District of Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Jude Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Robert Allen Valladares, age 37, of Elkton, Maryland, to 12 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.   

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Cecil County State’s Attorney James A. Dellmyer; Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams; and Chief Carolyn Rogers of the Elkton Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, in December 2019, the Cecil County Drug Task Force received information from a confidential informant that identified Valladares as a Cecil County controlled substances dealer acting under the alias of “Rob Valley” and provided his cell phone number.

On February 8, 2020, the Elkton Police Department was dispatched to a residence in reference to an overdose death. Upon arrival, an officer made contact with the victim’s father who stated that his son was deceased in his bedroom from, what he believed to be, an overdose. Emergency medical services arrived and pronounced the victim deceased shortly after. According to the victim’s family, the victim was recently discharged from a recovery house and appeared to be recovering well.

Upon further investigation into the victim’s death, law enforcement learned that the night before the victim’s death, the victim asked his father to take him to his friend “Rob’s” house to obtain suboxone strips. Once the victim’s father drove him to Valladares’ residence, the victim went inside for approximately two minutes and returned to his father’s vehicle. The victim’s father knew Valladares and had meet him previously.

An autopsy performed on the victim’s body revealed the cause of death to be a mixed drug intoxication of acyrl fentanyl, fentanyl, desproprionyl fentanyl, methamphetamine and xylazine.

A subsequent forensic data extraction of the victim’s four cell phones located in the victim’s room revealed that the victim had called Valladares one day before his death.

As stated in his plea agreement, on February 13, 2020, investigators executed a search warrant on Valladares’ residence. As a result of the search warrant, investigators seized prescription alprazolam pills, a digital scale, mail addressed to Valladares, five blue wax bags stamped “Facetime” containing suspected fentanyl, additional empty blue wax bags stamped “Facetime,” and a cell phone. Analysis of three of the blue wax bags stamped “Facetime” revealed the substance to be fentanyl.

A subsequent forensic data extraction of Valladares’ cell phone revealed that it contained over 80,000 text messages and messages consistent with the distribution and sale of controlled substances.

On May 4, 2020, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle leaving the Valladares residence. A K-9 scan resulted in the discovery of baggies containing fentanyl in the car. The driver advised that he had been purchasing drugs from Valladares for the past three to four months. Analysis of the substance within the bags seized from the car was confirmed to be fentanyl.

As a result of a search warrant executed at Valladares’ Elkton, Maryland residence on May 19, 2020, law enforcement located 38 bags of fentanyl. Valladares admits that he possessed the fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Maryland State Police, Office of the State’s Attorney for Cecil County, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, and the Elkton Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Oldham and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander today sentenced Stepfen Gerard Gaither, age 30, of Randallstown, Maryland, to 12 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for a murder-for-hire conspiracy and for interstate communications with intent to extort, in connection to the extortion and planned murder of a Baltimore County restaurant owner and his partner over a debt, as well as to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and heroin.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department

According to his plea agreement and other court documents, Gaither was hired by codefendant Clement Robert Mercaldo, Jr. to send messages threatening victims and their families in order to extort money.  As part of the plan to extort, Mercaldo paid Gaither to vandalize a victim’s car and set fire to a victim’s house.  Later, Mercaldo agreed to pay Gaither to murder a victim.  Gaither also possessed with the intent to distribute 723 pills containing fentanyl and heroin that were marked as Oxycontin. 

“Stepfen Gaither terrorized several victims, including sending threatening messages, setting one victim’s house on fire while they were at home, and plotting the murder of a restaurant owner,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “I commend the FBI and Baltimore County Police Department whose investigative work stopped Gaither and his co-conspirator before they succeeded in their murder-for-hire.  This sentence sends a strong message that threats and violence will not be tolerated and will lead to jail time.”

“This case serves as a reminder to those offenders who are a menace in our neighborhoods by committing violent acts, that the FBI continues to protect the public and hold accountable those who have such bold disregard for the law and more importantly human life,” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore field office.

Between 2008 and 2017, Mercaldo, a former restaurant owner, loaned over $1 million to the victim.  The victim made payments to Mercaldo until 2019, when he was unable to make further payments.  As a result, Mercaldo was in significant financial distress and sold his personal belongings in order to continue to pay his expenses.

Beginning in March 2019, Mercaldo hired Gaither to assist in his plot to collect the debt through a variety of extortionate means.  Mercaldo gave at least $1,000 in cash to Gaither in exchange for Gaither agreeing to send threatening messages to the victim and destroy the victim’s property, with the intent to pressure the victim to repay Mercaldo.  

According to Gaither’s plea agreement, on March 10, 2019, Gaither traveled to the victim’s residence to conduct surveillance, and contacted Mercaldo by cell phone while he was at the residence.  Just prior to March 28, 2019, Mercaldo traveled to Florida.  On the evening of March 28, 2019, Gaither again traveled to the victim’s residence and used an object smashed the windows of the victim’s car, while the car was in his driveway.  Mercaldo returned from Florida on March 29th, when he supplied Gaither with another cash payment.  Mercaldo also provided Gaither with the phone number to the victim’s restaurant.  Immediately before and after the windows were smashed, Gaither used an anonymous texting application to threaten the victim.  The messages referenced a debt and threatened the victim’s wife.  In the first few days of April 2019, Gaither also placed calls to the victim in which he took responsibility for smashing the windows and then threatened the victim’s wife. 

On April 10, 2019, at Mercaldo’s request, Gaither, using the same number used to contact the victim, sent Mercaldo a message falsely purporting to be from a person from Delaware who was trying to collect money and threatening Mercaldo’s son.  Mercaldo asked Gaither to send this message so that Mercaldo could show it to the police when he was questioned about the victim’s smashed windows and other threats.  On April 12, 2019, Mercaldo was interviewed by a detective from the Baltimore County Police Department, regarding the destruction of property at the victim’s residence.  Mercaldo falsely told the detective that he too had been receiving threatening messages from a person identifying themselves as “Robin.”  Mercaldo then showed the detective the fake message Gaither sent him two days earlier, which included a screen shot of Mercaldo’s son playing lacrosse at his high school.  Mercaldo also provided detectives with a false story about his loan to the victim, claiming that he obtained the money he loaned the victim from an unnamed person in Michigan, who loaned the money to Mercaldo at a high interest rate, and that Mercaldo pays this person in cash on the first of the month after receiving an anonymous text message providing the location to meet for the transaction.  Additionally, Mercaldo told the detective that he returned home from Florida on March 29, 2019 to find that the windshield of his Mercedes was also smashed, although he did not report it to the police.  Mercaldo stated that he believed that the smashing of his windshield was related to the smashing of the victim’s windshield.  In truth, Mercaldo’s windshield was damaged by a rock from another car and was repaired on March 14, 2019, two weeks prior to the vandalism of the victim’s car.

From April 2019 through July 2019, Mercaldo withdrew more than $5,000 in cash from his bank account, which he paid to Gaither, who deposited similar amounts of cash into his bank account.  For example, on April 26, 2019, May 7, 2019, and May 15, 2019, Mercaldo withdrew a total of $4,000 cash from his bank account in Maryland, and between May 3rd and July 19th, Gaither deposited $2,514 into his account.  The purpose of the payments was for Gaither to set fire to the victim’s home.

After conducting surveillance at the victim’s house on July 29 and August 1, 2019, at Mercaldo’s direction, in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 4, 2019, Gaither traveled to the victim’s house, where he again conducted surveillance.  While the victim and his wife were asleep upstairs, a rear basement window at the house was broken and a flammable liquid was ignited.  Gaither left the area when he heard emergency vehicles responding to the fire.

The victim and his wife were awoken by the smoke detectors and escaped the fire with the family cat.  Although no injuries were sustained to the family or emergency responders, the fire caused significant damage to the residence and destroyed much of the victim’s personal property.  As a result of the damage, the victim and his wife were forced to move out of their home and to live elsewhere. In the days immediately following the arson, Mercado withdrew $1,500 cash from his bank account and gave it to Gaither, who deposited $1,290 in cash into his account.  

The arson at the victim’s residence in August 2019 caused an estimated $302,774.89 of damage to the dwelling and contents, and a loss to the insurance company of $353,340.66 as a direct result of the fire. 

In August and September 2019, Gaither sent numerous threatening text messages from anonymous texting applications to the victim and his business partner.  The messages demonstrated that they were being followed.  The threats referenced a debt, and many of the messages threatened to harm the victims and their families.  For example, on August 30, 2019, Gaither sent a message to the victim, which referenced the arson as part of the efforts to collect the debt  Mercaldo continued to instruct Gaither to send threatening messages and on October 22, 2019, the business partner received the message, “This is the third check you and your partner gave me that bounce i talked to him and he gave me your address saying you is stealing from him and do what i have to do to get my money from you he even gave me pictures of your wife and kids.” 

On October 26, 2019, Gaither used the anonymous texting application to arrange for and receive a cash payment from the business partner.  The payment was observed and recorded by law enforcement.  Immediately after receiving the money, Gaither purchased an Apple watch, and deposited cash into his bank account.  Gaither and Mercaldo subsequently exchanged text messages for several days about this payment, with Mercaldo stating that the victims told him a payment was made to Gaither and Gaither adamantly denying receiving any money from the victims. 

Starting on October 29, 2019, and continuing through at least the end of January 2020, Mercaldo and Gaither began discussing “plan b” – the murder of one or both of the victims for their lack of payment.  For example, on November 3, 2019 Mercaldo sent a text to Gaither, “Hope you whack his ass!”  On November 8, 2019, Mercaldo texted Gaither, “Nail em plz !!” In January 2020, Gaither conducted surveillance at the residences and business of the victims, taking images and videos and during some of the videos, he narrated how he planned to follow and attack the victim.  During two of the videos Gaither is seen holding two different handguns in his vehicle during surveillance.  Gaither sent these videos and images to Mercaldo as attachments to numerous text messages, during, and immediately after, many of the incidents of surveillance.  Gaither and Mercaldo continued to communicate about the victims and the debt through March 2020 and as late as May 30, 2020.

Gaither and Mercaldo were arrested on June 23, 2020 and remain detained.  During the search of Gaither’s house on June 23, 2020, investigators recovered a loaded handgun and ammunition in a safe in Gaither’s dresser drawer.  Also found during the search was a permit to carry a handgun – dated April 2, 2020.  In the same bedroom, on the top shelf of the closet was a second safe, containing 732 pills marked as 30 mg OxyContin, which has a street value of approximately $22,000.  The pills were seized and analyzed by the Baltimore County Police Department Forensic Services Laboratory, and it was determined that the pills contained a detectable amount of fentanyl and heroin.  Next to the safe in Gaither’s bedroom closet was a Glock handgun box containing two boxes with a total of 68 rounds of .9mm caliber ammunition.

An examination of Gaither’s phone revealed drug trafficking activity, going back at least three years, including text messages discussing the wholesale purchase and sale of narcotics, including messages in June 2020, just days before Gaither’s arrest.  The phone also contained images of large quantities of apparent narcotics, and two June 2020 videos of the defendant using a digital scale to weigh apparent crack cocaine.  Gaither’s phone contained numerous images and videos of firearms over several years. 

Clement Robert Mercaldo, Jr., age 62, of Timonium, Maryland pleaded guilty to his role in the murder-for-hire on August 5, 2021 but died prior to being sentenced.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Kyle Elio Ripper, age 24, of Laurel, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to enticement of a minor. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Sheriff Joseph Gamble of the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office.

According to his guilty plea, on January 17, 2020, the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a complaint, and during the course of that investigation, law enforcement discovered evidence that an adult male had sexual contact with a 14-year-old male (Minor Victim 1). 

As detailed in his plea agreement, on March 10, 2020, law enforcement executed search warrants at Ripper’s Laurel, Maryland residence and his vehicle.  As a result of the executed search warrants, investigators seized several electronic devices including a laptop containing a 500 GB internal hard disk drive, a 2 TB hard drive, and a cell phone.  Upon further investigation and review of Ripper’s devices, investigators discovered that Ripper had communicated with minors via the internet and engaged in sexual relations with at least two minor victims.  

Specifically, on December 28, 2019, Ripper engaged in a sexual conversation with Minor Victim 1 in which Ripper requested that the minor send him an image of Minor Victim 1’s genitals.  Ripper also requested to film a sexual encounter with the victim.  Ripper traveled to the victim’s residence, engaged in sexual relations with the minor victim, and recorded the sexual encounter on his cell phone.  Additional evidence from Ripper’s cell phone revealed that in January 2020, Ripper also communicated with a 16-year-old male victim (Minor Victim 2).  During their communications, Ripper requested and received at least one sexual image of Minor Victim 2.  According to communications on Ripper’s phone, Ripper traveled to Minor Victim 2’s residence to pick up the victim, and then he took the victim to Ripper’s Anne Arundel County, Maryland residence, and engaged in sexual acts with Minor Victim 2.  

Additionally, upon forensic review of Ripper’s hard drives and laptop, investigators discovered evidence of Ripper’s sexual abuse of Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2, as well as Ripper’s possession of thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.  For example, Ripper’s computer contained over 4,000 images and videos of child pornography, including a nine-minute video depicting the sexual abuse of a female toddler and multiple videos depicting the sexual abuse of an infant.

As stated in his plea agreement, Ripper admitted that he knew Minor Victim 1 was 14-years-old before engaging in sexual acts with the victim and he admitted to driving to the minor’s residence to engage in sexual relations with Minor Victim 1 on two occasions.  Ripper also admitted to having sex with Minor Victim 2. 

Ripper faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release for enticement of a minor.  U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has scheduled sentencing for March 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.         

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI and the Talbot Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine L. Duey and Abigail Ticse, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Erek L. Barron, the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced today several new senior supervisory appointments. The following personnel changes were made following an office-wide internal review and a competitive interview and assessment process:

• Thomas Corcoran and Tarra Deshields were appointed as Chief and Deputy Chief, respectively, of the Civil Division; 
• Kristi O’Malley was appointed as a Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division; 
• Kelly Hayes and Jessica Collins were appointed as Chief and Principal Deputy Chief, respectively, of the Southern Division; 
• Brandon Moore and Elizabeth Wright were appointed as Deputy Appellate Chiefs of the Appellate Division;
• Kathleen Gavin and Aaron Zelinsky were appointed as Chief and Deputy Chief, respectively, of the National Security and Cyber Crime Section; and
• Frank Burch was appointed as a Supervisor in the Victim-Witness Assistance Unit.
   

“I am proud to report that in our first 100 days we're now more diverse in our senior management team than at any time in the history of our Office. This diverse set of professionals adds greater depth of experience and perspective to our decision-making and makes our Office stronger, and more fully representative of the people of the District of Maryland,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.

These individuals join a management team that includes: First Assistant United States Attorney, Phil Selden; Executive Assistant United States Attorney, Ayn Ducao; and Senior Counsel to the United States Attorney, Stephen Schenning. Former Acting U.S. Attorney and First Assistant Jonathan Lenzner has been serving as senior advisor to the DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, but will start a detail next week as Chief of Staff to FBI Director Christopher Wray.  “With these leadership appointments, the public can be assured that the Office will maintain its traditions and the highest standards of professionalism well into the future while also working to reflect Marylanders and the communities were are sworn to protect and represent,” added United States Attorney Barron. A brief professional biography of each of these appointees is attached to this release.

In addition to these supervisory appointments, United States Attorney Barron announced that the Office has created a Hiring Committee, led by Senior Counsel Steve Schenning and Assistant United States Attorney Christine Goo, to assist the Office in recruiting and hiring the best qualified candidates to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the District of Maryland. Under Steve and Christine’s leadership, the Hiring Committee, will seek to expand both the candidate pool and ultimately broaden the diversity of perspectives and abilities within the Office.

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Thomas Corcoran
Chief, Civil Division

Tom Corcoran is the Chief of the Civil Division for the District of Maryland, overseeing attorneys in Baltimore and Greenbelt, who defend federal agencies when sued in court, prosecute civil enforcement activities in fraud matters and collect debts owed to the United States.

During his tenure with the Office, Tom previously served as Deputy Civil Chief, Affirmative Civil Enforcement Coordinator and Civil Healthcare Fraud Coordinator.  During his tenure in the Civil Division, Tom has focused his practice on affirmative civil investigations of corporations, individuals, physicians, universities, and hospitals under the False Claims Act as well as civil investigations of pharmacies, distributors, and providers under Controlled Substances Act.  

Prior to joining the Office, Tom practiced at two Baltimore law firms, Shapiro and Olander and Baxter, Baker, Sidle and Conn.  Tom started his legal career in Columbia, South Carolina at the law firm of Nelson, Mullins, Riley and Scarborough.  Tom received his undergraduate degree, with high honors, from Cornell University, where he was also a member of the Cornell Men’s Lacrosse Team.  He received his Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law, cum laude, where he was the Notes and Comments Editor on the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. 

Tarra Deshields
Deputy Chief, Civil Division

Tarra Deshields is the Deputy Chief of the Civil Division for the District of Maryland.  Her portfolio includes both defensive cases and False Claims Act litigation and she serves as the Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement and Health Care Fraud Coordinator.

During her tenure with the Office, Tarra has handled 14 trials.  She has handled a variety of Criminal Division and Civil Division cases including, but not limited to, Export Act violations, racketeering offenses, mortgage, bank and tax fraud, immigration offenses, bank robbery and firearms offenses, as well as medical malpractice and employment discrimination actions.  Tarra has also negotiated numerous False Claims Act settlements.

Before joining the Office, Tarra began her legal career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Montgomery County, Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office and as an Assistant Attorney General at the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, where she wrote numerous appellate briefs, and twice authored amicus briefs, both criminal and civil, in the United States Supreme Court.  Tarra has also argued 10 times before the Maryland Court of Appeals.  Tarra clerked for the Honorable Charles E. Moylan Jr. for the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Kristi O’Malley
Deputy Chief, Criminal Division

Kristi O’Malley serves as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. 

During her tenure with the Office, Kristi has previously served as the Principal Deputy Chief and Chief of the Greenbelt office and Deputy Criminal Division Chief as well as the Office’s Project Safe Childhood and Human Trafficking Coordinators, Intern Coordinator and Civil Rights Coordinator.  As an Assistant United States Attorney, Kristi has handled 15 jury trials.  She has prosecuted a variety of cases including, but not limited to, the production of child pornography, human trafficking, bank robbery, sanctions violations, mortgage and foreclosure rescue fraud, identity theft, narcotics and firearms related cases and civil rights crimes. 

Prior to joining the Office, Kristi clerked for the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and was an associate with a national law firm where she focused on white collar criminal defense.  Kristi received her undergraduate degree from Claremont McKenna College, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia where she was a member of the Order of Coif and was a Notes Development and Executive Editor for the Virginia Journal of International Law.  Kristi has also taught at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Kelly Hayes
Chief, Southern Division

Kelly Hayes is the Chief of the Southern Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. 

During her tenure with the Office, Kelly has served as the Office’s Identity Theft Coordinator, Health Care Fraud Coordinator, Deputy Appellate Chief, and Deputy Chief and Principal Deputy Chief for the Southern Division.  She has prosecuted a variety of cases including, but not limited to, carjacking, Hobbs Act robbery, production of child pornography, wire, bank and health care fraud, as well as fatal overdoses. 

Prior to joining the Office, Kelly clerked for the Honorable Janis L. Sammartino in the Southern District of California and was an associate at Ropes & Gray in Washington, D.C.  Kelly received her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland at College Park, summa cum laude, and her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned Highest Honors, was a Chancellors’ Scholar, and served as the Comments Editor for the New Carolina Law Review.  

Jessica Collins
Deputy Chief, Southern Division

Jessica Collins is the Deputy Chief of the Southern Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

During her tenure with the Office, Jessica has served as the Office’s Health Care Fraud Coordinator and has prosecuted a variety of cases, including but not limited to, wire, mail, health care and tax fraud, aggravated identity theft, narcotics offenses involving opioids and drug trafficking and firearms offenses. 

Prior to joining the Office, Jessica clerked for the Honorable J. Frederick Motz and the Honorable Catherine C. Blake in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and for the Honorable Henry F. Floyd on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  She also was an associate at a national law firm and served as a trial attorney at the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, where she prosecuted health care fraud cases throughout the United States.  Jessica received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law, magna cum laude, where she was also a Florence Allen Scholar, a member of the Order of Coif, and was a Notes Editor for the New York University Law Review. 

Kathleen Gavin
Chief, National Security and Cyber Crimes Section

Kathleen Gavin is the Chief of the National Security and Cyber Crimes Section for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.  Kathleen investigation and prosecuting cases involving terrorism, counterespionage, export violations and cybercrimes.  Kathleen also serves as the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC) Coordinator.  The ATAC was formed to prevent terrorist attacks; to ensure effective information sharing between law enforcement, public agencies, and private entities to help combat terrorism; and to ensure adequate management plans are in place in the event of a terrorist attack. 

In her role as the Chief of the National Security and Cyber Crimes Section, Kathleen draws on her more than 30 years of experience in the Office.  During her tenure with the Office, she has served as the Deputy Chief and Chief of the Fraud and Corruption Section.  Kathleen has also prosecuted a variety of fraud and political corruption cases, as well as a variety of national security matters, including but not limited to, RICO conspiracy, extortion, bribery, mail and wire fraud, tax violations, obstruction of justice and Arms Export Act violations.  Kathleen was awarded the United States Department of Justice’s National Director’s Award for Superior Performance, the United States Attorney’s Office’s Barney Skolnik Award, three times, for Excellence in the Prosecution of Fraud and a Special Achievement Award.  Her convictions have been affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. 

Prior to joining the Office, Kathleen was an associate at Venable, LLP where she practiced commercial and employment litigation.  Kathleen received her undergraduate degree, with Distinction, from the University of Virginia, where she was also four-year member of the Virginia Women’s Lacrosse Team and was recognized with the Most Valuable Player Award.  She received her Juris Doctor, with Honors, from University of Maryland Law School. 

Aaron Zelinsky
Deputy Chief, National Security and Cyber Crimes Section

Aaron is the Deputy Chief of the National Security and Cyber Crimes Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

During his tenure with the Office, has served in the Office Major Crimes section and Fraud and Public Corruption Section, where he has served as a Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property coordinator (CHIP), Covid Fraud Co-Coordinator, and Procurement Collusion Strike Force Coordinator. 

Prior to joining the Office, Aaron worked at the United States State Department, where he served as Special Assistant to State Department Legal Adviser Harold Koh.  Aaron clerked for Justices John Paul Stevens (Ret.), Anthony Kennedy on the United States Supreme Court, the Honorable Thomas B. Griffith on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and for Chief Justice Dorit Beinsich of the Israeli Supreme Court.  Aaron received his undergraduate degree from Yale College and his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, where he was an Articles Editor of the Yale Law Journal.  Aaron has also worked as an Assistant Special Counsel to Robert S. Mueller, III.  He has taught at the University of Maryland Law School and Peking University. 

Brandon Moore
Deputy Chief, Appellate Division

Brandon is the Deputy Chief of the Appellate Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

During his tenure with the Office, Brandon has served in the Violent Crime and Gangs Unit and as a member of the Office’s Sentencing Issues Review Board.  Brandon has prosecuted a variety of cases, including but not limited to, homicide, carjacking, Hobbs Act robbery, and RICO conspiracy as well as multiple appellate matters before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Prior to joining the Office, Brandon clerked for the Honorable George L. Russell, III, and the Honorable Theodore D. Chuang in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, as well as for the Honorable Andre M. Davis on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  After his clerkships, he worked as a litigation associate at Gallagher, Evelius & Jones, LLP.  Brandon received his undergraduate degree from Towson University, cum laude and his Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland Law School, cum laude, where he was managing editor of the Maryland Law Review.

Elizabeth Wright
Deputy Chief, Appellate Division

Elizabeth Wright is the Deputy Chief of the Appellate Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

During her tenure with the Office, Elizabeth has served as one of the Office’s Opioid Coordinators and a Professional Responsibility Officer as well as being a part of the Sentencing Issue Review Board.  As a federal prosecutor, Elizabeth has handled nine jury trials.  She has prosecuted a variety of cases including, but not limited to, credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft, Social Security fraud, contraband cigarette trafficking, drug distribution, firearms related crimes, money laundering and Hobbs Act robbery.  Elizabeth has also argued five times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Prior to joining the Office, Elizabeth clerked for the Honorable Gary A. Feess in the United States District Court for the Central District of California and for the Honorable A. Wallace Tashima on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  She also was an associate at a national law firm where she focused on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations as well as environmental and appellate litigation.  Elizabeth also previously worked as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia.  She also previously served as the national coordinator for human trafficking matters for the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.  Elizabeth received her undergraduate degree from Yale University, cum laude and with distinction and her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School where she was a member of the Yale Law & Policy Review.  Elizabeth has previously taught at the Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center. 

Frank Burch
Supervisor Victim Specialist

Frank Burch is the Supervisor Victim Specialist for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Frank manages the Victim Specialists working in the Baltimore and Greenbelt offices.

During his tenure with the Office, has served as a Victim Specialist in Baltimore.  Frank previously served as a Law Enforcement Coordination & Victim-Witness Specialist where he assisted the Law Enforcement Coordinator in developing, implementing and coordinating several programmatic activities with a focus on combating Human Trafficking.

Prior to joining the Office, Frank earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Public Policy from the University of Baltimore and a Master’s Degree in Negotiations and Conflict Management from the University of Baltimore, cum laude.

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury has convicted attorney Kenneth Wendell Ravenell, age 61, of Monkton, Maryland, of conspiracy to commit money laundering conspiracy charge. 

The conviction was announced by First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Phil Selden; Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office.  The United States Attorney has recused himself from this case.

The trial evidence proved that Ravenell received drug proceeds from clients and associates who engaged in drug trafficking.  Evidence was presented that Ravenell also used bank accounts of the law firm where he practiced to launder more than a million dollars and used the law firm’s bank accounts to receive drug payments and make payments to attorneys retained to represent other members of the conspiracy and make various investments on behalf of a drug trafficker client concealing and misrepresenting the source of the funds and promoting the client’s unlawful activity.  According to trial evidence, Ravenell also received substantial cash payments derived from drug sales as compensation for laundering money. 

The jury acquitted Ravenell of racketeering conspiracy and narcotics conspiracy charges.  The jury also acquitted Ravenell and attorney Joshua Reinhardt Treem, age 73, of Columbia, Maryland, on federal charges of a conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, falsification of documents, and obstructing an official proceeding.  The jury acquitted Sean Francis Gordon, age 45, of Crownsville, Maryland, a private investigator who worked for both Ravenell and Treem of those same charges. 

Ravenell faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the money laundering conspiracy.  U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, who presided over this case in the District of Maryland, scheduled sentencing for Ravenell on May 14, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.

First Assistant United States Attorney Phil Selden commended the IRS-CI, the DEA, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Department, the Phoenix (Arizona) Police Department, and the Arizona Financial Crimes Task Force for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Selden thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Zachary Ray, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Hines, who are prosecuting the case.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – Chesterfield Stewart V, age 22, of Germantown, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; and Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.

According to his guilty plea, from February 2020 to December 2020, Stewart conspired with others to recruit individuals and use their bank accounts to receive fraudulent check deposits and share the recruited individuals’ personal identifying information and bank account information amongst co-conspirators and others.  Once the co-conspirators obtained the individual’s bank information, Stewart and another co-conspirator produced and obtained counterfeit checks and then deposited those fraudulent checks into the individual’s bank account.

After the counterfeit checks had been deposited, co-conspirators traveled to numerous financial institutions and withdrew the funds from the individual’s account before the financial institution could determine that the source of the checks were fraudulent and the checks were counterfeit.  As a result of the conspiracy, the intended loss within the scope of the conspiracy and reasonably foreseeable to Stewart was more than $250,000 but not more than $550,000.

For example, on March 12, 2021, a co-conspirator deposited a counterfeit check in the amount of $73,019.42 into Individual 1’s bank account.  Then, on March 14, 2020, Stewart, two co-conspirators, and Individual 1 traveled to three different financial institutions where Individual 1 obtained three cash advances from their bank account in the amounts of $10,000, $10,000, and $5,000.  The total actual loss to Individual 1’s financial institution after the collection fees was $24,976.36.

Additionally, on March 18, 2020, co-conspirators provided Individual 2’s bank account information to Stewart.  The co-conspirators thereafter deposited a counterfeit check into Individual 2’s bank account in the amount of $15,000.  That same day, Stewart, three co-conspirators and Individual 2 traveled to a Rockville, Maryland financial institution where, at the direction of Stewart and another co-conspirator, Individual 2 obtained a cash withdrawal from their bank account in the amount of $1,500.  Co-conspirator 2 also made an ATM withdrawal in the amount of $300 from Individual 2’s bank account at the financial institution.

The following day on March 19, 2020, the co-conspirators conducted three separate money transfers to a co-conspirator’s mobile banking app account, for a total of $1,450, and transferred an additional $500 to another individual.  The total actual loss to the financial institution was at least $3,750.

As part of his plea agreement, Stewart will be ordered to pay at least $28,726.36 in restitution.

Stewart faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.  U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for June 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, who is prosecuting the case.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Daiquan Malik Barnett, age 25, of Great Mills, Maryland, to 78 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron.

According to his plea agreement, on September 17, 2019, Barnett facilitated the sale of a semiautomatic, assault-style rifle—a transaction surveilled and recorded by ATF.  Barnett acted as the middle man in the transaction and facilitated the transaction by communicating the price of the weapon and the meeting place for the sale.  While discussing his personal firearm during the meeting, Barnett lifted his shirt and showed the clear outline of a semiautomatic weapon with an extended magazine.

After the meeting, Barnett proceeded to drive to a fast-food restaurant where law enforcement blocked Barnett’s vehicle while he sat in the line of cars for the drive through window.  Upon seeing law enforcement, Barnett unsuccessfully attempted to flee by backing up.  In the process of attempting to flee, Barnett crashed his vehicle into a civilian’s vehicle parked behind him.

Upon his capture, officers recovered 20.68 grams of cocaine, .99 grams of fentanyl, and oxycodone pills with a total weight of 1.934 grams.  Barnett agrees that he possessed the cocaine, fentanyl, and oxycodone with the intent to distribute them.  Additionally, Barnett possessed a total of $723 on his person.  Of the funds recovered, $200 were ATF funds that were Barnett’s cut from the sale of the semiautomatic rifle. The remaining funds were proceeds of Barnett’s drug trafficking.

As stated in his plea agreement, law enforcement also recovered several items from the vehicle Barnett was operating, including a semi-automatic pistol, an extended magazine with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one 9mm caliber drum magazine loaded with 53 rounds of 9mm caliber ammunition cartridges, two digital scales, torn baggies, gloves, brass knuckles, and St. Mary County’s court documents bearing Barnett’s name.

Barnett knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms and agrees that he possessed the firearm and ammunition in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity.  Barnett was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition from a previous drug-related conviction. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the ATF and the St. Mary Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

 For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

 

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Daiquan Malik Barnett, age 25, of Great Mills, Maryland, to 78 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron.

According to his plea agreement, on September 17, 2019, Barnett facilitated the sale of a semiautomatic, assault-style rifle—a transaction surveilled and recorded by ATF.  Barnett acted as the middle-man in the transaction and facilitated the transaction by communicating the price of the weapon and the meeting place for the sale.  While discussing his personal firearm during the meeting, Barnett lifted his shirt and showed the clear outline of a semiautomatic weapon with an extended magazine.

After the meeting, Barnett proceeded to drive to a fast-food restaurant where law enforcement blocked Barnett’s vehicle while he sat in the line of cars for the drive through window.  Upon seeing law enforcement, Barnett unsuccessfully attempted to flee by backing up.  In the process of attempting to flee, Barnett crashed his vehicle into a civilian’s vehicle parked behind him.

Upon his capture, officers recovered 20.68 grams of cocaine, .99 grams of fentanyl and oxycodone pills with a total weight of 1.934 grams.  Barnett agrees that he possessed the cocaine, fentanyl and oxycodone with the intent to distribute them.  Additionally, Barnett possessed a total of $723 on his person.  Of the funds recovered, $200 were ATF funds that were Barnett’s cut from the sale of the semiautomatic rifle.  The remaining funds were proceeds of Barnett’s drug trafficking.

As stated in his plea agreement, law enforcement also recovered several items from the vehicle Barnett was operating, including a semi-automatic pistol, an extended magazine with 13 rounds of .9mm ammunition, one .9mm caliber drum magazine loaded with 53 rounds of .9mm caliber ammunition cartridges, two digital scales, torn baggies, gloves, brass knuckles, and St. Mary County’s court documents bearing Barnett’s name.

Barnett knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms and agrees that he possessed the firearm and ammunition in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity.  Barnett was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition from a previous drug-related conviction. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the ATF and the St. Mary Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

 

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Nicolae Gindac, age 52, of Dania Beach, Florida, yesterday to 54 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, in connection with a conspiracy to steal and deposit checks intended for religious institutions.  Judge Chuang also ordered Gindac to pay restitution, along with co-conspirators, in the amount of $1,096,660.11.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Shimon R. Richmond of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Toni Dezomits of the Cary, North Carolina, Police Department; and Sheriff Dusty Rhoades of the Williamson County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office.

According to his plea agreement, from at least June 2018 to January 2021, Gindac and at least five co-conspirators stole and negotiated checks from the U.S. mail intended for religious institutions.  Gindac’s co-conspirators executed the thefts by driving to roadside mailboxes and directly removing the mail from the religious institutions’ mailboxes.

As part of the scheme to defraud, Gindac and other co-conspirators opened fraudulent bank accounts at several victim financial institutions under false identities and negotiated stolen checks by way of ATMs.  Gindac deposited stolen checks into fraudulent bank accounts held in the names of his family members, including a minor family member, and others.  Gindac and his co-conspirators subsequently withdrew the stolen funds and spent them using debit cards associated with fraudulently opened bank accounts and other bank accounts.

As detailed in his plea agreement, Gindac deposited or was present when at least $64,811.03 was deposited into 13 fraudulent accounts.  The fraudulent accounts received a total of approximately $139,057.58 from 143 stolen checks.

On February 6, 2021, law enforcement arrested Gindac and recovered approximately $7,930.38 in cash, as well as a yellow-gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex men’s watch.  Gindac also used some of the stolen proceeds of the conspiracy to purchase a BMW 745i Sport sedan.

In total, the conspiracy received at least $1,065,282.53 from 2,477 stolen checks.

Two co-conspirators were recently extradited to the United States.  Vlad Baceanu, age 37, was extradited from Romania, and Florin Vaduva, age 30, was extradited from the United Kingdom.  They had their initial appearances on November 24 and November 22, 2021, respectively.  Co-conspirators Marian Unguru, age 36, Vali Unguru, age 19, and Daniel Velcu, age 43, all of Baltimore, Maryland, and Mateus Vaduva, age 29, of Hollywood, Florida, have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing.  Co-defendant Marius Vaduva, age 27, of Hollywood, Florida, has a re-arraignment scheduled on January 6, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.  In addition to Vlad Baceanu and Florin Vaduva, one other co-conspirator is awaiting trial.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI, the FDIC Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Cary (North Carolina) Police Department, and the Williamson County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – Billy Lorenzo Bush, age 37, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty on December 20, 2021 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, on June 8, 2020, officers discovered Bush passed out and unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that was involved in a single-vehicle accident.  Bush was the sole occupant in the vehicle.  Upon further inspection, officers saw baggies of marijuana spilling out of a backpack and a handgun on the front passenger seat.

After additional PGPD officers arrived on the scene, officers broke the driver’s side window to unlock the doors and remove Bush from the vehicle.  As a result of the search of Bush’s vehicle, officers recovered a .40 caliber handgun loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, 1,100.80 grams of marijuana, digital scales, empty baggies, and 47.55 grams of a substance containing PCP.  Bush became responsive upon his removal from the vehicle and was subsequently taken into custody.  When officers searched Bush incident to his arrest, officers found 102.29 grams of a substance containing eutylone on his person.

Bush agrees that he possessed the marijuana and eutylone and intended to distribute them to others.  Bush also agrees that he possessed the .40 caliber firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.

Bush and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Bush will be sentenced to no less than 77 months and no more than 120 months in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for March 9, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica C. Collins, who is prosecuting the case.

These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program (PSN), a unified and comprehensive strategy to combat gun crime that combines local, state and federal law enforcement efforts; community outreach; and public awareness, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron announced that financial collections in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 in the District of Maryland reached $26,206,937.09.  The U.S. Department of Justice keeps statistics on a fiscal year basis, closing the books each September 30.

“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partner agencies, funds recovered far exceed the cost of operating the office,” said Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “We will continue to hold accountable anyone who seeks to profit from illegal activities.”

According to statistics from the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s Asset Recovery Unit, which handles both Asset Forfeiture and Financial Litigation, recovered $18,363,220.59 in FY 2021, in criminal debts owed to the U.S. government and to federal crime victims, including restitution, criminal fines, and felony assessments, which was applied directly to restitution owed to victims of crime and other criminal penalties.  It also finalized forfeiture on $8,135,791.30 in assets and obtained another $60,513,818.00 in forfeiture money judgments, all of which are eligible to re returned to victims to satisfy restitution once liquidated.  In FY 2021 $1,881,580 in forfeiture proceeds were transferred to the Clerk of the United States District Court in Maryland to be paid to victims as restitution.

The statistics show that the District’s Civil Division recovered $7,843,716.50 in cases handled solely within this Office, in civil actions in Maryland including affirmative civil enforcement cases—in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected penalties imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws—and debts collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security.  These cases include the successful resolution of investigations or qui tam actions against St. Jude Medical, Inc., Creative Computing Solutions, Inc. and Dr. Njideka Udochi.

Additionally, the District of Maryland worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $37,689,449.53 in cases pursued jointly with these offices.  Of this amount, $12,231.39 was collected in criminal actions and $37,677,218.14 was collected in civil actions, including cases resolved under the False Claims Act on behalf of victim agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Attorney’s Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims.  The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered 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 to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal healthcare laws.  In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Department of Education.

For more information, the Department’s Annual Statistical Reports on prior fiscal years can be found on the Internet at: https://www.justice.gov/usao/resources/annual-statistical-reports.  

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Baltimore, Maryland – Virginia-based Telophase Corporation (“Telophase”) has agreed to pay the United States $1,389,509 million dollars to resolve federal False Claims Act allegations that it overbilled the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”) for labor hours worked and for labor rates and costs in excess of those actually incurred.  

The civil settlement was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron, and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations (AIGI) Robert Steinau of NASA’s Office of Inspector General.  

“Federal contractors are required to bill for costs actually incurred, and to be truthful in the claims they submit to federal agencies,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “Companies that submit false bills to the government must be held accountable.”

“The NASA Office of Inspector General is proud of the exceptional work from our agents and partnership with the United States Attorney, District of Maryland in aggressively investigating these allegations,” said AIGI Steinau.  It is through these partnerships that we will continue to pursue and hold those accountable that attempt to defraud NASA.”

Telophase is a provider of information technology and cyber-security services, operations engineering for monitoring tools and automation, quality and compliance management, environmental engineering, and education and training initiatives to both the public and commercial sectors.  Telophase was awarded a Cost-Plus Fixed-Fee (“CPFF”) subcontract for services to be provided to the Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.  This contract type reimburses the contractor for actual project costs, plus a fee. 

The settlement resolves allegations that, between April 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018, Telophase caused the submission of false claims to NASA by billing NASA for: labor hours in excess of the hours that Telophase could demonstrate that its employees and contractors actually worked; labor rates higher than the rates actually paid to its employees and contractors; labor costs in excess of Telophase’s actual recorded costs; and indirect rates that were higher than those actually incurred.   

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations.  The settlement is not an admission of liability by Telophase, nor a concession by the United States that its claim is not well founded.   

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended NASA’s Office Investigations for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tarra DeShields who handled this case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/affirmative-civil-enforcement and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md.  

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Baltimore, Maryland – Larry Gardner, a/k/a “Little Larry,” age 40, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including heroin.  

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.

According to his guilty plea, between November 2019 and December 2020, Gardner participated in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large quantities of controlled dangerous substances, including heroin, in the Baltimore area.

As detailed in the plea agreement, between June and November 2020, federal agents assigned to the Baltimore Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force intercepted hundreds of electronic and wire communications between Gardner and the leader of the DTO which revealed that Gardner was a mid-level distributor of heroin and that the DTO leader was his source of supply.

Gardner exchanged coded text messages with the DTO’s leader negotiating the price and amount of heroin.  After one such exchange on November 4, 2020, a covert camera captured the DTO leader entering an apartment in downtown Baltimore used as a stash house, then leave eight minutes later.  A few minutes later, agents conducting surveillance outside Gardner’s residence saw the DTO leader arrive and intercepted a message from the DTO leader to Gardner stating, “Here cuz”.  The DTO leader rang the bell at Gardner’s residence and Gardner answered the door and accompanied the DTO leader to his car, where they conducted the heroin transaction.

On December 16, 2020, law enforcement conducted a search at Gardner’s residence, which was occupied at that time by Gardner, his wife, and three minor children.  Law enforcement recovered a ballistic vest, a kilogram press and more than 1,000 empty gel capsules in the basement.  In the bathroom, officers found white residue around a toilet and on the floor next to the toilet; plastic bags containing a white powder substance; and at least one plastic bag with a crystalline white rock-like substance that was subsequently analyzed and identified as approximately 19 grams of cocaine.

Gardner admitted that it was reasonably foreseeable to him that the conspiracy involved the distribution of between 100 and 400 grams of heroin.                                                                                                    

Gardner and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Gardner will be sentenced to five years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for February 24, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location.  This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks.  These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime.  The specific mission of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the DEA, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their work in the investigation and thanked the Baltimore Police Department for its assistance.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Izant, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Desmond Babloo Singh, age 20, of Temple, Texas, pleaded guilty today to two counts of cyberstalking.   

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, from April 18, 2020, to November 24, 2020, Singh used more than 100 different social media accounts, phone accounts, and various electronic communication tools to send harassing messages to Victim 1. The hundreds of public social media posts, text messages, and private social media messages included threats of death, bodily injury, sexualized violence, and racial slurs.  Many of the accounts created and used by Singh incorporated Victim 1’s name, making it appear as if the accounts were owned and operated by her. 

Earlier in 2020, Singh sent Victim 1 online communications expressing his romantic interest in her. After Victim 1 rebuffed Singh’s advances and asked him not to contact her, Singh commenced a months’ long cyberstalking campaign against both Victim 1 and Victim 2, the latter of whom Singh viewed as a romantic rival.

Singh frequently used the fraudulent accounts he created to denigrate Victim 1’s character, appearance, and make the assertion that Victim 1 was “obsessed” with him. Singh’s harassing conduct included, among other things, numerous implied threats of bodily injury or death.  For instance, Singh used a fraudulent social media account to send Victim 1 an image in which the faces of her and her family members were superimposed on the faces of several individuals hanging from nooses. In another edited picture, Singh superimposed Victim 1’s mother’s face on the body of a grieving woman at a grave site.

On or about July 19, 2020, Victim 1 received a “follow” request on a social media platform from an account that Singh created. On this account, Singh had posted pictures of Victim 1 and her family home. Additionally, Singh posted Victim 1’s parents’ address in Maryland and stated there would be a party there the following day. The following day, July 20, 2020, a Baltimore County Police Department employee received an anonymous email telling law enforcement to investigate a possible bomb at the parents’ home. Law enforcement officers responded to the residence only to learn that the bomb threat was a hoax. The federal investigation into Singh’s conduct revealed that Singh had solicited another individual to “swat” Victim 1’s parents’ home.

In furtherance of his harassment campaign against Victim 1, Singh also posted Victim 1’s personal information online including her birthdate, name, personal phone number, school, social media identities, and other identifying information online. This form of online harassment is commonly referred to as “doxing”.

During the investigation of Singh’s harassment campaign, investigators discovered notes in Singh’s phone that documented his plans to harass Victim 1 including the plans to physically assault Victim 1’s family members, post over 10,000 messages relating to Victim 1’s friends, harass Victim 2, and take pictures of Victim 1 in real life.

Singh not only harassed Victim 1, but he also harassed Victim 2 whom he perceived to be a romantic rival. Similar to Victim 1, Singh created numerous social media accounts incorporating Victim 2’s real name and publicly posted his personal information. Using an anonymous account, Singh posted a video of an unidentifiable person knocking on Victim 2’s former residence with a caption telling Victim 2 to answer the door. Later, Singh later posted the same video on an online platform which included Victim 2’s name, the former address of Victim 2, and a statement stating that he went to Victim 2’s residence to fight Victim 2.

Singh faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count of cyberstalking followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for April 5, 2022 at 2:30 p.m.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Rigali, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – Oluwaseyi Akinyemi, a/k/a “Paddy Linkin”, a/k/a “Joseph Kadin”, age 35, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to two counts of mail fraud relating to a social media advanced fee fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Troy Springer, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

“This office will prosecute anyone misusing this pandemic crisis to line their own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron. “Akinyemi not only took fraudulent advantage of a nursing care patient, a national health crisis, and an employment crisis, but he also caused significant financial harm to 13 elderly victims.”

According to his guilty plea, from July 10, 2018 to April 29, 2019, Akinyemi and at least one co-conspirator conspired to engage in a social media based elder fraud scheme. Members of the conspiracy targeted elderly victims on social media platforms, impersonating accounts of the victim’s friends in order to vouch for their fraudulent financial scheme and convince the victim to send money in hopes of receiving a financial reward. Within the scheme to defraud, the conspiracy members presented themselves as agents of real and fictitious government programs that offered supposed financial benefits to qualifying individuals.

Once the victims demonstrated interest, other members of the conspiracy utilized a new account or persona to represent themselves as an agent of an agency or community fund. The victim was then instructed to send money in a mail service system to the agency for “taxes and fees.” Believing that they would receive a financial reward, the victims sent cash, money orders, gift cards, and other valuable items through mail services to Akinyemi as well as other members of the conspiracy in order to obtain a financial reward. Akinyemi received packages under the aliases of Paddy Linkin,” “Flex,” “Joseph Kadin,” and “Anna Marcos,” in addition to other aliases. After receiving the fraudulently obtained funds, Akinyemi delivered the fraudulently obtained cash to co-conspirators in Nigeria.

Victim 1, who was 78 years old and lived in Texas, received an application via social media to apply to a purported federal government grant program. The application was accompanied by a message from a person whom Victim 1 believed was a friend, vouching for the program. Victim 1 was told by members of the conspiracy that he had been approved for $100,000 in grant funds, but that in order to receive the grant funds Victim 1 needed to pay taxes. Victim 1 sent multiple packages of money, including to Akinyemi.  In order to induce Victim 1 to continue to send money, members of the conspiracy sent Victim 1 electronic “certificates.” One of these certificates was a “Certificate of Completion” bearing the Internal Revenue Service seal, stating that it was from the “Federal and State Tax Institutes.” Victim 1 also received a certificate with a U.S. flag on it with the words “Federal Grants” next to it which included Victim 1’s full name and the text: “Federal Government Grants for the sum of $5,000,000.” After receiving these certificates, Victim 1 continued to send money to Akinyemi and other members of the conspiracy. In total, Victim 1 sent between approximately $70,000 to $80,000 to Akinyemi.

Victim 2, who was 71 years old and lived in Indiana, received a message from someone they believed to be a high school friend regarding a “Strengthening Community Fund.” In reality, a member of the conspiracy was posing as the victim’s high school friend. Ultimately, the conspiracy member told Victim 2 that they received money from the fund in the recent past and that there were different amounts for which a person could apply. The member of the conspiracy then provided Victim 2 with the contact information for a fictitious agent representing the “Fund.”

After Victim 2 contacted and sought information regarding the Fund, a member of the conspiracy masquerading as an agent asked Victim 2 if they were ready to apply.  When Victim 2 communicated their desire to do so, the member of the conspiracy sought biographical information from Victim 2, including their monthly income. Once Victim 2 provided this information, the member of the conspiracy informed Victim 2 that they had been “approved.” Victim 2 applied for $80,000, which Victim 2 believed would cost $800 in fees. Victim 2 then sent approximately $50,000 in fictitious fees and taxes in order to obtain money from the fictitious fund.

Victim 3, who was 69 years old, sent $9,720 to Akinyemi based on instructions from a member of the conspiracy. Victim 3 received a check in the mail for $9,770 that she was instructed to cash.  The victim then deposited the check into her bank account and subsequently sent the funds to Akinyemi’s Landover Residence, as instructed. The check sent to Victim 3 was issued by Company 1 located in Tacoma, Washington. Company 1 was the victim of a fraud scheme that caused several unauthorized fraudulent checks to be generated and issued on behalf of Company 1.

Law enforcement’s subsequent review of Akinyemi’s phone revealed communications of Akinyemi discussing receipt of these funds from Company 1 through Victim 3. The chat conversation contained Akinyemi’s Landover Residence, his alias (“Paddy Linkin”), a mail service tracking number, and a dollar amount. Akinyemi and the co-conspirator also discussed the percentage of the proceeds that Akinyemi would take as part of his participation in the conspiracy.

During an interview with law enforcement on April 15, 2019, Akinyemi confirmed that he had received packages from victims throughout the country, detailed the scheme to defraud, and informed investigators that individuals in Nigeria were responsible for soliciting the victims to send money to him. Further, Akinyemi stated that he received approximately $80,000 in the mail in the year prior to his interview.

As part of the scheme to defraud elder victims, Akinyemi and his co-conspirators defrauded at least 13 victims, caused significant financial hardship to victims, and caused a loss of at least $478,145.07.

In an unrelated scheme, Akinyemi and other co-conspirators illegally obtained unemployment and COVID-19 related benefits by filing fraudulent unemployment claims under the names of living and deceased victims.

Throughout the scheme, Akinyemi and his co-conspirators used his Landover, Maryland residence as the mailing address for the fraudulent unemployment insurance debit cards.  Additionally, the conspiracy listed the home address of a Washington D.C. client whom Akinyemi provided at-home nursing care in order to receive the fraudulently obtained funds in the mail.

As stated in his plea agreement, 10 Maryland Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) claims were filed with the state of Maryland totaling an intended loss of more than $170,000.

As a result of an executed search warrant on April 15, 2021 at Akinyemi’s Hyattsville, Maryland residence, law enforcement found two unemployment insurance debit cards in the names of Victim 24 and Victim 25.  The unemployment insurance claims for Victims 24 and 25 were filed using the address of Akinyemi’s D.C. nursing care client.

In total, Akinyemi and his co-conspirators used the identities of 19 real individuals to file fraudulent unemployment insurance and PUA claims, caused an actual loss of more than $7,000, and projected an intended loss of $250,000 in state and federal benefits.

Akinyemi faces maximum 20 years in federal prison for each count of mail fraud followed by up to three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for April 11, 2022 at 11 a.m.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.  The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.  For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

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

The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force was established to serve the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response.  The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from its 22 member Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program.  Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations.

The Department of Justice runs the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), has an interactive tool for elders who have been financially exploited to help determine to which agency they should report their incident, and also a senior scam alert website.  Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324.  Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI, DOL-OIG, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajeev R. Raghavan, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Karon Foster, age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 40 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, for a carjacking conspiracy, and for aiding and abetting a carjacking resulting in death.   

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, beginning in April 2019, Foster was part of an enterprise that engaged in a pattern of deadly racketeering activities, including a series of armed carjackings, armed robberies, attempted armed robberies, and the pawning of stolen goods. Specifically, between April 19, 2019 and August 8, 2019, Foster and his crew committed 13 specific violent crimes in Baltimore, including: eight armed carjackings, including one on June 12, 2019, resulting in the murder of a victim, and five armed robberies and attempted robberies, including two in which victims were murdered.  Three victims were murdered by Foster’s crew during the time of the conspiracy, and a fourth victim was paralyzed as a result of an armed robbery.  

“Over four months in 2019, Karon Foster and his crew were responsible for 13-armed carjackings and robberies throughout Baltimore, including three that killed innocent victims and another that left a victim paralyzed,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “Foster and his co-conspirators used firearms and fear to steal cars, property and most tragically the lives of other human beings.  This case reflects the collaboration and commitment of federal, state, and local law enforcement to hold accountable violent offenders like Foster and his co-conspirators.  Four months of violence will result in at least three decades in federal prison for Karon Foster; hopefully others like him will take notice, choose to put down the guns, and take a different path.”

The plea agreement details a series of violent crimes committed by Foster and his co-conspirators, including a carjacking on June 12, 2019.  As two individuals were talking outside, Foster and other members of the enterprise drove up in a stolen vehicle and parked directly across the street from them.  Four men exited the vehicle, two of whom possessed firearms.  Members of the enterprise approached one of the individuals and announced a robbery.  The first individual ran away while the second person resisted the robbers’ commands.  That person was shot several times and subsequently died from his injuries.  The individual who ran away later returned to the scene and discovered that his/her car and the victim’s body were both gone, and only the victim’s shoes remained at the scene.  Foster aided and abetted the enterprise by driving the stolen vehicle to and from the scene of the attempted robbery and the victim’s murder.

Members of the conspiracy not only promoted their activities on social media, but they also shared proceeds of their exploits.  As part of the enterprise, Foster pawned items stolen from victims. Members also concealed enterprise activities by hiding, destroying, or disposing of evidence.

This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).  NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.  NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles.  For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and Brandon Moore who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Haitian national Jean Buteau Remarque, age 40, of Greenbelt, Maryland, today to 90 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.  The jury convicted Remarque late on March 25, 2021 after a four-day trial.  Judge Gallagher also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Remarque must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).   

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

According to testimony presented at his four-day trial, Remarque previously held positions at the International Bureau of Children’s Rights in Montreal, Canada, and as a Child Protective Officer for the United Nations in Africa.  In May 2018, law enforcement received information that Remarque was engaging in sexually explicit conversations with a 15-year-old female.  In addition, Remarque was believed to have sexually explicit images of prepubescent minors on his cell phone.  On July 17, 2018, a federal search warrant was executed at Remarque’s residence in Greenbelt.  Investigators recovered an external hard drive that contained files that had been copied from one of Remarque’s phones.  The evidence presented at trial proved that on November 16 and November 22, 2017, Remarque received sexually explicit images of minors.  Further, the evidence showed that the files included a collection of approximately 311 images and two videos of child pornography, including sexually explicit images depicting prepubescent minors.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.         

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI and the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Hagan, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Earl Leroy Griffin, Jr., age 45, of Sunderland, Maryland, late on December 17, 2021, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans; and Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey.

According to the evidence presented at his four-day trial, on September 5, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Griffin’s residence and on his vehicle as part of a drug investigation.  In Griffin’s locked vehicle, law enforcement recovered a stolen .40 caliber handgun, loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition; powder cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana; and three Maryland driver’s licenses bearing Griffin’s name and photo.  The vehicle was registered to Griffin.  When he was searched incident to his arrest, Griffin had the keys to his vehicle and $1,870 in cash in his pockets.

Griffin had four previous felony drug convictions and knew that as a result, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.  This conviction qualifies Griffin for armed career criminal status.

The jury acquitted Griffin on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

As an armed career criminal, Griffin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of life in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.   U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for April 19, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, and the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Morgan and Timothy F. Hagan, Jr., who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

 

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Baltimore, Maryland – Jorge Orencel, age 65, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to federal charges of attempting to smuggle goods out of the United States without the required export license. Orencel owned and operated Sumtech, an export business located in Fulton, Maryland. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agents in Charge Jonathan Carson and Nasir Khan of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry Security, Office of Export Enforcement, New York and Washington Field Offices, respectively.

According to his guilty plea, Orencel owned and operated Sumtech, which advertised itself on the Internet as specializing in the distribution of American merchandise, including “high technology laboratory devices,” to South America, Asia, and the Middle East.

As detailed in the plea agreement, in October 2016, Orencel began communicating with Co-conspirator 1, an individual representing herself as an employee of a company in Hong Kong, regarding Co-conspirator 1’s desire to purchase five ionization chambers and one fission chamber from Company A, which manufactured gas-filled nuclear radiation detectors. Co-conspirator 1 advised that Company A, located in New York, required an end user statement and export license if they knew the goods were to be shipped to other countries, and suggested to Orencel that he not mention that the goods would be shipped to Hong Kong.  Orencel agreed and got a quote from Company A for prices on the items requested by Co-conspirator 1, falsely telling officials from Company A that the request was from a customer in Argentina, South America.

After communicating with Co-conspirator 1, on October 26, 2016, Orencel sent a Sumtech purchase order to Company A for the ionization chambers and the fission chamber, along with an End User Statement on Sumtech letterhead and a Statement by Ultimate Consignee and Purchaser, which falsely indicated that the end user and ultimate destination was a company in Argentina.  On February 7, 2017, Orencel emailed Co-conspirator 1 that he had received the ionization chambers but not the fission chamber.  Orencel stated that although Company A had indicated that the fission chamber was regulated because it contained nuclear material, Orencel had obtained a ruling from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that the item was not barred from export due to the small amount of nuclear material contained within the chamber.  The following day, Orencel sent an email to Co-conspirator 1 advising that Company A had not built the fission chamber and would not do so until Orencel agreed that the fission chamber would be transported via UPS SCS, a shipping service provided by the United Parcel Service (UPS) which would pick an item up directly from the seller, such as Company A, and ship it directly to the user. Orencel stated to Co-conspirator 1, “This is a very difficult vendor…seems like they are a little suspicious and of course we have not said that the unit is for Hong Kong.”

As detailed in the plea agreement, on February 24, 2017, law enforcement agents from the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry Security, Office of Export Enforcement visited Orencel at Sumtech.  The agents provided Orencel copies of reference materials regarding export rules and regulations and reviewed the materials with Orencel.  Orencel told the agents that he was very familiar with U.S. export laws and his company always obtained export licenses when required.

Shortly after that visit, on March 3, 2017, Orencel shipped the ionization chambers to an address in Hong Kong, despite his statements to Company A that the items were destined for Argentina and would not be re-exported. 

On August 22, 2017, shortly after Company A advised Orencel that the fission chamber was completed and ready for pickup by UPS for shipment to the end user, Orencel executed a Shipper’s Letter of Instruction falsely certifying that the fission chamber was detection equipment with a value of $930 and the ultimate consignee and destination was in Argentina.  In fact, Orencel knew that the fission chamber was valued at $9,300 and that he planned to export the item to Hong Kong.  If Orencel had correctly stated the value of the item, which was more than $2,500, he would have been required to file a Shipper’s Export Declaration, which, in turn, would have alerted the Department of Commerce and other authorities to the existence of the shipment and allowed them to track the export and confirm compliance with licensing and other export requirements.

On August 25, 2017, Orencel emailed Co-conspirator 1 that UPS had picked up the fission chamber from Company A and discussed how to get the item shipped to Hong Kong, since the paperwork was issued with the name of a fake end-user.  Co-conspirator 1 suggested contacting a freight forwarder in California, that had previously assisted in a similar situation.  Orencel advised that he was trying to convince the shipper in New York to move the package to Maryland so he could pick it up and export it to Co-conspirator 1.  Law enforcement authorities detained the package at the UPS facility in New York before it could be shipped any further.

Orencel admitted to law enforcement in a voluntary interview on October 30, 2017, that he never intended to ship the fission chamber to Argentina and had only listed Argentina as the final destination to convince Company A to release the fission chamber for shipment.  Further, Orencel stated that he planned to contact UPS after it had picked up the fission chamber from Company A and direct UPS to change the shipping address to Hong Kong.  Orencel admitted that he also knew he was required to file a Shipper’s Export Declaration and export information in the Automated Export System, since the value of the fission chamber was more than $2,500.

Orencel faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for attempted smuggling of goods.   U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has scheduled sentencing for February 22, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry Security, Office of Export Enforcement for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen O. Gavin and Abigail Ticse, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Erwin Boateng, age 32, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, to 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection with a scheme in which the conspirators opened bank accounts using the stolen personal identifying information of other individuals, transferred or deposited funds obtained using stolen or altered checks, then quickly withdrew the funds.  Judge Bennett ordered Boateng to forfeit $24,758.79.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.

According to Boateng’s plea agreement, from September 1, 2015, through June 28, 2016, Boateng and others opened more than three dozen bank accounts using the stolen personal identifying information of other individuals or in the names of businesses.  Boateng and his co-conspirators fraudulently transferred funds or deposited stolen and altered checks, then quickly transferred the fraudulently obtained funds to other accounts or withdrew the funds in cash. The total intended loss was approximately $374,076.90 and the amount successfully withdrawn was $188,176.24.   

For example, on November 6, 2015, at the direction of a co-conspirator, Boateng opened a savings and a checking account at the Greenbelt, Maryland branch of a credit union, identifying himself as the brother of identity theft victim M.H., whom Boateng claimed was sponsoring his credit union membership. On November 12, 2015, Boateng and others caused a fraudulent ACH credit in the amount of $31,343.12 to be deposited into Boateng’s checking account. Boateng then withdrew $4,500 in cash and $10,000 in the form of a cashier’s check payable to Erwin Boateng from the account.

As detailed in the plea agreement, the illegally obtained proceeds from the fraudulent transactions were split between the co-conspirators.

Boateng pleaded guilty to the bank fraud conspiracy in September 2019, but subsequently engaged in a second fraud scheme, while on pre-trial release.  Specifically, according to information provided during today’s sentencing hearing, Boateng attempted to open an investment account utilizing a fraudulent $9 billion “Secured Funding Bond.”  Boateng represented that he wanted to deposit the bond in an investment account as collateral for a $500 million loan from the investment firm.  The loan was to be used to finance “economic development in Africa” through Boateng’s Spherepoint International Group.  The investment firm determined the documents were fraudulent and did not open any accounts.  An individual who was attempting to assist Boateng was notified and she, in turn, notified law enforcement.

In addition to Boateng, four other co-conspirators pleaded guilty to their roles in the fraud scheme.  David Livingston Attoh, age 34, a citizen of Ghana residing in Laurel, Maryland, was sentenced to three years in federal prison; Kabir Tunji Are, age 43, a Nigerian citizen residing in Silver Spring, Maryland, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison; Kwaku Boateng Blay, age 38, a citizen of Ghana residing in Beltsville, Maryland, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison; and Franck Ulrich Noche Nsiyabuze, age 31, of Laurel, Maryland, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.                     

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the HSI for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Judson T. Mihok and Mary W. Setzer, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell sentenced Jack Anderson IV, age 45, of Tucson, Arizona, to 126 months in federal prison after Anderson entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.   

The guilty plea and sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr.; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office; and the Harford County Narcotics Task Force comprised of members of the Harford County Sheriff's Office, Aberdeen Police Department, Bel Air Police Department, and Havre de Grace Police Department.

According to Anderson’s plea agreement, on May 17, 2019, members of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force conducted an investigation into co-conspirator Che Jaron Durbin, age 43, of Aberdeen, Maryland, after receiving notification that a parcel containing one kilogram of cocaine was shipped by Anderson from Tucson, Arizona to Durbin in Aberdeen, Maryland. Detectives learned from the United States Postal Inspection Service that the parcel was scheduled to be delivered to an Aberdeen, Maryland apartment.            

After the parcel was delivered, detectives continued to watch the Aberdeen, Maryland apartment. Soon after, investigators observed a woman, later identified as Jameka Cara Thompson, leaving the apartment and place the parcel in her vehicle.

Shortly after Thompson arrived at her destination, detectives detained her and executed a search warrant on her vehicle. Upon searching the parcel, detectives recovered one kilogram of compressed cocaine.

On January 22, 2020, law enforcement was informed that a parcel had been sent by Durbin to Anderson in Arizona.  The parcel was believed to contain cash. Investigators then arranged to have the parcel sent back to Maryland for further investigation. Upon examination of the parcel, investigators discovered $82,300.00 within a box originally labeled as high-end headphones.

As stated in Anderson’s plea agreement, in February 2020, law enforcement began to conduct a wiretap investigation on several narcotics dealers in Harford County, Maryland, including Durbin.  As a result of the investigation, Anderson was identified as Durbin’s cocaine supplier.

Further, in May 2020, law enforcement while conducting surveillance observed Durbin and Anderson meet at a Tucson, Arizona hotel room, where they met for a brief period of time. Soon after the meeting, Durbin traveled to the Tucson, Arizona Airport where he was seen meeting with Thompson and driving her back to his hotel room. Thompson ultimately obtained a bulk supply of cocaine from Anderson at the Arizona hotel.

Based on the surveillance by task force detectives of Durbin, Thompson, and Anderson, in Arizona, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant on Thompson’s vehicle after she arrived back in Harford County, Maryland.  As a result of the search warrant, officers seized an additional 1.4 kilograms of cocaine.

Anderson agreed that based on his role in the conspiracy he was involved in the distribution of  at least five kilograms but less than fifteen kilograms of cocaine. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office, the DEA, Harford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harford County Narcotics Task Force for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant Special U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Daquante Thomas, a/k/a “Glock,” age 19, of Baltimore, Maryland; Jourdain Larose, a/k/a “JBlacc,” age 26, of Ellicott City, Maryland, and Tyrik Braxton, a/k/a “Son-Son,” age 25, of Baltimore, Maryland, for a federal murder-for-hire conspiracy, use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for hire, and use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death.  The indictment was returned on December 15, 2021.  The defendants are expected to have initial appearances at a later date in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge LC. Cheeks, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Chief Lisa Myers of the Howard County Police Department; and Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson

According to the indictment, Larose was a member of the Crips street gang and trafficked in controlled substances.  As detailed in the indictment, Larose accused Juan Ross, age 23, of Columbia, Maryland, of cooperating with law enforcement, including on a live social media conversation on September 9, 2020, and in text message.  Juan Ross was arrested on drug and weapon charges on September 5, 2020, but was released on bail after being interviewed by police.  On October 4, 2020, Juan Ross was shot and killed in the area of Basket Ring Road in Columbia, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

The five-count indictment alleges that Larose solicited others to kill Juan Ross and that Thomas and Braxton accepted payment from Larose to commit the murder.  As detailed in the indictment, the defendants allegedly used interstate commerce facilities, specifically cellular telephones and a vehicle, in the commission of the murder-for-hire.

Larose allegedly provided a gun to a conspirator on September 12, 2020, for the purpose of killing John Ross.  Prior to October 4, 2020, when the conspirator had not committed the murder yet, the indictment alleges that Larose solicited Braxton to commit the murder instead.  Braxton then allegedly enlisted Thomas and Conspirator 2 to kill Juan Ross for Larose.

According to the indictment, on October 4, 2020, after text messaging each other about the address where they could find the victim, Braxton, Thomas, and Conspirator 2 drove to the area of Basket Ring Court in Columbia to locate Juan Ross, then drove to a drug store nearby.  A short time later, Thomas and Conspirator returned to the area of Basket Ring Court, shot and killed Juan Ross and drove away together.

A few hours later, Braxton allegedly texted Larose that he had something important to discuss, and Larose told Braxton to Facetime him. As detailed in the indictment, on October 7, 2020, Braxton texted Larose, “It’s going to be hot as sh** out here” to which Larose responded, “It already is bro.”

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison for use and discharge of a firearm resulting in death, for the murder-for-hire conspiracy, and for use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).  NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.  NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles.  For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Howard County Police Department, and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution and thanked the FBI, the Maryland State Police, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore Police Department for their assistance.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Oldham and Lindsey N. McCulley, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Statement from United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron:

“Today’s cowardly ambush shooting of a Baltimore Police Department patrol officer  in the line of duty is a tragic example of the risks facing law enforcement officers every day in the performance of their duties to keep our communities safe.   My thoughts and prayers are with the officer and the officer’s family for a swift and full recovery.  We will not tolerate this type of senseless violence.  Those who perpetrated this attack must be found and prosecuted.  I encourage anyone with information to contact the Baltimore Police Department.  To the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department and all Maryland law enforcement, please know that all of us at the U.S. Attorney’s Office stand with you and thank you for your bravery and devotion to justice.”

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Nichelle Henson, age 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, for false statements and bank fraud in connection with fraudulent applications Henson allegedly filed to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the names of multiple businesses.  The indictment was returned on December 7, 2021 and unsealed today.  Henson will have her initial appearance virtually on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 2:15 p.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge A. David Copperthite.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Brian D. Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR).

“It is reprehensible that fraudsters try to take advantage of this global pandemic to line their own pockets,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “As charged in the indictment unsealed today, Nichelle Henson allegedly fraudulently obtained more than $1.6 million in federal funds at the expense of honest business owners who were actually experiencing financial distress as a result of COVID-19.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to investigating, stopping, and prosecuting these crimes.”

“We are pleased that SIGPR is getting results for the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force,” said Brian D. Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery.

According to the 18-count indictment, Henson incorporated businesses with the State of Maryland, including Crowns Construction, LLC; Nichelle Henson Campaign, LLC; One Stop for Services, LLC; Your Friendly Tax Preparation Services, LLC; Women Entrepreneurs Can Succeed, LLC, and Peace of Mind Services Inc.  Henson often opened bank accounts in the names of businesses she incorporated and obtained Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) from the IRS for the businesses.  In tax year 2019, Crowns Construction, LLC; Nichelle Henson Campaign, LLC; Your Friendly Tax Preparation Services, LLC; and Peace of Mind Services, Inc. and Women Entrepreneurs Can Succeed LLC, had no employees.  Henson filed forms with the IRS for tax year 2019 indicating that One Stop For Services LLC had three employees, but no forms indicating the required taxes were withheld or deposited with the IRS for those employees.

The indictment alleges that beginning in April 2020, Henson filed fraudulent applications on behalf of her businesses through the EIDL and PPP programs, which were intended to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Specifically, the indictment alleges that Henson made false statements on six fraudulent applications filed on the Small Business Administration’s website to obtain EIDL grants.  Henson allegedly obtained a total of $18,000 for two of the applications, but the remaining four application were declined.  As detailed in the indictment, Henson’s alleged false statements included that the businesses had between five and fourteen employees, had gross revenue of at least $36,000 and up to more than $1.3 million, and that the cost of goods sold was between $13,000 and $700,000 for the various businesses.

The indictment alleges that Henson also submitted six fraudulent applications to obtain a total of $998,590 in loans under the PPP program. The applications allegedly contained false statements, misrepresentations and omissions related to her purported businesses including their existence, address, payroll expense, and number of employees.  Henson allegedly opened bank accounts specifically to receive PPP funds, did not disclose that she had incorporated other businesses, and falsely promised to spend PPP funds on allowable expenses, such as payroll, business rent and business utilities.  In fact, the indictment alleges that Henson used the funds on personal expenses such as personal plastic surgery, home renovations for herself and relatives, rent and utilities for personal residences, and family expenses.

As detailed in the indictment, the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act (Economic Aid Act), which was part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 package, extended the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to include a second round of funding to certain businesses that received funding under the original PPP, referred to as “Second Draw PPP Loans.”  

Henson filed six PPP Second Draw Borrower applications, again allegedly including false statements and misrepresentations as to her businesses, number of employees, that the initial PPP loan was used to pay allowable expenses, and including fraudulent documentation, such as IRS forms that had never been filed with the IRS.  As a result, the indictment alleges that Henson attempted to obtain $818,750 in Second Draw PPP loans and actually received $676,250.

Further, the indictment seeks the forfeiture of any proceeds obtained as a result of the crime, including $678,073.82 seized during the investigation from six bank accounts in the names of some of Henson’s businesses, as well as a money judgment in the amount of proceeds obtained as a result of the scheme to defraud.

If convicted, Henson faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each of the 12 counts of bank fraud and a maximum of five years in federal prison for each of the six counts of making a false statement.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

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

The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force was established to serve the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from its 22 member Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program.  Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, which conducted the investigation on behalf of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force, for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce K. McDonald, who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Khalil Shaheed, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler; Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees.

According to his guilty plea, after the investigation of a fatal overdose victim in Harford County, Maryland, investigators examined the victim’s cell phone activity and noted that the victim purchased heroin from a contact labeled “T” on at least seven occasions.  The last date the victim purchased heroin from “T” was on October 14, 2017, three days before the victim’s death.  In the last conversation, “T” directed the victim to meet them in a Baltimore, Maryland grocery store bathroom.

As result of an investigation into the overdose, investigators began to conduct physical surveillance on Shaheed.  On November 9, 2017, investigators watched Shaheed depart from his Baltimore, Maryland residence and travel to a gas station.  Before parking the vehicle, Shaheed circled the parking lot, stopped at a gas pump, and then parked directly in front of the gas station store.  Upon parking, Shaheed stood outside his vehicle, stood next to his car while appearing to look for someone.  Minutes later, Shaheed entered the gas station and went directly to the bathroom while a detective followed him.  As the detective entered the bathroom, Shaheed quickly exited the bathroom with another male subject.  Shaheed proceeded to exit the store without making any purchases.

Believing that a drug deal had just occurred, law enforcement obtained a court order to install a GPS device on Shaheed’s vehicle.

As stated in his plea agreement, on November 16, 2017, investigators executed a search warrant on Shaheed’s residence and vehicle. As a result of the search warrants, officers discovered a .9mm handgun, cocaine, and heroin packaged for distribution in his vehicle.  In his residence, officers found a .25 caliber handgun, $12,452.36 in cash, ammunition, and additional drugs.  In total, law enforcement seized approximately 82 grams of cocaine, 55 grams of heroin and 7 grams of fentanyl.  Additionally, officers seized Shaheed’s cell phone that indicated his phone number was the same number as the contact saved as “T” in the victim’s cell phone. 

On November 6, 2019, a federal grand jury indited Shaheed on charges related to the distribution of fentanyl to the deceased victim, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in November 2017, and possession of the firearms.  An arrest warrant was issued based on these charges.

On November 20, 2019, federal investigators located Shaheed at his last residence and observed activity indicative of drug trafficking activity in plain view.  Shaheed was arrested while officers executed a search warrant that resulted in the discovery of six bags of cocaine and a .25 caliber handgun.

Shaheed and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Shaheed will be sentenced to between eight years and twelve years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a felon. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled the sentencing hearing for March 18, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Mr. Barron commended the DEA, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Oldham and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Hann, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, who are prosecuting this case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron today announced $1,835,897 in Department of Justice grants to six Maryland law enforcement agencies to be used to reduce the backlog in DNA testing at their laboratories. The awards will be used to hire additional staff, improve and maintain laboratory capabilities, purchase specialized equipment to improve laboratory operations, and fund technical training and continuing education.  The awards are part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Program’s Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 21 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program.

In addition, the Justice Department awarded two grants totaling $615,477 to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, under the FY21 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program.  Under the first grant, $365,477 will be distributed to six forensic crime laboratories and the Chief Medical Examiner's Office to reduce backlogs related to latent print examination, firearms examination, and drug analysis and to purchase equipment needed to improve the quality and efficiency of forensic services statewide.  The second grant of $250,000 will be used by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to purchase and implement and Laboratory Information Management System in order to improve efficiency and address needs including: chain of custody records; workflow automation; improved data security; and long-term data storage.

“Forensic science, especially DNA testing has become critical in solving many crimes,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “These funds will assist our state and local law enforcement partners to improve laboratory efficiency and address the backlog of DNA testing in order to allow victims to obtain justice without undue delay.”

The following Maryland organizations received funding to control and reduce the backlog of DNA cases:

• The Anne Arundel County Police Department Forensic Services Section received $260,000 which will be used to hire a full-time Laboratory Technician, fund more than 100 hours of overtime, and to purchase specialized equipment to allow quicker turnaround times for testing. 
• The Baltimore Police Department Crime Lab received $401,985 which will be used to fund the salaries for four scientists to perform laboratory testing procedures and identify samples to forward for DNA testing
• The Baltimore County Police Department Crime Lab received $222,597 to purchase specialized equipment and technology to improve lab performance and to pay for technical training and continuing education.
• The Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division received $431,315 to control the backlog of forensic biology/DNA cases by outsourcing, maintain current laboratory capabilities and improve operations, and provide required continuing education.
• The Montgomery County Police Crime Laboratory received $260,000 which will be used to outsource cases as needed to compensate for increased case submissions and fewer analysts performing casework analysis and to fund continuing education for analysts.
• The Prince George’s County Police Forensic Science Division received $260,000 to outsource DNA evidence from backlogged cases in order to reduce the current backlog of DNA cases.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – William Brown IV, age 41, of New Market, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to two counts of production of child pornography involving two minor female victims.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; and Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith III.

According to his guilty plea, beginning in August 2019 and continuing until January 2020, Brown repeatedly documented his sexual abuse of Jane Doe 1 by taking photographs and videos of the sexual abuse.  Brown also posed as GG, an adult film actor, and as a teenage boy to repeatedly coerce Jane Doe 1 to send him photographs of herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct through an Internet application, which she did.  Brown also admitted producing sexually explicit images of Jane Doe 2 over a two-year period, again posing as GG, and by installing a covert camera in a bathroom used by Jane Doe 2.

Specifically, as detailed in the plea agreement, in the summer of 2019, while posing as a teenage boy, Brown met Jane Doe 1 online, and began a relationship with her that included the exchange of sexually explicit photographs.  Brown sent Jane Doe 1 photographs of a teenage boy engaged in sexually explicit conduct that he had acquired online and coerced Jane Doe 1 to send sexually explicit photographs of herself.  Brown again contacted Jane Doe 1 online posing as GG—an adult film actor and musician who resides in Miami, Florida.  Brown repeatedly sent Jane Doe 1 sexually explicit photographs of GG that he had previously obtained on the Internet and coerced Jane Doe 1 to send him sexually explicit photographs of herself via the Internet application.

Jane Doe 1 eventually discovered that Brown was posing as a teenage boy and Brown disclosed his age and true identity to her.  Brown and Jane Doe 1 eventually met in person.  Beginning in September 2019 Brown met Jane Doe 1 approximately four times per week to engage in illegal sexual conduct at locations in Frederick County, Maryland, including, Brown’s home, Brown’s van, and Jane Doe 1’s home.  Brown would frequently use his cellular phone to take photographs and videos of his abuse of Jane Doe 1.

Brown admitted that he coerced Jane Doe 1 to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos of herself and would send her depictions of himself masturbating.  Brown also used an online video-teleconference system to view live-stream video of Jane Doe 1 engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  Brown provided Jane Doe 1 with sex toys, lingerie, and a phone to use to communicate with him without her parents’ knowledge.  Without Jane Doe 1’s knowledge or consent, Brown used online monitoring tools to track Jane Doe 1’s activity online and capture screenshots and videos of her activity, including any communications she had with others concerning him or GG.

According to his plea agreement, Brown, again posing as GG, met Jane Doe 2 online when she was approximately 12-13 years old.  Over a period of years, Brown, posing as GG, coerced Jane Doe 2 to send him sexually explicit photographs of herself.  On several occasions, Brown, posing as GG, provided Jane Doe 2 with cash in exchange for sending him sexually explicit photographs, which he hid at his residence.  Posing as GG, Brown also sent Jane Doe 2 various sex-related items in the mail, including lingerie, sex toys, and a DVD containing adult pornography.  Between June 2018 and September 2019, Brown installed a covert camera in a bathroom used by Jane Doe 2 without her knowledge, which captured images of Jane Doe 2 nude.  Brown eventually downloaded these images to his smartphone.  As he had with Jane Doe 1, Brown also used an online monitoring tool, without Jane Doe 2’s knowledge or consent, to track her activity online and capture screenshots and videos of her activity, including any communications she had with GG or others.

On February 3, 2020, law enforcement arrested Brown and executed a search and seizure warrant at his residence.  On February 4, 2020, law enforcement executed a second search and seizure warrant at the residence.  During the execution of the warrants, law enforcement seized, among other things, a personal computer, Brown’s work computer, a smartphone, and a hard drive which was hidden within a hollowed-out book. 

The seized items were forensically examined.  The phone, personal and work computers were found to contain depictions of Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  The personal computer and phone also contained screenshots of conversations between Brown, posing as GG, and Jane Doe 1 and numerous artifacts from the communication and tracking applications.  Brown’s phone also reflected that Brown had repeatedly accessed GG’s webpage to obtain nude photos of GG, as well as other sites referring to GG, and sites regarding catfishing—i.e., creating a fictitious online persona on social media to target a specific victim.  Finally, the hard drive, which was hidden within a hollowed-out book at Brown’s residence, contained approximately 100 images of minors, including prepubescent minors, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 
Brown also admitted that he attempted to obstruct justice by writing a letter to one of the victims, after his arrest, in an effort to influence her potential testimony in connection with this matter.

Brown and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Brown will be sentenced to between 18 years and 27 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for March 4, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.         

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce King, who are prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded Maryland $326,401 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program.  The Maryland grant, which is part of $17.5 million awarded nationally, will support efforts to address violent crime, including gun violence.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will administer the 88 grant awards, which are being made to designated fiscal agents to support local PSN projects that work in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.

“This latest Project Safe Neighborhoods grant is critical to addressing the violent crime threatening cities and towns all across our country,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Ensuring the safety of all Americans is the highest priority for the Department of Justice, but when it comes to violent crime, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We have to work closely with local public safety agencies as well as community organizations to craft individual strategies unique to each community’s needs. Programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods and the funding it provides allow us to do just that.”

“This PSN grant will be a great help to our community-based partners and state and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime in their neighborhoods,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “We will continue to work together with our partners to identify and prosecute the drivers of violence and support the community’s efforts to prevent violence.”

Maryland’s grant was awarded to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services to support violence reduction efforts around the state. Specific jurisdictions will be awarded funds through a competitive process. Each successful applicant will be required to form a local PSN task force, complete a thorough assessment of the violent crime drivers in their community and develop a strategic plan to address those issues.

“Investing in our communities, supporting victims and building a justice system that both keeps people safe and earns their trust – these are mutually reinforcing goals that stand at the heart of Project Safe Neighborhoods,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon for OJP. “The Office of Justice Programs is pleased to join with our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and with jurisdictions across the country, as we work together to meet the challenges of crime and violence and achieve our shared aspirations of public safety and community trust.”

In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime issued by Deputy Attorney General Monaco, is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.

This fall, U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including here in Maryland, have enhanced their violent crime reduction efforts to ensure alignment with the department’s comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have engaged in outreach to law enforcement and other agencies and organizations serving communities to identify the most significant drivers of violence in their districts. Working together with a broad coalition of stakeholders, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are addressing the most pressing violent crime issues in their district to make our neighborhoods safer for all.

PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies, community stakeholders and other agencies and organizations that work to reduce violent crime.

For a list of all grantees, please visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/FY21-Project-Safe-Neighborhoods-Awards.pdf.

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte today sentenced Ricardo Carter II, age 38, of Camp Springs, Maryland, to 87 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a check kiting and credit scheme using the stolen identity information of coworkers and job applicants to open fraudulent bank and credit accounts, causing more than $119,000 in losses to victim financial institutions. Judge Messitte also ordered Carter to forfeit $119,733.94, which are assets derived from or obtained as a result of Carter’s illegal activities, and to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is $131,588.24.   

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Matthew R. Stohler of the United States Secret Service - Washington Field Office.

According to his guilty plea agreement, from January 2015 to December 2017, Carter used stolen names, date of births, and social security numbers to open fraudulent bank accounts at financial institutions in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.  He then used the fraudulently opened accounts to execute fraud schemes.

Specifically, once Carter opened a bank account using a stolen identity, he deposited nonsufficient funds checks into the account, then withdrew the value of the check in cash before the check cleared, or transferred the funds into another account, using the money for his personal benefit.  When Carter used a stolen identity to open a credit account, he used the credit card associated with the account for personal expenditures, causing a loss to the bank and adversely affecting the victim’s credit score.  Carter used the stolen identities to open numerous bank accounts at multiple financial institutions, executing the scheme in multiple jurisdictions, and timing the withdrawal of cash from the deposited checks before those checks could clear.

Carter admitted that in order to execute the check kiting and credit scheme, he used his position as a Security Supervisor at Company A to open accounts using the stolen identities of individuals who worked for or applied to work for Company A.  By using his access to the personal identification information of those victims, Carter abused his position of trust with Company A.

Carter admitted that he fraudulently opened more than 100 bank and credit accounts using more than 10 stolen identities, resulting in a loss to the financial institutions of at least $119,733.94.

On September 23, 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Maryland returned an indictment against Carter, charging him with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.  On July 2, 2020, Carter was released pending trial on conditions, including not violating any local, state, or federal laws.  In October 2020, while on pre-trial release, Carter applied to rent an apartment in Largo, Maryland, which was not the residence approved by the U.S. Pre-Trial Services Office.  In the application to the apartment management company (Victim 6), Carter falsely listed Company A as his employer and used the social security number of another individual, without that person’s knowledge or permission.  Carter submitted a fraudulent letter and pay stubs to Victim 6, both purportedly from Company A, falsely verifying Carter’s employment at Company A, in order to obtain Victim 6’s approval of Carter’s rental application. After Carter did not pay his rent, on March 22, 2021, Victim 6 asked Company A to authenticate the letter.  Company A confirmed that the document was fraudulent. In total, Carter failed to pay at least $11,854.30 in rent owed to Victim 6.

On April 5, 2021, after a U.S. Magistrate Judge found that Carter had violated his conditions of pre-trial release, Carter was directed to surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service by 3:00 p.m.  Carter failed to report as directed and an arrest warrant was issued. Carter was subsequently apprehended in Florida on April 22, 2021.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Secret Service for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, who prosecuted the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell sentenced Gregory Jones, age 44, of Lithonia, Georgia to eight years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Chief Daniel DeWolf of the Troy Police Department (New York).

According to his plea agreement, from 2017 to February 2019, Jones conspired with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and other narcotics in Maryland.

During an investigation conducted by the FBI and Maryland state investigators, investigators worked with a confidential informant who regularly engaged with the conspiracy. Throughout the investigation law enforcement monitored and recorded phone calls between the confidential informant and a co-conspirator of Gregory Jones. In these phone calls the informant and co-conspirator frequently discussed ongoing or future drug deals. Additionally, on at least two occasions, investigators arranged controlled purchases of heroin from the co-conspirator.

In 2018, investigators began a wiretap of Jones’s and the co-conspirator’s cell phones.  During the wiretaps, Jones frequently engaged in phone calls with the co-conspirator and with customers. During the communications, Jones arranged to distribute narcotics to customers or acquired money from customers, often by having the co-conspirator conduct the transactions.

For example, on January 11, 2019, the co-conspirator contacted Jones and the co-conspirator engaged in a phone call. During the call, the two discussed numbers in a manner that indicated they were talking about quantities of narcotics. At one point in the conversation, Jones instructed the co-conspirator to “take those two, that 30 and that 11 and mix those together. Like run them through the strainer a couple times like how you did the joint last time.” Jones further instructed the co-conspirator to “mix those two together and then you gonna take that to him.” 

Later that day, law enforcement observed the co-conspirator enter a car and began driving. While the co-conspirator was in route to their intended destination, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the co-conspirator’s vehicle. The vehicle was then scanned by a police canine that alerted a positive response for the presence of narcotics. Upon a search of the vehicle, investigators found 38.96 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture.

Jones agrees that the conspiracy involved the distribution of at least 700 grams of heroin.

Further, the federal and state investigation into Jones’ drug trafficking conspiracy revealed that the organization also engaged in in a conspiracy to commit money laundering in furtherance of narcotics activity. Jones and other members of the conspiracy would plan and/or conduct financial transactions, including the payment of money to drug suppliers, to promote and carry on the narcotics conspiracy. The organization transmitted narcotics profits through various means, including by sending wire transmissions of money. 

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.               

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the FBI, the Maryland State Police, the Cumberland Police Department, the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, the Troy Police Department (New York), and the West Virginia Potomac Highlands Violent Crime and Drug Task Force for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Hanlon and Lindsey McCulley, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

 

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Baltimore, Maryland – United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Dorchester County State’s Attorney William H. Jones and Caroline County State’s Attorney Joe Riley provided the following statement regarding the investigation of Jonathan Newell:

A federal criminal complaint was signed on September 9, 2021, and unsealed on September 10, 2021, that charged Jonathan Newell with sexual exploitation of a minor to produce child pornography.  Following Newell’s suicide on September 10, 2021, the investigation continued.  Investigators have determined that there were no other individuals involved in the alleged exploitation and that Newell did not distribute any of the images.

The criminal complaint is publicly available, Case No. 1:21-mj-02533-JMC.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

If you or someone you know would like assistance obtaining counseling regarding this matter, please contact the FBI Baltimore Field Office at (410) 265-8080.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – Jude Egbufoama, a/k/a Chino, age 37, of Beltsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud, in connection with two separate fraud schemes.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Matthew R. Stohler of the United States Secret Service - Washington Field Office; and Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.

According to his guilty plea, between September 2018 and February 2019, Egbufoama conspired with William Gunn, Trishan Deva, Montee Gibson, and other co-conspirators to execute a bank fraud scheme, taking over and withdrawing funds from individual victims’ accounts.  Egbufoama also admitted that from January 2020 to November 2020, he engaged in a second fraud scheme, stealing checks from the U.S. mail, altering and depositing the stolen checks into bank accounts opened for that purpose (the drop accounts), then obtaining and depositing the fraudulent proceeds of the stolen and altered checks into Egbufoama’s personal checking account before the fraud was discovered.

Bank Fraud Scheme

Specifically, as detailed in the plea agreement, at the direction of Egbufoama and Co-conspirator 3, Gibson and Deva, who were bank employees, accessed the bank’s internal signature card database to retrieve account information for accounts with high balances (“the victim accounts”).  Using the internal bank database, Gibson and Deva unlawfully acquired the victims’ account numbers and the account holders’ personal identifying information, which they provided to co-conspirators, including Egbufoama and Co-conspirator 3.  Egbufoama and Co-conspirator 3 then produced or obtained fraudulent identification cards that Gunn and Co-Conspirator 2 used to conduct account takeovers of the victim accounts by going to branch offices of the bank in Montgomery, Baltimore, and Anne Arundel Counties in Maryland and making large withdrawals of cash and/or cashier’s checks.  The cashier’s checks were later deposited into business accounts opened under the names of shell companies controlled by co-conspirators.  The fraudulent identification documents that Egbufoama produced or obtained displayed the personally identifiable information of the victim account holders, but the photographs of the co-conspirators who entered the bank to withdraw the funds. 

On at least 14 occasions between October 20, 2018 and February 14, 2019, the conspirators conducted account takeover transactions involving at least seven individual victims and several companies.  In total, the intended loss reasonably foreseeable to Egbufoama and within the scope of the bank fraud scheme was between $550,000 and $1,500,000.  The intended loss was at least $780,550 and the actual loss suffered by the victims as a result of the bank fraud scheme was at least $393,858. 

Check Fraud Scheme

According to the plea agreement, Egbufoama also conspired with others to steal checks from the U.S. Mail, alter and deposit the stolen checks into drop accounts, and then purchase U.S. Postal money orders using debit cards tied to the drop accounts and cashier’s checks drawn on the drop accounts. Many of the money orders and cashiers’ checks were later deposited into Egbufoama’s checking account.  

For example, on April 13, 2020, Co-conspirator 3 deposited a stolen and altered check in the amount of $50,000 into Drop Account 1 held in the name of Entity 1.  Using the debit card linked to Drop Account 1, co-conspirators used approximately $26,000 of the proceeds of the stolen check to purchase multiple U.S. Postal money orders made payable to Egbufoama in denominations up to $1,000, each of which was deposited to Egbufoama’s checking account between April 21, 2020, and May 20, 2020.

Similarly, on February 4, 2020, Egbufoama deposited a $5,000 stolen and altered check to Drop Account 2 held in the name of Individual 1.  On February 15, 2020, Egbufoama deposited a $1,000 U.S. Postal money order into his checking account that was purchased with the partial proceeds of the stolen check.

In total, as a result of the check fraud scheme, at least approximately $94,515 in U.S. Postal money orders traceable to the proceeds of stolen and altered checks were deposited into Egbufoama’s checking account between January 2020 and November 2020.

The proceeds of stolen and altered checks were also withdrawn from the drop accounts via cashier’s checks and personal checks made payable to Egbufoama that were later deposited into Egbufoama’s checking account. 

For example, on June 4, 2020, a stolen and altered check in the amount of $350,978 was deposited into Drop Account 5 held in the name of Entity 2.  On June 22, 2020, Egbufoama deposited into his personal checking account, a business check in the amount of $80,000 payable to himself that was funded with the partial proceeds of the stolen and altered check. 

According to the plea agreement, after depositing the U.S. Postal money orders and cashier’s and personal checks into his checking account, Egbufoama spent a portion of the proceeds on personal expenses and transferred the remaining fraud proceeds to his savings account.  Egbufoama admitted in his plea agreement that between January 2020 and November 2020, he transferred approximately $109,100 from his checking to his savings account. 

In total, as a result of the check fraud scheme, at least approximately $116,750 in cashier’s checks and personal checks made payable to Egbufoama traceable to the proceeds of stolen and altered checks were deposited into his personal checking account between February 2020 and September 2020. The intended loss reasonably foreseeable to Egbufoama and within the scope of the check fraud scheme was between $550,000 and $1,500,000.  The intended loss attributable to the stolen checks and money orders involved in the check fraud scheme was at least $705,109.68, and Egbufoama obtained at least $211,265 in proceeds as a result of the check fraud scheme.

On March 29, 2021, law enforcement executed search and seizure warrants at Egbufoama’s residence and on his checking and savings accounts.  The government seized a total of $172,186 from Egbufoama’s savings and checking accounts.

Upon entering the residence to execute the search warrant, federal agents saw Egbufoama attempting to flush multiple checks down the toilet in the bathroom of the residence.  Egbufoama locked himself in the bathroom and agents broke into the bathroom, ordered Egbufoama to stop destroying evidence, and arrested him.

Law enforcement seized the following items from the residence: hundreds of personal checks all bearing unidentified names that are suspected to be victims of mail theft; additional checks payable to various entities that appear to be counterfeit; approximately $51,463 in cash; money orders, including Postal money orders; debit and credit cards displaying names of suspected identity theft victims; and blank check stock.  Law enforcement also seized five Apple iPhones, laptop and desktop computers, tablets, two printers, a camera with two SD card and a USB drive. One of the printers was loaded with blank check stock at the time of seizure.

Additionally, law enforcement seized firearms and ammunition, including: a .380 caliber handgun; a military style semi-automatic pistol manufactured without a serial number equipped with a high-capacity magazine that could chamber 300AAC ammunition; and six rounds of.380 caliber ammunition.  Egbufoama admitted that he possessed the firearms and ammunition in connection with the fraud schemes.

Egbufoama faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and for bank fraud.  U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.  As part of his plea agreement, Egbufoama agreed to forfeit to the United States $223,649 in fraud proceeds and money orders totaling $1,500.   Egbufoama also agreed to abandon all interests in the seized firearms and ammunition and the recovered electronics.  Egbufoama also will be required to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is at least $393,858 for the bank fraud scheme and up to $705,109.68 for the check fraud scheme. 

Co-conspirators William Gunn, age 59, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; Trishan Deva, age 25, of Adelphi, Maryland; and Montee Gibson, age 33, of Beltsville, Maryland, have all pleaded guilty to their roles in the fraud scheme and are awaiting sentencing.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly O. Hayes and Jennifer L. Wine, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, or to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md, https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Jose Guillermo Molina-Arevalo, age 27, of Kensington, Maryland, to 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for federal charges in Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia related to a series of armed commercial robberies.  Judge Grimm also ordered Molina-Arevalo to pay restitution in the amount of $90,927.45.  In Maryland, Molina-Arevalo is convicted of conspiracy to commit an armed commercial robbery and for committing armed commercial robbery.  In the Eastern District of Virginia, Molina-Arevalo is convicted of two counts of committing commercial robberies and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica D. Aber; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Kevin Davis of the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department; Chief Maggie A. DeBoard of the Herndon, Virginia Police Department; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; and Loudoun County, Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj.

According to Molina-Arevalo’s plea agreement in the Eastern District of Virginia, he is a member of the Pinos Locos Salvatruchos (PLS) clique of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a transnational criminal street gang.  Between June 6, 2017 and November 3, 2017, Molina-Arevalo and other PLS members and associates participated in a number of robberies in the Eastern District of Virginia and in Maryland.  Molina-Arevalo admitted that he participated in the June 6th robbery and served as a look-out for all the of the other robberies.

On June 6, 2017, Molina-Arevalo and other PLS members and associates traveled from Maryland to Herndon, Virginia.  Wearing masks and displaying firearms, Molina-Arevalo and the other robbers entered a store that also serves as a MoneyGram location in the 1100 block of Elden Street.  The robbers demanded money and fled the store with a large amount of cash and security recording equipment worth about $250.

As detailed in the plea agreement, on August 18, 2017, Molina-Arevalo and other PLS members and associates robbed the same store, again wearing masks and displaying firearms.  The robbers stole approximately $19,500 and the security equipment.  The co-conspirators then entered a restaurant across from the store, still wearing masks and displaying firearms.  They ordered the restaurant patrons and staff to the ground and kept them there for several minutes before fleeing through the restaurant’s rear exit.  Molina-Arevalo remained outside in a vehicle and acted as a look-out while his co-conspirators were inside both establishments.

On September 15, 2017, Molina-Arevalo and other PLS members and associates traveled to a convenience store in Sterling, Virginia, where four of the co-conspirators entered the store brandishing firearms.  Three of the co-conspirators wore masks.  They stole between $3,00 and $5,000, as well as electronic devices belonging to the employees, patrons, and a deliveryman.  Again, Molina-Arevalo remained outside in a vehicle and acted as a look-out while his co-conspirators were in the convenience store.

According to the Maryland plea agreement, in November 2017, Molina-Arevalo conspired with others to commit commercial robberies in Silver Spring, Maryland.  Specifically, Molina-Arevalo conducted surveillance on the robbery targets before the robberies, helped to plan the robberies, knowing that at least one of his co-conspirators would be armed with a gun during the robberies, and acted as a look-out during the robberies.

As detailed in the plea agreement, Molina-Arevalo’s co-conspirators, wearing masks and armed with at least one firearm, entered a building in Silver Spring that contained Business 1 and Business 2.  The co-conspirators demanded money from the employees of Business 1.  One of the co-conspirators jumped over the counter of Business 1 and took more than $200 belonging to Business 1.  The co-conspirators then went to Business 2, a separate business in the same building, and demanded money, but the employees refused to comply with their demands.  The co-conspirators then attempted to enter the area where the cash was kept, but they were unsuccessful.  The conspirators then fled with the funds from Business 1 to a waiting getaway vehicle driven by another co-conspirator.                    

United States Attorneys Erek L. Barron and Jessica D. Aber praised the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Montgomery County Police Department, the Fairfax and Herndon, Virginia Police Departments; the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Loudoun County Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Barron and Ms. Aber thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Moomau and John C. Blanchard, who prosecuted the Maryland and Eastern District of Virginia cases, respectively.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Nathan Coakley, age 40, of Baltimore, Maryland, for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to the two-count indictment, on July 6, 2021, Coakley possessed four firearms and possessed and intended to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. As stated in the indictment, Coakley possessed one assault-style rifle, a .380 caliber rifle, and two 9mm handguns. One of the two handguns was a privately made firearm without a serial number.

In addition to the four firearms, Coakley allegedly possessed 160 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, 133 rounds of 9mm caliber ammunition, 273 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition, and $5,389 in cash.

If convicted, Coakley faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Annie McGuire and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Tuomey, who are prosecuting the federal case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Babatunde Ajibawo, age 55, of Essex, United Kingdom to four years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Judge Blake has also ordered Ajibawo to pay $262,653.87 in restitution.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; and Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

According to his plea agreement, from February 2017 to February 2020, Ajibawo, Oyekanmi Oworu, age 35, of Hyattsville, Maryland and others conspired to fraudulently obtain checks made out to legitimate businesses, then fraudulently register shell companies to obtain state business certificates in the identical or similar name of the legitimate businesses to which the checks were made payable. The conspiracy also used the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Modernized Internet Employer Identification Number (EIN) and the fraudulently obtained social security numbers of real individuals to obtain an EIN for the fraudulent business.

In the effort to defraud, Ajibawo personally opened fraudulent bank accounts, deposited stolen checks into the fraudulent accounts, and withdrew the stolen funds on numerous occasions.

Specifically, in October 2018 Ajibawo opened a fraudulent account in the name of a real business, Business 1, using the identifying information of a real person, C.B. After opening the account, Ajibawo deposited a stolen check made payable to Business 1 in the amount of $18,150.66 into the fraudulent account.

Additionally, from November 2018 to April 2019, Ajibawo opened and accessed a fraudulent account in the name of another real business, Business 2, using the identifying information of a real person, B.R. After opening the account, Ajibawo deposited a stolen check made payable to Business 2 in the amount of $168,500. Surveillance footage captured Ajibawo opening and accessing the fraudulent account on numerous occasions.

Throughout the scheme to defraud, Ajibawo sent personally identifying information of victims to co-conspirators, directed that co-conspirators withdraw money from fraudulent accounts in which stolen checks had been deposited, and facilitated the distribution of stolen funds obtained from the scheme.

Additionally, in an effort to conceal their criminal activity and evade detection from law enforcement, Ajibawo and his co-conspirators attempted to relocate the fraud scheme to other jurisdictions. A substantial part of a fraudulent scheme was committed from outside the United States, specifically Nigeria.

Further, Ajibawo and his co-conspirators attempted to conceal their criminal actions and evade law enforcement by relocating the fraud scheme to other jurisdictions. A substantial part of a fraudulent scheme was committed from outside the United States, specifically Nigeria.

In total, Ajibawo and his co-conspirators created 50 fraudulent shell entities, caused an actual loss of at least $606,598.08, and compromised the identifying information of more than 50 individual victims.

Co-defendant Oyekanmi Oworu pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft on December 2, 2021. Oworu faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison followed by up to five of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence for aggravated identity theft. As part of his plea agreement, Oworu will also be required to pay restitution. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2022 at 9:15 a.m.  

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary W. Setzer and Judson T. Mihok, who are prosecuting the case.

 

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Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm today sentenced Brian Anthony Gilbert, age 34, of District Heights, Maryland to 45 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for two counts of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Judge Grimm also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Gilbert must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr.; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

“There are no words to adequately express how disturbing this case truly is,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron. “This sentence sends a clear message that we will bring to justice those who victimize innocent children.”

“Not only did the defendant commit egregious acts of abuse against two children in his community, but he also recorded and exploited the abuse and trauma of young victims on the Dark Web,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentence demonstrates our commitment to protecting children from threats. I commend the professionalism of our agents and law enforcement partners in bringing Brian Gilbert to justice.”

“When the most vulnerable of our citizens – our children – are victimized we will do everything in our power to hold the perpetrators accountable and to protect others from harm,” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Not only did the abuser harm two innocent children, but he furthered their victimization by distributing heinous materials online. Mr. Gilbert will now spend a significant time behind bars.”

According to his guilty plea, in August 2020, Gilbert uploaded and advertised at least two video files of child pornography depicting an approximately seven-year-old female victim (Victim 1) on an online bulletin board dedicated to child pornography hosted on the Tor network. The Tor network is a computer network that is specifically designed to facilitate anonymous communication over the Internet. The videos were approximately 10 minutes and 15 minutes in length and depicted sexual acts between Gilbert and Victim 1. In Gilbert’s posts on the online bulletin board, Gilbert admits to having produced both videos.

As detailed in his plea agreement, on September 11, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Gilbert’s residence, Gilbert was present at the time. During the execution of the search warrant, Gilbert waived his rights and informed law enforcement that he video recorded sexual acts between himself and Victim 1 in his bedroom and at Victim 1’s residence approximately five times between January 2019 and August 2020. He also stated that he had video recorded sexual acts between himself and another victim, who was approximately two-years old (“Victim 2”) at the time. Gilbert told law enforcement that he distributed the child sex abuse material that he produced on the Tor network.

During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement also seized a number of electronic devices from Gilbert’s bedroom. A subsequent forensic analysis of Gilbert’s electronic devices revealed over 2,000 files depicting child pornography. Among those files were six videos of Gilbert engaging in sexual acts with Victim 1 and Victim 2 in Gilbert’s bedroom or in Victim 1’s residence. Some of the child pornography located on Gilbert’s devices included prepubescent children under the age of 12 as well as sadistic or masochistic conduct, including the use of instruments or tools on children, and sexual acts between adults and children.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.         

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite commended the FBI and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron and Mr. Polite thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin and Trial Attorneys Jessica Urban and Alicia Bove from the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section who are prosecuting federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced Darnell Gerald Gaither, Jr., age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 14 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for committing 35 commercial robberies and for brandishing a firearm during some of the robberies, which were committed throughout Maryland.    

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department, and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore City Police Department.  

According to his guilty plea, from December 2018 to November 24, 2019, Gaither committed at least 35 commercial robberies throughout Maryland. Gaither robbed fast-food restaurants, general stores, cell phone stores, gaming stores, a gym, and chain pharmacies—and robbed a number of the stores more than once. In at least one robbery, Gaither brandished a firearm and in least five occasions, he robbed the stores while partially revealing a handgun. In all the other robberies, Gaither passed a note to an employee stating that he had a gun. The employees, fearing for their safety, often provided Gaither with cash from their registers, in amounts ranging from a couple hundred dollars to $1,900.

For example, on October 25, 2019, Gaither robbed a Baltimore smoothie franchise by entering the store and handing the cashier a note that read “I have a gun give me all the cash”. When the cashier refused to open the register, Gaither produced a handgun. The victim reported that Gaither told the victim that he would kill her if she did not open the register. The cashier opened the register and Gaither ordered the cashier and two other employees to the floor while he removed the cash from the register. Gaither then ordered the three employees to open the safe in a back area and hand him additional cash. Gaither took cash from the franchise and fled the store.

Five days later, on October 30, 2019, Gaither robbed a Baltimore general store by posing as a customer. After approaching the register with a bag of candy, Gaither handed the cashier a note that stated, “You know what it is”, while displaying what appeared to be a handgun inside his waistband. The cashier believed that Gaither possessed a real firearm and feared for her safety. The cashier handed $197 to Gaither, who then fled the store.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department and the Baltimore City Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who prosecuted the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Matthew Edward Blair, age 48, of Timonium, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to payment of illegal remunerations to encourage independent marketers to refer federal health care related business to Blair’s pharmacy.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.

According to his guilty plea, beginning in November 2014 and continuing through May 2015, Blair, the owner and operator of a compounding pharmacy called the Blair Pharmacy, paid illegal remunerations to independent marketers to induce them to refer business to Blair Pharmacy.

Members of the United States military and their families receive health care benefits through TRICARE, a federal health care benefits program.  Like many other health care benefit programs, TRICARE utilizes a pharmacy benefit manager (“PBM”), specifically, Express Scripts (“ESI”) to administer all pharmacy-related benefits for the TRICARE program.  ESI receives, processes and adjudicates all electronically submitted pharmacy benefit claims submitted on behalf of TRICARE beneficiaries in New Jersey. 

Blair submitted applications to several PBMs, including ESI, requesting that Blair Pharmacy be accepted into the PBMs’ networks of participating pharmacies.  ESI approved Blair’s application and Blair was permitted to bill TRICARE and receive payment for TRICARE beneficiary prescriptions. Blair set up a process by which beneficiary prescriptions were electronically submitted directly to his pharmacy.  Blair also set up a process by which prescription and benefit plan data was uploaded electronically through the internet.  The uploaded electronic data was processed by the PBMs instantaneously, providing Blair with immediate information about whether a claim he submitted had been approved for payment by the benefit plan or not.  Blair linked successful claim reimbursements to a bank account in the name of Blair Pharmacy so Blair Pharmacy could receive all monies paid by health care benefit companies into his bank account.

Blair actively pursued several independent sales marketers to work for him at his pharmacy.  In order to increase prescription referrals to his pharmacy, maximize reimbursement amounts and thereby increase profits, Blair sought these independent marketers to solicit and refer prescriptions to his pharmacy.  Blair entered into independent contractor arrangements with several sales marketers, and arranged to pay the independent marketers a percentage of any reimbursement money he received from health care benefit programs, including TRICARE. 

For example, in November 2014, Blair agreed to pay an independent marketer working for Blair as follows “commission will be 50% of gross reimbursement to [Blair Pharmacy] paid bi-weekly.” The agreement required the independent marketer to use Blair Pharmacy exclusively, and to refer all business within his established territory to Blair Pharmacy. Blair induced these referrals to his pharmacy by offering the marketer a 50% percentage payment of any money that Blair received from health care benefit programs, which was the sole compensation to the marketer under the agreement.  The independent marketer was not paid unless Blair was successful in obtaining reimbursement from a health care benefit program for a prescription that the marketer referred to Blair. Only then was the marketer paid a percentage of the successful reimbursement.  Blair knew it was a violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute to pay an independent contractor a volume and value-based commission for referrals of federal health care program business to his pharmacy.

Blair provided the independent marketer with pre-printed prescription forms which listed the specific ingredients for Blair’s formulations.  Blair knew the amount of money that he would receive from TRICARE for each gram of each ingredient that he listed in his formulas.  Blair modified the ingredients and amounts of ingredients of his formulations based on the ingredient’s reimbursement value. 

Blair Pharmacy received reimbursement from TRICARE for the individual ingredients in his formulas as follows: $4,348.25 for a one month supply of the ingredients in his vitamin formulation; $8,741.26 for a one month supply of the ingredients in his pain cream; $14,365.39 for a one month supply of the ingredients in his migraine cream; and $17,336.30 for a one month supply of the ingredients in his scar cream.  After receiving payment from TRICARE for the prescriptions the independent marketer directed to Blair Pharmacy, Blair paid 50% of the reimbursement amount to the marketer.

The independent marketer solicited cream prescriptions from numerous doctors, including military surgeons at Walter Reed, with whom he had direct contact. Blair knew that the marketer was in a position to influence which pharmacy the prescriptions were sent to, and that the marketer would send the prescriptions directly back to Blair’s pharmacy.  By paying the marketer 50% of every successfully reimbursed TRICARE claim, Blair incentivized the marketer to refer as many cream prescriptions as possible to Blair’s pharmacy. 

As detailed in the plea agreement, the marketer actively pursued and solicited cream prescriptions for Blair from a military doctor, who had no idea about the amount of money that the creams reimbursed for.  The marketer took advantage of the military doctor’s grueling work schedule, oftentimes waiting, with a stack of Blair’s pre-printed prescription forms in hand, for the doctor outside of the operating room after a long day of back-to-back surgeries.  The marketer directed, sent, and referred all of the pain and scar cream prescriptions directly to Blair’s pharmacy. Neither the doctor, nor the TRICARE beneficiaries for whom the creams were authorized, had an opportunity to choose which pharmacy they wanted to fill the prescription because the prescriptions were submitted directly to Blair. 

Many of the TRICARE beneficiaries were not aware a prescription had been written for them until they received a box from Blair Pharmacy on their doorstep. Some of the TRICARE beneficiaries had no idea of the cost to TRICARE of these creams and vitamins that they received in the mail, or they learned about the high cost of the creams and vitamins only after they reviewed their TRICARE Explanation of Benefits letter a month or two later.  Some of the TRICARE beneficiaries lodged official complaints and made fraud referrals to TRICARE and ESI.  When the military doctor learned of the cost of the creams he had prescribed, he was outraged and immediately stopped authorizing any additional cream prescriptions.  The doctor provided notice of the problem to his management and advised TRICARE patients who made complaints about the creams, to send the creams back to the pharmacy. 

From November 2014 to May 2015, TRICARE reimbursed Blair a total of $6,352,941.66 based upon claims Blair submitted to TRICARE that were tainted by remuneration payments Blair paid to independent sales contractors.  Blair admits that TRICARE would not have approved or reimbursed any claim for compounded ingredients made by Blair Pharmacy, had TRICARE known that Blair had agreed to pay a 1099 independent contractor based on the volume and value-based commission of prescription referrals to Blair Pharmacy. 

As part of his plea agreement, Blair will pay restitution of $3,176,470.83 for the financial loss caused to TRICARE and has agreed to be excluded from the TRICARE health benefit program as an Authorized Provider for a term of 25 years.

Blair faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for illegal remuneration.   U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for February 10, 2022.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, and the IRS-CI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Duey and Paul Riley, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – Brandon Fitzgerald-Holley, age 32, of Suitland, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in relation to COVID-19 loan fraud.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Shimon R. Richmond, Mid-Atlantic Region, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Region (SBA-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division (SSA-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office (IRS-CI).

According to his guilty plea, Fitzgerald-Holley used his non-operational nonprofit, the Coalition for Social Justice and Reform Incorporated (the Coalition), to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief funds. Since the Coalition’s formation in 2018, the nonprofit had no employees, income, or regular operations.

On March 31, 2020, Fitzgerald-Holley submitted an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application for $150,000 in funds to the Small Business administration (SBA) on behalf of the Coalition. On June 3, 2020, the SBA denied the Coalition’s application for an EIDL.  On the same day, Fitzgerald-Holley contacted the SBA to request reconsideration of the EIDL application. The SBA did not approve Fitzgerald-Holley’s request for reconsideration of his EIDL or provide Fitzgerald-Holley with any EIDL funding.

Further, on June 13, 2020, shortly after Fitzgerald-Holley’s fraudulent EIDL application was denied, Fitzgerald-Holley submitted an application to Institution 1 for a for a $305,854 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Institution 1 is an online financial technology company that specializes in small business lending and participating as a non-bank PPP lender.

On the PPP loan application, Fitzgerald-Holley falsely listed that the Coalition employed 25 employees, had an average monthly payroll cost of $122,342. In reality, the Coalition had no employees or payroll expenses. Fitzgerald-Holley also created and submitted fraudulent documents including a fraudulent IRS Form W-3, which falsely stated that the Coalition had 25 employees with total wages of $1,385,000.

On June 13, 2020, the Coalition’s PPP loan application was approved. Fitzgerald-Holley signed the note on the loan as the CEO of the Coalition. Institution 1 subsequently deposited $305,854 in PPP loan funds into Fitzgerald-Holley’s personal account on June 16, 2020.

As stated in his plea agreement, upon receiving the fraudulently obtained PPP proceeds, Fitzgerald-Holley used the funds to purchase personal items including clothing, a pool table, televisions, electronic equipment, a 2020 Dodge Charger Scat, and various accessories for the vehicle. He also used the funds to fund a vacation rental. In total, Fitzgerald-Holley misappropriated $305,854 in PPP loan funds.

Fitzgerald-Holley faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud. United States District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for March 7, 2021 at 10 a.m.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, FDIC-OIG, SBA-OIG, SSA-OIG, and the IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin R. Cottingham andTrial Attorney John Liolos of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, who are prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the Covid-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.  The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.  For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

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

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – Bobby Cannon, a/k/a Freaky, age 24 of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to participating in a violent racketeering conspiracy, specifically, the NFL Criminal Enterprise, including committing two murders.  The term NFL stands for Normandy, Franklin, and Loudon, which are three adjacent streets that run through the Edmondson Village.  Members of NFL have social and familial ties to the Edmondson Village neighborhood in southwest Baltimore. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, from at least 2016 through March 26, 2020, Bobby Cannon was a member of the NFL Criminal Enterprise, which engaged in a pattern of criminal racketeering activity including acts involving murder, narcotics trafficking and smuggling, illegal firearms possession, bribery, witness intimidation, and witness retaliation.  Cannon admitted that he participated in illegal activities with other NFL Enterprise members, including committing two murders and an attempted murder, and distributing large quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. 

As detailed in Cannon’s plea agreement, in 2018, the NFL Criminal Enterprise offered money for the murder of an individual who was believed to be a federal witness cooperating with law enforcement regarding NFL.  On June 16, 2018, Cannon walked up to the porch of a house in Edmondson Village, where the individual and his girlfriend were sitting.  Cannon shot them both multiple times, killing them.  Cannon was subsequently paid by the NFL for committing the murders, which Cannon agrees was in furtherance of the NFL Criminal Enterprise.

In late 2018, Cannon was recruited by NFL to murder another individual in exchange for money and in furtherance of the NFL Criminal Enterprise.  Cannon planned the murder for several weeks and learned that the individual resided in a halfway house in East Baltimore.  On January 4, 2019, Cannon borrowed a car from a female associate in southwest Baltimore and later drove the car to the vicinity of the halfway house, where Cannon waited for the individual.  After several hours, Cannon saw the individual on the street and shot the individual multiple times in the arm, back, neck, and buttocks.  The individual sustained life-threatening injuries but survived the shooting.

Following the shooting, Cannon abandoned the car and notified the female associate, who then falsely reported to the Baltimore Police that her car was stolen.  Cannon then notified the NFL Criminal Enterprise that he attempted to murder the individual but failed to kill him.

In April 2019, the FBI arrested members of the NFL Criminal Enterprise, but not Cannon.  On a recorded jail call following the arrests, Cannon was instructed to continue distributing narcotics for the NFL.  Cannon took over a drug phone used by the NFL Criminal Enterprise so that he could continue to sell narcotics to drug customers of the organization.

On December 28, 2019, Baltimore Police officers found Cannon unconscious in a parked van. During their interaction, officers saw that Cannon had a gun, which they recovered from his jacket pocket.  Officers then searched Cannon’s van and recovered over 98 grams of fentanyl, which Cannon agrees he possessed with the intent to distribute it.

Cannon admitted in his plea agreement that over the course of the racketeering conspiracy, Cannon and his co-conspirators distributed over one kilogram of heroin, more than 400 grams of fentanyl, and more than 280 grams of crack cocaine.

Cannon and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Cannon will be sentenced to at least 29 years and up to 36 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has scheduled sentencing for June 1, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. 

This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).  NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.  NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles.  For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the DEA, the Montgomery County Department of Police and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the City of Rockville Police Department; the Baltimore County, Howard County, and Montgomery County Police Departments; the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; the Maryland State Police; the West Virginia State Police; the Virginia State Police; the Warren County (VA) Sheriff’s Department; the Winchester (VA) and Front Royal (VA) Police Departments; and the Frederick County and Howard County State’s Attorney’s Offices.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter J. Martinez, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.   

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Baltimore, Maryland – A criminal complaint has been filed charging Amar Salim Shabazz, age 23, of Owings Mills, Maryland, for the federal charges of mail fraud and obstruction of justice in connection with his alleged distribution of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards.

The criminal complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division (USPIS); Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG); and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to the criminal complaint, since June 2021, Shabazz purchased over 600 fraudulent COVID-19 vaccinations cards through a foreign online marketplace and had the cards illegally shipped into the United States. Once Shabazz received the fake vaccination cards, he advertised them for sale on several popular social media platforms and distributed them through the United Parcel Service.

Under normal circumstances, COVID-19 vaccination cards are distributed by authorized health care providers to vaccine recipients at the time the recipient receives a COVID-19 vaccine.

As stated in the criminal complaint, since the beginning of August 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers have seized thousands of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards at international mail facilities and at express consignment carrier facilities. The majority of seized shipments contain fraudulent COVID vaccination cards originating from Asia and the packages are commonly found to be falsely labeled.

The criminal complaint alleges that Shabazz ordered over 600 vaccination cards on multiple occasions which were delivered to his Owings Mills, Maryland residence.

According to the complaint, on June 10, 2021 Shabazz allegedly searched the phrase “fake covid vaccination record card” and viewed a video titled, “Scammers Work to Sell Fake Covid Vaccination Cards Online.” Several days later, Shabazz placed an order with a foreign website for COVID-19 vaccination cards to be shipped to “MAR S,” with Shabazz’s number listed as the recipient. On July 10, 2021, after the shipment was delivered, Shabazz posted a video of multiple fraudulent vaccination cards on two of his social media accounts with the caption “Covid19 vaccination card who want one. $75 a pop.”

On August 5, 2021, Shabazz commented under an article about bars and restaurants requiring guests to show proof of vaccination, allegedly stating “I SELL PROOF OF VACCINATION CARDS”. Five days later, Shabazz posted, “I’m sold out right now no more vax cards until next week.” Additionally, Shabazz allegedly messaged anther individual with the message, “Made 300 today. I’m sold out. Just bought 500 more cards. 60x500 is $30k. I’m gonna be rich.”

On August 19, 2021, CBP officers seized a shipment sent to Shabazz’s address with the name, “MAR SHA” and Shabazz’s telephone number. The carrier’s website noted the package had been delayed at U.S. Customs. Shabazz then allegedly searched the phrase “customs inspection packages VACCINATION cards” and viewed a video titled, “FBI investigating fake vaccination cards.” 

As detailed in the complaint, Shabazz placed another order for cards with the foreign website that was delivered to his residence on August 31, 2021. This package had Shabazz’s cell phone number associated with it and was addressed to “ACE BOOGIE.” Shabazz then allegedly posted a picture of the fraudulent vaccination cards on a social media platform, selling them from $70 per card.

Investigators subsequently interviewed multiple individuals outside Maryland to whom Shabazz sold fake COVID-19 vaccination cards and recovered the fake cards. Shabazz allegedly shipped these individuals’ fraudulent vaccination cards through the mail. 

On October 1, 2021, law enforcement executed search warrants at a basement used by Shabazz. In the basement, law enforcement found a bulleted list titled, “Things I’m doing when I get out (updated).” In early 2021, Shabazz was an inmate of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services after being sentenced in in the Circuit Court of Maryland for possession of child pornography. Shabazz was released in April 2021. The list included obtaining two “burner” cell phones, with the note, “first burner is for scamming.” Another bullet point stated, “hire a lawyer and get tips of what not to do when getting money illegally.” 

The day after the search warrants were executed at his residence, Shabazz allegedly researched how to delete his account on the foreign marketplace website and deleted his email account.

If convicted, Shabazz faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ incarceration each for mail fraud and for obstruction of justice. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An initial appearance has been scheduled for 2:00 P.M. on Friday December 3, 2021 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Coulson in Baltimore.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. 

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

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, USPIS, HHS-OIG, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron S.J. Zelinsky and Sean Delaney, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md.

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Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Michael McDonald, age 40, of Baltimore, Maryland, for tax evasion for tax years 2016 through 2018 and failure to file tax returns for the tax years 2016 through 2019.  The indictment was returned on November 10, 2021, and unsealed today upon McDonald’s arrest.  McDonald will have an initial appearance today at 1:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Baltimore before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Coulson.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.

According to the seven-count indictment, McDonald submitted false W-4 forms for tax years 2016, 2017, and 2018.  In addition, the indictment alleges that McDonald failed to file an income tax return for those tax years as well as for tax year 2019.

If convicted, McDonald faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count of tax evasion and a maximum of one year in federal prison for each count of failure to file income tax returns.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the IRS-CI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen O. Gavin and P. Michael Cunningham, who are prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Oyekanmi Oworu, age 35, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.   

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

According to his guilty plea, between February 2017 and July 2020, Oworu conspired with co-defendant Babtunde Ajibawo, age 55, of Essex, United Kingdom and others to fraudulently obtain checks made out to legitimate businesses, then fraudulently register shell companies to obtain state business certificates in the identical or similar name of the legitimate businesses to which the checks were made payable. The conspiracy also used the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Modernized Internet Employer Identification Number (EIN) and the fraudulently obtained social security numbers of real individuals to obtain an EIN for the fraudulent business.

Specifically, on February 7, 2017, Oworu opened a bank account at a victim financial institution in the name of a real individual and deposited a stolen check made payable to a legitimate business for $265,168.20. Oworu subsequently withdrew the proceeds.

Additionally, on November 20, 2018, Oworu opened a bank account at a victim financial institution in a similar name of a legitimate business using the means and identification of A.S, a real individual. After opening the account, Oworu deposited a stolen check made payable to the legitimate business for $58,713.50. Video surveillance captured Oworu depositing the stolen check in Washington, D.C.

During the course of the scheme to defraud, Oworu communicated with co-conspirators regarding the allocation of stolen proceeds, including the money he would personally receive for opening fraudulent bank accounts and depositing stolen checks. Specifically, on May 2, 2019, Oworu asked Ajibawo to send $3,000 to him and the balance to another co-conspirator in Fayetteville, Georgia.  

Further, as detailed in the Superseding Indictment, Oworu and his co-conspirators attempted to conceal their criminal actions and evade law enforcement by relocating the fraud scheme to other jurisdictions. A substantial part of a fraudulent scheme was committed from outside the United States, specifically Nigeria.

In total, Oworu and his co-conspirators intended to cause a loss of at least $4.1 million to victim businesses, caused an actual loss of at least $756,175.30, and compromised the identifying information of more than 50 individual victims.

Co-defendant Ajibawo pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on July 8, 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2021 at 10 a.m.

Oworu faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison followed by up to five of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence for aggravated identity theft. As part of his plea agreement, Oworu will also be required to pay restitution. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2022 at 9:15 a.m. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary W. Setzer and Judson T. Mihok, who are prosecuting the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Brendan Francis Kavanaugh, age 53, of Fort Meade, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession of child pornography.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to his guilty plea, in May 2020, Kavanaugh communicated with other users on a peer-to-peer file sharing network, the Tor network, under the username “HebeMom”. The Tor network is a computer network available to internet users that is specifically designed to facilitate anonymous communication. It is also commonly used to facilitate the sexual exploitation of minors.

Investigators linked the “HebeMom” usernames online activity to Kavanaugh’s Fort Meade, Maryland address and executed a search warrant at his residence on October 28, 2020. During the search of Kavanaugh’s residence, investigators discovered several electronic devices including an external hard drive. A forensic analysis of the hard drive revealed that Kavanaugh possessed approximately 3,674 images of child sexual abuse material and 9,296 files of child exploitative material, including several images of prepubescent females engaged in sexual conduct with adult males and animals.

As stated in his plea agreement, during an interview with law enforcement Kavanaugh admitted that the encrypted hard drive was his personal device and provided the password for the device. He then informed investigators that he had been using the Tor network since 2016 and accessed sites associated with child pornography under the username “HebeMom”.

Further, Kavanaugh admits that he knowingly possessed child pornography that involved sadistic or masochistic material and material that involved the exploitation of prepubescent minors.

Kavanaugh faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release for possession of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has scheduled sentencing for February 7, 2022 at 10 a.m.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the FBI's Child Exploitation Operational Unit for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary W. Setzer and Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are prosecuting the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Maurice Antonio Bull, age 43, of Seaford, Delaware, pleaded guilty today to interstate travel in aid of racketeering and to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in connection with Bull accepting bribes to smuggle contraband into Eastern Correctional Institution.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Secretary Robert L. Green of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

“This case demonstrates that we will not tolerate employees in positions of trust violating their oaths.  Federal, state, and local officials will continue to work together to root out corrupt employees and others who undermine the administration of justice at our prisons,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron.

“Once again, DPSCS detectives and intelligence officers built a strong case and worked with our federal partners to bring a dangerous plot to an end,” said DPSCS Secretary Robert Green. “Contraband and compromised employees endanger every single person who lives and works inside of our facilities.”

According to his guilty plea, Bull was a Correctional Officer at the Eastern Correctional Institute (“ECI”), a medium security Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services prison operated in Westover, Maryland, in Somerset County. 

Correctional Officers have a duty to ensure that inmates follow the rules, including, most importantly, the prohibition of criminal activity while incarcerated.  Bull admitted that he abused his position of trust as a sworn officer of DPSCS by engaging in illegal activities for the purposes of enriching himself.  Specifically, Bull received bribes in exchange for bringing contraband into ECI, including but not limited to Suboxone, heroin, and tobacco for ECI inmates.

For example, as detailed in his plea agreement, in September 2020, an ECI inmate made a phone call, over the recorded jail call system, to his sister to arrange for her to provide a bribe payment to Bull in exchange for Bull smuggling contraband into the prison facility for the inmate.  On September 9, 2020, Bull drove from his home in Delaware to Salisbury, Maryland and met with the inmate’s sister in the parking lot of a convenience store.  Law enforcement officers observed the inmate’s sister placing a plastic bag inside the passenger window of Bull’s truck. Bull’s truck was subsequently stopped and searched.  Officers recovered a plastic bag in the center console that contained approximately 1,153 Suboxone strips, 8.2 grams of a combination of packaging and heroin, and 20.6 grams of a combination of packaging and tobacco.  The contraband was individually packaged and labeled with the initials of the ECI inmates who were the intended recipients. Officers also recovered a white envelope in Bull’s pocket which contained a bribe payment of $5,400.

Bull was interviewed and informed law enforcement that in July or August 2020, he was approached by an inmate about smuggling contraband, specifically Suboxone, into ECI in exchange for $2,000 bribe payments.  The inmate who approached him was transferred before Bull could provide contraband, but he was subsequently approached by another inmate.  Bull admitted that he intended to bring the controlled substances into ECI and to provide them to that inmate and the $5,400 was payment for his agreement to do so.  Bull advised law enforcement that he had previously brought contraband into ECI for the inmate, in exchange for $2,000 in cash.  On this prior occasion, to obtain the controlled substances and bribe payment, Bull drove from his home in Delaware to Maryland.

Bull faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for interstate travel in aid of racketeering and a maximum of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby has scheduled sentencing for February 24, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.

This case arose from the efforts of the Maryland Prison Task Force, coordinated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and comprised of local, state, and federal stakeholders that meet regularly to share information and generate recommendations to reform prison procedures and attack the gang problem that has plagued Maryland in recent years.  The work of the Task Force previously resulted in the federal convictions of more than 78 defendants, including 16 correctional officers, at the Eastern Correctional Institution, and 40 defendants, including 24 correctional officers, at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and DPSCS for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean R. Delaney and Lauren E. Perry, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Avon Allen, age 36, of Baltimore, Maryland to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a stolen firearm. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, on January 20, 2020, Allen had an argument with a store owner in Baltimore, Maryland and threw a beverage at the store owner in the process. Soon after, Baltimore City Police Department officers responded to the reported assault. Officers reviewed the store’s surveillance footage, which showed that the individual involved in the altercation was wearing a black skull cap, a blue, black, and gray puffy jacket, a gray hoodie, blue jeans, and blue sneakers.

Later that day, an officer found Allen wearing the same clothes as the individual in the video surveillance footage on the corner of W. Saratoga Street and N. Paca Street. Allen briefly got into a vehicle before seeing an officer and fleeing on foot. During his apprehension, Allen resisted arrest and threw a stolen 9 mm pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunition. On his person, Allen also possessed a pocket-knife, oxycodone, and small amounts of eutylone or “MDMA”. Allen agrees that he knowingly possessed a stolen firearm.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Moore and Special Assistant United States Attorney Annie McGuire, who prosecuted the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Julian Gray, age 49, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.  

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to Gray’s guilty plea, in 2020 the DEA began surveilling street-level drug activities and making undercover purchases of fentanyl.  During the surveillance, Gray was identified as a potential co-conspirator when he was seen meeting with drug dealers who sold narcotics to the undercover officers.

On September 15, 2020, DEA agents saw Gray carry a black bag from his residence to his car and drive away. Gray’s car was stopped for a traffic violation later that day in a parking lot in the 2400 block of Belair Road in Baltimore.  A K-9 unit was nearby to scan the car and the dog alerted to the driver’s door.  Law enforcement searched the car and found a black bag (different bag from the first observation) in the trunk containing: a .9mm semi-automatic handgun, loaded with 12 .9mm hollow-point bullets; and two large plastic bags containing 1,090 gel caps of what was determined to be more than 40 grams of a mixture of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, and tramadol.  A search of Gray recovered $1,640 in cash.

Gray admitted that he possessed the fentanyl mixture with the intent to distribute it and that the cash constituted drug proceeds.  Further, Gray was on parole at the time for a 1991 felony conviction for murder in the second degree, for which he was sentenced to 30 years in prison and was in custody until 2013.  Gray knew that as a result of that conviction, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Gray and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Gray will be sentenced to no more than eight years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has scheduled sentencing for February 10, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joan C. Mathias, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Baltimore, Maryland - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced today a settlement agreement with the Frederick County Public School District to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities. The government’s investigation found that the school district unnecessarily and repeatedly secluded and restrained students as young as five years old in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the settlement, Frederick County will end the use of seclusion, overhaul its restraint practices, and train staff on the use of appropriate behavioral interventions for students with disabilities.

The settlement agreement was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

The investigation, opened in October 2020, revealed thousands of incidents of seclusion and restraint in just two and a half school years. Although students with disabilities make up only 10.8% of students enrolled in the district, every single student the district secluded was a student with disabilities, as were 99%—all but one—of the students the district restrained. The district routinely resorted to seclusion and restraint in non-emergency situations instead of using appropriate individualized behavior interventions tailored to individual students’ needs. The investigation found that these practices often intensified students’ distress, with some students engaging in self-harm and showing other signs of trauma while in seclusion.

“Every child should feel safe and protected while in school.  The use of seclusion rooms and unjustified physical restraints on young people, particularly those with disabilities, falls painfully short of a school district’s responsibility to support the safety, health, and educational needs of its students.  Students with disabilities deserve a school environment rooted in positive, preventive, and supportive classroom strategies,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “We appreciate Frederick County Public School District’s cooperation in the investigation and are pleased that the District has agreed to take comprehensive steps to ensure that students with disabilities receive equal educational opportunities.”

“We cannot stand by and watch schools put children with disabilities in isolation thousands of times and call it public education. The district’s unlawful use of seclusion and restraint did not help students; it led to heightened distress and denied them access to a safe and positive learning environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “Frederick County Public Schools understand the significant work ahead under this agreement and we will ensure that they institute all the institutional reforms necessary to comply with the law.”

The school district cooperated fully throughout the investigation. Under the settlement agreement, the school district will take proactive steps to ensure that its practices do not discriminate against students with disabilities.  The district will, among other things:

• prohibit the use of seclusion;
• report all instances of restraint and evaluate whether they were justified;
• designate trained staff to collect and analyze restraint data and oversee the creation of appropriate behavior intervention plans;
• deliver appropriate training and resources to help schools implement the agreement;
• design and implement procedures for handling complaints about restraint;
• offer compensatory education services to students with disabilities who were subjected to the district’s discriminatory practices; and
• hire an administrator to supervise school-based staff and ensure the district’s compliance with the agreement and Title II of the ADA. 

The investigation was conducted jointly by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section, as part of a Division initiative to address unlawful segregation, seclusion, and restraint of students with disabilities in public schools. U.S. Attorney Barron and Assistant Attorney General Clarke thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Marquardt, and Trial Attorneys Natane Singleton and Claire Chevrier, who handled this investigation. 

View the letter here.
View the agreement here. 

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/civil-rights.

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Baltimore, Maryland - William Carl Eikenberg, Jr., age 51, of Edgewater, Maryland pleaded guilty yesterday to access with intent to view child pornography.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad.

Eikenberg previously entered a guilty plea to distribution of child pornography in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County in August 2016. Eikenberg admitted that he used BitTorrent through a personal cell phone to download and trade child pornography. BitTorrent is a communication protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing network that enables users to distribute electronic files over the internet. Eikenberg served 114 days in jail and was placed on five years of supervised probation. As a result of his conviction, Eikenberg was required to register as a sex offender.

According to his guilty plea, between April 2017 and September 2017, Eikenberg knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view child pornography, including content depicting the exploitation of prepubescent minors being used to engage in sexual conduct. These visual depictions included at least 94 video files and 80 images of child pornography. Eikenberg admitted that he knew the production of the depictions involved minors engaged in sexual activity.

As part of his investigation, on July 3, 2017, and September 3, 2017, an Anne Arundel County Police Department (AAPD) detective identified several known electronic files of child pornography being shared by an IP address assigned to Eikenberg’s Edgewater, Maryland address. These files included a 21-minute video that portrayed a prepubescent female engaged in sexual activity with an adult male and several other shorter videos that also depicted the sexual abuse of minors.

Further, on September 6, 2017, AAPD learned that Eikenberg had stopped attending sex offender treatment and fled from probation supervision. On September 22, 2017, Eikenberg ran out the backdoor of his residence and attempted to evade authorities as AAPD officers and Eikenberg’s probation officer approached his residence for a home visit. Eikenberg was later apprehended, taken into custody, and transported to an AAPD station.

In a subsequent voluntary interview, Eikenberg stated that he used the BitTorrent network to view child pornography between April and September 2017.

Eikenberg and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Eikenberg will be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for January 20, 2022 at 11 a.m. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.         

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Maryland State Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Maddox and Abigail E. Ticse, who are prosecuting the federal case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Izant, for his work in the prosecution of the case.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Luis Antonio Cruz-Hernandez, a/k/a “Paniquiado “, age 27, of Silver Spring, Maryland to 51 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder for hire, interference with interstate commerce by robbery, and the use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Judge Grimm has also ordered Cruz-Hernandez to pay over $250,000 in restitution.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, Cruz-Hernandez is a member of the La Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as “MS-13”, an international criminal organization and criminal enterprise. Specifically, Cruz-Hernandez was a member and associate of the Pinos Locotes Salvatrucha (“PLS”) clique of MS-13. MS-13 is a gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Frederick County, and throughout the United States. In Maryland and elsewhere MS-13 members are organized in “cliques,” smaller groups that operate in a specific city of region. MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang and against rival gangs. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible.

In November 2016, a PLS clique member was hired to murder someone in exchange for money, and Cruz-Hernandez was directed to assist with the murder. Between November 20, 2016 and November 30, 2016, Cruz-Hernandez conspired with others to murder the victim in return for monetary payment from two individuals (Co-conspirator 1 and Co-conspirator 2). Cruz-Hernandez understood Co-conspirator 1 to be the person paying to have Victim 1 murdered and understood Co-conspirator 2 to be the middle-man between Co-conspirator 1 and a PLS clique member.

Over the course of the conspiracy, Co-conspirator 1 and Co-conspirator 2 paid for a hotel room located in the vicinity of the victim’s residence, for Cruz-Hernandez, and other conspirators, including the clique member to use. Further, Cruz-Hernandez and other conspirators conducted surveillance of the victim in order to determine the most opportune time to murder him.

As stated in his plea agreement, on November 30, 2016, Co-conspirator 2 drove Cruz-Hernandez and the clique member to an area in the vicinity of the victim’s residence. The clique member then exited the vehicle and shot and killed the victim. After the murder, the clique member was paid for the murder of the victim and gave a portion of the payment to Cruz-Hernandez.

Facilities of commerce utilized as part of the conspiracy to murder the victim in return for monetary payment included the vehicle used to conduct physical surveillance and to murder the victim, and cell phones used by conspirators to communicate and facilitate the murder.

Additionally, Cruz-Hernandez pled guilty in relation to seven of armed robberies in the eastern district of Virginia and Maryland between June 2017 and November 2017. These robberies occurred at the direction of a PLS clique member and resulted in the loss of more than $250,000 to victim businesses.                     

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI Baltimore, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Fairfax County Police Department (Virginia) and the Herndon Police Department (Virginia) for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney William D. Moomau, who prosecuted the case.

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