bullet near a store clerk to facilitate Quarterman’s escape. Quarterman chose to rob some of the same stores on multiple occasions, and as a result, some victims had to endure being robbed twice by Quarterman at gunpoint days or weeks apart.

Quarterman’s co-defendant, Malic Stephens, 28, of Savannah, previously pled guilty to his role in the robbery conspiracy and is serving a 150-month federal sentence.

“Carrying weapons into peaceful places of business and terrorizing hard-working citizens is something the FBI and our law enforcement partners will make every effort to prosecute and punish,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Hopefully the lengthy sentence received by Quarterman will bring some sense of comfort to the victims he terrorized.” 

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Southeast Georgia Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Savannah Police Department, Garden City Police Department, and Chatham County Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Six defendants face federal charges including drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession. 

The indicted cases, along with six additional cases in the Augusta area, are being investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally carry guns.

“Our office aggressively prosecutes previously convicted felons who illegally carry firearms,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “The safety of our communities is of paramount importance, and we won’t tolerate violent criminal behavior.”  

In the past four years, more than 745 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony.

Defendants named in federal indictments from the March 2022 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:

• Justin Curtis Duke, 29, currently an inmate at Johnson State Prison, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Bobby Lewis Sturkey; 51, of Harlem, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Carlos Middleton, 21, of Savannah, charged with Interference with Commerce by Robbery, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of  a Crime of Violence;
• Robert Alexander DuBose, 40, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Michael Jordan Sharp, 30, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• DeShawn Tisdale, 24, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession:

• David Bryson Murphy, 21, of Thomson, was sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. McDuffie County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Murphy April 25, 2021, after finding him with a pistol during a traffic stop.
• Jamel Albert, 30, of Savannah, was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found Albert in possession of a pistol during an April 2021 traffic stop.
• Ashley Nichole Pitts, 30, of Hinesville, Ga., was sentenced to 36 months of home confinement after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Pitts was arrested in January 2019 when Liberty County Sheriff’s deputies responded to her home to investigate a complaint about a man brandishing a firearm. Accompanied by an officer from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, deputies found two pistols in Pitts’ home.
• Tommy Greene, 34, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Eutylone (Bath Salts) and Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The Savannah Police Department Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Greene in October 2020 after he ran from officers and was found with a pistol and a large bag of drugs in his pockets.
• Larry Bennett Jr., 25, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers arrested Bennett in January 2020 when they found him in possession of two pistols during a traffic stop.
• Timothy Mario Mitchell, 24, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers arrested Mitchell in August 2020 after a brief chase when a pistol fell from the waistband of Mitchell’s shorts.   
• James Kenneth Merritt, 35, of Waynesboro, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Burke County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Merritt in December 2020 after Merritt drove away and then ran from an attempted traffic stop, dropping a pistol as he fled.
• Barry McCormick, 26, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. McCormick was charged after a pistol fell down his pants leg during a November 2020 traffic stop by Savannah Police officers.
• Kenya Leon Parker, 33, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Savannah Police officers arrested Parker in February 2021 after finding a pistol in his possession during a traffic stop.
• Hunter Cole Reavis, 25, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Reavis was on probation in March 2021 when agents from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision found a pistol during a search of his Savannah hotel room. 

Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office.

The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Jeremiah L. Johnson, Steven H. Lee, Marcela C. Mateo, Patricia G. Rhodes, and Henry W. Syms Jr., with firearms forfeitures coordinated through the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit.

Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.

AUGUSTA, GA:  Three Augusta men face felony gun charges while three others also faces drug trafficking charges as Richmond County law enforcement officials pursue individuals associated with an increase in gang-related violent crime.

Federal indictments returned in the March term of the Southern District of Georgia U.S. District Court Grand Jury charge all six defendants with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, a charge that carries a statutory sentence upon conviction of up to 10 years in federal prison – with a possible sentence of up to life in prison for defendants with a significant record of criminal convictions.

“Law enforcement agencies throughout the Southern District need assistance in battling the increase in violent crime and illegal firearms, and our office continues to answer the call to help,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We stand with Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree in protecting the law-abiding citizens of the Augusta area by removing those who would threaten the community’s safety.”

Defendants charged in the Augusta area include:

• Reginald DeMarco Smith, a/k/a “Gunslinger,” 48, of Augusta, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine, and An Amount of Fentanyl, “Crack” Cocaine, and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Smith sped away from an attempted traffic stop Feb. 12, 2021, by a Richmond County Sheriff’s deputy, then abandoned his vehicle and ran into the woods. Investigators found a loaded pistol, a significant amount of drugs, and more than $18,000 in cash at the scene, and Smith was located and arrested nine months later.
• Robert Lewis Coney Jr., 50, of North Augusta, S.C., and Donnie Lee Curtis Jr., 37, of Tunnel, Ga., each charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and To Distribute, 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon. The two were identified during a drug trafficking investigation in early 2021, and arrested May 19, 2021, in the parking lot of a motel in Columbia County.
• Lyondo Larell Ware, a/k/a “China,” 41, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Ware was on felony probation when Richmond County deputies searching his residence Sept. 22, 2021, found a loaded pistol.
• Willie Liddell, 38, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies were assisting the U.S. Marshals Service in arresting Liddell on an outstanding warrant when they discovered a pistol in Liddell’s jacket pocket.
• Elijawan Leysath Rhodes, 29, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigators responding to gunfire at a Wrightsboro Road motel Dec. 31, 2021, arrested Rhodes after a brief chase when they found a pistol in Rhodes’ vehicle.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases are being investigated by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes, Henry W. Syms Jr., and Jeremiah L. Johnson.  

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A Wayne County, Ga., man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting he produced and possessed hundreds of images of child pornography.

Casey Causey, 40, of Jesup, Ga., was sentenced to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Causey to pay $91,800 in restitution to victims, and to serve 15 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Sexual exploitation of vulnerable children is a vile crime, and our office will relentlessly pursue such predators,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “This prison sentence protects our community and holds Casey Causey accountable for his horrific acts.”

Causey was identified after a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led agents from Homeland Security Investigations to a Jesup residence where Causey lived. During a search of Causey’s room in March 2021, agents seized multiple electronic devices containing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography.

“Identifying and arresting predators like Causey, who not only victimize innocent children, but also showcase those horrific images for others to see, are a one of the highest priorities for our office,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Everyone in the community can feel safer knowing that this criminal will no longer be able to exploit children.”

This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, and was led by the Savannah Office of Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

STATESBORO, GA:  The last of seven defendants indicted in a multi-county drug trafficking operation has been sentenced to federal prison.

Matthew Scott Fondren, 50, of Metter, Ga., was sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, “Crack” Cocaine, Hydrocodone, and Marijuana, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Fondren to pay a fine of $1,500 and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Operation Sand Trap is a textbook example of cooperation between multiple levels of law enforcement working together to identify, infiltrate and eradicate a drug-trafficking organization,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “These middle Georgia communities are now safer with these armed drug traffickers off the streets, and we will continue to pursue criminals whose drugs and guns fuel violent crime in our district.”

Operation Sand Trap, an Organized Crime Drug Trafficking Enforcement investigation, targeted a drug-distribution organization led by Travis Lee Brown, a/k/a “Trap,” 39, of Springfield, Ga. From 2017 to 2019, in counties including Emanuel, Candler and Treutlen, the organization brought in large quantities of illegal drugs through Atlanta and into the Lyons, Ga., area, for wider distribution. Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, along with officers from the Lyons Police Department and other local agencies, conducted surveillance and covert operations to identify those involved in the conspiracy, seizing large amounts of drugs and at least a dozen firearms during the investigation.

A federal indictment returned in July 2020 charged seven defendants with 30 felony counts, and Fondren was identified as a major wholesaler in the conspiracy. Ultimately, all seven defendants including Fondren entered guilty pleas in federal court, and all have been sentenced to prison terms.

“DEA and its law enforcement partners worked jointly to eradicate the drug trafficking activities of this poly drug distribution network,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “This organization’s drug trafficking activities posed a significant threat to the quality of life in middle Georgia County community. Consequently, the sentencing of the final defendant in this case closes the chapter to a successful investigation.”

“This investigation once again shows that through the cooperation of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, persistent and dangerous narcotics traffickers such as these will ultimately have to face the criminal justice system,” said Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The United States Postal Inspection Service is proud to be involved in this multi-agency effort.”

“Illegal drugs and guns have no place in Georgia,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.”

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Lyons Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karl Knoche and John P. Harper III.

DUBLIN, GA:  A Laurens County, Georgia man has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting he lied to obtain a COVID-19 disaster relief loan, then used a large portion of the money to buy a collectible trading card.

Vinath Oudomsine, 31, of Dublin, Ga., was sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also fined Oudomsine $10,000, ordered him to pay restitution of $85,000, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Congress appropriated funding to assist small businesses struggling through the challenges of a global pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Like moths to the flame, fraudsters like Oudomsine took advantage of these programs to line their own pockets – and with our law enforcement partners, we are holding him and others accountable for their greed.”

As described in court documents and testimony, starting on or around July 2020, Oudomsine applied to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) ostensibly for an “entertainment services” business in Dublin that Oudomsine claimed had 10 employees and gross revenues of $235,000 in the 12 months preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of fraudulent representations on Oudomsine’s application, the SBA deposited $85,000 into Oudomsine’s bank account on Aug. 4, 2020. Oudomsine later used $57,789 of the funds to purchase a Pokémon trading card. Oudomsine agreed to forfeit the Pokémon card – “Charizard” – as part of the prosecution.

“The SBA Office of Inspector General continues to safeguard taxpayer dollars by protecting SBA programs from fraudsters seeking to gain access to pandemic assistance through deception,” said SBA OIG’s Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “OIG remains committed to rooting out bad actors and protecting the integrity of SBA programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”

“COVID-19 disaster relief loans are issued by the government to help businesses struggling to survive during a pandemic, not to use for trivial collectible items,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentence highlights the FBI’s commitment to aggressively pursue anyone who would abuse taxpayer dollars and divert them from citizens who desperately need them.”

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and an investigator from the U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Oudomsine was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Patrick J. Schwedler, and Asset Recovery Unit Chief Xavier A. Cunningham handled forfeiture in the case.

DUBLIN, GA:  The lead defendant in a now-disrupted Laurens County methamphetamine-trafficking ring has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting to his leadership role in the conspiracy.

David Alex Monroe, 32, of Dexter, Ga., was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. As part of the plea, Monroe forfeited a machine gun, an illegal short-barrel rifle, and two silencers seized during the investigation, and abandoned his interest in 54 additional firearms. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also fined Monroe $2,000 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“While many of the defendants implicated in this large-scale drug trafficking organization await their day in court, it is significant that the leader has been sentenced for his role in the conspiracy,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “David Alex Monroe is being held accountable for profiting from misery in the greater Laurens County area, and I am committed to directing our resources toward these crimes which are often catalysts to violent crime in our district.”

Monroe, for whom Operation Monroe Doctrine was named, was indicted in July 2021 along with 29 other defendants in USA v. Monroe et. al. The indictment was the culmination of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation that identified a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy operating throughout Laurens and Telfair counties and beyond, operating from at least January 2020 through January 2021.

As described in court documents and testimony, Monroe conspired with other defendants, including a supplier, to distribute illegal drugs throughout the greater Dublin and Laurens County community. Of the 30 defendants, three have now been sentenced; four await sentencing after pleading guilty; and 22 defendants await trial and are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

“This investigation was a success thanks to the hard work and exceptional cooperation between law enforcement professionals from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, the DEA, the ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Laurens County Sheriff Larry Dean. “I pledge to continue to the best of my ability, using the best resources available, to protect the citizens of Laurens County from drug traffickers.”

“This dangerous ‘meth’ trafficker was caught because of the joint efforts between DEA and its law enforcement partners,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division. “This defendant will now spend well-deserved time in prison and his sentencing makes the South Georgia community a safer place today.”

“ATF is committed to assisting our law enforcement partners in targeting armed drug traffickers and removing them from our communities” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “Monroe’s use of a machinegun and other firearms as part of his drug trafficking operation highlights the danger that he posed to the community and law enforcement and we are proud to announce that he will be spending a substantial amount of time in prison.”

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

The case was investigated by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Harper III, Frank M. Pennington II, and Southern District of Georgia OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah man has been sentenced to more than two decades in federal prison after admitting he sexually abused a child at an overseas military base during an eight-year period.

Paul Francis Dunn III, 46, of Savannah, was sentenced to 293 months in prison after pleading guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact Committed by a Person Employed by the Armed Forces Outside the United States, and Sexual Abuse of a Minor Committed by a Person Employed by the Armed Forces Outside the United States, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Dunn to serve a life term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. A hearing will be held at a later date to determine the amount of restitution Dunn must pay.

“Sexual abuse of a child creates a lifetime of trauma,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “While this sentence can’t undo the abuse, at least it can ensure that Paul Dunn will be locked away for his horrific crimes.”

 As described in court documents and testimony, Dunn admitted that while he served in the U.S. Army and later as a civilian U.S. employee in Belgium, from 2006 to 2014, he repeatedly sexually abused a child under age 16. He was arrested in 2018 after the victim reported the abuse, and Dunn pled guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court in June 2021.

“Sexual assault against a child is an unspeakable crime that deserves the harshest penalties,” said Gregory Ford, Director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID). “This sentence is a reflection of the dedication our CID Special Agents and our law enforcement partners maintain, to seek justice for the most vulnerable among us.”

“It is beyond comprehension that someone in a position sworn to protect American citizens would take advantage and traumatize a vulnerable child,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Maybe Dunn thought he could keep his crimes buried overseas, but that will not stop the FBI from pursuing child predators. Thanks to the help of our partners, he will now serve a lengthy prison sentence where he won’t be able to victimize any more children.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fort Stewart office and the FBI, and prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Kaylynn Foulon and Eduardo Palomo of the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela Mateo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

SAVANNAH, GA:  With a sentence handed down in U.S. District Court, the final defendant in a drug trafficking conspiracy joins more than two dozen people sent to prison for distributing methamphetamine and cocaine in middle Georgia.

Donnie Edmonds, a/k/a “Hotboy,” 37, of Vidalia, Ga., was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Cocaine, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Edmonds to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Operation Ace in the Hole is an outstanding example of multiple law enforcement agencies working together to target addictive drugs, gang violence and illegal firearms in the Southern District,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “It is a credit to the meticulous work of these agencies that every single defendant admitted guilt and is being held accountable. This office will be relentless in pursuit of illegal drugs and violent crime in this District.”

Operation Ace in the Hole, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, was initiated in August 2018 in response to increasing levels of gang violence and drug-related activities in the Vidalia area.

In June 2019, investigators executed search warrants at eight houses used for stashing or distributing illegal drugs in Atlanta and Vidalia, seizing more than two kilos of cocaine, four kilos of marijuana, half a kilo of methamphetamine, more than two kilos of MDMA (“Ecstasy”), multiple pints of Codeine, 600 grams of Xanax, pill presses, and surveillance equipment. The drugs were hidden in such items as children’s backpacks and baby-formula bottles. Investigators also seized 20 firearms, including a fully automatic machine gun and several assault-style rifles, along with a trove of gang-related documents and nearly $50,000 in cash.

The investigation culminated in a sealed, 61-count federal indictment returned in January 2020 with 26 defendants charged.

The operation’s name, “Ace in the Hole,” was derived from the alias of Justin Adams, a/k/a “Ace,” 41, of Vidalia, who previously was sentenced to 165 months in prison after pleading guilty in the conspiracy. Adams was a regional leader in the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang, and conspired with the primary supplier of the organization’s narcotics, Deltinaud Toussaint, a/k/a “Black,” a/k/a “Tino,” a/k/a “Tino Black,” 45, of Vidalia. Toussaint also pled guilty in the conspiracy and is serving a sentence of 240 months in prison.

Edmonds was a mid-level drug dealer in the organization, buying “crack” cocaine and “ice”-grade methamphetamine from Toussaint for resale to individual users and street-level drug dealers. Like many of the defendants in the conspiracy, Edmonds has a long criminal history, including convictions for drug sales and possession.

Each of the 26 defendants charged in the indictment pled guilty to felony charges, and all have now been sentenced.

“The epidemic of opioids and gun violence is not just limited to the big cities as it affects all communities across our nation” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “The net result of Operation Ace in the Hole is that our communities will be safer as these violent drug traffickers are headed to Federal prison.”

“This drug dealer received a very significant sentence because of his role in the distribution of large quantities of illegal drugs across Middle Georgia,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. “The DEA and its multi-level law enforcement partners are committed to making communities safer by targeting violent criminal enterprises that wreak havoc on our society.”

“This sentencing ends an exhaustive investigation that stopped a conspiracy that was compounding the opioid epidemic and plaguing the streets of our community with crime,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI would like to thank our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who meticulously worked with us on this case.  They should be proud of the results and know that the citizens in our neighborhoods are safer today because of their hard work and determination.”  

“We are committed to working with our partners to get dangerous guns and drugs off the streets,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). “We will not allow gangs to continue to terrorize neighborhoods with hardworking citizens that want to raise their families in a safe environment.”

The OCDETF case was investigated by the ATF, the DEA, the FBI, the GBI, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office, the Lyons Police Department, the Oconee Drug Task Force, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Greg Gilluly Jr.

DUBLIN, GA:  An Iraqi national was convicted on charges of attempting to smuggle guns through the Port of Savannah after a three-day trial in federal court.

Nihad Al Jaberi, 42, of Clarkston, Ga., was convicted on charges of Smuggling, Failure to Notify a Common Carrier, and Submitting False or Misleading Export Information, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Conviction on the smuggling charge subjects Al Jaberi to a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison and substantial financial penalties.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“As the Port of Savannah has continued to support substantially increased import and export traffic, our law enforcement partners have done an outstanding job of stepping up to intercept illegal shipments and maintain border security,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Stopping Al Jaberi’s smuggling attempt prevents a significant shipment of firearms to an already dangerous area of the world.”

As described at trial, Al Jaberi, an Iraqi citizen and legal permanent resident of the United States, was attempting in August 2020 to ship six .308-caliber long-range rifles and three handguns concealed in a shipment in which the contents were listed as “71 Pieces of Spare Auto Parts with No License Required.” The firearms, which were discovered disassembled along with used automotive parts in a container at the Port of Savannah, had been obtained through straw purchases at various Atlanta-area sporting goods stores.

Al Jaberi was remanded to custody pending sentencing.

“The successful prosecution and conviction of Al Jaberi is yet another example of excellent collaboration at the federal level in the Southern District of Georgia with each organization contributing unique authorities and capabilities to enforce U.S. laws,” said Henry DeBlock III, Area Port Director for CBP Savannah.  “CBP officers assigned to the Port of Savannah will continue to vigorously enforce U.S. export control laws as part of our overall border security duties and responsibilities in the maritime environment.”

“In the wrong hands, these export-controlled, high-powered rifles could enable malign actors to harm our warfighters, allies, and innocent civilians overseas,” said Special Agent in Charge Ariel Joshua Leinwand, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), Miami Field Office. “This guilty verdict is a testament to OEE’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the illegal export of sensitive, controlled items.”

“Preventing the flow of illegal weapons and the associated violence helps protect communities around the globe,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “This criminal will no longer be able to exploit our nation’s logistics systems for his criminal enterprise.” 

“This case and ultimate conviction highlights the fact that illegal gun trafficking not only affects our local communities, but has implications far beyond our borders” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “At a time in which our ports are seeing unprecedented traffic, this case highlights the need for ATF and our partners to be vigilant in investigating and prosecuting individuals who supply the illegal arms trade.”

The case was investigated by U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security and by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari, and by Northern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.

U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Georgia A photo introduced as evidence in USA v. Nihad Al Jaberi includes nine firearms from a shipment interdicted in the Port of Savannah and reassembled, along with other firearms removed during a search of the defendant’s residence.

 

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah tire store owner has been sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison after his conviction for distributing methamphetamine.

Reginald Anderson, a/k/a “Red,” 49, of Savannah, was sentenced to 125 months in prison after being found guilty at trial on three counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also fined Anderson $5,000 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“’Red’ Anderson could have prospered running a legitimate tire business, but instead he tried to inflate his profits by selling poison,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “He has a sordid criminal history of drugs and violence, and our community is safer with this criminal retread doing hard time.”

As described at trial, Anderson was the owner of Anderson’s Tire Shop, and was indicted after he sold methamphetamine on multiple occasions to informants for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in 2018. Witnesses testified that Anderson had propositioned at least one person for sexual favors in exchange for narcotics, and that the methamphetamine that he was selling was nearly 100 percent pure “ice.” A federal jury convicted him on all counts after a two-day trial.

Anderson has multiple prior criminal convictions for drug trafficking, violence, and illegal possession of firearms.

“This defendant’s methamphetamine trafficking activities posed a significant threat to the quality of life in Savannah and elsewhere,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “‘Meth’ is not only volatile and toxic, but it destroys families, communities and lives. Because of the collective effort between DEA and its law enforcement partners, Reginald Anderson will no longer be able to distribute this toxic drug.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Bearden and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

SAVANNAH, GA:  One of the leaders of a violent Savannah-area drug trafficking network has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison.

Kashif Collins, a/k/a “Fat Boy,” 35, of Savannah, was sentenced to 220 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, and two counts of Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Collins to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“The investigation in Operation Deadlier Catch methodically identified and disrupted a major drug trafficking network in the Coastal Georgia area, and our office continues the work of bringing the 29 defendants to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Kashif Collins is being held accountable as a leader of this group that for too long funneled illegal drugs and the associated violence into our community.”

Investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Deadlier Catch involved multiple federal agencies who traced a major source of cocaine distributed in Chatham County to a drug trafficking organization that channeled drugs from Mexico through a California supplier. The network operated at least as early as 2016, through 2020, when the 29 defendants were named in a 27-count federal indictment in U.S.A. vs. Bulloch, et al.

As described in court documents and testimony, Collins was a leader in the network who purchased kilogram amounts of cocaine and supervised lower-level dealers in selling the drugs from “trap houses” located in the Savannah area.

Investigators from the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), and the Savannah Police Department monitored and infiltrated the drug trafficking network to trace the source of supply and points of distribution. In a series of searches, investigators seized more than 24 kilograms of cocaine, more than 180 pounds of marijuana, 3 kilos of heroin, and seized at least 14 firearms – many of them in the possession of previously convicted felons.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia also has initiated civil forfeiture proceedings for the firearms and $1.5 million in cash and other assets including vehicles and jewelry, along with two homes in Savannah that are alleged to have been used as part of the drug distribution network.

Of the 29 defendants, 13 have pled guilty, with seven sentenced and five awaiting sentencing, while 14 defendants await trail and are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Two defendants are considered fugitives.

“Thanks to the hard work and collaboration of our law enforcement partners, one of the leaders of this extensive drug distribution network will spend significant time behind bars,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Collins and his co-defendants were a plague in the community with their drugs, guns and violence and the FBI is committed to removing every single one of these predators from our streets.” 

“This high-level cocaine distributor will spend well-deserved time prison and can no longer push insidious cocaine, which poses an imminent risk to the community,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “DEA and its law enforcement partners will continue to target drug traffickers to protect communities in Savannah and elsewhere.”

“This investigation once again shows that through the cooperation of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, persistent and dangerous narcotics traffickers such as these will ultimately have to face the criminal justice system and potentially decades in prison,” said Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division. “The United States Postal Inspection Service is proud to be involved in this multi-agency effort.”

“This case once again demonstrates the importance of a collaborative approach to investigations. I am thankful for the strong relationships between CNT and our federal, state, and local partners. These partnerships are producing positive results for our community,” said Michael G. Sarhatt, Director of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team. “It is essential that these investigations not only take down local organizations, but also successfully target the sources of supply in other locations who are responsible for the toxins being brought into this area. The sentence in this case reflects the defendant’s responsibility for the drugs and violence affecting our community.”

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. It is being investigated by the FBI, the DEA, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, CNT, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington and Noah Abrams, with asset forfeitures coordinated by Xavier A. Cunningham, Section Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Georgia Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney David H. Estes (from left) recognizes some of the members of the team receiving the Director’s Award for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team from the U.S. Department of Justice, including Vilmarie Alcaraz, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist with the U.S. Attorney’s Office; Matthew A. Josephson, Assistant U.S. Attorney; J. Thomas Clarkson, Former Assistant U.S. Attorney; Jonathan A. Porter, Assistant U.S. Attorney; and Bradford C. Patrick, Assistant U.S. Attorney. Recipients not pictured include former Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office Senior Litigation Technologist Kostantino Athanasopoulos, now with the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Tierra Bradley, Angelia Coleman, and Eric Kruger with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Troy Smith, with the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General; and Derek Ranger, with the Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

SAVANNAH, GA: A team led by the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office received recognition from the U.S. Department of Justice for the successful prosecution of a major pill mill network that illegally funneled millions of opioid pills into the community.

“Our office is justifiably proud of the outstanding work from our professional staff and our law enforcement partners, and this award from the Department of Justice is a well-deserved recognition for their tireless efforts,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “This investigation, prosecution, and trial victory continues to have a ripple effect throughout our community as related defendants are brought to justice.”

Presented annually by the Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA), the award recognizes “steadfast dedication, exemplary professionalism, commitment to excellence, fidelity to the rule of law, and to doing the right thing,” as noted in a congratulatory letter from EOUSA Director Monty Wilkinson to the award recipients. Due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, this year’s 36th Annual Director’s Awards were presented virtually. 

The Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office received an award for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team. The recipients are:

• Vilmarie Alcaraz, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office;
• Kostantino Athanasopoulos, Senior Litigation Technologist, U.S. Attorney’s Office;
• Tierra Bradley, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration;
• J. Thomas Clarkson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office;
• Angelia L. Coleman, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; 
• Matthew A. Josephson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office;
• Eric Kruger, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration;
• Bradford C. Patrick, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office;
• Jonathan A. Porter, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office;
• Derek Ranger, U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and,
• Troy Smith, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The team was recognized for the expansive prosecution of a series of cases related to a major pill mill operated by Frank H. Bynes Jr., of Savannah, the leading Medicare prescriber in the country for certain drug cocktails. Over the course of the scheme, Bynes dispensed more than 5 million dosage units, including to addicts and street-level drug dealers. Following a jury trial in U.S. District Court in Savannah, Bynes was convicted and sentenced in February 2020 to 240 months in prison.

The investigative team continued to dismantle the network, securing a prison sentence for another physician who illegally prescribed massive amounts of addictive drugs, along with criminal convictions and civil judgments against pharmacists and pharmacies that dispensed the prescriptions despite numerous red flags. The combined cases resulted in six convictions totaling 321 months of imprisonment; 12 civil recoveries totaling up to $7.75 million; seizure of more than $1 million, 61 firearms, and four vehicles; and several administrative actions.

In addition to these prosecution efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has worked with local hospitals, medical providers, and coroners to address the opioid crisis in the Southern District of Georgia.   These efforts have helped to ensure that patients with legitimate pain can continue to receive the medicine they need, and that patients with addiction problems can receive appropriate treatment.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Columbia County, Ga., man has been sentenced to federal prison for possession of child pornography, while a second man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in a separate case.

Christopher Dale Smith, 20, of Martinez, Ga., was sentenced to 87 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Smith to pay $3,000 in restitution, and to serve 15 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Online images of child pornography perpetually victimize our most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Identifying those who exploit children and holding them accountable brings a measure of justice for these victims.”

The investigation of Smith began in January 2021 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip that identified images of child pornography. Agents from the FBI then identified Smith and discovered dozens of images and videos of child exploitation on devices in his possession.

“The facts of this case are upsetting, and unfortunately all too common,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Smith’s sentence demonstrates the determination of the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office to find those who prey on innocent children in our communities and bring them to justice.” 

In an unrelated case, Mark Christopher Greene, 46, of Appling, Ga., has been indicted by a U.S. District Court grand jury for possession of child pornography. That investigation, also involving NCMEC, the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, led to Greene’s indictment. The charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 20 years in federal prison, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release after any prison sentence.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah L. Johnson and Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Seven defendants face federal charges including drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession. 

The indicted cases are being investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, in an ongoing effort to reduce violent crime with measures that included targeting those who illegally possess firearms.

“I have prioritized targeting violent crime in this District and as we continue to work to protect our communities from violent crime, a key element is the identification of those who illegally possess and use firearms,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “With our law enforcement partners, we want to put everyone on notice that federal resources are being brought to bear and we will fight for the safety of our neighborhoods.”   

In the past four years, more than 730 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony.

Defendants named in federal indictments from the February 2022 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:

• Thomas Kevin Robinson, 51, of College Park, Ga., charged with Interference with Commerce by Robbery; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Johnathon Emanuel McGahee, 24, of Thomson, Ga., charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Jonathan McGregor, 46, of Woodbine, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 or More Grams of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Heroin; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Deon McWhorter, 36, of Brunswick, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, and 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Jonathan Bennett Capece, 53, of Dublin, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Akil Shawron Brown, 21, of Savannah, charged with Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment; and,
• Jaleel Keron Frazier, 36, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

 

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession:

• William Thomas Nealous III, 30, of Martinez, was sentenced to 52 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies found Nealous with an AR-15 style rifle in his vehicle July 2, 2020, while investigating reports of a man driving slowly through a neighborhood. Nealous was on probation for a prior felony conviction at the time of the arrest.
• Christopher Lewis Tucker Jr., 22, of Thomson, Ga., sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm. Thomson Police officers investigating a shooting in April 2021 learned through an ATF investigation that Tucker had illegally purchased a pistol from a Thomson pawn shop. Tucker claimed the pistol had been stolen, but Harlem Police officers found the pistol in Tucker’s possession during a July 2021 traffic stop.
• Sundiadaa Miller, 33, of Savannah, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Miller, who has a prior state felony conviction for armed robbery, was arrested in January 2020 by Savannah Police officers after he was found in possession of a pistol.
• Tavaris Kexon Ramsey, 43, an inmate at the Colquitt County Correctional Institute in Moultrie, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Ramsey was charged in August 2021 as part of the Operation Wynner Storm drug trafficking investigation in Wilkes County.
• Dillon Cole Gay, 28, of Pembroke, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and to an additional charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon for a case from the Eastern District of Tennessee transferred for prosecution in the Southern District of Georgia. Pooler Police officers arrested Gay Oct. 19, 2021 after finding a pistol and drugs in his possession during a traffic stop. 

Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Brunswick Police Department, the Kingsland Police Department, the Dublin Police Department, the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office.

The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including John P. Harper III and Noah J. Abrams, Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and Timothy Ruffini, with firearms forfeitures coordinated through the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit.

Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Two attorneys and a Savannah man have been indicted on multiple felony charges in the Southern District of Georgia for a wide-ranging COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.

Shaquandra Woods, 39, of Jacksonville, Fla.; Courtney Gilchrist, 36, of Savannah; and Kenneth Jackson, 43, of Savannah, are named in the eight-count indictment returned by a U.S. District Grand Jury charging them with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and other felonies, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carried statutory penalties upon conviction of up to 30 years in federal prison followed by a period of supervised release, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution to the U.S. government.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“When Congress appropriated funding for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the intention was to provide a safety net for small businesses struggling from the effects of a global pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and hold accountable anyone who would attempt to undermine these programs for their own profit.”

As described in the indictment, Woods is an attorney licensed to practice law in Florida and Georgia, and Gilchrist is an attorney licensed to practice law in Georgia. The indictment alleges that Woods, Gilchrist, and Jackson “fraudulently sought and collectively received hundreds of thousands of dollars in relief payments by making false and fraudulent representations to the Small Business Administration (SBA).”

As authorized by the CARES Act, SBA provided Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment alleges the conspirators used fraudulent documents to submit multiple EIDL applications resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in disbursements from the SBA.

All three defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. Woods also is charged with two counts of False Statement on Loan Applications and two counts of False Documents. Gilchrist also is charged with two counts of False Statement on Loan Application, False Documents, and a False Statement, and Jackson also is charged with a False Statement.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Patrick J. Schwedler.

AUGUSTA, GA: A Rockdale County, Ga., nurse practitioner faces substantial time in federal prison after a jury found her guilty of health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and other counts in a multimillion-dollar telemedicine fraud scheme.

Sherley L. Beaufils, 43, of Conyers, Ga., was convicted after a two-day trial on charges of an illegal kickback conspiracy, and five counts each of Health Care Fraud, False Statements Related to Health Care, and Aggravated Identity Theft, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Conviction on the charges subjects Beaufils to a possible statutory sentence of up to 10 years in prison on each count of Health Care Fraud, two years on each count of Aggravated Identity Theft, and five years in prison on all other counts, along with substantial fines and penalties, followed by a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Indicted in the Southern District as part of the nationwide Operation Brace Yourself initiative targeting healthcare fraud, Sherley Beaufils profited by signing unnecessary orders for orthotic braces for patients she never examined or spoke to,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Her greed was her undoing – and she is now being held accountable for targeting the elderly with her serial fraud.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Beaufils, as a nurse practitioner, facilitated orders for more than 3,000 orthotic braces that generated more than $3 million in fraudulent or excessive charges to Medicare. Co-conspirators captured the identities of senior citizens, identified through a telemarketing scheme, and bundled that information as “leads.”

Beaufils then signed her name to fake medical records, in which she falsely claimed she provided examinations of those patients, and then created orders for orthotic braces for patients she never met or spoke with – including a knee brace for an amputee, and a back brace for a recently deceased patient – and other durable medical equipment, in exchange for money. Beaufils’s fraudulent orders were then sold to companies that would generate reimbursement from Medicare.

Beaufils was found not guilty at trial of one additional charge of conspiracy.

“Today, this defendant found out what health care providers who defraud Medicare are finding out all over America: fraudsters will be held accountable for their greed-fueled fraud schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Our investigators will continue to work closely with our state and federal law enforcement partners to protect federal health care programs from such scams.”

“The level of greed shown by Beaufils in this case is shocking, as she lined her pockets at the expense of American taxpayers and government funded healthcare programs,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Health care costs are driven up when doctors and staff bill for unnecessary and incomplete services, and the FBI and our partners will use every resource necessary to put a stop to it.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Patricia G. Rhodes.

SAVANNAH, GA: A former U.S. Army soldier previously stationed at Fort Stewart has been sentenced to prison after admitting he committed sex crimes against a minor.

Jason L. Adkins, 46, of Swann, Iowa, was sentenced to 76 months in prison after pleading guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12 Years of Age, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also ordered Adkins to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Thanks to the difficult work of law enforcement and education professionals, Jason Adkins has been brought to justice for his depraved actions,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “We will be relentless in protecting our most vulnerable citizens.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Adkins had been stationed in Fort Stewart prior to retiring from the Army in 2015, after which he relocated to Altoona, Iowa. Officers with the Police Department in Altoona contacted Army Criminal Investigation Command to report Adkin’s arrest on state child sex crimes charges in 2019, and the subsequent investigation determined that Adkins had committed similar offenses in both locations. His federal sentence will be served consecutively to a four-year state sentence for his crimes in Iowa.

“Army CID Special Agents work tirelessly to ensure those who perpetrate the heinous crime of sexual assault against a child are held accountable,” said Gregory Ford, Director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID). “This sentence is a reflection of the steadfast relationships CID maintains with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners across the country. I want to thank the Altoona Police Department for their dedication to this complex investigation.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Altoona Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron Hubbard.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A former U.S. Army soldier previously stationed at Fort Stewart has been sentenced to prison after admitting he committed sex crimes against a minor.

Jason L. Adkins, 46, of Swann, Iowa, was sentenced to 76 months in prison after pleading guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12 Years of Age, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also ordered Adkins to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Thanks to the difficult work of law enforcement and education professionals, Jason Adkins has been brought to justice for his depraved actions,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “We will be relentless in protecting our most vulnerable citizens.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Adkins had been stationed in Fort Stewart prior to retiring from the Army in 2015, after which he relocated to Altoona, Iowa. Officers with the Police Department in Altoona contacted Army Criminal Investigation Division to report Adkin’s arrest on state child sex crimes charges in 2019, and the subsequent investigation determined that Adkins had committed similar offenses in both locations. His federal sentence will be served consecutively to a four-year state sentence for his crimes in Iowa. 

“Army CID Special Agents work tirelessly to ensure those who perpetrate the heinous crime of sexual assault against a child are held accountable,” said Gregory Ford, Director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID). “This sentence is a reflection of the steadfast relationships CID maintains with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners across the country. I want to thank the Altoona Police Department for their dedication to this complex investigation.” 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Altoona Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron Hubbard.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A Liberty County man has been sentenced to nearly 40 years in prison after a jury found him guilty at trial on drug trafficking and firearms charges.

Charles Hyde, 64, of Hinesville, Ga., was sentenced to 444 months in prison after being found guilty at trial in June 2021 in U.S. District Court in Brunswick on charges of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number; and Possession and Brandishing of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Hyde to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“After attempting to shoot at police officers, Charles Hyde is lucky to be alive,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Now his luck has run out, and the community is safer with him behind bars.”

As described in court documents and testimony, starting as early as July 2016 through December 2018, Hyde and a key co-defendant, Stacey White, 34, of Hinesville, made multiple trips each month to the Atlanta area to obtain kilograms of methamphetamine from a supplier, and recruited others to assist in selling the drugs.

After a controlled purchase of drugs from Hyde in May 2018, investigators from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation attempted to conduct a search of Hyde’s residence. Hyde aimed at investigators and pulled the trigger but his handgun malfunctioned, and a Liberty County deputy shot Hyde in the hand. He was taken into custody, and investigators subsequently found large amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana in Hyde’s residence. Firearms experts who examined Hyde’s Taurus semiautomatic pistol determined that the firing pin had struck a .40-caliber cartridge in the chamber, but that it had failed to fire.

Hyde and White, along with four other defendants, were indicted on federal conspiracy charges in February 2019. White, a certified member of the violent Bloods criminal street gang, pled guilty and was sentenced in August 2020 to 246 months in prison; three codefendants also pled guilty and are serving prison terms. The sixth codefendant, Hyde’s brother, Terry Hyde, 59, of Hinesville, pled guilty and was sentenced in December to 84 months in prison.

“Hyde’s willingness to commit a violent assault against law enforcement officers is a not only a threat to law enforcement, but is a threat to the very fabric of our society.” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. “Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our country from the perils of drug abuse and the violence that all too often accompanies drug trafficking. This sentencing should serve as a reminder to other criminals who seek to cause bodily harm to an officer…if you are brazen enough to commit such a criminal act, a long prison term awaits you.”

“Illegal drugs have no place in Georgia,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities. The fact that this defendant attempted to shoot at investigators when being taken into custody shows his utter disregard for law enforcement. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.” 

This drug-trafficking conspiracy was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

SOUTHEAST, GA - The United States Marshals Service (USMS) needs your help to stop several phone scams targeting residents in Coastal Georgia. United States Marshal David L. Lyons reports scammers are impersonating law enforcement officers and threatening to arrest members of the public for failing to appear in federal court. In lieu of arrest, the fraudsters then offer to collect a fictitious fine through payment by gift card, phone application or other remote means.

Unfortunately, the scheme has proven highly successful at both the local and national level. According to Marshal Lyons, fraudsters often establish credibility with callers by employing a threatening tone, providing information like badge numbers, names of actual law enforcement officials or federal judges, and by referencing real courthouse addresses. The scammers have even spoofed phone numbers to appear legitimate on caller ID.

Marshal Lyons definitively states the USMS and the federal court will never ask for card numbers, wire transfers or routing numbers over the telephone. Any suspicious phone calls should be authenticated by hanging up and calling the federal court or the USMS offices in Augusta, Brunswick or Savannah directly. Marshal Lyons expands, “The best defense to these scams is public awareness. Sharing this information with your friends and family members may prevent them from becoming the next victim.”

If you have been targeted in a phone scam or other fraudulent activity, please report the information to the FBI through its Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.IC3.gov) and to the Federal Trade Commission (www.reportfraud.ftc.gov).

Additional information about court scams can be found on the websites for the United States Courts (www.uscourts.gov) and the United States Marshals Service (www.usmarshals.gov).

WAYCROSS, GA: A series of sentencings and the guilty plea of a key defendant brings to 36 the number of defendants admitting guilt in Operation Sandy Bottom, the investigation and prosecution of violent criminal street gang members distributing methamphetamine and other drugs in the Coffee County, Ga., area.

Of the 48 defendants indicted in the operation in U.S.A. v. McMillan et al. in January 2021, just nine await trial and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty; 14 have been sentenced to federal prison terms of up to 286 months, while 22 others have pled guilty to felony charges and await sentencing. Charges against one defendant were dismissed.

“The continued delivery of justice in Operation Sandy Bottom demonstrates the commitment our office brings to the identification and disruption of criminal street gangs who sell misery and sow fear in our communities,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Our many local, state, and federal law enforcement partners exhibited exceptional performance in bringing this drug trafficking operation to a halt.”  

Operation Sandy Bottom was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation centered in the Sand Ridge neighborhood on the east side of Douglas, Ga., in an area known as “the bottoms.” The 57-count indictment alleges that the conspiracy, controlled by a subset of the Gangster Disciples street gang, used guns, violence and fear to control methamphetamine trafficking operations throughout the community and to enable contraband distribution inside Georgia prisons.

Multiple defendants have been sentenced or admitted guilt in U.S. District Court this week, including:

• Jackie Kavaskia McMillan, a/k/a “Bijay,” 41, an inmate serving a life sentence for a state conviction on a charge of murder at Dooly State Prison, awaits sentencing in federal court after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Marijuana. As early as 2018, McMillan used contraband cell phones and compromised prison guards to coordinate the drug trafficking operation while incarcerated. His guilty plea subjects McMillan to a minimum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison, and up to 40 years.
• Christina Veronda Alexander, 41, of Hazlehurst, Ga., was sentenced to 286 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Marijuana, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Alexander was McMillan’s girlfriend, and under McMillan’s direction obtained methamphetamine from a supplier in Mexico for distribution to street dealers in the conspiracy, and delivered contraband to compromised prison guards to smuggle to state prison inmates.
• Brad Nikita Vickers, 34, of Douglas, Ga., sentenced to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Marijuana, Eutylone (Bath Salts), and Asprazolam (Xanax). Vickers was a mid-level drug distributor and source of supply to many of the street-level dealers in the conspiracy.
• Phillip Lloyd Morgan, a/k/a “Tree Top,” 38, of Douglas, sentenced to 118 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Marijuana, Eutylone, and Asprazolam. Morgan was a mid-level distributor in the conspiracy.
• Leo Vonza Pender, a/k/a “Metro,” 39, of Alma, Ga., sentenced to 118 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Pender was a street-level dealer in the conspiracy.
• Richard Young, 55, of Hazlehurst, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Young admitted to participating in methamphetamine distribution as part of the conspiracy.

“The sentencing of these individuals proves that the FBI and our partners will spare no resource when it comes to ending an epidemic in our society that fuels violent crime and kills our citizens,” said Phil Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We want to thank our partners in the Georgia Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force who relentlessly work along our side to dismantle these organized, violent criminal enterprises.”

The investigation began in 2018 when the Coffee County Drug Unit enlisted the assistance of the FBI and the Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force to investigate community complaints about rising violence and drug activity in the Sand Ridge neighborhood of Douglas. As outlined in court documents and testimony, the conspiracy controlled multiple “trap houses” to store and distribute illegal drugs, primarily methamphetamine, coordinated by gang leaders who distributed drugs throughout Coffee, Bacon, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Pierce and Wheeler counties, along with other parts of Georgia.

Investigators infiltrated the operation, intercepting multiple kilograms of drugs and nearly two dozen illegally possessed firearms, along with seven vehicles and more than $12,000 in cash identified as drug-trafficking proceeds.  

The operation also identified and charged three Georgia state correctional officers who worked with gang members to smuggle contraband cell phones and illegal drugs to inmates affiliated with the conspiracy. Idalis Qua Dazia Harrell, 25, of Douglas, a former guard at Coffee County Correctional Facility; Jessica Azaelae Burnett, a/k/a “The Madam,” 42, of Douglas, a former senior guard at Coffee County Correctional Facility; and Ebony Desiree Smiley, a/k/a “Baby Girl, 25, of Vidalia, Ga., a former guard at Wheeler State Prison, each await sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.

The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. It was investigated by the FBI and the FBI Coastal Georgia Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Coffee County Drug Unit; the Georgia Department of Corrections; the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office; the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office; the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office; the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office; the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office; the Blackshear Police Department; the Nicholls Police Department; the Douglas Police Department; the Alma Police Department; the Glynn County Police Department; the Brunswick Police Department; the Swainsboro Police Department; and the Coffee County Department of Family and Children Services.

The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph McCool and E. Greg Gilluly, with asset forfeitures coordinated by Xavier A. Cunningham, Section Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Seven defendants face federal charges including drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession. 

The indicted cases are being investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, in an ongoing effort to reduce violent crime with measures that included targeting those who illegally possess firearms.

“As we continue to focus on the reduction of violent crime in the Southern District, we applaud the work of our law enforcement partners in removing guns illegally possessed by convicted felons,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Protecting the safety of our citizens is of paramount importance.” 

In the past four years, more than 725 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony.

Defendants named in federal indictments from the January 2022 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:

• Randall Walden, 42, of Savannah, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 or More Grams of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Fentanyl; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The indictment also charges Walden and Burney Cobb, 41, of Savannah, with Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
• Davon Lamont Blackshear, 30, of Springfield, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of Cocaine;
• Shaquille Green, a/k/a “OC,” a/k/a “Scrill Rip Chop,” 28, of Savannah, charged with two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Phillip Allen Loughry, 41, of Baxley, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Hunter Cole Reavis, 25, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Conspiracy to Possess Methamphetamine;
• Treyon Antonio Williams, 30, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

 

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession:

• Timothy Lee Lanigan, 38, of Reidsville, Ga., was sentenced to 86 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Lanigan was on felony probation in June 2018 when Garden City Police officers found him in possession of a pistol during an investigation. 
• Tron Smith, 34, of Savannah, was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers responded in June 2019 to a report of a man brandishing a firearm at a motel and found a pistol inside the room Smith occupied. Smith’s criminal history includes multiple convictions for family violence and obstruction of law enforcement officers.
• Bryan Heyward, 21, of Savannah, sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found Heyward in possession of a pistol during a September 2020 traffic stop.
• Damario Antron Williams, 35, of Augusta, sentenced 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies investigating a reported disturbance at an Augusta residence arrested Williams Jan. 16, 2021, when they found him with a pistol in his pocket.
• Joseph Deon Cuyler, 29, of Wrightsville, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The U.S. Marshals Service and Wrightsville Police arrested Cuyler April 15, 2021, on an outstanding felony warrant and found him in possession of a handgun.
• Derek Hayes, 51, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of Stolen Firearms. Savannah Police officers arrested Hayes after finding two pistols in his vehicle during an October 2020 traffic stop, and later determined the pistols had been stolen.
• Jamel Albert, 30, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found Albert in possession of a pistol during an April 2021 traffic stop.   
• Charles Aimee Fields Jr., a/k/a “Slim,” 33, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Distribution of Crack Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Fields is among 14 defendants charged in September for their roles in operating an open-air drug market in an area of Savannah called “The Dips.”
• James Ricardo Harris, 29, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harris was arrested in May 2019 when Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies found him in possession of a pistol during a traffic stop.
• Demont Latrell Gresham, 33, of Washington, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Gresham ran from Wilkes County Sheriff’s Deputies and Georgia State Patrol troopers in July 2020 when they attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant, and officers found a rifle in his vehicle. He was arrested in August 2020 when located by Wilkes County deputies.
• David McCain III, 35, of Hephzibah, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He was arrested on New Year’s Day 2020 when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies investigating reports of celebratory gunfire found McCain, a convicted felon, in possession of an AR-15 style rifle with a high-capacity magazine.  
• B’Quan Ferguson, 31, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found a pistol in Ferguson’s car during an October 2020 traffic stop. Ferguson has multiple prior state felony convictions, including violent felonies with firearms.
• Rasheen Dyshawn Stephens, 30, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers investigating a domestic disturbance on June 7, 2021, found a pistol and an extended magazine in Stephens’ pockets.

 

At least 15 firearms were seized and forfeited during these investigations and will be destroyed.

Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Jesup Police Department, the Pooler Police Department, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the Wrightsville Police Department, the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office.

The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including John P. Harper III and Noah J. Abrams, Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and Timothy Ruffini, with firearms forfeitures coordinated through the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit.

Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A violent felon has been sentenced to more than 50 years in federal prison for attempted robbery, carjacking, and firearms offenses in Chatham and Ware counties. At sentencing, the Court found he also sexually abused a juvenile at gunpoint during his crime spree.

Alfred Wisher, 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 640 months in prison after a federal jury in July 2021 found him guilty on 11 felony counts related to a July 2019 series of violent crimes and firearm offenses in the Savannah and Waycross areas, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Wisher to pay $6,217.40 in restitution and to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. Judge Baker recommended that the Bureau of Prisons place Wisher at a facility as far away as possible from Savannah. There is no parole in the federal system. 

“Alfred Wisher’s cowardly acts of robbery, violence, and abuse were matched by the courage of his victims. The decades of prison that await will afford him ample opportunity to rue the pain he caused,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “I applaud the work of law enforcement in bringing Wisher to justice and those who had the strength in this case to come forward and tell their story.  Our community is safer.”  

Wisher previously served time in prison for series of violent armed robberies in New York, and he currently faces a state charge of attempted murder in Vermont, for which he is presumed innocent. 

His crime spree in Georgia started in 2019 when he came to Savannah.  As shown in court documents and evidence presented at trial and sentencing, Wisher was in a relationship with a juvenile female. During an argument, Wisher brandished a pistol and fired a bullet into a bed near the young female; he later raped her at gunpoint. 

Days later, Wisher struck his roommate in the head and stole a firearm. Wisher gave that stolen pistol to Samuel Renardo Chisholm, 29, of Savannah, also a convicted felon. On July 25, 2019, Wisher and Chisholm carjacked at gunpoint a mother visiting Savannah, stealing her Ford Escape. 

Wisher and Chisholm drove the stolen Escape to Ware County the next day, where Wisher attempted to rob a retired preschool teacher as she walked into the TJ Maxx store in Waycross, Ga., to shop. Chisholm drove Wisher away from the attempted robbery.

U.S. Marshals arrested Wisher in Savannah on July 29, 2019, after finding him standing near the stolen Ford Escape.

Chisholm pled guilty and was sentenced in September 2021 by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 110 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution.

“Without the help of our partners in law enforcement, and our citizens, our job of protecting Americans and upholding the Constitution would be more difficult,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These violent felons were captured, convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison sentences because of the efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies.”

“This duo’s crime spree not only affected the citizens of Savannah, but citizens in other jurisdictions as well,” said Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter. “We worked closely with Marshals and other law enforcement partners, effectively resulting in these subjects being brought to justice to face their crimes. This was a collaborative effort to protect the safety of all those in danger of being in Wisher and Chisholm’s path.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Savannah Police Department, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, and the Waycross Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

BRUNSWICK, GA: A pharmacist and a pharmacy owner await sentencing after pleading guilty to charges related to a conspiracy to unlawfully dispense controlled substances.

Gilbert Nelson Weise, Jr., 58, of Jacksonville, Fla., faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of conspiracy to dispense controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Weise also faces substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release after completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“As demonstrated through this investigation, pill-mill clinics cannot thrive without pharmacists willing to fill their unlawful prescriptions,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Pharmacists have an obligation to scrutinize suspicious controlled substances and ensure they are issued for legitimate purpose. In this case, not only did the defendant negligently ignore the presence of red flags, but he also knowingly and intentionally agreed to fill prescriptions that he knew to be unlawful and appropriately is being held to account.”

As described in court documents, from on or about Oct. 9, 2014 to June 13, 2017, in Camden County, in the Southern District of Georgia, in the Middle District of Florida, and elsewhere, Weise and others conspired to dispense hydromorphone, oxycodone, and hydrocodone, among other drugs, for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice, in violation of federal law. The prescriptions in question were issued at a nominal pain management clinic known as Coastline Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Inc. in St. Mary’s, Ga. The physician at Coastline – who was charged in the indictment but subsequently judged incapable of standing trial – routinely dispensed controlled substances not for a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice and in so doing generated significant amounts of cash. Between Oct. 9, 2014 and June 13, 2017, drug-seeking customers typically paid approximately $300 cash to Coastline in exchange for prescriptions. To enable more patients to fill their prescriptions, a co-conspirator contacted Weise, Jr., who agreed to fill Coastline’s prescriptions at Weise Prescription Shop located in Jacksonville, Fla.

Given the high volume of Coastline’s prescriptions, a second pharmacy known as Coastal RX Pharmacy also began filing Coastline’s prescriptions. The co-owner of Coastal RX Pharmacy, Amy G. Taylor, 42, of Jacksonville, also awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to an information charging Misprision of Felony. Specifically, Taylor agreed that she had knowledge of and concealed the unlawful conspiracy and did not report that knowledge to a lawful authority, in violation of federal law. This charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and a one-year term of supervised release.

“Dispensing addictive prescription pain medication under the guise of a doctor’s care puts greed above an individual’s specific health needs and the trust of the community,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Individuals like Weise and his associates who are involved in this ‘pill mill’ activity are nothing more than drug dealers who are licensed to wear white coats and fill prescriptions. Thanks to a concerted effort from our law enforcement partners, south Georgia and its surrounding communities are safer today.”

The case was investigated by the DEA and the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office Investigator Charles Sikes and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg Gilluly, Mathew Josephson and Karl Knoche.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Jefferson County, Ga., woman who admitted using false information to file for COVID-19 relief funding has been sentenced to federal prison.

Whitney Adwan Mack, 34, of Louisville, Ga., was sentenced to 48 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Mack to pay a fine of $5,000, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“The substantial appropriations for businesses suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic assisted tremendous numbers of people in need of extra help for their small business,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Unfortunately, the lure of money also attracted con artists who attempted to enrich themselves by defrauding taxpayers during a national emergency, and they are being held accountable.”

In pleading guilty, Mack admitted she obtained COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) in July 2020 by making false statements about the number of individuals her company employed and the company’s gross revenue, and applied for the relief funding using a Social Security number that was not hers. After receiving a $150,000 EIDL, Mack withdrew much of the funds in cash and used part of the proceeds for a vacation in Miami.

“We are committed to bringing justice to criminals intent on stealing government funds,” said Steven Baisel, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service. “This sentencing shows the commitment of my agency and our partners to pursue people who steal pandemic relief funds intended for those who need it most.”

“Mack stole critical funding earmarked for small businesses facing real economic hardships due to the pandemic and damaged the integrity of the Social Security number,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation. I also thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for bringing this individual to justice.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. Schwedler and Jonathan A. Porter.

SAVANNAH, GA: A former commercial loan officer at a Chatham County bank was sentenced to prison after admitting he obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent commercial loans using another person’s identity without their consent.

Jason McMillan, 46, of Savannah, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay $112,430 in restitution after pleading guilty to Bank Fraud, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also ordered McMillan to serve three years of supervised release and perform 40 hours of community service after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Jason McMillan used his insider access at the bank that employed him to get money that fueled his chosen lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “In addition to being held accountable, as part of his plea agreement McMillan agrees to never again work in the industry whose trust and customers he betrayed.”

McMillan admitted that from July 2009 through April 2019, he knowingly used the identity of another person without their consent in obtaining commercial loans in the amounts of $187,000, $160,000, $157,000 and $250,000 from a Chatham County bank where he worked as its commercial loan officer. McMillan also admitted he obtained these loans under the false pretense that loans would be used for obtaining industrial farm equipment. McMillan admitted he knowingly used approximately $200,271 of these funds for his own personal use. The bank discovered the fraud during an internal investigation.

“McMillan’s sentencing reinforces the importance of protecting people’s personal identifiers,” said Steven Baisel, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service.  “We will continue to pursue these criminals and hold them accountable.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Lee and Asset Forfeiture Unit Section Chief Xavier A. Cunningham.

SAVANNAH, GA:  The leader of a conspiracy that used forged prescriptions to obtain and sell large amounts of highly addictive opioids has been sentenced to federal prison.

Raheem Hardy, 29, of Decatur, Ga., was sentenced to 55 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Hardy to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“By forging wholesale numbers of fake prescriptions, Raheem Hardy poured fuel on the raging fires of opioid addiction,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “The teamwork of our law enforcement partners brought this scheme to an end, and Hardy is being held accountable.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Hardy created forged prescriptions for drugs, including the opioid pain medication Oxycodone, using the names and DEA registration numbers of at least six physicians. He then sold the paper prescriptions to others in the conspiracy who filled the prescriptions and sold the drugs to users.  The scheme crossed Georgia into South Carolina and Alabama, as conspirators filled or attempted to fill prescriptions in those states. The conspiracy resulted in the unlawful acquisition and distribution of more than 4,000 pills.

The case originated in December 2019 in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad in Columbia, S.C., when fraudulent prescriptions were presented to multiple pharmacies in the area.  In April 2020, a pharmacist in Savannah raised an alarm when she questioned the authenticity of a conspirator’s prescription for Oxycodone and contacted the Savannah Police Department and the DEA Savannah Tactical Diversion Squad. A February 2021 indictment alleged Hardy and nine co-conspirators filled at least several dozen fraudulent prescriptions across Georgia to procure thousands of pills.

Six other defendants have pled guilty and been sentenced to incarceration.  Three defendants are awaiting trial and are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

“Although these pills came from legitimate pharmacies, the prescriptions were fake,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Raheem Hardy and his accomplices are not licensed medical professionals, and had no business filling prescriptions for these highly sought after pills. After this sentencing, other criminals have been put on notice that these illicit activities will lead to significant time behind bars.”

The case was investigated by the DEA Tactical Diversion Squads in Savannah and Columbia, S.C.; the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team; the Pooler Police Department; and the Savannah Police Department, with assistance from South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew A. Josephson and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A former Aiken County, S.C., teacher was sentenced to more than a decade in federal prison after admitting to sexually exploiting a Columbia County, Ga., minor.

Jonathan Eugene Grantham, 45, of Graniteville, S.C., was sentenced to 140 months in prison after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Grantham to pay $50,000 in restitution, and to serve the rest of his life on supervised release and register as a sex offender after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Our community rightly holds educators in high regard as it entrusts them with the care of some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Jonathan Grantham’s field of employment made it even more despicable that he participated in the depraved interstate sex trafficking of a child, and he deservedly will serve substantial prison time for his crimes.”

At the time of his arrest in February 2021, Grantham was employed as a teacher at Ridge Spring-Monetta High School in Ridge Spring, S.C. He later was terminated. 

Grantham came to the attention of the FBI while agents were conducting the sex trafficking investigation of Michael Peyton Gunn, 36, of Evans, who faces a sentence of up to life in prison after his conviction at trial on nine felony charges including sex trafficking of a child.

Agents discovered that Grantham, in July 2019, traveled from South Carolina to Columbia County to engage in sexual activity with a victim who was under age 18. Grantham admitted responding to an online advertisement trafficking the minor victim, then traveling from South Carolina to Evans to transport the victim to a South Carolina motel for a sexual act in return for payment. 

The investigation into related crimes in the case continues.

“It is tremendously upsetting that someone in a position entrusted to care for our children was involved in taking advantage of and sexually exploiting a minor,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will spare no resource when it comes to bringing child predators, like Grantham, to justice.”  

The case is being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

STATESBORO, GA:  A Burke County man has been sentenced to prison after admitting to operating a cockfighting venue.

William Shannon Scott, 49, of Midville, Ga., was sentenced to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to Sponsoring and Exhibiting an Animal in an Animal Fighting Venture, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Scott to pay a fine of $2,500 and a special assessment of $100 and to forfeit the land on which the fights were held, prohibited him from owning birds or fowl or engaging in cockfighting, and ordered him to serve two years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“William Shannon Scott’s sentencing represents the final trip to court for three men who operated illegal animal fighting venues in the Southern District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Thanks to outstanding work from our law enforcement partners, we have shut down these three animal cruelty arenas – and it should serve as a warning to those who would attempt to engage in this reprehensible practice.”

The owners of two other venues, Wendell Allan Strickland, 67, of Swainsboro, Ga., and Lanier Augustus Hightower, 65, of Lincolnton, Ga., currently are serving federal prison terms after admitting to similar charges.

As described in court documents and testimony, Scott operated a cockfighting venue called Little Sunset on his Midville property. The venue alternated weekend events with Strickland’s Emanuel County venue, The Red Barn. Scott was arrested in June 2020 on federal charges as part of Operation Sunrise, a multi-agency raid of a cockfighting tournament at his property in which nearly 200 possible defendants were identified. Six months earlier, the operation on Hightower’s farm in Lincoln County was the first of the three raided by law enforcement agencies during a cockfighting tournament in December 2019.

“These callous showcases of death are no longer in operation, thanks to our law enforcement partnerships,” said Jason Williams, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General. “This agency has made animal fighting a high priority in order to demonstrate that these inhumane acts of cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.”

The investigation into animal fighting operations in the Southern District were led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG) and in cooperation with multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The U.S. Government has initiated forfeiture proceedings for the real property on which each of the three tournaments were held, while overseeing the forfeiture of more than $200,000 in cash from illegal betting along with knives and gaffs that were affixed to the animals during fights.

The cases were investigated by the USDA-OIG and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier A. Cunningham and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Rock.

SAVANNAH: The Southern District of Georgia recovered more than $36 million in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2021, including nearly $24 million in civil actions and more than $4 million in restitution to crime victims.

Additionally, the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Office and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $47,853 from criminal actions and $23,000 from civil actions, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.         

The Southern District’s recovery total in 2021 was $26 million higher than 2020’s $10.7 million total, including $20 million in the Argos USA settlement coordinated with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division. 

“Asset recovery is a vital part of our office’s role in enforcing the law and protecting citizens and the public treasury,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Identifying and collecting these restitutions, forfeitures and judgments and initiating the actions to recover these funds helps to ensure that crime does not pay.”

Examples of major recoveries in FY 2021 through the U.S. Attorney’s Office Financial Litigation Program include nearly $1 million in restitution in a Savannah bank fraud case; more than $218,000 in restitution to repay funds embezzled from a Statesboro medical practice; and more than $177,000 in restitution of funds from an Appling County pharmacist’s healthcare fraud scheme.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with partner agencies and divisions, recovered more than $8 million in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2021, ranking the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office second in the nation among Medium-sized districts across the country. The recovered funds included those from money-laundering investigations, proceeds from fraud – including from COVID-19 programs – and proceeds from drug trafficking, illegal gambling and animal fighting. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. 

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Justice Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

The Southern District’s Asset Recovery Unit, let by Section Chief and Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier A. Cunningham, includes Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Robichaux, Financial Litigation Analyst Michael Palmer, Data Analyst Leiandra Moran, Records Examiner Teisha Lovett, Paralegal Wanda Jackson, and Paralegal Specialists Rosylen Givens and Margrita Brady.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Michigan man has been sentenced to more than two decades in federal prison after admitting that he produced child pornography while previously residing in Savannah.

Bobby Fields, 42, of Lansing, Mich., was sentenced to 310 months in prison after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered fields to register as a sex offender and serve 10 years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Production of child pornography creates lifelong victimization of innocent children,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “The significant prison sentence for Bobby Fields should serve as a strong warning to anyone who would exploit our most vulnerable citizens.”

Fields was indicted in July 2020 after an investigation into child pornography discovered on a laptop linked him to the illegal material’s creation as early as October 2016 through images that captured distinctive tattoos on Field’s arm. 

“The GBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims of online exploitation,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds. “We are grateful for the partnerships we maintain with our local and federal agencies to bring these predators to justice.”

The case was investigated by the Savannah Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

SAVANNAH: Balfour Beatty Communities LLC (BBC), one of the nation’s largest providers of privatized military housing to the U.S. Armed Forces, pled guilty to defrauding the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy, in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain performance bonuses by submitting false information to the U.S. military.

BBC entered the plea, pursuant to plea agreement with the United States, before U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in the District of Columbia on Wednesday. Under the terms of the plea agreement, BBC agreed to pay more than $33.6 million in criminal fines and over $31.8 million in restitution to the U.S. military, serve three years of probation, and engage an independent compliance monitor for a period of three years.

“Instead of promptly repairing housing for U.S. servicemembers as required, BBC lied about the repairs to pocket millions of dollars in performance bonuses,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “This pervasive fraud was a consequence of BBC’s broken corporate culture, which valued profit over the welfare of servicemembers. Today’s global resolution sends a clear message to companies that if they do not maintain adequate compliance programs, voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, and fully cooperate with the government, they will pay a price that outweighs the profits they once reaped.” 

Separately, BBC entered into a False Claims Act (FCA) settlement under which it is obligated to pay approximately $35.2 million in civil restitution and penalties to the United States, which the Justice Department credited against BBC’s criminal restitution and fine. Law enforcement within the Southern District of Georgia assisted in reaching this settlement by investigating BBC’s misconduct at Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, and Fort Gordon in Augusta.  

“The men and women who live in our nation’s military housing, including those at Fort Stewart and Fort Gordon, deserve prompt and professional maintenance service from their housing providers,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “That BBC would not only fail to deliver this service, but also falsify information to line their own pockets is despicable. Our office will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners, and other components of the Department of Justice, to make sure those who provide subpar service to the military and lie about it are held accountable.”

According to court documents, BBC was a diversified real estate services company, headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, that operated privatized military housing communities at 21 U.S. Air Force, 16 U.S. Army, and 18 U.S. Navy bases across the United States, in which tens of thousands of service members and their families lived. BBC earned fees for the various phases of development and management of each housing community, from design and construction to ongoing community management and maintenance, and service members paid their living allowance, known as Basic Allowance for Housing, in the form of rest to BBC to live in the communities.

BBC’s fees for the ongoing property management and maintenance of its military housing communities generally consisted of (1) a base fee, paid to BBC monthly and (2) performance incentive fees, paid to BBC quarterly or semi-annually. Performance Incentive Fees were payable only upon the approval of the relevant service branch. To obtain the incentive fees, BBC was required to submit to the service branches proof that it had satisfied written performance objectives related to, among other things, maintenance of the housing communities and resident satisfaction. The service branches relied on BBC’s submissions in deciding whether to approve the payment of relevant performance incentive fees.

According to court documents, from around 2013 to around 2019, BBC employees falsified information so that BBC’s incentive fee requests falsely reflected that BBC had met performance objectives. In reality, BBC did not legitimately meet those objectives in many of the quarters during that time, primarily the objectives related to maintenance and resident satisfaction, at various military housing projects. Specifically, BBC employees altered or manipulated data in property management software and destroyed and falsified resident comment cards to falsely inflate these metrics and, ultimately, to fraudulently induce the service branches to pay performance incentive fees which BBC had not earned.

As a result, according to court documents, there were lengthy and unnecessary delays in the resolution of maintenance issues to the detriment of residents. In addition, the military service branches had an inaccurate view of the state of BBC’s military housing communities and were unable to assess, and potentially correct, BBC’s performance.

A number of relevant considerations contributed to the department’s criminal resolution with BBC, including the nature and seriousness of the offense, the pervasiveness of the misconduct among BBC’s employees and at multiple military installations, and the state of BBC’s compliance program and the progress of its remediation, including the fact that BBC’s compliance program and internal controls have not been fully implemented or tested to demonstrate that they would prevent and detect similar misconduct in the future.

As part of BBC’s plea agreement, BBC agreed to cooperate fully with the United States in all matters relating to the conduct covered by the plea agreement and other conduct under investigation by the United States, to self-report violations of U.S. federal criminal law, and to continue to implement a compliance and ethics program designed to effectively detect and deter violations of U.S. anti-fraud laws throughout its operations.

“In defrauding our country's military services, BBC took advantage of their unique position as a military housing provider and put greed and personal profit above our servicemembers,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul M. Abbate. “Today's guilty plea reaffirms the FBI, along with our partners, are committed to preventing such disgraceful crimes and will work tirelessly to bring those who engage in this type of crime to justice.”

“The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is committed to protecting the integrity of the Department of the Air Force’s procurement process,” said Special Agent Paul Wachsmuth, Director AFOSI Office of Procurement Fraud Investigations. “The extensive and dedicated collaborative efforts between AFOSI, the Air Force Audit Agency, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Justice in this investigation was paramount in ensuring the safety and well-being of our warfighters and their families.”

“The health and safety of service members and their families remains of critical importance to the DoD Office of Inspector General's Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” said Principal Deputy Director James R. Ives of DCIS. “DCIS and our law enforcement partners are committed to working with the Department of Justice to hold companies accountable when they emphasize profits over the well-being of those who honorably serve our nation.”

“This judgment demonstrates the commitment CID Special Agents have to protect soldiers’ families against deceitfulness and fraud, while also ensuring the integrity of the military privatization housing initiative, which is to provide safe, quality, well-maintained housing for our military families,” said Special Agent in Charge Frank Robey of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (CID) Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “Throughout this investigation, Army CID special agents worked closely with federal authorities emphasizing the importance of successful partnerships with other law enforcement agencies.”

“Balfour Beatty’s scheme to delay service request entries into their electronic tracking system for housing aboard Naval Air Station Key West to increase their performance-based award violated their contract and wasted valuable taxpayer money,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Cannizzo of the NCIS Southeast Field Office. “NCIS and our partners remain committed to rooting out fraud and corruption that threatens the integrity of the Department of the Navy’s procurement process.”

“The Western District of Texas is home to some of the largest military installations in the country and our district works tirelessly to protect and serve our military families,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff for the Western District of Texas. “The resolution entered with BBC concerns conduct that impacted military families in our district at Lackland Air Force Base and Fort Bliss Army Base. This resolution is an important step in holding private military housing providers accountable to our servicemembers and their families.”

“The defendants’ greed undermined a program designed to protect servicemembers’ homes while they courageously fight to protect our homeland,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “Servicemembers and their families deserve better. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect our military community from fraudulent conduct of all kinds, particularly the integrity of DoD housing programs.”

This resolution follows the prior entry of guilty pleas by two BBC managers. In April 2021, Stacy Cabrera, a former community manager of BBC, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In June 2021, Rick Cunefare, a former regional manager of BBC, pleaded guilty to major fraud against the United States.

Air Force OSI, DCIS, Army-CID, NCIS, and the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office investigated the case. The Air Force Audit Agency also provided assistance.

Trial Attorneys Michael P. McCarthy and Siji Moore of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Trials Attorneys Laura E. Hill and Elspeth England of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Schwedler and Jonathan Porter of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Gallegos of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Kruger and Jacquelyn Christilles of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas represented the government in the civil case.

Today, the Department of Justice announced a global resolution of its criminal and civil investigations into Balfour Beatty Communities LLC (BBC), one of the largest providers of privatized military housing to the U.S. Armed Forces, for defrauding the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy, in connection with a scheme to defraud the U.S. military.

BBC pleaded guilty to one count of major fraud against the United States in connection with a criminal information filed today in the District of Columbia. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan accepted the plea and sentenced BBC to pay over $33.6 million in criminal fines and over $31.8 million in restitution to the U.S. military, serve three years of probation, and engage an independent compliance monitor for a period of three years. 

Separately, BBC also entered into a False Claims Act settlement with the United States to resolve its civil liability for $35.2 million. The amounts paid under the civil settlement will be credited against the amounts owed under BBC’s criminal plea.

“Instead of promptly repairing housing for U.S. servicemembers as required, BBC lied about the repairs to pocket millions of dollars in performance bonuses,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “This pervasive fraud was a consequence of BBC’s broken corporate culture, which valued profit over the welfare of servicemembers. Today’s global resolution sends a clear message to companies that if they do not maintain adequate compliance programs, voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, and fully cooperate with the government, they will pay a price that outweighs the profits they once reaped.”

According to court documents, BBC was a diversified real estate services company, headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, that operated privatized military housing communities at 21 U.S. Air Force, 18 U.S. Navy, and 16 U.S. Army bases across the United States, in which tens of thousands of service members and their families lived. BBC earned fees for the various phases of development and management of each housing community, from design and construction to ongoing community management and maintenance, and service members paid their living allowance, known as Basic Allowance for Housing, to BBC to live in these communities.

BBC’s fees for the ongoing property management and maintenance of its military housing communities generally consisted of a base fee, paid to BBC monthly, and performance incentive fees, paid to BBC quarterly or semi-annually. Performance incentive fees were only payable upon the approval of the relevant service branch. To obtain the incentive fees, BBC was required to submit to the service branches proof that it had satisfied performance objectives related to, among other things, maintenance of the housing communities and resident satisfaction. The service branches relied on BBC’s submissions in deciding whether to approve the payment of relevant performance incentive fees.

According to court documents, from around 2013 to around 2019, BBC employees, including former community manager Stacy Cabrera (who pleaded guilty to related charges on April 21) and former regional manager Rick Cunefare (who pleaded guilty to related charges on June 9), and others, falsified information so that BBC’s incentive fee requests falsely reflected that BBC had met performance objectives. In reality, BBC did not meet those objectives in many of the quarters during that time. These objectives primarily related to maintenance and resident satisfaction at various military housing projects. Specifically, BBC employees altered or manipulated data in property management software and destroyed and falsified resident comment cards to falsely inflate these metrics and, ultimately, to fraudulently induce the service branches to pay performance incentive fees which BBC had not earned.

As a result, according to court documents, there were lengthy and unnecessary delays in the resolution of maintenance issues to the detriment of servicemembers and their families. In addition, the military service branches were provided an inaccurate assessment of the state of BBC’s military housing communities and were unable to assess, and potentially correct, BBC’s performance.

A number of relevant considerations contributed to the department’s criminal resolution with BBC, including the nature and seriousness of the offense, the pervasiveness of the misconduct among BBC’s employees and at multiple military installations, and the state of BBC’s compliance program and the progress of its remediation, including the fact that BBC’s compliance program and internal controls have not been fully implemented or tested to demonstrate that they would prevent and detect similar misconduct in the future.

As part of BBC’s plea agreement, BBC agreed to cooperate fully with the United States in all matters relating to the conduct covered by the plea agreement and other conduct under investigation by the United States, to self-report violations of U.S. federal criminal law, and to continue to implement a compliance and ethics program designed to effectively detect and deter violations of U.S. anti-fraud laws throughout its operations.

“In defrauding our country's military services, BBC took advantage of their unique position as a military housing provider and put greed and personal profit above our servicemembers,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul M. Abbate. “Today's guilty plea reaffirms the FBI, along with our partners, are committed to preventing such disgraceful crimes and will work tirelessly to bring those who engage in this type of crime to justice.”

“The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is committed to protecting the integrity of the Department of the Air Force’s procurement process,” said Special Agent Paul Wachsmuth, Director AFOSI Office of Procurement Fraud Investigations. “The extensive and dedicated collaborative efforts between AFOSI, the Air Force Audit Agency, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Justice in this investigation was paramount in ensuring the safety and well-being of our warfighters and their families.”

“The health and safety of service members and their families remains of critical importance to the DoD Office of Inspector General's Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” said Principal Deputy Director James R. Ives of DCIS. “DCIS and our law enforcement partners are committed to working with the Department of Justice to hold companies accountable when they emphasize profits over the well-being of those who honorably serve our nation.”

“This judgment demonstrates the commitment CID Special Agents have to protect soldiers’ families against deceitfulness and fraud, while also ensuring the integrity of the military privatization housing initiative, which is to provide safe, quality, well-maintained housing for our military families,” said Special Agent in Charge Frank Robey of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (CID) Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “Throughout this investigation, Army CID special agents worked closely with federal authorities emphasizing the importance of successful partnerships with other law enforcement agencies.”

“Balfour Beatty’s scheme to delay service request entries into their electronic tracking system to increase their performance-based award violated their contract and wasted valuable taxpayer money,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Cannizzo of the NCIS Southeast Field Office. “NCIS and our partners remain committed to rooting out fraud and corruption that threatens the integrity of the Department of the Navy’s procurement process.”

“The men and women who live in our nation’s military housing, including those at Fort Stewart and Fort Gordon, deserve prompt and professional maintenance service from their housing providers,” said U.S. Attorney David H. Estes for the Southern District of Georgia. “That BBC would not only fail to deliver this service, but also falsify information to line their own pockets is despicable. Our office will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners, and other components of the Department of Justice, to make sure those who provide subpar service to the military and lie about it are held accountable.”

“The Western District of Texas is home to some of the largest military installations in the country and our district works tirelessly to protect and serve our military families,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff for the Western District of Texas. “The resolution entered with BBC concerns conduct that impacted military families in our district at Lackland Air Force Base and Fort Bliss Army Base. This resolution is an important step in holding private military housing providers accountable to our servicemembers and their families.”

“The defendants’ greed undermined a program designed to protect servicemembers’ homes while they courageously fight to protect our homeland,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “Servicemembers and their families deserve better. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect our military community from fraudulent conduct of all kinds, particularly the integrity of DoD housing programs.”

This resolution follows the prior entry of guilty pleas by two BBC managers. In April 2021, Stacy Cabrera, a former community manager of BBC, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In June, Rick Cunefare, a former regional manager of BBC, pleaded guilty to major fraud against the United States.

Air Force OSI, DCIS, Army-CID, NCIS, and the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office investigated the case. The Air Force Audit Agency also provided assistance.

Trial Attorneys Michael P. McCarthy and Siji Moore of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Trial Attorneys Laura E. Hill and Elspeth England of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Gallegos of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Porter and Patrick Schwedler of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Kruger and Jacquelyn Christilles of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas handled the civil matter.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Liberty County man has been sentenced to more than a decade in federal prison after admitting he persuaded children to send him sexual images and photos.

Jasiri Hutchison, 20, of Hinesville, Ga., was sentenced to 180 months in prison after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges were brought in both the Southern District of Georgia and the Middle District of Georgia, and U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Hutchison to register as a sex offender and to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Jasari Hutchison’s predatory behavior shockingly represents every parent’s nightmare,” said U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. “By systematically targeting and exploiting young children and coercing them to provide illicit images of themselves, he robbed numerous victims of their trust and innocence and rightly is being held accountable.”

As described in court documents and testimony, as early as April 2019 through December 2020, Hutchison typically portrayed himself as a young girl in online interactions with children via various messaging applications, at first persuading those children to send innocuous photos of themselves and later threatening to share those photos with their friends unless the victim sent increasingly sexualized images or videos of themselves and/or siblings. In pleading guilty to the charges, Hutchison admitted possessing more than 600 sexually explicit images of children.   

“Hutchinson’s days of preying upon innocent children, creating lifelong trauma are over thanks to the great work done by the agents, officers and our law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Cases like this highlight the need for everyone to monitor what our children do and who they interact with online.”

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Robichaux from the Asset Recovery Unit.

AUGUSTA, GA:  An Augusta man has been convicted of fraud by a federal jury who found he committed fraud when he borrowed nearly $3 million to refinance an Augusta apartment complex, and then filed for bankruptcy protection when facing foreclosure.

Jerome Walter Kiggundu, 37, the registered agent and managing member of Nakaddu LLC, a/k/a Kiggun Properties LLC, was found guilty after a two-day trial in U.S. District Court on charges of Bank Fraud, Bankruptcy Fraud, and False Statements Under Oath, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Kiggundu faces a sentence of up to 30 years in prison along with substantial fines and restitution, followed by a period of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Jerome Kiggundu spun a web of financial lies to obtain a loan for millions of dollars, and then compounded those falsehoods by committing bankruptcy fraud and lying under oath when he was confronted about it,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Thanks to exceptional investigative work from the FBI and the alertness of the employees at the United States Trustees Program, the jury saw through his fraud and is holding him accountable.”

As spelled out during the trial before U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall, Kiggundu borrowed $2,831,250 from a mortgage lender in March 2019 by submitting fraudulent bank statements to falsely claim that his company had an average monthly operating balance of approximately $100,000. In truth, his account had an average of approximately $500 during this period. Kiggundu also submitted a false personal financial statement overstating his net worth and assets to qualify for the loan.   

When the scheme started to unravel, Kiggundu filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 in an attempt to avoid foreclosure by the lender. Kiggundu then doubled down on his scheme and submitted another set of fake bank statements in his bankruptcy to conceal his bank fraud and cover his tracks. He also lied under oath about his finances when questioned by employees of the United States Trustee Program who suspected this fraud.

“No matter how elaborate or complicated the fraud scheme, the FBI will work to uncover it,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Kiggundu will now be held accountable for the damage he has done, sending a strong message to anyone considering such fraud that it is a serious crime with serious consequences.”   

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. Schwedler and Jennifer A. Stanley.

SAVANNAH, GA:  An Atlanta man has been sentenced in federal court after admitting he attempted to hide firearms in an overseas shipment of goods.

Shawn Sabi, 53, of Atlanta, was sentenced to 19 months in prison after pleading guilty to Submitting False or Misleading Export Information, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Sabi also was ordered to serve two years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“There are very strict laws in place to restrict shipment of firearms overseas, and Shawn Sabi violated those laws,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “He is now being held accountable, and his sentence should serve as a warning that our law enforcement partners are ever vigilant in monitoring traffic through our ports.”

In March 2021, agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) flagged a shipment moving through the Port of Savannah, labeled “115 pieces used household goods and personal effects,” based on discrepancies in declarations Sabi filed for the shipment. An agent from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) reviewed the records, leading to a search of the container in which a shotgun, a rifle, and three handguns were discovered concealed inside the legs of an aluminum shelving unit, along with ammunition and other materials.

In most cases, it is illegal to export firearms to another country without a federal export license. BIS confirmed that Sabi does not possess such a license.

“Firearms illegally exported from the United States can often lead to dire consequences overseas,” said Ariel Joshua Leinwand, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) Office of Export Enforcement, which oversees BIS investigations in the Southeast. “Disrupting those that supply illegal weapons from the United States is a top priority of BIS Special Agents, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prevent firearms from potentially falling into the wrong hands abroad.”

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) takes great pride in fostering collaboration with our partner government agencies to diligently enforce U.S. export control laws as part of our overall duties and responsibilities in protecting and preserving our national security, while continuing to facilitate lawful trade,” said Area Port Director Henry DeBlock.

“HSI is committed to combating illegal firearms smuggling activities that fuel violence both domestically and abroad,” said Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Katrina Berger. “This case highlights how law enforcement partnerships work together to protect our communities and our nation.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, Miami Field Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Customs and Border Protection; and Homeland Security Investigations; and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Eleven defendants face federal charges including illegal possession of firearms and drug possession after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession. 

The indicted cases are being investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in an ongoing effort to reduce violent crime with measures that included targeting those who illegally possess firearms.

“These indictments and prosecutions continue to send the unmistakable message: convicted felons are not legally allowed to possess firearms,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Getting guns out of the hands of criminals is essential to making our streets safer.” 

In the past three years, more than 710 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony.

Defendants named in federal indictments from the December 2021 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:

• Larry Bennett Jr., 25, of Savannah, charged with Possession of Alprazolam, Oxycodone, Codeine, and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime;
• Dillon Cole Gay, 28, of Pembroke, Ga., charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime;
• Brandon Lamar Williams, 29, of Savannah, charged with Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Drug User; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Jamie Lee Cogan, 37, of Thomson, Ga., charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• David Kreiss, 46, of Swainsboro, Ga, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of an Unregistered Sawed-Off Shotgun; and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number;
• Raheem Dasheen Jackson, 29, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Keyon Quinton Adams, 28, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Asim Simmons Jr., 22, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• De’Montre Murray, 22, of Columbia, S.C., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Fredrick Connell Blount, 37, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
• Dontray Lewis, 42, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. 

 

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession:

• John Calvin Young Jr., 35, of Sylvania, Ga., was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm. During a traffic stop on Oct. 24, 2020, Port Wentworth Police officers found Young in possession of a pistol that later was determined to have been stolen. Young’s criminal history includes a prior conviction for armed robbery.
• Telly Green, 33, of Savannah, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Savannah Police officers found him in possession of a pistol in August 2020 while investigating reports of shots fired at a vehicle in a Savannah neighborhood.
• Darius Edwards, 33, of Pembroke, Ga., was sentenced to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $3,000 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. ATF agents found Edwards in possession of an assault-style Mini Draco pistol during an investigation of a suspicious gun purchase in June 2020. Edwards was on state probation for a felony conviction at the time.
• Kenneth Mitchell, 30, of Ridgeland, S.C., was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Mitchell was arrested Aug. 17, 2020, after Savannah Police officers found a loaded pistol and a large amount of drugs in a stolen vehicle Mitchell was driving. Mitchell has a violent criminal history that includes a previous murder-related state conviction, and also faces pending state charges related to his arrest.
• Bryant Young, 25, of Savannah, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He was arrested July 16, 2019, after a pistol fell from his waistband when he ran from Savannah Police officers who were investigating a report of a man with a gun. 
• Marquise Grant, 31, of Savannah, was sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police found a pistol in Grant’s possession during a February 2020 traffic stop. Grant has a prior conviction on state charges of armed robbery.
• Matthew James Gordon, 27, of Savannah, was sentenced to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Savannah Police officers found Gordon, who was on probation after a previous felony conviction for state charges, in possession of a stolen pistol during a search in January 2020 for a wanted suspect.
• Dameon Duncan, 21, of Savannah, was sentenced to 65 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers in May 2020 found Duncan in possession of a pistol during a traffic stop.
• Dennis Okeefe Harris, 37, of Savannah, was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harris was charged after a Savannah Police officer found a pistol in Harris’ waistband during a January 2020 traffic stop. Harris’ previous criminal convictions include a state conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
• Brandon Beasley, 23, of Ellabell, Ga., was sentenced to 34 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm with an Altered and Obliterated Serial Number. Beasley was one of five defendants charged following an investigation into an April 2020 burglary at a Bryan County gun store. The other defendants previously were sentenced to prison terms of up to 86 months. 
• Charles Walker, 54, of Savannah, was sentenced to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found Walker carrying a pistol in October 2020 while investigating reports of a shooting.
• Devonta Armon Stallings, 28, of Augusta, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies spotted Stallings March 28, 2020, when he ran from a group loitering in a known drug area and tossed a pistol before being captured. Stallings was on state probation at the time of his arrest.
• Timothy Lee Cheeks, 33, of Augusta, was sentenced to 16 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Cheeks was arrested on an outstanding warrant for a state methamphetamine possession charge in January 2021 when Richmond County deputies who were investigating a disturbance at a motel found a loaded pistol in Cheeks’ possession.
• Chavar Alec Harrison, 46, of Augusta, was sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harrison was charged after an April 2020 traffic stop when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found a pistol in his vehicle.
• Blake McDuffie, 26, of Winder, Ga., was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Officers from the Pooler Police Department charged McDuffie in May 2020 when he was found in possession of a pistol after he sped away from a traffic stop and subsequently crashed his vehicle.
• Jamel Albert, 30, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found Albert in possession of a pistol during an April 2021 traffic stop.   
• Charles Aimee Fields Jr., a/k/a “Slim,” 33, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Distribution of Crack Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Fields is among 14 defendants charged in September for their roles in operating an open-air drug market in an area of Savannah called “The Dips.”
• James Ricardo Harris, 29, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harris was arrested in May 2019 when Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies found him in possession of a pistol during a traffic stop.
• Demont Latrell Gresham, 33, of Washington, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Gresham ran from Wilkes County Sheriff’s Deputies and Georgia State Patrol troopers in July 2020 when they attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant, and officers found a rifle in his vehicle. He was arrested in August 2020 when located by Wilkes County deputies.

Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Pooler Police Department, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the Wrightsville Police Department, the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office.

The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Henry W. Syms Jr., Patricia G. Rhodes, Tara M. Lyons, Jennifer A. Stanley, Marcela C. Mateo, Steven H. Lee, Joshua S. Bearden, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A former Garden City, Ga., clinic owner and CEO has admitted to laundering money in connection with a notorious “pill mill” doctor who illegally dispensed massive amounts of controlled substances.

Jamesetta Whipple-Duncan, 58, of Savannah, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of Money Laundering, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Whipple-Duncan was set to go to trial the week following her plea of guilty.

“Those who fuel the opioid addiction crisis, either through illegally dispensing drugs or providing financial support for their criminal activities, will be identified and held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to shut down those whose activities endanger our communities.”

As described in the plea agreement and other court documents, Whipple, as owner of the now-closed Georgia Laboratory Diagnostics LLC, in Garden City, Ga., was an employer of Dr. Frank Bynes Jr., 69, of Savannah. Bynes was sentenced in February 2020 to 240 months in prison and ordered to pay $615,145 in restitution to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare after being found guilty by a federal jury on 13 counts of Unlawful Dispensation of Controlled Substances and three counts of Health Care Fraud.

For Whipple-Duncan’s role, she profited as her clinic provided Bynes with a base of operation from which he illegally distributed controlled substances, including highly addictive opioids and drug cocktails favored by addicts.

“The dispensing of addictive prescription pain medication (oftentimes opiate-based) under the guise of a doctor’s care was not about the good of the community or an individual’s specific health needs; it was about greed of a clinic owner and CEO,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “This owner admitted her wrong-doings and will now have to pay for her unlawful acts. DEA and its law enforcement partners will continue to rid our communities of unlawful clinic owners whose criminal acts fuel the raging opioid epidemic.”

“Whipple-Duncan profited significantly from this clinic. Her greedy actions directly contributed to the opioid addiction crisis in our community and for that she will be punished.” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This guilty plea sends a strong message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will actively pursue and prosecute anyone who tries to profit off the illegal distribution of opioids.”  

“Jamesetta Whipple-Duncan directly profited from the pain Dr. Frank Bynes caused to the community,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Ms. Whipple-Duncan’s prosecution should serve as an example that those who fraudulently profit at the expense of society’s most vulnerable will not go unpunished.”  

“Our military and their families, at times seeking pain relief from an injury, have been substantially impacted from the opioid epidemic in our nation,” stated Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office.  “DCIS will continue to work with our investigative counterparts and the Justice Department to prosecute those who seek to profit from the illegal distribution of opiates that drive addiction without regard for the patient.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and an investigator with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Whipple-Duncan is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Patrick J. Schwedler.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A North Carolina man previously convicted for conspiring to steal trade secrets from aircraft manufacturing companies faces additional prison time after a federal jury convicted him for committing perjury in his prior case and for providing false statements to a government agency, namely the FBI.

Craig German, 60, of Kernersville, N.C., was convicted on charges of Perjury and False Statements to a Government Agency after a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. 

The jury found that German was guilty of committing perjury during the sentencing portion of his prior case when he elected to testify under oath and denied having copied more than 15,000 proprietary engineering drawings and documents onto a removable storage device while he was employed at an aircraft manufacturing company. Additionally, the jury found that German was guilty of providing a materially false statement to the FBI during a voluntary meeting when he emphatically denied copying, taking or otherwise transferring more than 15,000 proprietary engineering drawings and documents to a removable storage device.

“Craig German was found guilty by a jury of his peers for trying to undermine our criminal justice system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “In choosing to meet with the FBI and to testify at his previous sentencing hearing, German was obligated to tell the truth. Instead, German attempted to deceive the Court and the FBI about his own theft of his former employer’s intellectual property.” 

“Not only did German engage in illegal and deceptive practices to steal trade secrets, but he also blatantly committed perjury,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will not tolerate anyone who tries to deceive the justice system. Hopefully this conviction sends the message that those who try to manipulate and lie to the court will always face additional punishment.”

German faces up to five years in federal prison for each charge. In February 2020, German was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee.